Big Bugs and Baptismal Dates

Hello Everybody!

If I had a nickel for every time I've been jumped by a cockroach, I'd have 3 nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird it's happened 3 times. Not this week, but just while I've been here.

The first time was at a dinner. It came out of nowhere and ran straight at me. I promptly stomped it to death. The second was during teaching Fabiola's family. It also came out of nowhere, ran at me, and started climbing up my leg. I quickly brushed it off, and it met the same fate. The third one was also outside Fabiola's apartment. It jumped out of a tree onto my head and has since disappeared. If I find it, I will reward it as I did its brethren.

On P-Day, I got a haircut. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but when we walked in they were playing "That's Life" and then "Fly Me To The Moon," both by Frank Sinatra. I love those songs! Sadly afterwards they went into some other stuff. Oh well, that's life!

My companion and I are just about all out of money because I bought a bunch of stuff at the ferreteria (hardware store), and he needs to buy new shoes because his are dying. So sadly, I've not bought any more Shrek Popsicles, nor have I made much progress on making pizza. All I bought is a pound of cheese, which went bad way too fast.

Wednesday we had Zone Council in La Ceiba, which was good. I'm glad I didn't play the piano this time because I didn't prepare at all. It was the last one of the transfer, and our Zone Leader (Elder Vanderhorst) gave a great devo on contacting and inviting to the temple. We had tacos which were alright (I was still hungry), no spice at all though. I've noticed that a couple of the elders are trying way too hard to impress the hermanas. Qué sospechoso ',:/

Thursday was exhausting. We got up at 3:30 to go to La Lima for my 5 week evaluation thing. I didn't sleep well on the bus either way. We did a lot of practices and had an amazing devo by President Ostler and his wife. I got to say the closing prayer and really felt the gift of tongues in that. That just happens with some of my prayers, which is cool. They gave us good food for breakfast and lunch (of course I was still hungry afterwards). I'm really happy about the package my mom sent me. In my infinite stupidity I broke my umbrella in the CCM, and left my fancy water bottle on the airplane. I've got replacements for both and some snacks, so that's fantastic!

Friday we had exchanges and I was with Élder Brown here in La Masica again. We went to Santa Ana to visit some recent converts and reteach the Plan of Salvation and the same drunk viejito who is a religious fanatic was there. This time he wasn't on the other side of the fence, yelling at us, but just standing over my companion and talking (with a lot of spittle) about how he's religious and nothing can shake him from his faith. I respect the devotion, but trying to get into religious discussions while drunk outta your mind isn't what I'd call a smart move. He eventually left and we got on with the lesson. Turns out he's something of the "husband" of the mom, and that's why she isn't baptised because she isn't legally married to him. They also gave us lychees, which were great!

We also got a couple fechas (baptismal dates) that day! We may have forgot to offer one of them to the right person, but the person we did offer it to accepted. We were supposed to go to a kid named Samir, but forgot because we were rushed and busy. We gave it to a kid named Gerald who we've also been teaching for a while, and he accepted. Afterwards we invited Fabiola to be baptized, and she accepted. I'm not terribly sure about that because she has not come to church once, even after accepting to be baptized. We'll see how this goes. We also have had a hard time finding Samir to finally invite him to be baptized. Busy times.

Saturday was the most normal day so far. We had a meeting with the Oliva family, and I helped their son with finishing his hydraulic lift from syringes for the science fair. That was super fun. I did a project like that once (though it wasn't for a science fair), and it brought back good memories. We also had dinner with Fabiola and talked to her about preparing for baptism. That's when I was attacked by the most recent cockroach.

I didn't have a great week for hymns. I had no opportunities to choose hymns, let alone practice until Saturday after lunch. Of course that night they changed all the hymns I had picked.

Sunday we also sat through the "wife" of José Benites' talking for an hour and a half. I only understood whenever she said "Verdad?" (True?) every other sentence. Turns out they're not legally married because he has had some loyalty issues. I dunno what to do about that, I don't know what to do about a lot of stuff. I'll just do my best and see where that takes me!

My spiritual thought this week is from Joshua 3:15-17, it says:

15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

This scripture teaches us that faith really is a principle of action. Yeah, we might have faith in God, that He exists and loves us, but what are we going to do about it? We cannot simply know. We must act according to our knowledge. That is wisdom.

Welp. That's all I've got for now. Hope you all are doing well. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Sincerely,

Ruben

Pictures are:

Tarantulas (that's his name now).

Badly painted Book of Mormon done by me.

A flooded road in Santa Anna. Happens a lot. It's called "Rio BueNAS", after the manner which Hermano Julio (they guy who keeps changing the hymns on me) says buenas.

A cockroach who felt my wrath (or at least my chancla, my slipper)

That same cockroach, daring to defy me moments before.