One Moore Hermana in Arkansas!

A BAPTISM AND BED BUGS!

NATHAN'S BAPTISM!

OUR FACES WHEN WE GOT THE CALL THAT THERE FOR SURE ARE BED BUGS IN THEIR APARTMENT!

Welp, it's still hot if anyone was wondering!

YES, THAT IS SWEAT!

IT HIT 114 DEGREES IN LITTLE ROCK. SO BRUTAL!

This week’s highlights:

Nathan! He is 9! His family are all members but he hadn't been baptized because he is afraid of water and people being near him in the water. So obviously that was a little bit of an issue. So we started teaching him a little and committed him to baptism. Thursday we filled the font and had him come practice. Haha yes practicing for a baptism is a thing now. At first he would barely put his foot on the first step into the font. Lewis and I were a little nervous how this was all going to happen...finally he got comfortable in the water, and then let Elder Schoenfeld get in with him on opposite sides of the font...then it progressed to a high five, then they held hands, then finally after baby steps for an hour and a half he did it! They had to both be on their knees and Elder Schoenfeld would count to three and he would go all the way under holding Elders hands. We were thrilled! We almost just wanted to do the baptism right then and there but he hadn't had his interview yet so it was set for Sunday. And yesterday right after church we held the baptism. We still were real nervous, not knowing if it would take another hour and a half to get him in, Elder Schoenfeld had to build a lot of trust from Nathan these last few days, but once they were in the water it only took about a minute and he did it! He went all the way under the first time! Miracles!! Seriously so cool!

NATHAN!

So I didn't slit my finger this week, which is good. I actually was able to get my stitches out! It hurt, but it feels soo much better now that they are out. So yea no more hospitals this week but get this...We got a call Thursday from the Hermana's in Little Rock and they needed help so we did last minute exchanges with them (all I have to say is #blessed because my comp is also my best friend, and we have literally never fought. not even once). After the phone call we went straight home and packed and went on a road trip to Little Rock!

ROAD TRIP TO LITTLE ROCK!

Come to find out they thought their apartment had bed bugs..it hadn't been confirmed but they were almost positive. To be honest I didn't think much of it. They had been sleeping on the couches so Lewis and I curled up on the floor haha.

THIS IS WHERE WE SLEPT

Annnnd..the next morning I woke up with little bites all over my feet. yay. And then a few hours later the bug guy came and confirmed that they had bed bugs. So us and the ASL sisters who share the apartment with them and the Little Rock STL's all had to get together and figure out some sort of plan on where they all are going to stay. 2 hours later after planning, we finally figured it out.

WITH THE LITTLE ROCK HERMANAS

And then we made our way back to Russellville! But since we had been in their apartments all of our clothes were infested with bed bugs so we came home and went straight to the laundromat where we did 7 loads of laundry. It was the hottest and sweatiest 2 hours of my life. Lewis and I were just sitting there talking to each other and literally sweat was rolling off of our faces. But after all of our stuff got washed we finally made it back home and got to sleep in our own beds. And since I'm paranoid I was convinced I was being eaten by bed bugs so I slept terrible. We've overcome this now though don't worry. haha

PACKING UP OUR STUFF TO GO HOME TO LEAVE THE BUG INFESTED APARTMENT. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUT LUGGAGE THERE SO THE BUG MAN CAN COME DISINFECT IT FOR US!

SWEATING OUR GUTS OUT AT THE LAUNDROMAT

Yep those were the 2 main events this week. Chase came to church yesterday which was awesome! He seemed to enjoy it! hmmm what else.. Just the normal missionary work. Knocking doors, appointments, RCLA's, meetings...the usual stuff.

THIS IS WHAT I LOOK LIKE ON MY BIKE! HAHAHAHA!

I'm in the process of wrapping my mind around the fact that I won't be able to sleep in for over a year still. Every morning this thought comes to mind and I die a little inside. Even just sleeping in till 7 would be a dream!

I also put on my Tim Mcgraw t-shirt the other night and tried to think of some of his songs that he sang at his concert last summer...blank. I couldn't think of any. Maybe like 1 or 2 but the lyrics were completely erased from my mind. This is what I'm talking about people! Missionary amnesia! It’s absolutely insane! Don’t worry I still remember T-Swift...I'm not completely gone yet.

I wish you could all see how hard me and Lewis get laughing. She is my best friend. Funny that we lived an hour away from each other our whole lives and it took to come on a mission to Russellville Arkansas to meet each other and become best friends. I'm bringing her home with me so one day y’all will meet her. :)

Something real cool, we keep all of our baptism pictures on our wall in our study room. It has the names and dates of everyone who has been baptized in the last year or so. It's motivating to see our success and fun to reflect on the people we have come to love so much. What is also hanging up next to all these pictures is the scripture Alma 26:12 "yea I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea; behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

We put in a lot of hours, a lot of hard work and we have seen a lot of success in this area. Reactivating, baptisms, consistent new investigators, we have 80% retention right now which is the best it’s been since I've been here, staying real busy but at the end of the day this is all HIS work. It's His success, His miracles. The second I forget that then I am doing my own work, and when this works becomes mine, I will fail.

CAROLINA'S PANADERIA!

For recitations at each meeting we recite 3 Nephi 5:13 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of HIM to declare HIS word among HIS people, that they might have everlasting life."

I've quoted this talk before it’s called "The Fourth Missionary" and I was rereading some bits of it lately. I learned that in order to do His work His way, I have to surrender.

"Just give it up. Surrender your will to Him. Unconditionally. Withhold nothing. Turn it all over to Him; all of your desires, wishes, dreams and hopes. Be true and faithful in your head and in your heart, not just in your behavior. Trust in Him. Trust Him who knows all things. Trust Him who has all power. Trust Him whose love for you is perfect. Trust Him, who alone suffered, paid and atoned for your sins, and for your weaknesses as well. Trust Him that He will make of you, immeasurably more, than what you will ever, ever, in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create of you only a smudge. You will create an ordinary man. He will create a God...If you surrender, if the Lord wins, you win also...The only way to win is to lose. Lose yourself in the Lords work, and you will win beyond your wildest dreams." (Matthew 16:25)

I love this! He fulfills his purposes, I get to change into who He wants me to be, which is ultimately what I want me to be. I'm the kind of person who hates losing more than I enjoy winning...however I guess if God says in this case it’s okay to lose, then lose I will.

(you still won't beat me in a game of HORSE though) haha ;)

Adios!

Love y’all

PS I'M GOING TO THE TEMPLE ON WEDNESDAY WITH PRESIDENT AND THE REST OF THE LEADERS IN THE MISSION AND I'M A LITTLE BIT EXCITED!!!