Hi everyone!
Well, this week had a lot of shoe picking, and coo-coo knocking, unfortunately! Guess what I found on Wednesday? ..... A BEDBUG!!! We had just started comp study, and I pull up my blanket, look down, and see one! I very calmly (actually, I was pretty calm. Very proud of myself ) set the blanket down, take a picture, and spray it with the poison we have for bugs. We then take a trip down to the apartment office to show them the picture, and the week just kinda went off the rails from that point on! All of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we were “prepping” our apartment for the people to come spray today. This prepping entailed (but is not limited to) removing everything from our walls, shaking it out, and putting it in sealed plastic bags, washing ALL of our fabrics (including clothes left by old sisters, extra bedding, and our entire wardrobes), shaking out each Book of Mormon and pamphlet before bagging it, and moving everything a foot or two from the walls.... it was a crazy ordeal.
The silver lining in this is the Davis’ (a senior couple). They offered to let us stay with them for a few days while we get this all figured out, so luckily, we haven’t had to sleep at home. Thank goodness! I kinda feel bad for imposing on them, but am so grateful for their willingness. I think I mighta had a mental breakdown if I had to live in that apartment the last few days. We’re planning on moving back in on Wednesday. By that time, they will have sprayed once, but they have to spray again in two weeks. Then a few days later, there’s another inspection, then we get the all clear. It’s a crazy process, and one I’m fine never to repeat in my life.
Dad, that saying you always told us at night is taking on a whole new meaning, in way too real of a way recently! I wish bedbugs were still fake, the way I thought when I was young...
I have also decided that bed bugs must be one of Satan’s greatest tools. Because they pretty effectively shut down our area down about 3 days as we have been dealing with them. It’s frustrating. Especially as I get so close to the end of my mission, I wish I could just DO THE WORK. I feel like there are so many things pulling for my attention, that it’s hard to be staying focused like I want. E.g. bedbugs, exchanges with our sisters, RA application, apparently class registration is tomorrow, and still recovering from the last few transfers. It’s been a lot to take in. But, I just take it in stride, and trust it’ll all work out. It always does. Luckily, God is in my side, so everything else can just deal with it (bed bugs included)!
Can we just take a moment to talk about conference for a second? Um, wow! I was so amazed by everything! Yes, the changes, but the messages were so powerful and pertinent! I am sooo excited to read these talks and start to understand more of what the prophet is asking us to do, so that I can follow it more closely. President Nelson gave many promised blessings if we follow specific commandments. What a powerful force for good in the world - prophets. I am so grateful for the blessing of having a living prophet today!
We did have a cool miracle on Saturday! We went to the stake center for conference, and when we pull in, we see some random dude in the parking lot. We figure he’s probably waiting for his elders or something, so we decide to go talk to him. As we walk closer, we tried to bike away, but Sis Walker flags him down! As we talk for a few moments, we find out he just lives nearby, and wasn’t there for any specific reason. So, we invited him to conference, and told him the two times it started both days. His name is Dominic. Then, guess who shows up that afternoon! Dominic. He enjoyed the Saturday afternoon session, and afterword, we hooked him up with the correct elders (he wasn’t Tongan) and did a mini lesson with him. But then, it gets better. He shows up again on Sunday for the afternoon session! This time with his little girl. Isn’t that cool? I feel so blessed to have had that opportunity. Especially because we were both feeling pretty bad, due to what I mentioned about not being able to do much missionary work with the bed bugs the last few days. What a magnificent showing of God’s hand!
Well, that was pretty much my week. It’s been a crazy one. But I am so grateful for the guided instruction by living prophets today, what a miracle!
I love you each sooo much! I hope you have an amazing week! Sorry for another novel!
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks
Well, this week had a lot of shoe picking, and coo-coo knocking, unfortunately! Guess what I found on Wednesday? ..... A BEDBUG!!! We had just started comp study, and I pull up my blanket, look down, and see one! I very calmly (actually, I was pretty calm. Very proud of myself ) set the blanket down, take a picture, and spray it with the poison we have for bugs. We then take a trip down to the apartment office to show them the picture, and the week just kinda went off the rails from that point on! All of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we were “prepping” our apartment for the people to come spray today. This prepping entailed (but is not limited to) removing everything from our walls, shaking it out, and putting it in sealed plastic bags, washing ALL of our fabrics (including clothes left by old sisters, extra bedding, and our entire wardrobes), shaking out each Book of Mormon and pamphlet before bagging it, and moving everything a foot or two from the walls.... it was a crazy ordeal.
The silver lining in this is the Davis’ (a senior couple). They offered to let us stay with them for a few days while we get this all figured out, so luckily, we haven’t had to sleep at home. Thank goodness! I kinda feel bad for imposing on them, but am so grateful for their willingness. I think I mighta had a mental breakdown if I had to live in that apartment the last few days. We’re planning on moving back in on Wednesday. By that time, they will have sprayed once, but they have to spray again in two weeks. Then a few days later, there’s another inspection, then we get the all clear. It’s a crazy process, and one I’m fine never to repeat in my life.
Dad, that saying you always told us at night is taking on a whole new meaning, in way too real of a way recently! I wish bedbugs were still fake, the way I thought when I was young...
I have also decided that bed bugs must be one of Satan’s greatest tools. Because they pretty effectively shut down our area down about 3 days as we have been dealing with them. It’s frustrating. Especially as I get so close to the end of my mission, I wish I could just DO THE WORK. I feel like there are so many things pulling for my attention, that it’s hard to be staying focused like I want. E.g. bedbugs, exchanges with our sisters, RA application, apparently class registration is tomorrow, and still recovering from the last few transfers. It’s been a lot to take in. But, I just take it in stride, and trust it’ll all work out. It always does. Luckily, God is in my side, so everything else can just deal with it (bed bugs included)!
Can we just take a moment to talk about conference for a second? Um, wow! I was so amazed by everything! Yes, the changes, but the messages were so powerful and pertinent! I am sooo excited to read these talks and start to understand more of what the prophet is asking us to do, so that I can follow it more closely. President Nelson gave many promised blessings if we follow specific commandments. What a powerful force for good in the world - prophets. I am so grateful for the blessing of having a living prophet today!
We did have a cool miracle on Saturday! We went to the stake center for conference, and when we pull in, we see some random dude in the parking lot. We figure he’s probably waiting for his elders or something, so we decide to go talk to him. As we walk closer, we tried to bike away, but Sis Walker flags him down! As we talk for a few moments, we find out he just lives nearby, and wasn’t there for any specific reason. So, we invited him to conference, and told him the two times it started both days. His name is Dominic. Then, guess who shows up that afternoon! Dominic. He enjoyed the Saturday afternoon session, and afterword, we hooked him up with the correct elders (he wasn’t Tongan) and did a mini lesson with him. But then, it gets better. He shows up again on Sunday for the afternoon session! This time with his little girl. Isn’t that cool? I feel so blessed to have had that opportunity. Especially because we were both feeling pretty bad, due to what I mentioned about not being able to do much missionary work with the bed bugs the last few days. What a magnificent showing of God’s hand!
Well, that was pretty much my week. It’s been a crazy one. But I am so grateful for the guided instruction by living prophets today, what a miracle!
I love you each sooo much! I hope you have an amazing week! Sorry for another novel!
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks