Octopus... :/

Hello hello to my bestest of friends!! I hope you've all had a super fantabulous week!

This week has been so good! Sister Cox is the bomb.com and I love that girl/Sister so much. She's nothing like me--she's from Vegas, plays loads of sports, has a resting mad/tired face, has a very quiet voice, is super funny, and is very tough and not emotional AT ALL(don't think I'll be doing much crying this transfer). Still, we've had a party. I actually really really really do love her. She's so nice and so awesome!

For New Years, we went to Hannah and Fairley's and ate some yummy food and played games (The Great Dalmuti! Haven't played that for AGES). Then we went home and did some stuff that I can't remember. Thursday, we were outside GQing, and this drunk guy that I had met a few weeks ago on a bus (He had sat next to me and flirted the whole ride home. Sister Peterson told me to set up a QA with him. I was like NO WAY JOSE. I didn't.) came up to me and asked for a hug. I was like, "Uh, I'm sorry, but we actually can't hug guys." He was getting closer and closer and actually grabbed my hips. I was a bit scared at this point, and was worried that he would try and kiss me like Sister Mac said some guys would do, and I said "I CAN'T HUG YOU" and I pushed myself out of his grip. He just walked away. There are some pretty weird people here.

But yeah, we GQed lots this week and met some pretty cool people and set up some appointments with a few others. So far they've all fell through, but we keep praying! We also chapped for the first time since I've been here! It was the best! Yesterday, it was cold and rainy, and we were going door to door, and an older lady answered one. And guess what! She actually INVITED US IN!! Her name is Josephine, and she's very very Catholic, but was so nice and fed us hot chocolate and cookies. We asked her bunches of questions about Catholicism, and she asked bunches about ours. In the end, we taught her the whole Restoration and Plan of Salvation and some other bits and pieces. It was pretty neat. She still wasn't interested, but we left her with a card and our number if she ever needed anything.

Another noteworthy experience. I ate an OCTOPUS! It was really small, small enough to shove the whole thing in your mouth and still have room. I felt a bit nauseous while I was chewing the thing. It tasted alright, but thinking about the wee tentacles made me feel icky. We were at Sister Myra Quinn's home for dinner. She's the Filipino lady that used to cook for a Malasian king. There was a huge spread of Filipino and Chinese food on the table, and octopus was among them. I didn't feel too good the next day. My belly was doing weird things, and I was miserable and physically incapable of going out, so we had to stay in the house. I'm not positive it was the food that did it, because no one else had any problems, but I don't know what else it could've been. Anyway. Worst day of my mission.

Yesterday was our first two hour church! It was weird, and'll take some time getting used to. I'm kind of stressing out about not being able to do as deep a study of the Come Follow Me book as I would like, since we don't have any extra time given to do anything with it, but I've been trying to involve it in my hour of personal study every day. I think it'll just take a bit more time and adjusting. But this program is heaven-sent. It's absolutely amazing. Read it and study it with your families and friends, and I KNOW that you'll love it, and will see the growth of the spirit in your own life and in the lives of your loved ones.

I've been thinking about and studying about Christ a lot recently. I've been imagining myself being the one that He's talking to or interacting with in the stories that I've read. Being one of the Nephites who were given the opportunity to thrust their hands into His side, to feel the prints in His hands, and kiss His feet. Being that woman with the problem of blood that touched the hem of his robe and was healed because of faith. Seeing Him and His smile, and being embraced and blessed by Him ( in Our Search for Happiness). My heart swells whenever I think of it, and tears come to my eyes, and all I want to do is live worthily, so that I can see Him and embrace Him and kiss Him and be kissed by Him. What a glorious day that will be.

I love my Saviour. I know that He lives. I know that He loves us all. And I know that through Him, we can come unto Him. Because really, we would be stuck in one place without him, or we would be stuck going backwards, away from Him. Let His grace cover you. And let His love fill you!

Oh my goodness, I love you all so much, and I miss you all! Have a wonderful week :)

Lots and lots of love,
Sister Syphus X
(Sister Cox and I didn't take ANY pictures! I can't even believe it! Next week, I promise!)
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Hi Mamma!

Thanks for the updates :) I don't usually hear from anyone but you and Kylie. Dad has emailed often in the past, and Kate does it every now and then, but you two are my regulars. I appreciate and love seeing your names in my inbox!

I'm sorry that your cough is still bugging you. I'm praying for you all that you'll all get over you colds quickly! And that's really neat about the gifts! You're too unselfish. Don't think I'll ever be as good as you!

You should send me some pictures of the backyard and the brick path! I'd love to see it!

I was just talking to Sister cox about my car, and I was wondering if you had gotten rid of it yet. Pretty sad, but I'm glad I don't have to deal with it anymore!

Thank you for sharing Aaron's thought with me. That's actually really beautiful, and I think I needed it. That boy is eloquent.

I'm sorry this is clipped and short! I love you so much and I miss youuuuu!!!!!!!!