And another one bites the dust...

pertaining to the title "one" equals "week."

I have not bitten the dust. And neither has my companion. But this week has indeed.. because it ended and we are the last ones standing. DOES THAT EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE! I am so tired right now so I apologize for any grammatical or spelling errors in the following sentences. My english is struggling. It's funny. In chinese "ta" means him and her. So sometimes I just accidently call everyone he in english. It's bad. It's really bad. Lol.

Anyway, HI FAMILY! LOVE YOU!

This week has been... hot. That's the best way to describe it. I feel like a sweaty beast. I wouldn't be surprised if no one wanted to talk to me.... And this isn't even the worst it gets out here apparently. I've already started shedding tears. Meh.

Last week for P-day we played this awesome game. "7 wonders." Get it. Play it. Love it. It's a great game. Totally Anderson.

 

Also on Wednesday we had a lesson with an investigator. She takes care of her sister's kids so she brought one with her. I brought those two little toys you've sent me in packages to let the kid play with. When I pulled them out the investigator said "oh look rong rong, the missionary is giving these to you as a gift!" WHAT WHERE DID SHE GET THAT ABSURD INFORMATION! I made sure to mention that my mom actually sent them to me as a gift. I guess the message that I wanted them back wasn't clear because when we left she put them right into her bag and took them home. There's no hope. She will probably keep them. Oh henry is lost forever... and the other one... I didn't even get a chance to name her. Blah.

I was reading in Mormon recently. Chapter 1 vs 15. Mormon was very young when he got a testimony of the power of Christ and his first reaction was the desire to spread it with all the people. Garrett and Braeden (and Daniel Kron because I know you'll get this): take note. You are all around that age. Your time has come. Go. Read the Book of Mormon. Pray and find out if all of this is true. Then boldly stand up for it. Don't be scared to share your testimony. And of course-- start now to prepare for your missions. You three will knock the ball out of the park, but you have to start preparing now. You can do it! I know the Lord will answer your prayers!

My companion and I have started doing a Body Beautiful Program every morning for our exercise time. It's a beast. And we are total babes. My goal is to have solid abs again before I come home. Holla!

Okay I have to tell you about this HILARIOUS dream I had the other night. In my dream I was laying in bed and I woke up because I needed to use the bathroom, but when I looked over my bed there were TONS of nasty little cockroaches running around. I freaked out because I didn't want them to climb on my bed and I really needed to use the loo. I don't know why I did what I did next but I guess I just felt like it. I took two fingers and started tapping on the wooden base of my bed. I tapped out a cute little pattern. That got their attention. They all lined up at the base of my bed, stood up, and started tapping on the wood and dancing. Shaking their hips, shimmying, the whole nine yards. SO FUNNY! Then my alarm went off and they all scampered away and I woke up. The end (:

The elders in my ward have an investigator that gave them a bunch of toe socks. They gave us each a pair. 

Also-- an investigator (who is not really investigating--he just knows us all) came into church and gave elder hagedorn four pairs of the worlds ugliest sunglasses because he's worried about us all protecting our eyes. SO HILARIOUS!

Another thing-- people here are big into putting kids into shoes that squeak every step. I shall never do that. It's really annoying.

The other day we were coming home late from a temple tour and we were going to be late for our next lesson so we had to book it. Seriously. I've never gone so fast or sweat so much. We made a trip in 11 minutes that we usually do in 25. It's not safe going as fast as we were at that time on that road. I hope to never do it again.

Last Tuesday before our district meeting we hit up IKEA for lunch on our way. We got lost... in IKEA. So hilarious. We were wandering all over the place for who knows how long. Then we were late for district meeting. We had to book it to get there though. I'm turning into a sweaty monster. It's disgusting. So hot here.

Also for finding ideas this week we walked around and talked to people about certain things according to what their dog looked like. Small shaved dogs- we talked about prayer. Small unshaved dogs- we talked about the Book of Mormon. Big dogs- go big or go home, we straight up asked if they knew what baptism was. We ended up having a lesson on the street that way and met a family who is willing to let us come by and teach them this upcoming Wednesday. COOL!

Wow. I just sent a smorgusborg of random things. It's because I made a list of things to mention. 

Moral of the story: I'm having many interesting and fun experiences.

I love it out here. Don't love the heat though. Eeek.

We ate spaghetti last week. So weird. And so good. Except that might be just because it's been awhile... and not because it was REALLY good spaghetti. We also eat a ton of ice cream. BECAUSE IT IS SO HOT HERE!

My investigators are also doing well. Keeping up with everyone and their spiritual needs is kind of stressful, but we're doing our best and I know the Lord will take care of everything else. It's so true though. I am completely unqualified for what I'm doing here... chinese, teaching the gospel, communicating with the ward, training, etc. But somehow things are still going. The Lord's hand is in His work and as long as I'm doing my best, He will make up the difference. I know that's true because I've seen it happen.

One of our investigators whose daughters are fairly recent members made it to church on Sunday. Apparently she really liked it. So happy! She is well on her way to baptism. I absolutely adore her.

Oh there's something. Being on a mission teaches you how to love. I love love LOVE these people. I love their food. Culture. Language. everything. Mostly I love them though. And I know that the Lord loves them too. A lot.

Okay that's all for this week.

You all are so great. Transfers are coming up this week. I'm staying in Xin Zhuang with Sister Boyer because she's still training. Six weeks from now (half way point of the mission--crazy) I could move... or I could stay. Bitter sweet. I'm not sure what I hope to do. Oh I also could train again. It happens. We'll see though. For the next six weeks though (aka beginning of summer- which hasn't started yet), Sister Boyer and I will keep working hard and taking names! Love it!

I love you all so much! Give each other hugs for me. See you in a few (fast sundays) <3

Love,

Cae

ps. there was an earthquake yesterday. Sister Boyers first. Exciting times in the neighborhood!

Oh and I forgot to mention the crazy massive parade thing going on outside our apartment yesterday. Our view was hai hao. The elders got a better view of it and rubbed it in our faces. Terds.

LOVE YOU ALL!

View from her apartment...

 Graffiti she walks by everyday...