Really don't like spiders

Another week has come and gone. I swear, I sat down to write you all yesterday. I hope you're all making the most of your time because it's flying by faster than we think. October has been so fun. This week was an incredible one for the work - our investigators are so incredible. Progressing so much. Don't be surprised if I report two baptisms by the end of next month. This truly is the Lord's work. 

So, it's hot. October in Australia is hot. I'm not very happy about it. But it's fine. Enjoy your beautiful October Arizona weather, to all my AZ friends back home. Or wherever else you are, in the correct hemisphere. October shouldn't be hot.

Speaking of October, Halloween is coming up. I spent about twenty minutes earlier this week explaining Halloween to my companion. It was totally foreign to him. The thought that people get dressed up in weird costumes and go knocking door to door for treats was totally bizarre. Things completely fell apart when I tried to explain why pumpkins and bats and skeletons and witches and ghosts and such are all associated with the holiday. So, anyway, enjoy the adventure that is Halloween in a few weeks. I expect to hear you all dressed up well. 

Game night again. It was Werewolf this time. You can pretty much go back and read last week's bit about Catan and it's pretty much the same. I hadn't any clue what was going on, I was picked off in the beginning. Still, somehow won. I think. Anyway, that was fun. Our branch is incredible. I love our members - so many recent converts, working hard to hold onto the truth and the gospel light they've found. I've seen people who've given up so much to follow Christ. It's humbling to see their testimonies. 

So, I met my first real Australian spider this week. Yes, I mentioned Peter last week, but he sits still and is nice. This one was huge and wriggling and in my flat where he didn't belong. No clue how he got in. I thought growing up in AZ, I'd seen enough spiders to not have a problem. But, no. I don't like spiders.

Chinese is still the same adventure it always is. Things are still slow and steady. But hey, I learned to say "Spider-Man" and "Soft Chicken Cake" and "Help me, I'm bleeding" so things are going well. 

[It's alright, mother. Just the vocabulary. I only needed to use one of those in practice. You can guess which.]

This last Sunday was incredible because we had 3 of our investigators show up, which isn't common. John and Leo and Lian Rong all came. I don't think it's really hit me all that hard until now that I'm the missionary; I'm the guy in the suit and tie with the name badge who answers the investigators questions that might change their life. So when John leaned over during the first sacrament talk and out of the blue asked what was wrong with tea and coffee, it hit me like a brick wall. I'm so grateful that the Lord has given me this opportunity to be His hands in this small corner of the vineyard. I'm so far from perfect. Honestly, I feel more like a child than a missionary 95% of the time. But we give our best and trust that He will take us the rest of the way. 

As always, I miss you all lots. Stay faithful, stay hopeful. Find ways to serve those around us. God will take us all the way. 

Love you all. 加油. 

Elder Blackhurst