Florida Bound: WE DEFEATED THE SPIDER! 11/17/14

WE DEFEATED THE SPIDER!

Do you remember that missionary-eating spider that was hanging out
right outside the bedroom window in our apartment? (Refer to last
weeks email) Well sometime last week a little white sac appeared under
its belly and we were told that meant it was about to have baby
spiders! We were not about to have that because we were positive those
suckers would find a way into our apartment. So we took pictures and
showed them to management. After a few good screams from various
people in the office they all collectively decided that the best
decision would be for us to open the window just enough to push the
screen off. They said they would then come and replace the screen. So
naturally I grabbed the broom ready to go Spartacus on that window
screen/spider and Sister Yellow opened the window. We have a video
depicting our very hilarious reactions. I am surprised no one called
the police because we screamed as if someone was killing us. It was
pretty epic, but alas the spider was defeated and now we have a new
screen. :)

Holy cow this was a glorious week! When I first came to this area my
companion asked me what my goal was for my last 5 months. I prayed
about it and decided I wanted to have the opportunity to bring one
family into the gospel. I wanted to find them, teach them and be there
for their baptism. About a month ago we found the Welch family. They
have 5 kids and Mike and Kimmy are the parents. They are the best! We
hadn't really been in contact with them for a while, until this week.
We met with them this week and as we taught about the savior's baptism
the spirit was so strong so we stopped and invited them to be
baptized. They all said yes! The youngest one turns 8 on January 1st
so they want to wait and all be baptized together so we set the date
for January 3rd. 9 days before I go home! They will probably be the
last baptism I am able to attend on my mission. Isn't that
incredible!? Heavenly Father really does bless us with the desires of
our heart! Ahhhh I love it!

Oh man this week Heavenly Father chastised me a little bit. Actually
he chastised me rather severely, but that is besides the point. I just
had this overwhelming feeling that he felt I was being extremely
prideful. He reminded me this is his work and not mine. For a second I
felt a little overwhelmed and discouraged, but then I read this
scripture, "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom
I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the
chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out
of temptation, and I have loved you-"
D&C 95:1
After reading that I truly felt an increase of God's love for me. He
corrects us because he loves us. And I truly feel humbled. In all
honesty I feel like I have felt the spirit 10X more powerfully in the
last 24 hours than I have in the last 4 months. The Spirit changes us
if we allow Him to.

Have a great week! I love you!

-Sister Upshaw

"Stop, Hudson Sisters!" #CoolestStreetSignEver