We had an interesting 1/2 week. I helped free a tarantula from the church, attended a fantastic Temple Dedication Session, our first tomato showed up on our new tomato vines, sticks we stuck into the dirt started to grow and we did a service project with three families.
First the tarantula, as we walked into the church for the Tijuana Mexico Temple Dedication broadcast on Sunday a little boy went running by and said "Have you seen the tarantula yet?" WHAT? I assumed that there was one outside and that was why he was running out the door to go see it with his buddy.
So into the Temple Dedication we went. Incredible spirit in the first dedicatory session. I was fighting back tears the whole session and understood more than half of what was spoken in Spanish, WhooooHooooo!!!! I also understood everything Elder Oakes and President Uchtdorf said, of course they did speak in English ;) Although Pres Uchtdorf did begin and end his message in Spanish I still understood everything he said.
After the session was over we were talking with folks in the foyer area and I look up and there is the tarantula up in the corner of the wall and ceiling. I knew if he stayed there someone would end up killing him, so I saved him. I took a couple of envelopes and got him down and took him outside to be free. I actually wanted to put him in my bare hand but was afraid that the kids had been pestering him and he might react and bite me. That of course could lead to me reacting and speaking in a way that is not conducive to church attendance nor would it be a good example for a missionary to set. But all ended well and the tarantula was set free in the grass to go about his/her life in peace ; )
Now onto the tomato, yes I did say tomato. It is December 15th and we have three tomatoes on our vines that we planted a couple of months ago. We are hoping to eat a few on Christmas Day. Life is good for growing plants when you live everyday in a greenhouse. I am also sure that constantly sweating is good for me ; )
Speaking of living in a greenhouse, what an amazing place, you can actually stick a stick into the ground, water it and it will grow. We replaced all the palms that were in the front of our apartment with tropical flowers and plants. In the process we removed a beautiful plant that had gotten very leggy in an effort to find light among the palms. The man helping us said just cut it down and it will come back as a nice little bush with yellow flowers. He then asked if we wanted more than just one and we said of course. So he cut the leggy branches into sticks about 8 inches long and put about a third of it in the ground. Just water it he said and it will grow. I was skeptical, however here it is two weeks later and they are sprouting leaves. Amazing !!!!!!
Finally we did a service project for three families. We helped them gather the driftwood and construct driftwood Christmas Trees. We completed the trees last night and all were pleased with their trees. We ended up making four different trees as one of the people also wanted a small one for her office. There is just something magical about helping others at any time of the year, but helping three different families get their own Arbol de Navidad was especially rewarding. In fact I didn't even get grumpy despite the fact that I ate lunch at about 1:00 and then didn't get to dinner until after 10:00 pm due to the project. It is an eternal truth, when you serve others you completely forget about yourself and any issues/problems you may have.
With a week and a half left until Christmas I would challenge you to look for ways to serve someone between now and Christmas Day and see how much greater your joy is this Christmas season.
We Love You All and appreciate the prayers and thoughts in our behalf.
Elder and Hermana DeWolf
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