Bugs. Parasites. Rats.

Tonight was Joni Taylor's birthday party. Me, and 5-6 married couples went over to the Taylor's house and ate some cake. We also played Apples to Apples.

Melissa Newman made some very delicious caramel. I had a fun time trying to break off a piece because they were stuck together. It made it into a game, almost. I love games.

I enjoy hanging out with married people!! There is less competition for attention. I wonder why that is....

I was able to talk to some dude.... no idea what his name is... but he served a mission in Mexico. So he was telling me about the horror and happy stories of Central Ameria...... which leads to my next few paragraphs....

When I go to Guatemala, my chances are very high that I will come into contact with a bunch of things that will scare me to death. I have decided to start preparing for this as well.

I searched on Google: How to overcome my phobia of cockroaches.

I found this response, and I decided I will do it.

What you have is a very real phobia, its called Blattodephobia. To over come any phobia it’s a matter of time and patience, but most of all baby steps. (Has anyone seen "What About Bob?!??!!?)

Start with getting hold of a picture of a cockroach, and as many times a day as you can manage look at the picture, starting with just 3 seconds and graduating up slowly over a week to 5 mins of looking at it, depending on how bad your phobia is, touching the picture might be next...again start slowly and build up the amount of time and times you touch it in a day.

Next step would be to get one of those dead ones and put it into a container (or get someone who isn’t scared of them to do it) do the same thing with that, look at it through the plastic for a short period of time and slowly build up that time till looking at it no longer worries you, after that remove the lid of the container and do the same thing, look at it for a period of time, till looking at it directly doesn’t worry you.

The final step would be to catch a live one and do the same thing, look at it through a plastic container with the lid on until it no longer scares you, then the same thing with the lid off the container. Now I know that sounds all very scary and your probably screwing up your face and saying no way I'm not doing that, but honestly, the more exposure you have to them the less your fear will become. If you continue to to go the way you are going you will end up with not only a phobia but an anxiety disorder aswell.

Remember, take it nice and slow, you will not be cured over night.


So there you have it. I WILL cure this phobia. I will not be a pansy missionary. I am going to have a good time in Guatemala... and the silly cockroaches aren't going to ruin it!!!!!!!!!!!