Barugo Week 16

I'M COMING HOME IN APRIL!

Are you shocked? Yay!

April 15 is my new going-home date. I'm sure more details will be sent to you when the time comes. IT'S SO CLOSE.


Tatay Avila came to church again. That's the 3rd time! He doesn't have any sure baptism date yet though because whenever we go to his house he's drunk. Bah. I'm not really sure what to do about that yet. I'm hoping he'll have a revelation while he visits the church that he shouldn't keep drinking anymore.

The Delmo family came to church again! We're SO HAPPY that we were able to help them come back to the church. We can't even make a schedule for them on Monday nights, because they would rather have their Family Home Evening together. (That's FINE with me! haha) So right now we're preparing Robert and MaryGrace to get baptised on March 5th. Robert is really excited, we've had to slow him down to make sure he knows how important baptism is. MaryGrace is just so cute. She's doing her best to overcome her shyness and she's been practicing praying. She's quick to volunteer when we have lessons together now. :)

We found some new investigators this week that we're excited about. One is a lay minister for the Catholic church in another municipal. He's actually the brother of Brother Abraham, our other investigator. We also found the Brazil family, but we were only able to teach the two mothers, Mila and MaryAnn.

Athena's having some troubles. She hasn't been able to come to church lately. Her mom told her she won't let her take her baby to church anymore because she has to ride the tricycle and they might get in an accident. In general, I don't think her family is supporting her in her decision to be a member. Ahhh!

Some Philippines culture notes:
-You can tell if someone has died in the Philippines. You walk down the street, and there's a big tent set up on one of the lanes and several people are sitting on plastic tables and chairs playing cards and majhong. Then if you walk by, you can actually see a casket inside the house. But I think its so funny that you can spot it completely down the street.
-The people like to joke that if they try to speak English, their nose will start bleeding. (I guess it's because English will make their head hurt from thinking too hard)
-If you wear read, they joke that it's your birthday. "Happy Birthday!"
-Someone does not have to say anything to answer your question, they can just raise both their eyebrows. It's basically the English equivalent of a nod. They also do it to show that they understand what you're saying, or to acknowledge you if you smile at them on the street.
-They don't say "bless you" if you sneeze. That's totally American.

I love you all! I hope you all have a great week. :)
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~the end~

Barugo Week 15

We had some pretty cold weather here this past week! Apparently the snow from Korea was having an effect here and we were getting a lot of rain and cold wind. I don't have a jacket, but I kind of wanted one this week! haha. But it seems like that's over already, so I don't really need to get one.

Sister Delmo and her two daughters came to church this week again. :) She told us that she told her family she's going back to Church. Her family in Luzon are all active members.

I feel like a MOM. I look over all these people, members and investigators. I get so SAD when they keep doing bad things and I feel so HAPPY when I see them make righteous choices. Like when Sister Delmo came to church again. :)

Abraham has prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true, but he says he's only done it once. And whenever we ask, he says he hasn't been able to read the Book of Mormon. So I ask him: Do you feel you are doing your best to know if the Book of Mormon is true? And he nods yes. I've been praying for him to progress ever since we started teaching him. I really don't understand what's going through his head.

Pomelos are in season right now. They are giant citrus fruit. It takes like LEMONADE inside a FRUIT! I've been eating the green colored ones with yellow looking fruit.

Anyway, just a short email today. because I also have to do my application for my Dietetics major in the fall. :)

Love you all! See you next week!

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~the end~

I am a LDS sister missionary serving in the Philippines Tacloban area. I made this blog so that I may share my experiences with my friends and loved ones and anyone who may need to hear my story. My sister will be updating this blog with letters that I'll be writing home.