We've been trying to teach our investigators about sacrifice. President Malit has focused a lot on sacrifice the past couple of months. I think I'm finally starting to understand... at least a little bit. For me, I've realized that the motivation for sacrifice is LOVE. Of course there are people who make sacrifices for their personal benefit, but when those sacrifices are for someone else the only motivation can be love. I've realized now a lot more of the sacrifices that my parents and my sisters or friends have made for me, and how much they really do love me. :)
I wrote last week about how we had a Tsunami threat for a while because of the earthquake that happened in Japan. The Tsunami never happened, but there was a lot more flooding in our areas. And then for some reason, ever since Tuesday it has rained almost straight everyday. Yesterday and today are the first time we're really seeing the sun come out. Some communities in our area have flooded, but Sister Salando and I never really noticed. Some other missionaries areas are up to the waist with flood. All and all, I think that we got off pretty well. No major problems.
Out of all those young men we've been teaching in Banana Island, one of them came to Church again on Sunday! :) His name is Gardo. It's so funny how these young men are all peer pressuring each other to do good. "Hey, you should read the Book of Mormon!" "Hey, let's all get baptized!" But like I said last week, they still get kind of embarrassed of Churchy kind of things.
Since Mom asked, this is somewhat of what the schedule (I think) will be.
I'll be leaving my assigned area on April 12 and be in Tacloban for the day. Early in the morning on April 13 we're going to fly to Manila and visit the temple. :) I don't know if we'll spend the night there in Manila, or if we will only spend a couple of hours there.
So I'll probably actually arrive home about April 14 or 15. I'm not sure of the date. I'll arrive home the same date I leave though (because of the time differences haha.)
I love you all lots! I'm excited to see you!
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Barugo Week 20
Barugo Week 19
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Barugo Week 18
I was not transfered. Sister Mangubat was transferred! Ahh. She was super sad because our investigators are awesome.
I'm actually training my last transfer here... Wow! Sister Salando is my new companion. That makes a grand total of 12 companions in the mission. hoho. 8 in the mission field. She's from Manila and speaks Tagalog. Because I've been here for so long, I already understand really basic Tagalog, so I mostly understand her. I just speak English to her because she doesn't understand Waray-waray yet. Ahh! Languages in the Philippines are so mixed up all the time. I still speak a crazy mix of English, Tagalog, Waray waray and Cebuano. Most of the challenges of training are not even there, because Sister Salando is Filipina! She already knows how to cook and do laundry and there's absolutely no culture shock. She just needs help with the paperwork and the language haha. She has a family of 9, and only 3 are members of the Church. She's the only one to serve a mission. I can already tell she has great love.
We had a great lesson with Laziel this week. As we were talking to her I just asked the two questions that President Malit asked us to ask our investigators: "What's the biggest problem why you can't come to church?" She told us the biggest problem is pamasahe. (travel fare) So I asked the second question: "What can you sacrifice so that you'll be able to have 20 pesos to come to church on Sunday?" She looked at us and said: "Alot!" She said she would wait for the bus after school instead of riding on the sidecars so she can save 5 pesos on her way home, and she said she would stop giving her friends pesos whenever they ask for one. haha. And then on Saturday afternoon, we asked her how it was and we asked her if she had saved up pamasahe for tomorrow and she said Yes she was going to go.
But for some reason she never showed up on Sunday! Bah. But that's the closest she's ever come to coming to church! Baaaaah! Maybe next week.
Sister MayAnn and Mila came to church too! It was super awesome. :) We went to their house to pick them up, and they were just waiting for us! They just locked the door and then we all went to church. :) Sister Mila has already read up to 2nd Nephi 2. Sister MayAnn is in chapter 18 of 1 Nephi. They've read more in the Book of Mormon in 2 weeks than ANY OTHER INVESTIGATOR EVER! They're both so nice and sweet. I'm glad I get to be their missionary.
I love you all so much! <3 I'm excited to see you all fairly soon. Everyone is shocked I only have 1 transfer left. I don't remember what life was like back home. x_X
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Barugo Week 17
I'm so sorry I don't have any pictures. I've been trying to send some for a while. We weren't able to go to Tacloban today, so the internet cafes here in Carigara don't let you upload pictures. :( I've been meaning to for weeks!
This week felt long, but not because it was bad. It was pretty good.
On Tuesday, we had Zone conference (it's been a long time since I've went to one! They only do it every 3 months now instead of every transfer.) We started out with a great training from the new traveling Sisters (Sister Jones and Blonquist) We left the chapel so we could practice teaching by asking inspired questions from the Spirit in the cultural hall. As we sat down and started, I quietly prayed in my heart that I would be able to understand our investigator's needs. And then I had the most amazing experience where the Spirit told me a very specific question as we were teaching E. Benaires as the investigator. I asked him that question, and he said, yes it was true. I was OVERWHELMED with the feeling of the Spirit. I just started to cry. I couldn't even speak, so Sister Mangubat took charge of the rest of our small lesson. It was amazing. As I've been reflecting on that, I realize that was the exact same feeling when I first went to the temple. I felt so full of a strong presence. I especially feel very grateful that my Heavenly Father gave me that experience.
The next day we had splits with the traveling Sisters. I was with Sister Jones. We had a very wonderful lesson with our new investigators, Mila and Maryann. We spent a lot of time teaching about finding out if it's true through prayer. We also taught about what exactly the Spirit would feel like. And then we had Maryann give the closing prayer and ask if it was true. She was apprehensive about giving the prayer (usually they are when they are not used to praying) After some encouragement she gave a very nice prayer and then paused. She asked if the Book of Mormon was true and asked where is the church that they should be going to. She closed the prayer and then she started to cry! She couldn't even talk! She just kept rubbing her eyes. (Just like what happened to me... haha) We told her that feeling was the Spirit. It was so GOOD. We were able to teach them several times this week, and last Saturday the entire family (all 10 of them!) came and listened to the Plan of Salvation. We're so HAPPY to be able to teach this wonderful family. :)
We taught Robert every single day this week (except Monday, because the Delmo family don't want us coming over because they have Family Home Evening haha). He is ALL ready for his baptism scheduled this Saturday! Yay! :)
(Nanay means "Mom")
We were also so happy when Nanay Luz came to church! She's this sweet old lady who just nervously laughs all the time. This is her second time she has visited the church. But it was even more special this time because she came to church on her OWN! She had a tendency to talk about how "We all believe it one God, so it doesn't matter what church we go to." So we taught specifically about the Apostasy and how only 1 church can be the one that Christ established. By the time we left she said: "So there's only 1 true church?" And then we invited her to pray to know if this was His church. And then she came to church! Yay!
It's transfer week this week. This next assignment, whether it be in Barugo or another place will be my last transfer! Ahhh!!
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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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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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