Hi FAM! Urs asked me last week to tell all; the good the bad and the ugly...Well, there just IS NOT enough time to explain the things I wish to tell all of you and I'm sure my emails barely ever make sense anyways, but I will try to give a quick overview of this weeks good bad and ugly.
Good:
JR was baptized on October 23 IN THE NEW CHAPEL!!!!!!!!! The elders also had two people get baptized and then a little 8 year old member. Sister Dustin and I sang "Whenever I Touch a Velvet Rose.." I forgot the name. Anyways, I can not express how wonderful it was! Everyone was sitting down and there were fans and no confusion and no one fell in the ocean or slipped on a rock and it was just sooo much better. We actually arrived early to the church to make sure everything was going smoothly and I literally took off my shoes and walked slowly around, room by room. It was a spiritual experience for me--I was on very sacrad ground. It truly is a house of the Lord and I have so much respect and gratitude for church buildings than ever before.
Sunday! This was the first time we all went to church in the new chapel. EVERYONE was there at 8:30! Actually Marcela and Gloria (President Malit's neices) came up (driven by the APs) and they gave us a ride. They even brought us Dunkin Donuts from Tacloban!! It was A GREAT start to a great day!!! President asked us to be in Primary the first hour and so we walked in and alll the kids were sitting quietly and ready to go. We started exactly at 9am. That has NEVER happened. There was a buzz and excitement in all the people. It was the best Sunday I've ever experienced.
The Andrino family promised us they would finally come to church--John Rey and Maricel are the couple we've been working with for a while to save up money. --John Rey hasn't been to Church since he was baptized years ago... Anyways, when Sister Dustin and I saw him...my eyes filled with tears and Sister Dustin literally lost it and started crying. I can't explain the prayers and pleading and fasting and lessons all for that couple. It was so wonderful to see them in Church.
Everything was organized and ready to go. Sacrament meeting was wonderful and we could actually hear the speakers and hear the words of the sacrament prayer and I wasn't sweating profusely all over. We could actually sit by our investigators too! IT was amazing!
More good: I'm memorizing scriptures and realizing how beneficial it is to have the words of God in your head all the time.
other good: we ate a really good lunch at a members house yesterday--sort of a farewell dinner for some elders going home.
The bad:
It was election so Mikel and David did not come to church.
Ryan won't show up for his lessons.
a group of kids going by on a Jeepney threw a rock at my face--it hurt.
Conchetta and Pedro have a word of wisdom problem but keep telling us they don't. We taught a lesson on lying and how liars are thrust down to hell....it was bold...but bold with the spirit! :)
The Ugly:
The couple we are working with to save up money so she can get baptized and they can go to the temple ...had a rough week. THEY DID GO TO CHURCH which was wonderful, but earlier in the week he got drunk every day and it got really bad that she said she was leaving him. Anyways, to spare all the ugly details, that night I walked home and burst into tears. It was terrible situation. I was devasted. They were progressing sooo much and then satan started realizing that they were doing what was right and really hit John Rey with temptation. . .Well, the next day we were able to teach them and the lesson was one of the best lessons we've taught; about agency. It flowed really well and was guided by the spirit. She doesn't want to leave him, but she can't be with him if he keeps drinking! Its not safe. After the lesson the rest of the week seemed to go better for them and they both came to church. We teach them tonight....Today was the day she said she was going to leave, but we've been praying and fasting that things will improve. John Rey and Maricel Andrino are their names if you want to keep them in your prayers...
Well this week is transfer week. We have no idea what is going to happen. The people in Balaquid are rooting for me to break the record of longest missionary in Balaquid--9 months is the record--we'll see. I'll be happy either way.
Sorry I didn't email yesterday. There were no buses because of election so we couldn't go to Naval until today.
Well, there was also a lot of hilarious things that happened this week, but no time to tell you all about it! Life is wonderful here. There are many ups and downs that happen every hour--its insane. Kiera, I can totally relate to your experience with Ali. I feel that pain almost daily. Its' really really hard. Life of a missionary! Not only do other people's choices really affect you, you also have to deal with your own personal issues of trying to be a better person--its seriously is a refiners fire! But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
I love you so much and pray for you daily!
Love , sister b.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
10.18.10
Hey my favorite people,
So, my comp and i are really trying to get out of this weird 'funk' we are feeling from the people...WE are not in a weird funk, we are doing great--but we kinda don't feel like people really love us anymore. Hah.. Kinda like they are just sick of us. Anyways, we have decided in order to really apply the trainings and follow the counsel of our mission president that "Charity never faileth," we have got to show these people that we love them more. We've decided that one of the ways to do this is be more real and allow them to really get to know us. One way we are doing this is by making sure we share personal experiences in every lesson anddd... we want to show them pictures of our families and our lives. Well, turns out, I did not bring any pictures, so if you all could send (snail mail) some pictures to me that would be appreciated. I would love your pictures from the family reunion, family picture maybe from kiera's wedding (most recent) and also if you can some pictures from me in africa and fiji. We want to share our lives with the people more so that we become more real to them. Anyways, that would be very much appreciated. SALAMAT!
This week went by so fast! October 28 is transfer day..next week! We got a phone call from our branch president that our baptism this upcoming saturday can be in the new church building!!! I really hope that goes through!
We were finally able to watch conference on saturday and sunday. It was incredible. It made me miss temple square a lot. I loved Elder Hollands talk so much. I felt like he talked a lot about gratitude as well as president monson. I love that theme and we had actually just taught a lesson to renato about gratitude and writing out our blessings. We committed him and us to write out 100 things we are grateful for. LEts see...we also had a great lessons with david and mikel this week. We are going to show them some of general conference b/c david said, "i want to see the prophet." As we teach them more and more i see them recognizing truths and becoming stronger and stronger.
We also taught jaime jr. andrino this week. He seemed different and he told us he quit school. We taught him the plan of salvation and about repentance and the atonement. I know he felt the spirit. At the end of the lesson we asked him what he needs to do and one of the things he said was that he really needs to figure out how to get back to school. He was so humble--its kinda of rare to see that with him... We also committed him to coming to church and watch general conference. He said he was shy/embarressed...the last time he came to church was for the district conference in naval back in july..and the time before that was when he was 12....anyways, we show up to church on sunday and he was there sitting in the back by himself. We sat by him. We also heard from someone else that he had done something terrible and that is why he quit school and was hiding in his house all day long... Poor kid. He is different and we know now its because of sin. I hope and pray he will realize that the things we are telling him are the answers he's looking for. He is just drowning and we are doing everything we can to save him. Maybe now he is humbled and will really start to repent and change.
WEll, lets see. urs had some questions for me:
How are you doing? i'm great!
How do you feel about your language? i need a lot of help!
The new church building? hopefully we'll go to church there this week!
How the new members doing? the members are okay. actually a few families seem to be struggling; financially especially, and with other issues. YOu could pray for mollare family and tizon family.
Has monsoon season hit yet? yes. I love monsoon season!!! It rains all the time. and the lightning storms are incredible! actually we were teaching little conchetta and pedro in their little hut and a HUGE storm hit. BAD. one for the books. and they were so scared. they started doing these weird pray/ chants and throwing salt out the window and they also put a machete in the ground right outside their door? A huge lightning strike hit somewhere close and scared us all and then sister d and i started laughing cause we had both been so scared....but they were NOT laughing so we stopped. We would sometimes wonder what all the people living in the little huts would do during such scary storms. And now we know!
Do they have Thanksgiving over there? ummm i doubt they have thanksgiving here b/c that is an american holiday, right? the pilgrims/ the indians.... i don't think they really have halloween either but we saw decorations in the grocery store so that was kind of fun.
What are all my neices and nephews being for halloween!?
Did the clothes fit? YES the clothes fit and i love them. thank you so much! Did you hear there are new guide lines for sister missionaries! Biancs wrote me and was so excited and i just saw the pictures on the branch bulletin board. THey are SOOO MUCH BETTER! haha. and the shoes are great, don't worry. I 'll just make sure to wear them for more formal meetings like zone conference and not during monsoon season cause they are suede. haha.
I love you all. I pray for you all. I could really use prayers with understanding the people here. I really want to improve my every day conversations. The tagalog/cebuano/waray words and sent structure mix has been really tough for me. but i am happy and not letting it get me down. i'm done stressing constantly about it. just trying to be better!
i love you all so much. thanks for your prayers and support.
love,
sister b.
So, my comp and i are really trying to get out of this weird 'funk' we are feeling from the people...WE are not in a weird funk, we are doing great--but we kinda don't feel like people really love us anymore. Hah.. Kinda like they are just sick of us. Anyways, we have decided in order to really apply the trainings and follow the counsel of our mission president that "Charity never faileth," we have got to show these people that we love them more. We've decided that one of the ways to do this is be more real and allow them to really get to know us. One way we are doing this is by making sure we share personal experiences in every lesson anddd... we want to show them pictures of our families and our lives. Well, turns out, I did not bring any pictures, so if you all could send (snail mail) some pictures to me that would be appreciated. I would love your pictures from the family reunion, family picture maybe from kiera's wedding (most recent) and also if you can some pictures from me in africa and fiji. We want to share our lives with the people more so that we become more real to them. Anyways, that would be very much appreciated. SALAMAT!
This week went by so fast! October 28 is transfer day..next week! We got a phone call from our branch president that our baptism this upcoming saturday can be in the new church building!!! I really hope that goes through!
We were finally able to watch conference on saturday and sunday. It was incredible. It made me miss temple square a lot. I loved Elder Hollands talk so much. I felt like he talked a lot about gratitude as well as president monson. I love that theme and we had actually just taught a lesson to renato about gratitude and writing out our blessings. We committed him and us to write out 100 things we are grateful for. LEts see...we also had a great lessons with david and mikel this week. We are going to show them some of general conference b/c david said, "i want to see the prophet." As we teach them more and more i see them recognizing truths and becoming stronger and stronger.
We also taught jaime jr. andrino this week. He seemed different and he told us he quit school. We taught him the plan of salvation and about repentance and the atonement. I know he felt the spirit. At the end of the lesson we asked him what he needs to do and one of the things he said was that he really needs to figure out how to get back to school. He was so humble--its kinda of rare to see that with him... We also committed him to coming to church and watch general conference. He said he was shy/embarressed...the last time he came to church was for the district conference in naval back in july..and the time before that was when he was 12....anyways, we show up to church on sunday and he was there sitting in the back by himself. We sat by him. We also heard from someone else that he had done something terrible and that is why he quit school and was hiding in his house all day long... Poor kid. He is different and we know now its because of sin. I hope and pray he will realize that the things we are telling him are the answers he's looking for. He is just drowning and we are doing everything we can to save him. Maybe now he is humbled and will really start to repent and change.
WEll, lets see. urs had some questions for me:
How are you doing? i'm great!
How do you feel about your language? i need a lot of help!
The new church building? hopefully we'll go to church there this week!
How the new members doing? the members are okay. actually a few families seem to be struggling; financially especially, and with other issues. YOu could pray for mollare family and tizon family.
Has monsoon season hit yet? yes. I love monsoon season!!! It rains all the time. and the lightning storms are incredible! actually we were teaching little conchetta and pedro in their little hut and a HUGE storm hit. BAD. one for the books. and they were so scared. they started doing these weird pray/ chants and throwing salt out the window and they also put a machete in the ground right outside their door? A huge lightning strike hit somewhere close and scared us all and then sister d and i started laughing cause we had both been so scared....but they were NOT laughing so we stopped. We would sometimes wonder what all the people living in the little huts would do during such scary storms. And now we know!
Do they have Thanksgiving over there? ummm i doubt they have thanksgiving here b/c that is an american holiday, right? the pilgrims/ the indians.... i don't think they really have halloween either but we saw decorations in the grocery store so that was kind of fun.
What are all my neices and nephews being for halloween!?
Did the clothes fit? YES the clothes fit and i love them. thank you so much! Did you hear there are new guide lines for sister missionaries! Biancs wrote me and was so excited and i just saw the pictures on the branch bulletin board. THey are SOOO MUCH BETTER! haha. and the shoes are great, don't worry. I 'll just make sure to wear them for more formal meetings like zone conference and not during monsoon season cause they are suede. haha.
I love you all. I pray for you all. I could really use prayers with understanding the people here. I really want to improve my every day conversations. The tagalog/cebuano/waray words and sent structure mix has been really tough for me. but i am happy and not letting it get me down. i'm done stressing constantly about it. just trying to be better!
i love you all so much. thanks for your prayers and support.
love,
sister b.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
10.11.10
Hello Family!
Wow, I just love you all so much! Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. A lot happened this week. My companion and I were both really feeling Satan working on us individually and on our companionship--how annoying he can be! We talked it through, and talked through it again. We then got a text saying we had to go to a leadership training thursday and friday which meant leave wednesday afternoon. I'll be honest, it was an answer to my prayer. It was a weird couple days of knowing satan was trying to get me down, but then after praying for help/ change in our routine we got a text that we needed to go to the leadership training. So that was neat. And it was indeed...exactly what we needed. Haha, well first we got off the van waaay past where we were supposed to so we ended up walking for an hour at night, pitch black. It was hilarious. We felt like such missionaries singing hymns the whole way!
The leadership trainings were wonderful. There is such support when you see other missionaries and the spirit is so strong. We also got to be in small workshops and do role plays and work with president malit. It seriously was exactly what we needed. Heavenly Father is so aware of his missionaries; it amazes me every day.
Sister Dustin and I have been analyzing after each lesson trying to see if we are applying the trainings to its fullest. We are doing better and better. We're kind of experiencing a low with the progression of our investigators, so we keep having to ask ourselves if we are really applying alll the trainings. One thing Elder Teh asked us to do back in July is make sure that the Spirit is our senior companion. So sister dustin and I have literally tried to leave a space for the spirit while we teach--at least for a visual reminder--is that weird? haha.
Pedro, Conchetta, JR all came to church--and sister lemmon guess who else came?!?!?! RAYMOND'S MOM!!! Cecilia has been joining in on our lessons with pedro and conchetta these past few weeks and sister mollare has talked to her lots and she's been reading the pamphlets. It was incredible that she came to church. I am really excited for her. Raymond however, did not come...he worked up in the bukid.
I've realized a couple things this week:
We have to REMEMBER. We sin b/c we forget our savior. We have to Remember Him. Just like it says in the sacrament prayer and all throughout helaman. Remember, REmember.
Also, there are so many mysteries of God. So much for all of us to learn. But if we get frustrated or offended or scared or give up---we harden our hearts-- we will not receive all that he wants us to learn. Alma 12:10-11...... I want to receive the greater portion of the word! Don't we all?? If we harden our hearts we will only receive the lesser portion of the word.."until they know nothing concerning his mysteries!" Our purpose is to learn and grow here on earth and become like him...we can not harden our hearts.
This can be related to pride, selfishness, the natural man...
I'm learning so much and realizing how much i am the natural man and how much the natural man is an enemy to god! I don't want to be his enemy. I just want to be his instrument! Oh the things learned on the mission. :)
Anyways, I am doing well. My health is fine. I gained weight, bahah, but I am good. I am happy and I love my companion and I am excited b/c we get to watch conference this sunday! That will be amazing!
ALSO, I got my bday package at the leadership training!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW SALAMAT!!! NEw clothes! I love them all and especially the colors! Thank you so much. I sent you a letter today mom and dad--thank you! Loved it alll.
Biancs--got your letter! SAlamat! SO good to hear from you. Are you going to chicago next summer?
Happy Birthday to Maya on oct . 14! When are you getting baptized??
Life is good. Don't worry about me! Just keep praying praying praying..thats all i need! And you could send some pics of the family reunion if you wanted...
Love you all lots,
Sister B.
Wow, I just love you all so much! Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. A lot happened this week. My companion and I were both really feeling Satan working on us individually and on our companionship--how annoying he can be! We talked it through, and talked through it again. We then got a text saying we had to go to a leadership training thursday and friday which meant leave wednesday afternoon. I'll be honest, it was an answer to my prayer. It was a weird couple days of knowing satan was trying to get me down, but then after praying for help/ change in our routine we got a text that we needed to go to the leadership training. So that was neat. And it was indeed...exactly what we needed. Haha, well first we got off the van waaay past where we were supposed to so we ended up walking for an hour at night, pitch black. It was hilarious. We felt like such missionaries singing hymns the whole way!
The leadership trainings were wonderful. There is such support when you see other missionaries and the spirit is so strong. We also got to be in small workshops and do role plays and work with president malit. It seriously was exactly what we needed. Heavenly Father is so aware of his missionaries; it amazes me every day.
Sister Dustin and I have been analyzing after each lesson trying to see if we are applying the trainings to its fullest. We are doing better and better. We're kind of experiencing a low with the progression of our investigators, so we keep having to ask ourselves if we are really applying alll the trainings. One thing Elder Teh asked us to do back in July is make sure that the Spirit is our senior companion. So sister dustin and I have literally tried to leave a space for the spirit while we teach--at least for a visual reminder--is that weird? haha.
Pedro, Conchetta, JR all came to church--and sister lemmon guess who else came?!?!?! RAYMOND'S MOM!!! Cecilia has been joining in on our lessons with pedro and conchetta these past few weeks and sister mollare has talked to her lots and she's been reading the pamphlets. It was incredible that she came to church. I am really excited for her. Raymond however, did not come...he worked up in the bukid.
I've realized a couple things this week:
We have to REMEMBER. We sin b/c we forget our savior. We have to Remember Him. Just like it says in the sacrament prayer and all throughout helaman. Remember, REmember.
Also, there are so many mysteries of God. So much for all of us to learn. But if we get frustrated or offended or scared or give up---we harden our hearts-- we will not receive all that he wants us to learn. Alma 12:10-11...... I want to receive the greater portion of the word! Don't we all?? If we harden our hearts we will only receive the lesser portion of the word.."until they know nothing concerning his mysteries!" Our purpose is to learn and grow here on earth and become like him...we can not harden our hearts.
This can be related to pride, selfishness, the natural man...
I'm learning so much and realizing how much i am the natural man and how much the natural man is an enemy to god! I don't want to be his enemy. I just want to be his instrument! Oh the things learned on the mission. :)
Anyways, I am doing well. My health is fine. I gained weight, bahah, but I am good. I am happy and I love my companion and I am excited b/c we get to watch conference this sunday! That will be amazing!
ALSO, I got my bday package at the leadership training!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW SALAMAT!!! NEw clothes! I love them all and especially the colors! Thank you so much. I sent you a letter today mom and dad--thank you! Loved it alll.
Biancs--got your letter! SAlamat! SO good to hear from you. Are you going to chicago next summer?
Happy Birthday to Maya on oct . 14! When are you getting baptized??
Life is good. Don't worry about me! Just keep praying praying praying..thats all i need! And you could send some pics of the family reunion if you wanted...
Love you all lots,
Sister B.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
10.4.10
Hello Family!
This week flew itself by! Tuesday was probably my highlight of the week. I have been praying for a way to discern the needs of the people and help them--especially since my actual speaking skills is not wonderful, i wanted to find ways to serve. WEll, tuesday we had an appointment with John Rey and Maricel. John Rey is very inactive and Maricel is his "wife" (not yet married) and has been an investigator for over a year. She can't get baptized until they get married....now she is pregnant and they are not really too focused on getting married anymore b/c they are worried about money for the baby..Anyways, we've been teaching them all about how they need to save up for their marriage, so she can get baptized , and then they can go to the temple. This has been our theme with them and we actually even made them an awesome "piggy bank" for this purpose and we decorated it and gave it to them last week. It was a fun lesson and we committed them to start saving. WEll, i've been praying specifically for them to follow this commitment ,etc as well as looking for ways to serve them. Tuesday came. WE had an appointment with them at 6 and walked over there and saw a huge pile of lumber blocking the path. John REy was hauling it with someone else and we asked him if we could help. He said "puede!" (you can!) Which was was awesome b/c they never let us realy do any physical labor here! SO, i began hauling lumber and it was dirty and rainy and AWESOME and I felt like i was actually doing something to help him. We hauled lumber for 30 minutes and everyone, everyone was commenting and watching, "Sister, it's dirty! you'll get dirty.! Sister its raining! you're getting wet! Sister its heavy!!! " etc. But it was awesome and I've really missed helping people with physical labor. I LOVED IT. (i'm sure urs and noel are thinking, umm what?? ...haha) Anyways, we went into their little house and john rey came right in and we had a great lesson. He really opened up and thanked us and went on and on about how much he appreciated our help and how because we helped him he was able to get it all done and he couldn't have done it without us. He then went on and on about his life and said that he promised that he would return to church in a few weeks when the church was done and that he was working hard to save so maricel could get baptized and they could get married and go to the temple! He said that! I checked the little piggy bank we made and it didn't have any money in it, but they said wait wait!! They had created another one out of bamboo with just one opening so they could only put the money in it and not be tempted to take it out! Haha. The one we gave them, the top you screwed off and on. I could not believe my eyes and ears. They are both progressing and praying and reading and they both have the same goal and i know that through that small act of service we truly gained his respect and he really is trying to be better and keep his promises he's made to us and maricel. IT was a great night!!!
Brother Pedro came to church--with his crutches!
Randy, rowena, ryan did not. :(
How was conference?!?! I really hope i get to watch it next week!
Life is wonderful here. Thank you for all of your prayers, i truly need it.
Also, I was able to give my mission president the names of Janiel, bill, and the triplets to put on the prayer roll of the Cebu/ Manila temples. It's good to hear janiel's progress. I've been praying for her and her family very specifically.
There was more i wanted to say, but i'm out of time, per usual.
I love you all so much and pray for you each individually. Happy birthday Jordan, on sunday!
Love, Sister B.
This week flew itself by! Tuesday was probably my highlight of the week. I have been praying for a way to discern the needs of the people and help them--especially since my actual speaking skills is not wonderful, i wanted to find ways to serve. WEll, tuesday we had an appointment with John Rey and Maricel. John Rey is very inactive and Maricel is his "wife" (not yet married) and has been an investigator for over a year. She can't get baptized until they get married....now she is pregnant and they are not really too focused on getting married anymore b/c they are worried about money for the baby..Anyways, we've been teaching them all about how they need to save up for their marriage, so she can get baptized , and then they can go to the temple. This has been our theme with them and we actually even made them an awesome "piggy bank" for this purpose and we decorated it and gave it to them last week. It was a fun lesson and we committed them to start saving. WEll, i've been praying specifically for them to follow this commitment ,etc as well as looking for ways to serve them. Tuesday came. WE had an appointment with them at 6 and walked over there and saw a huge pile of lumber blocking the path. John REy was hauling it with someone else and we asked him if we could help. He said "puede!" (you can!) Which was was awesome b/c they never let us realy do any physical labor here! SO, i began hauling lumber and it was dirty and rainy and AWESOME and I felt like i was actually doing something to help him. We hauled lumber for 30 minutes and everyone, everyone was commenting and watching, "Sister, it's dirty! you'll get dirty.! Sister its raining! you're getting wet! Sister its heavy!!! " etc. But it was awesome and I've really missed helping people with physical labor. I LOVED IT. (i'm sure urs and noel are thinking, umm what?? ...haha) Anyways, we went into their little house and john rey came right in and we had a great lesson. He really opened up and thanked us and went on and on about how much he appreciated our help and how because we helped him he was able to get it all done and he couldn't have done it without us. He then went on and on about his life and said that he promised that he would return to church in a few weeks when the church was done and that he was working hard to save so maricel could get baptized and they could get married and go to the temple! He said that! I checked the little piggy bank we made and it didn't have any money in it, but they said wait wait!! They had created another one out of bamboo with just one opening so they could only put the money in it and not be tempted to take it out! Haha. The one we gave them, the top you screwed off and on. I could not believe my eyes and ears. They are both progressing and praying and reading and they both have the same goal and i know that through that small act of service we truly gained his respect and he really is trying to be better and keep his promises he's made to us and maricel. IT was a great night!!!
Brother Pedro came to church--with his crutches!
Randy, rowena, ryan did not. :(
How was conference?!?! I really hope i get to watch it next week!
Life is wonderful here. Thank you for all of your prayers, i truly need it.
Also, I was able to give my mission president the names of Janiel, bill, and the triplets to put on the prayer roll of the Cebu/ Manila temples. It's good to hear janiel's progress. I've been praying for her and her family very specifically.
There was more i wanted to say, but i'm out of time, per usual.
I love you all so much and pray for you each individually. Happy birthday Jordan, on sunday!
Love, Sister B.