Hello Fam,
Looks like I must have come early to the internet cause I only got an email from Katie today. That's cool, no worries. I tried to email jarrett, and kerry and both have come back so maybe something is wrong with myldsmail?? Or you're blocking my emails....:)
well, this week was great and busy! We worked in Tanauan and had a blast with the sisters there. Its beautiful and right on the ocean. We then traveled to Southern Leyte to Sogod zone and worked with Sister Jone's follow up trainer, Sister Borroca and her new trainee. We got to see our batch, Elder Nelson there as well. It is Cebuano J down there so instead of Maayo--its Maajo. Threw me for a loop. I can't understand Cebuano very well anymore either. But it was a fun time. I love going to new areas. It's kind of refreshing. It has its up and downs b/c you work with the people and love them but then you have to leave after a day or so. We then traveled to Maasin zone and worked with Sister Ghouri (she is from Pakistan, got here in December) and Sister Jayson. We were in Hilongos (Sister Lemmon's second area i believe) and I fell in love with that place and the people there. Seriously. I love being a missionary and I had an incredible day. After lunch we went to this bed ridden sister. She can't talk anymore and her left eye has some sort of disease and she was clearly in a lot of pain. We started our lesson by singing, Israel, Israel, God is Calling...(a new favorite by the way) and tears just began streaming down her face. I felt a deep sense of love for her. I found myself turning to Alma 38 and sharing with her that I know she has endured a lot of pain, but God is pleased with her. She will be lifted up at the last day and God is aware of all she is enduring. It was a very tender lesson. The Spirit was very strong and I loved her as I knew my Savior did. I truly felt like his representative. All the lessons that day were unique and powerful and special. I will not forget Hilongos. After all our lessons were done we walked home and Sister Ghouri wanted me to meet her Pakistani friend who lived by them. I was tired but said okay. His name is Tony and he's lived by the missionaries for years and they've tried to teach him for years as well. He is probably in his 30s or 40s. We became fast friends. I seriously felt like I was talking to my best friend. We talked for almost an hour and a half about everything . He is Hindu and I was fascinated by his beliefs and his understanding about faith and God. We talked about Gods nature, His plan, the restoration, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, temples, word of wisdom, organized religion etc. And more than anything else, I know he felt that I was his friend and I cared about him. ITs amazing how Charity works and how Heavenly Father truly allows you to see and serve His children how He would. Being a missionary is such a sacred, special calling. I hope I get to see Tony again some day. He made a big impact on me.
We got to attend the world wide leadership training and I really enjoyed that as well. We had a 3 hour drive home (luckily with the other assistants) and made it back in time for a baptism for the other elders in our ward. This past week flew by as I'm sure this week will too. We have Zone conference and then we travel to Ormoc for three days.
Life is wonderful and time is flying by.
Please pray that we will find an apartment in Tacloban this week! We really need one if we want to build up the area around the chapel. Please, please pray for that! Thanks. :)
Well, hope all is well at home and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY.
And happy birthday to Becca Ann Hall on the 17th!
Love, your missionary,
Sister B.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
2.7.11 Stay to the truth
Hello Family,
This past week has been amazing and busy kaayo. I learned a lot and I'm grateful for Heavenly Father and how he teaches me new things every day. This week we had a great district meeting, or as we like to call them now, revelatory experience, and I learned about faith. I always liked the story from the bible about the father that brings in his son and asks the Savior to heal him. The Savior asks him if he believes. He says yes. . . and then he says, "Help thou my unbelief." My whole mission I have really tried to figure out faith. Especially how faith affects us and other people when everyone has their agency. Basta, I received some personal insight about faith. The father clearly took action and went to the Savior for his son to be healed. . .that is showing faith, right? But (in the movie finding faith in christ) it seems like Christ must have looked at him like he didn't really believe, and then the father said, Help Thou My Unbelief. Perhaps it is not just taking the action with faith, like the father did bringing his son, but I think we also must know in whom we have faith. The father must have realized who it was who was going to heal his son--our Savior and Redeemer. Once he realized that he was humble and meek and he understood more clearly that everything is according to His will. So faith is not just taking action, faith is knowing Christ and knowing He can do anything.
So, the question of the week slash my life--Do you know Christ?? How do you show your faith in Him, but also what do you do to know him?
Sister Jones and I worked in Dagami this week and had a blast! I just love those sisters. They are the best of the best. We then drove up to Catarman (samar) with the other assistants and spent a couple days with the sisters there. It was wonderful and I love them. They are great missionaries! Their area is right on the ocean up there and all the people just live on the sand. It rains constantly and daily and they had a brown out most of the time. Because it was raining (hard) the sand roads/paths were just rivers. It was a lot of fun! There was a leadership training there for the ZLs and DL so we were able to meet up with President and he took us home to Tacloban...thats about a 5-6 hour car drive with our mission president! :) He said you have your mission president for at least 4 hours, you can ask him anything! Haha, and we did. My first question was about his favorite surat..or topping for rice. And we talked about food to languages to his life and mission and about our missions and gospel questions. He's the best.
He texted us earlier this week about enduring to the end and how he sees it now as Stay to the Truth. I like this best and it translates better into waraywaray/cebuano/tagalog. I was reading 2 Nephi 9:18 and really was able to apply it to that. Our lives are full of 'enduring the crosses of the world', but if we stay to the truth, we will "inherit the kingdom of god" and our "joy will be full forever." He has prepared a glorious heavenly home for all of His children. He wants us to be happy now, and in the life to come. This is possible but we must stay to the truth. :)
Today I was also thinking about the Atonement a lot and realized how our Savior can heal our pains and emotional strife now on earth, but also only through the atonement all of our losses here on earth will be made up.
His plan is perfect! Learn of Him, learn of His Plan for you, and be happy. :) Life is so good!
Well, I love you all, I love being the Lord's missionary, and I love this gospel. The true church of Christ has been restored and there is no need to fear. Have faith in Him and all your dreams will come true! I am living proof of that.
Love you all!
Oh have you read the first presidency message this month? It's about missionary work! And the best quote ever DEFINITELY applies to my life.....
Quote of this phase of the mission by President Thomas S. Monson, " The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."
SO! Maybe the Lord is just reshaping me kay I have lots of things he needs me to do! :)
My back is good by the way. I am taking care of it. Could you send me thermacare for the neck, though?
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
ps. this week we needed president to unlock the mission office and we asked him if he could... he texted us back "Just call my name. and i'll be there." yes. just text me. "---we laughed lots and then made him krispy treats for his bday which was Feb. 6. :) he's awesome.
This past week has been amazing and busy kaayo. I learned a lot and I'm grateful for Heavenly Father and how he teaches me new things every day. This week we had a great district meeting, or as we like to call them now, revelatory experience, and I learned about faith. I always liked the story from the bible about the father that brings in his son and asks the Savior to heal him. The Savior asks him if he believes. He says yes. . . and then he says, "Help thou my unbelief." My whole mission I have really tried to figure out faith. Especially how faith affects us and other people when everyone has their agency. Basta, I received some personal insight about faith. The father clearly took action and went to the Savior for his son to be healed. . .that is showing faith, right? But (in the movie finding faith in christ) it seems like Christ must have looked at him like he didn't really believe, and then the father said, Help Thou My Unbelief. Perhaps it is not just taking the action with faith, like the father did bringing his son, but I think we also must know in whom we have faith. The father must have realized who it was who was going to heal his son--our Savior and Redeemer. Once he realized that he was humble and meek and he understood more clearly that everything is according to His will. So faith is not just taking action, faith is knowing Christ and knowing He can do anything.
So, the question of the week slash my life--Do you know Christ?? How do you show your faith in Him, but also what do you do to know him?
Sister Jones and I worked in Dagami this week and had a blast! I just love those sisters. They are the best of the best. We then drove up to Catarman (samar) with the other assistants and spent a couple days with the sisters there. It was wonderful and I love them. They are great missionaries! Their area is right on the ocean up there and all the people just live on the sand. It rains constantly and daily and they had a brown out most of the time. Because it was raining (hard) the sand roads/paths were just rivers. It was a lot of fun! There was a leadership training there for the ZLs and DL so we were able to meet up with President and he took us home to Tacloban...thats about a 5-6 hour car drive with our mission president! :) He said you have your mission president for at least 4 hours, you can ask him anything! Haha, and we did. My first question was about his favorite surat..or topping for rice. And we talked about food to languages to his life and mission and about our missions and gospel questions. He's the best.
He texted us earlier this week about enduring to the end and how he sees it now as Stay to the Truth. I like this best and it translates better into waraywaray/cebuano/tagalog. I was reading 2 Nephi 9:18 and really was able to apply it to that. Our lives are full of 'enduring the crosses of the world', but if we stay to the truth, we will "inherit the kingdom of god" and our "joy will be full forever." He has prepared a glorious heavenly home for all of His children. He wants us to be happy now, and in the life to come. This is possible but we must stay to the truth. :)
Today I was also thinking about the Atonement a lot and realized how our Savior can heal our pains and emotional strife now on earth, but also only through the atonement all of our losses here on earth will be made up.
His plan is perfect! Learn of Him, learn of His Plan for you, and be happy. :) Life is so good!
Well, I love you all, I love being the Lord's missionary, and I love this gospel. The true church of Christ has been restored and there is no need to fear. Have faith in Him and all your dreams will come true! I am living proof of that.
Love you all!
Oh have you read the first presidency message this month? It's about missionary work! And the best quote ever DEFINITELY applies to my life.....
Quote of this phase of the mission by President Thomas S. Monson, " The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."
SO! Maybe the Lord is just reshaping me kay I have lots of things he needs me to do! :)
My back is good by the way. I am taking care of it. Could you send me thermacare for the neck, though?
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
ps. this week we needed president to unlock the mission office and we asked him if he could... he texted us back "Just call my name. and i'll be there." yes. just text me. "---we laughed lots and then made him krispy treats for his bday which was Feb. 6. :) he's awesome.