Maupay nga Kulop mga sangkay ngan pamilya nakon!
HI.
This week has been insane. I have never. ever. seen. this. much. rain. It literally rained every single day, all day long. It wasn't just pouring for a little bit, then drizzle, then pour...It was intense, extreme rain. I thought last Saturday was bad with the flooding in our area, but it was nothing like this week. Our apartment was fine, no worries, but outside of our apartment is an internet cafe area and tindahan and then the road, and that was all flooded. Not just our area which floods often, but pretty much our whole mission was flooded. In and near Tacloban there were reports of landslides and flash flooding. In our area it was got higher than a meter in a couple subdivisions. People were evacuated, including our Relief Society President. We were walking everywhere in water past our knees. I bought rain boots, but then the water was above that, so it only was helpful the days when the water went down a bit. Not only was it flooded but it also would not stop raining so while we were trudging through the flood we were getting soaked. All week long. It was awesome. We seriously almost bought a raft. People did actually make make-shift boats and were paddling around or getting there kids from place to place. The elders had to go bring relief goods to a member in the middle of the jungle and road on someones boat. They said that the water was at least 5 feet deep. On Saturday we got to help the relief society organize and deliver relief goods to members. So, needless to say we didn't do a lot of teaching in all the crazy rain and flooding, but we helped a little bit. Oh also the night it was really bad we were on our way to contact an old investigator and both felt like we needed to go to the Bishops house. We got there and the water was just barely starting to creep into their house. We helped them move things upstairs of the vacant apartment that we almost moved into... By the time we were done 20-30 minutes, there was 2 inches of water already.
A lot of people were effected and everyone is talking about the calamity...and members of the church keep talking about the last days.
Our investigator Joey will be baptized April 1. He is awesome and doing well, except he fell from fixing something in the ceiling and we think he broke his heal! Keep him in your prayers please. He is in a lot of pain, but still came to church and has a great attitude.
We have another investigator, Junie who cracks me up. I really like him a lot. We taught him one time last week and discussed the restoration and focused on authority and living prophets. Yesterday we were able to teach him again. He said that when he read the Book of Mormon it confused him so he shut the book. He said he searched the Bible and found scriptures that said don't add anything to the Bible. We discussed that and some of his other concerns and then read 2Nephi 32. It was a perfect chapter for him; all about praying and reading the scriptures. We discovered his real concern--he wouldn't pray to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. We had a great lesson and he is really funny and makes us laugh. At the beginning of the lesson he said he couldn't promise to read or pray or anything and wasn't open to it. But in 2 Nephi 32 it talks about the people who are closed to the truth. He talked about his family and his neighbors that are "closed" b/c they are Catholic and they don't give anything else a chance. I then looked at him and said, Didn't you just tell us you closed the Book of Mormon and wouldn't read it? He understood and started laughing. By the end of the lesson he said he would read and he would pray. The Spirit was strong and he did ask Heavenly Father in the closing prayer if the book was true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I felt the Spirit very strongly. I think he did too. He said he still had doubts , but he would read. I keep praying that he will start reading the Book of Mormon and not be able to put it down. If people would only give this book a chance!
HEY HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY MOSSY MAGS!
We got an oven! Us and another set of sisters in the mission are the only ones with ovens! SO, we made enchiladas for our office lunch on Sunday. AMAZING. Mexican food is sorely missed here. IT WAS SO GOOD. And expensive to make, but worth it.
My back pain is off and on, but still there. It was pretty bad this past week and even now. I wonder if the rain has anything to do with that??
Basta, life is wonderful. Oh, my scripture of the week was Doctrine and covenants 66:3. All about being better and better through repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ.
OH! And one of the new office elders--filipino--learning how to drive, drove the mission van into the grass/jungle on the side of the office. Really bad. They couldn't get it out and even had rescue team come. It was hilarious and had to sit there overnight until they brought in a crane. Poor elder. He was so scared/ embarrassed. Then when President showed up he looked at him and President giggled and gave him a thumbs up! Haha. :) He is taking a little break from learning how to drive for a while.
Well, we are moved in and loving our new apartment.
Thanks for all you support and prayers!
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
3.14.11
Hey Fam!
A few fun highlights of my past week:
the word Tori in waraywaray means ----circumcise. awesome. thanks for that urs and noel. Glad no one here knows my first name! :)
I got the LARGE package that went to the netherlands and back! Everything was awesome and I was so happy! thank you thank you thank you! It was like christmas all over again!
One night this week as we were walking back from our appointments sister jones shared with me her thoughts about "Munchies." If you don't know what those are, they are a delicious assortment of chips--doritoes, cheetos, sunchips, pretzels. She proceeded to tell me her theory as to why it is the best chip bag of all existence. I agreed. One main reason is that this bag of chips brings you on a journey of your life time. It takes you through all phases of life....for example: the cheeto-childhood. what kid has not had cheeto fingers??? the dorito--middle school age. you know you are a cool kid when you have doritos. youre too old for the cheetos now... then sunchips--a little more health conscience...high school/college. pretzel--older phase/ any phase. Everyone loves pretzels. You cannot go wrong! Well, basta, we talked for almost 30 min about our love for munchies. And then we went home to tanauan and told the sisters about it. They were convinced it is the best bag ever.
THE NEXT MORNING...we walk into the office and there is a large manila like envelope with our names on it on our desks. We realized it was presidents handwriting and opened it immediately...and guess what we found..............MUNCHIES.
I AM NOT EVEN KIDDING HE IS THE MOST INSPIRED MAN ON EARTH. !!!! Well, then there was a note inside that said, " in this pack you will find the pretzels you have been looking for. (i think)." I had told President over a month ago on our trip back from Catarman how much I loved pretzels and there were none in the Philippines. I couldn't believe it. We were so happy. Food makes me soooo happy!! Some things never change...
THEN! Last week some of the elders kept saying to us, "Something good is coming your way. Be excited." We didn't get it...Then today we come back from lunch and on our desk is a whole pan of peach cobbler that they had made for us!! As sister dustin would say, " You're like a man. They way to your heart is through your stomach. " True. :) They elders are so nice! They said it was their thanks for all we do and all the snacks/treats we always make them. Love those random acts of kindness!
So this week was hilarious. We got punted and punted and punted again. We loved working in our area, but it is hard work starting from scratch. But, thats what we did in Dagami, so its fine. :) We've met some pretty interesting people and we weren't sure if we should move forward with them or not...
Oh! Sorry this is jumbled. Two days ago I was struggling a bit and having a nice conversation with Heavenly Father. My struggling had to do with the language....its epically difficult. (Our Ward mission leader served here years ago and he said it took him 3 years to learn warywaray!! and 3 months to learn cebuano...he is a filipino from manila...so that made me feel a bit better...) Basta, I had a rough night and I had the thought that I should wake up at a certain time (real early) and study the language every day for the rest of my mission... I was praying and told Heavenly Father that if He too agreed with my plan please wake me up at that said time the next morning. ( I didn't have my alarm set that early.) I went to sleep.
Then randomly in practically the middle of the night I woke up at that time and I knew Heavenly Father was okay with my plan and was ready to bless me for the extra effort and sacrifice I was willing to put forth. SO, heres to the last phase of the mission really working hard with this language and everythingggggg else! :) Pretty cool story though, right? I know this is what i'm supposed to do.
So. We didn't have a tsunami, but we were on a level 2 alert for one meter high wave. Instead of that we got rain and tons of flooding. Our area is known for how flooded it gets. Our area has 6 phases and extensions and phase two is often referred to as phase "Tubig" (tubig=water in waray). Basta we had appointments in the morning so we ventured out. DRenched. Completely drenched to the bone. We were walking in water up to our knees. AFter our appointments we had to change and hang out clothes in the office in front of the fans/aircon.
We had some really great lessons and we have an awesome investigator--Joey! He is getting baptized april 1. He is totally and completely prepared. Everything makes sense to him. He is 52 years old and a referral from a great member. We just love him and he knows that this is his time to change and find purpose in his life. He told us he wanted a peace of mind and we were reading from the word of wisdom pamphlet the other day with him and that is a specific blessing from keeping the word of wisdom. It was really neat when he read that.
We also talked to a teacher last night who teaches bible as literature. He and his students have lots of questions about mormons and lds so we got to sit and talk with him. It was really fun to answer his questions. He is very respectful of our beliefs and interested in learning the truth about the mormons. I liked him a lot and i'm hoping to teach him again.
We go to balaquid this week for leadership training meetings and then we stay in balaquid and work! I'm going back to my first area! I'm excited but a bit nervous! haha.
well, i hope all is well!
love you all!
love , your missionary,
sister b.
ps--we are moving into our new apartment! its brand new and awesome and it all fell into place! what a perfect answer to our prayers! we are so excited to work work work and live in our area! no more traveling for 3 hours a day with creepy old men on the jeepny! (oh i didn't explain about that story, but it was ridiculous! ) :)
A few fun highlights of my past week:
the word Tori in waraywaray means ----circumcise. awesome. thanks for that urs and noel. Glad no one here knows my first name! :)
I got the LARGE package that went to the netherlands and back! Everything was awesome and I was so happy! thank you thank you thank you! It was like christmas all over again!
One night this week as we were walking back from our appointments sister jones shared with me her thoughts about "Munchies." If you don't know what those are, they are a delicious assortment of chips--doritoes, cheetos, sunchips, pretzels. She proceeded to tell me her theory as to why it is the best chip bag of all existence. I agreed. One main reason is that this bag of chips brings you on a journey of your life time. It takes you through all phases of life....for example: the cheeto-childhood. what kid has not had cheeto fingers??? the dorito--middle school age. you know you are a cool kid when you have doritos. youre too old for the cheetos now... then sunchips--a little more health conscience...high school/college. pretzel--older phase/ any phase. Everyone loves pretzels. You cannot go wrong! Well, basta, we talked for almost 30 min about our love for munchies. And then we went home to tanauan and told the sisters about it. They were convinced it is the best bag ever.
THE NEXT MORNING...we walk into the office and there is a large manila like envelope with our names on it on our desks. We realized it was presidents handwriting and opened it immediately...and guess what we found..............MUNCHIES.
I AM NOT EVEN KIDDING HE IS THE MOST INSPIRED MAN ON EARTH. !!!! Well, then there was a note inside that said, " in this pack you will find the pretzels you have been looking for. (i think)." I had told President over a month ago on our trip back from Catarman how much I loved pretzels and there were none in the Philippines. I couldn't believe it. We were so happy. Food makes me soooo happy!! Some things never change...
THEN! Last week some of the elders kept saying to us, "Something good is coming your way. Be excited." We didn't get it...Then today we come back from lunch and on our desk is a whole pan of peach cobbler that they had made for us!! As sister dustin would say, " You're like a man. They way to your heart is through your stomach. " True. :) They elders are so nice! They said it was their thanks for all we do and all the snacks/treats we always make them. Love those random acts of kindness!
So this week was hilarious. We got punted and punted and punted again. We loved working in our area, but it is hard work starting from scratch. But, thats what we did in Dagami, so its fine. :) We've met some pretty interesting people and we weren't sure if we should move forward with them or not...
Oh! Sorry this is jumbled. Two days ago I was struggling a bit and having a nice conversation with Heavenly Father. My struggling had to do with the language....its epically difficult. (Our Ward mission leader served here years ago and he said it took him 3 years to learn warywaray!! and 3 months to learn cebuano...he is a filipino from manila...so that made me feel a bit better...) Basta, I had a rough night and I had the thought that I should wake up at a certain time (real early) and study the language every day for the rest of my mission... I was praying and told Heavenly Father that if He too agreed with my plan please wake me up at that said time the next morning. ( I didn't have my alarm set that early.) I went to sleep.
Then randomly in practically the middle of the night I woke up at that time and I knew Heavenly Father was okay with my plan and was ready to bless me for the extra effort and sacrifice I was willing to put forth. SO, heres to the last phase of the mission really working hard with this language and everythingggggg else! :) Pretty cool story though, right? I know this is what i'm supposed to do.
So. We didn't have a tsunami, but we were on a level 2 alert for one meter high wave. Instead of that we got rain and tons of flooding. Our area is known for how flooded it gets. Our area has 6 phases and extensions and phase two is often referred to as phase "Tubig" (tubig=water in waray). Basta we had appointments in the morning so we ventured out. DRenched. Completely drenched to the bone. We were walking in water up to our knees. AFter our appointments we had to change and hang out clothes in the office in front of the fans/aircon.
We had some really great lessons and we have an awesome investigator--Joey! He is getting baptized april 1. He is totally and completely prepared. Everything makes sense to him. He is 52 years old and a referral from a great member. We just love him and he knows that this is his time to change and find purpose in his life. He told us he wanted a peace of mind and we were reading from the word of wisdom pamphlet the other day with him and that is a specific blessing from keeping the word of wisdom. It was really neat when he read that.
We also talked to a teacher last night who teaches bible as literature. He and his students have lots of questions about mormons and lds so we got to sit and talk with him. It was really fun to answer his questions. He is very respectful of our beliefs and interested in learning the truth about the mormons. I liked him a lot and i'm hoping to teach him again.
We go to balaquid this week for leadership training meetings and then we stay in balaquid and work! I'm going back to my first area! I'm excited but a bit nervous! haha.
well, i hope all is well!
love you all!
love , your missionary,
sister b.
ps--we are moving into our new apartment! its brand new and awesome and it all fell into place! what a perfect answer to our prayers! we are so excited to work work work and live in our area! no more traveling for 3 hours a day with creepy old men on the jeepny! (oh i didn't explain about that story, but it was ridiculous! ) :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
3.7.11
Hello Family!
This week was transfer week! This week was also our first week focused
in our area! It was a great week and we didn't get transferred so now
that most of all the traveling is done throughout the mission we can
bring sisters here to work with us!
This week Sister Brinton worked with us. It was great to have my anak
back for a little bit. I am so proud of her! Sister Jones, Sister
Brinton, and I all worked together and we liked our threesome. We were
able to teach some great people and the Spirit was strong. We had one
really good lesson with some new investigators that I am excited
about. Aiza, Teresa, Marene.
On Wednesday we spent the whole day finding and contacting. Sister
BRinton was with Sister Jones and I was with a 13 year old ward
missionary. It was awesome. We met a lot of people and set some
appointments. At the end of the day I noticed the 13 year old
(thadda), saying Hi Po, good afternoon Po, Kamusta Po, to everyone and
I finally noticed and looked at her and asked if she knew them...cause
the way she said it made it sound like she did...She said nope! I'm
just being like you! I'm going to serve a mission too and I'm just
being friendly, like you! She also said Sister Brinton was Taylor
Swift, I was Britney Spears, and Sister Jones was Lady Gagga. . .
yeah. Haha. Basta, while contacting with her we found a lady and her
daughter, Ana Liza and Ana Shienobo. Ana Shienobo's nickname is
Shitchan. Yes, seriously. I can never say it without dying of laughter
and feeling like i'm swearing so i always have to say her full name.
Basta, we taught them and her mom said that when she saw me on the
street it reminded her of a dream she had about heaven and angels and
that there was a big gate and a key to get in and all she wants is to
go there and the angels looked like me and there was lots of gold. It
was kinda creepy and kinda cool. Thadda thinks she's crazy, but I kind
of liked her despite some other weird things she mentioned. Sister
Jones and I went back to them on Friday, but only Ana Shienobo was
there. We talked with her and then after the lesson she asked us for
money...awkward. Then we left after telling her we couldn't give her
any, and the neighborhood kids asked us why we were friends with her
b/c she is s stealer....hmmmm. The next day we taught her and her mom
and I felt like we needed to focus on repentance and used a stealing
analogy... I like them, but at the same time there is a weird type of
feeling there sometimes. We are not sure about their intentions and we
are trying to figure that out. At the end of the lesson ana shienobo
seemed to be trying to get her mom to ask us something, but her mom
told her to be quiet.... Again, not sure how we feel kay we want to
give them the benefit of the doubt, but we sometimes think the spirit
might be telling us something else.
Basta, on Saturday we went to a mans house that Sister Brinton and
Sister Jones had contacted. He is a die hard Roman Catholic and I
loved him! He barely let us get a word in , but he fascinated me. Then
when we were able to talk he finally said that he was impressed with
what we had to say and it made more sense than he thought it would. So
that was good. He said he never will talk to missionaries about
religion b/c it always turns into fighting but with us he decided to.
He wouldn't pray to ask God if through Joseph Smith the priesthood was
restored, so I closed with a prayer in stead. It got pretty intense.
We asked when we could follow up with him and he said why would you do
that?! I said, b/c you are important and we love you! He said the
complaint about the mormon missionaries is we are too insistent. I
said we don't give up b/c this is the truth. Sister Jones and i left
and couldn't talk for about a block. It was a very intense lesson. He
was prepared, but he refused to partake of the truth.
Yesterday was even more ridiculous. I am out of time but we had plans
to teach another lady Sister Jones and Sister Brinton had contacted.
We walked in and she was good, but her husband was a little insane. He
started yelling at us b/c there is an age limit for men to serve
missions 19-26 and said that was wrong b/c joseph smith was a prophet
when he was 30. We explained to him calmly why it was this way, but he
wouldn't listen. He then went off about how he wanted three families
to multiply and replenish the earth (his wife got ticked, and we felt
thoroughly uncomfortable...). He was loud and would never listen.
sister Jones was not okay with that. She asked him to sit down so we
could talk. He did not like her. I acted as the mediator. IT got
REALLY intense. I have no time to write about it!
But, it was fun! Life is good. I am happy and healthy! Sorry I am
early to the internet, it costs more after 3pm so now we go just right
after lunch.
I love my Savior, and I love being HIs missionary. I love recommitting
myself everyday when I remember the phrase, " I Belong To God!"
Hope all is well back home!
Katie and Luke, how's the basement?!?!? You all are in my prayers.
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
This week was transfer week! This week was also our first week focused
in our area! It was a great week and we didn't get transferred so now
that most of all the traveling is done throughout the mission we can
bring sisters here to work with us!
This week Sister Brinton worked with us. It was great to have my anak
back for a little bit. I am so proud of her! Sister Jones, Sister
Brinton, and I all worked together and we liked our threesome. We were
able to teach some great people and the Spirit was strong. We had one
really good lesson with some new investigators that I am excited
about. Aiza, Teresa, Marene.
On Wednesday we spent the whole day finding and contacting. Sister
BRinton was with Sister Jones and I was with a 13 year old ward
missionary. It was awesome. We met a lot of people and set some
appointments. At the end of the day I noticed the 13 year old
(thadda), saying Hi Po, good afternoon Po, Kamusta Po, to everyone and
I finally noticed and looked at her and asked if she knew them...cause
the way she said it made it sound like she did...She said nope! I'm
just being like you! I'm going to serve a mission too and I'm just
being friendly, like you! She also said Sister Brinton was Taylor
Swift, I was Britney Spears, and Sister Jones was Lady Gagga. . .
yeah. Haha. Basta, while contacting with her we found a lady and her
daughter, Ana Liza and Ana Shienobo. Ana Shienobo's nickname is
Shitchan. Yes, seriously. I can never say it without dying of laughter
and feeling like i'm swearing so i always have to say her full name.
Basta, we taught them and her mom said that when she saw me on the
street it reminded her of a dream she had about heaven and angels and
that there was a big gate and a key to get in and all she wants is to
go there and the angels looked like me and there was lots of gold. It
was kinda creepy and kinda cool. Thadda thinks she's crazy, but I kind
of liked her despite some other weird things she mentioned. Sister
Jones and I went back to them on Friday, but only Ana Shienobo was
there. We talked with her and then after the lesson she asked us for
money...awkward. Then we left after telling her we couldn't give her
any, and the neighborhood kids asked us why we were friends with her
b/c she is s stealer....hmmmm. The next day we taught her and her mom
and I felt like we needed to focus on repentance and used a stealing
analogy... I like them, but at the same time there is a weird type of
feeling there sometimes. We are not sure about their intentions and we
are trying to figure that out. At the end of the lesson ana shienobo
seemed to be trying to get her mom to ask us something, but her mom
told her to be quiet.... Again, not sure how we feel kay we want to
give them the benefit of the doubt, but we sometimes think the spirit
might be telling us something else.
Basta, on Saturday we went to a mans house that Sister Brinton and
Sister Jones had contacted. He is a die hard Roman Catholic and I
loved him! He barely let us get a word in , but he fascinated me. Then
when we were able to talk he finally said that he was impressed with
what we had to say and it made more sense than he thought it would. So
that was good. He said he never will talk to missionaries about
religion b/c it always turns into fighting but with us he decided to.
He wouldn't pray to ask God if through Joseph Smith the priesthood was
restored, so I closed with a prayer in stead. It got pretty intense.
We asked when we could follow up with him and he said why would you do
that?! I said, b/c you are important and we love you! He said the
complaint about the mormon missionaries is we are too insistent. I
said we don't give up b/c this is the truth. Sister Jones and i left
and couldn't talk for about a block. It was a very intense lesson. He
was prepared, but he refused to partake of the truth.
Yesterday was even more ridiculous. I am out of time but we had plans
to teach another lady Sister Jones and Sister Brinton had contacted.
We walked in and she was good, but her husband was a little insane. He
started yelling at us b/c there is an age limit for men to serve
missions 19-26 and said that was wrong b/c joseph smith was a prophet
when he was 30. We explained to him calmly why it was this way, but he
wouldn't listen. He then went off about how he wanted three families
to multiply and replenish the earth (his wife got ticked, and we felt
thoroughly uncomfortable...). He was loud and would never listen.
sister Jones was not okay with that. She asked him to sit down so we
could talk. He did not like her. I acted as the mediator. IT got
REALLY intense. I have no time to write about it!
But, it was fun! Life is good. I am happy and healthy! Sorry I am
early to the internet, it costs more after 3pm so now we go just right
after lunch.
I love my Savior, and I love being HIs missionary. I love recommitting
myself everyday when I remember the phrase, " I Belong To God!"
Hope all is well back home!
Katie and Luke, how's the basement?!?!? You all are in my prayers.
love, your missionary,
Sister B.