Hello Family!
What a wonderful week it has been. I love my companion. She is incredible. I love her sooo much! We are similar and understand each other incredibly. She is an awesome person and missionary. I love this area too. It needs a lot of help, but it is great. We worked and worked this week and some very spiritual experiences as we taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I remember a specific lesson being amazed at our ability to speak Cebuano and remember words. I flow went really well and we knew who was helping us. We make a really good team and have had a blast together doing the Lords work. We had a lot of opportunities to teach this week and got to teach a lot of new investigators which is what our mission president is really pushing for right now.
One lesson was with Sister Babin. Her husband and daughter are a member and she has listened over and over again to the missionaries. We got to her house around 7pm and they fed us some delicious Filipino food that i've really missed. Didn't get tons of that in Tacloban. All the Filipinos there tend to feed you more americanized food...trying to impress you or something...Basta, it was delicious. We weren't sure what we were going to teach her, but we knew it had to be different than what had be tried before. We had prayed and thought a lot about what we could do to help her realize how hungry she was for the truth. I was excited to see where the Spirit took the lesson. And. It was incredible. I started and said that we wanted to talk about Joseph Smith and as I said it I knew that was wrong and we needed to change to Jesus Christ. So that is what we did. The lesson was one of the best I've ever participated in. We let her talk and listened . And we were both praying really hard. She explained she was content with her life and the good blessings she had received from God. She saw no need to change. God loved her and blesses her often. She explained she had listened to the missionaries and felt no need to change. We focused on how the Spirit testified to her and helped her understand that was God inviting her to learn more, to know more about Him and His plan for her. My companion did a great job and talked for a bit and the Spirit told me it was time to get out the scriptures. I knew we had to read from the Book of Mormon, but I had nothing. I took it out and started praying. And then, very clearly the Spirit told me exactly what she needed. I love it when that happens! We read from 2 Nephi 28:29 and 30. The Spirit was so strong as she realized what the scripture meant for her as I asked her questions and explained it. Those verses are about ' wo be unto him taht shall say , we have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough." and it talks about how we learn line upon line and we can learn wisdom from God, but if you say you have enough or you are content with what you have, God will take a way that which he has given. . .
I knew she understood. My comp knew. And she knew. Her daughter was really excited too. It was the exact verses that woke her up. My companion then talked about prophets preparing the people for the coming of Christ and related it until now, the book of mormon and bible, living prophet prepare us for the 2nd coming of Christ. We must follow them . We must be prepared. Our purpose is to continue to grow and learn and allow God to guide us. We promised her there is so much more to God's plan.
She is an awesome lady. One that is kinda hard to read and doesn't show much emotion ever. She was trying to hide the fact that she knew what we were saying was true...but she couldn't. She let out this big smile that I will never forget. She was trying to hold back the tears. And she was excited about our message. It was awesome. I can't even explain to you how strong the Spirit was . Her heart was completely softened, maybe for the first time ever. We left that lesson excited and so pumped for anything! We loved being the Lords missionaries. That was one of the times when we knew that we had said everything our Savior would have said if He had been the one teaching. Such a special, sacred lesson. She is awesome and we are excited to go back. She's been out of time this past week so we only saw her one time.
We had another great few lessons with our new investigator Crispin. He came to church this week and we also taught his neighbors. Heavenly Father is really helping us with this language...of course He would, these are His children and we are His messengers. But still, its nice to feel and recognize that.
Tony Capon. Saddest lesson this past week. We taught him the Restoration and he liked it, accepted it. But when we taught about prayer and invited him to say the closing prayer he refused. I'd gotten that several times a day even on the mission but he was different. He was not shy to pray...he refused to pray b/c he felt unworthy. He said that he drinks and smokes and hasn't gone to church in a long while...he said he wasn't god's son and wasn't worthy to pray to Him. He had no hope. He was truly devastated and disappointed in himself and he just kept saying i can't talk to god, i won't talk to god, i'm not worthy to talk to god. I'm a sinner, i'm not his son. It was terrible. We talked to him about it for 20 minutes and nothing we said or tried worked. He was completely convinced he was nothing. It was realllly hard to deal with. I felt God's love for him and I had just met him. We tried to help him understand it was Satan lying to him and telling him he wasn't allowed or worthy to pray. . . but nothing we said or testified helped. It was a very empty sad feeling that was coming from him. We pray for him daily and have searched for him since that lesson, but haven't been able to find him. :( i'm really worried about him.
Easter was okay.
They are HUGE here about Good Friday. We actually didn't go out of our apartment b/c it gets insane...the reenact the crucifixtion, etc so President told us if we felt it was wise to stay inside, do it. I think most of the missionaries did. Especially in southern leyte where it is extremely intense Catholic. We were productive though , so it was good.
It is init season...or HOTTTTT SEASON Now.
I know its hot season when:
my face has heat rash and wounds and will not and CAN NOT HEAL. i am officially allergic to my sweat. its terrible and i look like i have leprosy. :(
my whole body has heat rash/sweat rash.
lots of random bites that get infected.
you sweat as you take a freezing cold shower.
you take numerous freezing cold showers a day and you still can NEVER cool down.
you stand in your towel after your freezing cold shower in front of the fan hoping it will cool you down. it doesn't.
you go through more than one sweat rag a day.
you go no where with out your hand held fan.
you get really cranky cause you can NOT breathe in your own apartment. but then you laugh a lot with your companion...so you don't cry. :)
Life is good. Just sweaty!
love you all.
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
4.18.11
Hello Family!
Well, last week flew itself by. On Tuesday President asked to meet with me and Sister Jones. He told me that I've accomplished what I needed to in V&G and that I was needed somewhere else. However, he said that what we have been doing was presented to the Lord again and that He wants us to keep moving forward working with all the sisters. But, now President wants to double our efforts. SO, even though I am transferred, he wants me to continue training the sisters and doing what I've been doing in Tacloban, just in a separate unit.
So Wednesday I found out that I would be transferring to SOGOD Zone, Southern Leyte speaking Cebuano J. My new companion is Sister Schneider! She is the batch behind me and I lived in Tanuauan with her two times. She is the best and we get a long so well. She was the one that I went to with all my back issues. She is an incredible missionary and gets the job done. She and Sister Farnworth saved Tanauan when they got transferred there in sept and she has been there ever since and I lived with her when i was assigned in Dagami for the first month and then again when i was assigned in tacloban for the first month. I basically can't say enough good things about her. We whitewashed this area and have a lot of work to do here. I have actually been here before b/c sister jones and I worked with the sisters here in February. honestly, it was just an okay day and I remember that it was a lot different than my very spiritual day in Hilongos. The spirit of the work was different here. I discussed this all with Sister Jones and Sister Schneider and we came to the conclusion that this is why we are here--to change the way the work is done and the Spirit of it. Get the new trainings applied and get this area progressing! So we are excited. Sister Jones is in TAcloban with Sister Quimson. She is awesome, I worked with her in CArigara. When we found out that there would be 4 of us assigned to this special assignment we knew it would be sister schneider and sister quimson;so its been pretty fun.
We spent a lot of time meeting all the members and finding all of our investigators. Our awesome branch president here was released on sunday :(. We really liked him and were excited to work with him...another one wasn't called yet. We also both talked in church on sunday. CEBUANO IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN WARAY WARAY. And Cebuano J is different than Cebuano! It sounds a lot different to me and been a bit tricky to pick up things. But such is my life on the mission, right?! :) We are having a lot of fun struggling trying to speak to people. We keep telling them we promise we know waray waray and we are not as incompetent as we sound! We both really liked waray waray and are kind of sad to give it up and go back to Cebuano , but we are trying to have a good attitude about it and focus really hard on the work here.
We had 4 investigators come to church and we have two baptisms on April 29th. It is also fun kay my batch, Elder Fisher is my Zone leader!
So life is good in the south.
We call our selves the "Assisters of the South."
Life is good. I'm sad to not be in Tacloban anymore and I won't be able to go to Michelle's baptism on the 30th, but this is where I am supposed to be. When I prayed and explained to Heavenly Father all that I wanted for this last part in my mission and what I wanted to focus on and goals I wanted to accomplish I told him I think I need to be far away and out in the bukid again. So he sent me here. :) Its going to be awesome and I am so excited for this area. Its south though so its going to be hot hot hot.
I've been reading Jesus the Christ and plan on finishing it before end the mission. That means I would complete the missionary library, which was one of my goals. I'm learning a lot and really enjoying it.
Lately, i've focused a lot on the Priesthood and the church organization that Christ created while he was on the earth. I'm so grateful for that and that I know that His priesthood power is back on the earth. I think I would be really scared all the time if His power was not on the earth. I'm glad I live at this time when it has been restored. My testimony and understanding about the priesthood has grown immensely while I've been serving here.
Well, I am out of time now. I'm excited for these next two transfers here in Sogod. There is a joke in the mission about this place...how was sogod?... it was sooooooo good. And it is.
The end!
love you all.
love , your missionary,
Sister B.
Well, last week flew itself by. On Tuesday President asked to meet with me and Sister Jones. He told me that I've accomplished what I needed to in V&G and that I was needed somewhere else. However, he said that what we have been doing was presented to the Lord again and that He wants us to keep moving forward working with all the sisters. But, now President wants to double our efforts. SO, even though I am transferred, he wants me to continue training the sisters and doing what I've been doing in Tacloban, just in a separate unit.
So Wednesday I found out that I would be transferring to SOGOD Zone, Southern Leyte speaking Cebuano J. My new companion is Sister Schneider! She is the batch behind me and I lived in Tanuauan with her two times. She is the best and we get a long so well. She was the one that I went to with all my back issues. She is an incredible missionary and gets the job done. She and Sister Farnworth saved Tanauan when they got transferred there in sept and she has been there ever since and I lived with her when i was assigned in Dagami for the first month and then again when i was assigned in tacloban for the first month. I basically can't say enough good things about her. We whitewashed this area and have a lot of work to do here. I have actually been here before b/c sister jones and I worked with the sisters here in February. honestly, it was just an okay day and I remember that it was a lot different than my very spiritual day in Hilongos. The spirit of the work was different here. I discussed this all with Sister Jones and Sister Schneider and we came to the conclusion that this is why we are here--to change the way the work is done and the Spirit of it. Get the new trainings applied and get this area progressing! So we are excited. Sister Jones is in TAcloban with Sister Quimson. She is awesome, I worked with her in CArigara. When we found out that there would be 4 of us assigned to this special assignment we knew it would be sister schneider and sister quimson;so its been pretty fun.
We spent a lot of time meeting all the members and finding all of our investigators. Our awesome branch president here was released on sunday :(. We really liked him and were excited to work with him...another one wasn't called yet. We also both talked in church on sunday. CEBUANO IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN WARAY WARAY. And Cebuano J is different than Cebuano! It sounds a lot different to me and been a bit tricky to pick up things. But such is my life on the mission, right?! :) We are having a lot of fun struggling trying to speak to people. We keep telling them we promise we know waray waray and we are not as incompetent as we sound! We both really liked waray waray and are kind of sad to give it up and go back to Cebuano , but we are trying to have a good attitude about it and focus really hard on the work here.
We had 4 investigators come to church and we have two baptisms on April 29th. It is also fun kay my batch, Elder Fisher is my Zone leader!
So life is good in the south.
We call our selves the "Assisters of the South."
Life is good. I'm sad to not be in Tacloban anymore and I won't be able to go to Michelle's baptism on the 30th, but this is where I am supposed to be. When I prayed and explained to Heavenly Father all that I wanted for this last part in my mission and what I wanted to focus on and goals I wanted to accomplish I told him I think I need to be far away and out in the bukid again. So he sent me here. :) Its going to be awesome and I am so excited for this area. Its south though so its going to be hot hot hot.
I've been reading Jesus the Christ and plan on finishing it before end the mission. That means I would complete the missionary library, which was one of my goals. I'm learning a lot and really enjoying it.
Lately, i've focused a lot on the Priesthood and the church organization that Christ created while he was on the earth. I'm so grateful for that and that I know that His priesthood power is back on the earth. I think I would be really scared all the time if His power was not on the earth. I'm glad I live at this time when it has been restored. My testimony and understanding about the priesthood has grown immensely while I've been serving here.
Well, I am out of time now. I'm excited for these next two transfers here in Sogod. There is a joke in the mission about this place...how was sogod?... it was sooooooo good. And it is.
The end!
love you all.
love , your missionary,
Sister B.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ready for the last phase 4.11.11
Hello Family!
My mind is a bit blurred and I can't really remember all that happened this week because I just found out I will be transferred. It makes sense. It feels right. I was sad, but I've been praying a lot about this last phase in the mission and this feels right. I am excited to see where I go. I'll find out on Wednesday.
President Malit has this new thing where he calls the Assistants to the Presidents for about two transfers then transfers them on a different assignment. Makes sense, right? Thats what we do in the church. You are a bishop for a while and then the next calling you are the sunbeam teacher...RS president to scouts. etc. I like his style. He keeps us all on our toes and humble and working hard. He is the best. Sister Jones is staying. I'm excited to see who will come here. I had a thought that I would be sent up to the Bukid up in Catarman, so we will see. I'll miss Tacloban a lot. I love this city so much and have had a blast here and some hilarious memories and a lot of spiritual growth.
Okay, this week. We taught Michelle a great lesson and she will be baptized April 30th. We have some great new investigators that I am excited for sister jones to teach. :( Sayang, i won't be around. The high light of my week, of course, was watching conference. I loved it so much! It was like Christmas; i woke up in the middle of the night just wishing it was time, then got up early, pondered a bit, wrote some questions down to receive inspiration, prayed and then we were off. The theme of welfare touched my heart sooo much. That is all I want to do with my life. Serve people and help them become self reliant. That is what I did in Africa and Fiji and what I am doing know in a different aspect. I want to be involved with helping the poor and in need, and especially with Disaster Relief. Things really started coming together as the talked about the Welfare Program of the Church and I am excited to look more into that when i get home. I know that if I work for the church all my hopes and desires to serve would happen, but it would also be appropriate and to the people's needs to help them grow--which is also something I feel really strongly about, and sometime with that there is a fine balance.
I really enjoyed the talks on revelation and understand pain/affliction/trials. Trials come and are often focused on our weaknesses. There is purpose in that. There is purpose in all things. Never forget that! I remind myself of that daily...so much to work on! There were several talks on marriage and family. I feel like for a time in the past few years they haven't focused a lot on telling us singles to get married, but they sure made up for it! It was good and was a helpful reminder to make sure with all my dreams and goals I am planning on, to set my priorities according to the Lord's will.
The spirit was strong and it was very uplifting and helpful hours and hours of words from 'mortal angels' as Elder Holland described it. I am so grateful for the truth and the restored gospel on this earth. It's hard not to smiled when you think of all god has done for you and all that he has in store.
I love my Savior and I have loved serving Him. I am not perfect, but I understand His plan a little better each day, and I strive to be more like Him. I know in that there is total and complete joy.
If you have forgotten the joy the gospel brings into your life I invite you to come back. Realize how hungry you are for the truth and knowledge from a very loving Heavenly Father. Read the Book of Mormon each and every day. Don't give up on the Savior, He will never give up on you.
I love you all so much. This time as the Lord's missionary has been very sacred and tender year and a half of my life that will be with me for the eternities. Thank you for being there every step of the way and cheering me on.
Love, your missionary,
Sister Blonquist
My mind is a bit blurred and I can't really remember all that happened this week because I just found out I will be transferred. It makes sense. It feels right. I was sad, but I've been praying a lot about this last phase in the mission and this feels right. I am excited to see where I go. I'll find out on Wednesday.
President Malit has this new thing where he calls the Assistants to the Presidents for about two transfers then transfers them on a different assignment. Makes sense, right? Thats what we do in the church. You are a bishop for a while and then the next calling you are the sunbeam teacher...RS president to scouts. etc. I like his style. He keeps us all on our toes and humble and working hard. He is the best. Sister Jones is staying. I'm excited to see who will come here. I had a thought that I would be sent up to the Bukid up in Catarman, so we will see. I'll miss Tacloban a lot. I love this city so much and have had a blast here and some hilarious memories and a lot of spiritual growth.
Okay, this week. We taught Michelle a great lesson and she will be baptized April 30th. We have some great new investigators that I am excited for sister jones to teach. :( Sayang, i won't be around. The high light of my week, of course, was watching conference. I loved it so much! It was like Christmas; i woke up in the middle of the night just wishing it was time, then got up early, pondered a bit, wrote some questions down to receive inspiration, prayed and then we were off. The theme of welfare touched my heart sooo much. That is all I want to do with my life. Serve people and help them become self reliant. That is what I did in Africa and Fiji and what I am doing know in a different aspect. I want to be involved with helping the poor and in need, and especially with Disaster Relief. Things really started coming together as the talked about the Welfare Program of the Church and I am excited to look more into that when i get home. I know that if I work for the church all my hopes and desires to serve would happen, but it would also be appropriate and to the people's needs to help them grow--which is also something I feel really strongly about, and sometime with that there is a fine balance.
I really enjoyed the talks on revelation and understand pain/affliction/trials. Trials come and are often focused on our weaknesses. There is purpose in that. There is purpose in all things. Never forget that! I remind myself of that daily...so much to work on! There were several talks on marriage and family. I feel like for a time in the past few years they haven't focused a lot on telling us singles to get married, but they sure made up for it! It was good and was a helpful reminder to make sure with all my dreams and goals I am planning on, to set my priorities according to the Lord's will.
The spirit was strong and it was very uplifting and helpful hours and hours of words from 'mortal angels' as Elder Holland described it. I am so grateful for the truth and the restored gospel on this earth. It's hard not to smiled when you think of all god has done for you and all that he has in store.
I love my Savior and I have loved serving Him. I am not perfect, but I understand His plan a little better each day, and I strive to be more like Him. I know in that there is total and complete joy.
If you have forgotten the joy the gospel brings into your life I invite you to come back. Realize how hungry you are for the truth and knowledge from a very loving Heavenly Father. Read the Book of Mormon each and every day. Don't give up on the Savior, He will never give up on you.
I love you all so much. This time as the Lord's missionary has been very sacred and tender year and a half of my life that will be with me for the eternities. Thank you for being there every step of the way and cheering me on.
Love, your missionary,
Sister Blonquist
Monday, April 4, 2011
4.4.11
Hello Family!
I am so sorry I didn't get to email last week. The day just passed us right by! We didn't get to email president malit either and he texted us and said, "i missed your email." SO sorry everyone! Anyways, I can't remember too much from last week, but I did want to tell you all that Mildred and her boys surprised me and came to Tacloban for church. After the sacrament prayer, I heard, "Sister Blonquist!" And It was little JV with a big grin on his face. Mildred and her two boys are taking care of her cousins house in tacloban for a month or so while they are in Vietnam or something... Which was perfect timing for Mildred b/c things were getting really really difficult. She is trying to make a living making food and selling it (which is extremely difficult over w here she is) and scalding hot water fell on her early in the morning one day and practically put her into shock and she couldn't do anything. It was really bad. All down her leg and foot. The Branch President ended up giving her the branch budget to help her get medicine. They ran out of food and things were really bad and she couldn't do much.....but then her cousin said he wanted her and her boys to come to Tacloban and stay with them and then watch their house while they are gone. The boys are sooooo excited and love it and they get to eat all the rice they want! I was so happy to be with Mildred that Sunday. She is doing so well and just kept telling me alll the blessings since she became a member. I thought while I was in Dagami that I wanted to give her my CTR ring, but things got crazy with my neck and I forgot. So right there in RS I gave it to her. It was perfect gift for her and perfect rememberence from me. I love that ring! Its the one mom and dad gave me the august before I left for college. Loved it soooo much. So it meant a lot to give it to Mildred and I am so so happy I did and it fit her and everything. So that was the high light I would have shared last week...
Now. This incredible week! A week of miracles and fun times! It rained a lot , but the flooding seems to be subsided now. I only had to wear my rain boots one time. Oh, and they rubbed my legs so bad I have this ring around both legs and they were bleeding and scabbing and everyone asks about it and freaks out about it. Embarrasing. But funny also. Anyways, I love fasting! Fasting always always equals MIRACLES for me and I am so grateful for this small opportunity to sacrifice and allow my spiritual side to guide me in all ways.
On Wednesday Sister Jones and I woke up at 3am to do our studies b/c we wanted to start cooking at 8am. We had a 3 elder birthday celebration we were cooking lunch for. It turned out awesome! We made enchiladas and apple crisp and had chips and salsa and ice cream and the elders creation of "tim tam slams." ( a cookie type cracker that you suck hot cocoa through...) Basta, it was a really fun time and a good bday lunch. We then both felt impressed that we had to visit our Ward Mission Leaders wife (they have been separated for 11 years) and her family. He told us about her at the beginning when we got here and there were days we tried to visit but it never worked out for some reason and it was all flooded recently. But Wednesday we were determined and knew the Spirit was telling us to go there. So, we went. We got there, not knowing what to expect. We met the mother in law-sister Maglana, and loved her immediately. Then her husband came home, and he was sooo incredible! We thought they would be hard hearted and not willing to go back to church, but they have strong testimonies and desires, but they are ashamed b/c they cannot pay their tithing. They showed us their salary and he is supposed to get 36,000 pesos per month in gross, but after everything is deducted, insurance, retirement, etc, he only receives 700 pesos!!! I literally don't know how they are can pay tithing! We had a great lessons with them that was totally guided by the spirit. Then during the lesson, their daughter, the wife of our Ward Mission Leader comes home from work and she sat down and listened and she included her in the lesson and switched our focus to her. I am so grateful for the Spirit. Everything came together perfectly and we committed them all to come back to church on Sunday. They were all ashamed and afraid and said they were not worthy to partake of the sacrament. Sister Myralee (the wife of our WML) has not been to church for 11 yrs and opening admitted some personal things to us and we all became fast friends and could feel the love and trust in the room. We talked about the sacrament and we talked about them going to the Bishop and discussing with him their situations. It was so good and they all promised to come to church. They also had a friend there who is now our new investigator! We had woken up Myralee's daughter, Jezlee, to come join the lesson and at the end she said, :that was worth being woken up. thank you so much." Sunday roles around and told them we would be at their house at 8:30am so we could all go together so they would not be afraid or ashamed. We got there at 8am. We read our scriptures as we waited for everyone to get ready. They have a multicab that we were going to take so at 8:40 we all get in and we are soooo excited to go and Myralee was there with her parents and our new investigator , Michelle, was there and we were ready to have a great day at church! THEN, the multicab would. not. start. Try after try....I was praying hard as was my comp. 8:45 now.... WE CANNOT BE LATE!!!! I look at the little daughter and said , okay you have to pray for us to get to church on time. So she did. The multicab did not start, so the driver left to go find another multicab. 8:55 he shows up with another multicab and we pile in quickly. they are getting scared b/c we are late for church and they are already nervous to go. (its been over a year for the maglana family, and 11 years for myralee...) But we get there by 9:08 ish and the bishop is confirming our recent converts. I led the way as the family entered into the chapel and we sat behind President Malit and his family! OH it was such a great Sunday! Everyone in the ward was SHOCKED AND SO happy to see this family! They couldn't believe it!
Ohhh, i'm out of time! Also, Brother Depaz is a member that we have been teaching and trying to get back to church, but he is paralyzed on one side due to a stroke. We taught him the week before and he explained how difficult it is for him to go to church--it seriously is. He didn't come last week. But on Tuesday we visited him with some other sisters that we were on splits with and we read from Alma 33 and also applied some of the new trainings from Presidnet Malit about inviting people to church. I asked him then if he wanted a priesthood blessing to help him have the strength and energy and endurance to get to church and he said yes. So we scheduled one for Saturday. The elders came with us on Saturday and gave him a great blessing and then we taught him a lesson. he told me he remembered the lesson i had taught him on Tuesday. That made me happy. :) He went to church on Sunday! :)
Junie. Junie is awesome and hilarious and I love him but he is oh so frustrating!!! He is 56 and has a lot of questions and opinions and some strange ideas, but we laugh a lot in our lessons and have a blast. He brings snacks too. We actually had a realllllly intense lesson on Friday. I started crying. Embarressing. But it was during the prayer, so maybe he didn't notice. He did not come to church..:( that one hurt lots. But we are not giving up on him!!!
okay, I am out of time but it was a great week and there were many other high lights and miracles, so hopefully someday I'll be able to explain them all!
Life is SO good and we are so happy!
Joey got baptized on Saturday!! He was supposed to drive to S. Leyte for work , but the seminar was cancelled!! AND, its because sister jones and I prayed and prayed that it would be cancelled so he could get baptized and it was! I love miracles!!
Transfers are next week. We are hoping to stay here until our time is done on the mission. So lets all pray for that! We are now working in our area and having sisters come work with us so we get to focus on our investigators again, and it feels so good!
We had a goal of 25 new investigators this past week and we got 17! So that is good, but this week we will do better. We are so excited to watch general conference this weekend! When is easter??? this week??
Love you all so much! I pray for you all every day!!
Aaron, Andru, Jarrett, Dad, Luke, Josh, Marilee, Kerry--what EXACT mission did you serve in???
cONGRATS TO SISTER LEMMON AKA CAMI !! She was proposed to last week and she had a great birthday!
love, your missionary,
Sister B.
I am so sorry I didn't get to email last week. The day just passed us right by! We didn't get to email president malit either and he texted us and said, "i missed your email." SO sorry everyone! Anyways, I can't remember too much from last week, but I did want to tell you all that Mildred and her boys surprised me and came to Tacloban for church. After the sacrament prayer, I heard, "Sister Blonquist!" And It was little JV with a big grin on his face. Mildred and her two boys are taking care of her cousins house in tacloban for a month or so while they are in Vietnam or something... Which was perfect timing for Mildred b/c things were getting really really difficult. She is trying to make a living making food and selling it (which is extremely difficult over w here she is) and scalding hot water fell on her early in the morning one day and practically put her into shock and she couldn't do anything. It was really bad. All down her leg and foot. The Branch President ended up giving her the branch budget to help her get medicine. They ran out of food and things were really bad and she couldn't do much.....but then her cousin said he wanted her and her boys to come to Tacloban and stay with them and then watch their house while they are gone. The boys are sooooo excited and love it and they get to eat all the rice they want! I was so happy to be with Mildred that Sunday. She is doing so well and just kept telling me alll the blessings since she became a member. I thought while I was in Dagami that I wanted to give her my CTR ring, but things got crazy with my neck and I forgot. So right there in RS I gave it to her. It was perfect gift for her and perfect rememberence from me. I love that ring! Its the one mom and dad gave me the august before I left for college. Loved it soooo much. So it meant a lot to give it to Mildred and I am so so happy I did and it fit her and everything. So that was the high light I would have shared last week...
Now. This incredible week! A week of miracles and fun times! It rained a lot , but the flooding seems to be subsided now. I only had to wear my rain boots one time. Oh, and they rubbed my legs so bad I have this ring around both legs and they were bleeding and scabbing and everyone asks about it and freaks out about it. Embarrasing. But funny also. Anyways, I love fasting! Fasting always always equals MIRACLES for me and I am so grateful for this small opportunity to sacrifice and allow my spiritual side to guide me in all ways.
On Wednesday Sister Jones and I woke up at 3am to do our studies b/c we wanted to start cooking at 8am. We had a 3 elder birthday celebration we were cooking lunch for. It turned out awesome! We made enchiladas and apple crisp and had chips and salsa and ice cream and the elders creation of "tim tam slams." ( a cookie type cracker that you suck hot cocoa through...) Basta, it was a really fun time and a good bday lunch. We then both felt impressed that we had to visit our Ward Mission Leaders wife (they have been separated for 11 years) and her family. He told us about her at the beginning when we got here and there were days we tried to visit but it never worked out for some reason and it was all flooded recently. But Wednesday we were determined and knew the Spirit was telling us to go there. So, we went. We got there, not knowing what to expect. We met the mother in law-sister Maglana, and loved her immediately. Then her husband came home, and he was sooo incredible! We thought they would be hard hearted and not willing to go back to church, but they have strong testimonies and desires, but they are ashamed b/c they cannot pay their tithing. They showed us their salary and he is supposed to get 36,000 pesos per month in gross, but after everything is deducted, insurance, retirement, etc, he only receives 700 pesos!!! I literally don't know how they are can pay tithing! We had a great lessons with them that was totally guided by the spirit. Then during the lesson, their daughter, the wife of our Ward Mission Leader comes home from work and she sat down and listened and she included her in the lesson and switched our focus to her. I am so grateful for the Spirit. Everything came together perfectly and we committed them all to come back to church on Sunday. They were all ashamed and afraid and said they were not worthy to partake of the sacrament. Sister Myralee (the wife of our WML) has not been to church for 11 yrs and opening admitted some personal things to us and we all became fast friends and could feel the love and trust in the room. We talked about the sacrament and we talked about them going to the Bishop and discussing with him their situations. It was so good and they all promised to come to church. They also had a friend there who is now our new investigator! We had woken up Myralee's daughter, Jezlee, to come join the lesson and at the end she said, :that was worth being woken up. thank you so much." Sunday roles around and told them we would be at their house at 8:30am so we could all go together so they would not be afraid or ashamed. We got there at 8am. We read our scriptures as we waited for everyone to get ready. They have a multicab that we were going to take so at 8:40 we all get in and we are soooo excited to go and Myralee was there with her parents and our new investigator , Michelle, was there and we were ready to have a great day at church! THEN, the multicab would. not. start. Try after try....I was praying hard as was my comp. 8:45 now.... WE CANNOT BE LATE!!!! I look at the little daughter and said , okay you have to pray for us to get to church on time. So she did. The multicab did not start, so the driver left to go find another multicab. 8:55 he shows up with another multicab and we pile in quickly. they are getting scared b/c we are late for church and they are already nervous to go. (its been over a year for the maglana family, and 11 years for myralee...) But we get there by 9:08 ish and the bishop is confirming our recent converts. I led the way as the family entered into the chapel and we sat behind President Malit and his family! OH it was such a great Sunday! Everyone in the ward was SHOCKED AND SO happy to see this family! They couldn't believe it!
Ohhh, i'm out of time! Also, Brother Depaz is a member that we have been teaching and trying to get back to church, but he is paralyzed on one side due to a stroke. We taught him the week before and he explained how difficult it is for him to go to church--it seriously is. He didn't come last week. But on Tuesday we visited him with some other sisters that we were on splits with and we read from Alma 33 and also applied some of the new trainings from Presidnet Malit about inviting people to church. I asked him then if he wanted a priesthood blessing to help him have the strength and energy and endurance to get to church and he said yes. So we scheduled one for Saturday. The elders came with us on Saturday and gave him a great blessing and then we taught him a lesson. he told me he remembered the lesson i had taught him on Tuesday. That made me happy. :) He went to church on Sunday! :)
Junie. Junie is awesome and hilarious and I love him but he is oh so frustrating!!! He is 56 and has a lot of questions and opinions and some strange ideas, but we laugh a lot in our lessons and have a blast. He brings snacks too. We actually had a realllllly intense lesson on Friday. I started crying. Embarressing. But it was during the prayer, so maybe he didn't notice. He did not come to church..:( that one hurt lots. But we are not giving up on him!!!
okay, I am out of time but it was a great week and there were many other high lights and miracles, so hopefully someday I'll be able to explain them all!
Life is SO good and we are so happy!
Joey got baptized on Saturday!! He was supposed to drive to S. Leyte for work , but the seminar was cancelled!! AND, its because sister jones and I prayed and prayed that it would be cancelled so he could get baptized and it was! I love miracles!!
Transfers are next week. We are hoping to stay here until our time is done on the mission. So lets all pray for that! We are now working in our area and having sisters come work with us so we get to focus on our investigators again, and it feels so good!
We had a goal of 25 new investigators this past week and we got 17! So that is good, but this week we will do better. We are so excited to watch general conference this weekend! When is easter??? this week??
Love you all so much! I pray for you all every day!!
Aaron, Andru, Jarrett, Dad, Luke, Josh, Marilee, Kerry--what EXACT mission did you serve in???
cONGRATS TO SISTER LEMMON AKA CAMI !! She was proposed to last week and she had a great birthday!
love, your missionary,
Sister B.