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.
Monday, January 31, 2011
1.31.11
Hello Family,
It's great to hear from all of you! I usually only get to skim and then print your emails so sorry if I don't answer any of your questions. But i DO read them. I love love love hearing from any and all of you email or dear elder or regular mail. So thank you so much for your support and love and care.
This week has been amazing. I love being companions with my batch! Sister Jones and I still wake up every day and can't believe how awesome our lives are. I miss my anak--Sister Brinton, but I know she is in good hands with Sister Dustin! We are actually going on splits with them tomorrow to Wednesday so I get to go back to Dagami and check up on things. :) Sister Jones and I got right to work this past week and we actually had to do some trainings for the Leadership Meeting. It turned out really well and we enjoyed it a lot. President Malit is amazing and we've been able to spend a lot of time with him this past week. . .he actually has driven us home practically every night! And provided us with hot cocoa and snacks. Awesome. In one of his trainings he really focused on the law of consecration. I love the different themes and revelation he receives, especially as of late:
1. Desire. Believe . Ponder.
2. Touch of the Masters Hand--its a song, have you ever heard it??
3. John R. Moyle Story
4. Law of Consecration. . . which is what he focused on in the Leadership training this past week.
We watched the movie called Treasure in Heaven and it is about a very very wealthy man named John Tanner that was going to die from a disease in his leg and so he wanted to go about doing good. He thought the mormon missionaries were wrong (he was a baptist preacher i think) and decided to go to one of their meetings. (this is back in the 1800s). Well, long story short, they taught him, he knew the book of mormon was true, and the missionaries asked him to be baptized , but he said he couldn't b/c his leg couldn't endure the baptism. The missionaries right there in the lesson asked him if he had enough faith to be healed and he said he did, and they commanded him with the authority of the holy priesthood to walk and he did! His leg was healed. And as he was walking he exclaimed, " I can walk! I can walk! I belong to God!"
Never has a phrase stood out to me like that did.
What does it mean--I belong to god???
And that was us the beginning of a lifetime of sacred, dedicated service to our Father in Heaven. This man was incredibly wealthy and gave up everything for the gospel. He understood the law of consecration and never looked back. His journey started with a foundation of faith and with that he could do anything, and he did.
The Lord will never require us to give up something we don't have. Everything is from God and he knows our needs. There were several instances where John Tanner realized what was needed to help the Lord's church and he was willing and happy to do it. If you have the video available you should watch it.
So this week I pondered a lot about what it meant to belong to god. completely and fully and if i could honestly say that I belong to God! That's my new motto for life.
We didn't get the apartment so we are still in the process of looking for one. I think the one we want wont be ready for March. So we switched our focus this month on travelling to every sister in the mission and will have to focus on buildling LDSville more so in march. But we do have two baptisms on Saturday! And the elders had a recent convert that was baptized but not confirmed for over a month. We visited him twice this past week and he came to church on Sunday, so he finally got confirmed. :) It was a great day.
The work is great! I am taking care of my neck and health and doing well. It was good this week and only hurt a couple days. Thank you for your prayers and concerns.
oh, i'm trying to learn tagalog now. so Maraming salamat po!
love you all,
Sister B.
p.s. thanks everyone for the letters and thank you to the Blotter family for the great package!!!! Appreciated it so much and it was alll my favorite things! You are the best!!!
It's great to hear from all of you! I usually only get to skim and then print your emails so sorry if I don't answer any of your questions. But i DO read them. I love love love hearing from any and all of you email or dear elder or regular mail. So thank you so much for your support and love and care.
This week has been amazing. I love being companions with my batch! Sister Jones and I still wake up every day and can't believe how awesome our lives are. I miss my anak--Sister Brinton, but I know she is in good hands with Sister Dustin! We are actually going on splits with them tomorrow to Wednesday so I get to go back to Dagami and check up on things. :) Sister Jones and I got right to work this past week and we actually had to do some trainings for the Leadership Meeting. It turned out really well and we enjoyed it a lot. President Malit is amazing and we've been able to spend a lot of time with him this past week. . .he actually has driven us home practically every night! And provided us with hot cocoa and snacks. Awesome. In one of his trainings he really focused on the law of consecration. I love the different themes and revelation he receives, especially as of late:
1. Desire. Believe . Ponder.
2. Touch of the Masters Hand--its a song, have you ever heard it??
3. John R. Moyle Story
4. Law of Consecration. . . which is what he focused on in the Leadership training this past week.
We watched the movie called Treasure in Heaven and it is about a very very wealthy man named John Tanner that was going to die from a disease in his leg and so he wanted to go about doing good. He thought the mormon missionaries were wrong (he was a baptist preacher i think) and decided to go to one of their meetings. (this is back in the 1800s). Well, long story short, they taught him, he knew the book of mormon was true, and the missionaries asked him to be baptized , but he said he couldn't b/c his leg couldn't endure the baptism. The missionaries right there in the lesson asked him if he had enough faith to be healed and he said he did, and they commanded him with the authority of the holy priesthood to walk and he did! His leg was healed. And as he was walking he exclaimed, " I can walk! I can walk! I belong to God!"
Never has a phrase stood out to me like that did.
What does it mean--I belong to god???
And that was us the beginning of a lifetime of sacred, dedicated service to our Father in Heaven. This man was incredibly wealthy and gave up everything for the gospel. He understood the law of consecration and never looked back. His journey started with a foundation of faith and with that he could do anything, and he did.
The Lord will never require us to give up something we don't have. Everything is from God and he knows our needs. There were several instances where John Tanner realized what was needed to help the Lord's church and he was willing and happy to do it. If you have the video available you should watch it.
So this week I pondered a lot about what it meant to belong to god. completely and fully and if i could honestly say that I belong to God! That's my new motto for life.
We didn't get the apartment so we are still in the process of looking for one. I think the one we want wont be ready for March. So we switched our focus this month on travelling to every sister in the mission and will have to focus on buildling LDSville more so in march. But we do have two baptisms on Saturday! And the elders had a recent convert that was baptized but not confirmed for over a month. We visited him twice this past week and he came to church on Sunday, so he finally got confirmed. :) It was a great day.
The work is great! I am taking care of my neck and health and doing well. It was good this week and only hurt a couple days. Thank you for your prayers and concerns.
oh, i'm trying to learn tagalog now. so Maraming salamat po!
love you all,
Sister B.
p.s. thanks everyone for the letters and thank you to the Blotter family for the great package!!!! Appreciated it so much and it was alll my favorite things! You are the best!!!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Boom 1.24.11
Boom.
That was a saying we would always say in the MTC when something funny/ awesome happened. This is now appropriate again to implement into my life and emails.....
1. I got transfered and my NEW (kinda) companion is my companion from the MTC, SISTER JONES!!!!! BOOM. does that happen,ever?? AMAZING.
2. We read our transfer letter and it said that we are assigned in Tacloban under a "Special Assignment." Boom.
We love tacloban and we love special assignments! :)
Well, we had heard through the grapevine that President Malit wanted to make the area around the Stake Center and Mission office the "LDSville" of Tacloban and that if he wanted it done, and done fast, he would put sisters there....We didn't say that, the elders said that..There haven't been sisters in Tacloban for a lonng time. 2 years maybe? Well, when i heard that I thought that Sister Jones would be perfect for that! (so did heavenly father and president malit!) haha. I was sitting next to her in the transfer meeting and i knew we would be companions--and we are! So we are opening/focusing on a new area. Then president malit asked us to have an interview with him. Before the interview we were talking to a past AP, elder shelley, and he said that our special assignment was that we were the new APs. I laughed and thought he was kidding. . .
President Malit is asking us to be in charge of the sisters and to be his assistants for that. So of course technically we are not the APs, but he told us we have the same responsibility with the sisters and we have to do specialized trainings and go on splits and arrange all the companion exchanges and bring the sisters to our area and work with them and then follow up in their area and work with them and we will be doing lots of traveling and trainings and we also have to build up our area and make it this LDSville he has envisioned. And the trainings start tomorrow.... We have a LTM (leadership training meeting) tomorrow with three zones and we will be give a training as well. We have spent the last few days organizing and brainstorming and meeting people and working in the office...haha its fun, we have our own little spot in the office and everything. We have a lot of work to do but this is going to be a really fun growing experience. I love President Malit and we hopefully will be able to move in just about right next door to them this week if we can get the apartment. Right now we live in Tanauan, again.
My health/neck is okay. I still take some medicine and have to wear the neck foam brace when i am not out working. There is still some pain, but its okay and i am just praying my muscles will relax enough that someday my spine will go back to normal. I am right now mainly just trying to maintain it and not make it worse. But i am happy and am not concerned about it. But i am being smart with it, so don't worry. And little Sister Jones has to carry all our bags b/c i'm not allowed to. Poor thing. Pray that her back won't go out.
This week i've had some really special experiences and received some great inspiration and revelation for my life. I finished the Book of Mormon in Manila and have been wondering how i should go about reading it this time. Since i've had a lot of questions lately with our new assignment and my health and life in general here i've decided to pray before i read ask the questions and have Heavenly Father help me know where to read that day. Every time i've done that it's been amazing and i've received answers to my prayers and questions. I learned a lot about covenants in Mosiah 5. i've realized in the past two weeks that making personal covenants with our Heavenly Father is very crucial to our progression. While I was in the temple reflecting on the covenants we make there I had a thought to make other covenants with him about some personal things i've been wondering about.
More than ever before i understand how loving our heavenly father is. He wants us to know him and he wants us to understand his plan better. He wants us to return to him and it is possible for all of us to be better so we can do this. It is a step by step process, but it's possible if we take the time to ponder what our righteous desires are and take the time to make the covenants with him. As i was reading Mosiah 5 i got the confirmation that the promises i had made to him was exactly what i needed to do and he would keep his promise to me. I love that i can talk to my Father in Heaven and he answers me through the Spirit and scriptures study. The covenants we make in the temple are obviously crucial for our exaltation, but I also encourage all of us to think of our own personal convenants/promises/commitments that we can make with our Heavenly Father to recommit our lives and selves to him so that we can be happier, and healthier, and live with our loved ones, once again, for all eternity. Heaven wouldn't be heaven without those we love, right?
I love this gospel. I am so excited for this new phase of growing and learning. I am excited to be working more closely with the sisters in this great mission and also to be working more with President Malit.
Salamat hinduro para ha iyon support ha akon mission. I love you all! Keep praying and going to the temple. That is what this is all about.
Love , your missionary, sister b.
p.s. i got home from manila wednesday night. found out i was transferring. thursday packed and said goodbye to mildred and blanca. friday transferred.
That was a saying we would always say in the MTC when something funny/ awesome happened. This is now appropriate again to implement into my life and emails.....
1. I got transfered and my NEW (kinda) companion is my companion from the MTC, SISTER JONES!!!!! BOOM. does that happen,ever?? AMAZING.
2. We read our transfer letter and it said that we are assigned in Tacloban under a "Special Assignment." Boom.
We love tacloban and we love special assignments! :)
Well, we had heard through the grapevine that President Malit wanted to make the area around the Stake Center and Mission office the "LDSville" of Tacloban and that if he wanted it done, and done fast, he would put sisters there....We didn't say that, the elders said that..There haven't been sisters in Tacloban for a lonng time. 2 years maybe? Well, when i heard that I thought that Sister Jones would be perfect for that! (so did heavenly father and president malit!) haha. I was sitting next to her in the transfer meeting and i knew we would be companions--and we are! So we are opening/focusing on a new area. Then president malit asked us to have an interview with him. Before the interview we were talking to a past AP, elder shelley, and he said that our special assignment was that we were the new APs. I laughed and thought he was kidding. . .
President Malit is asking us to be in charge of the sisters and to be his assistants for that. So of course technically we are not the APs, but he told us we have the same responsibility with the sisters and we have to do specialized trainings and go on splits and arrange all the companion exchanges and bring the sisters to our area and work with them and then follow up in their area and work with them and we will be doing lots of traveling and trainings and we also have to build up our area and make it this LDSville he has envisioned. And the trainings start tomorrow.... We have a LTM (leadership training meeting) tomorrow with three zones and we will be give a training as well. We have spent the last few days organizing and brainstorming and meeting people and working in the office...haha its fun, we have our own little spot in the office and everything. We have a lot of work to do but this is going to be a really fun growing experience. I love President Malit and we hopefully will be able to move in just about right next door to them this week if we can get the apartment. Right now we live in Tanauan, again.
My health/neck is okay. I still take some medicine and have to wear the neck foam brace when i am not out working. There is still some pain, but its okay and i am just praying my muscles will relax enough that someday my spine will go back to normal. I am right now mainly just trying to maintain it and not make it worse. But i am happy and am not concerned about it. But i am being smart with it, so don't worry. And little Sister Jones has to carry all our bags b/c i'm not allowed to. Poor thing. Pray that her back won't go out.
This week i've had some really special experiences and received some great inspiration and revelation for my life. I finished the Book of Mormon in Manila and have been wondering how i should go about reading it this time. Since i've had a lot of questions lately with our new assignment and my health and life in general here i've decided to pray before i read ask the questions and have Heavenly Father help me know where to read that day. Every time i've done that it's been amazing and i've received answers to my prayers and questions. I learned a lot about covenants in Mosiah 5. i've realized in the past two weeks that making personal covenants with our Heavenly Father is very crucial to our progression. While I was in the temple reflecting on the covenants we make there I had a thought to make other covenants with him about some personal things i've been wondering about.
More than ever before i understand how loving our heavenly father is. He wants us to know him and he wants us to understand his plan better. He wants us to return to him and it is possible for all of us to be better so we can do this. It is a step by step process, but it's possible if we take the time to ponder what our righteous desires are and take the time to make the covenants with him. As i was reading Mosiah 5 i got the confirmation that the promises i had made to him was exactly what i needed to do and he would keep his promise to me. I love that i can talk to my Father in Heaven and he answers me through the Spirit and scriptures study. The covenants we make in the temple are obviously crucial for our exaltation, but I also encourage all of us to think of our own personal convenants/promises/commitments that we can make with our Heavenly Father to recommit our lives and selves to him so that we can be happier, and healthier, and live with our loved ones, once again, for all eternity. Heaven wouldn't be heaven without those we love, right?
I love this gospel. I am so excited for this new phase of growing and learning. I am excited to be working more closely with the sisters in this great mission and also to be working more with President Malit.
Salamat hinduro para ha iyon support ha akon mission. I love you all! Keep praying and going to the temple. That is what this is all about.
Love , your missionary, sister b.
p.s. i got home from manila wednesday night. found out i was transferring. thursday packed and said goodbye to mildred and blanca. friday transferred.
1.17.11
Hi Fam,
I am still in Manila and still at the MRC. I am doing fine. I got an MRI, blood work, and xray last week. THe result was my cervical spine is still verry straight where it should be curved, and that the disks in between the vertebrea are dessicated---they've leaked, dried up, shrivelled?? SO not good. But, we just do the best we can. I get to wear a huge, foam, neck brace to help keep my head up and not strain my neck. Awesome. I am in physical therapy until Wednesday. I've taken pictures so you all can make fun of me, no worries. IT's been an insteresting week here. Studying lots--good, SLeeping and recovering--also good, Going to Temple Sessions-AMAZING! :) YEs, i did get to go to the temple and i will tomorrow too. Oh , how i've missed the temple!
I'm not quite sure why I have gotten this very Unique, special experience to come here to Manila, but I do know there is purpose in all things. I have a couple ideas of why Heavenly Father has sent me here and a few things I've already learned. I sure am grateful for this experience. I know that in all things we gain experience and our faith is able to grow. How grateful I am for a Father in Heaven who really knows me and is aware of my needs, concerns, and what brings me joy. I am grateful for HIs Love and Patience and for this time in my life to really get to know Him and my Savior. How sacred this time is on the mission--and here on earth. I am so grateful for this gospel and I know it is true.
I've also got to watch some good church movies here. AND here are some great quotes from them :
There comes a time for all of us tha we must be more than we are...We must follow the course that God has laid out.
Sometimes fear shouts so loud in our ears that it almost drowns out our faith...But God knows who we are. WE cannot go anywhere that he cannot find us.
God has a plan so that all of His children can come back and live with Him, if, we listen. Heaven wouldn't be heaven without those we love.
Sometimes when trials overwhelm us, we forget that God is our Friend.
STrength isn't something you have...its something you find..and often god helps us find it, one day at a time.
What do we hear in the Gospel which we have received?? A voice of gladness, a voice of mercy from heaven. Glad tidings for the living and the dead! Shall we not go on in so great a cause? --joseph smith
WHatever you can do, or dream you can do...begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.--goethe
When you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, sleep in peace. God is awake.-- VIctor Hugo
Remember who you are trying to become like...
I longed to accompish great and notble tasks, but my duty is to accomplish bum ble tasks, as if they were noble and great. --helen keller
Always do what your afraid to do--ralphy w. emerson
I took the road less traveld by and that has made all the difference--robert frost
The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension. This is a season to be strong. --president gordan b. hinckley
I love you all! Thanks for the prayers. I pray for you all too. I'm happy and trying to be more healthy every day:).
love, your missionary,
Sister B
I am still in Manila and still at the MRC. I am doing fine. I got an MRI, blood work, and xray last week. THe result was my cervical spine is still verry straight where it should be curved, and that the disks in between the vertebrea are dessicated---they've leaked, dried up, shrivelled?? SO not good. But, we just do the best we can. I get to wear a huge, foam, neck brace to help keep my head up and not strain my neck. Awesome. I am in physical therapy until Wednesday. I've taken pictures so you all can make fun of me, no worries. IT's been an insteresting week here. Studying lots--good, SLeeping and recovering--also good, Going to Temple Sessions-AMAZING! :) YEs, i did get to go to the temple and i will tomorrow too. Oh , how i've missed the temple!
I'm not quite sure why I have gotten this very Unique, special experience to come here to Manila, but I do know there is purpose in all things. I have a couple ideas of why Heavenly Father has sent me here and a few things I've already learned. I sure am grateful for this experience. I know that in all things we gain experience and our faith is able to grow. How grateful I am for a Father in Heaven who really knows me and is aware of my needs, concerns, and what brings me joy. I am grateful for HIs Love and Patience and for this time in my life to really get to know Him and my Savior. How sacred this time is on the mission--and here on earth. I am so grateful for this gospel and I know it is true.
I've also got to watch some good church movies here. AND here are some great quotes from them :
There comes a time for all of us tha we must be more than we are...We must follow the course that God has laid out.
Sometimes fear shouts so loud in our ears that it almost drowns out our faith...But God knows who we are. WE cannot go anywhere that he cannot find us.
God has a plan so that all of His children can come back and live with Him, if, we listen. Heaven wouldn't be heaven without those we love.
Sometimes when trials overwhelm us, we forget that God is our Friend.
STrength isn't something you have...its something you find..and often god helps us find it, one day at a time.
What do we hear in the Gospel which we have received?? A voice of gladness, a voice of mercy from heaven. Glad tidings for the living and the dead! Shall we not go on in so great a cause? --joseph smith
WHatever you can do, or dream you can do...begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.--goethe
When you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, sleep in peace. God is awake.-- VIctor Hugo
Remember who you are trying to become like...
I longed to accompish great and notble tasks, but my duty is to accomplish bum ble tasks, as if they were noble and great. --helen keller
Always do what your afraid to do--ralphy w. emerson
I took the road less traveld by and that has made all the difference--robert frost
The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension. This is a season to be strong. --president gordan b. hinckley
I love you all! Thanks for the prayers. I pray for you all too. I'm happy and trying to be more healthy every day:).
love, your missionary,
Sister B
Monday, January 10, 2011
1.10.11
HEy family!
Isn't fun that you have to wait a week before you get a reply from me?!?
Haha. well, i think its fun!
So! Thank you so much for your prayers and for putting my name in the temple. I don't remember all i told you last week, but i'm sure it wasn't much.
I am doing well! This week we got to work and it felt so good! It's funny how i talked to all of you and life was good and healthy and then the NEXT DAY i got this strange injury. Oh life. Well, I was on a ton of muscle relaxants and couldn't do much with that. I did not like that at all, and poor sister brinton had to just sit and study and pray and ponder...and then get realllly excited when i'd wake up so she had someone to talk to. But thats all over now. Last week we went back to the doctor on wednesday to see how i was doing. I had no pain and my little hump on my back seemed to be nearly gone--oh, yeah, sister brinton named it, Ezzie. . like esmerelda from the hunch back of notre dame..thanks, sister b. :) Well, we go to the doctor and he said that he would like to continue taking calcium and this other genecol pill to strengthen my muscles. My shoulders were still noticeably uneven so he said he wanted to do a physical exam to make sure my spine was okay....but i would have to be bare....(not okay) and so he said i could get another Xray of my whole spine. He then said he wanted me to do some physical therapy--4 sessions there at the hospital.
I said okay and texted Sister Malit to make sure that was fine. While we waited we paid for the xray and the physical therapy session (you have to pay before doing anything) and waited for their reply. Well, she texted me back that they couldn't give me the okay for that.... (great, i had already paid..) And then she texted me again and said that they would like to request that i be seen in Manila.
Ummmmm, what?!?!?
Honestly, i felt great! And after the blessing from President Malit, i felt no need to go. But I said okay and proceeded the long process of trying to get refunded...
Basta, I felt okay, but i knew they had sent my xray to manila earlier in the week and wondered if the doctor there had requested to see me and something was wrong...I talked to president about it and told him i had felt good after the blessing and felt a little silly going all the way to manila. But he said that he did not feel comfortable with the doctor here and that he had been the one that requested i be seen there. He knows the doctors there and trusts them (obviously, b/c they are from the church) and would just feel better if i had to get physical therapy to do it there. I said okay, sounds good. And I felt better about it too.
SO, tonight i stay in Tanauan apt and tomorrow at 4:55am the office elders will pick me up (poor elders...) and take me to the airport. I will be flying with Sister Malit and their little 6 year old, Spencer! (he's hilarious.) I don[t know why she is going, but thats good for me! Then I will stay at the MRC (Missionary RECOVERY CENTER..not missionary RECREATION center...too bad..) but we don't know how long i will be. It just depends on what is wrong or if anything is wrong at all! I'm just hoping to be able to go do a temple session there!!!! THat would be AMAZING! And maybe go to Krispy Kreme b/c all the APs and elders that have had to assist me these past few weeks love krispy kreme and i want to get them some...there's only one in the philippines. haha , we'll see.
So thats the update. I'm good. I'm excited to hear what the doctor has to say and what type of exercising i can start doing again. I've really missed working out.
This week was great! We had 8 investigators come to church!
We gave the Agujar family referral to the elders serving in Samar and i felt good about that. I realized that its not about me teaching them the gospel, just as long as they receive the truth. Even though I loved teaching them so much and really felt a sense of loss with them, Heavenly Father has really helped me this week to feel at peace and that he will take care of them even if i can't.
Monday, Sister Brinton and I were sooo excited to work again. We were giddy and out with all the kids playing and we got to teach a few lessons. We were so happy!
It rained a lot so there were a lot of floods. Monsoon season is the best. I actually got COLD. It was raining lots--cold rain and windy and we had to take a motor from a very far away investigators home. My arm hair was standing up. STRANGE.
Blanca's mom and little brother are getting baptized January 22!
Blanca is in a lot of pain and we are not sure what is causing it. I think the doctors said cancer maybe. :(
The sister in law to our branch president's wife FINALLY CAME TO CHURCH on sunday! They have been taught by the missionaries for over a year now! Her baptism date is feb 5.
Our investigators are doing well. We taught a great roman catholic lady name Vilma. I was struggling to understand her...cause she spoke tagalog to us. So i asked her to speak in waray, but she didn't. I don't know why people here think we know tagalog. Thank good ness for the gift of tongues! I actually understood her and have picked up on lots of tagalog words. Though, no i can't speak it. !
Haha. Life is wonderful.
We had interviews today with president malit. What a blessing he is in my life. He also gave a great training from 1 nephi 11. I always wondered why it went from explaining Lehi's dream to the birth of JEsus Christ. I felt like it was so random. But he explained a lot about the Tree--the love of God--and that that tree symbolizes the ATonement of Jesus christ. It was such a powerful training. And , per usual, a lot of my questions and prayers were answered while he was teaching from the Book of Mormon. I love my mission president.
**OH! Exciting news: Sister Lemmon--we are now with all the new trainings president has switched the rule to count a lesson. We have to teach 2 principles and read from the book of mormon at least with our investigators to count as a lesson. Let me just tell you that this is the best thing ever. Some day i'll explain more about all the new trainings, but this is really awesome.
My interview was incredible with him. I think i might get transferred next week. ( he didn't mention anything to me at all, but he did to sister brinton... I think he might send me with the new pakistani sister.. i dunno! that would be in a cebuano j area...different dialect of cebuano! oh mannnnnnn) Well, I don't know anything, but i felt at peace with all that has happened in dagami (even though the last few weeks were really hard! with the branch and with my health issues...there is no unity in the branch and the lack of priesthood holders is terrible! ) but president talked about how satan works extra hard on us when we are progressing and when the Lord's work is progressing he works even harder to try and stop it. But satan can never stop the Lords work...He might slow it down, but he can't stop it. Our first transfer here, everythin was on fire and i know i was sent to dagami for many reasons, and then this second transfer i think satan noticed how wonderful dagami was doing and really tried to cause problems. Sister Brinton is doing great and I have complete faith and trust in her to keep dagami going strong. i love her so much! She is a great missionary!
I am out of time! But our interview was awesome.
The church is true, so what else matters!?
This week i am excited to really study the atonement more. I want to access the atonement and teach it better to my brothers and sisters here. I love these people and I really feel like the Lord has helped me understand charity at a deeper level than i have ever yet experienced in my life. I love the mission and i love the different phases were I can learn and grow and become more like my Savior.
Thank you for the prayers. Miracles happen. I have witnessed them and continue to see them daily.
Love you all,
Love, your missionary,
Sister B
**More explanation: to count for a lesson: we have to read w/ investigators for 15 min in every lesson and teach two principles.... just wanted to clarify.
my writing is terrrible now!
love yo uall,
sister b.
Isn't fun that you have to wait a week before you get a reply from me?!?
Haha. well, i think its fun!
So! Thank you so much for your prayers and for putting my name in the temple. I don't remember all i told you last week, but i'm sure it wasn't much.
I am doing well! This week we got to work and it felt so good! It's funny how i talked to all of you and life was good and healthy and then the NEXT DAY i got this strange injury. Oh life. Well, I was on a ton of muscle relaxants and couldn't do much with that. I did not like that at all, and poor sister brinton had to just sit and study and pray and ponder...and then get realllly excited when i'd wake up so she had someone to talk to. But thats all over now. Last week we went back to the doctor on wednesday to see how i was doing. I had no pain and my little hump on my back seemed to be nearly gone--oh, yeah, sister brinton named it, Ezzie. . like esmerelda from the hunch back of notre dame..thanks, sister b. :) Well, we go to the doctor and he said that he would like to continue taking calcium and this other genecol pill to strengthen my muscles. My shoulders were still noticeably uneven so he said he wanted to do a physical exam to make sure my spine was okay....but i would have to be bare....(not okay) and so he said i could get another Xray of my whole spine. He then said he wanted me to do some physical therapy--4 sessions there at the hospital.
I said okay and texted Sister Malit to make sure that was fine. While we waited we paid for the xray and the physical therapy session (you have to pay before doing anything) and waited for their reply. Well, she texted me back that they couldn't give me the okay for that.... (great, i had already paid..) And then she texted me again and said that they would like to request that i be seen in Manila.
Ummmmm, what?!?!?
Honestly, i felt great! And after the blessing from President Malit, i felt no need to go. But I said okay and proceeded the long process of trying to get refunded...
Basta, I felt okay, but i knew they had sent my xray to manila earlier in the week and wondered if the doctor there had requested to see me and something was wrong...I talked to president about it and told him i had felt good after the blessing and felt a little silly going all the way to manila. But he said that he did not feel comfortable with the doctor here and that he had been the one that requested i be seen there. He knows the doctors there and trusts them (obviously, b/c they are from the church) and would just feel better if i had to get physical therapy to do it there. I said okay, sounds good. And I felt better about it too.
SO, tonight i stay in Tanauan apt and tomorrow at 4:55am the office elders will pick me up (poor elders...) and take me to the airport. I will be flying with Sister Malit and their little 6 year old, Spencer! (he's hilarious.) I don[t know why she is going, but thats good for me! Then I will stay at the MRC (Missionary RECOVERY CENTER..not missionary RECREATION center...too bad..) but we don't know how long i will be. It just depends on what is wrong or if anything is wrong at all! I'm just hoping to be able to go do a temple session there!!!! THat would be AMAZING! And maybe go to Krispy Kreme b/c all the APs and elders that have had to assist me these past few weeks love krispy kreme and i want to get them some...there's only one in the philippines. haha , we'll see.
So thats the update. I'm good. I'm excited to hear what the doctor has to say and what type of exercising i can start doing again. I've really missed working out.
This week was great! We had 8 investigators come to church!
We gave the Agujar family referral to the elders serving in Samar and i felt good about that. I realized that its not about me teaching them the gospel, just as long as they receive the truth. Even though I loved teaching them so much and really felt a sense of loss with them, Heavenly Father has really helped me this week to feel at peace and that he will take care of them even if i can't.
Monday, Sister Brinton and I were sooo excited to work again. We were giddy and out with all the kids playing and we got to teach a few lessons. We were so happy!
It rained a lot so there were a lot of floods. Monsoon season is the best. I actually got COLD. It was raining lots--cold rain and windy and we had to take a motor from a very far away investigators home. My arm hair was standing up. STRANGE.
Blanca's mom and little brother are getting baptized January 22!
Blanca is in a lot of pain and we are not sure what is causing it. I think the doctors said cancer maybe. :(
The sister in law to our branch president's wife FINALLY CAME TO CHURCH on sunday! They have been taught by the missionaries for over a year now! Her baptism date is feb 5.
Our investigators are doing well. We taught a great roman catholic lady name Vilma. I was struggling to understand her...cause she spoke tagalog to us. So i asked her to speak in waray, but she didn't. I don't know why people here think we know tagalog. Thank good ness for the gift of tongues! I actually understood her and have picked up on lots of tagalog words. Though, no i can't speak it. !
Haha. Life is wonderful.
We had interviews today with president malit. What a blessing he is in my life. He also gave a great training from 1 nephi 11. I always wondered why it went from explaining Lehi's dream to the birth of JEsus Christ. I felt like it was so random. But he explained a lot about the Tree--the love of God--and that that tree symbolizes the ATonement of Jesus christ. It was such a powerful training. And , per usual, a lot of my questions and prayers were answered while he was teaching from the Book of Mormon. I love my mission president.
**OH! Exciting news: Sister Lemmon--we are now with all the new trainings president has switched the rule to count a lesson. We have to teach 2 principles and read from the book of mormon at least with our investigators to count as a lesson. Let me just tell you that this is the best thing ever. Some day i'll explain more about all the new trainings, but this is really awesome.
My interview was incredible with him. I think i might get transferred next week. ( he didn't mention anything to me at all, but he did to sister brinton... I think he might send me with the new pakistani sister.. i dunno! that would be in a cebuano j area...different dialect of cebuano! oh mannnnnnn) Well, I don't know anything, but i felt at peace with all that has happened in dagami (even though the last few weeks were really hard! with the branch and with my health issues...there is no unity in the branch and the lack of priesthood holders is terrible! ) but president talked about how satan works extra hard on us when we are progressing and when the Lord's work is progressing he works even harder to try and stop it. But satan can never stop the Lords work...He might slow it down, but he can't stop it. Our first transfer here, everythin was on fire and i know i was sent to dagami for many reasons, and then this second transfer i think satan noticed how wonderful dagami was doing and really tried to cause problems. Sister Brinton is doing great and I have complete faith and trust in her to keep dagami going strong. i love her so much! She is a great missionary!
I am out of time! But our interview was awesome.
The church is true, so what else matters!?
This week i am excited to really study the atonement more. I want to access the atonement and teach it better to my brothers and sisters here. I love these people and I really feel like the Lord has helped me understand charity at a deeper level than i have ever yet experienced in my life. I love the mission and i love the different phases were I can learn and grow and become more like my Savior.
Thank you for the prayers. Miracles happen. I have witnessed them and continue to see them daily.
Love you all,
Love, your missionary,
Sister B
**More explanation: to count for a lesson: we have to read w/ investigators for 15 min in every lesson and teach two principles.... just wanted to clarify.
my writing is terrrible now!
love yo uall,
sister b.
Monday, January 3, 2011
1.3.11
Wow, family. so much to tell you. I don't have a lot of time so this will be jumbled and quick. I loved talking to all of you on Christmas! How's jordan and eric doing??? Thanks spencer for singing me a song, and all of you for the questions and for taking time out of your busy christmas time to hear me ramble! Love you all.
So, we are allowed to email last monday and we planned on it, but long story i'll explain later..
The Good
Mildred and her boys are doing well. Thank you for all your concern and prayers for her. We seriously bought her christmas and she said that she hadn't gotten a present in 10 years! Her little boys were sooo excited. It was the best christmas ever.
Agujar family. They live by mildred and i think i've mentioned them a few times. I love them. They are both 24 years old and have three little boys 5, 3, 1. I love teaching them b/c they see us truly as the lords servants and they really respect us a lot. They ask lots of questions. They are deeply religious and have grown up catholic. Brother Agujar came to church two times. Last sunday he came with his little boy (his wife went to visit family in samar) . We were supposed to visit them last thurs but his wife texted us and said that they were in samar and that her husbands grandfather was very upset with them having us come and teach them. (they live on the grandfathers property.) She said that he would try to come to church. We went to their house to bring some christmas treats on saturday (christmas day) but romeo wasn't there. We gave it to his grandmother. The next day was sunday. It was pouring....no one ever comes when it rains....but in runs romeo agujar and his little boy in the rain and all! He told me that his grandfather was so mad that he took their electricity from their house. I was sitting next to them pleading in prayer for them. I was pleading that he would have a good experience and that all this would be worth it and that he would feel the spirit. I watched him and he knew how sacred the sacrament was. He understood this truth. He knew it was true. The classes went wall and afterwards i asked him when we could come visit. He said we couldn't b/c of his grandfather but he then began testifying to me that he knew it was all true and he started crying! I love him! We decided we would teach him at mildreds house...in secret... like alma the older, no big deal.
That night he texted us and told us that him and his wife wanted to get baptized even though everything was very difficult for their family. He said he knew the church was true and that he liked going to church because that is where Heavenly Father was. It was awesome and we were so excited!
The Bad
During sacrament meeting where I was praying and stressing about Brother Romeo my neck started hurting... It was strange. It got progressively worse and by the end of church i mentioned it to sister brinton. Then as we taught that night i couldn't move my head. It was terrible. Sister Brinton massaged it and the pain was sharp and wouldn't go away. I texted sister malit about it. Monday i wake up and the pain is worse. (i never have back or neck problems!??! ) I was putting hot rag on it and massaging it...still painful and getting worse. I looked in the mirror and thought my shoulders looked a little off...and there seemed to be a large bump on the lower part of my neck/upper back. I wasnt sure what was going on. Then we went to tanauan to email, but we saw the sisters and decided to talk to them first. (Sister schnieder has dealt with lots of back/ neck issues) The jeepny ride there had really hurt too. So Sister schneider took one look at me and said, your back is completely out of alignment, sit down, now!
So i sat.
They massaged me for about 6 hours. But cold, and hot , and this oil stuff and texted and called President. My shoulders were completely uneven and i was lopsided. I had a HUMUNGUS swollen bump on my back and it was red. My whole back was swollen . Sister Schnieder said i had to be adjusted. I HAD to get a chiropractor.
Sister Malit told me to get an XRAY at the hospital the next day.
there are no chiropractors in the philippines.
I started on muscle relaxant.
We had to sleep over in tanauan.
APS picked us up the next day. Went to hospital. Talked to doctor. He was kinda crazy but treated me for sever muscle spasm. He wanted to admit me. I said no. They took xrays. He gave me a lot of intense crazy medicine.
I was nervous and didn't understand how my spine was going to go back to normal.
It was a terrible adventure trying to find all the medicine. We didn't. The aps took us home and brought it to me the next day. Luckily i had muscle relaxants the other aps had brought me the day before in tanauan.
I am out of time now.
And the UGLY.
please pray for the agujar family. Romeo and Josefine. We got a text last night. They were kicked out of their house by the grandpa and have moved to samar. We don't know what to do.
we couldn't work all week. I was bed ridden and the pills made me crazy. we taught 5 lessons.
i seriuosly had to sleep and have sister brinton massage my head and neck and shoulders.
but the church is true so what else matters?!!?!?
DON'T PANIC AND DON'T WORRY. I did enough of that.
I'm fine!! :) On thurs we went to the mission home and president malit gave me a blessing and commanded my body to heal. So i have ocmplete faith i'll be fine.
Im going to the doctor again on wednesday. The swelling has gone down a ton and i think my shoulders are about normal now. There is only a small bump. Really don't worry, i'm okay.
REally, don't worrrrrrrrrrrrrry i am okay!
oh and randomly presdient malit asked me about africa and my communication to the people there. He then told me that he htought i had the most experience and that i might be follow up training the new sister from pakistan. . . she is really struggling and doesn't know english or cebuano and she is with a filipino...okay president, i think i just said that my back went out b/c of stress, but sure!
REally though i am fine, just a bit of a scare earlier this week. but i have no worries now after he gave me the blessing and i am doing all i can to be healthy. love you all, sister b
So, we are allowed to email last monday and we planned on it, but long story i'll explain later..
The Good
Mildred and her boys are doing well. Thank you for all your concern and prayers for her. We seriously bought her christmas and she said that she hadn't gotten a present in 10 years! Her little boys were sooo excited. It was the best christmas ever.
Agujar family. They live by mildred and i think i've mentioned them a few times. I love them. They are both 24 years old and have three little boys 5, 3, 1. I love teaching them b/c they see us truly as the lords servants and they really respect us a lot. They ask lots of questions. They are deeply religious and have grown up catholic. Brother Agujar came to church two times. Last sunday he came with his little boy (his wife went to visit family in samar) . We were supposed to visit them last thurs but his wife texted us and said that they were in samar and that her husbands grandfather was very upset with them having us come and teach them. (they live on the grandfathers property.) She said that he would try to come to church. We went to their house to bring some christmas treats on saturday (christmas day) but romeo wasn't there. We gave it to his grandmother. The next day was sunday. It was pouring....no one ever comes when it rains....but in runs romeo agujar and his little boy in the rain and all! He told me that his grandfather was so mad that he took their electricity from their house. I was sitting next to them pleading in prayer for them. I was pleading that he would have a good experience and that all this would be worth it and that he would feel the spirit. I watched him and he knew how sacred the sacrament was. He understood this truth. He knew it was true. The classes went wall and afterwards i asked him when we could come visit. He said we couldn't b/c of his grandfather but he then began testifying to me that he knew it was all true and he started crying! I love him! We decided we would teach him at mildreds house...in secret... like alma the older, no big deal.
That night he texted us and told us that him and his wife wanted to get baptized even though everything was very difficult for their family. He said he knew the church was true and that he liked going to church because that is where Heavenly Father was. It was awesome and we were so excited!
The Bad
During sacrament meeting where I was praying and stressing about Brother Romeo my neck started hurting... It was strange. It got progressively worse and by the end of church i mentioned it to sister brinton. Then as we taught that night i couldn't move my head. It was terrible. Sister Brinton massaged it and the pain was sharp and wouldn't go away. I texted sister malit about it. Monday i wake up and the pain is worse. (i never have back or neck problems!??! ) I was putting hot rag on it and massaging it...still painful and getting worse. I looked in the mirror and thought my shoulders looked a little off...and there seemed to be a large bump on the lower part of my neck/upper back. I wasnt sure what was going on. Then we went to tanauan to email, but we saw the sisters and decided to talk to them first. (Sister schnieder has dealt with lots of back/ neck issues) The jeepny ride there had really hurt too. So Sister schneider took one look at me and said, your back is completely out of alignment, sit down, now!
So i sat.
They massaged me for about 6 hours. But cold, and hot , and this oil stuff and texted and called President. My shoulders were completely uneven and i was lopsided. I had a HUMUNGUS swollen bump on my back and it was red. My whole back was swollen . Sister Schnieder said i had to be adjusted. I HAD to get a chiropractor.
Sister Malit told me to get an XRAY at the hospital the next day.
there are no chiropractors in the philippines.
I started on muscle relaxant.
We had to sleep over in tanauan.
APS picked us up the next day. Went to hospital. Talked to doctor. He was kinda crazy but treated me for sever muscle spasm. He wanted to admit me. I said no. They took xrays. He gave me a lot of intense crazy medicine.
I was nervous and didn't understand how my spine was going to go back to normal.
It was a terrible adventure trying to find all the medicine. We didn't. The aps took us home and brought it to me the next day. Luckily i had muscle relaxants the other aps had brought me the day before in tanauan.
I am out of time now.
And the UGLY.
please pray for the agujar family. Romeo and Josefine. We got a text last night. They were kicked out of their house by the grandpa and have moved to samar. We don't know what to do.
we couldn't work all week. I was bed ridden and the pills made me crazy. we taught 5 lessons.
i seriuosly had to sleep and have sister brinton massage my head and neck and shoulders.
but the church is true so what else matters?!!?!?
DON'T PANIC AND DON'T WORRY. I did enough of that.
I'm fine!! :) On thurs we went to the mission home and president malit gave me a blessing and commanded my body to heal. So i have ocmplete faith i'll be fine.
Im going to the doctor again on wednesday. The swelling has gone down a ton and i think my shoulders are about normal now. There is only a small bump. Really don't worry, i'm okay.
REally, don't worrrrrrrrrrrrrry i am okay!
oh and randomly presdient malit asked me about africa and my communication to the people there. He then told me that he htought i had the most experience and that i might be follow up training the new sister from pakistan. . . she is really struggling and doesn't know english or cebuano and she is with a filipino...okay president, i think i just said that my back went out b/c of stress, but sure!
REally though i am fine, just a bit of a scare earlier this week. but i have no worries now after he gave me the blessing and i am doing all i can to be healthy. love you all, sister b