23 February 2015

Letter 69: Duro Natabo

Dear Family and Friends, 

That means, "A lot happened." It's been a busy week.

Monday we go out to work and then get a call from AP South, "Where are you? We're here in San Jose and Sister Aquino is inviting you for dinner."  and we were in the middle of a lesson with Brother Hernie who was asking some of those deep doctrinal questions that RCs tend to have. So we had to finish our lesson, and get all the way to the plaza from our FARTHEST area. Dinner was great :) I love eating with President and Sister Aquino :)

Tuesday we had interviews with President, we pretty much sat at the chapel all day (which was actually fine with me because I woke up with a fever that morning.) the newer missionaries in the mission cooked lunch (yay free lunch!)

Then we spent more time at the chapel because Shek (pronounced Shake, btw) got baptized! There are NO kids jumpsuits in San Jose (because all the other branches have borrowed them and not bothered giving them back). So we had to have some creative pant and sleeve rolling, but it was ok :) She also gave her Testimony!!! I was so so impressed, because Shek really is a shy kid, but she got up and could say that she knows the Church is true and that Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson are prophets of God in front of everyone :)
Shek and Manang Itik
Got invited to Lunch at Kiko's house. So happy about that (not about the food) because it means his LA mom is REALLY starting to open up to us. :)

Saturday we cleaned the chapel, and decorated for the one week late Valentines party. Elder Magno and I folded SO many Paper Roses. 
E. Carnahan and E. Magno
oh yeah, Went on Splits with the Traveling Assistances on Saturday too. :) Elder Carnahan joined us and I learned a lot from him :) especially about teaching people, not lessons. 

The Relief Society is getting it together and went on a Visiting Teaching Bragade on Sunday! I went out with Sister Melly and Josephine. Melly is 73 and went out ANYWAY! She kept bearing her testimony about things not related to the topic. . . :) but that's ok :) She's so sweet. 
Visiting Teaching :)
Hopefully it will get to the point where we don't have to go out with them, and the sisters here can stand on their own :)

There's more news. . . but I'm too lazy to write it all down. 

Love you all, 
The Church is true


Love,
Sister Smith
Cool Kids at Church

16 February 2015

Letter 68: Happy Heart Heart!

That's what they say instead of saying "happy valentine's day!" Happy heart heart!

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan, 

How are you all? I'm doing good. I had a wonderful Single Awareness Day (actually, wasn't even that single, I had a companion the entire day :D )

At first, it felt like one of those weeks in which we were just punted all day all week, but then by the end Sister Crisanto and I added up the numbers and were surprised that we hadn't really been punted at all! It's wonderful how Heavenly Father will always 

Crisphine is doing well in Mandurriao. we met with her on Sunday, and she's already in 2 Nephi. she loves that when she reads at night it eases away her stress from OJT and helps her sleep to be ready for the next day. Her testimony truly inspires me. We've agreed to extend her baptism to March, so that we don't rush the service, or make everyone stress over having it all thrown together. 

Shek will be baptized on Tuesday. She's excited, but says she's too shy to give her testimony. Well, you can't force a kid :) 
Shek and her brothers
None of these cool kids could keep a strait face!
 Things are going well. An on and off active/ less active member gave us four referrals on Saturday. The one we met is very interested. sister Erena has a wonderful testimony of referrals, she herself was one :)

Scary story: Nearly got attacked by an angry, barking, crazy dog! But luckily there's this thing called a missionary tag that's like a shield and protects you from danger! (so don't y'all worry. My heart went missing for a while cuz it ran away, but I'm alive.)

Horror story: I got an Evil email today from the office. I'm going to Manila in March! (background: If you are a foreign missionary serving in the Philippines, you have to have an x-ray done in Manila before you go home. So. . . my beloved batch will be traveling soon!)

In honor of Valentine's day: a big Palangga ko kamo! (I love you all!) 
HAPPY HEART HEART DAY!
If anyone out there is having a hard time loving people. . .Go on a mission! You'll find Charity (the Pure Love of Christ) truly enter your heart <3

The Church is True, Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, 

All's well in San Jose, 
Sister Smith
SUNSET.

09 February 2015

Letter 67: Blank

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

I'm afraid it's one of those days when I just don't know what to say. I'm doing what I'm always doing: Missionary work. 

We did some good work :) We've pretty much taught Crisphine all the lessons in the span of about ten days, and she passed her Pre Baptismal interview with flying colors (now just to schedule her real interview) now she's in Mandurriao (near the chapel there, actually. So if she needs some help, the Elders there could find her easily) and we won't see her till Sunday, and only on Sunday until the middle of March. So yeah, it's like a long distance relationship? 

Also from the Loscin house again is Steve. He's reading and likes the Book of Mormon, believes Joseph Smith is a true prophet. . he's just having a hard time givin' up that cigarette and cup of coffee in the morning. 

This week we had Sister Grace work with us! She's an awesome RM and she gave us some tips :) it was nice, especially in helping us understand a bit more about the culture here that is different from Iloilo.
Sister Grace
 So. . . yeah. That's life. I'm good. I'm getting really good at walking up and down hills. 

Story: So an RC from August, Robelyn,  was sick this week, and she was texting us and we went over and visited, and then we mentioned Priesthood blessings, and her response was. "Oh yeah, I forgot about those!. I was given one a few months ago, and they're SUPER effective!" Needless to say she requested one :) 

I think I'll just bare a quick testimony that Priesthood is such a great gift from our father in heaven, and that I'm so greatful for worthy priesthood holders who give blessings and bless the sacrament, and act in the name of Jesus Christ. I know that only this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the acting authority and power that comes from the Priesthood. 

yeah. that's it. 

I love you all, 
All's well here.
Sister Smith
Some Creative juices exploded on my wall
Selfie on the Baybay
Superhero masks can be made out of Sprite bottles.

02 February 2015

Letter 66: Loving the Locsins

Dearest Family and Friends, 

It's another week in Antique, and goodness, so much has happened!

First off all, a funny something happened with areas and transfers. 
Sister Haun is now going to "Die" (finish the mission) in Mandurriao. 
I was "Born" (started the mission) in the Mandurriao District. 
I'm Dying in San Jose, in the Area where Sister Quent was born, 
Sister Quent is dying in Oton, which is where Sister Jenkins was born, 
And Sister Jenkins died in Roxas, where Sister Haun was born.

Just a funny little thing that happened. 

So I have a new housemate, since Sister Haun has left. It's Sister Fepuleai! She's a Samoan from Australia, and she's pretty much hilarious. It's so loud in our house now! Hahaha. 
Housemates!
Today I just wanna talk about Crisphine. She came to church 2 or 3 times before we ever taught her and she is so so so prepared by the Lord. She's not from San Jose, but her long time boyfriend, JanJan, is. JanJan is LA, and the Sibling of the very active Sister Locsin. Sister Locsin is the Wife of the Very Active Second Counselor in the Branch Presidency. Crisphine is also a classmate/friend of a Recent Convert, Aledine. So just because of the people she's been around for the past 6 years, she's just so open to everything. We've been visiting her pretty much everyday for the past 5 days, trying to teach her as much as possible, and commit her to read and pray a lot, because she's going to Iloilo Monday to Saturday for school and work, and is back only for Sunday (to come to church). Soo... we're pretty much going to have no contact with her, but she's determined to be baptized, so hopefully everything works out by the end of February. 

also in the Home of our beloved Locsin family is Sister Locsin's newly adopted sister, Shek. So Shek is eight and loves church, so Sister Loscin wants us to teach her. :) 

When we went over to teach Shek, President's Brother, Steve (who has moved in with his Brother from Negros to find a job here in Antique.) was there. Sister Locsin invited him to listen to the lesson, and so did we, and he did. He said a "Maybe next time" to church, but then came anyway yesterday! His first Gospel Principles Class topic? Eternal Marriage. (which ensued a lot of laughs, because unmarried Elder teaching the class,  made it that way. (actually. . . most everyone was making it funny))

So we went over and taught yesterday, and we talked to Crisphine again about when she wants to be baptized, and she's like, "ASAP." and we were like, "Hey Shek, do you want to be baptized?"  *shy/quiet nod of the head.* "Hey, Steve, what about you? Do you want to be baptized?" he was silent for a bit, and then Sister Locsin spoke up, "All the time you've been here you've been saying how you want to "Change". . so... get baptized!" which his reply was pretty "ok, sure."

So that's why I love the Locsin's house. A lot of missionary spirit is there, and it's one of those houses that you just love being in because of all the people inside :) 

Funny Story: President Locsin was reading his brand new mini Preach My Gospel while we taught, and then shared from it directly. 

Anyway, The Church is True, 

All My Love, 
Sister Smith

PS. The other night I had a moment of remembering something existed (I've forgotten a lot of things).  The minute we finished our nightly planning and filling out our area book, I rushed to the kitchen to make a One Eyed Monster! It was absolutely delicious.
One Eyed Monster!!!