Letter 31: We Believe in Meetings, We Hope to Endure All Meetings

(isn't that how the 14th Article of Faith goes?)

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan, 

Lots of Meetings this week! On Tuesday we went to District Meeting, and basically three minutes after it ended we left and headed to the Mission Office for Trainers and Trainees Meeting! And then on Thursday, we had Zone Conference! (which thankfully was just 3 minutes away in the chapel down the street, instead of the mission office. Which is 40-60 minutes away (depending on traffic)) So last night when we were sending in our numbers I was like, "Why are they so low? . . . Oh yeah. We didn't proselyte very much." 

Our (not so) New District. Actually, we're exactly the same, just added on two Elders.

Trainers and Trainees was fun. There were 18 Elders and just Sister Taufanga and I. Yeah, it was really different from my batch to come in. Just three little American Sisters. I haven't felt so short in a long time! (like seriously, are people really that tall? I think I might get squished like a bug when I get home) 

Zone Conference: Got me motivated to invite EVERYONE to be baptized. As is every single first lesson. It's taking some courage, and I haven't invited all new investigators, but I'm working on it. I really want to be that Challenging and Testifying Missionary. 

Also, President Aquino's Training "The Doctrine of the Family," would be better labeled as "Marriage Preparation." (no jokes here. I'm completely serious) I thought it was great. Haha. Lets see if I can paraphrase some of my favorite things he said: 
-"Right now you are missionaries. This doctrine is for your Eyes only. No Practicing." 
-"And just like in your mission, every week you'll have "Companionship Inventory. Friday nights you'll go out on a date! Even if it's sitting on the front porch (with the door locked) and you talk while enjoying some soda and crackers."
- "Be Patient. Or else you will become a Patient." 
 President Aquino is really funny :D

To answer everyone's question: No, We STILL haven't taught Alex. (but he has come to church five times in a row. Maybe next Sunday we'll just prepare the font for him ;] )

Reynier stopped smoking (now let's just pray he can keep it up for 4 weeks. I really really want to have one baptism before I leave this area in July) And was actually on time enough to church to make it to Elders Quorum. 

I've gotten really bit this week. I do NOT like mga Lamok (mosquitoes). Or the GIGANTIC red ants. I've also got a ton of Freckles! Like, seriously, I've never had freckles this dark on my legs before! (my knees are still blindingly white. hahaha.) 

It's weird to think that school is ending over in the states. Public school literally starts TODAY here. (Private/nicer Schools start next week instead) 

Anyhoo, 

Love you all. The Gospel's True. Thank you for all your testimonies and examples always. 

Love Forever, 

Sister Smith

Ps. To Kristin Massé: I don't know your Email, But thank you for the mail! Especially for the CD. I've missed music! 

Sister Taufanga had never seen a monkey (amo') before. 

Letter 30: Transfers happened again, And once again, our house hasn't Changed.

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

Anyway. Some Big News of the Week: Sister Marticio and I are going to be housemates for FIVE transfers. Hahahaha. I even finished her BR before transfer day, and then she didn't even leave (BR: Book of Records. I'd never heard of one before, but basically you write a letter with experiences and thank yous and pictures and give it to someone. It's like a Year Book signing in high school, but nicer and more sincere.)

Which means I'm going to officially be in my first area for 7 (almost 7.5) MONTHS! (Sometimes President does things like where you only train for six weeks and then someone else becomes your trainee's trainer. But not for me. :D)

Alex came to church a FOURTH time in a row. Like: Woah. He's more diligent than anyone. And we STILL have yet to teach him. (like seriously. WHY? Why is he never home when he says he will be?)

Sister Orkin brought a cold home this week, and I caught it on Saturday (haha. in the US, we get colds because it's cold. Here, people get Mga Sipon because it's too hot. haha. Irony)  I was not feeling well! I texted Sister Aquino on Sunday (yesterday) if I could nap for an hour after church before going out (being sick and then having to interpret church for Alex was really draining) and she just told us to stay home.  We went out to work anyway (haha) because we had an appointment with Alex (he punted us) but we were able to get in one lesson before headed back home 4 hours early.

I woke up from my nap, went downstairs to
get some water, and found this :) hahaha

Something funny: My Ilonggo goes away when I'm sick. It just turns back into English. haha. Luckily my housemates all have to learn English. (and luckily our one lesson before we headed home was with a teacher, who is sagad. So he understood my Ilonggo with a lot of English thrown in. But I was too tired to try and explain that if we have different mga Pagpati (beliefs) then aren't the same Faith. Have I mentioned that "it's all the same" is a swear phrase to me now? Can you tell I'm still a little sick? I'm rambling, aren't I?) Remember how I've said it's been way to hot to sleep with a thin blanket? Well last night I was wrapped up tight, even though it was so hot. I'm so grateful for Worthy Priesthood Holders (aka, my district leader and his companion) who were willing to come over and give us a blessing (I wasn't the only one sick. Lucky Sister Taufanga. She never gets sick)

I gave a workshop for the ward of the Elders in my District. It was to encourage members to give referrals (HEY! Members out there. Give a Pamphlet to someone. Share your testimony. PLANTS SOME SEEDS! The Field is white and ready to harvest. BUT FIRST YOU GOTTA PLANT.) It went well. Much better than the time I taught District Meeting. I'm getting a little bit better at public speaking, it really is so much easier when there's two (I'm glad the Lord gives us companions. It's impossible to do this on your own!)

Got my hair cut. It's super short now! (jokes. Sister Marticio just trimmed off about five centimeters this morning and evened it out. I don't trust people that work in salons here. . . they like their scissors a bit too much) 

I've Officially read 1000 pages of the Bible! (getting near the end of the Old Testament.)

Spiritual insight of the day: I was reading "Our Heritage" this morning (my brain is too fuzzy to try and understand Ezekiel.), and I loved what it said, Joseph Smith was counseling Newel K. Whitney about his call to become a bishop, and Whitney felt insignificant. Joseph Smith said, "Ask Father for yourself." 

I loved that the prophet called Heavenly Father "Father." I loved how he showed that God is truly our Father in such a simple sentence, and that we can all seek counsel from Father. For me there was just so much Love and Trust in those few words. 

Love you all! Hope you have a great week! (and oh yeah. The church is True!)

-Sister Smith

CHURCH is always awesome.

Letter 29: I can never think of titles.

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

Hello from the Hot Philippines (I swear EVERYONE hates it. I LOVE IT.) I used to wear socks at night to keep the mosquitoes (or: Lamok) from eating my feet (it's too hot for that thin bedsheet I brought with me) but it's too hot at night now. So now I just turn the fan on full blast and pray my feet won't get too many bites. Sister Marticio (my housemate) has started sleeping on the tile floor every once in a while. haha, she's Pinay and thinks it's too hot.

So you know family, Sister Taufanga was able to get a hold of her family! We spent the rest of the P-day trying to get the phone call to connect (turns out Philippines to Tonga or Tonga to Philippines is just really difficult and expensive on both ends) and EVENTUALLY, her mother was able to get through, and they got about half an hour to talk. She was super down all day because the phones weren't connecting, but after that she was so happy, and SO focused on the work. I was so proud of her.

It was a TRACTING week! (for the second time in a row) Lovin' getting some new investigators, because our large teaching pool has slowly dwindled into a very small teaching pool of people who like to punt us. TIME FOR CHANGE. We've tracted near the university. Teaching students can be an adventure. They never reply (actually, no one here replies to texts. very rarely do they reply. .) Always go home for the weekend, have homework and exams. . . and the university in our area is NICE, So there are people from all over, and well, I don't speak Karay-a. (or Aklanon. Or Tagalog. *sigh*)

We actually had a day where we had NO lessons. Let me tell you, that does not happen. Every one of our appointments fell through, and then we went tracting (that's always the next step. It's like the missionary motto or something. "None of your investigators want to listen? Go get some new ones!") and still no one let us in! Oh well, at least I'm going to come home, and never want to drive anywhere. It's better to WALK. :D (I'm glad I like walking, or would not like missionary work very much)

One of my favorite things that happened this week was that we went to go teach a second lesson to a new investigator (actually, a FAMILY. We never teach families. rarely is more than one person interested) and the Less Active member just down the street was over at their house! She was playing cards, which isn't the best past time. . .But she stayed for the lesson! And as we walked her home (because we were going to go teach her granddaughter. haha) she said that if we had appointments with her neighbors, she'd come work with us! YAY!

Alex has come to church 3 times in a row, and we STILL haven't taught him! haha, it's really hard to keep an appointment with a deaf person when they don't have a cell phone for communication, and his housemates aren't willing to wake him up from his nap. (everyone just naps here in the afternoon. Why? because it's HOT.) He's actually our ONLY progressing investigator.

Reynier would be progressing, but we saw him smoking, and we taught him the WoW weeks ago, and he said he hasn't smoked in years. Now we get to teach WoW again, and teach him that it's not very nice to lie to the missionaries.

I don't think I tried any strange foods this week. I might take some pictures of food (what is this, instagram?) to show you what it looks like. (haha, mostly it's rice, and something on top. But the Sud-an (or "Rice Topping') is always different and interesting)

Palangga Ta Kamo!

-Sister Smith

 CSP! Gotta love cleaning!  (haha, in a white shirt.
not one of my brightest ideas)

I think this is hilarious. It reminds me of a pair
of shoes I used to wear when I was four or so.

Letter 28: Happy Mothers' Day

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

Hey Mom! Just talked to you. But I still feel like I have to send a letter to you and everyone else, just to let them know I'm alive. 

and the Reason we're allowed to skype for as long as we are, is because it's taken out of our email time. 

So. . .LOVE YOU! And the rest of you, have a happy Mothers' Day!

Email you next week!

-Sister Smith

Letter 27: If Only I'd Been a Bit More Diligent in School. . .

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

Hello from the Hot Hot Philippines! Ok, confession, it's not THAT hot, but it's SO HUMID. I seriously don't stop sweating. Ever. 

Remember how my call letter stated that I would be "Preaching the Gospel in the Hiligaynon language"? Yeah, I do too, but for some reason it forgot to say that I would also encounter several members of the Deaf Community while I'm here. *sigh* my meager supply of Home Signs are really making it difficult for me, as I know very few Church Signs. BUT, The Gift of Tongues is a Beautiful thing.

What's crazy, is that "A", who we met a couple weeks ago (he's deaf, by the way), showed up at church yesterday! Like, WHAT? I didn't really know what to do! Luckily, Sister Mendez served in Antique, and is sagad, and was willing to interpret Sunday School, and I was able to pick up enough of her vocabulary to interpret Sacrament Meeting (also luckily, testimonies aren't too difficult.) The going from Ilonggo to English (in my head) to ASL is definitely something different. (dear Almost Sister Nielsen. Please send me your skill. I need it. Seriously should have been more diligent in my ASL Study in high school)

We had one of the most spiritual lessons this week. It was with "Ad", we've taught her since (probably) like, January, or something, but we've only taught her up to the Book of Mormon (she's super busy). It's been a long time since we taught her, but we were finally able to secure an appointment. When we started with our small talk, she just really opened up. This women has always smiled, always been laughing as we pass by her house. It was so surprising to me, just how Sad and Stressed she is, behind that jolly countenance. I felt impressed to share about the Atonement, and it was such a strong spirit in the room. 

By the way, I'll be Skyping in on the 12th (for me 11th for you) at around 10 am (for me 8pm for you) At least. . .That's is what the plan is looking like! Hopefully that's how it turns out. 

Anyway, sorry it's a bit short this week. Not too much happened, but what did happen was awesome :D

Love you all (see you on Mothers' Day! Seriously. . that went by fast!)

The Church is true!

-Sister Smith

Letter 26:

Dearest Panimalay kag mga abyan,

I have a question, why does the woman that owns this computer cafe keep turning on computer 17 for me? I really am sick of the sticky
L key. . .  Annnnd- Moving on. (but seriously? why?) 

First of all - Got your letter Nanay! It takes a month for mail to get to me! I really loved getting the Smith Family Picture! I got it during district meeting (when we get our cargo) and everyone was like, "Where are you? I don't see you!" "I'm right here, in the bottom left corner." and then they would just look at me, look at the picture, and look at me. haha, I guess I really look different? 

I'm sad to see that picture of our tree! I already miss it. Please to tell me you're going to plant a new one. . . .

 To answer your questions, Mom,

"So how is the Philippines?"
-- Hot. Like, Hot and Humid and wonderful. But really hot. 

"Are your investigators progressing?"
-- Yes! Not always, but this week I was so surprised when I asked an investigator, "H", where she was in her Libro Ni Mormon, and she pulled it out, and she's all the way in Jacob 3! Like, she's seriously reading it. (Still won't commit to baptism, but hey, amat-amat (little by little))

"E" is still working on getting Sundays off. 

"R" didn't get his paycheck, so he wasn't able to jeepney to church.

"G" is awesome and could totally be baptized next week, but we can only teach her once a week. So more: Amat-amat! 

Have a new investigator, "J", who's 18 and awesome. We taught her once, and the next time we came back she asked, "Who's Joseph Smith?" (I'm so impressed when someone actually READS the pamphlet.) then when we taught her about Book of Mormon, we told her that she would receive an answer it was true, if she prayed. And before moving on to the part of the lesson about how the Holy Ghost answers us, she asked, "How? How will I receive an answer?" She's seriously awesome. 

"How is your companion doing with the language and the mission?"  
-- Sister Taufanga is GREAT! She's learning her Hiligaynon from mine (which is, of course, incomplete) through English, her second language, and she learned Tagalog in the MTC. It's a challenge, but I've really seen her improve in three weeks! She's so good with the mission. She LOVES teaching. And she loves this work, she loves talking to people, even if she doesn't understand a thing they say to her. I'm (overall) very humbled to be her companion. 

"How is it having to be the one leading your area?"
-- Ayos Lang (just alright)  Sister Massé actually made me lead the area last transfer. So it's not too bad.

"In general how is missionary life?"
 -- Hard. But rewarding and good. 

A lot of things happened this week. We had exchanges (hahaha, my STL used to serve in my ward! hahaha, So many people were surprised to see her!) learned a lot from her. Loved teaching with her :) 

Zone Training was awesome. Actually have STLs in our zone now, so we got some training from them, instead of just the Zone Leaders. Gotta love the getting pumped up for the work!

For my Six Months into the mission, I was rewarded with a Less Active saying (in the words of his daughter) "Not very favorable words" to me. Used to the Non-members not always liking us, but not a member. But hey, this work is a bed a roses, it's great and beautiful, but sometimes you get some thorns. 

The other sisters in the ward had a baptism on Saturday! I love going to baptisms! It was great to see Brother Cesar get baptized, it was such a struggle for him, but he came to church about 10 times in a row, was really warmly welcomed into the ward, and is now there to stay :)

It was National Service Day on Saturday. So we went to the Plaza (park) and picked up trash, and cleaned up the Elementary school too! 

Rockin' those Yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests! You know, sometimes at the end of the day I look at my tan line and think "Wow, I've gotten so tan!" but then I see a picture of me with a group of people, and I just think, "Yep, still puti gid. (really white)"

I did good and wrote some letters last Monday to send during the week (so they wouldn't be late to the US) but then the Post Office was closed. . oh well. Looks like I'll just never truly get the timing down anyway. 

Anyway, Signing off!

Palangga Ta Kamo! (or is it Palangga Ko kamo? I really need to ask someone)

-Sister Smith

Gotta love the graffiti they come up with :)

Letter 25: What a Holy Week

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

(last week I named my letter Week 24 instead of Letter 24. Whoops. hahaha. Realized that AFTER I'd sent it. Also, I am once again on the computer that has the sticky L key. *sigh*)
Anyway, moving on. This week actually wasn't that Holy or anything for me, but because I'm dwelling in a Catholic Country, you'll be interested to know that Catholics don't care much about Easter Sunday (the Day Christ came BACK TO LIFE). No, they care more about the previous days of the week. *sigh*  

Holy Week is HUGE here, It's great, because everyone is remembering the Atonement of Christ and remembering that he died for us. But then everyone is at church Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. *sigh* 

So it's a bit difficult for the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to not have their appointments fall through. PERO! Due to a loving Heavenly Father and His Mercy, Sister Taufanga and I were still able to have a good week :). 

Easter doesn't feel like Easter. Holidays just come and go for me, they don't really mean much when you're serving Heavenly Father. Souls to save are much more important than a holiday. :)

The hottest week of the year is supposed to be Holy Week. But what did it do? Rain. All the Filipinos were confused. 

Sister Taufanga is great :) 

She was a bit homesick this week (and by homesick, I mean that she REALLY misses her family (she is the oldest of 12), but still really wants to serve) I am forever grateful to worthy priesthood holders. Our District Leader and his Companion stopped by and gave her a blessing. Then about half an hour later, President Aquino called (The missionary Chismis (That's Ilonggo for Gossip. I also have NO idea how it's supposed to be spelled.) travels FAST. hahaha.) Anyway, he called and asked if we wanted to come down to talk with him. 

It was just what Sister Taufanga needed. :) It's so nice that our mission president is so aware of all his missionaries and their needs. (it's also nice that we're not too far from the mission office.) 

Trying to get used to having not as much proselyting time (loving the 2 hours of Companion study. Also, Sister Massé and I were instructed to not have studies on Sundays or Tuesdays, but now that I'm training, we have studies on those days again. And I we just do NOT have as much time to proselyte as I'm used to,. Slowly getting into the flow of it.) 

SIX MONTHS IN TO THE MISSION. Can you believe it's been that long? Can you believe I have ONE YEAR LEFT? Only a year! That's way too fast! 

No Pictures: Pasensya. (sorry) I left my camera cord at home. . . whoops. 

Lovin' the Mission. 
Lovin' the Work
And of course, Love the Lord. 

See you in a year! (Way to fast! Where did that time GO?)

Love forever,
Sister Smith

ps Is it bad that I'm sad I missed the Earthquake? Oh well. I'm sure I'll experience one eventually. 

Anyway, I have to hurry and order a Tongan Preach My Gospel before Sister Taufanga sees. (haha)