Letter 52: 365 Days Later

Dearest Family and Friends, 

Abaw, Time flies, it's been over a year now that I've been wearing a tag that says mine and Christ's name over my heart. Crazy, no? The Elders of our district called to say "Congrats' and then proceeded to ask if our celebration would consist of cake and ice cream. We looked at each other and had a "You buy the Ice cream and I'll buy the cake!" And that's what we did. 

1 Year na Kami

1 Year pa Ako 

 So one year, come and gone, and another 6 to go! (which is ONLY FOUR TRANSFERS. And if you really think about it. If I stay in this area: New companion. So the transfer doesn't count because you have to get used to them. and then after that's it's a new area, and that doesn't count as a full transfer because it goes by to fast. and then after that it might be another companion, so that transfer doesn't count. and then it's the last transfer, and that doesn't count at all. So in reality. . I'm already at the end!.) (not really. I still have Dugay Pa! (a long time left!))

We went on Exchanges this week. Sister Quent came over with me to my area :) it was kinda funny, because we worked together the day before our year mark. Haha, it's funny how things have changed. We both speak a new language now (She still can't speak Ilonggo. haha. Pure Tagalog siya) and we actually both know how to teach! 

Sister Aquino came and worked with us a day! That was a surprise, so our plans of "No plans! lets to find people to teach" didn't fly. Instead we went to investigators and Less actives that we planned for the next day. Gotta love it. :) Her example was great. My favorite part is when we were teaching, and the lesson was going well, but was starting to end on a sour note, so she just took over and taught the Plan of Salvation! She's awesome. 

Sister Fabella has never gone caving on her mission, and so our district just went (despite that both I and Elder Walmer greatly dislike caving) so now I'm sitting in the Elder's area emailing in very wet pants and it's COLD. 

Caving

Have I ever mentioned that I think 65F is absolutely freezing? 

Anyway, it was fun because we ended with a . . Pruda (?) fight. Basically, you lay rice, meat (fish) and other food out of Banana leaves and all just eat it with your hands. YUM! 

4 Weeks of No one coming to church. Yay. Next week!!!!! 

Went to a Beach Baptism on Sunday. Got Sunburned. My neck and throat and back and head hurt. Been kinda miserable. haha. (I laugh because it's over. YAY.) 

Nanay Emma is Slowly getting rid of Coffee, and we got to teach Tatay kinda one of one. He's never really be seriously interested, so we mostly just invited him to be united with his wife in investigating the church (they literally do EVERYTHING together. But this.)

We're really trying to go out to an area that we've never really been, and find those prepared for us, but our plans keep changing and we can never make it out there. I really pray that we can get there this Friday, so that we can get some solid new investigators. 

Anyway. See you all in SIX MONTHS. 

I love you all, 
And all is Well, 
The Church is true, 
And the Book of Mormon is Too!

Sister Smith

ps. I'm sorry there are no pictures this week. (Sister Quent and I even took a cool "1 Year Na Kami" picture. But. . the Elders advised us NOT to plug our stuff into these computers. . .And I'm not very fond of viruses. both on my camera card and in my body)

(Mom's note: Hannah sent pictures with the next week's letter so I edited this post.)

Letter 51: Don't Worry, God has a Plan

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

This week was an "Things are getting better, slowly" week. (even if no one came to church. . . again,. . *sigh*)

Today, I think I should just testify that God's Plan of Salvation is PERFECT and True, and how lucky we are that He has not only prepared one Kingdom for His Children, but THREE. That's something I find I've never really written about. Mostly it's "Prophets are True. The Church is true. Heavenly Father loves us." This random testimony probably comes from the fact that our investigator told us that he doesn't like our "Mormon doctrine of Three Glories, and that We should teach it like the bible does with just "Langit kag Imperyno" and that we should be going to people telling them that they're going to go to "Imperyno" unless they join the "Mormon Church"" 

(not that he wants to join the church. Needless to say, he's "Dropped us." Also he believes in the bible and only the bible, but not in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 btw) 

Anywho, just wanted to say that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that He has better plans then just Condemning His children, and that Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary just for us to be able to repent of our sins, and one day have Eternal Glory in the Celestial Kingdom of His Father. (Sa ngalan ni JesuKristo, Amen.)

Other Cool things of this week: 

We taught Nanay Emma about the Word of Wisdom, and she's now giving up Coffee. I wish all investigators responded to the WoW like she did, "Of course it needs to go. I didn't drink it yesterday, and my head hurt. I must be ADDICTED. That's bad!" 

The Elders in our district are awesome and did a CSP at our house.They 
1. Cut down the Branches in the tree with a Machete (there's much more light now. it's less spooky at night and more inviting during the day.)

One of many Scary Spiders that live here. 

2. Lit all those branches and leaves on fire, (yay that's totally legal here.)
3. And made our fence chicken proof. (there were chickens in our yard the next morning) 

Elder Fogavai in our tree

It's funny how it works. They come do the hard labor, we make the food. haha. Somehow it reminds me of the talk by Elder Chi Hong Wong, about the man with Palsy

"His home teaching companion from the elders quorum and the tall and strong full-time missionary would have pushed really hard from below. The Relief Society sister would have reminded them to be careful and given them words of encouragement."

It made me laugh last week :)

Interviews were fun, (Yay Chastisement (or: Improvement opportunities!)) and so was District Conference (I definitely prefer President Aquino giving Improvement Opportunities to the Members. haha) 

The church is true!

I love you all, 
And all is Well, 
Sister Smith

Letter 50: Rain Rain Go Away

Dear Family and Friends, 

Normally, when I sit here in the Computerhan I think about how fast the week has gone and nothing new has happened, and it feels like just yesterday I was sitting here. But today, I feel like it's been weeks since I've sat at this computer. . even though not much is new. Again. But that Number 50 at the top of this letter is pretty big. . .whoa.

Selfie in a Tricycle

Zone meeting was last week. Once again it comes and goes. Stressing over training comes and goes. Interviews were supposed to be last week, but instead they'll be this week.

So for some big news: I was told for the first time in my mission to "Stay Home, Do Not Go Outside" because of the weather. It rained for 24 Hours, and then rained most of the time for another 24 hours, and then rained a bit more for another day after that.  We actually went out for the first day, and we came home completely soaked to the bone. We got a call around 7pm telling us to go home (which was funny, because I was already home in my sweats and a jacket, heating up some water for a cup of Milo) We got another call the next morning telling us to not go out. And then we were told we could go out around 4:30pm that evening. Saturday we went out in the morning to invite people to come to General Conference, I forgot my umbrella (Sometimes I'm so not smart) and the sunny weather turned into a downpour. Came home Soaked, and then went to General Conference. 

Of course we don't have running water during all of this, but hey, there was an endless supply falling off our roof being caught into several buckets outside.

Catching Rainwater

There are pros and cons to Rain water showers: Cons: it's REALLY Cold. And there's a few twigs and leaves at the bottom of the bucket you decide to ignore. 

Pro: Rain Water is good for your hair. 

Anyway. Now the sun is shining and it feels hot again. Funny how quickly the weather changes

Nanay Emma is doing good (even if she did her Laundry instead of coming to church) We taught the Word of Wisdom, and she said it wouldn't be a problem to give up coffee

General Conference was AWESOME. (I rediscovered that I'm loosing my English vocabulary. I sat there for a few minutes trying to figure out what President Uchtdorf meant when he kept saying "Vistas") 

But seriously, how amazing is it that Heavenly Father loves us so MUCH that He calls 15 Prophets, Seers, and Revelators in this dispensation to help us along our way? I know Thomas S. Monson to be God's Prophet here on the Earth today. I was sad that no instigators or Less actives in our area made it to conference, but hopefully next week, some of them come to church :) 

The Church is TRUE, and Guided by Jesus Christ at the Head. 

I love you all! (a lot!) 

-Sister Smith

FHE at Nanay Bico's

Letter 49:

Dear Family and Friends, 

Things are going well here in the Pilipinas. I'm in Iloilo right now for our SM day, and goodness, my hands are FREEZING because of the Air Con in this Computerhan. That will also be what I blame my bad spelling and bad grammar on this week :) cold fingers. (but seriously. I'm so cold right now)

This week was a slow week here on Guimaras. We went to MLC so we were MIA. 

Friday we cleaned our apartment, YAY!
.
.
.
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Whoops! My Pinky hit the Enter key and it accidentally sent my letter! I wasn't even close to finishing it. 

anyway.

Cleaned the apartment! Yay! But it's a little difficult to clean when your water decides to turn off.  *sigh* oh well. We cleaned up a lot of the stuff outside, and took Elder Taylor's advice, and called the elders to tell them they should have a CSP to clean up the jungle we have growing in our front yard. (and fix our fence.) 

We also went out with the Taylors to a member that lives WAY far away. Did I ever tell you about the time Sister Haun and I went out there by ourselves and had to walk home for 3 hours out of the mountains? Yeah, it's more convenient when the Couple missionaries are headed out that way anyway, and are willing to give you a ride in their truck :)

The Taylors

I've been super tired ever since Transfers, even to the point of actually going to bed early (not too hard, when you get home at 7pm) But all I needed was a nice good power-nap during lunch on Thursday. I believe in the power of naps! Even Christ took naps! Remember, when he's sleeping on that boat and the tempest is raging? And what does he do when he's awoken? Calms the raging sea! Naps are good for you!

Had some good ups and downs. Down: Our recent convert told us that Alcohol is Bawal (forbidden) except for when your hanging out with friends, so you can take one or two shots so that you don't seem like a kill joy. (we taught him the importance of obedience.)

Up: the General Women's meeting was AWESOME! As in! I loved it. (except for the fact that it made me want to buy a plane ticket for Cebu and go to the temple. and my companion looked at me and said, "I go in FIVE weeks." Palagpat.)

Down: No Investigators came to church

Up: Nanette had her baby and he's ADORABLE. :)

UP: THANKS FOR THE BIRTHDAY PACKAGE!! Dad, what am I supposed to do with so many CD's? Everyone at MLC was like, "Sister Smith, only you would be sent a jacket while staying in the Philippines." and Thank you SO MUCH for the Burt's Bee's! I just ran out of my chapstick (I finished one with out loosing it! I'm sad to see my "Future True Aggie" chapstick finished. (Not that I'll ever be an Aggie anyway)) and was worried about getting a nice new one :) Thanks for Being Awesome. 

All's well, I Love You All! 
The Church is true, and Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.

Until Next week, 
Sister Smith

Luke 6:48

Scripture Story

Letter 48: Tigulang na ako!

(I'm old now!)

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan, 

How are you all doing?? I'm doing great! My age also officially states that I've been on this earth an entire 2 DECADES. Weird, no? 

Thank You all for All the Birthday Wishes! 

20 na!

I actually celebrated it twice. On Tuesday because Sister Haun and I were in a "Wahoo! House to ourselves! Let's buy a cake!" mode. And then she transferred. That she wasn't expecting (probably because she did NOT want to leave) But I was pretty sure it would happen. Which left me with 3 new housemates! And then on my birthday, when my housemates found out it was a my birthday. haha. I ate a mango for my birthday present to me. It was great :D

Our Last Companionship Unity Moment

So anyway, I actually guessed two of my new housemates!! I'm with my Batchmate, Sister Quent, and her comp is Sister Scicluna. 

And my New Companion is Sister Fabella. She's my "Lola" (Grandmother) And This is her last six weeks! So it looks like I'll be killing her. There must be some fancy English word for that. She's also my first Pinay companion! She's so Buot (kind) and I absolutely love her. <3 I'm also picking up a bit more Tagalog. I got some from Sister Haun, and Now I'm getting it from Sister Quent and Sister Fabella. My favorite is when Investigators ask Sister Fabella a question in Tagalog, and then they ask me, and I just look at them blankly and have to say, "Indi ako itiendi tagalog. Ilonggo lang ako"

New Companion and Housemates:
Sister Fabella, Sister Scicluna, Ako, and Sister Quent. 

On the Sister's First day I took them out to their area, and the reaction was a kind of, "Umm.. This area is a HIKE!" 'Welcome to Guimaras Sisters!" haha, they're so happy to be here. They already love it. They're an interesting pair. Sister Quent just came from Kalibo, so she's speaking Tagalog, and Sister Scicluna is 4.5 months into the mission and still struggling with Ilonggo. 

I realized just how much my endurance has increased out here. When we get home, everyone else just kinda crashes and sleeps. hahaha, That's how I was my first 2 weeks. 

Anyway, the area is doing good! We had an FHE with our family on Wednesday, and then we had a great lesson with them on Sunday. Nanay Accepted a BAPTISMAL DATE :) She's preparing for November 1. Her son and his wife said they'd pray (Rekim and Catherine) . Tatay didn't have much to say. . and her LA Son's Girlfriend (Bea) is encouraging him (Kim Jan) to go to church again! Wow, I'm praying praying guid that Nanay makes it on the first. 

Our Family

Nanay actually made it on time the Sacrament Meeting this time (they've always been late) but then they were too shy to actually partake of the bread and water. Oh well. *sigh* Next week!

I've been reading Jesus The Christ amat-amat (little by little) again and I've been absolutely loving it! Nothing, of course, beats reading the actual Bible and Book of Mormon, to come to know who Christ truly is to you, or what His atonement means in your life. But I love being able to understand more of the world in which our Savior lived, the life style, the social circumstances. I feel like I understand His words more fully :) It's a wonderful feeling. 

anway. Tha's all. I love you all. I hope you make it a great week, and I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or. . Ang Simbahan ni Jesukristo sang mga Santos sa Ulihing mga Adlaw) Is the one and only true church here on the face of the Earth. 

With much love, 
Sister Smith

Letter 47: Goodbyes are Never Easy

Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan, 

hmm... Where to start? 

This week was an interesting one.

We went out to a member who lives somewhere between 3 and 4 hours away from the church if you decide to walk it, because her husband is LA, and we try them usually about once a transfer. her husband has yet to speak to me, but that's ok :). So anyway, we went out by tricycle, and got the tricycle driver's number so that he would come get us in an hour. . . but then he never came. So we walked! . . and took a wrong left turn. Haha, WHOOPS. Gotta love getting lost in the Mountains! yeah, we walked around for about 3.5 hours, before we got service to ask the Couple missionaries to come and save us in their truck.

So this Saturday we had a "Family Week" Celebration (it's a holiday here! How awesome is that?) with the District! It was super fun. Everyone dressed in Red/Green/Blue/Yellow (depending on the branch or Group.)  But the Missionaries wore our cool new gray T-shirts :) played some fun games, got some good food, and spent time with the district. It was a grand time. 

Flour Games

And it all ended with a Baptism from the other Sisters' area! They are baptizing a family from the mountains, even if it's one by one. Nanay has 11 Children, and several grandchildren who think it would be great to join the church :) Sister Marticio finally got to teach and baptize "A family" a dream of her mission.

Speaking of Sister Marticio. Said Goodbye to my housemate of 10 Months about three hours ago. 

Sister Marticio <3

Crazy how time flies. It's hard to believe that 10 months ago she watched me be "Born" into the mission, and I just watched her "die." Seriously gonna miss this Sister, I learned so much from her! (and Kon nagpanginta ikaw 'ni, Sister Marticio, HI! Palangga ta ka, kag Hidlaw ta gid ka! Halong gid ikaw, kag tani ibaton ko ang wedding inviation halin sa imo dugay-dugay ;) ) (Note from mom - The Illonggo here is a note to Sister Marticio.) 

Anyway. Time's kinda already up, and it wasn't too big of a week. (yet it was. . .)

I love you all! The church is true!

And next week You'll all know who my new housemates are! (Sister Haun and I have our Big Scary house to ourselves until Thursday. yay.)

And I'll be Two Decades OLD. Whoa. 

Take Care, 
Sister Smith

Letter 46: Challenges are Good for You

Dearest Family and Friends, 

That sentence is what Sister Haun and I have been telling ourselves for the past week. 

It's crazy how you can be doing so well, and your area and investigators are progressing wonderfully, and then in two weeks it all just stops and goes backwards. 

But let's not be Pessimistic, let's look at the good side of things :) This is a Challenge from Heavenly Father! And like the title of this Letter says: Challenges are Good for You. They Help you grow and refine you to become the person you want to be. 

Zone Meeting was this week, and that's kinda what we all talked about. (well, three out of four of us). It was definitely one of my favorite trainings I've given, and something I've really learned out here on the Mission.  I referenced my watercolor painting hobby in high school. Remember when I wasn't able to paint? But then I decided I wanted to paint as well as Casey does, and then I finally got better! Goals are important. If you don't have goals, you won't get Anywhere in Life. You will never reach your potential. Jesus Christ gave us a goal we are to achieve, "Be thou perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is Perfect." Talk about a life time goal that will not be achieved in one day! But that's why we have each day, to work for it and improve each day. Repent, Come unto Christ, and try a little bit harder each day. :) The Refiners Fire hurts a bit, but it's worth it in the End. 

(Did I mention that the APs decided to walk in our Zone meeting as it was starting? Grabi, at that sight I was like, "NOOoooo" in my head. Haha. Just wanted to mention that.)

Had a Fun CSP in the rain at the Elementary school on Saturday cleaning up the school yard. Funny 'Sister Smith is such a Klutz story' So I was walking down the sidewalk, and then Slipped in the ONLY puddle. Grabi, I did the entire "Heels coming off the ground, back taking it's place" thing. I was soaked and covered in the moss that made the puddle slippery. Haha, luckily no one saw but Brother Nester. And I didn't even understand a word of what he was saying, because he's from Manila and only speaks Tagalog. `

CSP time!

This week really wasn't out of the ordinary (except for the "Our investigators and Recent Converts are struggling.) It's cold and I'm wearing the Rain Coat I bought (that looks like it's from the 90's. one of these days I'll take a picture of it) because there's a bagio somewhere up north. Our gas ran out and so we thought we'd be stoveless for a week and a half (my housemates refuse to buy new gas because Sister Marticio is going home, so she doesn't have money, and neither does Sister Tarantan because she's only a Part Time missionary. And Sister Haun refuses to buy some just in case she might transfer.) but then the District President said we could borrow the Church house's ELECTRIC ONE for a week. Blessings from Heaven. also, we had water this morning even though it's been raining really bad (they turn it off generally when it rains, so that the sediment doesn't get into the system)

Anyway. Biskan may mga pagtilaw, (whoops. Even though have trials,) Heavenly Father will always help and tender mercies from Heaven are Miracles in our life. 

I love you all! The Church is true and everything that goes along with it! Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, and one of my heroes. Heavenly Father Loves us and wants us to return to Him. Yes it will be difficult. Yes there will be Mountains to climb and Rivers to Cross, and a Devil to defeat and temptation to overcome. But in the End, Christ will Reign, and through His selfless Atonement, we have the chance to be there with the righteous at Judgement day. Sa ngalan ni Jesu Kristo, Amen. 

All's Well, 
-Sister Smith

The Cutest little Ati. She used to be scared of me,
but I won her over with Candy :D