Letter 33: Change. Change is Good.

(I can't keep track of Letter Numbers anymore. Budlay!)

Dearest Family and Friends,

If there's something I've learned on my mission, it's that CHANGE is a Good thing. That Repentance is real, and that anyone and everyone can change, including me. 

Back when everyone wanted to know why I would be serving a mission, I always said, "I want to grow up with the Lord by my side.' I didn't realize at the time, that that would mean making changes for myself. Haha, isn't that a part of growing up? Changing? 

I've been reflecting the last 6.5 months here. It's been a long time. (I may or may not be a tiny bit area trunkie) Actually, with everyone asking me, "What? You've been there 5 transfers? Aren't you trunkie yet?" Has only helped me realized just how much I LOVE this place. At times, I'm ready for something new, but then I don't want to go. 

The same with me. I've been wanting to change, be more Christlike and more mature. But just like I told our Investigator on Sunday, Change is Hard, but that's why we have Christ to help us repent and become someone worthy to be called His Representative and His Disciple. 

I actually was in an investigator's shoes this week. My housemates tried to force me to change. I did a little, but after more force, I became very stubborn. I've really learned something about Inviting. As Missionaries, we Invite. And sometimes I think I forget I'm not here to push others into a Baptismal Font. (haha) 

Needless to say, for me it's been a really enlightening week. 

We Dropped Reynier. That was an interesting lesson. Also about how we need to change. (like I said. Enlightening week. sometimes I think lessons we teach investigators are really for me) Basically, it was, "You can't go back to being the same person you were after baptism." "Well then I don't want to get baptized." oh well. 

Alex committed to stop drinking coffee! That was such a good lesson. At first he was like, "NO WAY." but after promising blessings, talking about how it's a commandment, and just overall testifying, he committed too, signing that he knows he needs to to be closer to Heavenly Father.  Talk about Awesome!

We moved! YAY!! NEW HOUSE! it's nice. I like it. I'd send pictures. But this computer doesn't have a USB port (thank you Liesl, for helping me recover my English.)

Had Exchanges! That was super fun! one of the companionships in the house I went to also had exchanges, and I got to hang out with Sister Lewis! (my first housemate). It was a blast, because everyone had at least already been companions, housemates, or served in the same area as someone. It was a great time reminiscing, talking about the people in previous and current areas. Sadya gid. (super fun) 

Well, now I'm off to SM. We have to copy the house key, so that the other sisters don't have to wait for us to come home anymore. 

Love you all! 

Have a great week! The Church is true! 

-Sister Smith

Letter 32: Nagsaylo Kami!

To my Dearest Panimalay kag mga Abyan,

Nagsaylo kami sang mga balay is Ilonggo for "We moved!"

So an update that I haven't bothered writing about: For the past two months there has been DRAMA at our house. (let us just say that our electric bill was unfair. (unfair as in: double than what it should have been.)) After Drama drama drama, we got kicked out of our apartment (because our taggiya (Or: Owner/Caretaker) was unwilling to let us stay another two weeks, and our contract ended.) and our new apartment is not vacant until the 16th. 

So Here's how our week went. 

Monday: P-day. Everyone else started packing while I worked on my lesson for district meeting. (no time. so much stress. Not happy at my district leader for giving me about 4 days notice, and then I haven't had any time to prepare) Cried because I didn't feel prepared at all (haha. Me, stress, and public speaking don't go well together.)

Tuesday: Taught district meeting. (haha, that feels so long ago) My housemates saw just how unprepared I was and how nervous I was, they pretty much participated and said a lot of comments. It went well. Grateful for them. 

Got home, and was like, "We have to move tomorrow. I haven't packed ANYTHING." We got permission to pack the house for two hours. I now know that I can pack and get ready to leave for transfers in about an hour and fifteen minutes. However, dismantling beds, moving fans, desks, mattresses, chairs, and vanities takes. . much longer. We ended up packing ALL day. (went to one appointment) We also stayed up past 10:30 (with permission.) Our district leader and his companion (who live like. . .8 minutes away by walking?) helped dismantle the beds and everything. It was pretty much exhausting. 

Wednesday: MOVED. Because our new apartment is not vacant yet, we have been guests at the cute (Read: Small) house (condo?) of 2 Sisters about. . an hour away. Exhausting. Was seriously so tired when we went out to work, and while we were out I had a crazy headache. (lack of sleep) We now have to leave our area at about 7:15 instead of 8:00 to get home on time. and it's So Expensive. *sigh* I've been living out of a suitcase for the past week. And we've been eating lunch at a members' house everyday (we've pretty much been paying for lunch, but she's been cooking. So Nice!) because we don't want to be even more of an inconvenience to our hosts. 

After that, it's kinda been. . Normal. We've adjusted. It was funny, we went to an investigator, and she was like, "What happened to you two? You didn't come by on Tuesday OR Wednesday!" "ah, sorry sister, we moved!"

And then we just found out yesterday that instead of moving on the 16th, we will be moving TOMORROW! YAY! (we found this out, after the office elder joked with us, saying we'd be staying until July. That's probably why I'm so happy, because I totally believed him.) After Zone Training. It will be so nice to be living in our ward again (we still won't live in our area. It's our housemates' area. But the new apartment is three minutes closer to our area, and has access to both the main roads we use, instead of just one.) 

Let's see. . .What else happened? 

After coming to church 6 times in a row, we TAUGHT ALEX. It was such a great lesson. It was simple (of course) I taught, and I interpreted for Sister Taufanga as she testified (we'll figure out how to get her to teach too. so that it's just not me) haha, I was like, "In English." So much easier to interpret English. because in my head it's English -> ASL. Instead of Ilonggo -> English -> ASL. And he accepted a Baptismal Date! He says (signs. for those of you that are critical) that he knows it's true. and I'm so excited. :)

This week has been so great. This area has been SO Challenging (six months. No baptisms. and most of our teaching pool has dropped themselves and we've been having a hard time finding solid/interested new investigators) But it's been so rewarding, I've learned so much. and I'm so thankful for everything I've learned here. I know I'm here for reasons and for people. (ie. Alex) and I just LOVE this Mission, and this country. But Most of all: My Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Love you all, 

-Sister Smith

P.S. The Church is true. 

P.P.S. Sorry, No pictures. This computer doesn't have a connector thing. . . plug? outlet? What's the English word I'm looking for?

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