So I am just starting my 5th week of my follow up, meaning I
have this week and the next and then I am over with my follow up, and everyone
keeps telling me I am going to be training. We have 10 new sisters come in, all
foreigners, this next transfer! I think this is happening all around the world
in all missions with the rush of missionaries going out. So many missionaries
coming and not as many older missionaries to train them. I am a bit nervous,
but I am ready to face what the Lord has in store for me here.
This week was very eventful, dramatic, and so much going on. I
will not go into to many details of things since this is publicly seen, but
sometimes as a missionary you see or know people a little too much. That is
when you just have to step back, be a representative of the Lord and just look
past it all and not be involved, and just handle things the right way. But it
has been one good long week.
We had exchanges which was just what I needed to prepare me for
if I do have to train. I was with Sister Simbol, she is companions with Sister
Christensen right now and they live right next to us. We were in their Ward
area and it was so fun to go and meet new people and still realize I can teach
effectively and well, without even knowing these people at all. The Spirit
helped testify their needs so that I was able to help them and say what they needed.
It was a very good day. I saw a monkey (for those of you who don’t know,
monkeys are my favorite). He is a pet though, chained up, and up in a tree
behind a member’s house. Sadly my camera was dead so no picture, but hopefully
there will be more in the future.
One cool experience I had with exchanges was there was this less
active sister we visited and it was getting dark, and they have no electricity
in their home, so we were pretty much sitting in the dark, reading scriptures
with the light on our phone, and I can't exactly remember what I said, but the
language just flowed and the Spirit was SO strong! I realized she can't see me,
and I could hardly see her, but it didn't matter because we were not being
taught by each other, but by the Spirit. It was such an eye opening experience
for me realizing this is not my work, it really is the Lords, and He is able to
create a perfect atmosphere, and Spirit with my imperfect Tagalog. I feel more
confident in the language and often lead, and talk a lot in the lessons. Some topics
or things are harder to express but with the Lord, I can do His work.
One embarrassing story from this week... so Sister Barlow was
asked to play as the pianist at a funeral service for the funeral the father of
someone in our ward... and it started at 2. But islander time, usually things
start here a half an hour later then said or an hour sometimes so we were
leaving the house like right at 2.... (we are bad, and have sworn to always be
early now) but Bishop called asking where we were and we said on our way
sorryyyy. We get there, and walk in.... There was a WHOLE congregation of
people sitting there in silence with the casket at the front and it looked like
they were ready to start. She got to the piano and started playing a prelude,
and it started a couple minutes later. Oops... we learned that lesson.
This week we had Zone training... and we each got a brand new
pillow!!!!! Best day ever! I was so excited lol. They decided as a mission we
each should have our own pillow and not leave it at the house for the next
missionary to prevent passing of sicknesses and thing. We were happy
campers. Sorry my letters are so jumpy... I try to put it in order but it
just ends up all over.
We had the baptism for Jason, an investigator who I have taught since
I first got here, and it was amazing! He is 18 years old, and was introduced to
the church by a less active, now active member. It was so neat to know him so
well, all that he has gone through to get to this point and see him enter into
the covenant of baptism with the Lord, feel so clean, and have the Gift of the
Holy Ghost with him always. I am so happy for him! Jason was confirmed
yesterday in church, we had a less active Brother come to church with his
family again, this little boy I use to teach got the Priesthood the other day,
and I may have bought him a tie, and he passed the sacrament... yesterday was a
good Sunday, beside the Level 2 Baguio warning, and not many people attending
church lol. I really focus on the good every Sunday, and try not to get
discouraged when people don't show up, or things fall through.
We were told we were supposed to go in by 7pm for the Baguio
warning... maybe we didn't get home until 7:45... oops but luckily it passed and
did not hit where we were... but since we had a little bit of extra time we
roasted smores with all the sisters over our gas stove top.... so fun (: I
really have loved the Sisters I live with and I will miss them so much. Sister
Barrameda, she is the sweetest Filipina, and is Sister Sands companion, leave
to go home in two weeks! She is amazing, and has been a very good example for
me of enduring to the end of your mission, and loving every minute of it.
I have so much time left still, but at the same time I don't.
Serving the Lord for 18 months in the span of my whole life is so short, and I
want to make the very best of it. I am blessed to be here and doing the Lords
work. I love all the love and support from everyone. And remember when times
get hard, get down on your knees and pray, but just as important is praying
when things are good., Be grateful for what the Lord has given you. He has
given us everything, and the one thing we can give as an offer to Him is our
will. Do His will, and you will be richly blessed (:
 |
| Feeling Loved |
 |
| YES !!!!! ........ |
 |
| So Precious |
 |
| Hummmmm |
 |
| Singing in the rain ! |
No comments:
Post a Comment