Kakaibang nanay

I never used to believe those stories that missionaries would tell about how they would meet people at exactly the right time or exactly the right place. I thought those stories of 'divine intervention' sounded pretty unbelievable, but this week we had an interesting experience...

We went to San Pedro after a really difficult lesson (for many reasons) with one of our younger investigators. Anyways, I felt like crying (which doesn't really happen that often for me) We got there around 6:45, and we had a dinner appointment at 7:30. We had time for one lesson and we had several people that we were hoping to visit but I wasn't feeling the best and we couldn't decided who we were going to visit.  We ended up walking back and forth on the same stretch of road  probably 5 times in our efforts to decide on someone to teach. We finally decided to teach Jun Escoto, a long time investigator. As we were walking down the smaller but long path towards his house, we realized that they had visitors at their home, BUT they were leaving right as we were walking up. We had a beautiful lesson and talked about the Tree of Life in 1 Nephi 8. I didn't realize the timing of everything until Sister T said something afterwards. I realized that when we had spent our time wandering the street, walking back and forth on the same stretch of road- we were basically just waiting for Jun to finish up so we could teach him. I was in awe at the perfectness of the timing, as we would not have been able to meet with until his visitors left.

We had Anita's baptism this week which was a beautiful day for us. Her 15 year old son wanted the missionaries to teach her, 3 year ago, but she didn't want to. After 3 years, she agreed to be taught and now she is baptized. The other day he told Sister T that he had seen small changes in his mom since we've been teaching her. We've learned a lot from Anita, and it has been exciting to see her progression, bit by bit as we have met with her.

Next week, we have 2 baptisms, which is exciting for us. One is Djorn, who is 14 years old. We've had a lot of ups and downs with him and he has been a long time investigator, but he has finally progressed towards baptism.  The other is a 9 year old girl who's parents are members.

(Investigator = Someone who is being taught by the missionaries)

One time when we were teaching a lesson outside, we kept hearing rustling in the tree above us. I looked up and one of their chickens had climbed up there. I've never been afraid of a chicken falling on me.

The other day, we were asked to put our spit on someone's baby-on the forehead. It's a filipino superstition that the spit of missionaries (or priests or religious leaders) will bless their baby. We reluctantly did it, because we didn't want to offend them. We couldn't stop laughing afterwards...

Filipinos are pretty unashamed of their weight. Things that would be really offensive to say to someone in America, are pretty normal here. I had an older woman tell me the other day that I was getting bigger. ( I've had several people tell me that.) The day after that when we saw our mission president, he asked me if I was exercising a lot because I looked too skinny. The truth is, is that I am actually the same weight, as when I arrived in the Philippines. Even at the doctor's office, the scale was out in the waiting room, in front of everyone. NBD. Most people seem to not care about their weight.

Yesterday Sister T and I gave talks in Sacrament meeting! It was an interesting experience to speak to a large group of people, in Tagalog.

Mosiah 27: 25-26

Sigue. Iyan lang. I love you all.

Bahay namin

I love the sense of community that is here in the Philippines. Nobody ever refers to their home as 'my home' but 'our home' (bahay namin)  Back home, I always loved the idea of doing more things as a group, of learning how to collaborate, work together, etc. I realized here, that my independent sense of self (my culture) was getting in the way of learning how to be more cohesive with other people. If we are in a group setting and someone has food, it is a guarantee that they will offer their food to everyone. I'm getting used to doing that now, to not be so -- "This is mine. This is yours." Last week we had an activity as a zone. We had a short hike and ate lunch at a member's home. They decided to not use plates or silverware for our meal. (They had plates, but decided to not use them.)
 We ate on huge, huge leaves that we put our food on and ate with our hands. :)

I loved Tian's email-about food, about being hungry, about eating, about digesting. Food is essential in any social situation here. They use food all the time, to bring people together, to show thanks, to serve, etc. I love that. I loved that idea back home, but hadn't really seen it applied so much as I have here. The spiritual application of food is so beautiful as well. Our physical hunger always reminds us that we are in need. Spiritually as well, we are always in need, but sometimes we don't recognize that. 

John 7: 37 -38 - "If any man thirst, let me come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

John 6:35 - "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Yesterday at the start of one of our lessons to a huge family, Sister T leaned over and whispered, "Start ka." (You start.) (We hadn't met this family before because they had come from the other area in Lubao that we are now working in.) I was incredibly intimidated, especially because they were staring at me way more than anyone else. It's extremely uncommon to see a white person speaking their language. I couldn't help but smiling during the prayer at the beginning. I had a feeling of, "Okay, let's do it. I'll make a fool of myself speaking Tagalog, but they'll get a sense of what our message is, and what it brings. If this work is divine (and I do believe that it is) I will receive strength beyond my own, speaking abilities beyond my own, and a love beyond what I could ever offer them." 

The lesson went well and I believe we were communicating 'love.'  

During that same lesson, one of their little boys leaned over and tried to discreetly touch my leg. When I looked down at him, he just laughed. (Yes! I have white skin!)

I am uncomfortable with how often people will stop walking down the street just to stare at a white person. Even right now, there is a kid in the internet shop that has been staring at me for at least 5 minutes. I've been occasionally turning around to let him know that I see him staring... (The sense of privacy that is in America is almost nonexistent here... ha. Even at the doctor's office, their scale was out in the waiting room, for anyone to look at if you were being weighed.) 

Like I told Sister T the first week I was here, after we had been walking for a long time, "This is refinement."
We do a lot of walking. I look at hand washing my clothes as refinement as well. I am a bit more frugal with what I wear, especially since I have to wash it if I think it's dirty. ( Mom is probably laughing right now...) I miss washing machines, but It's been interesting to wash my own clothes like everyone else does here. 

Tian, to answer your question, we do teach from the Bible. I haven't shared as many biblical verses in my emails only because I'm currently focusing my personal study on the Book of Mormon. The Bible is full of rich stories, full of beautiful truths. When I have more time to study (probably after my mission) I hope to study the Bible in depth. 

 Just a quick share from my reading this week-- Mosiah 18:14 talks about baptism in comparison to the resurrection. Words like "buried" "arose" "came forth" "rejoicing" are used in that verse. It is a beautiful comparison as baptism signifies a new life, a new start. 

We have a baptism next week. Anita has been wonderful to get to know and she is excited for her baptism. 

I should go, but thank you for your support and love.

I hope these are still exciting for you all

We had an unexpected baptism this week....

The other set of missionaries in our area were very unexpectedly transferred, so we had to pick up their huge area, and plan for a baptism they had, and learn a new area that we haven't really even begun to explore yet. I know this all sounds like missionary talk, and it is, but basically we have an absurd amount of things to do and were/will continue to be incredibly busy.

This past friday, we were able to do a service project at a member's house. They had such a gorgeous farm. They had chicken, geese, and sheep. They also grow peppers, mangos, ginger, watermelon, tomatos, and probably a lot of other things that they sell at the palengke. (John/Brittany and Ryan/Melissa would have loved this place.)

We have a new investigator too. He is the father of our branch president and is such a sassy old man. He told us, "Never in my life have I joined any church! There is only one church- The Church of God." We had an interesting lesson with him and he joked about having aircon in heaven. We enjoyed meeting with him and his wife, who is a member.

People continue to stare at me. Maybe it's not rude here... I smile back, despite wanting to just have a staring contest with people, like I would do in Ecuador. But since I am a missionary...

Missionary life is masarap. I am tired, most of the time. But there is an internal echoing of something that is just so delicious. It makes being tired feel completely worth it. I continue to gain a deeper appreciation of the scriptures. Just earlier this week, we read 1 Ne 1 with an investigator. I've read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon several times, but even during our lesson I was noticing interestingthings that I hadn't noticed before.

Sometimes I worry about not having time to think and process everything. Sometimes, at the end of a day, it feels like a dream. It almost doesn't feel real to see the kinds of places that people call 'home,' the kinds of houses they''ve made out of bamboo, and scrap metal. It is difficult to see it. It's one thing to hear about it, but it's another to see it in front of my eyes, to see the kids that aren't going to school because of money, etc. Despite all of that, most filipinos are actually very optimistic and find joy in small things and in God.

Anita,our investigator with a gambling problem is getting baptized in two weeks. Sister T and I are surprised at her willingness and desire to learn and progress.

Sister T and I continue to work well together. We laugh a lot together. It's interesting to spend so much time with someone that I probably wouldn't pick to be friends with. But, it's been a rewarding and a growing experience.

 Beautiful:

Mosiah 7:27---John 1:1,14

Mosiah 4:27

Mosiah 4:30

Mosiah 7:18

Sigue. TTYL. bye.

PS. I got mom's 2 packages and Dad's package and the package from Holland ward. THANKYOUALLSOMUCH.

Jesse M-- I was thinking about that conversation we had in Rock Canyon a few months ago. I was thinking about how you had described your feelings on your mission. ( I relate to that now, despite having set aside other concerns.)

Love it so Munch

That was on a package of cashews that I bought. I loved them so munch.

This week I was able to buy very yummy fruits that I've never tried, from when we went to Olongapo last week--guayabano, mangosteen, and rambutan. (sp?) 

I realized that Filipinos are very creative. I've seen really impressive ways of building things/ using materials. Earlier this week, I saw a man that hung a hammock from beneath a giant, parked semi truck. Just hanging out. 

I had an interesting experience last week. When we get near one of our areas, 'Control,' there are a lot of beggars there. We cannot use the money we get monthly from the mission to give to beggars, so we always just say, 'Wala.' (We don't have any.) This is a fairly normal occurance for us, especially because I am white, and the kids will run to me asking for money. 

Anyways, last week, one of the little girls starting screaming at me after I said, "Wala," and then pretended to kick me. (I wanted to cry!) Two seconds later, miraculously, the other set of missionaries in our area pulled up next to us in a tricycle and so the little kids left me and ran to them. One of the missionaries smiled at them and energetically shook their hands, as if they were pretending to give her a handshake. She told them that we have a rule that we cannot give money, but that she had a gift for them instead. She gave them candy and after they ran off, I asked her how she normally deals  with the beggars. 

I couldn't stop thinking about those children and how she had interacted with them. It wasn't  a special occurance, but for a few days, I could not stop thinking about how she did not let her attention or love end with the lowest of people. I realized that I needed to not let my love end with those people, to not ignore them anymore.  I decided to make little folded up pieces of paper with nice things written on them, to give to beggars when they come up to me. I won't give them money, but I can give them my love instead. 

I've also started a new thing to help remind people to read the scriptures. Many investigators will say that they forgot to read. Once they tell us this, I take an index card out of my bag and make a drawing for them and then write, "Magbasa." They can put it on their wall or their mirror to help remind them! I'm hoping that it will communicate to them how much I love the scriptures, other than just telling them that I love the scriptures.

I need to go, but thank you for your love and support. 

Biyay-Biyaya

One time at the MTC, I was looking up the word, "Biyaya" because I forgot what it meant. It means 'grace' or 'blessing.' I read the word right above it in the dictionary, which was 'biyay.' A biyay is a shallow tray filled with water that keeps ants from getting to food, like on a table.  We had a large problem with ants/maggots getting to our garbage. We didn't know what to do because it was getting pretty bad. Anyways, I remembered 'biyay' that I accidently read at the MTC and so we made a biyay for our garbage. I was going to send a picture of what we caught in our biyay, but I figured maybe I'll just leave it to your imagination. Our biyay was a blessing.

I also attached a picture of a small pineapple, that isn't really good for anything other than looking cute, which was definitely enough for me to buy it (for only 10 pesos!)
I also attached some pictures of what we ate at one of our Christmas dinners.  (We had four dinners.)
There is a picture of the 4 of us in our apartment in Lubao.
There is also picture of Sister T and I with a bunch of little kids on Christmas. They basically swarmed in on us, so we decided to teach a short lesson about Christmas. They were very cute. 

New Years was a bit terrifying. I was appreciate of our 6:00 curfew. Sister T said that it sounded like we were getting bombed, when 12 came. I somehow slept through it... 

(I didn't write last week, because I talked to my parents.) The past two weeks have been so great. I've eaten 'Dinuguan' which is made with coagulated pig's blood. (I included some pictures of the pig that the ward bought for the ward Christmas Party. There is a picture of some ward members cooking it as well.) We also ate cow stomach/tongue at our Branch President's house for Christmas dinner. This week I learned how to make 'pansit' from one of the filipino sisters in our apartment which is very masarap. 

One time my companion asked an old man in our lesson how he was doing, and he responded, "Mabuhay pa!" (I'm still alive!) It reminded me of something that Papaw would say. 

On the 29th, we were in Santiago (Santiago is a smaller neighborhood, another 'barangay.') We walked to San Pedro which is easily my favorite area because it is a bit more quiet and calm than in the main area of Lubao. We walked through rice fields and it was the most alone we've been since I've been here.  The sky is always changing here, and it feels alive. The stars come out around 7, after the sun goes down. It was incredibly beautiful and I felt humbled and grateful to be here. 

Last night, we had an interesting lesson. We met at a member's house for dinner on New Years. We ate outside at a table with 6 other men (They were all members/friends from the neighborhood.) We weren't sure where the mother went, but the 8 of us just ended up eating together. We talked and laughed and they asked us questions about America. It was so great to be able to interact with them in a more casual setting. More laughing, etc. 
After we ate, we had a discussion about faith. We shared Alma 32: 26-27 and we discussed "experimenting upon my words and exercise a particle of faith" and what that means. Despite it being a more participative and loud lesson, at the end we were able to have a few moments of quiet sincerity.

We have 4 investigators that want to be baptized, and 2 will probably happen this month. Missionary work is different than I thought it would be, and in some ways is how I thought it would be. I am beginning to appreciate and develop a love for this work and for people. (I am realizing that having the answers to every question that I've had isn't necessary right now. I think answers to my questions will come over many many years.)

I am continually amazed at what I find in the Book of Mormon. I feel like I am reading something that I have never read before. I am finding more than I have ever found previous to my mission. 
Jacob 4:13-14 is very very full. Jacob 4:8 too. (John 1: 1, 14 is very interesting as well.)

Tagalog is coming coming coming. Some lessons, I feel like I can hardly speak, and then some lessons, I feel good about speaking. 

I am happy.Love you all.