Love

I am back working. I am feeling okay and have now a small scab on my
leg. This will be a bit short. I've printed several of your emails and
am hoping to be able to reply next week.

This has been a weird weird week. I've met a lot of interesting people
that I'll probably tell you all more about next week. Our time is a
little short right now. Thank you for your prayers for me!

I'm learning about unconditional love vs. love based on my feelings or
personality preference. It's an exciting/challenging thing to be more
aware of.


Love you all, Sister Vickers

Flesh.

(Daniele's sister here...sorry for the delay. I haven't had internet for 2 weeks and have been on vacation.  Sorry! This post is the most recent one from Sunday the 15th of July)

I am reminded of the fragility of my flesh which God has given me. I
am grateful for this experience to increase my ability to empathize
with other people who are in a state of suffering. This week has been
full of a multitude of tears and prayers.

I got a boil on my left lower leg which has subsequently caused
swelling in my foot, which means that I am basically confined to a
bed/small amounts of walking only.

After I showed some members the 'insect bite' that i thought I had on
my leg, they told me that it wasn't an insect bite, but 'pigsa,' which
is such an awful and terrible word to fit what it describes. Even 60
years from now, if I have forgotten all of my Tagalog, I will never
forget, 'pigsa.'

They told me that there was an easier remedy than going to the
hospital and getting my boil cut out. I could have someone just
squeeze 'the eye' out for me and then I should be good. They told me
it would hurt. They were right. It took my friend Lhordy, 3 times to
relieve all of the insides of the boil and each time she went at it, I
buried my face in a pillow because of the exquisite pain.

We went to the hospital the next day, and they gave me anti-biotics
which they said would get rid of any infection that is still left. My
mission president is dropping off crutches for me to increase my
mobility, which I'm extremely reluctant to use in public as I already
feel like a public spectacle just by being white and tall. : )

To be truthful, I've been grateful for the time to think and be still
for the first time in 9 months. I don't believe it is an accident that
God in infinite wisdom, has given me this precious time to be still,
to rest and to think.

"All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. "
D&C 122:7

I do believe this ^^

Faith is become more real and more real to me.

Naka-pigsa sa kama ko,

Sister Vickers

mga kapatid na babae & mga kapatid na lalaki,

On Wednesday, while it was raining, we were hiking/walking to a
member's home and after several times of almost slipping, I decided to
take off my shoes and walk barefoot. The proceeding 30 minutes was a
joyous experience. My feet came alive! Raw and muddy. I was happy to
reconnect with dirt if even for a little while.


This week I ate fried horse and goat calderetta.


We had a zone conference that was almost overwhelming in the sense
that I still have not processed everything that was said. Elder
Michael Teh (google him if you want) came and graced us with a lovely
experience of learning and thinking. We all were asked to come to the
meeting, fasting. Many things entered my thoughts and will hopefully
be able to continue to understand the principle of 'fasting.'


There were some little girls who asked me during a lesson which soap I
used on my body. In the Philippines, there are a lot of whitening
soaps because everyone wants to be whiter. She was a little taken back
when I told her that I was naturally like this. Haha. She asked me if
I wore eye contacts and was also surprised when I told her that I
don't wear eye contacts to make my eyes blue. (People ask me this at
least 3-4 times a week. ha)


I bought kiwi fruit last week at a supermarket in Balanga (which was
imported) and it was Sister Pamogas' first time to try kiwi. She
thought the skin looked liked the 'skin of a monkey.' Haha.


On Sunday before we taught a lesson, some members cut off a large
piece of sugar cane by their home and we all got a small piece to suck
the life out of it. Sweeeet.


We are very close to the ocean and something inside of me has started
to reawaken. WOWOW. I'm not sure if it's the familiarity of large
bodies of water, or if it's just exciting to me that I feel like we're
at the end of land and I can't see where the water ends.


I've also noticed that this transfer, I've been able to recover from
my stressful last transfer. High amounts of stress make me feel like a
different person, and I feel like my normal state of mind has
returned.


Continuing in faith,


Sister Vickers



Photos:

A large animal that somehow entered our apartment

A house of a newly baptized member (lovely!)

Mt. Samat/Clouds

Our shower : ) ( do not be fooled by that expensive looking shower
head, which does not work)

Joshua 3: 7, 13-17 ----- oh my! Think about this!


2 Ne 2: 14,16, 27

"My boss is a jewish carpenter"

(Sorry this is so late. I've been on vacation and moving.)


That was a bumper sticker on someone's car and I thought it was mildly
thought provoking.

I am transferred to my second area- Pilar, Bataan. Deep deep tagalog.
I am having some trouble understanding people.

I miss terribly the members and my investigators in Lubao, but trust
that they will continue in their learning with different missionaries.

I am excited for the challenge though to continue to improve in my
language skills. It's been interesting to see how step by step, God
has given me opportunities to improve in my language skills, with each
subsequent transfer. I am not training anymore but am follow-up
training Sister Pamogas, from Cagayan de Oro. She is only 2 transfers
in to the mission and is very very straightforward and bold with
people. We have very different teaching styles, so our lessons have
been interesting. I'm realizing how important it is to first love
someone. It's easier to point out people's faults and is significantly
harder to just love them and let them improve on their own pace and
learn how they want to learn.

I ate frog last week. I have more plans for future eating and will
update you all as soon they occur. : )

As part of the cyclical nature of my life, I am reviewing and
restudying the concept of 'faith.' I feel like I lack faith and have a
desire to deepen my faith and understanding of 'faith' and why 'faith'
is the substance by which this work is governed.

Mosiah 5: 30


Ever growing/loving,

Daniele



The pig is so cute.

Frog.

Picture of outside our apartment. Fruit!

Crab. in Lubao. He wanted to give me a hug, but I told him, "Sorry,
maybe next time."