*Endure*

Hi,

Anna is baptized! She is so so great and I can't explain how
incredible it is to observe this kind of growth in people. We have 3
(not 5) more baptisms next Saturday. (We have transfers on Wednesday.
I think I'll probably get transferred, but will let you all know next
week. I really want to go to Pangasinan and learn some ilokano...)

I remember one time during a lesson we taught in Lubao to a man named
Noel Jimenez, he asked me how I knew that we were all brothers and
sisters. He responded and told me that if we peel off all of our
skins, and compare our insides, we're all the same. I enjoyed his
literally view on 'being human.' For anyone that feels so inclined to
offer/email me their thoughts on 'being human' I would love to read
that.

A story:

During our conference with David Bednar a few weeks ago, my former
companion Sister Lumanog told me a story about a person (I forgot
their name!) that became an investigator (or decided to be taught by
the missionaries) in her new area in Olongapo City. Their new
investigator's father, David Bernardino is a member in Lubao and has
been inactive for many years in the church.

During my last transfer in Lubao, I strongly felt like we needed to
visit David Bernardino several times. David is basically deaf and our
lessons consisted of me and Brother Jerome (a member in Lubao)
writing on paper to communicate with this man. He could speak fine but
had almost no hearing. He spoke really loud and I actually really
enjoyed our lessons as quickly wrote down questions/ideas for him.
I've never experienced teaching like that.

Anyway, David Bernardino's son somehow came across the paper and the
notes that we used to teach his father and gained an interest in the
church. I wasn't sure why I felt so strongly to go and visit David,
but I now realize that it was probably for his son. Sister Lumanog and
her companion were street contacting (I2L) and met this man's son, who
is now being taught. He relayed the experience about reading the notes
and papers that we used, to Sister Lumanog. Sister Lumanog said that
he probably wouldn't have been very receptive to meeting them if he
hadn't had that prior experience.

I think it is times like that, that I realize that I am a very small
part of a much larger plan/world/existence.

Amos 3:3-Can two walk together except they be agreed?

I ate eel for breakfast Friday morning. It was electrifying! JK. It
wasn't an electric eel. I wish it would've been though.

Christmas started a few weeks ago. Everyone's pulled out their
Christmas decorations. Christmas in the Philippines is the best.

We were passing some people on the road and they said this as we
walked by - "Maging mabuti may bahay" Rough translation= She'll make
a good wife.
I was so confused at where that statement came from. I walked by and
from me passing them, it was somehow determined that I'll make a good
wife someday. haha. I love filipino culture.

:)  

BYE.   
-I was sitting at our kitchen table during our lunch and realized that
I was hearing the little 'cheep-cheep' that chicks make. I looked over
at our back door that was open and was surprised to see a momma
chicken and her little chicks that had wondered into our apartment. I
caught this picture on their way out.

-Field.

                   -We shared a short message about family to this goat. She was really
receptive, especially in regards to family. She really loves her
kids...

I ate dog.

On Saturday evening, we had the choice opportunity to eat cow...maybe.

baka= cow in Tagalog. 'baka' also means 'maybe.' Depending on the intonation.

My companion told me after we had returned home that I ate dog. It was
actually really delicious. I just wish that I would've known
beforehand what it was. I mostly just had images of 'Mindy' my
childhood dog, running through my head, and actually felt a little
guilty.

I still haven't tried snake, rat, dragon, or bat. But, don't you all
worry about me, I still have 6 months before I get home to try all of
these interesting foods.

Yesterday we were walking in a neighborhood called, "Kapampangan,"
which is named after the language in Pampanga, (my last area was in
Pampanga) and was pleasantly greeted with two skinned dogs hanging by
their feet in the middle of the road. It was a timely moment when
seconds later we heard the song on someone's radio that goes something
like, "How much is that puppy in the window? I hope that dog is for
sale..." (Why was that song playing at that moment??)

I've had the lovely opportunity to increase my empathy for those
afflicted with sickness. I've had lice for a few months now, and have
removed a total of 240+ knits from my head in that time period. I've
also had rashes on my backside ever since I've been in Lubao. I had a
boil on my leg a few months ago, and now I have ring worm on my arm,
which is a sort of fungus I'm told. So life has been really
interesting.

We have a baptism next friday night for Anna! She is great. We have 5
more baptisms the week after, but I'm thinking that I'll probably get
transferred and won't be there.

byebyebyebye.


Luke 9:62 - Not looking back. I'm trying to do this. Sometimes I'm successful.

Pagbabalik-loob (Conversion!)

Hello frans and framry,

Our conference last week was probably more insightful and greater than
I could have imagined. I have learned so much and am still processing
the many things that were said. Elder Bednar started off the
conference by sharing D&C 88:122. He emphasized the part, 'all may be
edified of all.' As such, he didn't do a ton of speaking. We were
asked to read two talks before the conference. He started off by
asking what we learned from those talks. He asked many questions and I
was amazed at his selection of questions that he asked. It felt like a
conversation. It was enlightening. Most of the time, we were talking
and sharing, and learning from each other. It wasn't a one-way
conversation, but rather a multi-dimensional learning experience. I am
left with many things to think about and ponder about faith and the
process of gaining spiritual knowledge and spiritual gifts.

We had the opportunity to ask him questions towards the end. People
raised their hands and asked him questions. I asked a question and he
gave us his insight.

I asked him about 'conversion' and at what point do we become
'converted' to the gospel. I prefaced my question by mentioning the
scripture in Mark, where Jesus heals a child. Jesus asks the child's
father if he believes that He is able to heal his son. The son's
father replies, 'Lord, I believe,' and then hesitantly adds, 'Help
Thou mine unbelief.'

Because I was sitting in the first row, I was actually fairly close to
him and was grateful for that. He didn't just look me in the eye, but
'looked me in the eye.' He said many things, and to be completely
honest, I don't remember 100% of what he said. But, I remember how I
felt. I think a lot of things are like that. We sometimes don't
remember exactly what happened in a situation, but we remember how we
felt. I think the feeling that I felt will carry with me for a long
time.

Malapit na! Mahal ko kayo.