This week I really learned patience. Patience with other
missionaries, patience with our investigators, patience with the
language, and mostly patience with myself. I can't learn and do
everything all at once, all I can do is my best and the Lord will make
up for the rest. As far as Tagalog, it is far more important to have
the spirit than to get all your ng, ang, na, ba, and po's right. The scripture that got me through the week was "Let us run with patience the
race that is set before us." Sometimes a mission can feel like it is
never going to end and you feel like you are going to be here forever
(somedays that is a happy thought, somedays not so much), but if we are
patient we can make it through each day and each stride and at some
point we will look back and wonder how we ever made it to where we are. I
also know from this week that happiness is a choice. Despite our
circumstances we can choose to put a smile on our face and see the good.
Despite the stress and pressure of the week, I chose to be patient and
happy and even though some days pushed me to my limit, I made it through
and still managed to keep a smile! This week during some down time due
to my companion being sick I did two things- 1. Made a list of all the
things I am thankful for on the mission and before the mission. It made
me realize how much I really do have to be thankful for and how happy my
life is compared to so many others. Many of those things were trials
and things I have learned from them. It helped me realize trials are
SUCH a blessing and so good for our lives, we just have to endure
through them and do our best to stay positive. 2. I read many of the
letters I received from the MTC and here in the Philippines and realized
how amazing of a support system I have. Even though I miss all the
people that wrote the letters, I feel so blessed to have so many people
that care for me and will be there when I come home!
So we had a lot of really good lessons this week! We were
finally able to reach Julie about marriage (our investigator who comes
to church every week for 4 years, but can't be baptized because she
isn't married). She said she really wants to be married and understands
why it is important and we decided on December and planned everything
from who will take care of food, ceremony, and of course I made her pick
colors! She was so excited it was so cute!
So then John, he told us he knows that the Word of Wisdom is
true and he has been trying his best to live it. Coffee has been his
problem, but he said he has cut back a lot and will keep trying! Pero,
he really wasn't understanding baptism and the priesthood authority that
our church has. We taught him about baptism again and he said he had a
lot to think about and that he would pray again to know if this was the
ONLY true church.
Then Estrella- I feel so bad for her! She wants to become a
member of the church so bad, but her husband is so against it. We
brought 2 of the Sisters from relief society with us and they were able
to really touch her and help her in a way that us youngsters can't. I
hope Tatay's heart will soften!
So we went to visit Angelica and Martin again, but only
Angelica was there- but it was such a powerful lesson and the spirit was
so strong! We taught about the Book of Mormon. When I bore my
testimony, I'm not sure I even knew my testimony was that strong about
the Book of Mormon. I was full on crying and I told her I wanted her to
know this book was true because it would change her life. She said she
wants to know too. She told us that she is confused. She thought she
knew which church was true, but now she is confused
and doesn't know. That is a good thing for us missionaries! Now she will
have to make a choice!
So we have been teaching Gino almost every other day to be
ready for his baptism. He gets distracted too easy so we have to teach
just a little each time. I think it is hilarious how distracted he is. haha. Typical 9 year old. My companion doesn't think
its so funny.
This week we kept going to appointments and they would fall
through so we did a good amount of tracting in the neighborhood close to
our church. We actually were able to find a lot of awesome people! A
couple from Japan that we will teach in English! I'm excited about that!
I love seeing people's faces when they look out and see a white girl
standing at their gate yelling "Tao po!"
So for the sad news...Ella May's boyfriend said we can't
teach her anymore. She said she was so sad and so sorry, but that she
will keep reading the Book of Mormon and praying. I will miss her a lot!
Pero, there is a happy side! She said she is moving to Manila away from
her Uncle/boyfriend! YAY! We will try to refer her to the missionaries
there!
So a total Rita moment this week that made me laugh. So we
are at the mall for district lunch on Thursday and there is a store full
of Teddy Bears and all the Sisters in my district (all Filipina) were
dying- saying sooo cute and that they wanted one. hahahaha. I was
laughing so hard. Rita would have loved that store. It made me realize
that I truly am in Asia haha.
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