Monday, January 27, 2014

Count down has just begun!!

So this week was really good I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Baguio (which means strong storm):) And it was good. I have been really really sick for the past 3 weeks, but it's finally starting to clear up. While we were on exchanges, Sister Baguio made me some really delish juice to help my throat:) She's so kind:)
I have also discovered the blessings that come from patience this week. PATIENTLY waiting for the water to heat up before you take a shower:) And then taking your time showering because you actually enjoy it:) I love hot showers.

We have kind of been teaching this one investigator named Lanni, but haven't been able to really focus on her.... she's all ready for baptism, we just have to teach her.... fail on our part, but at least I will have at least one more baptism before I go home:) When we teach her, we can't teach her at her house because she lives really really far away... so we teach her in a chicken shop. You get creative sometimes on your mission:) In my first area, we taught an investigator in a tobacco warehouse.... uhh.... I'm just sad that we weren't teaching the Word of Wisdom that day.

We also have been having a lot of brown outs (which is the Filipino way of saying power outage) so that other day we taught a whole lesson (the ten commandments) By the small light of a cell phone. After we said the closing prayer, the lights came back on.... curse you Satan.

Tomorrow officially marks the start of the last transfer of my mission:) I will be home in 6 weeks:) I won't lie.... I'm FREAKING EXCITED!!!!! I just jump up and down all the time and tell the other missionaries, "I'm going home! I'm going home!!" I'm still working hard, don't get me wrong.... I'm just way excited to come home:)!!!!!!

Remember that one time that I came to the Philippines and it was burning hot.... I can hardly remember that time because right now it is freezing cold!!! I actually bought a blanket that other night.... it's so cold that we cant even sleep without blankets..... that's a little ridiculous! But at least I sleep peacefully at night now:) Love you all!!!! 42 days:)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Success!

I forgot that it wasn't normal to:
-Shake hands with someone when you first meet them.
-Eat 6 times a day
-Drink Soda out of a plastic bag
-People just touching you.... squeezing your arm, or rubbing your head.
-People saying what ever they want to you: You're fat, why do you have pimples, you're beautiful..... on and on.
 
This week was a really great week:) We were able to see a small miracle:) We haVEN'T BEEN HAVING A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH HAVING INVESTIGATORS AT (uggfg!!! I hate capslock!) church but this week we worked our butts off and we finally had 10 investigators at church!!! Yes!!! The church is true!

We still don't know what the deal with the visas is.... so I still don't really know when I am coming home:) Oh well:) Sana I get to see all of these investigators get baptized though!!!!
I am ridiculously sick right now. Maybe I'm dying. But it's fine. Just keep working and the Lord will bless you right?!?! That's what I am goi9ng to go for:) Sister Shrack made no-bake cookies this week.... so life is still good.

Got my 72-hour  kit all finished finally. Don't mind the fact that I'm almost done with my mission here. Just give me praise:) That's all that I ask:)
ZTM was really good:( We did a training and even though it was probably the most boring topic that you could give a training on (reporting and accounting) The missionaries seemed to have a lot of fun:)

I was able to go on exchanges this week with Sister Incognito:) She's the best! I think she's had like 70 baptisms or something on her mission.... she's crazy good.... I've only had like 5 haha well a few more, but still! Man she's good. A little crazy, but so great!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Bowling and chest x-rays

Well I can't really remember anything from this last wee cause MLC was so fun.... so I will just tell you all about MLC.
We have to go down to Laoag every first Monday of the month for leadership training and this was my first time to go.... possibly my last:) So on the way down I rode the bus with 12 other missionaries:) One of them being Elder Reber (he was in my district in the MTC) When we got there on Sunday night, we stayed in the Laoag 3 apartments.... I was sooooo excited because I was going to get to take a hot shower.... well it turns out that the Laoag 3 apartment is the only one in the whole apartment complex that DOESN'T have hot water..... story of my life. BUT it was really fun staying there with A) Sister Woahn- My first companion B) Sister Sabio- My first trainee and C) Sister Walker my second companion..... looks like Sister Smith will probably be getting a call soon haha joke lang.

 The next morning (yesterday morning) We headed to the stake center for the trainings, where I got to see Elder Ewell also.... he was also in my district in the MTC..... AND!!!!! SISTER TAUTI!!!! I love Sister Tauti!!!! She is the greatest! She is going home next transfer.... or is she? Nope. It turns out that they have problems with our exit visas.... so she is actually going home 3 weeks early. I cried.... many times. 

The trainings were really fun and then afterwards we all went and ate at Robinsons. I Saw my old investigator there!! Love her!!! but!.... she told my I was really fat... not true.... still love her.
Then we went bowling.... not like we do in the states.... it was literally like a shot put that you rolled down the lane. It was way fun! I didn't get past 50.... I suck:) but lets be serious, who really IS good at bowling like that? No one.

Then we had more trainings and went home:) I told all of the younger missionaries about the time I left my companion and ran after the bus because I left my wallet on it..... still such a great story.
This morning I had to get a chest x-ray.... don't worry I'm not dying, we all have to get them before we go home.... since I only have 9 weeks left, it was time.:) 

9 is the magic number:) We will see if it changes:)