Philippines Mission--Week 12 (Sad week)

"BUDO FIGHT!"

Kamusta mo!! This week is transfer week, and so I didn't have my P-day on Monday. We usually have our P-days on Wednesday if it's transfer week. We've been pretty busy, and we kind of have a short P-day today because Sister Lagan is transferring around 1 or 2 p.m. so I'm just going to tell you all a little bit about what has happened to be this past week.

Monday, June 22nd- This day was SO fun! Sister Lagan and I had our regular P-day schedule (email, buying groceries, cleaning the house, cleaning our clothes) but then around 4 o'clock, Sister Lagan and I changed into regular clothes and traveled to Valencia for our District activity!

All of the missionaries in our district, including our zone leaders, all got together and cooked some food and took it to the beach behind a member's house. Elder Connolly and Elder Acosta set up the volleyball net and Sister Paz (member of Valencia) cooked the food while all of us played volleyball, badminton, and Frisbee. After the food was cooked, we put it on some big leaves and just ate it like that. It was so fun! That's what they call a "Budo fight". When you just dump the food out and everyone gathers around and eats it. Nindot! After, Elder Connolly set up a little bonfire and we all gathered around and roasted some marshmallows. The Filipinos have never made s'mores before so they kept asking Elder Connolly and I how to make them. haha. Ah, this day was so fun! It was an awesome activity to have together before transfer week.

On June 27th, Saturday Sister Lagan and I traveled to Garcia to teach some investigators, but got punted by all of them, so instead of traveling back, we decided to do some tracting (where we go and find new investigators on the street. We ended up meeting new people and giving them some pamphlets, but we never taught anyone so we decided to take a Jeepnee (Philippine transportation) back to Jagna because Elder Robanakadavu and Elder Talan had a baptism, and I had to give one of the talks for the baptism. I ended up talking about baptism and why it's so important to be baptized. I did it all in Cebuano and that was a total "nosebleed" (Nosebleed is what the Filipinos say when someone is speaking in English (or a different language then theirs) to them and they can't understand it. The story behind it is, an American came to the Philippines and was talking to a Filipino, and the Filipino tried so hard to understand, that his nose started bleeding because his brain hurt, haha. Anyway, it was an awesome baptism to attend. Kirbie Cagata was the baptismal candidate and his father is less active but wanted him to take lessons and be baptized. Kirbie is 8 years old and the cutest/shyest little guy ever.

June 30th, Tuesday is when Sister Lagan and I went to our District meeting and we found out who was transferring. My heart and stomach hurt so much because I was so nervous to find out if my companion was transferring. I was hoping she'd stay and "follow up" me. (That's where I end up leading everything; lessons, meetings, schedules, etc). Sadly... she will not stay my companion and "follow up" me. She will be transferred to the Cebu island and become companions with Sister Deliarte (STL in our zone) and become the new STL!! I'm so sad but so excited for her! She seriously is going to be the best Sister Training Leader ever! I found out my new companion is Sister Orzal, I don't know anything about her, but I will let you all know Monday! :) I'm very nervous to be followed up by someone I don't know and having to lead the area! Wish me luck!

After our District meeting, Sister Lagan and I went all over Jagna visiting members/investigators, so Sister Lagan could hurry and say her last 'goodbyes' before she transferred. It was really sad seeing her have to say goodbye. It reality hasn't quite hit yet that she will leave; but I'm sure it will once I meet my new companion on Thursday.

After saying goodbye, Sister Lagan and I bought some snacks/food and took it to the Jagna church because the members and Elders are all getting together for a "Goodbye Party" for Sister Lagan and Elder Talan (who is transferring to Calape on the same island as I, and will be the new District leader). For the party, all of the members, one by one, walked up to the front and said what they love about Sister Lagan and Elder Talan. After everyone said their goodbyes, Sister Ryeannie Sangria (Jagna branch President Sangria's daughter) got up in the front and sang, "When You're Gone," by Avril Lavigne. It was so amazing! She has such a beautiful voice. I was trying so badly to hold in the tears but I couldn't. It's one of my favorite songs to listen to back home, and it was perfect to say "goodbye" to the missionaries. I loved it. After the song, we all took pictures and ate some dinner. It was an awesome night filled with roller coaster emotions. I will miss Sister Lagan SO much! She's helped me so much here on the mission.

Also, some sad news. :( Sister Lagan and I found out from some members that on Monday, June 29th, 4 little kids drowned in the ocean. On Monday, it was St. Peters day. So all of the Catholics (and even those that aren't Catholic) get together and go down to the beach and eat food; and for their tradition, they swim in the ocean. On Monday, the weather was not good at all. The wind was blowing really strong, it was raining pretty hard, and the water was going crazy. But because the Catholics believe in St. Peter and wanted to celebrate his birthday, they still all got in the ocean and swam around. I know that you guys don't know the families of the children that drowned, but please pray for the families. Please pray that their hearts will be comforted, and please pray that they will run into missionaries and eventually be taught the Plan of Salvation so they can know where their children are.

Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang simbahan ni Jesukirsto sa mga Santos sa Ulahing mga Adlaw. Nasayud ko nga importante jud kaayo ang pamilya nato sa Dios ug prosible nga mahangturan.

(I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know that our families are very important to God and we can be together forever).

I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Johnson

SO TIRED; fell asleep while praying!