Philippines Mission--Week 35/Sharks vs. Jets!

Maajong hapon! Here is my week para sa kamong tanan!

December 2nd, Wednesday, Sister Herdegen and I went on splits with some members, I ended up working with Sister Mary Dale, a returned missionary! The whole day we were punted and so we only had one lesson, but it was a super fun day. I got to get to know Sister Mary Dale, and we visited a member, Sister Lera, leaving for her mission this December 17th. Even though we only taught one person that day, I was still pretty happy because that one lesson, was exactly what Sister Lera needed. Because we kept getting punted, we didn't exactly know who to go and visit. I felt that we needed to go and visit Sister Lera and see how she was doing, and when we sat down and started talking with her about her day, she told us that her prayer was answered! She told us that the whole day she tried reading the Book of Mormon/Preach My Gospel books to prepare herself, but she was too bored and couldn't focus. So she then prayed to Heavenlly Father and asked Him what she should do. Right after her prayer, Sister Mary Dale and I showed up and started teaching her. The Spirit was pretty strong as we were teaching her and I'm glad that we got to visit her and that she wasn't too busy for us to teach her.

December 3rd, Thursday, Sister Herdegen and I went to the church and had a zone training meeting with all of the different districts. We had to go pretty early because afterwards we were going to practice our performance for our mission Christmas party coming up on Thursday! Each zone in the mission has to perform something, and my zone decided to sing "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" and read from Luke 2 in the Bible. Even though I'm really shy and don't like putting myself out there/performing, I'm pretty excited to go to the Christmas party because it's in Lilo-an and it's with ALL of the missionaries in the Philippines Cebu East Mission! So I get to see some of my previous companions AND see the missionaries that are leaving the mission this month. We will be leaving Wednesday and not return until Friday. I'm pretty excited!

December 4th, Friday, Sister Herdegen and I visited an investigator, Sister Merly Bag-o, in Garcia because it's been a while since we've been able to teach her. When we first showed up, she looked really sad and upset. We talked a little and found out that her boyfriend had come home after months, packed up his bags, and left her alone with their 2 children. She told us the reason she hasn't been home is because she's been out looking for jobs to make some money because her children don't have any food to eat. It's the saddest thing ever. We decided to teach her and review what we taught her about Christ's church and Joseph Smith. It was so awesome because right as we taught her and reviewed, her countenance had changed! She was a lot happier! She also had remembered everything that we had taught her before. It was awesome! After the review, we pulled out the Book of Mormon and introduced it to her. We handed it to her and said, "Sa imoha. Wala'y bayad!" ("It's yours, you don't have to pay"). Once we handed it to her, she just got a really big smile and said, "Thank you so much!" She was pretty excited to get the book. We explained what it was, where it came from, and why we should read it. We then committed her to read, ponder and pray about it. Afterwards, we committed her to be baptized if she receives an answer that the book is true. She said, "If I receive an answer that it is true, then yes, I will be baptized." For Sister Herdegen and I, it's a pretty big step for Sister Merly. She was someone that Sister Herdgen and I tracted, and we had actually planned on passing by her house and not talking/teaching her at all. But we turned around and decided to introduce ourselves. She let us in to teach her, but told us that she has no intention on leaving her church and being baptized. She's definitely changed a lot! She used to be so depressed because she got into fights with her boyfriend and he never came back home, but now, every time we're over there teaching, she's just so happy. You can definitely feel the Spirit. Especially when we taught her about the Book of Mormon. And even though her children were kind of loud and distracting, the Spirit never left because Sister Merly really wanted to listen to our message! We're going to return tomorrow, and I'm really hoping that she's been reading/praying about the Book of Mormon!

December 5th, Saturday, Sister Herdegen and I went to a CSP early in the morning, and cleaned up the church on the inside, AND the outside. We dug up some rocks and were putting trash cans in. It started to get really hot, so then we all stopped and climbed some coconut trees and drank and ate some coconuts. After the CSP, the missionaries all got together and went over to the Maestrado's (our Bishop) and ate some lami lunch! The thing about the members here is, they stuff you until you're full of food . . . and then give you some more to eat. I was hoping to lose weight in my new area, but it's so hard when you're assigned to Bohol because ALL of the members just feed you every day. It's so bad, but their food is so good! One of my favorite Filipino foods to eat here is Adobo squid! It's little squid mixed in soy sauce and all sorts of spices, and then you eat it with rice! (My new favorite food as well, ha ha).

December 6th, Sunday, Sister Herdegen and I went to Garcia early in the morning accompany some investigators to church because they were too shy and didn't know where it was. When we showed up, Sister Mary Grace was getting ready, but her mother, Sister Ambrosia, wasn't quite ready. So we asked if she was coming and she told us, "No." So we decided to teach her about the Sabbath day and obedience. We bore our testimonies and committed her to come to church but she still said "No Sister. Next time." We just continued to bear our testimonies about the many blessings we can receive by being obedient and coming to church. After the lesson, she walked into her house and started washing the dishes. Her daughter was all ready and told her mom, "Mamma, just come to church. Come to church Mamma." Her mom stopped what she was doing, and then looked at us and went into her room. She came out with a dress on and said, "Okay. Let's go." Sister Herdegen and I just looked at each other with wide eyes, walked outside where nobody could see us, grabbed each other's hands and jumped up and down and screamed silently. It was the best feeling ever to have Sister Ambrosia come with us after she had just told us no. We definitely know that she felt the Spirit speaking to her during the lesson AND after the lesson. It was also awesome that she listened to the promptings because she had prayed the night before and asked what she has to do, and the answer she got was "go to church," and she went!

December 7th, Monday, Sister Herdegen and I went and visited the Arias family (members) early in the morning and had a scripture study time with them. After that, we had some breakfast and traveled to Jagna to withdraw our money from the ATM. After the withdrawl, we went and emailed, but I accidentally deleted my letter home. So now I'm typing it over again here in Valencia, because we only had 1 hour of email time in Jagna. Then shopped a little and returned back to go and teach a recent convert, Brother Dave Calooy. When we got to his friend's house, there was one of his friends, Brother Eric, and we asked if we could teach him. The thing with Brother Dave is, he hangs out with the "not so good gang" that do "not so good things." They aren't a good influence for Brother Dave and actually laugh at him/make fun of him for trying to be good/read/go to church. Sister Herdegen and I made a little joke and decided to call their gang "The Sharks" and Sister Herdegen and I refer to ourselves as "The Jets." haha. (If you don't understand go ask someone 50 or older). We decided to start teaching their group (or at least some members of their group) about the Gospel. We ended up teaching Brother Eric because he's kind of like Brother Dave; quiet, not the leader of the Sharks, but a follower. We thought if we can teach him, Brother Dave won't be so shy to come to church or talk about the Gospel with us. It was a pretty awesome lesson! We taught him about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and it took us a while to explain who they were because he didn't quite understand, AND he was really nervous to be taught by 2 white American, ENGLISH SPEAKING, girls. But he started to open up and was really into the lesson! Even though he was shy and quiet, he still answered questions/got involved in the lesson, and afterwards he prayed! It was awesome!

After teaching Brother Eric, we decided to teach Brother Dave about reading the scriptures since he's having trouble remembering. Before when we would teach him, he wouldn't answer us, or act as if he didn't understand/know the answer because he had been made fun of by his friends for so long. But his countenance completely changed after we had taught one of his friends about the gospel as well. He was more into the lesson, answered more questions, and just really seemed a little more at peace/happier because he didn't feel so alone. Out of his family/friends, he's the only member. We have a return appointment with Brother Dave AND Brother Eric this Friday. So we're hoping to really start helping them to understand more fully this gospel.

Just so you all know, I'm totally "nose-bleeding" with my English right now which is awesome! Earlier today, Sister Herdegen and I had THE hardest time trying to remember what the word 'hearse' was. We called it a 'dead carrier' because we couldn't remember our English. It was so funny. But yeah, just thought you'd all like to know I'm getting the language! Slowly, but surely. haha. The Lord always answers our prayers, but only in HIS time and in HIS way.

I love you all! Have a good week! Stay safe and be good.

Love,

Sister Johnson