Hello! Thanks for all of the birthday
wishes! I am 22, weird. My birthday was one I will probably always
remember not so much because anything of significance happened but because it
was in the Philippines! I got the fiber one package on Thursday night so I got
to have cereal for breakfast on my birthday! It was the best gift I could ask
for! It felt like eating home cooked food….. only someone from our family would
be so thrilled about Fiber One. But to celebrate the big two-two we
went to our district meeting. My district was super sweet they made a
sign for me and another sister who’s b-day was the day after. Then we
went to the only fast food restaurant around, Jollibee, and I had spaghetti and
fake ice cream (it just tastes different over here). Then we went and
taught for the rest of the day. I actually forgot it was my birthday until we
got home, which is funny for someone who is so fond of parties and birthday celebrations.
On the mission everything we do is for other people so a day devoted to ‘all
about me’ doesn’t really fit in. For dinner we ate eggs and rice and I
had a chocolate fiber one bar for dessert. Don't worry I still made a birthday
wish over my chocolately-fibery bar of goodness. On Saturday night
the couple missionaries invited us over for cake and ice cream to celebrate
because his birthday is today. It was fun to have a little party-party
amidst all of the work.
As far as the language, I think it will come better by December /
January. It just is hard to determine if I am giving my best in studying and
learning. I want to work hard and give my all there is so much to learn.
Sometimes I don’t know where to focus my efforts but I have faith that all things
are possible. As far as understanding other people, it depends on the lesson. Sometimes I can follow really well and then other days I am so lost that sister
Cabanag has to give me play by plays. It depends a lot on the accent of the
person too. Little kids are a lot easier to follow. I am starting to
understand what pronouns to use; when and where, so that is helpful. Little
miracles one at a time haha. A lady in my branch told me I have really good
pronunciation so that was super encouraging. It is just overwhelming at times
to think about how much of this language I still need to know. But like elder
Christofferson counsels us, I am just trying to take it one day at a time.
Quite
a few members speak broken English. There are a few that speak very well. I try
to speak Tagalog to them though because I need to learn it and the only way to
do that is by speaking (even though I know 1/2 the stuff that comes out of my
mouth is wrong).
Dad asked
how far we walk every day. I am not sure how far we walk but it is a lot. I brought my
pedometer so I will use that this week and track how far we go. My shoes are
great. Even the elders buy rubber shoes but they have to wear socks. I wear
those half socks a lot because we always take our shoes off to go into people's
homes. Our chapel is about a mile away so not too far. Dad also asked about
watching Conference. They will broadcast it to our ward so we don’t
have to travel farther than normal. They will also broadcast it a week later than
the live session. I am so excited for conference.
As for missionary work
it is moving right along! We are averaging on 20 lessons a week now and we have
7 investigators that are progressing! Two weeks ago we were walking along a
river bank in an attempt to find a short-cut through the rice fields.
There was a little girl standing outside her house and we stopped and asked her
for directions. Her mom came out and we started talking to her and told
her we were missionaries and gave her a pass-along card. We asked if
there was a good time to come visit her and share a message with her about God.
She was leaving for Manila to see her sister for a week but when she returned
she would maybe have time. She was really hesitant because she was
embarrassed that her house was so small. We assured her that it did not
matter in any way. Their home is a small one room house with a pink sheet
hanging in the corner so they can have a place to change their clothing.
There are no chairs or furniture of any kind. They sleep on a
thin straw mat. They have a small fire pit out front to cook over and
they have about 4 plates, 2 cups and a small pitcher for water. They
don’t use silver ware just their hands to eat their meals. This woman’s
name is Lorna Bele and she has three children, two girls and one boy.
This week we were able to visit with her and her children twice. On
our first visit as we sat on the floor we talked about the miracles from God in
our lives. This woman is very humble and has strong faith in God and an
understanding of the realness of Him in our lives. She told us of a time
that she knew she would not have enough money to buy food for the week but she
prayed and prayed for a miracle and one of her friends showed up and was able
to lend them money. She explained that she knew it was God that placed
this generous person into her life. This is a woman that depends on
God. She could be numbered among the low and degraded of the world but
because of her circumstance she relies on the tender mercies of the Lord to aid
her in her life. She seeks out His miracles and His grace. I have been
thinking about why this kind of humility is difficult to achieve in times of
prosperity? A constant theme throughout the scriptures is how soon people
forget the Lord when they are not in a time of need. It seems to be easy
to assume we do not need the Lord when everything is going fine. We
decide we can do things on our own instead of actively seeking out the Lord’s
miracles each day. I feel that this is a gift I am gaining a greater
understanding for on the mission. Because of the level of difficulty
emotionally, spiritually, physically and Tagalog-ly I need the Lord all the
time. I have found that I am most comfortable on my knees praying and am
trying to follow the example of sister Lorna and seek out His mighty hand in my
life. (By the way this family has been prepared for the gospel and we
have high hopes for them. They didn’t come to church this week because they
were embarrassed they did not have church clothes so we are set on trying to round
some up.)
It rains every
day. Salt Lake doesn’t know about rain. SLC has only experienced a light
drizzle compared to what the Pines has to offer. This week has been especially bad
because a hurricane hit the Northern part of our mission, luckily it changed course
and didn’t visit Ligao. We were at one of our investigators homes this
week and we asked how they faired through the rain. They told us that
their home flooded up to about mid calf. I wanted to ask how they slept or how
they kept everything from getting ruined. I am continuously shocked by
the day to day things people deal with. I guess I am surprised with the
level of poverty people live in because they wear it so well. Everyone is
happy and clean and warm, they show few signs of the fact that they have dirt
floors and cook over fires and often do not have luxury of eating three meals a
day.
Funny story of the week: This week while we were teaching a nine year old boy named John Paul about enduring to
the end, children from his neighborhood began gathering around him as we
taught. All of a sudden a crowd of about 18 kids was standing there
listening to us! I was cracking up at all of these tiny little faces starring
at us enthusiastically. After the lesson we told them all to run home and
tell their parents they want to invite the missionaries over. Haha hopefully it
works.
Well it sounds like fall
is in full swing for you all back home which means busy! Hope everyone is well!
I love you all so much and you are in my prayers every night. Thanks again
for all the b-day wishes, the support and the prayers.
Love from the Pines,
Sister Meish
p.s the pics are of a river we have to cross via a boat made out of bamboo and birthday celebrations with my district and me.
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