July 17, 2014

Well a big typhoon hit, I didnt think that would ever happen on my mission. We went to bed tuesady night thinking that it would just rain a little bit when we got the typhoon warning. We woke up at about 12 to the biggest rush of wind I have ever seen and tons of rain. We were not able to sleep at all. Luckily there was no damage to our place, it was just a little muddy on the floor from the rain and the dirt. We then decided to not work that day but rather go out and make sure people were ok and do service to help them clean up. There were so many huge trees with big roots pulled up that had fallen on homes, so many people lost their homes and everyone had no power and some no water. Some people lost everything. There was this one older couple that they let us clean up their home with them and the had nothing..literally nothing. All of their things were piled under their walls and roof that had crumbled to the ground. Of course you could see the pain but also the hope. We pulled up some of their roof so they were able to at least get their clothes out. We did a lot of service the rest of the week: we built a fence for a a member, washed mattresses, pulled pieces of roof from houses, and did a lot of cleaning. It has been a very traumatic week seeing people loose everything they have. But I learned one really important lesson that everyone needs to know.. MATERIAL THINGS DO NOT MATTER ONE BIT! It doesnt matter if you have the latest Iphone or car, or if you have a big fancy house. The only thing that really matters is our family. We met one sister who lots her home and her tindahan and she told us that even though she wasnt good and that she was upset, her family was safe and that was the most important thing. That is something we can all learn a lesson from. We are always going to have our family. They are the most important so we should so all we can to love them, forgive them, serve them, and grow together with them. It is through the gospel of Jesus christ that we are able to do this. We still have no power at our apartment, 7 days now without, but we still go forth sharing the gospel and loving the people here. Find what really matters in your life, then hold onto it and treasure it.
This is a picture of our new Zone. We have transfers lsat week and got some new faces in our zone.
the other is a picture of a less active family we are trying to reactivate. We taught a lesson about the temple and especially the temple sealing. One of the little girls asked if my family was sealed. I sad no. then tears filled my eyes with hope and I shared that I have that hope that one day my family will be. It was a very tender lesson. This family means a lot to me.
Well I love you. I am glad you are good. Dont worry about me, I am ok.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

July 14, 2014

Our invesigator, the sister, got baptized on Saturday!!!But of course, they got married before. It is so beautiful here!!

July 6, 2014

This week was so crazy!!!!
First we met our new mission president. He and his wife are super nice and we are so excited to have them here. They are from Orem, President and Sister Mangum. I am looking forward to getting to know him better. He gave us some council that was really helpful. One thing that he shared with me has really been stuck in my head. He said don't cheat your family or those around you of the blessing of the gospel. So meaning that I need to do all I can everyday to help others to receive the blessings that they deserve. Just something to think about. It made me work super hard and our hard work paid off this week. Normally we teach about on average 15 lessons a week. We taught 23 this week!!! We are so tired but so grateful to be a part of this great work. Hard work really pays off. We have a baptism this week and one coming up on Aug 2. The harder you work out here, the more you will see the Lord doing his work.
We had a giant storm the other night., It started with Rain and then some crazy lighting and thunder and wind came into the mix. We were soaked from head to toe and we were told to go home early from our Zone leader. It was so bad we had a brown out (the power went out). We lit some candles and it was all fun until we had to go to bed. IT WAS SOOOO HOT because we didnt have our electric fans. But the power finally came back at about 12:30. It sure was a fun adventure.
Another funny thing. My watch that we bought before I left totally died on me. SO my companion bought me a new one for my bday and I just threw the old one out. We were at the 7/11 a week or two later taking a water break and I looked out the window and one of the homeless boys had my watch on his wrist! Seriously! It was so funny. That is what the little kids do. They go through the trash to find food and other things of value. It is really sad, but that is life here.
We found a family to teach this last week. The mom is less active and only their oldest son is a member so we are working on the other 3 kids and the dad. The dad has kidney problems and is super week. There family is so great. The thing with the dad is that he says I just need Jesus in my heart...Wrong my friend. We have to do. We invited him to read the Book of Mormon and he said he would try because when he reads he gets a headache. We promised him he wouldn't have a headache if he read. We went back and he read two chapters and didn't have a headache at all when he read. Wow, miracle right there. And their little girl really wants to be baptized. She came to church and asked where the place was that we baptize at the church. It was super cute. All the kids read the Book of Mormon story books we gave them. They really are progressing. Teach them, I realize that I am here to help families so they can be together forever and also my family in the future. I have learned so much that is going to help my marriage and my future family. But also my family now. I look forward to coming closer to Brooke and really just being her friend and being the sister I should have been before the mission.
One last thing. I have come to absolutely love the Book of Mormon! In my patriarchal blessing it tells me that I will be student of the scriptures and I see that coming true from serving a mission. I love the Book of Mormon. I have learned so much and I continue to learn every day even if I have read it a lot. I know this would not have happened without the mission. Our old mission president gave us a Book of Mormon challenge. We first read the Book of Mormon and look for things about repentance, then atonement, and then faith. You should do this mom. Just get a paper back BOM and have one color for repentance and the others. You will learn so much more and see how they all come together. I am almost done with repentance then I will start atonement.
The language is almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe 2 months and I will have it.

July 6, 2014

Our power went out from a really bad storm. They call it a brown out here when the power goes out.




This is where we teach our one investigator who is being baptized this week!!!!





The animals are crazy here.






This is one of our investigators. Her and her family live in tents.