Broken Eggs

February 26, 2012

Friday was transfer day! This means lots of things changed. My former companion is now training (I'm so excited for her!) and I'm now in a new area! Kalibo 2nd Ward! My journey to Kalibo was interesting. I woke up Friday morning for a 2 hour ride into the city for the transfer meeting and then took a 4.5 hour bus ride out to Kalibo. It was so long. In addition, the road was too bumpy and curvy to read, so it felt even longer. But, despite the long ride, I survived and am now in Kalibo.

Kalibo is the northern-most part of the island, quite a distance away from Iloilo. This means (because we are in the Philippines) that they speak a different language! Isn't it so nice how you can drive for days across America and get out of the car and still understand people. I'm serious- I sat in a bus for four hours and it's a completely different language. Fortunately, they mostly understand Hiligaynon, so I can still teach, I just can't understand them. Either way, I've lost track of how many languages I've learned on my mission, so for those of you who remember, just +1 to my current number. I'm excited to learn Aklanon. The missionaries say it's way hard to learn, but the members tell me it is easy. I'm not sure if I'll speak it very well by the time I leave, but I hope I can at least understand it completely. The grammar structure seems the same, it's just another change of vocab. As a child, I always wanted to be bilingual, thought it would be sooooo cool to be tri-lingual, never imagined more than that. I feel so blessed for this opportunity to learn so many languages. Hopefully I can continue to keep them all separate in my head so and not forget any of them. It's really hard to speak just one language now, I can't do it at all with English, I'll start a sentence in English and finish it in something else. My sincerest (advanced) apologies for all of you who won't understand half of what I say when I get home.

Anyways, something interesting I learned the other day during my studies:

The past few weeks, I've been trying to develop more patience. The more I work on this, the more I realize that it will take much longer than a few weeks. I came across a conference talk that really helped me to see how I can be more patient. The talk is from October 2010 conference and is titled Rest Unto Your Souls by Per G. Malm. Near the end of the talk, he shares a story about his grandmother. She sent one of her kids to the store to buy eggs. The child walked to the store, bought the eggs, and walked home. With the neglect children typically show towards eggs, many of the eggs were broken by the time the return trip was completed. A visiting neighbor advised the grandmother to scold the child for not being more careful. But, responding as wise grandmothers typically do, she said, "No, that will not make the eggs whole again."

That line really hit me as I read it. As I looked back on moments that I felt I was being very impatient, I realized that my reaction did nothing to make the situation better. My attitude wasn't making the eggs whole again. I've decided to make that phrase- "No, that will not make the eggs whole again"- a part of my life. Hopefully, through remembering it, I can better control my reactions, only reacting in ways that can actually improve the situation.

Bukon, bukon imaw obrahon nga manging bilog ro itlog liwan.
isang pang wika bago umuwi ko!

Refflesia

February 19, 2012

The missionaries in the Antique district have been working very hard for the past several months to make sure that our area books (binders containing information about the area we are serving in and the people we are visiting) are always updated and that our apartments are kept to the highest standard of cleanliness. As a reward, our mission president approved a zone activity for this p-day. We decided that we wanted to go on a hike to see many of the beauties of nature that are we are surrounded with. With this thought in mind, many did research and the resulting activity was taking a hike to see the Refflesia flower.

The Refflesia genus is the largest species of flowers in the world, though it is more technically a parasite than a flower. It grows on vines in remote jungles. There are several species of the Refflesia, one of which is found only in Sibalom, Antique, and this is the one we visited. The plants smell horrible to attract insects and small animals which they supposedly eat (I'm not sure, the poster says they eat rats but the local guides say that they don't). The smell is strong enough that you can smell the plants before seeing them, though not so bad that you can't stand around and get a million pictures. The flowers get much bigger in rainier seasons, and other species are known to get as large as 5 feet in diameter. The ones we saw were maybe a foot and a half, but that doesn't change the fact that I can now say I've seen the largest type of flower in the world.

The hike in general was just wonderful. Like I said before, it was mostly just a great chance to see the beauty of the Philippines. The hike was gorgeous. We walked through a forest of coconut, banana, and bamboo, along with a million other plants that I can't even describe. We actually got high enough in altitude to see a few pine-type-trees. I feel so blessed that I've been given the opportunity to serve in paradise. Sorry I can't include all the pictures I took, but I hope you enjoy these 5. And now you can say you've seen a picture of the largest flowers in the world.

Just an update on life- still breathing.

Sorry, I know it's kinda lame. This past week has been wonderful, and I would love to tell you about it all, but at the same time, those things which make it most wonderful are those little things that happen nearly every week and every day. They are those things you really have to experience. Moments of laughter, surprise, and joy that comes from serving the Lord. How I wish I could share every day with you, yet you wouldn't understand. I can't put it into words, and if I try, it's Hiligaynon.

Next time I email you, I might not be in Antique any more. Transfers occur this Friday. I've been here for 6 months now and this Wednesday I might be told to leave. It's going to be hard. I've been in the Philippines for 13 months now and in just 3 months I will be told to leave. It's going to be really really hard. It's strange to think how just over a year ago I knew nearly nothing about this country, yet now so much of my life is here. I haven't just lived here for a random year, but a year in which I've changed and grown so much. This place is filled with memories. Things from bamboo to rocks to tricycles to babies with black hair and flat noses. It all means so much. I want to share it all with you, but there just aren't words. There really just aren't words.

Ambay kun paano makapanaw ako. Ayaw ko.

Successes of the Week

February 12, 2012

This week was really fun, but it was also really hard. Nearly all of our investigators were "on vacation". For some reason or another, they weren't able to meet with us. Despite this, we pressed forward for many successful experience.

The first was Monday afternoon, not long after emailing all of you. The week before, while flossing my teeth, one of my fillings fell out. Unfortunately, I couldn't leave it in such a condition till I go home, so the result was going to a dentist in the Philippines. Now- the Philippines is a wonderful place, but since I hate going to the dentist at home, going in the Philippines was a rather unappealing p-day activity. But I went, and all is well. The hole in my tooth is refilled and no new ones have formed yet.

The next big success was Wednesday when we had Zone Conference. I suppose it wasn't really a success on my part, I didn't do much to make it amazing, but it was a really good zone conference none-the-less. We learned about making sure to always be focused on our Purpose as missionaries, which is to help others to come closer to Christ by receiving the Restored Gospel. It was just a wonderful day.

The last big success was a compiled success through the whole week. As missionaries, we like to work with the members from the ward or branch we are assigned to. This helps those we are teaching to realize that the church isn't just a bunch of Americans. It also helps us to become more familiar with the area. This week, many of the people who normally work with us were really busy. I really felt Heavenly Father's help throughout the week, however, as those who were able to work with us were also those people who best helped the people we are teaching. It was just a good week, I like good weeks.

Palangga kita kang Dios.

3 Nephi 9:21-22

February 12, 2012

"Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
"Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."

This is one of the passages I came across in my study this week. Christ himself is speaking to the people of ancient America. It's much like many passages throughout the Book of Mormon and New Testament. This passage really is a personal invitation from Christ to come unto him and receive the kingdom of God.

What struck me as I read was the timing of this particular invitation. As recorded in the Book of Mormon, the people of ancient America experience three days of darkness coinciding with the time that Christ was in the tomb. After Christ's resurrection, the darkness went away. Sometime after, Christ comes, as a resurrected being, and ministers to the people. The quoted verse comes just at the end of the time period of darkness. He is not yet there, but his voice is heard throughout the land. I realized as I read that this particular invitation occurred just days after that great atoning sacrifice that Christ made for all who have and ever will live on earth.

He states that for us he has laid down his life. For us he has taken it up again, to rise from the grave and become an immortal and perfected being. He did all this so that we might repent and turn to him and also be made perfect. Christ tells us this mere days after he laid down his life and maybe mere moments after he had taken it up again. He died for us and he lives for us, and from the moment he began to live again he was once again inviting us to come unto him and receive all the blessings that our Father in Heaven wants to give to us.

Caring!

February 5, 2012


This week, I really learned about caring. What does it mean and how do we show people we care. I have a close friend who loves to tell me that he remembered (be it my birthday, something I said, etc) because he cares. Of course, remembering something is a vital part of caring about someone. Yet as much as I love me friend, I've realized there is so much more to caring than just remembering. We often remember someone, think of someone, even say a silent prayer for them. As wonderful as these silent acts are, sometimes an individual needs most to know that someone cares.

Last week we visited a member who hasn't been feeling well, just a quick stop by to check up on her. We found her lying on her couch, feeling too sick to make it upstairs to her bed. As we spent time talking to her and just being with her, she told us how she had been praying that someone would stop by just so she wouldn't be alone. In that moment, she felt that we cared and that she was important. I think back on that moment and wonder what would have happened if we had merely remembered her, thought about her a little, and hoped that she was okay. Would she have received the comfort that she needed that day, alone in her house feeling like no one remembered her?

How often do we hear the stories? Those on the brink of suicide, those brought to their knees by life's challenges, those who need nothing more than to know that they are remembered. Their lives are changed and uplifted by someone who did more than remembered, someone who chose to act. It doesn't take much to change a life: a quick visit, a phone call, a letter or email. Through today's technology, the options are nearly endless. My invitation for you this week is to show someone you care. I know you, you're wonderful at remembering those you love and spend you time with. But please, do more than remember, show them you care.

Huwag lang marumduman, himuon!

Wow- It's February Now

February 5, 2012

Hello! How are you this week? My week has been pretty good. Sadly, however, it also means another week and another month are over. One less week as a missionary. As my mission winds down, I become more and more grateful for the time I have left. In the past week, I opened my last bottle of vitamins, started using my last toothbrush, and realized that I officially only have 100 days left as a missionary. It just gets faster and faster as the end gets closer. Every night I go to bed thankful that I get to wake up tomorrow and keep doing missionary work. So- here are just two things from the week that is over that I want to share, something I experienced and something I learned.

One of the families we've been visiting regularly is the Agsunod Family. The mother and children were baptized in October and we've been helping the father to prepare so that he can join his family as members of the church and they can begin preparations to go to the temple and be sealed as a family forever. His current goal is to be baptized this March 3rd and he is really excited about it. We last visited them on Friday, and for some reason, he just wasn't in the mood to give the closing prayer. Unfortunately for him, Resli gave the opening prayer, which meant she got to pick who gave the closing prayer and she picked him. We got down to pray and he turned to me and said "Ikaw lang, ako sa deson" (You just do it, I'll do it next time). To this I responded "indi, ikaw and ginpili, ako so deson" (no, you were the one picked, I'll pray next time). I folded my arms, closed my eyes and waited for him to pray. We sat in silence for a bit when suddenly Brother Agsunod said "Kun hindi ikaw magpray, hindi kayo umuwi" (If you don't pray, you can't go home). This statement was so unexpected, we all burst out laughing. We continued to discuss the issue for a while when Loui, the youngest, decided he would just pray. We decided that we would both have to pray next time since we already both said we would.

I've learned something really interesting this week, something that I've really needed to learn. I was reading through the January issue of the Liahona (an international magazine published by the church). The article I read was titled "Leadership the Lord's way." This article really was a much needed answer to a prayer. For the past several weeks, I've felt like I'm not doing well enough and I've had trouble recognizing and measuring my progress as a missionary. I knew that I hadn't been given any high leadership position, we have no special awards to help us know if we are excelling at anything compared to others. I only could compare myself with what I was seeing in others, which we all know is not the most effective or uplifting method of determining individual progression. I was having trouble measuring myself, not knowing how to do it and as a result, not seeing any progress. This was causing me to feel that I really hadn't progressed much. As I read this article, I came to discover why I was struggling. In life, progress is measured by what we are given. If we work hard and study and improve in school, we are given a good grade at the end of the semester. If we are diligent and effective in the work place, we have a pay raise or a promotion. If we are persistent in our exercise program we are able to measure our increased running speed or decreased weight. In general, as we progress in life, we have easy to see results. This is how we come to determine if we are progressing. When it comes to spiritual progression, however, there is no grade, no pay raise, no weight loss. The lack of these physical measurements makes it difficult to recognize one's personal progression. I discovered that this really was my problem. I was feeling like I hadn't progressed because no one gave me an A+ in life. What I needed to realize is that there is no A+ to earn. I don't need an A+ to be doing well. I also realized that I'm measuring my progress as a missionary while I'm still a missionary. I compare today to yesterday and expect to see great changes when this isn't really reasonable. When I go home, when I'm no longer a missionary, I'll be able to better remember who I was when I left and be able to compare me-after-the-mission to me-before-the-mission, a difference of 18 months. Progress over 18 months is much easier to see than progress in 24 hours. It's like watching a tree grow, I can't expect to notice how much thicker the trunk is tomorrow, but I can next year.

Amat-amat lang ang kabuhi.

Palangga ko Kamo!