Balut!

April 29, 2012

This week has been lots of fun. One of the most exciting adventures was when my new companion, Sister Fowles, wanted to try balut, a fertilized duck egg.  This is something I've had several times throughout my mission; I think it's really delicious.  She first decided to try it last week, so when we saw someone selling it, she bought one and I went ahead and bought one too so she had someone to eat with. We got home and she was very nervous and excited to eat her balut.  We both sat down at the table, picked one up, and started peeling our eggs.  Having eaten it before, I was much quicker at opening it. This distracted Sister Fowles from her's, she kept looking at mine to see what it looked like.  She finally focused and opened her egg... and it wasn't balut. It was penoy- which is just a duck egg, the person selling it accidentally gave her the wrong egg. This week, we had "take two" of trying balut.  This time, I intentionally bought penoy because I had never tried it before and wanted too.  My companion's egg was actually balut and she enjoyed it very much.

One Monday, we also had the unique opportunity to attend the Pina Fiber Festival. The Pina Fiber is the world's finest fiber. Here in Kalibo, they have a small festival and local craft fair to sell and display products made from the fibers and other local souvenirs. There were people selling homemade paper, natural soap, handmade jewelry, and clothing and cloth made from the pina fiber.  This cloth, as it is made from such a unique fiber, was being sold at an outrageous price.  Even converting it into American dollars to try to lower the apparent price didn't help.  We wandered around the fair, buying other crafts and trying to find someone selling a piece of pina fabric at an affordable price.  We finally discovered small handkerchiefs made of the fabric. Figuring these 8 inch squares wouldn't be too unreasonable, we asked the price, then Sister Patricio kindly bartered down the price so that it was reasonable and we bought them.  It was fun.  We came home with lots of pretty things made in the Philippines. 

Well, those are my fun adventures this week. Abo karanasan iya nga wa' sa iban lugar.

Language

April 22, 2012

These past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to be companions with a new missionary.  As of now (April 23rd), she has been in the Philippines for 19 days.  This means, in contrast to my past two companions who were both Filipino, she doesn't know how to speak Hiligaynon.  The past few weeks have been filled with adventures and trials relating to her difficulty in learning the language.  I can't help but think back to those first few weeks of my mission and the similar challenges I faced. Having this opportunity to work with someone so new allows me to really ponder who I was back then and what I can do to help her now so that she is even better than me when she gets to my point.

Looking back, I remember the frustration of not understanding anything.  I recall feeling useless as all I did each lesson was bear a three-sentence, memorized testimony.  I look back with understanding on that girl who sat on the kitchen counter, the balcony, the bathroom, anywhere to feel a little more alone, as I mourned my lack of language skills and what I considered to be several weeks of no progression.  I finally see what I did do, I finally see where I have come.  I feel now that I stand near the top of a mountain, finally able to see the height I've reached and how many trials I've overcome to get here.  And now I'm even more blessed with the chance to help someone else start the climb.  I sometimes inform her of trials awaiting her, I'm not sure how much she appreciates that, but at least it's good to be here, to help her through the ones she's currently dealing with. 

Most especially, I'm grateful for those who did this for me, and my way to pay back the kindness I received by offering it again to another.  I say something simple like "you can do it" or "I know how you feel" and wonder if it helps at all. Then I remember those who said it to me, and I know that it did when they said it, so maybe it helps when I say it too.

Indi siya hapos, pero indi siya impossible. Matahum ang panawan sa taas.

Little Miracles

April 15, 2012

Life in the mission field is filled with little daily miracles.  This week, we had one that reminded me of the power of prayer.

Last Wednesday, we visited an investigator who is way excited to be baptized.  The only problem is that she and the man she is living with are not yet married.  As members of the church, we believe this to be contrary to the commandments of Heavenly Father.  In order to be baptized, we must be doing our best to follow his commandments.  So, when we visited them on Wednesday, we shared this commandment and invited them to follow it.  The response wasn't one we had been expecting. Sister began crying, explaining that she's been taught by missionaries before and has always wanted to be baptized, but can't be because the guy she is living with doesn't want to get married.  He then explained how he wasn't sure if he really felt the church was true and didn't want to deal with the persecution of being a member, that's why he didn't want to get married so she couldn't get baptized. We did our best to understand his concern, but felt like we made little progress by the time the lesson ended.  We left them with the invitation to discuss this with each other and decide what they wanted to do. Since then, nearly every prayer has been a plea for help for this family. 

We returned this Wednesday, but the husband seemed to be in a bad mood, so I didn't bring up the issue again.  I was afraid it would just make the situation worse. My new companions (who weren't there for the first lesson) joined me in my prayers to know how we can help Brother open his heart to the gospel.

We then came back on Saturday.  I knew I needed to follow up on the invitation we left with them.  I was very nervous to do so, fearing it would cause Brother to be in a bad mood.  I finally asked them if they had talked about getting married.  To my great surprise, Sister smiled and said they were already planning on it.  She had found extra work to save up enough money for the paper work (the paper work costs about 500 pesos) and Brother was going to work that next week to. They had helped someone harvest rice so that they would have extra rice and not need to buy as much. They were both excited about the idea of being baptized and began asking questions about if it could be at the church and if the bishop could be the one to marry them.  It really helped to build up my testimony that Heavenly Father really answers all of our prayers. 

Isa ka adlaw-adlaw nga milagro lang.

Hello World!

April 8, 2012

This week has been a great week, but certainly nothing like any previous week I've ever had. Every day was crazy!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were difficult because another sister's companion went home. As missionaries, we are never allowed to be alone, so my companion and I worked with her for these days. It was actually really fun to spend time with one of my old companions.

Thursday we took an unexpected trip down to Iloilo.  My companion was transferring and the other sister was told she would be training, so she needed to be down in time for a meeting early the next morning.  We got down to the mission office and I was informed that I would also be training, so therefore also needed to be at the meeting. It was so surprising.

Friday was the transfer meeting.  I found out who my "bata" was (the sister I'll be training) and we had a meeting about how to be a trainer.  I'm so excited. My new companion is amazing. In addition to her, we got another companion, making us a trisome! This is the first time I've really been in a trisome. Upon getting home later that afternoon, we had to rearrange lots of furniture to make sure the three of us all fit nicely into the house. Finally, tired and warn out, my companions started unpacking and then gave up and we all went to bed.

Saturday and Sunday were amazing! Due to time differences, General Conference (which was broadcast live on March 31st and April 1st) is shown a week late- meaning this past weekend. It was so amazing.  I really felt like I was told exactly what I've been needing to here.  I'm really looking forward to getting the Church's Magazine- the Liahona- where the talks will be published so that I can read them!

Well, that's all for my crazy week. See you again next week!

Palangga Ko Kamo!

Easter

April 1, 2012

This is the week leading up to Easter. I remember as a child always loving Easter for the colorful baskets full of candy and a chocolate rabbit.  As I've grown and gained an understanding of what Easter means, it has come to be a very special time of the year.  Here in the Philippines, Easter Sunday itself isn't really celebrated.  They focus on Thursday and Friday.  I'd like to explain why all three days are important to me and to the whole world.

Thursday- On this day, Christ and his apostles went to a garden called Gethsemane.  There, Jesus knelt and prayed to His Father.  It was there, in the garden, that he took upon himself the pains and sins of the world.  We learn from the Book of Mormon, "and he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this tat the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people" (Alma 7:11). His suffering was so great that he bleed at every pore and begged that he might not have to suffer. Yet for us, he submitted to the will of Heavenly Father and suffered for each of us. Through his suffering, we have the opportunity to repent and not suffer ourselves for our sins (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19).

Friday- After Christ suffered for us, he was arrested and judged on false charges.  He was ridiculed, tortured, and sentenced to be crucified.  His death fulfilled prophesies made from the beginning of time by prophets in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. With his death, his sacrifice for us was completed.

Sunday- On this day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead to become the first resurrected being.  As two women named Mary came to visit the tomb, the angel declared to them "He is not here; for he is risen" (Matthew 28:6). No suffering occurred on this day.  The importance of this event is beyond my ability to describe.  Christ's resurrection makes everything else worthwhile. It proved his godhood and divinity.  If he hadn't risen, his suffering and death would have been in vain, for it would have proved that he was no more than mere mortal. But He lived again and he still lives today.  Through the power of his resurrection, we shall all live again to be given the opportunity to return to our Father in Heaven.  

I know that Jesus is the Christ.  He suffered and died for us so that we may overcome all forms of suffering and death that we experience as mortal beings. I know that this is the central principle of God's entire plan for each of his children on earth.  As you prepare for and celebrate Easter this year, think not only of the eggs and chocolate and marshmallow chickens. Remember our Lord and Savior, accept his invitation to repent and become new through the sacrifice he has already made for you.

Kasayod ko raya.