Then Sings My Soul: More Fun In the Philippines.‏

November 10

It is truly a beautiful morning family, and I am so happy to be here to tell you I'm here, I'm okay and still myself :)

Yolanda was definitely a huge storm, but we were blessed in unbelievable amounts. We had Zone meeting on Wednesday and they announced that we would have to stay indoors due to a storm. We spent the rest of that day helping the bishop tell all the members about the storm and that they could go to the church for food and water and safety.The missionaries had to stay indoors from Wednesday afternoon till Saturday morning. Did I go slightly crazy? I'll let you guess.

The winds and rains got pretty crazy, and it was crazy to see things flying around outside, but our apartment was very safe. We actually had a really great couple days together, Sister Davis, Sister Smith, and Sister Fitzgerald and I get along so well. It was weird to stay in, but we took advantage of it and had a lot of fun, too. We studied, exercised, talked, laughed, sat on the floor, made food, melted straws by candlelight, had a sleep over in Sister Davis' and Sister Smith's room and made scripture cases. It was a weird feeling not to have anywhere to go, any appointments or certain lessons to prepare for. We had a lot of planning for Weekly planning though! Which was good. It was a little scary, but we were very very safe, and we didn't even know it was "the biggest storm to hit the earth" till after it was over. Probably that's a good thing. We got texted updates every hour or more, and we were always in contact with our Zone Leaders and District leaders. We have really responsible Elders in our district and Zone, so that was very comforting. We lost power around 11 Thursday morning during companionship study, so we definitely did it by candlelight. Legit, right? We ran out of running water soon after but we had plenty of drinking water. We did bucket showers Friday night because we were so gross. Ahaha. Biggest surprise here: I LOVE bucket showers. You just stand there with a big basin of water and take a ladle and basically get yourself clean that way, but its my favorite. Basically what I'm saying here is: Don't worry Mom, and Dad. I'm safe, intact, and still loving life. :)

We finally got to go out Saturday, and it was a mission wide Community Service project. We were out in jeans (SO weird) and got to help a few families. I was shocked that there wasnt too much damage. There was plenty to clear from the streets, but peoples houses were fine, for the most part. We helped Sister D. fix her CR (bathroom) because her structure outside pretty much got destroyed, but her house was okay, which was a huge blessing. Mom, I got to chop a tree in half with a machete! It was the most legit experience. I felt like a true Amazon woman. I'll see if I can somehow get the pictures from Elder Malit, but I dont have them now. Just imagine it :) It was sweet to be able to help and share messages with so many, especially since they are all feeling so grateful to God for sparing us from the storm. I pray for Tacloban. The damage there is shocking, and I hope so much they get all those missionaries accounted for. We truly were protected. Its a paradigm shifting event... coming so close to such a storm. People can be stopped, but nature is something beyond our own control. It was hard on Saturday, because so many don't want our help, since we are girls, and white, but we helped where we could. Our water is still out at our apartment, but we have power now.

We only really proselyted 2 and a half days this week, since Wednesday we spent all morning telling the members about the church being open for protection and helping them prepare. On Monday night, we had Sister Buban with us to go teaching. Her and another sister stayed with us (they are Sister Trainer Leaders) and were preparing for a training with President the next day. We went to a less active, Brother G., who has never really been receptive to us. He's been taught for years, but hasnt come back to church. He even served in the Bishopric at one point, but has since fallen away. Its sad, but hes so hard to teach, because he has a snide attitude toward us. Sister Buban really clicked with him and got pretty bold with him. He responded to her though, and turned to Sister F and I and basically told us that we weren't good missionaries, that Sister Buban really knew what she was doing and that Sister F and I didn't know how to teach. So. That rocked. I left there feeling pretty low, but I went home and thought all night about what i needed to be doing to ensure that his words weren't true. I prayed and studied and it was a good learning experience for me. Seeing someone as fluent as Sister Buban in the language and her ability to connect with those we taught was a good motivator for me. Sister F and I are still both struggling for people to understand us and teach with power and clarity, but we're working and progressing. I've progressed more in the language, but there is SO much room for improvement. Every time I read in PMG and the scriptures I see something new I need to work on. Missionary work truly reveals every one of my weaknesses and exposes them for me to see on a black background. But it's okay! Because that's why we have the enabling power of the Atonement. I can't be perfect, but I can be the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I can't do anything except through the grace, mercy, and power of the Master. Every success we are experiencing here is because the Lord allows it to be. We had an investigator show up to church on Sunday who we had only met with briefly, but had invited him to church LAST TUESDAY and we weren't able to visit him more because of the storm. He just showed up on his own and we got so excited. We found him a friend and he seemed to really enjoy church. I love the work, I LOVE seeing less actives come to church and partake of the fruit there. To be spiritually filled is something indescribable. Our fast was definitely a fast of gratitude this week for the miracles we were blessed with. Definitely gratitude for our safety.

Today is my two month mark! I can't believe it's already been two weeks. It has been a long week, but somehow I feel like I was just here emailing yesterday. The weeks are flying, and its scary sometimes how fast it goes. I love this. I love what we're doing here... The work is working, and the Lord is hastening his work. I'm so excited for you both, Jared and Bekah! Your new callings give you such an opportunity to help the missionaries. Sometimes we have a really hard time here getting members to come work with us and teach lessons. ALL OF YOU! Ready? Call the missionaries this week! Offer to go with them, even for just an hour! I promise they are grateful, and this is our chance to help in this great work. It's not even hard. Its just awesome. And I promise that when you do, you will feel the blessing it will be in your life. The Lord will grant you missionary opportunities when he knows you will follow through with them! When he knows you will open your mouth, he will give you opportunities to do it. I love you all so much, and I appreciate more than I can say the prayers in my and the Filipinos behalf. I am seeing amazing things here every day, and I remember my loved ones at home in every prayer. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for protecting us all here, and for comforting you at home. We kept saying in the apartment in those few days we were stuck inside, "I hope our families know we're safe! I hope they know we love them and I hope they know we're not scared!"

I hope I answered most of your questions and quenched the thirst for knowledge of what happened! Keep praying for those in Tacloban.

The MOST love goes to all of you. From me, and even more from the Lord.

XOXOXO

Sister Luke