Oh what a Beautiful Mornin'!‏

November 17, 2013

That tagline is for you, momma dear :) Although of course I'm not singing Oklahoma in my head because I am a a missionary.... :) I can't send pictures here, but I'm getting some printed later today that I'll send home, sige?

Kamusta, friends!

This week has been a great week. We set new zone goals at our zone training last week before the storm, and they were pretty high, so during our weekly planning this week we really got down to details about how we would go about reaching those high numbers. We planned in good detail (and we had plenty of time during that storm....) and had a lovely week. We found 16 new investigators and our cutie companion Sister Dean went with us all week (hence her sending all those pictures to you mom...)! We saw a lot of success and it's an amazing feeling to see the gospel making a difference in people's lives. I had a lot of growing opportunities this week, and the more I grow the more I see where I need to improve, no?

We had exchanges with the STL's on Thursday, and I was a little nervous about it. Sister Sanders is going home in a week and is sagad gid at the language. (Very good.) But it was the best! I had to lead in lessons and in the area since she didn't know anything about where we were going or who we were teaching, but it showed me that I know more than I thought about where places were and how to speak this crazy language. We definitely got lost a few times, but the kids here are super willing to help. I learned so much about teaching from Sister Sanders and after exchanges I was just way more pumped to go out and work. The two really bumming things about that day was that we found out that Sister C. (we've been teaching her since I got here) has a baptismal date set.... WITH THE BAPTISTS. Agh. So that was a blow. We've gone over priesthood power with her so many times, and pleaded with her to pray about her decision before she sets a date. Darn. We also found out our amazing, golden little 13 year old investigator cant be baptized right now. Her grandmother supports the family and is totally against it. J. is so ridiculously prepared though. When we ask about her reading she tells us with excitement all about Nephi and the stories she's reading, and she understands SO much about the gospel. I love her and I learn from her every time we teach her.

Sister and I went back to Sister C. on Friday to follow up with her about her other baptismal date (*facepalm*) and went back again to teach her on Saturday. On friday night she had had some concerns about people actually seeing Christ and God anywhere else than in a dream, and claimed that nowhere in the bible does anyone see them as physical beings. (I'm not sure where this idea comes from. Like... What?) So we went back on Saturday and talked with her about Stephen, Moses, and a few others in the bible, and shared Matthew 5:6. She asked some good questions and we were starting to resolve her concerns when her husband entered. Goodness. He started going round and around in circles, and had a lot of weird ideas about mormons. He took out his Ilonggo bible and started reading from the very beginning and checked to see after every verse if ours was the same. Ahaha. We tried to get our lesson back on track and out of Bible-bashing land but to no avail. I've never felt the Spirit withdraw from somewhere as apparently as I did there. Sister C. kept trying to defend us, and when we finally got a word in edgewise we just left a pamphlet with him about the restoration and left. Sis C. was worried we wouldn't ever come back after that, but she asked us to return next week when her husband wasn't there. It was sad to see that her husband had such dominion over the home, but I really feel that she has faith in our message and in the restoration. Pray for her and her family, will you?

Our other positively GOLDEN investigator T. is just more proof to me that the people of the Philippines are so prepared for this gospel. The other sisters in our apartment, Sister Davis and Sister Smith met him where he lives, right outside our neighborhood, and referred him to us. He had read the whole restoration pamphlet by the time we got there later that week, and said he believed it was the word of God. I think I told you this in my other email.... Anyway... We've been teaching him and he is eating it all up. We gave him a book of mormon and he's been keeping all his committments, which, if you've been a missionary, is the MOST BEST thing ever, no?! Ah. I love when we come and they've read. Most of the time we hear, "Oh, indi ko nagbasa, Sis...." combined with what I call the Filipino Pouty-Face. Ahaha. I love it, but I don't at the same time, because if they're doing that face that means they know they didn't do what they were supposed to. Anyway, sorry, tangent. We taught T. last night and committed him to be baptized on Christmas!!!! White Christmas here in Bacolod. It's the most amazing, joyful feeling to see someone being taught by the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and accepting the gospel in their lives. I can't even explain the joy and happiness we all feel during those lessons with him. He got so excited about being baptized on "Christ's birthday" as he called it. (Maybe we'll let him get away with that one...) We're doing a "Stake Baptism" that day, and our goal is to have 20 baptisms. White Christmas, indeed :) 

One funny experience from this week.... We were teaching SJ in his bamboo hut that's pretty far above the ground. Sister Fitz, Sister Dean and I went to go sit on his couch, and when Sister Dean sat down with the two of us on the couch, the bamboo floor broke! We nearly fell through the floor on the couch. Ahaha. It was definitely one of the scariest and funniest things all week. SJ laughed with us and said it was okay.. We felt pretty bad, but he said it would be okay to fix. It was like a movie. 

Anyway. I'm loving it here in Bacolod 2nd ward. The ward was so welcoming to our investigators at church on Sunday and are great fellowshippers. My hope for all of you is that when less actives, recent converts, and investigators come to your wards, say hello! Introduce them to your friends, the leaders in the ward. I never realized how much help a simple smile and interest in their lives can be. It's so disappointing when investigators or others don't want to come back to church because they didn't have the experience they could have had, if they had felt more friendship there. I love that no matter where you are, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is always the same. You always have a family there, and what a privilege we have to be there for each other. Christ said in D&C 81:5 ,  " Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

It's my prayer that we will do so. I love you all so much, and I think of you often; of your examples, your love, your prayers, and how awesome you all are. I am extremely blessed to have a family like you. Keep sharing your testimonies, they have a profound effect on others. Much love!!

XOXOXO

Sis Luke

P.S. I LOVE that everyone here calls us Sis. The kids, adults, whoever, and I love it. It reminds me of my calling, and that I get to be here as a missionary :) I'm the luckiest in the world.

Also, this email is a hot mess. Sorry. :)

This is a picture of the little lizards that are all over our apartment. 

For Hunter and Aiden especially!

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

How disgusting we got before we showered Saturday night. 

I have seriously never sweat so much in my life. Ahaha. I love it.

We enjoy our disgusting selves

2 months na!

Real Amazon Woman

I hate thinking up a clever subject line.‏

November 3

Maayong aga, my loved ones!

How the heck are ya'll? I'm doing so great. They often talk here about the first 90 day adjustment, how awful it can sometimes be and how difficult to adjust to so many different things but the Lord has been blessing me more than I even can comprehend. I haven't felt homesick, I haven't gotten really sick, and I've been enjoying the work here, even though it's hard. We are having a hard time with investigators keeping commitments, especially working with less actives, but we are doing our best to let the Spirit work through us, and that is a satisfying feeling.

It's always hard to know where to start in these emails, and they end up being so scattered, but that's okay. Letters and Dear Elders seem to come through in a couple weeks here, and everyone I've talked to has been fine with getting all the packages their families have sent, even within 3 weeks, so the mail is more reliable than we thought. (That is not a hint to send packages, just thought I would let you know :) )

It's hot here but its better that I never know what the temperature really is. Its just hot and humid all the time, but at nights lately its been cooler. Surprisingly it's only rained like 3 times, but I love when it rains. Elder Andersen coming was SO cool. Elder Whitney Clayton came too, and it was a few days of awesomeness. Yesterday we had a stake conference with Elder Clayton and the day before was when we met with Elder Andersen. So much to learn! He suggested to President Lopez that the First Presidency now wants missionaries to stay in their areas for longer amounts of time, with companions for a longer time in order to build the church. It's true! Building less actives, working with investigators, and building testimonies takes time. Even people we're meeting now I'm hoping to stick around long enough to see them enter the waters of baptism. We're working for our Weekly Baptism goal, but since it was just 2 transfers ago that Sister Fitz and Sister Bendoy (her last comp) whitewashed the area, we haven't had a ton of progressing investigators. Which means we get to do a lot of finding! It's fun. On Friday they celebrated "All Saints Day" which means they all go to graveyards and set up tents and food and picnic and party all day there. Think Utah Arts Festival, and that's sort of the atmosphere there. It sounds creepy, I know, but it's really cool. They celebrate their dead relatives lives and light candles on the graves. Its beautiful, and we talked to a lot of people about the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration. A really good finding opportunity. We got a few solid referrals and handed out a lot of pamphlets. We also got FED the MOST. Like 4 times, 4 full meals in 2 hours. Aye. But I had a few classic Pinoy foods and they were all DELICIOUS. I've been eating mostly a college diet since neither Sister F or I know how to make food with the ingredients available here but we have a healthier list this week! We'll be going to the market later. 

We also got PIG from a member! She's had this pig she's been raising for like a year, and on November 1st in the morning we went to her house and they slaughtered it and gave us a bag of pork. So. That was real. We have yet to cook it but I have a feeling it'll taste pretty darn good.

We just found the E. family a few nights ago using something Pres. Lopez likes us to do called Finding Through Prayer. I know Aubs uses kind of the same thing in Georgia. Basically you go talk to the people, get to know them, and then ask if you can pray for them and their family. Usually it leads to a lesson, and sometimes it just leads to some awkward staring contests, but such is the life. Anyway, they (mom, grandma, and daugher, about 9 years old) were outside their house by another house of one of our investigators, and we asked to pray with them. They invited us in and we gave a short message about the resoration and a pamphlet. We told them we'd return and talk more with them. When we went to the graveyard later that week we ran into the little girl, and she said she'd read the whole pamphlet! We went to their house last night and taught the girl, her mom and dad. The dad asked a LOT of questions and sort of rambled a lot, but we got most of our message across. I'm supposed to go on exchanges tonight with the STL's and we'll teach them again. It's an amazing feeling to feel the Spirit testify through you, and and even more amazing feeling when you realize they are feeling it too! We found another family and the mom A. and her husband are especially receptive. We find a lot of uniterested people, but there are truly so many prepared. We have high hopes to get them progressing. That's the trick! We find a lot of people, but it's hard to help them understand the importance of keeping commitments. 

Our little 11 year old investigator, J., is the sweetest little thing you'll ever find. She wants to be baptized so bad, but her dad isnt too excited about it, but we're praying that the Lord will soften his heart. Seeing such a strong testimony in such a small person is inspiring. There is so much I still need to learn. The Lord shows me that every day. 

I love you all so much. I am going to try to send pictures on here, I hope they get to you. The sunsets here are amazing, I'm blessed to be in a beautiful place, with beautiful people. The weeks are already speeding by! The MOST love to you, and remember, the work is working!

Sister Luke

P.S. 3 Nephi 13:21- My treasure is here! My treasure is in the Philippines, teaching the Restored gospel to these treasured people. My heart is here! 

Laundry by hand!

Sister Fitz and I before Elder Andersen

Our baptism