Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Happy Birthday to the Best Woman in the World!‏

Written 2/17/14

FIRST off: Happy Birthday to my beautiful, amazing, patient, wonderful, hardworking, hilarious, NUMBER ONE mom in the whole wide world!!!! I made a sign last night and took it around with me today to wish you the happiest of birthdays :) Well, maybe not the happiest, because I'm not there... but the happiest you could be without me ;)
So, hi friends. I just got back from a SWEET hike up to these beautiful waterfalls, hence the late hour of my writing. It was way sweet going up there, and I got to wear pants! I have worn my jeans exactly twice on my mission in the field. Ha. I'll send some pictures :) It was gorgeous. The Jeepney ride there was probably the most freaky thing ever; think of a roller coaster ride, but in a huge truck like thing... So that was fun. We squished a duck on the way too, I think. 
We did exchanges with the Sisters in our ward on Tuesday so we could all get familiar with the other areas in our ward. I got to come to my area with Sister Young, and we had a blast, and taught a bunch of lessons. Exchanges are my favorite, because it shows you your weaknesses, ways to improve, and different styles of teaching. Love it! And Sister Young is way sweet, so that rocks too :) We were in the same District back in Bacolod- she's same batch as Sister Fitzgerald too... They were companions in the MTC :)
Happy Valentines to you all! If you know me, you know that Valentines is not one of my favorite holidays... I don't even know why, but I've always had an aversion to it. Anyhow, I had a good Valentines, despite the lack of an actual "Valentino" as they call it here :) Valentines rose? Check. Sister G., a recent convert, gave both Sister De Castro and I silk roses they had been selling earlier. Cute! Valentine treats? Check. The awesome P. family (I can't remember if I told you about them... J., W., and C.?) forced us to take home some of their homemade donuts they make and sell for their business. And Valentines kiss? Check, for that too. :) Sister L. always lays one right on us when we come and visit her. So, I guess you could say I had a Valentines day probably similar to all of yours. ;) Unless you're another missionary. I hope my fellow missionaries didn't get Valentines kisses. 
Our sweet spiritual experience this week is brought to you by: J., W., and C. of the P. family. We started teaching C. when I got here, and her sister J. joined in on the lessons soon after. W., J.'s husband has slowly come from avoiding us, to arguing, to listening out of curiosity,and now to fully participating in the lessons. Its incredible. They are devoted catholics (so they say... Although they don't go to church currently.) and it's been like pulling teeth to get them to keep commitments. But slowly they've been progressing. Last week W. asked us how he can get J. to start reading the Book of Mormon and going to church, because he wants to, too. We testified of the Spirit in conversion. He understood so well that unless they are acting on our teaching, it's useless. His prayer after the lesson was powerful, as he asked Heavenly Father to help him in his desires to go to church, read, and find the truth. There was a subtle shift to the Spirit in their home... And they want us to come back all the time. Last time we left W. immediately asked us when we were coming back so they could cook for us, ahaha. :) It's hard to communicate through email all the awesome experiences and feelings that I want to.... But they are a special family. I love them :) I want them to be baptized so bad!
This week I hit my 5 month mark, and I finished my big, fat journal and started a new one. Man, the time flies! I've almost been in the Pines for 4 months. 
Don't have much more to say.... Pretty tuckered out. Love you all a lot, and I think of you often. You all inspire me when things get tough :) Sister De Castro and I have a lot of laughs together. We're pretty similar when things get down to it, and we enjoy being with each other and teaching together. My crazy Filipina companion :) 
Keep on marching! We're not done yet.
All my love,
Sister Luke

1. Happy 5 months!

2. Got to hold this cute little guy. We walked past a bunch of kids with these little white, red-eyed mice in a box and I held them :) hopefully they don't have rabies! Just kidding. But really.

3. Happy Birthday Momma!

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