ATTENTION ALL: I am no longer the only white person in my zone!! Hooray for transfers! There are two new american missionaries, Elder W..something and Sister Hunt. Basically it's nice to have people who understand what I'm saying. Plus it's not so lonely not being able to speak the language. haha..
anyways. This week was fantastic! Week 2 with 50 lessons! we're trying to be consistent with that for the rest of the transfer. It's been raining like crazy over here! It's very hard for me to not dance in it.. it's bawal to do that so we don't get sick... hmph. But I seriously love rain so much and it's so beautiful here. There were two earthquakes in the Manila area this week and we were expecting it to send a baguio our way but thankfully they didn't!
SOOO this week we met a sister named Rionie. We went to her friends' house who is a member and she was there and we taught her a lesson. She was so receptive and asked questions and she truly wanted to know. She accepted our baptismal invitation and everything. Thennn we went to her house a few days later and she was still so receptive but she didn't want to accept a return appointment. We were asking why and she said she knows it's true. She said she prayed and received a witness, but she's a very active member of the Catholic church and she teaches a class and she feels obligated to stay. So we gave her a book of mormon and asked her to call us if she wants to learn more. People's agency, man. But it's all good! I've said it a million times - a huge part of missionary work is planting seeds. She's heard the message of the restoration and she knows it's true. She just has to submit her will to the Lord's. It might take time, but we'll be gladly waiting. I've learned a lot of patience while being here. Everyone grows and learns at different paces and not everyone is ready now and that's okay. All that matters is that we are doing our part in helping them be prepared.
In church yesterday I was sitting with this little girl named Jazmin - she's the daughter of a member. She leaned over to me during one of the testimonies and asked me what the Holy Ghost was. AND THE HEAVENS OPENED UP AND I SPOKE PURE TAGALOG AND EXPLAINED THE HOLY GHOST PERFECTLY AND SHE SAID SHE NEVER UNDERSTOOD BEFORE BUT SHE UNDERSTOOD MY EXPLANATION. Holy heck, people. I have struggled so much with this language it's ridiculous but I know that the gift of tongues is real and that God gives answers to His children when they ask. I have progressed in the language so much this week. I still have a long way to go, but I also have lots of time to learn. God is good.
