Keep On Keeping On

HEYOOO! Another busy week gone. Time won't slow down, man.

On Wednesday we went to Legazpi for our Trainer's/Trainee's Training (lots of training went down..) We rode a bus for 4 hours and made it to the chapel. It was a long day and I was so tired. The office Elders had to drive down to Bulan so we got a ride back with them. Before we left for Bulan, they had to go to the Mission Home so we got to sit and talk with President and Sister Guanzon for like 30 minutes in the mission home. I've said it like ten times, but President is a Filipino version of dad. It's hilarious really.

Another cool thing from this week: we were tracting (we hardly do that here because there are so many referrals and investigators) and we walked past this old lady. She started saying something in Bicol about us, thinking that we wouldn't be able to understand her. But, luckily we've got Sister Tarantan. Basically, she was impressed that she knew Bicol and we then proceeded to her house to teach her. We started the lesson and then my kasama asked if she had a bible. She gets up to go get it and comes back with a Book of Mormon. It was yellow and torn and dusty and had two elders names written in it and a date from 1999. She thought those missionaries were from another religion and she kept telling us that the Book of Mormon was the bible. It was the weirdest experience, but it was so cool that she had that book. She said she couldn't understand it when she reads it. It ended up being a really good lesson and she's willing to hear more. We invited her to try the book one more time. It's just cool how the Lord prepares people!

We had a relief society activity and I taught some kids how to play a song on the piano. The kids love me. The adults are nice but the language barrier is more real with them. With kids we can just play and it doesn't matter what language we're speaking. plus they have school english and they teach me words so that's nice. Rhealyn, July, and April are all cousins. Rhealyn and July are less active, but they've started coming since we have been teaching them and April has a baptism date next month. I love these kids!

On Sunday we had a multi-stake conference that aired from SLC. Elder Brent H. Nielsen, Elder Ian S. Ardern, Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Elder Craig C. Christensen, and Neil L. Anderson all spoke. It was aired throughout all of the Philippines, for the Philippines. Basically it was amazing and I cried several times. It was all in English, so count me grateful. It was exactly what I needed to here. There's an English phrase that everyone says here, "I will be the one", and that was discussed. It's basically the Filipino way to give service and to put other people before yourself. I love it here and I love these people. They are seriously such special people. After that, we got to watch Meet the Mormons! So it was a good day.

Welp, that's about it. I love my life! The Lord is so mindful of us! I love you all! Ingat po!

Sister Wilkins

2 Months already whaaa??

Greetings.

Today is my two month mark. Where has the time gone?? what the even heck? Is this real life?

Soooo let me tell y'all a little story! So on Thursday we had planned to go to our area that we've been opening. We are supposed to have members (at least one priesthood holder) with us when we go there because people get drunk and since I'm white I stand out so I'm an easy target. So, the members had to cancel last minute so instead we met with our branch president. I was feeling useless because I was the reason we couldn't go teach there and hindi ko alam Tagalog. Then president starts talking about the branch's efforts in family history. I told him I was a consultant back home for a few years so I could help if he wanted. He lit up and told me how he got the chills when I told him that and how I'm an answer to prayers. Basically, people, I've said it a million times, but GOD'S PLAN IS PERFECT! You are exactly where you need to be. Anyone who knows me very well knows I have a huge love for family history. Plus my Patriarchal Blessing says it's my responsibility to help in this work and I was blessed with skills to do so. THIS IS WHY IM HERE. I'm so grateful that I get to help people with something that I love! Hurrah for Israel!

In other news I extended so many baptismal dates this week... wait for it... in Tagalog! WAHOO! We got 9 investigators to commit to baptism this week. One of which is Brother Justine and boy has this guy been prepared by the Spirit. We found him while we were tracting in our farthest area and he was super interested. By our next visit, he came over to the house of his neighbor who we were teaching just to sit in. We then committed him to baptism. Basically I love my life.

My kasama has scoliosis and it's been getting worse. At some point soon they're going to send her to the Missionary Recovery Center in Manila. We don't really know what's gonna happen. I might go with her. I might stay here and get a new trainer, which would mean I would have to lead the area. But it's okay because whatever happens, I know I can do it because it'll be what the Lord wants me to do!

P.S. My hair is starting to be curly. I just thought you might want to know. Like Annie curly. But you can't really tell because I always put it up. Basically all of my wildest dreams are coming true.

Anyways, that's all folks.

I love you all so much and I love hearing from you! Never forget that you are a child of God and that He loves you!!

Sister Wilkins

Mangoes, Funerals, and Baptisms

What a week, what a week. I still can't fully grasp that I live here and that I am a missionary. Dream come true for me. So much goes on here but when we sit down to email I forget it all...

Basically life is amazing. Saturday we had two baptisms and I cried. The church is true people, I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sister Pamela is 15 and she is a Filipina version of Annie. So of course I've grown attached to her. She left today for home, she's just been here for the summer. I'm super sad to see her leave. But the work must go on!

Fun fact about me: My new favorite fruit is the mango. Well, it might still be pineapple but I haven't tried one from here yet. But holy heck. Mangoes here fall straight from heaven, I swear. One of the families we teach has a fruit stand and I bought a ton from them just because they're so delicious. 

Also on Saturday we attended a funeral for a man in our branch. We were asked to sing a hymn together. So Be Still My Soul in Tagalog it was! I can sing Tagalog, and I can read it, and I can understand most of it, but I can't speak it. THat's frustrating. But comparing to where I was last week, all I have to say is there is no way that the gift of tongues isn't a real thing. 

One thing I've learned is that God really does prepare people to receive the restored gospel. There are people who are just ready. There are other people who need more time, and that's okay. As missionaries, we are either finding, teaching, and baptizing those who have been prepared, or planting seeds. Ang Plano ng Diyos ay perpekto!

Mahal Kita!

Sister Wilkins

The last MTC Pictures

1. President Trask MTC President) and I

2. Jacob District for the last time :( I cried shortly after this

LEGAZPI

First week sa field:

shower out of a bucket everyday: check

walk through a rice field: check

teach in a grass hut: check

butcher the Tagalog language: check

get stares for being white: check

sweat a lot: check

wear a bun in my hair and no makeup everyday: check

realize the gift of tongues: check

fall in love with the people: check

love being a missionary: double check

I have been assigned in a city called Bulan, about 2 hours from Legazpi. Our area is called San Vicente. My kasama, Sister Tarantan and I are opening an area that was previously closed and combining it with her old area. It's a lot of work but it's great! I'm the first american to serve here so you best believe I get lots of stares and double takes.

The culture here is amazing. So different than the US, but I love LOVE it. My only real struggle is the language. It's hard, but I was personally promised that if I did my best and gave my all, that I'd be fluent in 3 months. SO HERE WE GO! Anyone and everyone who has learned a language or is learning a language, what are some strategies that you found helpful or ways that helped you? yeah? I could use all the help I can get.

Since being here, the Lord has really taught me patience. We all know how impatient I was before I left, and in the MTC that was the main thing I learned. Patience with myself, with others, with God's plan for me, everything. I find peace in knowing that I am right where I'm supposed to be and that I will be where I'm supposed to be in the future.

So this upcoming Satuday we have two baptisms! Sister Sunshine and Sister Pamela. Basically I love these people so much. Even though I can't understand half of the things they're saying to me, I just adore them. I had to speak in Sacrament meeting yesterday and it was the definition of Taglish, man. But it wasn't even scary because the people are just SO loving and SO accepting. I'm very very blessed to be here.

I love you all!

Sister Wilkins

This weeks pictures

1. My kasama, Ashley, and I. We met her at the temple and she wanted a picture with us! :D

2. Some of my favorite sisters

Hello hello hello errybody! 

Last week in the MTC here I come! I am beyond ready to get out of here and to hit the streets and teach people!

I feel like the weeks blur together and I'm not even sure what happened this week so I'll try to remember...

Talking to my family on Monday was thee best! I love you all so much! Even though I missed some of you, I still love you!!!

Sooo.. one cool thing from this week: we walked through the MTC with the mission of sharing a message in Tagalog to the workers there. My kasama and I talked to a guy named Randy who works in the kitchen and turns out he's not a member. I actually was able to bear my testimony to him in Tagalog and we invited him to continue reading the Book of Mormon after he told us he has one. Whenever we see him we yell "HI RANDY" and he gets this big grin. I love people.

I went proselyting on Wednesday in the Manila mission and to be honest, it was awful. The language barrier is real. My kasama wasn't really letting me talk even when I did know what to say so that was hard. But the people are so nice. At one point she was talking to a couple and their kids were just kind of standing there staring at me so I started talking to them and they were smiling and laughing and were happy that I knew even a little Tagalog. Have I mentioned that I love the people? well, I do. We didn't get to teach an actual lesson because everyone seemed to be not home so we did a lot of OYMs and walking around. I now have the weirdest tan line on my foot because I was wearing my jelly sandals... haha. I learned a lot though. Even though it wasn't as incredible as last week. Not every day in the mission will be ideal and it's gonna be hard so I'm glad that I got to experience that.

It's crazy to think that one week from now I'll be out there. I'm so ready. I know I'll pick up the language much better out there. I've learned so much since being here and I've grown so much. I've never appreciated the Atonement of our Savior more and I've never felt the love that God has for each and every one of his children so much before. I KNOW that God loves us. I KNOW that He sent His son to atone for our sins and to feel every sorrow or pain that we ever have felt or ever will felt. Our Savior has been there and He is there for us. The thing my testimony has grown the most on is prayer. God truly is listening. I KNOW THAT. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Anyways, I love you all and I'm so grateful for each and every one of you and the role you have in my life, whether large or small, you've made an impact on who I am and where I am. Mahal mahal kita! Sobrang mahal!

Sister Wilkins