THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

February 28, 2016

I've come to the end of the best decision I have ever made in my life.  Honestly, I sometimes thought I would never get to this point, but here I am.  I don't think it has sunk in yet.

I regret nothing about serving a full-time mission.  If any of you are wondering if it's worth giving up your cell phones, education, job, girlfriend or boyfriend, likes on twitter, facebook, and instagram, sleep and time, and getting out of your comfort zone...it is!  It ABSOULTELY is.

I know the only way to be truly happy is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that this is His church once again established on the earth.  The Book of Mormon is true.  I know that the Savior atoned for my sins/your sins and that repentance is real.  It works.  I know Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet today.  I know that the temple is the House of God where families can be sealed together forever.

Every trial I've faced for the past 18 months has not only been matched with, but has been easily surpassed by the amount of blessings that I've sen in my life and in the lives of those I've served.  This wasn't 18 months of sacrifice.  I was blessed for every single one of the months, weeks and days I've spent here.

I love my Savior and Father in Heaven.  I love the Filipino people and I love my mission.

I know its true.  I know everything is true.

For the last time,

Sister Foote 

The Time is Far Spent...

February 21, 2016

This has been a great week.  We had a service project as a zone on Thursday and then a mission conference on Friday with PRESIDENT RUSSELL M. NELSON, of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. I didn't get to speak with him personally but We all got to shake his hand and look into his eyes and I got a spot on the very front row.  That man is truly a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Special little memory for me.

Today we went to the zoo!

A little BYU love!

I can now officially call my mission complete.  I got kissed by an orangutan in the Philippines.

Seriously though,  I feel at peace about everything.  I know that I've done what I could as I've been here in the mission and that the Lord is pleased with the work I've done as I continue to work till the last day!

No Excuses, No Regrets

February 14, 2016

I hope you all had a good Valentines Day and are continuting to grow closer to your Savior.  It's the only way to be truly happy.  I love the Savior.  I love my mission.  I love you all!

We wore our dusters (nightgowns) for valentines morning and made ourselves heart shaped pancakes.  It was a good way to celebrate.

BALUT?!?!

Can you believe Taylor finally ate balut?!  It's a developing duck embryo that is boiled and then eaten in the shell!  It's a Filipino delicacy and it was served to her by her recently baptized friends.  She couldn't say no.  I wish i could insert the surprised and grossed out emoji here ;)

Another Day, Another Dollar

February 7, 2016

I'm not really sure why, but that's something my companion and I say to each other every night before we go to bed as we turn out the lights.  She said it's from Spongebob.  It's kinda our motto.  Just take things day by day and try to get better as you go.  Don't expect to earn a million (or be perfect) right away.

 We had a baptism yesterday of two of our investigators.  We started with a nice program in the chapel and all moved to the baptismal font.  As I walked down the hallway, I saw a small commotion by the door of the font and learned the font had not yet been filled.  Our ward members quickly jumped to the rescue and started setting up  a TV so there would be something to hold the attention of those in attendance.  We (the missionaries, the baptismal candidates, and the ward mission leader) started filling custodial buckets with water and pouring them into the font to "hasten the work". 

We managed to get the font full in about 30 or 40 minutes, which was a miracle.  After the baptism our investigators bore simple testimony about the truthfulness of the gospel and I felt completely at peace.  It made everything worth it.  Of course, it would have been better if everything had gone perfectly.  But, life sometimes gets in the way, and we (as children of God) just have to help each other get over our mistakes and learn from them.  Pointing fingers and blaming others does not good.  I was reminded of the primary song "When we're helping we're happy".  Part of living the gospel includes helping and serving others and our investigators learned that sooner than others.  It was still a good day.   They called themselves "The Janitor Boyz" after today.

It's such a blessing to be here serving a mission and it's easily the most rewarding and fulfilling thing I've ever done.  I love you all.

My Last Transfer:  Jan. 26, 2016

  Staying in San Mateo :)

Well it's official.  I'm staying in San Mateo ward with Sister Miole to finish out my mission!  I'm actually really happy about it and super excited to work for these last 6 weeks!  I've learned a lot but I know I have so much more to learn!  

FHE with the Carpio family.  

I kissed my lunch before I ate it.  This is a very typical way to eat fish here...just gut them and fry them!

The Bernadas family.  Brother Bernadas is just returning to church and Sister Bernadas is a recent convert.  Their family is just adorable.  Especially Rachelle (the young woman in the stripes).  We are helping her get her Young Womanhood Recognition Award.

My testimony is strengthened as I read and ponder the scriptures.  I read in Doctrine and Covenants 43:28 "wherefore labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last (transfer)--for the last (transfer) call upon the inhabitants of (San Mateo)".  My eyes welled up with tears as I felt Heavenly Father giving me a little pep talk for the last 6 weeks of my mission.  I realized that this is it.  This is the last chance I have to set goals and make something happen here in my area.  

Down to my last toothbrush!!

January 2016

When I packed for my mission I packed 9 toothbrushes (one for every 2 months) and I only have one left!  I guess my time here in the Philippines really is winding down.  

Just wishing my "seester" Sarah a Happy 19th Birthday!!

On one of our p-days we went to the Wawa Dam.  You can't see the dam in this picture but I just thought it was a cool spot.  It was beautiful here.

New Year...New Companion

Meet Sister Miole

January 2016

Sister Miole is my new companion/trainee.  She is actually waiting for a visa to the United States to serve in San Diego.  I'm excited because she wants me to help her with her English and preparing to serve in the states.  Hopefully her visa will come just in time for me to have a traveling companion as I go back to the US in March :)

I hope you all have had a great holiday season!  It's 2016 here in the Philipines and I cannot believe how much I have experienced in the last 365 days.  It has been such a full and blessed year and I am so happy to have been able to spend it in the service of the Lord.  This picture was taken at a zone conference.

Sister Miole and I watched the fireworks on New Years Eve from our window. My companion was SO cute.  Fireworks are bawal (not allowed) in the province she is from.  She was using a mirror and sticking her arm out the window to see the fireworks around the corner and just kept saying "it's so pretty!  It's so fun to watch!"

Merry Christmas 2015 !!

It was so great to skype my family on Christmas Day!  My cousin, Max, just returned home from his mission in Kentucky so it was the first time I've been able to talk to him for 2 years!!!  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, or as they say in the Philippines, Maligayang Pasko!

My 21st Birthday!

December 15, 2015

There were 3 birthdays in our apartment this week.  We had little celebrations for each person on their birthday (their favorite food and a little mini cake).  We hid and shot confetti at one of the sisters!

Birthday Packages from my mom and my grandma! 

 We had a birthday lunch today with our district.  It was supposed to be at the park but it's raining so we went to the chapel instead.  We bought lechon manok, sister Lopez made pasta and elders brought a fruit salad thing and cake.  It was actually really fun.  Simple, but fun!

Saying goodbye to the Cano family was really hard.  Sister Kim and Jovelyn (her mom) both came to church sunday for the second sunday in a row and it is really looking like Kim will be baptized.

Saying goodbye to Sister Gementiza was also really hard.  Also, I found out that I am going to be a New Missionary Trainer for my last 12 weeks of my mission.  12 weeks of Training--kinda like 12 days of Christmas;)  I definitely feel the weight of this calling, but prayer will get me through for sure and I'm excited to see what kind of impact I can have.

This will probably be my last email until after Christmas so I hope you all enjoy the season and have a great time with your famiies!  Remember the reason why Christ was born almost 2000 years ago.  It wasn't so that we would have a day to eat yummy food and give gifts (although that sure is fun).  He was born so that He could atone for our sins and thus provide a way for us to return to Him.

Merry Christmas!  

MALIGAYANG PASKO!

Already DECEMBER!

Dec. 6, 2015

I had my mom send me a bunch of "future missionary" tags to give to the kids here.  These are two recently baptized kids.  Aren't they the cutest?!

I honestly can't believe it is already December.  This month is going to fly by.  This week is the last full week of the transfer and then next week is transfers, then Christmas, then New Years and then 2015 is gone.  The full year that I will have spent in the mission will be over.  I feel like it just started.

Already my last 100 days... 
Happy Thanksgiving!

November 29, 2015

 

I hope Thanksgiving was great for you all!  I had a few members wish me a Happy Thanksgiving (they have family in the states) but no turkey dinners.  I did, however, buy myself some mashed potatoes on Friday night.  Kinda like KFC.  Certainly not as good as Aunt Dana and Mom's mashed potatoes...but it was good enough for me.

Fairview Sisters at zone interviews

President kindly pointed out that my time is winding down and told me to set goals for my last 3 months (two transfers) and then asked me what my plans were after.  I had my first "I can't believe how fast this is all happening "meltdown" the next day with my companion.  Of course I'm excited to see you all, but this really is the best thing that has ever happened to me and its sad to think that it is all winding down.  I've learned so much and I don't want the learning to end."

Something I've learned from the Pinoy people.  Gratitude.  Even if there is no abundance or food or even living space.  They are always grateful for the things they do have.  Usually their family.  That's all you really need to be happy...enough to live on and family.  Take a few minutes to appreciate what you have this week and say thank you to those who have served/loved you.  Especially Heavenly Father.

 

Transfer Week & Insomnia

November 9, 2015

This week was transfer week and I got a new companion, Sister Gementiza. I love her so much.  She makes me laugh all the time.

The weirdest thing has been happening this week.  Insomnia.  I just lay in bed not able to fall asleep.  Even if it's been a full work day and 10:30 at night when I get in bed.  This is the first time that this has happened to me in my mission.  No matter how tired I am, I can't fall asleep right away.  I'm always to scared to check the time.  But it feels like forever.

My "mom" (trainer--Sister Mamasig) and my anak ("child"/trainee--Sister Rantayo).  It was such a great moment when I saw both of them and we were together again.

BLESSINGS

October 2015

It's Fiesta Season....check out my photo bombers!

Compared to the world's standards, the quality of life in the Philippines is not the greatest.  However, for those living the gospel, the quality of their life is amazing.  They are some of the happiest people I know.  They always have something to be happy about.  I learn so much from these faithful members of the church."

Temple P-day.  I feel my Savior's love.  The temple and the church is the same everywhere.  The Spirit is the universal language.  Blessings on blessings.

I'm so blessed to see my anak ("child") so often.  She's just the best.

  She walked into the Celestial Room and almost cried to see me sitting there.  Blessing.

Cake eating contest turned into cake fight! 

Typhoon Lando has come and is on it's way out.  Some areas in our mission had church cancelled.  We still had church.  Maybe 25 or 30 people came.  It was cool.  Sacrament took about 7 minutes total.  The rain was the strongest while we were at church.  Afterwards, and for today, it's just been really windy.  No flooding in our area, which is good.

BLESSING!

Celebrating National Family Week--

"A Very Happy Thought"

September 2015

This is Sister Doray and Baby Enoch.  She is probably one of my favorite women on this earth.  So humble and teachable.  Last Sunday was her 4th Sunday in a row coming to church!

We tried really hard to get a "normal" district photo.....

Saturday (September 26)  was Christine's Baptism! It was good.  There were a few complications with the font not being filled and not having baptismal clothes that fit when we got to the chapel but we had gotten there a little early and the problems got solved within an hour.  The service was really good (even though my companion and I were asked to sing on the spot) and Sister Christine was so happy after she was baptized that she could hardly bear her testimony.  We were a little sad because we didn't see her husband, Martin, there and she said he wanted to come but that's okay.....
...because the next day when we pulled up in the tricycle to church MARTIN WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WAITING FOR CHRISTINE.  He came directly from work and attended her confirmation and the Gospel Essentials class with her.  He hasn't been to church since he was in middle school.  It was a miracle.  They're really cute actually!  He was more excited for her than she was!

We had a way fun activity with the ward to celebrate National Family Week.  Four of us missionaries were assigned to teach about The Family:  A Proclamation to the World, Family Prayer, Scripture Study and the Relief Society President talked about Family Home Evening.  Then the families played games and had lunch.  It was cute because the families came "color coded".  It made me appreciate so much more my family and the way that my parents raised me in the gospel.  It has truly blessed my family so much.  I know we can be together forever because of the priesthood.  It's just a very happy thought.

After Elder Scott passed away I read his last talk in the October 2014 Conference...about FAMILIES.  The last 3 (out of 3) of the Apostles who have recently passed away chose to speak to the world about families. I think that is pretty significant.

Taylor and other Sister Missionaries and The Mission President's Wife, Sister Bertin.

 September 10, 2015: 

CONGRATS Sister Foote!

12 months in the Philippines!

"In case you all lost track, this week was my 1 year mark.  When the heck did that happen?  The time just flew.  My kabahays all woke up in the middle of the night to decorate our stairs and make me a mango float (a yum desert here) and write me cute notes that I kept finding in my desk, closet, taped to the inside of my umbrella.  I really didn't expect anything.  I was just gonna buy myself some ice cream but it was way sweet.  I felt way loved.  Now they all make jokes about how I'm trunky--not true.  But I did misplace my name tag that morning.  I found it, but they thought it was funny." 

These are the kabahays (I think it means companions) responsible for surprising Taylor on her one year "birthday" of her mission!  

My new home…Fairview 

August 2015

This week there was a "bagio" but it wasn't enough to keep us in the house!  We were out working and the rain & wind were way strong but we didn't really think much of it.  As we were heading home our kabahays texted us and told us to buy candles because the power was out (brownout)at our house.  So that night we went home and did our nightly planning by candle light.

Our "apartment" is actually a house.  It's pretty big actually.   Fairview is the most "city" area I've been assigned so far.  Every day we have to cross a skybridge over an 8 lane highway to get home from our area.

I went on exchanges this week with Sister McCarthy.  She is Samoan and from New Zealand.  It was a great day.  She has only been out on her mission a little longer than me.  It was a breath of fresh air to just go and learn from her and watch her work in her area.  This calling (Sister Training Leader) has been a HUGE blessing to me.  Its the best thing to be able to get to know the sisters and their stories and backgrounds and learn from them.  I learn more from them than they do from me. 

This week has been a great week again.  Full of teaching and walking in the rain.  The weather here is SUPER unpredictable.  But you do know one thing, you'll always be drenched..either in sweat or rain.  The work here is good.  We have a few investigators and contacts that show some potential.