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.