Mmm... Manok tiil.

Just to let you all know, I hit my 8 month mark this past week!!!!!

Ya hoo!! We didn't have a very successful day that day, but Funny sorry... We were at one of our recent convert's and the daughter was looking at pictures and telling us what they were... and then my companion pointed at me and asked her who I was.. and she said, "Jesus Christ." hahah. I guess I really am a representative of Him... Really, though, It taught me a very good lesson. Sometimes, Just somtimes, I forget who I am and who I represent. It is one of my goals to always reflect the Savior, and to have people see Him in my countenance. Maybe I really was reflecting Him... or maybe she was just confused because I am so shinny white, I don't know. But, I do know that I want everyone to say that about me.

On Thursday we had Mission Presidents Training. We learned how to better teach the Commandments in lesson4 of Preach My Gospel. It was such a good boost. We also had ice cream... which is always a bonus. (:

Later that day we went to one of my favorite areas. Aidsisaw. We have a lot of great investigators there! And remember me talking about how my companion ate a Manok tiil.. or chicken foot? 

 

 

 

 

Yeah well guess who ate one, too? Yeah, ME!!! Go me! It was sooooo gross. I never want to eat another one again. There are like the nail and bones and cartalage... i don't know how to spell that and skin. and you just eat it all. It was EW!!! I took pictures. They look gross... on purpose cause it was gross. But now I can check that off my list of things to be done only in the PHilippines! 

If I were to give any of you advise, I would say don't eat it. 

Yesterday at church we had 9 less actives come to church!!! It was so great to see our hard work pay off. Now if only we could get some of our investigators to church.... thats the trick! But, I figure that if we get the less actives active again then our investigators will have people to bring them to chruch and sit by them and be their friends... right?

I am so thankful for the scriptures. Yesterday in church one of the speakers talked on how the trials and problems that are talked about in the book of mormon are the same trials and problems that we are having here. He also said that the book of mormon lays out the solution to their problems, so it also lays out the path of solution for the problems of today. IF we appy what we learn to our lives. It was so inspired! 

It is true that the book of mormon answers all of our questions. Through the words and also through personal revelation. That is why it is so important to prayerfully read the book of mormon and then PONDER, That is often a step that is looked over, and that is when magbaton kita sang sabat. I am so much thankful for the scriptures. 

Well, That is all for this week. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! You are all in my prayers!

Love, Your sister missionary,

Sister Young

 

 

these kids crack me up!

This is a picture of pee.. yes. I got peed on again yesterday... seriously.. its so gross.

And My snail family!!! (: haha

 

Okay...

Sorry this is such a late email! But, we just had a sister-district activity!!! there were 4 companionships that went to the top of the mountain, Patag, and went to the water falls! It was such a hard workout, and literally through the jungle, but I am so happy that we did it. It was such a stress relief. (:

So... this is just some of my adventures today. It was so amazing!!!!!!!!

Yup, I hiked in rubber shoes with  holes in the bottom. it was quite the adventure!

the man is Bishop of West ward.. he is 70.. and not even out of breathe! we were all dying! hahah

The jeepney kinda had a breakdown... scary!!!!!!

tanan Kita!!!

So, last week was a hard week, and this week was too. I don't really know how to handle it. Okay, I do... its the atonement, its just the whole being patient part that is hard. We had again no investigators at church. We have no progressing investigators... The family that I told you about last week... well now Brother wont even come out of his house. It is just so.... SAD. 

Valentines day was fun. It was weekly planning, so my companion and I ordered pizza! It was good and then I got some mail. From grandma brewer. Thanks for all the cat pictures. and My companion really enjoyed the cookie you sent! And I got some letters from aunt chris! Thank you all so much! I really appreciate them. (:

It was soooo good.... and then the ants got into it.... ):

I thought I could conqure the world on Valentines day, and then I got all trunky as night came. Thats when all the cute little couples come out of hiding. But you know what? I just closed my eyes. haha. and we just kept teaching and walking. 

One of our recent converts, they live in this little cement square house that is not even big enough for a car.. anyways we were teaching then when all of a sudden their son started peeing on us. I was totally grossed out. And then the little girl peed in our shoes. Haha. Yeah. adventures!

I got told that I was not 19.. that i was 100 cause I'm so fat by a crazy little girl, and then the next time we went and taught her mom she told me I looked like a white flower. It made me a little less self conscience. haha

We were walking down the street and this little girl came up to us and asked us to teach her, and then she took us to her family. They were peeling kamote, which is like potatoe. So I just took the giant knife from the mom and I picked up a kamote and then started peeling. She did this squeal thing, and I just said, OKay lang sister, ako na lang! haha It was so cool to be able to serve them WHILE we taught them about the gospel. 

Lately, well like my whole mission I have been just so fascinated by the book of mormon and the power it has. I found this cool quote...

"...No member of this chruch can stand approved in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon..." -Joseph Fielding Smith.

And this one too...

"Members of the church everywhere should know the Book of Mormon better than any other book. not only should we know what history and faith promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings...

"I have noted with in the Church the difference in disct\ernment, in insight, conviction and spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not. That book is a great Sifter." - Ezra taft Benson.

The last sentence of President Bensons quote stuck out to me... let me see if I can make this make any sense.

When I read it I immediately thought of the 2 scriptures in the book of mormon that use the word "sift" Random I know... but the only time it used that word is when it is talking about satan sifting us as chaphed. or something that I cant spell... here are the referrences. Alma 37;15 and 3nephi 18;18

Anyways, so I was thinking. If we don't read the book of mormon and do it prayerfully we are allowing ourselves to be sifted by satan.... and I don't know about you but that does not sound fun. Infact... Yeah, just no. So... let us all read the book of mormon... cause I don't think it will feel very good to us to be sifted. I challenge all of you. Start with the Pauna. haha. The INTRODUCTION, not Pauna... that is Hiligaynon. and then read the witnesses and the testimony of Joseph smith... and then just start. Pray before you start and after you finish. Ask God if it is true and what you need to learn from it. 

It is amazing what will happen to you. I promise. Please do it. 

I love you all and I just pray for you alls so much and every day. 

Love Your sister missionary,

Sister young

 

Family home evening!!!

 

Seriously, i am obsessed I just can't get over it.

 

For Eliza: This is a snail... I named him fred. And I took these photos just for you

Just one of those weeks....

You know, this week has been HARD. Its been such a struggle for me this week to be focused, and have desire, and overcome self consciousness... seriously. It is such a struggle. 

pretty much the only picture I took this week. haha its beautiful though, right?

 

On wednesday we had a great zone training on not gossiping. I can't lie, i've done my fair share of gossiping, not like the back bitting that you all are thinking of... but just the talking negative about an area or a ward... etc.  I had already been working on trying not to do that, its all part of my monthly humility goal... and That training was just so inspired! we were also trained on not leaving an appointment until we have shared something from the scriptures. Often times we just use the pamphlets and such, but the word of God is so much more effective. It was great.

The next day we had Sister Delos Santos' follow up training with president. It was amazing how the training that ALL the missionaries received just the day before went in one ear and out the other. I think that was one of my tests of not gossiping. And when I was in a conversation that that was happening I just left and went and talked to someone else. It was hard for me, because naturally you want to know and you compare and all those natural man things. but I really don't want to be like that anymore. So I am trying so hard.

But, one funny thing that I noticed... the Philippines is probably the only place where is it okay to be barefoot at the mission home. (: haha Thats just the culture. (:

Later that day we went to one of our farther out areas and one of the members, she is awesome, she always feeds us... you'll never guess what she wanted us to eat.... ANd of course I forgot my camera.... Manok tiil. Or....CHICKEN FEET. I was so scared. I didn't eat it. she just laughed and then let me eat a hot dog, but my companion was sure chowin down!  It was probably the most gross thing I have ever seen. I will take my camera next time and get a picure(:

So, last night we taught the Castillio family. I love this family sooo much!!! They are just so great, but they have rejected the baptismal invitation 2 times now.  And Brother is kinda the leader of the pack... and when he has doubt they all have doubt. The other night in his closing prayer he asked that they will know the right decision... and so me and Sister Delos Santos decided that we would watch the restoration with them. So that is what we did, last night,. THey pulled a tv out of their house and we all sat outside and watched the restoration in tagalog... I coulsn't help but cry. It was so powerful, and it meant so much to me, in a different language.. that I can barely understand. 

But it was amazing, the movie answered every question that Brother had asked us last time. it was so inspired. 

The whole time I was praying that their hearts would be softened and that they would feel the truth and that they would know. 

after the movie my companion and I bore testimony of the truthfullness of the gospel and that Joseph smith was a true prophet... and how important it is for us to know for ourselves. 

I don't know the ending to the story yet... but I do know that that movie had a powerful effect on them, I could feel it, and I know they could feel it. 

This past week I have been thinking alot about the early saints and about Joseph Smith. There are so many things that I want to ask them, to ask HIM. I am so thankful for him...

This morning I was reading in Doctrine and covenants 121. Joseph Smith is in Liberty jail at this point and he feels like the Lord has abandon him, in short. So he is writing telling him how he feels and it is amazing the Lords response. 

He says ...

7 My son, ^apeace be unto thy soul; thine ^badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a ^csmall moment;

 8 And then, if thou ^aendure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy ^bfoes.

Then he compares him to Job in the Bible...

 9 Thy ^afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

 10 Thou art not yet as Job; thy ^afriends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.

 11 And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall ^amelt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun;

 12 And also that God hath set his hand and seal to change the^atimes and seasons, and to blind their ^bminds, that they may not understand his ^cmarvelous workings; that he may ^dprove them also and take them in their own craftiness;

And... you know what? I was talking to my companion about it... THis week I have been thinking a lot about the first saints and I watched the joseph smith movie and legacy in my spare moments.... and I was thinking about my own trek experience. and then I was thinking about my life now and how i'm just struggling this week....

I thought about Bishop Hall and how he basically forced me to go on the trek... but how grateful I am now that he told me to go. Why? becasue I know how to endure. I walked with blistered feet for ever it seemed, and I was dirty and tired and i pulled a heavy wagon... 

its kinda the same as a misisonary, I have blisters on my feet, I have to talk to people in a scary intimidating language, I am sweaty and tired, I have a bag full of book of mormon and pamphlet that weigh on my shoulders...

Then it hit me. Joseph Smith, a man that I look up to so much and the first saints... if they could endure it well.... and they went through so much more than I ever will... then I can endure it. 

But even more than that, more importantly then The prophet and the pioneers, someone even greater, even Jesus Christ, endured more than I will ever have to.. because he did it for me, and for all of you and everyone that will ever come to the earth... 

I can endure because he endured for me. He did the will of the Father, so I can do his will Here... even with the hot sun on me, even if I have a mean companion, which I don't, but if i did.... Even If I just want to give up... I can endure. I can do this.. 

I am SO thankful for Joseph Smith.. I can't even describe on paper how thankful I am for him... and take that and mulitply it by a billion and that is how thankful I am to Jesus Christ. 

I know that life at home, where you are all at is hard.. . There is death, there is mean family members, there are snobby co=workers, there are crazy drivers, there are obnoxious children, there are ... the list goes on and on.... but I know that you can endure it well. 

Life on the mission is much the same. We get rejected, and yelled at, made fun of, cut off, chased away, but no matter how bad it breaks my heart.... because i love them... I really do. I can endure it through the Atonement. 

The atonement is powerful and real, and I urge you all to try it. it will change you. 

So yeah, it was one of those weeks, but I have a new outlook on life... I have a christ-like outlook on life. And I am ready to endure things well!! 

have a great week everyone.

Love, your sister missionary.

Sister YOung

Baha... Means flood in Hiligaynon

 So, my week has been a crazy series of events!!!

last monday my companion and I got pedicures for like 1.50 in american monies. It was great because she got my ingrown toenail out(: hahah It feels much better now. And the people that worked in the salon were so amazed that I could speak their language and they all wanted my eyelashes, thanks, mom. (:  then one of the guys asked my companion if he could fix her eyebrows... and then he fixed mine too, and i guess they really needed to be fixed because he had to get his shears out and TRIM my EYEBROWS... it was so embarrassing. but they all thought it was funny... haha ugh! 

On tuesday we had exchanges. I went with Sister Hogge to her area and we had a blast!!! She is such a great missionary. She is originally from Tacloban Mission, and We think that she is going back today cause she is transferring. I am so sad, she is such a great friend, and I love her. But while we were teaching this one family they have this little baby dog... and it was so cold and its mom wouldn't let it snuggle with her so it found my feet and snuggled up against them. I prayed through that whole lesson for that dog... i'm so silly someitmes. haha. but it really needed my prayers.

So, we got the Liahona, philippines edition and guess who is in it?!? Yep, I am! haha actually... just barely. I think you might be able to find me... i'm in the pictures of the missionaries at the coming of elder andersen in the far left hand side, i did a little happy dance. and put it in my journal(:

Yesterday, I have a new calling in the church... I'm the ward PIANIST... um..... yeah, basically I stink, but heavenly father has really blessed me with talent. at first trying to read the notes was so hard and I used to eb a fluent note reader,.... but i have been getting better. its not scary anymore either!

Did you know that "baha" means flood in Hiligaynon? Well... I found that out early saturday morning, about 3am. 

Friday night we had a fun night of getting coconuts and getting drenched in the rain cause we forgot our umbrellas... and then all of our investigators told us there was going to be another typhoon. no biggie though... 

we went home and I left the phone down stairs on my desk and I fell asleep on my bed which happens to just be three foam things on the ground, and my companion usually brings it up when she comes up. 

I remember that night it was raining so hard and I had a bad dream that our house got flooded. So I was just awake in my bed just listening to the rain when I felt a prompting to check the phone. I thought, why would I do that? But I reached my hand over to the floor next to her bed to get it and my hand went right into water. 

re-inactment of waking up at 3:00 am

All i could hear was the water coming down so hard and in my mind I kept thinking about "I'm on the top floor and my room is flooded and I can't find the phone... its down stairs and its flooded... waht do I do?" and then the words of Cc.."I bet you were wondering how much water it would take to hurt you..." she told me that after the big yolanda.... I was sitting up on my bed, and finally had to look out side, so I grabbed my wet glasses and looked out the window across the room walking through water... it was no power out side all I could see was glistening as if it was almost at the second story window.. the water level. 

I walked over to the light switch and turned it on... no light. finally I had to wake my companion up. When she sat up she started crying. she is so afraid of water and teh ocean and everything. 

I didn't know what to do... the phone was down stairs... my bed was getting soaked... I had to look down stairs.. but I was so scared... if the second floor was flooding.. everything down stairs is ruined. I opened the door and I couldn't tell cause it was so dark. I dipped my foot down the second step and no water! thank goodness!!!! I ran down stairs and found the phone and grabbed our wash basin and ran up the stairs... 

The balcony drain was not working and that was what was causing the 4 inches of water all over the second floor. we got most of the water out of the balcony so it would stop coming into our house and then We sat on her bed and I told her everything was going to be okay... I didn't really know what to do so I texted Elder Anderson, a couple missionary that is like a grandpa to me. they called right away.

He told me to plunge the drain and to get the water out of the house really fast. So for the next hour and a half we worked to get the water out.. the power finally came on... my poor companion stopped crying.. They called again and I told them the situation that we were okay now. 

We prayed before we went back to bed and went to sleep with the light on because she was so scared.. 

WHen we woke up at 6:30 outside was so flooded... We had to walk in it to buy phone load so we could call and text people to tell them we were okay. 

I couldn't help to think about being prepared. When I had heeded the prompting to look for the phone and then realized what was happening I got scared. I thought. I'm not ready to die... I wont make it to the celestial kingdom. I am not clean... I can't die.. what about my family... what about my investigators... what about me?

It was so scary, I'm glad that I had to experience that... becasuse it has made me really start preparing myself better. 

I think we can all learn from this experience... a lot of the people here have been asking us how they can prepare themselves.... and it is a simple answer

read 

pray

repent

repeat.

Are you willing to do that?

you are the only one that can prepare yourself. 

I love you all, 

Love, your sister missionary,

Sister Young

Sister Remund and I kneeling down.  

 Sister Evans and I, Aunt Crystal used to be her young womens leader. and then Sister Hogge and I (: 

 

 Me and my district before everyone got transferred... 

and then Sister Hogge and I (: