Before
I get into the good stuff this week and tell you all about my wonderful
adventures in the Philippines Islands and what the Spirit taught me, and how I
have seen the atonement change the lives of the people I love here... I have a
funny little thing to tell you of what I did this morning.
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me eating dynamite and listening to dynamite :)
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So first you must know
that I live in a cement house very close to many other houses. The one behind
ours likes to play music a lot. Sometimes I hate it, cause it can be
inappropriate. Sometimes I love to hear Christmas music at lunch time.
Sometimes I do not mind a little Elvis or whatever they are playing. But
sometimes it is really really really hard to stay concentrated on the work when
songs that I know every single word to, and just love to dance to just play and
play and play, and I spend my study time singing primary songs and hymns to
myself. But today... was one of those play all of sister hellewell's favorites
days. And also other songs that you could say are commonly played at YSA
dances... Well Dynamite was played today..... Also, I ate some dynamite while
listening to dynamite! Sister Calla made some dynamite today I’ll send a
picture. I wouldn't say it is hot according to American standards, but for
philippinas it was pretty hot... but also very very masarap!!! I loved
it.
Now to the important
things that happened this week.
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| A funny tree at the church building |
First you should be
proud of this sister missionary. Yeah, I got us to San Pablo on Thursday... on time. And I’m pretty proud of myself
and my communication with the outside world on finding out how to get us
there.
Disclaimer: my tagalog
is still struggling, but I do know how to ask for directions! And understand a
response! (most of the time) We went to San Pablo for the new missionary
check-up. President said to me, that William’s group of missionaries is the
loudest he's ever heard, when he was driving us to St. Thomas (half of the way
home) I reminded him that It was two group's plus some. Me and all my group.
William's group and then many of my group's trainers too! Crazy stuff. But it
was good to see them, and learn from president and the AP’s. Mostly what I
learned is that sister Williams is astig/awesome and I got the best companion
probably. She really is incredible; I wish she could see it in herself. She
really doesn't realize how awesome she is doing no matter how much I tell her.
She is struggling to adjust at times, but who doesn't?
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| Me and Williams on the way back from San Pablo |
Also yesterday was the
greatest day ever, so I will hold you in anticipation to hear all about
it.
Tuesday we
worked with Sister G again. Oh man, I love working with her. But honestly she
has the most hard to understand tagalog of my life! It is really frustrating at
times. I was all discouraged and stuff like that and then we bid farewell to G
and went to M's (less active) I understood her today! A fervent prayer was
answered! We talked about her concerns and made a plan to resolve them. It sure
is hard to go to church without your family when our church talks so much about
the importance of families. But Also, my language study is helping! I
recognized the word Pagabagabag! (It is used in the tagalog preach my gospel
book under chapter ten under how to begin teaching. I've been reading those two
pages in PMG everyday for the last week trying to really get good at how to
begin teaching in tagalog. I know it in English... but some of the things I
want to be able to say are still hard in tagalog.) Anyways, I was super happy
to hear that word for some reason. Maybe because it is a deeper tagalog word
and I really like saying it! But also M told us that we are angles and that
always makes your day when people compliment you and thank you for what you are
doing. I always hear how beautiful I am and stuff like that but that's not what
I want to hear! I want people to tell me the message I share with them is
exactly what they need and most beautiful to them!
Thursday M.A.
was baptized. IT was just wonderful! She said that she could not sleep for the
last 24 hours she was so excited to be baptized. Me, Sis Williams, and Brother
and sister Reyes sang “Nearer my god to thee”, in parts for her baptism. IT WAS
BEAUTIFUL I think that mostly I miss hearing a base part being sung, but also
it really brought the spirit.
Also Thursday morning president and the Ap's came to
practice teach with us. That was a lot of fun and a good learning experience. I
loved it. We practiced the baptism invitation and resolving concerns. The first
time was a little rough and I feel like we started to resolve the concern but
it didn't fully happen. The second time though... it was good. Elder Merriam
said " Wow that one was just... powerful. There was no denying it!"
which made me feel pretty good about that practice. I love practice teaching.
Mostly I love after we evaluate and do much better the second time. We also got
to practice teaching what to do when someone does not read the Book of Mormon,
which is really all we want our investigators to do! They can't know if what I
am teaching them is true and that the church was restored to the earth if they
don't read the evidence I give them and pray to god to know if it is true! So
we practiced that with Elder Calling, and it was something that we are able to
repeat time and time again. I learned a lot. I need to shorten my questions,
especially since if they were long in English they will be a million times
longer in Tagalog. And I also really just need to focus on what the real
concern is- is this church true? Was Joseph smith a prophet? and Is the Book of
Mormon the word of god? That is really all someone has to decide for
themselves. When they do, everything will fall into place. It won't matter that
they were already baptized in the catholic church or iglesia. It won't matter
that they are tired and do not want to read, it won't matter that their family
may not support them. They will know that God has restored his true church here
on the earth, and they will want to follow Christ’s perfect example.
Also yesterday I
COMMUNICATED WITH G FOR LIKE 20 MINUTES ON THE TRIKE AND JEEPNEY BACK FROM
BALETE AND I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF. I hope that my caps explain my excitement.
We talked about random stuffs. and Then she told me she hoped her father hadn't
locked the house gate yet and I told her the story (in tagalog mind you) about
the time that I left the key in the house in tayabas and me and Basa were stuck
between the house and the gate and how funny it would be to have watched two
sister missionaries jump the fence.. she thought it was a funny story. Which
was good... but really yesterday was better for many many more reasons:
because before that...
was the greatest.
1. R received the
priesthood.
2. M A received the Holy
Ghost.
3. M's baptism was
announced! And Planned!
AND.... R WILL BAPTIZE
M THIS WEEK!
and I am just
overjoyed and excited. And I know that yesterday felt like the best day ever,
but honestly this saturday will definitely top it!
I also received a lot
of personal revelation from church this week. I know that we teach our
investigators and members that this is something that really happens at church,
but I have been struggling with it here in the Philippines when I am more
focused on what is going on. What people are saying and translating to myself
rather than really thinking deeply about what I am learning and applying it to
myself. But I really did learn a lot that day by the spirit. Our Sunday school lesson was about the post-mortal spirit
world. And I have really been learning a lot on my mission much much more than I
ever dreamed of knowing about our life after death. And I was thinking about
how thin the veil is between us and others. And I know that those who have
passed on are right here with us, and that they are doing the same work as me right
now, Missionary work. Their job is much harder than mine though I bet. They are
teaching the people there who never had the chance to hear and accept the
gospel while here, and they are also preparing people here to prepare the
message that we as members of the church have to give to them. It's beautiful
really. I just want to be a member missionary for the rest of my life. Both missionary
work and family history are so important. It is the reason why we are here. To
prepare to return to God, and we cannot unless we live the gospel. My love for
family history really grew my last semester at BYU I am grateful for the people
that influenced me to really get into it. And I can really see why it is so
important to people. I am grateful for the example that my grandparents have
set for me. And I really do miss family history and indexing and the blessing
and happiness that came from it. I learned much more, but that's all I am going
to share with you today. I hope that my family member's and friends will pray
for the love of family history and to feel the spirit of Elisha in their lives.
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for being so dedicated to it, and motivating me
to do family history work. I'd thank some BYU friends too.. but honestly they
are all on missions now too! :) I love that fact.
Anyways... lots of
love. And thank you all my family for all of the updates I love hearing how you
are doing and am grateful for all that you do for me and each other.
Mahal,
Sister Hellewell
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