Kumusta ka na?

Hey everyone!

I'm back in the MRC in Manila.
Tuesday night I called President after we got back from the Susuya's
(WHO ARE AWESOME AND I LOVE THEM!) and asked if I could leave
Batangas. I knew that the next day he had zone interviews in Mindoro,
and the port to that island is in my area. So I asked if he would pick
me up on his way back from there and take me to the mission home or to
the MRC.

President and Sister, the AP Merriam and Malit and the
Hansens picked me up around 4:30. I said a sad goodbye to Williams and
Waldrom and really I have just been refusing to talk about or
acknowledge my feelings. The last week I have just been cracking jokes
that only I think are funny, to get my mind off of the 15 hours of
in-air time on airplane's that I knew were close at hand.

Last night I slept at the Mission Home for the first time! It was
really nice. We had dinner with all the missionaries that live at the
Mission home/office. I got to talk to president all by myself for a
really long time and that was a really special experience. I learned
so much about myself from his views of me, how to be a better
missionary, and he gave me some very good advice. He told me to help
teach the Missionary Prep class in Idaho. I told him I didn't have
enough experience but he said that I would do a really good job. 

This morning I went with President and Sister to the Training Check-up
meeting in San Pablo. It was a little weird to be there...because I am
not training and was companions with the Peterson's. My plan was just
to sit in the back and observe, but president insisted that I sit next
to him. So I sat in-between President and Sister Peterson. They are
very nice, it was a little weird for all the missionaries to look at
me and wonder what in the world I was doing at their meeting....but it
was very good and I learned a lot still. Afterwards, I talked to a few
of the missionaries I know like Perez, Parry, Neilson, Toro, Richards,
and Martinez, and soon I left. President told me that I had a choice.
I could go to Ramzey's with all the other missionaries or President,
Sister and I could go to Manila and eat something nice at a real
restaurant! Let's just say I chose Manila! And we went to TGI Fridays
and I got a real nice Mango Smoothie, Nachos, and a nice big Steak. I
LOVED IT! I have missed REAL meat. And that was the best smoothie of
my life. It has been really fun to spend some good quality time with
President!

We arrived at the MRC after taking a picture at the temple and I was
very happy to see sister Teaotai again. I have missed her IOUWUE and
AIYKIONIRA!

I'm safe and sound right next to the temple once again. And I am just
waiting for my exit visa. Sana (hopefullly, wishfully) I will get it
bukas but I don't know what is going to happen.

Kita Kitas malapit na!

Sister Hellewell

FAREWELL FILIPPINAS

It has been quite the week here in the Philippines. In the end the

Doctor's at St. Lukes Global in Manila were not really able to help me

much except to confirm that the pain in my chest is not my Heart or

Lungs. They gave me some pain medicine and I did not want to go home

so they let me come back home to Batangas and try to keep working!

Sister Teaotai only came back for two days. She was much more positive

than me at first. She was ready to get working again. But, when the

time came to go back out and work she knew she couldn't do it. She was

having trouble even walking up the stairs to her bed. She is in Manila

waiting for her exit visa and flight back to Kiribati. I am in a trio

right now with Williams and Waldrom. It is really cool to get to work

with my companion from my MTC after we have gotten more fluent in the

language and actually know how to teach! She is always an inspiration.

It has been hard on the W's to send us home, but I just can't do the

work like I would like to. I can't work all day and just am either in

too much pain or tired so much that we can only get out for a few

hours. Since our area's are really progressing I feel like I am

holding back the work too much. Plus, it is not fun to be sick in the

Philippines, it is too hot and I only get Aircon on the Bus or during

sacrament meeting! But in the end I have prayed to heavenly father,

and I know that I need to come home.

I was really struggling when I got back from MRC because I did NOT

want to go home. President came and taught me a lesson about faith and

doing God's will. I will write more about that when I get home and

have more time. He is inspired and talked a lot about God's will and

"But if not"

I am sad that my dad will not be home when I get there, and that my

brother's will be busy with Finals week but I know that now is the

time and I will probably get my exit visa and flight home by Wednesday

or Thursday.

I love you all and I will call the Fam when I get home.

Mahal Kita,

Sister Hellewell

Buhay Pa! that means I'm still alive.

 To catch you all up on Stephanie.  She was sent to Manila to the hospital up there to have her heart checked out to make sure that there isn't something wrong with that.  Looks like she has a good heart!
Here is what she wrote;

 Well after telling me it couldn't be costocondritis because it

doesn't hurt when I touch my ribs or sternum... the doctor put me through
those millions of tests and stuff. Now, he says it must be costochondritis... which he gave me some sort of meds and said if it isn't better in two weeks come back. 

Well I'm not feeling any better than when I got here to Manila, so I'm not sure what they are gonna do to me. I will have to talk to Dr. Jackson first. I just hope they let me
go to the temple again before I go back to Batangas!

Well. Kita Kits!
Have a good day!

Remember to be grateful and be like Christ!
Mahal Kita!    Sister Hellewell

The Manila Temple up close!
My first good look at it!!!!!

She went back to Batangas today so we won't here from her again till next monday.  Here are a few pictures and thoughts she sent when she was in Manila if you want to read on.

Hey Mom and Dad!

How are you doing? I'm in manila right now, and you guessed it, I'm
still sick, but I'm actually doing better than I was. I'm in the MRC
right now, or the Missionary Recovery Center. IT IS AWESOME! We're
talking a dream on Steroids here... Warm showers, AIRCON, an oven,
home cooked food.  We arrived here with a very warm welcome there are four of us missionaries here, two elders and me and teaotai.  

We just spent all day at the hospital getting tests done for three of

us.  It is a REALLY NICE HOSPITAL we're talking American nice. it also has a Dairy Queen so I got a butter finger blizzard! 

Yesterday we were just stuck here in the MRC, we slept, the elders taught me a Filipino card
game that is similar but different and much better than scum. I will have to make sure I write down the logistics so I can teach you later. We also got to watch a movie yesterday! We had options... church movies or it’s a Wonderful Life. We watched the wonderful life.... man
it sure takes his life a long time to get wonderful! Jokelang.

                                                                         

AP Merriam told us that last Christmas his parents sent him a package that both me and Sister Williams could have fit inside the box. We were in quite an awe at how big that package would have been! Then.... Elder and Sister Smith (Our couple missionary) brought us a new fan! Because our other one died. It was quite sad to only have three fans in the house. But anyways they brought us a new and really good one! Since it was new it came in a box... Sister Waldrom said...I bet sister hellewell could fit in that box! So of course I just had to try! (At this point I had only left the house once in the last 5 days to go get medicine when all four of us missionaries were sick, and had only left 4 times in the last 10 days or so, so I was really bored and in grave need of entertainment!) But I fit! So a box that elder merriam had received must have been a little over two times that size! Joke... but yeah. I did stretch the box a bit.. and put the other three sisters into a fit of laughter with me trying to get out of it... but it was quite fun!

The four of us missionaries when we were sick.

Me and Teaotai at the apartment. She was in a lot of pain and I was

trying to distract her by doing random things... Did you know they
don't have the 3 little pig’s story in Kiribati?

Balot, the Hospital, and a Maligayang Pasko!!!!

there are two letters from stephanie today  We were out of town and I didn't get last weeks posted.

December 24, 2013

Well this has been a very eventful week. Luckily we did not have a transfer here in batangas and so Williams and I get to spend Christmas together along with Waldrom and Teaotai. We are very happy about that and so is our ward! This last week was eventful. We had Zone Meeting, Jimmy and Julie-Anne told us how they were led by the spirit to meet us, and Teaotai's 24th Birthday, the ward christmas party where we got to eat Balot for the whole ward... (they like having foreigners too much) and then Christmas Conference and a trip to St. Patrick's Hospital for yours truly all ending with nice Christmas email to you! 

Let's Start with the most recent-----HOSPITAL! 

So I've been having a pain in my chest the last two or three weeks just for about a minute or two at a time and only two or three times a week. Then this last Friday it starting getting more often and then saturday more painful, and by sunday I was just dying. But I got a blessing from elder Kaifoto and Pablico (which we have officially made Kaifoto Jealous of our microwave---only one in the mission baby!!!) But I decided to just try and stick it out. Monday we had Christmas Conference which I will talk more about later. By monday night I was just in tears over how much pain I was in so Waldrom called the Peterson's and they told us to go to the Hospital. Not really sure that we could get a Jeepney late at night we got our nice neighbor with a car to drive us there... you think driving in the philippines is scary? Try it with a philippino who thinks he is an ambulance..... he drives fast and crazy! But we got there and Sister Teaotai is just a gem. She HAD to bring my pillow for me, she is very sweet. I didn't actually need to use it though. We get to the hospital and they ask me all these questions, and then my american insurance company won't respond and I'm in enough pain I just agree to pay whatever without insurance (let's face it... the ECG was only about 10 bucks in american dollars... and the ER about 6) They hook me up like I’m frankenstein... we're talking metal clips on my ankles, and wrists. And then four on my chest... kinda wish williams wasn't over paying the bills so I would have a picture. but I'm all hooked up like they are gonna electrocute me or give me super human powers and get my ECG done to check out my heart. The nice doctor guy looks at it for a while, he was really good at english it was awesome. But he said that there is something wrong with my heart-the beats are sometimes off, but that would not cause my pain. they think it is something like costochondritis. It is only supposed to last two or three weeks daw (they say) but I hope I'm just at the tail end of it. Anyways they then do this skin test to see if I'm allergic to some pain meds they want to give me, seriously that skin test shot was the worst shot I have ever gotten it burned and was really long and horrible! But I was good so they gave me an IV and then some pain meds that just made life wonderful. So then we were on our way to get some nice zzz's after paying a fortune in pesos for some nice pain meds that actually aren’t so great! But anyways then we were out in the real world at like 11 at night. It was a little weird but the Christmas lights and stuff were so pretty in the Bayan! I love it! lights hanging on vines and it was great. Sister Teaotai was so confused at why people were out and about.... "Don't they ever go to sleep?" Apparently in Kiribati the whole island goes home to bed around 9:30 and wake up at 5. Weird huh? Then a trike driver tried to rip us off but me and waldrom talked him down in price... and we were on our way home. That was my adventure. It is really hard to be sick on christmas in a foreign land, but it doesn't feel like christmas because I'm in short sleeves and still sweating more than I ever have before in my life. 

Now I will tell you about our Wonderful ward christmas party! It was SO MUCH FUN! BEST CHRISTMAS PARTY I HAVE EVER BEEN TO!  Our ward is very talented, and they turned up the air-con so I won’t sweat which was awesome! We had quite a few investigators and less actives in attendance too! But we perform Angels we have heard on high with williams on the Violin... and then the ward says that they have a present/surprise for us... they have us turn around and then they are all super loud and talking about how we are all foreigners and stuff and other things being yelled in tagalog that none of us understood. They have us turn around and the ward is set up like stadium seating to see us... They've got primary all sitting in the front and then the youth and the adults and some standing on chairs... all in a grand semi-circle to see...... four sister missionaries eat BALOT! Let's be honest it was awesome. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this I’ve been avoiding it... it is a fetal chicken and you eat it warm with salt and vinegar... my first bite I got some of the bird and some of the other part. I just about died. To be honest it was only half as bad as I thought it would be the taste was ok if I didn't think about what I was eating, but then I got some bones and I knew what I was eating and I just about died. But I have survived and it was more entertaining to see the ward just on fire laughing and taking millions of video and pictures... they had the time of their life it was awesome! Family- I hope you are ready to come to the Philippines and eat some nice balot! 

It has been a hard week, but I have had the best of moments and the worst of moments. 

I am very grateful for the opportunity and blessing to be serving my God as a representative of Jesus Christ at this very special time of year. I have been studying the life of Christ- his attributes, and how to become like him this last month and I have learned so much about charity and humility. I love you all and I hope that you have a maligayang pasko! See you Next Christmas!!! 

Love from the philippines, 

Sister Hellewell

ps. sorry I am out of time and can't tell you how much I love my investigators and how wonderful they are. 

December 30, 2013

May Sakit Pa! = I am still sick.

I'm sorry I don't have really much to report about this last week.
Since Christmas I've pretty much just hung out in the apartment with
Teaotai, Waldrom, and Williams. I was going to just send you a nice
collection of pictures of me in the hospital or hanging out with
Teaotai who had an IV in for two days or maybe even some great ones of
all four of us sisters sick and hanging out. by hanging out I mean
laying on mattress's and laughing at the fact that all four of us have
gotten sick. We officially set the record in the mission! We are the
first apartment to have all four missionaries sick at once! Waldrom
picked up some stomach virus when she and Teaotai were at the hospital
and then shared it with Williams. I felt sick, but I got some good
medicine for it before it really hit. Pretty much, the Batangas
missionaries have done almost nothing this past week. IT IS KILLING
ME! I want to get out and work soooooooo badly! I miss our
investigators and members! Speaking of the member's here... they are
just angels from heaven. Doctora Acosta has taken good care of us. She
has given us lots of prescriptions, and taken sister Teaotai to the
hospital practically for free! All we have had to pay for is the
medicines. And she is a specialist in the area that Sister Teaotai is
actually sick in so it is perfect. Really though, she comes to our
house twice a day to give Teaotai med's in her IV or to help us with
anything and check-up she even went and got MacDo for us the other
night. And then her mother made us Chicken and Rice Porridge sunday
morning! It was VERY delicious. Then Bishop and his wife brought us 8
apples, 4 mangoes, a huge bunch of Bananas and GRAPES! I love grapes,
but they are so expensive because they have to be imported. It was
amazing. There are so many ward members that have helped us. Sister
Mondano drove the other sisters to the hospital, and just so many
people are being blessed i hope for their service to us.

I'm still not better, almost getting worse. I havn't really talked
that much about me being sick, but my chest really hurts, now my back
is aching and I am getting exhausted by doing small things. President
came to give me a blessing last night. I was not doing very good.
Luckily I started some new medicine that helps more than the last one,
but I'm still in pain. I didn't think that our situation was really
that bad, but I made sister Peterson and Elder Merriam tear up, and
president is really worried about us, and today elder Malit texted us
and said that we are amazing and thank you for the humbling experience.
I think they are pretty worried about us cause they brought me some
delicious gluten-free food today that I am just excited about.
President said that if I don't start feeling any better in the next
few days he will send me to Manila to recover and figure things out.
Part of me wants to just go to Manila so that I can really rest and
stop worrying about Teaotai or keeping Williams cooped up.

I had a very precious experience when president gave me a blessing. It
is very personal, and I don't really want to share it with the cyber
world. But When president gives blessings it is just like the door of
heaven is opened and the spirit witness's truth unrestrained. He
is just so insiteful. He talked some about the pre-mortal life and who
I was and about a great purpose that the Lord has prepared for me to
accomplish at this specific time. I have about 3 full pages in my
journal about all that was said, but I don't really want to share it
with everyone yet. But I am prompted to start studying more in the
scirptures on who I was in the pre-mortal life.

Also this last week I have had the wonderful opportunity to read the
conference issue of the Liahona from this last General Conference.
After studying the atonement, and character of christ, and how to
become like christ this last month I can clearly see one big theme in
every talk in Conference-- The Atonement. Every single talk just seems
to be talking about the atonement and what it does for us, and how it
can strengthen us to accomplish the lords work. I also love that most
the talks are about missionary work. My friends, now is the time to
get into missionary work and family history is the prophet telling you
that wasn't enough.... go back and read his words and listen now.

Here is a quote I loved from conference of someone quoting  Geroge Q Cannon:
"There is not one of us but what God's love has not been expended
upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed.
There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He
has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not
given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and
contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth
remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually
given His angels-invisible being of power and might- charge concerning
us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping."

Well Family and Friends, I hope you had a Maligayang Pasko and are
looking forward to a Manigong Bagong Taon!
Mahal Kita!
Sister Hellewell

"I talked with God last night"

It is still hotter than ever here in the most beautiful islands in the world. But it has been a very good week! We have had a lot of fun and had much success! Transfers are here and I'm just hoping with all my heart that I get to stay here in Batangas! I just love it so much and want it to continue!

My testimony has really  grown this week as I am learning how truly prepared my generation is to hear and accept the Gospel. We have started teaching many more youth and YSA's. Trisha is 12 is already coming to church and asks us if she could be baptized. Her dad has been less active for YEARS and her mom tries to run away the entire lesson, but she loves every minute of it.

Reya and her brother Romel who are 12 and 16 are just amazing. Reya was a referral from a family in the ward, she has been coming to church activities and her mom came to young women in excellence. a week or so ago. Her brother is really into the lessons and is truly reading the book of mormon with the intent of learning the words of god and to find if it is true. I had to buy one of those really cool flashlights with the light on the side for their lessons because their house doesn't have electricity and we want to teach the family together... and they also live forever and a day away so we need to go there last or first. but I am excited to see their progressing. Romel didn't even hesitate to say he would read or pray or be baptized. I almost cried, we didn't see them or the Martinez family at church. And now let me tell you about some of my new favorite people in the world! The G family. Ok, so it's two siblings and some friends. But I love them! We have known JulieAnn for quite some time and always enjoyed seeing her mainly at Franco's Tindihan. But then our Zone Meeting got canceled and suddenly we had nowhere to go! So we texted JulieAnn first thing to try and teach her. Other attempts have been unsuccessful. She agreed to have us over and her brother and their friend Mallorie joined the lesson. I think that it was one of the greatest lessons I have ever taught. One, because it was taglish, two because the spirit was strong, but really because they understood, they intently wanted to listen the entire time. They have all been going to different churches and then leaving when there was something that just didn't feel right. We had a really long lesson but really it felt like 5 seconds. They had so many questions and were excited to read the book of mormon for themselves! Mallorie actually started reading it during our merienda! We taught them the Plan of Salvation this week as well and jimmy was better at answering JulieAnne's questions better than we were! They came to church yesterday along with Dolan and Maricell and it was just like heaven to see them there! Best day in a long time. Jimmy is the best! He told sister williams that he "talked with god last night and it is true" 

I want to add my testimony to that of my friend Jimmy's that the Book of Mormon is true and that I know that my savior lives and I look forward to continuing to share his gospel throughout the season dedicated to him. I love you all and wish you a merry Christmas! To be honest it doesn't feel like Christmas. I saw the first presidency devotional and saw all the lights on temple square... it just is too hot for Christmas around here. Either that or I've just come accustomed to having decorations up for Christmas since we have had them since September! Anyways I love you all. And family, I will plan on skyping you on my Christmas morning but your Christmas Eve, but with transfers you never know what will happen, and my p-day may be a different day next week. I love you all!

Sister Hellewell