I would like to start off with mentioning the movie "Christmas Vacation". Of course, our family knows this movie quite well. So remember the part where the daughter's eyes are shut closed because of the ice? And the dad's response is: "It's all part of the experience"? Yeah, that was my week this week. I had a very "its all part of the experience" kind of week. Hahah let me explain why.
So the shoes I bought at the Manila MTC (rubber shoes) already have a hole in them after 7 weeks so that was kind of a waste of money, but it's all good. So I wore the Dansko proselyting shoes we bought before my mission and in a very short amount of time, I had three sore blisters and couldn't change so I just bit my tongue and waited til we returned home at night. The next day, I tried my other proselyting shoes we bought before my mission and, sure enough, it wasn't very long until I had 7 other blisters in 7 other places. Of course, I am not one for complaining so I just bit my tongue and toughed it out all day. Well, there's nothing quite like putting back on shoes the next day that rub in the exact places that hurt. So they only got worse and I am sad to say the expensive proselyting shoes yall bought me are already bloody. Oops. So every night, I just pray they will heal but I email you now with two very bloody ankles hahha. But of course, "its all part of the experience;)"
So on top of that, our "support" or money that comes in on every 1st and 15th of the month, did not arrive on the 15th. So we put off grocery shopping, until the next day. We were super low on funds, but were patient. And then it did not arrive on the 16th so we put off grocery shopping til the next day. At this point, we had no food in our house except rice and garlic and oil. So we had fried rice (or we liked to call it that to make ourselves feel better when we ate the very little seasoned rice, but rest assured it was nothing close to actual fried rice hahha) for lunch and dinner. And then it didn't arrive the next day, so "fried rice" for lunch and dinner again. Nor the next day, nor the next day, nor the next day, and I email you now with completely empty pockets both in mission funds and my personal funds. There is no ATM in Sipalay so the cash I withdrew from Bacolod awhile ago withered away after paying rent and plete or rides from our house to the church. But, again, its all part of the experience right? Little flavored rice for lunch and dinner every day for a week? Bloody ankles? No money for groceries or really anything else? Yeah its all part of the mission experience. Hahaha I truly am not upset over it, but its been quite the week. We still have no word on when we will receive our support or if we ever will this month. So that is something to try to stay positive over(: The church is true nonetheless so thats a reason to rejoice(:
As for the missionary work, it has been awesome! We found 9 new people to teach this week, and we have two people that have accepted baptismal dates so PRAY for them that they will follow through with them. I want it so bad for them. On a separate note, yesterday was a miracle! There is one person here, a mom of three children, who we have been teaching for awhile. As long as I have been here in Sipalay. She has not been really keeping her commitments and every time we asked her to come to church she would just say she is too busy with her kids and it is not really possible for her to make it to church. This week, we were not even able to teach her because she is so busy, so Sister Melgaso and I were talking it over and decided we were about ready to drop her, because she was not progressing. And then, yesterday, all of a sudden SHE WALKED INTO CHURCH!! WITH HER THREE KIDS!!! We were completely dumbfounded. Like I could not believe my eyes. It truly was a miracle from God. So we are excited to visit her this week and talk about where she is in her desire to get baptized. So cool. After a hard week of no money, walking everywhere cause we had no money to ride the trikes (which are less than 20 cents but that is how broke we are), and hard work, our Heavenly Father blessed us with that miracle in our work. It was so amazing. I felt sooo much happiness the whole day and I just can't imagine the happiness that comes after someone decides to be baptized, because just her coming to church once brought me so much happiness. Truly- this church is so true. There is 0 doubt about that. There is no other place you can find this much happiness. Nowhere.
This week was an adventurous and I am sure the adventures are not over! Pray that our support will come because we can't buy fooood. But we told one of the members, and then it got passed around at church, so the news got to everyone and now all the members are very determined to help us so we have received food and lots of dinner invitations, so we will be better off this week than the last. The branch members are all angels sent from heaven!!
I am rereading the book of mormon, which i LOVE!! In Mosiah 2, verses 6-8, it talks all about how the only way we can receive redemption and salvation is through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, I know that, but I love verse 8. It says, "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down His life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that He may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." As a missionary, of course it is my responsibility to share this incredible message with the children of God, but it is really every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' responsibility. Because with knowledge, comes responsibility. So because we have the knowledge of how everyone in this world can truly become happy in this life AND the life to come, it needs be that we share that with EVERYONE! This gospel is the GOOD NEWS everyone is looking for, even if they do not know they are looking for it. Everyone needs it. So go SHARE it!!! I love this gospel so much and it truly changes lives and eternities.
I love y'all and I miss y'all everyday!!!! I pray for you constantly.
Sister Robertson
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| My sweet companion who I love |
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| We had exchanges this week and we met the owner of the kind of American restaurant! He is from California and I got to talk up a storm in English with him which is always fun(: good missionary opportunity! |
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| Here is our zone plus the Sister Training Leaders |
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| heres a pic with some of the fun sisters in my zone and Sister Training Leaders. It was a very fast taken picture so we kinda were ready and kinda not hahha |
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| This food was courtesy of our branch president!! WE WILL SURVIVE!! Such an angel honestly |
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| heres one of our like 15 times we had rice. we put meat in this one which was the very last of our money spent. it was kinda tasteless but its all good(: fried rice for daysss |
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| this is a small part of our area where we need to get in that yellow boat to cross a river! it was very pretty! |
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| of course it wouldn't be complete without a sunset picture(: |
