Our week over here in Sipalay was pretty slow. We got rejected a lot and didn't teach much, and only had a few new people to teach. But I love our companionship that doesn't give up! We still go to work even if it isn't super successful all the time and we try to stay very positive about it all. The reality of it, is, God has a perfect plan so everything that happens in a day is supposed to happen that way, so once we can realize that reality, hard things become a little easier. God has perfect timing and he is doing His part to prepare the people that need to be prepared, so as long as we are out working hard and trying, that is as much as we can do. There is one pastor, Ben, who presides over the "Assembly of God" congregation. He's pretty cute. He's like 63 and just loves our visits. He loves for us to go back and forth sharing our different beliefs and comparing them. This week, we taught him a few times and he said "You have only been here for 3 months?? It's like you are a Philipina!! Because you're so good at the language!" Hahah it was cute and I appreciated his comment that I am like a Philipina cause obviously I am very far from it, but it is always nice to have reassurance that the people I am teaching, not only understand me, but feel like I am fluent enough to be a resident here(: It's kind of crazy if I think about it, that I am just living across the world in a country where literally no one speaks my language. I don't feel that way most of the time, because I can communicate what I want to say, but sometimes I remember that no one here speaks my language and every time I speak to people here, I am speaking in a language I didn't even know one word of four months ago! God is pretty remarkable, if you ask me.
This is Sister Melgaso's last week here on her mission. Weird dejavu or something;) hahah but it's always sad to me to part after 6 weeks. Feels like 6 weeks is just enough time to get into a groove and really start feeling comfortable with how each other lives life and how each other teaches. So right after you get comfortable, everything changes. Sounds about right hahha. That's life. But I have enjoyed her company and her willingness to work hard even though her mission is coming to a close. We have set some goals this week to make her last week unforgettable and meaningful, so I am excited to head into this week with those goals! Goals help miracles come about for sure. I will definitely miss her and getting a new companion is a scary experience every time, but President Sumagpao is super spirit-led, so I know I will have the right person put in my path. Transfer day is emotional! My brothers did not warn me how emotional transfers is! Hahha probably because the elders don't have a hard time splitting. Sisters have a very different experience on transfer day(:
Yesterday (which this happens often), I walked into Sacrament meeting where I was greeted by the Branch President, asking me to speak in sacrament. Of course, I am happy to help out, since our branch struggles to fill in the hour of sacrament meeting every Sunday. So I pulled out my notes, where I had written a short talk in Hiligaynon just in case he asked me again, because again, this has happened before. So I gave my whole talk in Hiligaynon, and I think I was understood(: But I talked about trials and why we have them. President Henry B. Eyring gave a great talk in 2004 "In the Strength of the Lord" all about why we have trials. He basically says it's because we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. That's why. We would literally not be able to return to His presence if we didn't have trials. Trials help us progress and help us get closer to receiving Eternal Life. So that was a good reminder for me that we need hard times in our lives to get back to heaven, which of course I want. And I'm sure when I get to heaven, anything I did to get there will be worth it. So we just got to work hard and hold on until then(: It'll all be worth it, no matter how hard life gets. It'll be worth it for that glorious day when we will be perfected and have no hurt and no infirmities. SO JUST HOLD ON!!
I love you all so much and am so insanely grateful for yall's support to me here on my mission. I couldn't do it without you. I miss y'all lots, like lots and lots, but I know I am doing good here.
Sister Robertson
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| some members that fed us this week (: |
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| Companionship unity at its finest (: accidental matching! |
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| oh yes this sweet friend decided to join us in our study room. GROSS SO HUGE, bigger than my hand |
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| I made lumpia all by myself this week! IM A PHILIPINO!!! Hahah they turned out super yum so get ready fam for some awesome lumpia when i get home!! |
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| We had a brown out this week (theyre called brown outs here not black outs) while we were cooking and it got superrr hot in our apartment, but this was our solution hahha! Spotlight on the cook! |
