Dear Family and Friends,
So I am sorry that you guys were all anticipating an email yesterday. We kind of had a crazy schedule yesterday because we you had to travel to Legazbi for our trainer trainee meeting today. We were just going to email when we get to Legazbi, but it took a long time and we didn't have time. So they told us to email today after our meeting. We are in Legazbi for another night and we have our big Christmas Zone Conference tomorrow. All of the Missionaries in the entire mission will be here tomorrow, so that is really exciting.
Christian is doing alright. He is working to overcome an addiction of smoking. He wrote down a plan and has a lot of support from the member family that he lives with. We had a great lesson about how he is not alone doing this work that he can do it with the Lord's help.
We also had a great lesson with Rodel this week. He is really so prepared. It was funny we were reporting in our coordination meeting and they asked what his concerns were and I was like there are none. He really has just been waiting and prepared for the truth.
We also found some new investigators this week. It was actually a really interesting experience for me. We taught one new investigator who was a former member of Inglesia ni Cristo. Which is one of the most common religions here in the the philiippines and actually the founder was a member of the church. But anyway their belief in Christ is a little different because they believe that Christ was just a man not God. It was just interesting for me because as we were teaching it I just wanted to testify and testify that Christ is more than just a man, but it is by him that makes salvation possible. It is just so sad to think that people don't know the good news that we have a savior-the savior of the world to save us from sin. I also had an experience this week with another new investigator, Jese. She is the wife of an less active in the branch. Her Husband wasn't been to church for a long time, but has a strong testimony. Jese is from southern philippines in Mindona?, but anyway she is Muslim so they also believe that Christ was just a Prophet. We got to watch the Christmas Devotional and I couldn't help but think of these two individuals and think how sad that they didn't know about Christ and his role. That they don't know that Christ is born. It just brought me back to my purpose to invite others to come unto Christ. That is our purpose to help them come unto Christ by living the gospel of Christ. Our mission is to testify that Jesus Christ lives. This is the good news that we bring, just as the angels in Bethlehem shared to the shepherds so long ago.
It still doesn't feel like Christmas here, something about there being no snow and stuff. But they play all the Christmas music from america in all the stores about Frosty and White Christmas.
Anyway I don't have too much time today, but I promise I will include more next week. I love you all and am thinking about you all at this time.
-Sister Heather Richins
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
December 9
Dear Family and Friends,
Well this week has been good. We had a good week and I continue to learn more and more. We had some really great days and then some hard ones too. But that is okay, that is how missionary work is. We were able to find a couple new investigators, which was good. It was interesting because for the past two weeks I felt that I had talked so many people and no one wanted to hear our message, but we had a couple of great miracles this week.
The first one was Rodel. So we were tracting in one of our areas and we saw one of the less actives that we teach. This less active we see him all the time, but he never wants us to teach him, but we was with his friend and he told us we could go and visit his friend Rodel. We set up an appointment with him for the next night. I am not going to lie. I was a bit apprehensive about the appointment I felt that he really wasn't interesting in our message, but instead interesting in the two white americans speaking Tagalog. But it is not that way he listened intently as we talked about Joseph Smith and invited him to pray. Also his two sisters listened too. When we came back, he said that he had prayed and felt so good about Joseph Smith, he said that he couldn't come to church yesterday, but next sunday he would be able too. So hopefully he will continue to progress.
The second miracle was Maricar. So there is this one street that we walk down everyday and all the kids on that street know us and always run up to us to give us hugs and high fives. We were walking down they street and starting talking to one of the pedjack drivers. He is like 19 years old and we started talking and we asked if we could visit him. He said that he lived on that one street. We went to the house and we taught his sister, who is married and has three kids. She said she had always watched missionaries walk up and down that street, but they never stopped to teach her. It was such a powerful lesson and by the end we were both in tears.
So Christian is doing good. He is working on giving up things in the Word of Wisdom. Yesterday he just kept on sayin that he couldn't do it, that he couldn't make it, but we testifyin about the atonement and that if he relied on the Lord, he could give those things up. He has so much desire he wants this so bad and through Jesus Christ he can do this.
So these were the highlights of the week. Of course there are stuggles too. We are still do hours and hours of tracting and street contacting. It is just so different becuase for the past two transfers we had so many appointments that we almost never went tracting and now I feel that is all we do. But it is good. I really do enjoy it. You get to meet so many people and share what we teach. There is a lot of joy in finding. We are still working to bring up our teaching pool and finding those that will recieve us, like Rodel and Maricar.
We had a great zone training this week, it was good to hear from our zone leaders. We talked about increasing the number of total lessons in our zone and extending baptismal dates early within the first or 2nd lesson, and continue to find people to teach. President encouraged us to teach 7 lessons a day-it is a lot, but It is good, we just have to reach higher and plan and teach effectively.
Well we have to work hard this week because next week we will be in Legazbi for two days for training and our Christmas Zone conference.
Thank you all for your prayers to find those that will recieve us here in Bulan,
-Sister Richins
Well this week has been good. We had a good week and I continue to learn more and more. We had some really great days and then some hard ones too. But that is okay, that is how missionary work is. We were able to find a couple new investigators, which was good. It was interesting because for the past two weeks I felt that I had talked so many people and no one wanted to hear our message, but we had a couple of great miracles this week.
The first one was Rodel. So we were tracting in one of our areas and we saw one of the less actives that we teach. This less active we see him all the time, but he never wants us to teach him, but we was with his friend and he told us we could go and visit his friend Rodel. We set up an appointment with him for the next night. I am not going to lie. I was a bit apprehensive about the appointment I felt that he really wasn't interesting in our message, but instead interesting in the two white americans speaking Tagalog. But it is not that way he listened intently as we talked about Joseph Smith and invited him to pray. Also his two sisters listened too. When we came back, he said that he had prayed and felt so good about Joseph Smith, he said that he couldn't come to church yesterday, but next sunday he would be able too. So hopefully he will continue to progress.
The second miracle was Maricar. So there is this one street that we walk down everyday and all the kids on that street know us and always run up to us to give us hugs and high fives. We were walking down they street and starting talking to one of the pedjack drivers. He is like 19 years old and we started talking and we asked if we could visit him. He said that he lived on that one street. We went to the house and we taught his sister, who is married and has three kids. She said she had always watched missionaries walk up and down that street, but they never stopped to teach her. It was such a powerful lesson and by the end we were both in tears.
So Christian is doing good. He is working on giving up things in the Word of Wisdom. Yesterday he just kept on sayin that he couldn't do it, that he couldn't make it, but we testifyin about the atonement and that if he relied on the Lord, he could give those things up. He has so much desire he wants this so bad and through Jesus Christ he can do this.
So these were the highlights of the week. Of course there are stuggles too. We are still do hours and hours of tracting and street contacting. It is just so different becuase for the past two transfers we had so many appointments that we almost never went tracting and now I feel that is all we do. But it is good. I really do enjoy it. You get to meet so many people and share what we teach. There is a lot of joy in finding. We are still working to bring up our teaching pool and finding those that will recieve us, like Rodel and Maricar.
We had a great zone training this week, it was good to hear from our zone leaders. We talked about increasing the number of total lessons in our zone and extending baptismal dates early within the first or 2nd lesson, and continue to find people to teach. President encouraged us to teach 7 lessons a day-it is a lot, but It is good, we just have to reach higher and plan and teach effectively.
Well we have to work hard this week because next week we will be in Legazbi for two days for training and our Christmas Zone conference.
Thank you all for your prayers to find those that will recieve us here in Bulan,
-Sister Richins
December 2
Dear Family and Friends,
Wow I can't believe that it is already December! Time just flies by
really truly. I am glad that everyone had a good thanksgiving over
there. Of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but after
district meeting on Thursday we went to Jollibee, where they have a
new special Mashed Potatoes. So we had our fried chicken and mashed
potatoes and we went around the table and said everything that we are
grateful for.
This week has been okay. We are really trying and trying to find
those that will receive us. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating
because we feel that we are trying to be everything in our power, but
we just haven't seen the results of our labors and efforts. But we
can't let that weaken our faith. We just keep on talking to everyone
and visiting members and encourage them prayerfully seek refferals. I
remember one day this week we had been talking and talking to people,
but we just were not seeing very much success and I started to think
about all of our recent converts and said all of them came from
refferals from members-member refferals are SOOO important. Pres
Guanzon said of every 200 street contact you will get 1 baptism, of
every 5 refferals you will get 1 baptism and if you have an
investigator with the right fellowshipper you have a 1 to 1 ratio.
Members are sooo important!
Training has been good. It is really humbling for me and I have
learned so much from Sister Flake. It helps remind me what is the
most important in missionary work. And it is just so heartwarming to
hear her sincere testimony in broken Tagalog. It is so cool to see
how that sincere testimony can really speak to the hearts of the
people. It is weird because I remember when I was at her stage, I
kept on thinking, I am not making any difference here. But now I can
see that those simple heartfelt testimonies make a huge difference.
It is so cool and I love it.
So we have been teaching one investigator, Christian, who is 22. He
is one of the most humble people I have met. He drives a pedjack and
lives with the Llantino family who just recently started coming back
to church. We have been teaching him for a while, but he was
struggling to recognize his answer. This week on Thursday we went to
visit him and much to our amazement he said he felt something.
Because the last time we talked about the fruits of the spirit from
Ephesians and he was like, I feel love, peace, and I just want to guys
to come back every day and teach me more. I was so excited for him.
He is so great, he said that he doesn't just want to get baptized to
get baptized, but he wants to get baptized and stay active his entire
life. I am so excited for him.
On Sunday we had a special district conference to sustain the new
district President. So that was exciting to see Pres. Guanzon and all
the missionaries from the zone. President Guanzon is so great. He is
also so humble. He talked about the importance of callings in the
church and how every one should have a calling and magnify that
calling. He said that he hoped after his calling as mission president
he is called to clean the bathroom in the Church house, and he will be
so happy to clean that bathroom every week. He also talked about
tithing and about a humble pedjack driver that said he couldn't pay
tithing, but his branch president told him to "prove the Lord" and he
did. Now he has a pedjack business and can support all of his
children through school. I learn so much from President Guanzon.
I remember when President Nielson the area president in the
philippines was here and he said that a lot of times we are sent to
missions because the Lord knows what mission president will be the
best for us. He said that when the apostles call missions they talk
more about the mission presidents that we actual mission. They say I
think that this missionary needs to learn from this mission president.
That was an interesting insight, and I am trying to learn everything
I can from President and Sister Guanzon.
Well I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas season over there. It is
weird all the stores play Christmas music, but it is American music
singing about snow and then I walk out side and there is no snow. Oh
well.
-Sister Richins
Wow I can't believe that it is already December! Time just flies by
really truly. I am glad that everyone had a good thanksgiving over
there. Of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, but after
district meeting on Thursday we went to Jollibee, where they have a
new special Mashed Potatoes. So we had our fried chicken and mashed
potatoes and we went around the table and said everything that we are
grateful for.
This week has been okay. We are really trying and trying to find
those that will receive us. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating
because we feel that we are trying to be everything in our power, but
we just haven't seen the results of our labors and efforts. But we
can't let that weaken our faith. We just keep on talking to everyone
and visiting members and encourage them prayerfully seek refferals. I
remember one day this week we had been talking and talking to people,
but we just were not seeing very much success and I started to think
about all of our recent converts and said all of them came from
refferals from members-member refferals are SOOO important. Pres
Guanzon said of every 200 street contact you will get 1 baptism, of
every 5 refferals you will get 1 baptism and if you have an
investigator with the right fellowshipper you have a 1 to 1 ratio.
Members are sooo important!
Training has been good. It is really humbling for me and I have
learned so much from Sister Flake. It helps remind me what is the
most important in missionary work. And it is just so heartwarming to
hear her sincere testimony in broken Tagalog. It is so cool to see
how that sincere testimony can really speak to the hearts of the
people. It is weird because I remember when I was at her stage, I
kept on thinking, I am not making any difference here. But now I can
see that those simple heartfelt testimonies make a huge difference.
It is so cool and I love it.
So we have been teaching one investigator, Christian, who is 22. He
is one of the most humble people I have met. He drives a pedjack and
lives with the Llantino family who just recently started coming back
to church. We have been teaching him for a while, but he was
struggling to recognize his answer. This week on Thursday we went to
visit him and much to our amazement he said he felt something.
Because the last time we talked about the fruits of the spirit from
Ephesians and he was like, I feel love, peace, and I just want to guys
to come back every day and teach me more. I was so excited for him.
He is so great, he said that he doesn't just want to get baptized to
get baptized, but he wants to get baptized and stay active his entire
life. I am so excited for him.
On Sunday we had a special district conference to sustain the new
district President. So that was exciting to see Pres. Guanzon and all
the missionaries from the zone. President Guanzon is so great. He is
also so humble. He talked about the importance of callings in the
church and how every one should have a calling and magnify that
calling. He said that he hoped after his calling as mission president
he is called to clean the bathroom in the Church house, and he will be
so happy to clean that bathroom every week. He also talked about
tithing and about a humble pedjack driver that said he couldn't pay
tithing, but his branch president told him to "prove the Lord" and he
did. Now he has a pedjack business and can support all of his
children through school. I learn so much from President Guanzon.
I remember when President Nielson the area president in the
philippines was here and he said that a lot of times we are sent to
missions because the Lord knows what mission president will be the
best for us. He said that when the apostles call missions they talk
more about the mission presidents that we actual mission. They say I
think that this missionary needs to learn from this mission president.
That was an interesting insight, and I am trying to learn everything
I can from President and Sister Guanzon.
Well I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas season over there. It is
weird all the stores play Christmas music, but it is American music
singing about snow and then I walk out side and there is no snow. Oh
well.
-Sister Richins
Friday, November 29, 2013
November 25
Dear Family and Friends,
Well Transfer week. It was an especially crazy week because I am training now. We went up to Legazbi on Tuesday when we had our trainer's training. Then all the trainers spent the night at a hotel (because the mission home still is not finished) then we all got up in the morning and waiting for the new missionaries to come from the airport. They all had a little overview and then they announced companion ships. They started in the North of the mission and worked down. Of course Bulan is in the very South of the mission so Sister Eracho and I were the last ones. By the time it got to me and Sister Eracho, there were two Americans sisters sitting on the other side. At that point I knew I would be training an American. My new companion is Sister Flake from Vernal, UT.
It defiantly has been a good experience training, it defiantly brought back a lot of memories from my first week. I have been reading my journal a lot from those first weeks when I was trying to understand the culture and felt completely lost and really trying to help her understand that I know what is like and trying just to love her. President Guanzon said our first job as trainer is to make them feel at home. It is really a completely different world and culture and it takes a little time to adjust. It defiantly brought back memories as my companion kept falling asleep in daily planning at night because she is still getting used to the time difference. She kept on apologizing so I read her my journal entries from the first week and told her I did the same. It takes a little time to adjust. It has really been a very humbling experience, for once in the mission someone is looking to me on how to say things in Tagalog. And I am thinking, I am not perfect at Tagalog, but okay.
It has been an interesting week too, because we split the area we really needed to find new investigators. Literally we had nothing we could do, but go tracting for the past two days. Of course not the ideal, but that we didn't have any referrals or appointments so we spent the whole day yesterday tracting. We actually were able to have a lot of success. We were able to teach 3 lessons and at least 2 of those seem interested, so that is good. It has been weird because it is just me leading all the lessons. Yesterday though we had three branch missionaries come with us so that was good, they are great! Hopefully I will be able to help her with her Tagalog and she will learn it faster than I did. That is my goal that she will be a better missionary than me. I am really trying to become the trainer that would have helped me the most. It was a little overwhelmed in trainer's training and I was getting a little nervous, but one of the APs said something that I though was really good. He said that it takes time for new missionaries to adjust and it takes time for new trainers to adjust. He said not to be too hard on ourselves. We need patience with our companions and with ourselves.
Anyway though it has been a very humbling and rewarding week. I am sure we will spend a lot more time tracting and finding this week, but that is okay I really enjoy it especially when you see miracles and people let you in their house and teach. We did have some other miracles this week. We had so many referrals from members and they members starting inviting their friends. You can see such a difference in this branch since when I first got here, even at sacrament meeting the benches are getting so full. The Lord is in this work. The lord only asks about our availability and he will take care of our capability.
-Sister Richins
Well Transfer week. It was an especially crazy week because I am training now. We went up to Legazbi on Tuesday when we had our trainer's training. Then all the trainers spent the night at a hotel (because the mission home still is not finished) then we all got up in the morning and waiting for the new missionaries to come from the airport. They all had a little overview and then they announced companion ships. They started in the North of the mission and worked down. Of course Bulan is in the very South of the mission so Sister Eracho and I were the last ones. By the time it got to me and Sister Eracho, there were two Americans sisters sitting on the other side. At that point I knew I would be training an American. My new companion is Sister Flake from Vernal, UT.
It defiantly has been a good experience training, it defiantly brought back a lot of memories from my first week. I have been reading my journal a lot from those first weeks when I was trying to understand the culture and felt completely lost and really trying to help her understand that I know what is like and trying just to love her. President Guanzon said our first job as trainer is to make them feel at home. It is really a completely different world and culture and it takes a little time to adjust. It defiantly brought back memories as my companion kept falling asleep in daily planning at night because she is still getting used to the time difference. She kept on apologizing so I read her my journal entries from the first week and told her I did the same. It takes a little time to adjust. It has really been a very humbling experience, for once in the mission someone is looking to me on how to say things in Tagalog. And I am thinking, I am not perfect at Tagalog, but okay.
It has been an interesting week too, because we split the area we really needed to find new investigators. Literally we had nothing we could do, but go tracting for the past two days. Of course not the ideal, but that we didn't have any referrals or appointments so we spent the whole day yesterday tracting. We actually were able to have a lot of success. We were able to teach 3 lessons and at least 2 of those seem interested, so that is good. It has been weird because it is just me leading all the lessons. Yesterday though we had three branch missionaries come with us so that was good, they are great! Hopefully I will be able to help her with her Tagalog and she will learn it faster than I did. That is my goal that she will be a better missionary than me. I am really trying to become the trainer that would have helped me the most. It was a little overwhelmed in trainer's training and I was getting a little nervous, but one of the APs said something that I though was really good. He said that it takes time for new missionaries to adjust and it takes time for new trainers to adjust. He said not to be too hard on ourselves. We need patience with our companions and with ourselves.
Anyway though it has been a very humbling and rewarding week. I am sure we will spend a lot more time tracting and finding this week, but that is okay I really enjoy it especially when you see miracles and people let you in their house and teach. We did have some other miracles this week. We had so many referrals from members and they members starting inviting their friends. You can see such a difference in this branch since when I first got here, even at sacrament meeting the benches are getting so full. The Lord is in this work. The lord only asks about our availability and he will take care of our capability.
-Sister Richins
Nov 18
Dear Family and Friends,
First off I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for all of your love and prayers. I am so blessed. Of course they don't celebrate thanksgiving here, but I will be thinking of you. On the bright side at Jollibee they have a limited time special that includes Mashed potatoes so that is fun.
Wow from the sound of it, it sounds like we were truly lucky here not to be affected too much from the storm. It is so crazy that it wiped out the whole tocobalon mission. On Tuesday one of the zones from the Tacloban mission came by barge to Matnog, an area in our zone, and President Guanzon went and picked them up. We will probably get some of those missionaries in our mission. It will so so crazy to hear their stories.
Well the first news transfer announcements came and I will be training! Crazy! Actually Sister and Eracho and I will both be training. We go to Legazbi tomorrow and then the new missionaries come on Wednesday. So we will see who my new companion is then-philippino or American. It is defiantly a little scary to train and humbling. I know that the Lord trusts me and with his help I will be able to do it.
Of course that means we will be splitting our area. It was a hard decision to decide what area each of us would get. And we also realized that now that we have more time to dedicate to each area we can work on really finding less actives and finding new investigators. Our current apartment only have one bedroom so the other there is a new apartment is next door. So we spent the morning moving all my things into the new apartment and getting ready for the new missionaries.
So in our district now there will be 8 sisters an 2 elders. Isn't that crazy! We are a sister's district!
On Saturday we had a lovely Baptism for brother Tamboong. He is so amazing and he is now inviting his friends to church. So awesome. I am really sad that I won't get to continue to visit them because he is not in my part of the branch. But at least I will get to see them every Sunday. So a lot of change this week, but change is good. President Guanzon always reminds us to always remember that your area is the best area and you have the best companion.
-Sister Richins
First off I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I am so grateful for all of your love and prayers. I am so blessed. Of course they don't celebrate thanksgiving here, but I will be thinking of you. On the bright side at Jollibee they have a limited time special that includes Mashed potatoes so that is fun.
Wow from the sound of it, it sounds like we were truly lucky here not to be affected too much from the storm. It is so crazy that it wiped out the whole tocobalon mission. On Tuesday one of the zones from the Tacloban mission came by barge to Matnog, an area in our zone, and President Guanzon went and picked them up. We will probably get some of those missionaries in our mission. It will so so crazy to hear their stories.
Well the first news transfer announcements came and I will be training! Crazy! Actually Sister and Eracho and I will both be training. We go to Legazbi tomorrow and then the new missionaries come on Wednesday. So we will see who my new companion is then-philippino or American. It is defiantly a little scary to train and humbling. I know that the Lord trusts me and with his help I will be able to do it.
Of course that means we will be splitting our area. It was a hard decision to decide what area each of us would get. And we also realized that now that we have more time to dedicate to each area we can work on really finding less actives and finding new investigators. Our current apartment only have one bedroom so the other there is a new apartment is next door. So we spent the morning moving all my things into the new apartment and getting ready for the new missionaries.
So in our district now there will be 8 sisters an 2 elders. Isn't that crazy! We are a sister's district!
On Saturday we had a lovely Baptism for brother Tamboong. He is so amazing and he is now inviting his friends to church. So awesome. I am really sad that I won't get to continue to visit them because he is not in my part of the branch. But at least I will get to see them every Sunday. So a lot of change this week, but change is good. President Guanzon always reminds us to always remember that your area is the best area and you have the best companion.
-Sister Richins
Friday, November 15, 2013
November 11
Dear Family and Friends,
Thank you all for your concern after the big storm that came across here. Luckily we were really lucky here and the storm didn't do much damage here. The bulk of the storm missed us here so that is good. Everyone was really worried about flooding, but it was mostly really strong winds, but not very much rain so that was good. The wind knocked down a lot of trees, but I was amazing how well the little houses made of sticks held up. There were a few houses that suffered minor damage, but nothing too bad unlike what happened in Tacloban. That looks just devastating. So the storm came here on Thursday night. We were told to come home early and prepare food and stuff. We got back and we were worried about flooding so we moved all our stuff onto the top shelves to save them in case of flooding. Then we went to the other sister's apartment upstairs and all 6 of us sisters slept up there together for two nights. We stayed in all day Friday as the storm passed. On Saturday every thing was back to normal in the town. We helped a few people pick up there yards and sweep up leaves, but really not nearly as bad as what was on the news.
A lot of the members close to the beach went to the church house to spend the night.
So we had an interesting week. One member said that there is a couple more storms to look out for in the coming weeks. So hopefully we will be okay. We were defiantly really lucky here.
So other than that big storm we had a good week we continue to look forward to the baptism of Brother Tambong this Saturday. I really love the Tamboong family. There are so great. Yesterday we were teaching an investigator who was 13 and Rosylyn Tamboong was so excited to come with us and teach her. They are so great! I am so excited for that family and for there goal next year to be sealed in the temple. They always tell us that our goal is to have our investigators dressed in white twice. Once for baptism and once to go through the temple to be sealed as a family. So true.
I also love Sister Michelle Benches. The sister that was baptized with her two kids two weeks ago. She is go great. She shares the gospel with all of her friends and neighbors. We are now teaching all of her neighbors and they are coming to church. It is so great. So wonderful.
On Saturday I started teaching piano lessons to some of the youth. They are so excited to learn to play the piano. I am teaching them the basics first and hopefully I can get a simplified hymn book so they can start to play hymns.
We had a great day of church on Sunday is is so great to see the benches in the church house slowly fill up more and more every week. I hope that we can continue to find more investigators and less actives to fill up the rest of the benches.
On Thursday we had zone training and we talked about loving our companions and being exactly obedient. These things are defiantly so essential in missionary work. So you can receive the blessings of the spirit in this work.
On Tuesday was MLC, and my companion and I were invited to attend to report of our work in Bulan because they assumed we had secrets or something because we had the highest number of investigators attend sacrament meeting last month. Legazbi is really far and we didn't want to lose a day of work in our area so we asked if Sister Fonua and I could split so we could still work in our area. Sister Fonua is a brand new missionary from California, and we worked together in her area for half of the day and ours the rest of the day. It was a lot of fun, it was defiantly weird because I was acting as trainer for a day and it was weird to have someone look to me for Tagalog help, but I learned a lot and it was really helpful.
Well transfer announcements are this Saturday we will see what happens. Actually we are pretty sure that Sister Eracho and I will split the area. I am so thankful for Sister Eracho she is so wonderful. I have learned so much from her. She is always so diligent and hardworking and has such a strong testimony.
Well have a great week everyone. Let us all pray for those people in Tacloban Philippines.
-Sister Richins
Thank you all for your concern after the big storm that came across here. Luckily we were really lucky here and the storm didn't do much damage here. The bulk of the storm missed us here so that is good. Everyone was really worried about flooding, but it was mostly really strong winds, but not very much rain so that was good. The wind knocked down a lot of trees, but I was amazing how well the little houses made of sticks held up. There were a few houses that suffered minor damage, but nothing too bad unlike what happened in Tacloban. That looks just devastating. So the storm came here on Thursday night. We were told to come home early and prepare food and stuff. We got back and we were worried about flooding so we moved all our stuff onto the top shelves to save them in case of flooding. Then we went to the other sister's apartment upstairs and all 6 of us sisters slept up there together for two nights. We stayed in all day Friday as the storm passed. On Saturday every thing was back to normal in the town. We helped a few people pick up there yards and sweep up leaves, but really not nearly as bad as what was on the news.
A lot of the members close to the beach went to the church house to spend the night.
So we had an interesting week. One member said that there is a couple more storms to look out for in the coming weeks. So hopefully we will be okay. We were defiantly really lucky here.
So other than that big storm we had a good week we continue to look forward to the baptism of Brother Tambong this Saturday. I really love the Tamboong family. There are so great. Yesterday we were teaching an investigator who was 13 and Rosylyn Tamboong was so excited to come with us and teach her. They are so great! I am so excited for that family and for there goal next year to be sealed in the temple. They always tell us that our goal is to have our investigators dressed in white twice. Once for baptism and once to go through the temple to be sealed as a family. So true.
I also love Sister Michelle Benches. The sister that was baptized with her two kids two weeks ago. She is go great. She shares the gospel with all of her friends and neighbors. We are now teaching all of her neighbors and they are coming to church. It is so great. So wonderful.
On Saturday I started teaching piano lessons to some of the youth. They are so excited to learn to play the piano. I am teaching them the basics first and hopefully I can get a simplified hymn book so they can start to play hymns.
We had a great day of church on Sunday is is so great to see the benches in the church house slowly fill up more and more every week. I hope that we can continue to find more investigators and less actives to fill up the rest of the benches.
On Thursday we had zone training and we talked about loving our companions and being exactly obedient. These things are defiantly so essential in missionary work. So you can receive the blessings of the spirit in this work.
On Tuesday was MLC, and my companion and I were invited to attend to report of our work in Bulan because they assumed we had secrets or something because we had the highest number of investigators attend sacrament meeting last month. Legazbi is really far and we didn't want to lose a day of work in our area so we asked if Sister Fonua and I could split so we could still work in our area. Sister Fonua is a brand new missionary from California, and we worked together in her area for half of the day and ours the rest of the day. It was a lot of fun, it was defiantly weird because I was acting as trainer for a day and it was weird to have someone look to me for Tagalog help, but I learned a lot and it was really helpful.
Well transfer announcements are this Saturday we will see what happens. Actually we are pretty sure that Sister Eracho and I will split the area. I am so thankful for Sister Eracho she is so wonderful. I have learned so much from her. She is always so diligent and hardworking and has such a strong testimony.
Well have a great week everyone. Let us all pray for those people in Tacloban Philippines.
-Sister Richins
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Typhoon
We have gotten an e-mail from the Heather's mission saying that all the missionaries in her mission are in safe situations and we should be hearing from them soon.
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