Sunday, July 29, 2012

And what a week it has been ;)

Let's start out with a few hugs and kisses! Yes, indeed! there you are! love all around. that feels good :) thanks for that. yes, i'm doing lots better! i feel fantastic! sister ronquillo is doing lots better as well. she still has phlegm and icky coughing, but is doing well otherwise. we finally got back to work about 3 pm wednesday and it was awesome! i mean, we had some great lessons this week. it was such a blessing!

and i learned something great this week :) i was struggling just being myself. that doesn't sound like me, does it? i know. it's weird. and even with someone as cool as sis ronquillo, i was just not being my normal self. especially not in lessons. and i have a hard time knowing what to say sometimes, especially if i'm not a 100% sure of where we are in casual conversation... so i'm not as talkative here, though i promise i'm trying to fix that. anyhow, in my interview with President last week, i told him i was struggling to feel like an actual full-time missionary, though i was sure trying hard to be like one. he said he felt like i would start feeling a lot more like a real missionary as i learned to communicate with the people. i felt the Spirit confirm that that was true. but until friday, i didn't consider it could mean more than just in Tagalog. then, in weekly planning, we finally discovered what it was! it was beautiful. sweet relief, i tell you. i realized i was trying to be what i thought others expected me to be. i was trying to be an ideal companion, teacher, and missionary--which isn't wrong, by any means, but the way i was going about it was wrong. the thing is, we don't have to change our personality to be our best. we just have to try to be more like the Savior. and i was unhappy trying to be something other than myself. no one was happy. i wasn't genuine and so my teaching wasn't good and i was miserable. but as i'm learning to be myself again and just do my best, i am so happy! and that day i felt more like a real missionary than ever! i tried to qualify for and follow the Spirit and just be me! and i loved it. it was an answer to prayers.

i realized this had a lot to do with many things--with things aaron has said to me, with some general conference talks, and with what maree shared with me that mom told her: we have to love ourselves as we are before we can really progress and become better. i was pondering and pondering that and wondering if it were true. i wasn't sure. and that was because i was having a hard time loving the terribly imperfect, not-as-good-of-a-missionary-as-i-want-to-be-yet me. sad, i know. but true. and then i realized how Heavenly Father and Jesus must feel if i feel so negatively toward myself. not pleased, of course. so i am learning how to see me the way They do, instead of the way i think others do. a lesson i've been given opportunity to learn many times. let's hope it works this time! :) haha just a fun lil insight for ya!

k so i have a list here of things to mention...

YES, i would LOVE ANY KIND of tlc from home, mommy dear! any kind at all! but packages are expensive. so... you are wise. i will let you decide. but please follow the directions on the paper i sent home from the mtc about mail so that you don't have to worry about whether it will reach me.and the only thing i would request if you get a chance to send something is deodorant withOUT anti-perspirant. :) you DA BEST, mommy!!!!!
as i recall, mom, you had this happen recently, eh? you were looking for something important and it turned up in a place you did not expect. i know you will receive the answer you need according to His time. i will be praying for you. and for lou. i understand her apprehensions. but she's great and i know she can do it. plus, it is a kind of preparation for future situations :) like roommates. i have every confidence that she will be able to be a good friend and roommate. please let me know how things are going.

to keri, the power is the same in the city of makati. as for province... my comp says it's the same there, too. i brought an adapter, but i honestly don't think you'll end up needing it in this particular mission. yes, i have a card from Zion's and you can withdraw pesos here. but i carried american money for my emergency travel and that is okay. it can also be exchanged here. and it can be used on your layover in hong kong. you may need a light blanket for rainy season when it's cooler in the night, but honestly the only time i've needed a blanket was when i had a fever :) haha in the mtc they have them. i used my own and then sent it home before i came to the P. i just have sets of sheets and that works just fine. and the camera, it can be digital. maybe better if water proof since mine is acting funny now. but i also didn't have a case for a good while. if you have a good case, i think it'll be fine. mine's nothing fancy. just small so it doesn't take up lots of space. get a good proselyting bag that can clip around your hips so it's easier on your shoulder and has plenty of space inside. i ended up buying a quad here because normal scriptures were too big and heavy to carry around all the time. but it's up to you. i'll be seein ya soon, lovely! :)

any news on my journal at the mtc?

we had a crazy rain the other week and waded home in a flood for an hour... no wonder we got sick! lol it normally would have only taken 15 or20 min to walk that distance. fun stuff. and last night.... the wind was INSANE!!!! we buckled down with our 72hr kit lol! but we only had a brown-out and that was it. just typical rainy season, probably.

last thing! i ate something crazy... i guess it might be bawal, but sis r said it was okay bc we could definitely trust who cooked it--the bishop's wife. it was dinuguan... pig's blood! and it sure looks suspicious. it's like black. but it was DELICIOUS! no joke. so tasty. at least i only had a teeny bit of fat in mine, so i ate it up! it was great! it's just an ulam, so you eat it on rice, like everything else Philippino :) haha and no, daddy, i'm still super my same size, just like you! hahah but that's okay with me!


love you all loads. tell zac what up, fruz? i love your guts. quote that, please.

i gotta go, but i'll try sending a few pics if i can. it didn't send that one time bc the files were too big. sis ronx will help me.

love, sis r

oh, and if i get to write letters today FINALLY, i'll do all i can to write craig and aaron. poor kids. i have a long list of poor kids :) ingat palagi!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I breathe one with you.

Wow! What a week for you! I'm so glad you survived it! You are amazing!

Rae, you lil chickmunk you! Are you feelin better now? What foods have you taken joy in eating? I'm excited to eat again soon, too. I will take joy in eating... ANYHING! Haha! I'm hungry!

Lou, you stretch-throater, you! How are you now? Oll bettah? Dang, ya pulled a Kylee. Congrats! ;) I hope you're on the mend!

Joph, who led out in the happy-go-pukey-- you or Boo? How's your tummy now? Are you doin okay, m'lad?

Boo, are you being a good, cute little sister to your big brother? Are you feeling better? Who got you sick? I'll deck 'em for ya!

Goodness, parental units! how do you do it?!?!? i sure want to be as good of a parent as you two are when i grow up! thank you for being such a great example. mom, congratulations on the job! i know that He won't let you mess up His plan for you bc you're trying so hard to qualify for and follow the Spirit. And to be an usher at the Brigham City temple!!! How i wish i could come thru and hug you as i go by, telling everyone around me, "THAT"S MY MOM!" in a very declarative whisper ;) hehee. you are superwoman, you know that? and dad, i'm so excited for your hours being so far along! you're so fast! you're like a speeding train! you're like a hurricane! you're like a windstorm to beat all windstorms!

actually, i'm not supposed to use inappropriately casual language or slang, even in letters or emails home. says so in the white handbook. it looks like i need encouragement where that is concerned. it is difficult, bc i don't want to sound like a stiff. i want to sound like your daughter and sister that you know and love--and i like to express myself in the way i really like to say things. but as a representative of Jesus Christ, i need to better my form of speech to be recognized as such.

congratulations to aaron! that is very exciting! what does that entail now? got his letter! thank you!

tell krek happy birthday soon! and ryan! and i never wished my dear Ashlynn a happy birthday :( but i got her dearelder! what a treat! i LOVED it!

dad, you're right, i feel the help of family all around me. and in my study this morning i was overwhelmed by the thought that after the Lord, directly after, comes YOU--my family. you mean EVERYTHING to me. and just so you know, you fulfill the deepest yearnings of my soul: to be with you forever; because you are doing all you can to draw near to Him with me. I can feel it. it's miraculously strong. i can feel you progress with me. you were amazing when i left and i'm seeing more growth than i ever could have thought possible. you seemed too perfect to me to need it. thank you for going on this journey with me! it helps me SO MUCH! more than you know.

the work this week... insert chuckle here. well, we have REALLY GREAT zone leaders, assistants, and office elders who did lots of service for our companionship this week. ..maybe more on that later. We have a new ZL this transfer and a new office elder who is now our District Leader. they are both superb. we love them. they are great missionaries. we have high goals for our zone in august. it will be great to see how we exercise our faith and work to reach them. i know miracles will happen.
sister ronquillo and i are excited to get back to work. she's been sick for a week almost. it's been rough. she wanted to work anyway and then it got worse. thankfully, it looks like she is on the mend now. i got kind of a mild case of what she has. i don't know why it hit her so hard. lots of missionaries got it--just a simple flu bug going around. but it affected her lungs in a bad way. it caused her loads of extra trouble. poor dearie. it was so hard to see. but i got to help her out :) so that has been nice. looks like we had a sick week as a family! thanks again for going on this journey with me! haha

i hope you weren't worried! we had our pday changed to tuesday this week so we could interview with President Stucki yesterday. i forgot to tell you last week. i prayed you would know i was okay. hope you got the message :)
boy, were interviews a great experience! i've recorded a lot in my journal that i can share with you when i come home, but for now i'll give you an idea.

i had a blessing on sunday while i was under the weather and it answered so many of my heart's questions and pleadings to the Lord. It was sooooooo good!
i was a little nervous bc we had area book checks and planner checks by the ZLs and i've been working to fix some former problems with our area book. whew! but we did well! it was such a relief!
i interviewed with President and wow. that's all i can say to describe it. the Spirit was so strong and i was filled with gratitude to even more direct answers to prayers and thoughts i had even forgotten i had. i left feeling incredibly light. that man is called of God to lead this mission. you should know i'm in the best hands possible. i'm in His hands through His righteous servants. that was a fantastic experience.
then i interviewed with Sister Stucki and i loved every minute of that! after discussing health and the necessities, we just chatted about the mission and adjustments in the Philippines and everything. she is fabulous! i love her very much! i want you to meet these people someday. they are truly amazing. i feel like you will get to meet them somewhere down the road.

for now, my time is up. hugs and loves all around! please know how much i am thankful for your sacrifices so i can be here! i love this work. i know it's true.

love sis r

Monday, July 16, 2012

happy monday! for me, at least :)

HOWDY!

I can't thank you enough for the news and your words this week. it was just what i needed. despite the challenges of life, you are all doing so well and i'm so proud! thank you for helping me be positive when things are tough here. you give me such a great uplift for the week and help me focus on my purpose. you make me so grateful to be yours!

thank dear priscilla, sister gupta (monica)NANAY!, mr jason nessenator, and aaron for the hearty laughs and news and kindness this week :) CONGRATS, PRISCILLA!!! i'm so excited for you! you'll be great! i'll write you asap, it's a promise. though i have no clue where to send your letter.... that might help. yes, i got your dearelders! nanay's, too! salamat! you're fantastic, nay, and i'm cheering for you! i miss you, too! you can do it! and i'll be sending a letter your way asap too, as soon as i know where it goes and get it on paper. jason, i laughed out loud here in the internet cafe! you rock! i needed that! and i'll send ya a lil message with letters home, deal? aaron,.....

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're so OLD!!!!! 23... yikes, dude. How's it feel??? What'd you do for your birthday?

I don't know what happened, but i couldn't get it back to normal text after that.phew! thank goodness i'm so super computer-savvy, or i don'tknow what i'd do! lol there's a reason why my best friends at school are CIT majors and study social media and stuff... hmm... lol ;)


Aaron, i'll be writing to you soon, too. actually, there should be something in your mailbox any time. my list of ppl to write is disgustingly long... and i'm so thankful! i don't deserve it! i don't want ppl to feel bad when they wait and wait to hear from me. i'm thinking of you!!!! my time for writing letters is just so brief each week bc stuff always comes up on pdays and it gets put off :( but it's a favorite part of pday, so i'm super sorry! i love y'all TONS! Aaron, how's your family? how's your dad? that's SO COOL you saw my family!!! did you hug them big for me? YOU BETTER HAVE!


family, how was aaron's family? you met them ALL? you're so lucky! i haven't even met josh yet. how are they?


how is dear Zac? i'm so proud of him! and my cousins are getting MARRIED! and going on MISSIONS! and being SO COOL! how is chwistopher samwelson? Christopher Richisson? gosh, ilove them!


joj, i'm so proud of you for all your merit badges! mom, give him a round-house kick to the face for me! and a hug! give boo a swift kick in the rear for me! and a hug! give rae a big, thumping pat on the back for me! and a hug! give lou a good tickle on the bum! during her hug! hehee! im so sneaky.

funny story and then some stuff about the work before i gotta split. oh, ps, i won't cut my hair. you're so right, mom. thank you ;) but should i perm it? how about some really big, loose curls? or keep dealing with it for just another year til i can do whatever i want with it? i wear it up pretty much every day. i wouldn't mind if my face weren't completely COVERED in ZITS!!!! buy that's not the funny story, so we'll move on. oh, and another ps: please pray that i don't gain weight. they made me eat pig fat yesterday and i bout died. actually, that will be funny story number two.


so i woke up this morning. hahahahahha! joke. i had a dream last night! we, the siblings, were playing fun games like we did when we was little, where you hide objects in the house and someone else has to go find em. i hid em and lou had to find em. anywho, but i was getting up to go hide em, and boo was asleep next to me. i almost woke her up when i got up and she kinda stirred in her sleep. she said, "we need to stop..." trying not to laugh, i said, "why, boo?" she said, still completely out of it, "we're becoming like indians.." LOL! i cracked up in my sleep! now that's my girl! keep entertaining our guests, boo! someone's gotta be the crazy one while i'm gone!


okay, funny story 2. this should answer jason's question. i LOVE the people in our ward! like SUPER! they are so nice to us! and they invited us to a celebration of a member
's birthday yesterday. they had all sorts of philippino food, shemps (siyempre, which means of course, but in the cool street way, like sister ronx teached me) and most of it was... i mean, it was good, but it's still foreign to me. especially shrimp paste, which they actually make it like unto the crushing of grapes to make wine... i just hope they wash their feet first :) anywho, it's just super salty is all. nothing more or less. but then came the part of pork that dear sister faith, wife of bishop, gave me... i can't eat fat, family. i can't do it. and elder baltazar (filipino AP) and elder munk (american ap) told me i could. they have no prob with it. then sis r started
cheering me on and pretty soon i had several observers. yikes. well, thankfully they gave me a certain amount. i decided smaller bites were easier since i couldn't swallow it whole. smaller, less to chew... it's not the flavor. there's none. it's the texture i can't do. anywho... they owe me big. but they called it off a little early, which is good, because my last bite i actually gagged. oh boy.


but hey! i love my mission!


more news to follow next week! the work is good and we saw a big improvement this week in many ways! so many blessings! i pray for you all, especially cade and aunt terri and everyone who's struggling. gotta go xoxo


thank you for your words, my loved ones!


sis r

Monday, July 9, 2012

whoah.... i tell ya what wow

haha hellor there!

what a day! what a week! what a... everything!!! Rae, i'll be responding to you asap, though i dont think i'll be able to sneak in a personalized email this week :( sorry babe. i spent 45 minutes reading my emails --how'd i get so many this week??? :D not your fault i got extra abouts mission stuffs-- and didn't quite finish your second one, doll. but i'm thinkin of you and i really appreciate your sense of humor and your sharing of all the things you're learning and about your personal experiences. you rock, girl! i swear y've gotta slow down or you'll run me over, chick! :)

lou, thank you, too for your email! i'm workin on writing back to all yal! got your letters (rae and lou) in the mail! sweetness! how'd i get such an amazing family, eh?? love the pictures, rae! love it all! i'm excited for your participation in the choir, lou! congrats! joseph, i'm so proud of who you are! holy cow! can't say it better than that. and bootle! can i have your memory??? i am struggling so hard core to remember the simplest, most important things, like: names, facts about ppl, new tagalog words.. old tagalog words... how to use certain verbs and stuff. it's horrendous. i'm trying so hard to rely on the Spirit, for that is one of his jobs/gifts... to bring things to our remembrance. golly.

speaking of which, i had a blessed realization yesterday in sunday school. we start talking about faith in Jesus Christ. and i realized that not only do i not know as much as i thought i did about faith in Jesus Christ, but that i also need more of it. for you see, if you have faith in Jesus Christ, you have many things. you have hope and trust that the Lord will bless you for keeping His commandments. you act and expect His help. i had been terrified. i can't tell you what of, exactly. mostly of disappointing my super cool companion, sister Ronquillo (ron-keel-yoh), and screwing up lessons. come to find out, it's just like singing. when you're afraid of messing up... that's when you mess up! go figure! ick. mahirap talaga. it's like... a disgusting cycle of no faith. but it's okay. because that's what the Atonement is for. and as i learn to rely on Jesus Christ and His Atonement, i am so much more happy. i wrote in my journal the other day that even though i am SO SUPER PANGIT here in the Philippines, i am also happier than i believe i've ever been. not so much in a go-lucky sort of way, but in a super blessed sort of way. like that i know that eventually i'll get more comfortable teaching and speaking tagalog and i have hope that when and until that happens, i have all the help i need. and Heavenly Father is blessing you and me for it. how cool is that?!?!?

k so we spent the whole day... cleaning. and our apartment still needs lots of help as the elders before us... yeah. but it's looking so much better! and i'll be writing yall letters soon!

and i'm not gaining weight. just sayin. i'll try to get you pictures as soon as i can. but apparently they didn't work last time i tried. i dunno how to do it. and i'm thinking of cutting my hair. give me your feedback. it'd be short, just saing. it's frizzy and unmanageable so i need to do something.

dad, i learn so much from you. thank you for your update and encouragement. mom, thank you for your friendly chat. how i miss our heart to hearts. but believe me, sista. we're having one. i'll follow up on your experiences with you. and congrats to jory! he's da man! josilinn's shower??? huh?!?!

goodness i'm late.

love yall! and i love this work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sis r

and i love sis ronx. she's supa dupa cool. and she's interior design grad, mom, so you could send pics and we'll approve yer stuffs <3

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Excerpt from the email to Marée

I know Heavenly Father is aware of all the thoughts and desires of your heart and He is always there for you to call upon in need and in abundance of blessings.
in all honesty, we are probably in general a lot harder on ourselves than we need to be. That is not to say that we should not be strictly obedient and always striving to improve--we should. But what helps to keep the balance, my dear sister, between one extreme and the other, is to keep an eternal perspective. It's not easy, I know. But it's super possible. An eternal perspective is something we have when we have an "eye single to the glory of God" (D&C 4). When we have an eternal perspective, we see things a little more as He sees them; we see that the trials and challenges of this moment in time are not forever; we see that all things will work together for our good (D&C 122:7); we see where our priorities should lie; we see His hand more abundantly in our lives; we more clearly see things from others' perspectives; we have increased hope, trust, and faith in Him and His plan for us; we have joy in all things; we have direction; we have patience; and we have peace and assurance.
Life is a learning experience. We're here for education. We can't afford to waste time beating ourselves up about every little mistake.
The Atonement gives us a chance to change and try again. Jesus Christ awaits our call for help and a clean slate. We can do all things through Him(Phil. 4: 13). You can do it! It's not just a formula. It's about learning day by day. There isn't a fix-all, fits-all, except the Atonement. And He'll make it possible for you to accomplish your ultimate goal: Eternal Life.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Families ARE forever!

Well, family, I have a lot to say--again--and very little time, so i'll do the best i can!

first of all: Happy Birthday, Joseph Kent Richardson!!!
I'm so happy you're all huge and 13 and such! Congratulations, buddy! and you share a bday with one of the coolest ppl we know! I hope you had a fantastic birthday--because YOU are FANTASTIC! How was it, by the way?? :D

next of all: Sunday night, while Sister Gupta was packing and such, i found out i'd be going to a different area for work until thursday, which was transfer day for some odd reason. i believe i said all that blub last time. so... i had lots of things to do, but i waited til sis verma and i became companions to pack up my stuff. working in her area was good. we had some super good lessons and ones i felt like i slaughtered. but she's very sweet and i ate yummy indian food with she and sister roofie (also indian, companion of sister mohrman--i know, crazy, right??? yes, she's american). and i also cooked for them. don't freak out. it was only spaghetti. but it was yummy spaghetti with vegetables! mmm.

next, i met my new companion. she is... exactly who the Spirit told me she would be! lots of times! but i didn't wanna say out loud. I did, however, tell Sis G at the temple tour saturday that I would love to be Sister ... Ronquillo's companion! AND I AM!!! She is amazing. in every way. no stretch of truth here. she's very obedient and she's Philippina! I was so scared to have a Philippina companion bc she'd be so good in tagalog and i'd feel so stupid. but she is so patient and sweet. she's also very strict with time, which is SO GOOD for me! i need that talaga! please pray for me. this is going to be a transfer of big changes. i am learning to REALLY trust the Lord in all things--and to trust myself and what He's given and will give me. I am learning, little by little, how to trust that I CAN DO THIS. because it is His work and He wants me to succeed. this will be a surge of true growth in myself, in the way i work, in the way i communicate with others, and in the way the Spirit communicates with me. She expects so much of me and i'm so grateful. And she's so beautiful and COOL! how lucky her husband will be!!! and she's right-handed! even better! lol she's so cool :) she only has a right hand. her left one is really small and cute with tiny little fingers. but she's capable of doing pretty much everything without it's normal functioning!!! HOW? she's just that great!

dang i super gotta go. but i want you to know that i am so grateful for your valiance, support, and all you are doing for me. of course i will be praying for these things, mom. thank you for working so hard to get that info for me. I love our family. hardship is the only way by which we grow. i know without it, we would be weak. without gravity, we lose our muscles. and maybe maree will share with you the things i said to her in her email. that says it better i guess.
dad, you're so funny and thanks for being excited to see me! haha i look forward to it, too.

i love you all so much! Cade and Anthony and all of you are in my prayers!

all my love always,

sis r