HOW DID TIME GO SO FAST??

Goodness, dear loved ones! It's another monday and this week seriously flew by! actually, this whole transfer went by really fast for the two of us... i can't believe it's transfer day again thursday. holy biscuit! that's just nuts. not to mention... HAHA!!! SIS RONQUILLO'S EXPECTING!!!! LOL she meets her new anak on transfer day! it'll be her first time training. and she really didn't want to... hehe! she was in denial at first. but i know she's going to do so well! she's not really worried about it. just would like to be a junior for a transfer or two, i think. anyhow, she rocks and i'm excited for her! but i'm super gonna miss her. i can't even tell you. i miss sister gupta too. what great companions i've had! worlds difference, but both incredibly good people--and missionaries.

aaron sent me the news and sis R and i got through other ward missionaries :) the sister aaron served with in his mission who is in our ward is OFFICIALLY ENGAGED! congrats, jael! i love her lots and i'm excited for them! haha even though we all knew they had a specific date and everything :)

so yes, i know i'm for sure transferring bc President Stucki told sis ronquillo she'll be training here in makati 3rd. i can't tell you how much i'm going to miss these people. it hurts to think about it. but i trust the Lord and i trust Sis Ronquillo. i know He'll work thru her and they'll take care of the people here in this area. i feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders as i know i will now be caring for the work someone else is leaving behind. i'm just being requested in another part of the vineyard and i hope to do far better work there than i've done yet--but i know the Lord knows i'm doing my best. i have no idea where i'll be or who i'll be with. the feelings i had before are... well, i have no idea now, to be honest. i thought i felt i'd go somewhere specific, but i've not a clue. at least i know it's where i need to be. of course, i've been hoping for a chance to work in and experience the province. but i know the Lord knows best.

dad, that's so exciting about the job! where is vulcraft? that's familiar.. i'll keep praying for you and that all will go well! HAHA that is HILARIOUS! jackson is so stinkin cute! and what's the other one? cakemix, right? :) lol i hope the skunk's gone by this time next year lol i don't want him around. dang, that's funny. i'm still working on studying ammon, dad, but i'll report on what i learn :) i got started in the beginning of his story as a rebel. now he's converted! boy, that was fast.... haha don't we wish our hearts would change that drastically sometimes. but he had a big change to make. sometimes ours are small, but just as significant. boy, i love you, daddy!

gosh, mom. how right you are... again! surprise! lol. i mean about the being super blessed part. i am also not anything spectacular of my own fat self. ( ooh quick pause on that! EVERYONE has been telling me lately that i lost weight and need to eat more... i think they're crazy and i'm just the same. i haven't noticed any difference. but seriously i was told that about 7 times and each time, the people present all affirmed i got skinnier. talk about moody! one sec i'm fat and the next i'm underweight... golly. well don't you worry! i don't think i've changed a bit! except my hair's longer :) ) anywho, it's so true that the Lord makes us His instruments and guides our actions if we are smart enough, at least :) , to recognize that we're nothing without Him-- that we need His help. and He sure loves to help us! what a spiritual experience it is to read all of your letters! i learned from the counsel you gave to Maree, too. what a blessing my parents are!

i just want to cry for all the wonderful experiences you're having--both the challenging and the joyful--because they are all taking such a strong spiritual shape in your lives, because you're choosing to be shaped by them. THANK YOU!!! thank you for sharing with me all that you're loving, living, and learning. it truly lifts my spirits in a way i can't describe. i feel so light and happy and excited to do all He asks.

CONGRATULATIONS! to Hailey! and to Jory, in case he didn't get my congrats the first time! YAY! so cool! and happy birthday to our dear HEIDI! love her!!!

You know what, mom? Father in Heaven, We Do Believe is the song Sis Ronquillo chose to play at the baptism in our ward saturday. (he was an investigator the elders taught, which is why you didn't hear about it before. we didn't teach him.) and yes, she plays piano! what a gal! anyho, that's such a good hymn. thank you, mom. and the second is one the primary was working on learning while i was a teacher :) happy days!

okay, ako naman... ano ang pipiliin ko?

Hymn number 96. We sang it in comp study and then it was one of the hymns in sacrament meeting yesterday...

Dearest children, God is near you, Watching o'er you day and night, And delights to own and bless you, If you strive to do what's right. He will bless you, He will bless you, if you put your trust in Him. Dearest children, holy angels Watch your actions night and day, And they keep a faithful record of the good and bad you say. Cherish virtue! Cherish virtue! God will bless the pure in heart. Children, God delights to teach you By his Holy Spirit's voice. Quickly heed its holy promptings, Day by day you'll then rejoice. Oh, prove faithful, Oh, prove faithful To your God and Zion's cause.

might i just add my testimony to how true this is! He is ever aware and ever ready to bless!

we have an awesome fhe event planned later! TONS of investigators and a few less-active members should be able to come! it's at the home of one of our ward missionaries, Ruby (also Jael's house). she is SUPER AWESOME and works with us tons! i'm so thankful and i know it'll be a blast! there's a really big family that we are expecting to come. they are so dear to our hearts. i hope the only problem is everyone finding a place to sit! :) it's gonna be great. i'm the spiritual thought giver, so i hope to find something simple to relate to everyone, including the little kids so they're at least quiet. here goes!

i think i have to go now... but i want you to know i love you loads!

please may i request addresses of sarah roring and aaron ellis? :) i'd love to send them letters, ya know...

love, sis r! ( your fave sis mish)

Ooops! Love you!

HELLO!!!! HOW ARE YOU???? I ASKED YOU FIRST!!!!

hehe joke lang. I got Monica (Nanay) Gupta's email! salamat, sis! i'll get you a letter right quick! what's your address in india? why'd they change your sis's mission? i'm sure that it will be super awesome anyway. i sure hope i get to meet her while she's in the MTC! that'd be so cool! congrats on the job, love! and i'm sure you're fulfilling your callings- as you do -so well. what's your address??? :) love ya, ma!

GOSH, DAD! you clack me up, too! the secret to answering you all i've discovered is to compose my response while i go along. much more effective and actually prob time-saving so i don't reread the same parts over and over like i tend to do. haha! i love you, dad! i'm glad you liked the card, sorry it was so wimpy and lame. i wanted to include this awesome pic i have of you on my camera, but my memory card got a virus. you can thank aaron bc he'll be the one fixing that so i can print and give you that picture. it'll complete your card :) promise. lol it's pretty fantastic! yeah, the storms have been okay in our area. just some hard rain every once in a while. i'm so impressed with the doings of my family! you are all accomplishing amazing things! hehee you should send me some of boo's jokes :) i'd like that. she's a doll.

Rae, what a letter! i'm sure mom and dad will agree with me when i say: PRAYERS ANSWERED. And in such a beautiful way! i'm so glad that not only do you love it, but that you're growing and learning in all the ways you love and expected and hoped for. i couldn't ask for better for you. I know our Heavenly Father is taking care of you in all the things that you're doing--in ever way that you're being exhausted, He is there to support and bless you as you give your all. i wish you could see you the way we do and even more the way He does. you are so precious and special and full of eternal potential. i just love ya, girl! you have it all in you and around you! keep grabbing the opportunity to learn and you'll keep learning! actually, that's been about the highlight of my insights this week, in all my experiences. if you want to be humble and learn from your experiences, YOU CAN! there is something to be learned ALL THE TIME. i just need to be grateful for those learning and growing opportunities, because they often come in rough and humbling packages and bring about the greatest blessings one could imagine.

Mom, you're so right. there is such peace in knowing you're where the Lord wants you. it spins my head round when i think of where i am and what i'm doing. it was never in my plans for me. and i can't believe it. but i can, because i just feel like i'd be lost doing anything else. and i mean my life would still be all about me and i'd take forever to learn all the things i need to. sometimes the crash course is painful. sometimes it's lots of crashing. but i know that our Father in Heaven is making of me something i could never make of myself. i'd never be anything if it were up to me. thank goodness i can leave that up to Him. and i know i'll truly be found in losing myself in His work. that's where the future me will be brought to the surface. that's where His mold will begin to take shape. but only if i choose to give it ALL to Him. He still gave me the choice.

i'm so excited about the temple, too! what great news about President Packer presiding! we're so blessed. so blessed. I'll be praying for him and for this dedication. what a blessed event. and what inspiration he received! i feel like that will touch most of those girls deep inside and what they feel there will remain in their hearts all their lives if they let it. wow. wow.

i'm so glad you're loving your job, mom! you are such a great person. i'd trust you with any child, any day. you have a gift. many, of course. and one is an inspired way of nurture. thank you for your example of inspired nurture focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ. i hope to apply all that i've learned and keep learning from yours and dad's parenting in my own future.

Ang ganda ganda ng sulat ni Alyssa! wow, thank you, lou! what a cool part you have in the bringing forth of the Lord's temple and, of course, the building of Zion! how blessed we are. what a sweet and sensitive girl you are! I know Heavenly Father will continue to bless you in your righteous desires and works. keep putting Him first and you'll have all the peace and direction you need! you are such a good young woman! tell joj and boo that i am super safe. i'm about the safest i'll ever be in my life, no matter how bad the storms get because Heavenly Father is using me as His instrument here (or at least that's the goal) :D

so... this part i am starting and wrapping up on sept 11, 2012 because i didn't send this email yesterday... and Sis. Dietrich in the office is SUPER nice and is letting me use an office computer to send it so you can hear from me, the sillyhead. can't believe i didn't send it! sorry! i love you!

just a couple things: aaron, what's your addy at school? what's sarah roring's addy so i can mail her? hi to grandma r, i got your letter and wrote you back! thank you! and i got brad's email, but can't email back. thank him! he'll get the letter soon!

love you all!!!! just so you know the work is great! zone meeting was great! i'll update you more next week!

sis r

To the ones i hold dear...

What great emails I've received from you all! i am overfilled with joy that you are doing so well! i want always to hear more and more! your victories are my victories, your struggles my struggles, your tears and laughs are mine as well, and i love sharing in your joy most of all! thank you thank you thank you for your messages of love and comfort and just plain old awesomeness! (for which there is no charge ;D)

gosh, i love you!

i got priscila's address! thanks! love you too, dear!

joseph, i am THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED!!! and that's an understatement. HOLY AMAZING! that's SOOOOO COOOOL! i'm sending a super-smacking, face-thwacking, double-dacking high five your way!!! hehee and your email was so funny and fun to read, broseph! you are PHENOMENAL.

lou, i have every confidence that you will be successful in your goals as long as you're willing to do what it takes to get there. makes sense, doesn't it? you know, love, you're very right about that connection with the gospel and running. you and mom have had lots of spiritual experiences running and you've inspired me in so many ways. that's just what i need to do when it comes to the work--push through and give it my all, trusting that my efforts in His time will yield the fruits He has promised. goodness, what a blessing it is to have you as a younger sister! you know, i know you sit just where you are in our family on purpose, too. and i wouldn't switch ya 'cause i need you there, too. thank you for doing what you do and for being you! i learn so much from you!

dad, thank you for your advice and experience. thank you for your insight and for the service you gave and continue to give. i really do need to seek to serve more in the every day opportunities that come along. there are surely an abundance of those that i haven't noticed before that i will begin to notice now as i live a little more outside myself. thank you! and i'm definitely going to do some studying on ammon, that great missionary. there is so much that i am learning that i didn't know i knew, but even more that i'm learning that i thought i knew, but didn't. haha! funny how that works. it's supposed to be humbling, so i sure hope it does its job on me.

mom, thank you for the song and for the awesome news about our family and relaying everyone's love. i have prayed and thought about them so much. it's miraculous to see prayers answered and know that hearts are being softened and comforted. oh, how i ache for them. but i know the Savior knows them and understands exactly how they feel and He can heal what I cannot.

how are the new jobs coming along, parents of mine?

aaron, the song was brilliant!!! like... wow. wow. you both sounded sooo good. i'm so proud of you! way to go! i think i might listen to it every week! but i feel like that's bawal since we're not supposed to use headphones that isolate us from our companions... shoot a mile. i think i just broke a rule. kinda, bc there is no other way i could listen to it here in an internet cafe. so i guess i shouldn't have. but DANG it was GREAT! Again, WAY TO GO!

oh! i wanted to quick say that i totally smelled Uncle Chewie this week on a jeepney! some guy was wearing his cologne that he used to wear when i was a kid and would go to their house a lot! and i loved it! it was just like being a kid again, eating pickles in their kitchen with hannah and going to breakfast at the diner on main st. good times.

everyone keeps acting like im going to palawan next transfer. that's an interesting thought. actually, it's not a new thought at all. sister gupta's been prophesying since i first got here and sister ronquillo feels like it's true. all of her american companions have gone there. goodness! you should look up palawan on the internet. there are GORGEOUS tourist spots! i saw pictures when sister g was choosing one to print on a shirt for her brother/friend. anyway, we'll see. it's only halfway thru the transfer. but the truth is, i'm probably not staying here. who knows? anything could happen. at least if i go to palawan, it will force me to learn better tagalog :) actually, it's getting easier all the time. i understand lots better. speaking is still difficult sometimes and easier other times. but i'll get there. i just need to work harder.

kevin was confirmed sunday! official na siya. sweet! and he bore his testimony in gospel principles--how he gained a testimony of the restoration and it was beautiful. he just said he pretty much was like joseph--searching for the truth. and then when he read and prayed about the book of mormon and everything, he just felt it was right. cool guy.

and leah!!!! she's soooo gonna be ready for baptism. she's the smartest person holy cow. and she's really feeling like she's found the truth she's been looking for. she just gets everything we teach her. i just want it to begin to take deeper root in her as she repents and changes to become one of His fold. her baptism should be september 29 if we can get her prepared by then. she's awesome. she was referred by an rm intern at her company who was only here for a few months. she speaks super super english and attended the foreigner branch at first and the elders were her first missionaries, but she's in our area, so we have taken over :) lucky us.

anyway, we also had lots of LA members come to church!!! love that. our work was super this week and i loved it. it's evidence that as i am beginning to actually give my heart to the Lord and WANT to do His work and His will, that He is blessing us. the blessings were sure instantaneous! and i'm beginning to feel joy that was missing in my work before. I want not just to do His will, but to unite my will with His. that's when change comes.

i gotta go! i love you! i hope i didn't forget anything! you're the best!

all my love, sis r

August 26th

Sis Gupta! (i guess i can use your first name now, right? Monica! ...wow that felt weird.) thanks for your prayers! I'm so glad you're feeling better. i'll keep praying for you. i'll pass the word along to Amie and Kevin and the Rebosuras. you are missed here, love. i miss you and they miss you!
Sis. Ronquillo and i are still in Makati 3rd, dear. nothing too new :) hehee who knows if i'll be here another transfer. elder gagnon is STILL HERE! lol! his 5th transfer in this area. and elder kunzler is our other ZL. they're a great pair. still no zone activity, though... sad day. but we'll do all we can to get one this transfer!
about the pics... aaron will tell you about their progress when i send my memory card to him. because there's a virus on my memory card right now and i'm kinda clueless when it comes to stuff like that.

Dad, you sure are one of a kind! i love it! thank you for your awesome attitude and all your hard work and example! i'm still waiting on that fatherly missionary advice :) it sounds like your work is good! i'm so proud of you! i feel where you're coming from with the SO MUCH TO LEARN, but i know you'll do it! He's here to help you. let's learn together, shall we?

joseph, you keep workin hard and you'll see the reward for your dedication! becca, you keep everyone smiling, okay? when does the girl come to stay? who all did sheep? how'd that go? lou, i was thinking yesterday about how much i miss playing just a few songs that i adore on the piano and how much more you'd miss it if our roles were reversed. keep finding joy in developing your talents! there is a need for good piano players in this world. i am really wishing right now that i had applied myself more in lessons. shhh don't tell Mom lol! rae, i got to talk to you for a sec and that was great. do email me, hah? good girl. i hear your game is GOOD, doll! so GOOD GAME from me ;) i didn't know colton was such a big to-do! what a guy! that's sweet.

how was fair time? did you eat a super yummy burger for me? gosh, i'm gonna take advantage of that when i'm home :) hehee.

this is mom's reminder to say the things next week she didn't get to say this time. more about brad's timely talk and about your job.

aaron, that would be GREAT! Like super duper great. I have another one right now. i'm just not sure how to send the diseased one. what's the best way? i have a little protective case i could prob send it in inside of an envelope. i just hope it's safe that way. any suggestions? if you let me know, i'll try and send it next week according to your suggestions. it's the one that has the baby one that fits inside it. so i'm sure it has files from more than just my camera--it has pics that are saved to my laptop, too. and gosh, there are some dang cool and very important pictures on there! it would be more than a super bummer to lose them.
i'm glad you sang well! i didn't get the sound file, unfortunately :( who recorded you?? lol in sacrament meeting?? how's your new phone?  do you have that yet?

well, family, it's been  week. honestly, it's been an interesting one. but it's been good :) we had a HUGE group go with us to the temple saturday! we have temple tours every month and it was our month to bring people, not to teach at the tours. teaching always makes me nervous--you know how i love crowds--so i was glad to be on the other end. it was a big, happy group. and then one of the investigators--who randomly decided to go with us at the last minute on saturday ( we actually didn't invite her bc she's a former investigator and claims she's muslim and had told sister gupta and i she wasn't interested in changing religions, though she does believe in Jesus Christ)--showed up to church yesterday, too! crazy. didn't expect that AT ALL. but it was good :) she had a good experience. and she referred to herself as an investigator when she introduced herself... pretty sweet.
also, kevin's baptism was saturday! what a guy! he was so ready. he's super strong. but he got a super high fever and couldn't come be confirmed yesterday. crazy, i know. but he'll be there next week! don't you fret. he's a stallion.

i was so excited to hear from sarah about her cute baby and ashlynn about her cute baby and trip and everything! i'm so excited for them! they rock! I'm still not sure how to send responses to daniel, priscilla, megan bird, or.... maybe the list is even longer than that. but there's a start lol. but i sure hope they know i love, appreciate, and care about them.

i want to tell you that i know that i'm where i need to be. i know that this is the greatest work--the only work there is to do. we are so blessed to be invited to be part of Heavenly Father's work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. and boy does life feel so much better when i'm reminded of this eternal principle and i'm granted a portion of that eternal perspective. otherwise, the things we are called upon to do and experience would be overwhelming. sometimes life gets that way. but i know that if we remember that this moment is not forever, that there is joy to be had and peace to be obtained through Jesus Christ, that our burdens won't be too heavy to bear.
I was pondering on this the other day. How is it possible that the One who bore all things could say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? How could that be true? And yet, He would not lie. I don't know how it works, honestly. All I know is that it does. All I know is that if we yoke ourselves with Him, suddenly our burdens are not too heavy to bear. Suddenly we are filled with peace and assurance that all things will work together for our good. And in that moment, we also become more like Him. We become more childlike.

Anyway, i just know that the Church is true. And I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul, including the questions in our hearts and minds right now. I know I have much to do to become what He wants me to become, but I also trust that as I simply do all I can, He will take care of everything.

Mom, I'm out of time and can't type the lyrics, but today I choose I Know that My Redeemer Lives.

love, sister r

Dad, the rain here was pretty crazy. we had a great service opportunity, though i didn't feel like i did much. it was actually just sweeping in a nearby barangay (village) and cleaning up the garbage there. we didn't do much in the flood, which i greatly regret. i'm gonna grab that by the horns next time! honestly, a service mission is what i prayed for, so i hope the Lord will bless us with lots of opportunities for that. the bishop actually received some groceries from a japanese man who isn't a member and bishop distributed these things to families in need through us. don't remember if i mentioned that, but it was sure an awesome experience! they were so grateful! everything shuts down with big floods bc no one can work, therefore, no one can buy. they're really stressing 72 hour kits. don't worry! we gots one!

that's great about the baptism! where are the Hurds now? did joseph write his talk down? i wanna hear it when i get home! what a guy! :) can't believe it's the fair already... weird.

mom, congrats on the choco-pb lovin! haha sounds delicious! masarap! but not as delicious as annie's present! EEEW! sicknasty. hahah you're so good-humored :) and yay for carol's baby! boy or girl? yes, an answer to prayers! i'm glad the package turned up. did you send it? wow... i've never seen someone permanent like that in tree town. there are LOADS here. everywhere. you're so awesome :)
everyone in our area is okay. i'm not sure how they recover... they just do. and they honestly can't do much to prepare except with sandbags. especially the ppl who buy their food on a day-to-day basis. i have no idea how they would survive if it got super bad. but our area's dry now.
we have a baptism saturday and he is AWESOME! Kevin is solid. his interest started with just a slight desire to investigate his girlfriend's religion and now has grown to the faith and desire to make and keep sacred covenants. it's amazing. we're really excited. he will be a very strong member. and he has a financial advantage that will enable him to serve the members of the church here. we're so blessed. Our recent convert... needs your prayers. she is struggling to make time for anything, including attending church and reading the BoM.

how was your race? how did it feel? how was the team? LOL Alyssa, WAY TO GO!!! Hahah someone's gotta keep mom embarrassed while i'm here! ;) YESSS!
wow, how are those mannings? is gary okay? tell craig that's against missionary standard! gross! way to go, Christina! Joseph is a great name :) i love it. Yvonne's prayers have to be super powerful. she's a super powerful woman. as are you, mom. how is bradley? i sent his letter to you last week. hope it's there soon. is that okay? sorry i didn't have a home address. lol his handwriting is still attrocious :) funny guy.

mom, that's so cool about the temple. i know you were a teerriiffiicccccc usher! :) i love seeing people be touched by the Spirit. we truly need to become like little children to be led according to the Lord's desires for us. thank you for helping me see that from a new perspective.

thank you for the songs! both of them! i needed them :) lol i love the kaiser verse. and i want to be like Nephi. i just realized now that not only did he believe it would float, he believed it could carry them all to the promised land... and it was a first-time, no-experience, hand-made vessel that he trusted in bc he trusted the Lord would take care of his precious family. THAT"S FAITH. gosh, i need that. when i feel afraid to try, i will remember Nephi. i will remember his trust in the promise of the Lord and do the same :)

i honestly can't tell you all the feelings i've had in this last week. it has been one of personal trial and education. i know this experience is just what i need--all of it. i know i can do the things the Lord commands, bc He knows what I am capable of, even when i am sorely tempted to disagree. gosh, what an experience. and i know i wouldn't trade it for anything... especially when i look back, and in the future when i'll look back and see all the Lord has done with little, simple, imperfect me. As President Stucki told us, the Lord takes the ....shoot, i forgot. But i'll get back to you on that.

dad, if you have any advice for me as a missionary, i'd be more than happy to receive it :) just insights you have, or any suggestions for the work.

gosh, aaron! way to send me a wedding email! lol they're so cute! i'm happy for them! i LOVE the colors of miranda's choice! soooo cute! happy for BD! :) lol sis Ronquillo and i had a trunky moment hehehe. wow that's awesome! we actually wanna see some more of miranda's pics if possible. any you feel like sending. and your letter's in the mail as of last tues.

we have zone conference tomorrow! always a good experience :) looking forward to that. and we went to the temple wednesday, which was awesome. then we had a comp lunch at a place called Pan de Amerikana and it's AMAZING! hardly anyone really knows about it, so it's a pretty slow place, but the food is DELICIOUS! and the atmosphere ROCKS! i took pics, but i don't dare send them. i got a virus on my last memory card and only connected it to computers a few times. i'm not sure what to do. aaron, can anything be done??? i wanna save the pictures if i can. i just can't print anything bc most of the files won't pull up now when i go to print on the computer. lame. but the place is SUPER COOL! mom and dad, you HAVE to come to the P! You have to eat here with me! it's an upside-down house! and even cooler, they have the funkiest decorating that just goes. and it could never be done so well except in this climate. they have plants in the walls and all sorts of cool stuff! and recently, they put up pictures of famous people in the Philippines. wow it's cool.

i've probably gotta go now, since i don't wanna be late. we have a lesson at 3 bc the Assistants flew to Palawan, so we're covering their lesson for them. they don't really have pday, so that explains the random time. speaking of palawan, i hope sis gupta's right! thanks for the letter, sis! i'm sorry you're sick :( we must be on a wavelength or something... crazy. you poor kid. but i know you'll find the right job for you. congrats on your calling!

where do i send priscilla's letter?

i'll keep praying about the journal. i hope it does get found. elder fruean feels pretty bad about it.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

love your fav sister misionary, sis r

ps do you know that on wednesday, ive been on my mission 6 months?? now that's weird.
rae--talk to me, talk to me, talk to me, babay!

what's the subject today?

Hello, belovedS!

I'm not sure how long I have bc Kevin moved our appt... to 3 instead of 6, which switches around our Pday sked a little bit... Yeah. So I'll try and say lots quick. Not to mention we'd have more time if I would have just gotten ready instead of doing the dishes first. It's no fun to make the same mistakes lots.

So... this week's been interesting. We had crazy flooding, even in Palanan, due to crazy rain. Always an adventure in the Philippines! No joke. we rode this funny little cart made from one of the fruit and vegetable carts they push around to sell. they made a bench in it and included one of the huge umbrellas used for those and at tindahans. and then they put a few rows of the plastic stools that everyone uses here in there so ppl could stay dry..er. and we paid LOADS for it! 250 pesos!!! ouch. but it was an adventure! and the two guys driving it were funny. one of them claimed he was born in america, but has lived here for a few years. lol! i didn't believe him a bit! :) we just laughed with him. the best part was when a bus went by and created a huge wave and we stood up to not get as wet. and then the second time my stool disappeared, so i sat down right in the water! hehee... that can't be healthy.

we also had a less active sister and most of her not-yet-member children come to church, as well as her investigator friend!!! and they loved it! it was great :) i'm not sure where the money for the jeepney came from... but we sure were glad to see them! and then we got to deliver groceries the bishop donated to a few families along with the first counselor of the bishopric and the assistants, since part of their area is about half of our ward. and they have a van lol. it was soooooo cool! these families are so awesome. and one of them was the sister who came to church earlier! :) her kids are so insanely beautiful. every single one of them. it's crazy. and one of our visits was a sister who is 85ish and is the ward pianist, but can't come bc she takes care of her brother, who is even older than she is. and she's so thin and her body just isn't up to traveling alone these days. what a trooper! she's so sweet. Br. Pilapil made me sing for her a hymn verse to lift her spirits since she hasn't been to church in a while. she chose Our Savior's Love and it was nice to see her enjoy her favorite hymn. she's such a sharp lady. i hope i'm that cool at 85ish.

well, it's a new transfer now and we're off to a good start! I've got a lot to learn. sis. ronquillo expects a lot of growth in my leadership and teaching and language skills this transfer. i hope to surpass her expectations. i hold the same standard for myself. I want to be prepared for wherever the Lord puts me next, even if it's here another transfer. it probably won't be, though. aaah!

tell sis gupta that she's awesome and of course she's in my prayers! she's doing a great job in india, i know it! she'll hear from me soon and about our ward and stuffs. i still need daniel's address. started my letter to priscila. has ashlynn heard from me yet? i love her letters! aaron, how was the musical number? you'll get my letter soon, too. of course i read! doink :) and craig's in nearly finished. you're all so super great!

time for me to go. congrats to mom and lou! rae's kickin butt as always! congrats, dad! i knew you would! keep it up, joj and boo~

love sis r

I'm so full I could burst

Dearest loved ones,

thank you for all of the exciting updates and news! thank you for your love and prayers and support! i will continue to pray for you and think of you often. you mean everything to me!

I read in PMG earlier today that the most important work we will ever do is within the walls of our own home. i want to tell you that i know that is true with every little piece of me. i know it is. all of this missionary work--all the work to be done in all the world to bring souls unto Christ, whether it be for the first time, or the 50th time, an inch or a mile closer--would be completely in vain if it weren't for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is centered on Christ, His Atonement, and meant just for FAMILIES! WOW. yes. this perfect plan is just for each and every one of us, to enjoy the blessings of eternity TOGETHER. i sit here at a computer in a foreign country and tell you that somehow i know that now to be true more than i've ever known it before. and all that i ever do, i want to do it all for Him and for you. because that's how much you mean to Him and to me.

i want to testify that i know that Christ lives. I know He loves you. I know that we are to be always on His errand, as our dear prophet Thomas S. Monson has dedicated his life to be. And i know that in the midst of our greatest challenges and in the depth of our sorrows, no matter how low and far we may feel, that Jesus Christ descended below all things, and He knows and can lift us from our pains. Let us be yoked with Him! Let us partake of the joy He has prepared for us in His presence! Let's go together!
I'm not sure why I am so much consumed with emotion today, but the Spirit is really strong. I know we have living prophets on the earth today. The receive direction from God, our Father, to guide His Church and guide our lives. Their words are true. My soul delights in their words! They are the words of Christ, which tell us all things what we should do :) 2Ne 32:3

wow! it's been a week! we've had some incredible miracles, too, mommy. did you get to find what was lost? dad, i know you'll receive the answer you need. Heavenly Father won't let you or our family down as you are exercising your faith and trusting in Him. haha! thank you for your funny annie jokes lol. gosh, i laughed so hard. that ridiculous rodent. how i love that silky puff ball. fat as she may be. speaking of rodents... rats are gross. i've seen some monsters here. no ROUS, yet :) lucky me!
mom, thank you for your compliments and trust in me. i hope to better live up to your incredibly sweet and motherly view of me better every day. you do so much to motivate and lift me. what great parents i have!

i owe you all apologies on letters. i know it's been bad. please tell sis. g that she'll get one asap. and future sis. pinto, too. and poor aaron. and craig. and sam. good kids. well, the first two anyway lol! how are ricky and rob? how are the rorings? i'll send my response to bradley to you, k? how's uncle gary? is randy home, yet? he's pretty cool, that randy dude. and please tell uncle gary that elder tumanuvao is serving in samoa now instead. is that the right tumanuvao? i didn't quite find out :) oh! sister white is training!!! she's so dang cool. i love her and am so proud of her. what a great example!

i'm here for another transfer with sis ronquillo! we're happy :) i didn't wanna leave her. but it's pretty much guaranteed i'm somewhere else next transfer. i hope it's in the province! i've heard the work is just superb there and it's just awesome. i love my area, though. i don't wanna leave this ward. they're so good. and we have some super sweet souls and plenty yet to meet! i wanna see the Laggui family with a solid BD before i leave! they're so dang prepared! they just need to accept that they already know this church is true!

plus, kevin is pretty much solid. and he'll be baptized the 25th. he's gonna be such a good leader. and he has a whole family we can teach! hopefully soon! and we just got a solid referral! she's great. she knows JS was a true prophet. just needs to know the church is still true now. BOM! her name is Leah. she's super nice and super pretty.

did you get my pics last week? my time's up. i love you love you love you! singing in transfer meeting thursday. AAAAH! tell aaron goood luck in SM sunday! ;)
and can i have rae's address so i can send her a letter??? i can't believe she's in WY! it sounds like she's doing so well! don't let her not call and text everyday like me. she'll do better than me, i know it :)


love, sis r