Chickenbuya

Hey everyone, welcome back to another week in the promised land. Just a little update. I got some fake virus last week called Chikungunya. 0/1000 would not recommend. It's pretty much dengue without the platelet problems but your joints hurt like super bad. Pretty much Saturday- Thursday I woke up every morning feeling like a monster truck went x games on my ankles. Not a fan. It also made me super tired so I had to take a fat nap everyday. Kinda nice but it also made me feel like I was lazy and like all of our interested friends would decide they actually hate us. 

Anyway, I conquered Chikungunya. We are victorious.

Here's the rundown

MONDAY

8 hours in the hospital. They took my blood.

TUESDAY

I was able to go to DCM and here is photo proof. Meet the new and one time only Makato District!! We said goodbye to Sister Licudine last week RIP. Sister Blake joined the crew. And then this last week Elder Bitner went home too. #gocougars. #makatodistrictforlife. After DCM I slept for 4 hours.

(see pictures)

Tried to work that night and I only made it through one appointment but we took a cool picture. This is the mighty warrior Chikungunya. 

WEDNESDAY

We were able to work most of the day and my nap became only 2 hours. But I think mocked Chikungunya because on Thursday it came back with fierce revenge.

Met a dog named Bambi who tried to eat our free Rambutan. He made me miss my dog but also made my day.

Sister Castañaga kept telling me to do the chicken dance. 

We had a FHE with the Patacsil family! I think I have written about Tatay Patacsil before. He had a stroke but after receiving a priesthood blessing he is able to stand and can almost walk on his own. We are trying to find him a wheelchair so he and his wife (she's a member) can come to church together. 

(see pictures)

THURSDAY

Thursday was the last stand. Pretty much my entire body broke out in rashes.  Anyway, after Thursday I was feeling pretty good. No pictures of Thursday, just darkness. Joke lang

FRIDAY

By Friday I was doing pretty good. We had exchanges with Kalibo 1st! Bout silingon I worked with Sister Hulse again! We ate cereal and spoke in fast English. 

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SATURDAY

Saturday is the day we invite everyone talaga to church. We had like 15 appointments planned and I think 3 of them went through. That's not what we like to see. 

It was also transfer calls and guess what… neither of us are transferring. Bruhhhhhh. Sister Castañaga and I will be together for like 5 months and then she's going home so I probably will be here for another cycle after that too. It's giving ro anwang. Akeanon ako abi. Joke lang. I guess there's something else I need to learn here. 

LETS GO SISTER CASTAÑAGA. with this in mind here is some exclusive Sister Larson and Sister Castañaga content

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Love you sis 

SUNDAY

This is God’s work. We had 8 people come to church.  We also had our first gospel essentials class for new members and interested friends. We learned about the Atonement. One of our friends tatay Benji was reading from the Book of Mormon and he was so excited about the word “expedient”. We also saw nanay Lilia testify to one of our new friends, who is also her brgy kagawad, about who Jesus is to her. Tender.

Later that night we had a FHE In brgy. Aliputos. I felt very bobo but I think it went well. No pictures yet. Maybe next week.

SPIRITUAL STRETCH

In a talk from President Nelson called “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives” President Nelson shares who to access more of Christ's power. He talks about stretching ourselves spiritually. He says. 

“ When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do. When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you.”

I am so grateful my mission has provided me with many spiritually stretching opportunities. I know we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I would encourage us all to stretch ourselves spiritually. Don't give up the ground you have already one. God loves you and is anxious to give you greater access to His divine ability and eternal love.

Kasayud ko gid matuod ro simbahan na dya. Palangga kita ni Jesucristo ag gusto nana buligan kita. Matuod man ro aklat ni mormon. Kon magbasa kita masayran naton para sa kaugalingon naton. Gapamatuod ko kinyo na nagbalik din ro Sinbahan ni Jesucristo paagi kay propetang Joseph Smith. Palangga ko kamo ag palangga ko si Jesucristo.

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SISTER LARSON

Philippines, Iloilo Mission