Skadoosh

Cristine went crazy this week. That's the name of the bagyo in the Philippines rn and it actually hasn't been too bad in our area but it has led to me falling into mud and flood water a few times. Still working on that bike- person coordination. But a lot happened this week so we're going day by day

MONDAY

Ok so like nothing happened on Monday but I did conquer my fear of singing in front of people. #thatonesforyouliam.

TUESDAY

The highlight of Tuesday was meeting the Nemis family. We had met the Mother once before and on Tuesday we were able to find their house. We met the father and one of their sons in law as well. Their son in law, brother Jim, told us he has 3 siblings who served missions. HUHHH???? Yah. He was laughing and saying “hahaha I'm the only one who's not a member in my family”. Then he was like “they all went to Cebu (the temple)”. And we were like. “Ummmm can we come back here next week? And do you want to be baptized?”. JOKE LANG we didn't say that. But they were really interested and we went back to them on Saturday…… go read the Saturday section. 

We also had DCM in the morning and then later the Roxas Sisters and Sister Bacoy stayed at our apartment and we got to work with them for a little!

I worked with Sister Ondivillaaaaa yayayayayay. It had been raining really hard and this family lives down a narrow alley. I saw there was water but I thought it was only an inch or two deep. I thought wrong. We got about halfway and then -bucsh- foot deep delicious dirt water. We had to wring out our socks once we got there. Worth it because our new members are reading the Book of Mormon. But legit we had to spray down our feet with alcohol after. #saynotoparasites.

(see pictures)

WEDNESDAY

Wednesdayyyyyy we had zoneeee connnn. We woke up in the wee hours of the morning and there was no power. Dang it Crisitne. But zone con was perfect. 

We talked a ton about goals and plans. I'm so grateful for the practical skills, like goal setting, that I've learned on my mission. But my favorite part was when President Pearson taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He said “Our life's mission is submission.” We can do all things through Christ- IF we align our will with God's through repentance. It was what I needed to hear.

Proof that Sister Panuelos and I don't know how to take pictures.

A sorta blurry photo of Kalibo Zone. See if you can find me *hint- I'm the only white female under the age of 60.*

(see pictures)

THURSDAY

Thursday we started our exchanges in….. BORACAY. sheeeeeeesh. We weren't sure how safe the boat ride there would be because well theres a bagyo but it was actually fine. OK TIME FOR PICTURES. 

Trying to be cute but its a lil windy. Also last time I paid the fee for a person who lives in the Philippines but not Akeanon but this time I had to pay the foreigner fee. Yah my ticket was twice as much as sister’s. Not cool. 

(see pictures)

FRIDAY

I worked with Sister Lucas and oh my gulay she is so good. She's still a trainee but I was just taking notes the whole time. Like ok ok that's how you do it gali.

I met one of the new members in Boracay, Sister Dolores! She was so cool and then went with us to our next appointment. She shared her testimony to a couple trying to get their marriage figured out before getting baptized. I felt like it was borderline marriage therapy and then Sister Dolores saved it with the most simple, pure testimony of how God has helped her since being baptized. Overall, the work in Boracay is giving onward ever onward. But legit I was so inspired. 

I also have a video of me dancing with Nanay but I can't figure out how to out it in my email.

We tried to take cool pics but Cristine mostly saaaid no.

Also I may or may not have extended a baptisimal date to a member. Turns out she doesn't need one of those.

Anyway we got stuck thete for another night because I forgot the ferry only ran until 6 pm. Cristine strikes again.

(see pictures)

SATURDAY

We woke up super early to get back to the mainland. The van ride back was once again nauseating. I made a collection of selfies from our travel back to Numancia. #feelinblessed

We also went back to the Nemis family and on the way had to walck through so much mud and I may or may not have fallen into said mud. We were super excited to teach them but once we got to their house we were greeted by like 15 drunk men. Luckily nanay was there too. After inviting them to church and all of them asking if we have husbands we headed out. Guess what. They didn't come to church. Shocking.

(see pictures)

SUNDAY

We are finally starting to see some progress in our member coordination. After I wrote all our KIs on the board I was like “see this number rigjt here? This says none of you are helping”. No but actually it was a chastizement with love. And it proved to be affective. We finally had some adults commit to working with us and they scheduled some activites for our IPs to come to. SKADOOSH. *spell check*

Later that day we had two ysa work with us. Sister Kaizen had a broken bike so Bro Jeff rode the broken bike Sister Kaizen rode my bike and I rode Bro. Jeffs massive bike. The one with wheels desined for a tractor? People take them like bouldering. Yah it was cool.

That night we had a FHE with the Crisipino family in Navitas! They were able to see how the gospel will actually bless their family. I was so grateful people actually attended. At one point a lizard jumped on me. That was the entertainment for the night. Oh yah and it was on the beach.

(see pictures)

REMEMBERANCE OF THEIR DUTY

In Alma 4:19 It says “And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty..”. In this part of the Book of Mormon Alma is peparing to preach to the members in Zarahemla. While originally I thought of this verse for members I realized it also applies to me. I had become pessemisitc about my area but thats not my job. God calls his missionaries, God calls his members to specific places, or callings for his own purposes. Our life's mission, as President Pearson taught in zone conference, is submission. There is a reason I am still in Numancia. There is a reason we have the callings we have. There is a reason we are given the challenges we have. It is up to us to remember our duty and submit our will to God's. 

SISTER LARSON

PHILIPPINES, ILOILO MISSION

AUGUST 2023- DECEMBER 2024