A Portal for Demons!!!

May 25, 2014

Good Morning po!!!

This week has been great! Last Monday we went to the Bishop's house for dinner. Just as we got there, the Bishop left, saying he was going to go grab something. We didn't understand what was going on, but went inside anyways. One of the Bishop's daughters came up to me and Sister Judd and said, "Who's birthday is it?!" I was so confused at what was going on, and Sister Judd just looked at me and said, "Shoot..." Apparently the day before she was joking that tomorrow was her birthday, but the Bishop's wife didn't get the memo that she was kidding... The Bishop came back an hour later with a fancy cake for her... SO we celebrated her birthday!!! It was soooo funny and she felt awful, but I didn't mind because we got fed good food!!

This week Sister Rupp got to work with me and Sister Judd for two days while Sister Racaza had some things to do in Marikina. It was so fun to work with her and see how she teaches. I love being able to observe other missionaries and see how they do things. On Thursday it was her 1 year mark, so we decided to celebrate!! We went to JolliBee for dinner (super exciting..) haha and then on Friday we got a big cake and celebrated with our district after our service project! Hitting my 1 year marks seems like ages away, but I know that it is going to come faster than I can imagine... Ah! Just got to keep enjoying every single minute!

Guess what?! I had Spam for my very first time ever!! And it actually wasn't bad! We went over to Sister Marivik's who has two special needs boys, and helped her clean her house. Afterwards she fed us fried spam sandwiches. My first two sandwiches were fine.. They actually tasted pretty good! But then Marivick made me have a third... Oh man.. It took everything within me to not hurl! I think I can go without having a spam sandwich for quite some time now!

We had our ward family home evening on Saturday and invited all of our investigators and less actives. It actually went pretty well and was fun, except there were hardly any members there.. Just the ones that were in charge to bring food! Oh well! I think everyone had a good time! We gave some workshops about the basic beliefs of the church and missionary work and then played water balloon volleyball and had a sack race. It was HILARIOUS watching the Relief Society and the Elders Quorum get involved in the games- even some of the old men were doing the sack race!! All in all, it was a fun activity!

Well on Saturday we have the baptism of Nathaniel and Jetro Efondo, two young boys that we have been teaching for about a month now. There Grandma is a member and very active, and she takes them to church each week. Their Dad is a less active, and since we have been teaching his boys, he has started coming back to church! It has been great to see what an influence the example of his young boys has had on him!

 

NAKAKATAWA

So we have a new investigator, May, who is the daughter-in-law of Bro Benedicto, one of the members in our ward. She has been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately and every time we talk to her or Bro Benedicto, they just keep saying that something is so wrong with her body and they can't quite figure out what it is. While at the ward FHE, Bro Benedicto was talking about May's situation and was saying how May has been using a medication called Vick's to try to help her sleep at night. Then out of nowhere, he turned to Sister Judd and asked, "Do you think Vick's could be a portal for demons?!" Hahahaha sooooo basically they think May is posessed with evil Spirits... Hmmm.... not quite sure how to deal with this situation! Haha

Well things are still going great here in the Philippines! I love every single thing about it here and I wish you all could come and join in on all of these great experiences here- There really is nothing like it. I know that I have been called here for a reason and I am so grateful for each opportunity that I have everyday to try to understand more so what my purpose is and how I can fulfill it. It's definitely really hard work, but it makes me so happy. Last night it started raining really hard and so all 4 of us sisters ran outside to play in the rain. As I looked around and stood peacefully in the pouring rain, I couldn't help but think how privileged I am to know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each and everyone of us so much. I know that he is so aware of me and each one of you. He is in the details of our lives and I know that His plan for us is perfect.

Thanks for all of your love and support! I pray for you all and hope you have a wonderful week!!

Mahal ko kayo!!

Sister Anderson

 

 

Night Time Visitors

Well Hello Once Again!!

I really cannot believe how fast these weeks fly by here! I knew that time was going to go by fast, but I never understood how fast it really would go! This week has been great! We weren't able to get a lot of lessons in, but the ones we were able to teach went really well.

Last Wednesday we had Zone Conference for the entire day in Cubao. We had wonderful workshops and the theme of it all was "Increase Expectations". It was such a great experience to me and I am so excited to start increasing my expectations and my faith. I know that this area is so ripe and there are SO many people who are ready to hear the gospel, but I just need to have that faith that the Lord will lead us to these people and that He will provide miracles in this work.

The Honrejas Family is doing great! We were only able to teach them once last week, but they are really progressing. We had to move their baptism to June 28th because they missed church and Brother was struggling with the Word of Wisdom. As of last time we visited them though, Brother Allan hadn't smoked it quite some time- YAY!! This was such a miracle and I think he is finally understanding more so the importance of this commandment and the reason why Heavenly Father asks us to obey all of His commandments.

Yesterday was ward conference and because no one showed up last week for choir practice for ward conference, Sister Judd, Rupp, Racaza. and I got to sing both of the musical numbers yesterday! I think it turned out okay... Maybe... Then again, a good portion of the people here are tone deaf, so it probably sounded just fine to them!

The language is coming little by little. It is definitely not as discouraging as it was. I have never prayed so much and so hard to receive help with something, and the Lord is literally pouring out his blessings upon me. I am still so very far from being fluent, but I know that Heavenly Father is blessing me with the gift of tongues. There is absolutely no way that I could be speaking this language without the help of the Lord. I am feeling more and more comfortable conversing with people... although I definitely don't understand everything that they are saying. I just smile and nod and say, "really?" a lot and it seems to really work out in my favor!

Nakakatawa... Funny... or maybe not so funny..

So you are probably wondering what the title of my email means... Well on Wednesday night, Sister Judd and I went to bed at the usual time and everything at the house was normal. Sister Racaza and Sister Rupp had gone on exchanges in Marikina, so it was only the two of us our our apartment. During the night I woke up to a huge crash somewhere in the house. I woke up startled and had a feeling that someone was is our room. I tried to adjust my eyes to the dark, but couldn't seem to get a good look at our room because it was pitch black. Sister Judd didn't wake up, and so I just tried to go back to sleep, hoping that the big crash wasn't anything to be worried about.

In the morning, I went outside the door that is connected to our bedroom to the place where we hang our laundry. It is fully exposed to the sunlight, and the wall is just iron and wire. I noticed that one of wires to hang our clothes on was on the floor with all of our laundry. I quickly made the connection that that was what the huge crash was. Sister Judd and I couldn't figure out how it happened, but just figured that the wire was weak so it just fell. I was eating breakfast downstairs when Sister Judd called down to me and said that she couldn't find the cellphone. She then went onto say that she saw that the wire on the wall in the laundry room was slashed. The whole was pretty small- too small for an adult to fit in and that only a small child could fit through. As we were talking, the doorbell rang and we went downstairs to open the door. It was our district and zone leaders. They asked us if we had our phone and we told them that we couldn't find it. They went on to show us some text messages they received from our number last night at like 1 and 2am. They were like, "I love you, babe," and that kind of stuff. Elder Masula said that he called our number this morning and that a grown man answered. Elder Masula asked where Sister Judd and I were and they said that we had a sleepover at his house last night and that we were still asleep. Elder Masula asked if he could talk to us, and the man hurried and said the we just left... AHHHHH!!! How creepy is that!! There was, just as I had felt, a person in our room... Right next to our beds and could have been watching us sleep... AHHHHHHH... And they went through Sister Judd's bag which was sitting right next to her bed and got our phone. I am just glad they didn't take anything else!! The next night I didn't sleep at all and kept having dreams that people were breaking in and reaching their arms through the windows and grabbing me... EWWW!!! We still don't have a new phone yet, but the District Leaders talked to President and he says he highly suggests that we move... Man!!!! I don't want to move! Our house is way too nice.. Man!! So until we have to move, we just set up boobie-traps so that if people try to break in, we will here them!!! Don't be worried, Mom! I am fine, I promise!!

Welllll that was the excitement of my week!! Pretty cool, huh? I really am loving it here and I cannot imagine serving anywhere else!!! The Philippines is the BEST!!!!!! Thanks for everything!! Hope to hear from you all soon!!

Love,

Sister Anderson

                                                               Shanin and Eunice

Mother's Day

May 11, 2014

Hello and Happy Mother's Day po!!

It was so great to talk to my family today and see their cute faces and hear their voices! I was afraid that talking to them would make me homesick, but it actually just gave me the motivation to keep pressing on. I feel so blessed that they are supporting me 110% and giving me all of the love and encouragement that I need. They are the best! And to my mom and all the moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!!

On Monday we went over to Sister Agcamaren's house because it was her son's birthday. We brought over a cake and she made pansit for dinner. It was a fun night, and Sister Agcamaren was feeling quite a bit better. She is still struggling to get money so that she can pay for all of her medical bills, so she made homemade peanut butter to sell... You know me.. I LOVE peanut butter!! And so I bought some and it is so sugary and good! Man, I have never eaten so much peanut butter in my whole entire life since being here in the Philippines. Who would've thought?!

On Tuesday we went to Cubao for a Trainer- Trainee meeting. President Revillo spoke to us and said something that I found really profound. He said, "Whenever you need help, call on the Lord to send angels. You are entitled to that." Wow. How amazing is that? Not only as missionaries, but as literal children of God, we are all entitled to the help of Heavenly Father to send us angels. These angels can be our neighbor, a family member, or really anyone who may cross our paths. We can also receive help and strength from the other side of the veil. I know that because Heavenly Father loves each of us so much, he is just waiting to send help our way; we just need to ask. Not only that, but we too have the opportunity to be that angel in others lives. How amazing!!

We were finally able to meet with Judy Ann and Philip on Wednesday!! And they had food! We went back and taught them again on Friday and things were great. Judy Ann has gotten a job at a Chinese restaurant and so we thought that that would solve their money problems. Yesterday before church though, Judy Ann texted us and asked us to come over. We went over and they said that they have no food or money. Judy Ann doesn't get her paycheck for a while, and Philip doesn't get any money until Friday. I hate being in this situation!! It is the hardest thing to see.. and I don't know what more we can do to help because as missionaries we can't be giving money and food out to everyone. It is so hard!!

On Saturday was the baptism of Shanin and Eunice!!! It was a little hectic at first because we didn't have a baptismal suit large enough to fit the baptizer, but we were able to get it all figured out and it was a wonderful experience for everyone. So many people were there to support the girls, but most importantly, their mom (Beth) came. She was refusing to come to the baptism, making excuses that she didn't have any clothes and yada yada yada.. BUT we got her to come and she was so glad she did. After the baptism, Shanin got up and bore a sweet testimony and began to cry. Beth was so touched and began to cry too. The Spirit there was so special and I really feel so humbled that Heavenly Father allowed me to be a part of this process for Shanin and Eunice. Their faith is such an example to me and they have taught me more than they will ever know. Watching them enter into the waters of baptism was one of the best joys I could ever imagine. I really don't have words to express how blessed I feel.

Nakakatawa

The other day we went to the ATM to get money and we saw a lady who we have taught a few times. She came over to us to say hello and then out of nowhere, she started rubbing my stomach and back up and down and just kept saying, "Sexy, sexy!!" Ahhhh I felt so violated!!! Haha

Well all in all this past week was great! I just LOVE serving in the Phlippines!! I really cannot imagine a greater place to serve. I love everything about it here and I know without a doubt in my mind that this is where the Lord needs me to be.

And of course I can't end without expressing my thanks to my sweet mom! I am so grateful to have grown up with such an amazing mom who has taught me to love the gospel. I couldn't have asked for a better example in my life. She has so many amazing qualities and it is evident by everything that she does that she loves the Lord. She is so selfless and always puts others first. She has always been there for me, and although we are far away right now, she is always is my thoughts and prayers. Thanks to all of the women in my life who have taught me and loved me and supported me. Happy Mother's Day to you all!!

Love,

Sister Anderson