Ups and Downs and All Around

June 2, 2014

Kumusta Lahat!

Sorry I did not email yesterday! It's transfers on Wednesday, so that means our Pday gets changed to Tuesday. And I'm not getting transferred! I get to stay in the wonderful mountainous place of Cogeo for at least 6 more weeks! Sister Judd is being transferred to Mindoro- the island that all of the missionaries are dying to go to! So since she is leaving, I get to be the one to lead the area here with my new companion... Ahhhh. This is soooo intimidating and I am kind of freaking out! I meet my new companion tomorrow and I hear she is Filipino. I sure hope she speaks English, or we are going to have to get really good at playing Charades!

On Tuesday we had the wonderful opportunity to have a conference with everyone in our mission and Elder Craig C. Christensen of the 70 came and spoke to us. It was AMAZING. He said things that I really needed to hear and listening to him was such a testament to me that Heavenly Father can answer our prayers through other people.

This week has just been a whirlwind and I really have noticed that nothing on a mission is certain! Things are always changing and you never really know what to expect. I guess it keeps things interesting, but not always very fun.

On Saturday, Jetro and Nathaniel were supposed to be baptized. They were at the chapel early in the morning with their Grandma to help us get everything set up and ready to go for the baptism at 10:00am. 10:00 rolled around and everything was ready to go and they just needed to hurry and change into the baptismal clothes. Just as they were about to go change, Brother Dabu, the second counselor, pulled Sister Judd and I aside and said he had something very confidential to tell us. We went into another room and he said that he just spoke to Jetro and Nathaniel's dad and their dad said that he didn't want the boys to be baptized until he can be the one to baptize them. Nooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!! I mean it's wonderful that he wants to get reactivated in the church and be worthy to baptize his sons, but shouldn't we have had this conversation before?? Like not 2 minutes before the service was supposed to start?? We went outside to talk to the family, and Nathaniel was sitting on a bench just sobbing because he wanted to be baptized. It completely broke my heart. Their dad had a meeting with the Bishop though and they have decided that on June 14th will be their new baptismal date. I really pray that things will all go through on that date!!

On Saturday afternoon, we took some of our investigators and less actives to see the temple. Victoria Honrejas came along with Joann and their neighbor Rose who we are teaching. The absolutely LOVED the temple and they just kept saying how they felt so much peace and that there were no troubles. They really felt the Spirit so strongly and it was an amazing opportunity for them to feel the power of the temple.

Speaking of the Honrejas family... They are doing AMAZING!!!!! We went over to drop off some fruit at their house on Saturday night and Allan said that he couldn't come to church on Sunday because he got called into work. As we were sitting in Church though as Sacrament Meeting was just about to start, Allan came walking in through the doors with Victoria, Joann, Lye, Jarry, and Thoupie. It was a MIRACLE!!! Allan said that he only ended up having to work half the day. I know that it was the Lord who provided him a way to come to church and I am SOOOO grateful that he did. We were able to go over and teach them on Sunday night about tithing. Sister Judd and I were kind of apprehensive to teach them this law because they always say how they love that in our church there are no donations. They Spirit was so strong in our lesson with them though, and they really felt and understood the importance of paying tithing, and they committed to live this law after they are baptized. Ahhh, I just LOVE this family! They are making my missionary experience so amazing!!

Well nothing too funny happened this week.... And we didn't get robbed this week either... Booyahhhhh!!!

Well that's a wrap! Thanks for all the prayers that you're sending my way! Love you all sooooo much!!

Love,

Sister Anderson