Cloudy and Perfect

To describe the weather here this week our recent convert said "its like a girl..moody" And it is so true! Some days it is so horribly hot and humid and then some it is like torrential down pour. But my favorite are cloudy days

We were walking and it was sooo hot and then it got windy and cloudy and me and Slade both agree this was our favorite kind of weather. Sorry tourist. 

Anyways this week was amazing. We had zone meeting and when we left I just felt so uplifted, I was like ahh lets just go teach all our Puerto Princessa, and then all of Palawan! But it was like almost 9 so we had to go home..haha. But dont worry I havent forgotten the goals I made, because whats the point of meetings if you dont take what you learn and apply them!? 

The Elders in our ward had a baptism this week, so we went with our investigator Stacey who is 13 and  we had a lesson with her at the church and some of the other young women came to teach with us. Right in the middle of teaching the plan of salvation the power went out, haha but we kept going and just used our phone flash light. The power was still out and right before the baptism happened the generator kicked in and it came on! Oh how the Lord works in mysterious ways. 

Scripture thought for the day: 

Alma 57:25 

"..there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds." 

The story of Helamans warriors in the Book of Mormon. It is maybe one of my favorite, but then again it is like impossible to choose. Anyways I love its relevance to me, to you, to all people. Life is hard sometimes, lots of times but we are promised the Lords help when we follow him. Just as these warriors we can come out triumphant, which does not mean we will come out perfect without any trials. We will all receive our so called wounds in life, but we will never perish if we remain faithful. 

In a talk by Gene R Cook he reiterates how, 

The Lord will NEVER tempt us, but he will ALWAYS TRY us. 

Many times people we teach loose faith when trials come, but that is not the time to loose faith! It is the time to DOUBLE your faith! It is my favorite to hear our investigators or less actives talk about a struggle and then follow up with but I know I can keep going..cause Im like I KNOW IT TOO! As we say over here KAYA MO YEN! 

And of course our Heavenly Father knows we can overcome our trials, he always has and he is waiting and willing to help us grow and learn through them. 

Keep the Faith Always! 

Sister Mahe

Pizza with Americans

A beautiful week! 

A lot of wonderful things happen this week....

like going over to one of our investigators house and as we walked up we saw him reading the Book of Mormon in his window..haha Boboy is great! He always ask great questions and really reads. He even told us when he sees his friends drinking and smoking now, he walks a different way so he doesnt have that temptation. WHAT!? Who does that..he does, baptism. 

Oh also like eating pizza with an American, we met Sister Robinson because she is on vacation here from her job in China. She was at church and took us out to dinner on Wednesday, it was weird to have an entire conversation in english. She served a mission too so it was great to get her insights! Yay I love pizza and America. 

Oh also our recent convert vanessa who is like my favorite person ever is still doing great! She is excited about the temple! And her fiance from california is coming next month and they are going to the temple so she can do baptisms for the dead for her lola (grandma). He enthusiasm is contagious! Also her fiance is cool and said he would send us kraft mac and cheese-which is like gold over here! I cant wait to meet him. I cant wait till they are sealed in the temple!!!! AHHHHHH 

We have been working a lot this week with less actives and our investigators that are really progressing and have baptism dates scheduled for march! There is so much work to be done and it is a blessing! 

In the work of salvation there is a clip and a mission president talks about How the Lord is busy hastening his work but he needs us to help in the work also he says this, 

" He uses us, so that he can create better versions of us in the process" 

The Lord will help us become the people he wants us to be!

I cannot testify enough of how true that is! So start your day with a smile and a prayer and get out and be anxiously engaged always in the missionary work, which is really just living a life that brings you and others closer to Christ. When we take care of the things that are important to the Lord he will take care of the things that are important to us! 

I hope this week brings happiness and chocolate from your valentines, 

Sister Mahe

THE CALL

Magandang Umaga Lahat

This week has been a little bit crazy over here. So here transfers are on Wednesday and no one in our house got a call from president stucki saying anyone would be leaving. It was Tuesday and we figured we were all safe since Im still in training. Then Sister Thompson got the call that she would be leaving Wednesday morning to be a Sister Training leader in metro manila! Which is awesome and she will be amazing! 

But then 10 seconds later we all just started crying. It was so unexpected and I have loved my time with Sister Thompson my mission mom and trainer! She is such a hard worker and lived by example. 

Things I learned from Sister T

-Sometimes its fun to talk in a British accent

-Dont ever give up on people

-Taco Bell should be universal

-Running is more fun when you run to the bakery

-Be happy and happiness will find you

-That I dont know how to cook, but a diet of eggs and oreos can be a balanced diet (right??) 

- And most importantly I learned to love being a missionary, to just go out and testify of the truth you know. Some will accept it, some wont. And some days it will be hard and awful, but mostly it will be wonderful and you always have the most important things with you if you have your testimony. 

I was also super nervous because I am horrible with directions and I would have to show someone else around our area. Haha so its kinda basically like shot gunning a new area..haha jk Im a little better than that. 

So Sister Slade from San Diego is my new follow up trainer and she is great too. We are still getting to know our area and meeting new people but the work has been great and people are super nice here. 

Funny moment of the week:

After Sister Thompson left during that day I was with Sister Limpin and Jones in their area and there is this one area where all the houses are on the ocean and to get out there you have to "walk the plank" cause literally there is two skinny planks of wood with no railing or anything and you just pray and walk out onto them. And it had been raining so it was super slippery. But we made it! Hahah we kept pretending like we were in a video game after each level...I think I get a gold star for dont falling in the water.

I know I am involved in the work of salvation and really its a work of happiness. We need not be shy or scared to share our testimonies with others. SERIOUSLY, people dont want to listen to us sometimes. But what does that even matter? We still have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and all we really can do is invite. Just Open your mouth and let the Spirit guide the rest. 

I hope you all are well and happy! 

Sister Mahe

What to do when a monkey grabs your bag.....

Kumusta Po! 

I hope you are all well! 

Today was kinda awesome! We woke up at about 4 to get up and get ready to head to the Underground River as a Zone activity for Pday. It was absolutely beautiful! There is a boat you take to an island and then walk to a canoe. On the island there are just monkeys walking about!!!?? So there was one walking by me and I was trying to be calm. Then it got up and tried to pull my water bottle out of my bag!?? Haha I was like ahh do I give the monkey my bag? Is it going to eat my face off? Our tour guide was just like hey monkey move and it went away..Haha whattt? It was kinda hillarious. 

So if a monkey ever grabs you just say hey monkey move and hopefully it listens like they do here. 

So this week was full and busy! 

The sister training leaders came and we went on exchanges with them, Sister Thompson and I only got a few appointments with them though because they had to catch their flight back to Manila..but the time we had was so useful! 

They are so amazing at short and powerful lessons! People dont need to sit with you for hours to know the message you share is true. When you have the spirit and bring it to homes and teach simple truths about the restored gospel, it will testify to them. 

I also just have such a gratitude for my parents especially now. I have realized I am often selfish. My teacher in the MTC always said, the time before your mission and after your mission you will always have reason to be selfish, but this time this time you have is for the Lord and others, not yourself. And it just makes me think about you mom and dad and how much you care for me and for others. You are both two of the most positive influences in my life and I am eternally grateful that I have you. 

So this past sunday we met with Boboy again who is super interested and really enjoys reading the Book of Mormon. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and committed him to follow it and start a little here and work towards be completely obedient to it. So me and Sister Thompson are looking up scriptures for him to read each day. So he has his daily dose of scripture power! 

I know there is power in reading the words of God. He has given them to us for a reason because he wants to help us! We need only ask and search out diligently in the resources he has already given us! 

Love you all and I hope with all my heart your week is full of happiness!

Sister Mahe

from Sister Vanessa's baptism

in another part of the island with our branch missionaries on Pday

Eating crocodile

Sister Thompson passing out candy. Hahah that's how you get the kids to listen. This is at the Hernandez's our investigator. And some members the Gonzalez kids who came over for Angel Hernandez' birthday.

Our zone trip to the underground river! We got to ride in a boat and wear flip flops hahha it was weird. And soooo beautiful!

The underground river

Chicken feet and Croc face

Kumusta pamilya at mga kaibigan, 

Subject line? Two of the things I ate this week! 

The Chicken feet we ate with Sister Bombase, she was coming to appointments with us and we were waiting for another sister in our ward and she bought us some bbq. It looks like feet, well claws actually. Sister Thompson looked at me and said dont ask just do. So we ate it. It was weird. 

Crocodile face, we ate that today on a little outing to the crocodile farm with our branch missionaries. It was maybe the best tasting thing I have had here yet. Sobra MASARAP! Did I feel a little bad about looking at the crocodiles after eating one? Yes. I am sorry crocs. 

Oh also I need to make a shout out to Jaqui Ramsey!!! So after last pday and zone meeting we went back to the chapel and I got a package they forgot me to give me earlier. Jaqui sent me a CD of night in Bethlehem and swiss miss hot chocolate! And the sweetest letter ever, because she knows how much I missed being home for my favorite part of the season! It was just what I needed and I nearly started crying and showed it to everyone around! Love you Jac! 

This week was really great, Im starting to get a hang of the mission life and my sense of direction is getting a lot stronger..haha jk Im still always lost but not as much as before. Anyone that knows me can attest to my inability to remember directions. Oops, but its good because most of the time we just ask people where other people and places are. And thats how you are always finding new people to teach and I know we get lost sometimes because we need to find others on a different road. 

We were looking for a less active when we met Mylean, but she didnt know so Helen and Jane came over to see if they could help. We didnt even end up finding our less active appointment but we got return appointments to teach all of them! Coincidence...I think not! 

Oh also we had Vanessa's baptism this week! Ahhh she is the greatest. When she bore her testimony it was so sweet and pure and she expressed how she cant wait for the rest of her family to join her one day too. 

Oh also I had to speak in Church on sunday..I used taglish so some of what I said could be understood..haha. But I always just rely on the Holy Spirit, because well I have to. I dont know personally every person that I talk to and the needs in their hearts. But I know our savior does and that his gospel can help ANY problem or concern. And when you speak what the Spirit would have you. You just cannot go wrong no matter how horrible the words you say sound. Because the spirit speaks to hearts and minds more clearly that any person ever could. 

Tagalog 101

Agad- Immediately

We used this word a lot with Boboy on sunday. We were talking about faith and how faith it is seriously such an action word. When you read the scriptures and pray, it is rarely ever that a loud booming response will come agad. Or when you pray for faith it doesnt just appear all the sudden in your heart and mind like magic. You have to take that leap and when you do you will soon see how our Heavenly Father will allow your small leaps of faith to become the foundation of your life. 

PS. I have so many pictures to send and hopefully I can do that next week. I am technologically challenged soo... sorry bout it. 

I love you all and pray always that you are well, 

Sister Mahe  

Oh also my zone met all of their goals for December so we are going to the UNDERGROUND RIVER next week. I hear its a seven wonder of the world. So I mean that will be kind of amazing. 

When you set goals and prayerfully plan anything is possible! 

puerto for one month? Check.

Kumusta! 

This Saturday I will have been in Puerto for one month..Wut wut, time flys when you are a missionary! And I hit my two month mark since I left home last week! 

This week is really exciting because we have two new families we are teaching and two investigators that our branch president has referred us to! Our Branch president is really the best, in council meeting he brought us Krispy Kreme donuts he brought back from mainland manila! It was the greatest! We also had FHE at his house last night with all his family ( like half of our branch) and it was masarap so good! 

And this Friday we have a baptism!!! YAYAYA. For Sister Vanessa, she is the coolest! She understands my broken tagalog and loves speaking english so I can always understand her..hahah. Her fiance is a member from California, me and Sister Thompson are already planning to go to her sealing in the temple one day..I CANT WAIT FOR THAT..I mean like I know I have to wait but seriously she is so amazing and if she wasnt getting married I'd say go on a mission because her testimony is so strong and her questions and insights always give me new reasons to be grateful for the gospel! 

Oh also the mission president and his wife are here today..yaya they are the best! And they also brought us mail!!!! We get mail whenever someone from the mainland philippines flys down to visit us in puerto princesa. 

Mom I got your package- peter pan peanut butter and nutella! Those are like GOLD here and all the other goodies, serisouly you are the greatest! 

Lex- I got your letters you are sending to Odessa missionaries- I LOVE THEM, please keep em coming you are such a super cool RM 

Cook and Henry families- I got your Christmas Cards!! Ahh they are too cute and I love your families. I love the Odessa ward and the strength it has given me as a missionary! 

Tagalog 101

Pagbabayad- Sala which is used for the word ATONEMENT literally translates to paying for sins commited. 

When Christ suffered for our sins he paid for them, when someone pays for something they are taking it upon themselves you dont have to worry about it. Allow Christ atonement to be used in your life! Allow him to take the burdens that weigh you down and let your be free to have happiness and joy! Men are that they might have joy!! 

Love you all, 

Sister Mahe

What a WEEK

Happy New Year, 

This week has been great and also really fast. New Years ever we had to be in by 6 and we got to have an FHE at the couple missionaries home with out zone. It was great Sister Burt made us Hawaiian haystacks and ice cream sundaes. 

The fireworks at night were insane! Me and sister thompson both woke up because it sounded like a mix of the world cup in brazil and also like there was a war outside. But somehow we fell asleep thank goodness! 

Are new years goal was to run more often, so we did except its kinda like a joke because we run up the street to the bakery and get some bread and buy mangos...hahah wateves.

But I think we are going to start, because on sunday we visited with a Sister that just moved from a southern island and her house floor is planks of bamboo and wood and seriously any movement by us and the whole house creeked and moved. Nothing to make you feel fat like almost breaking someones house. 

So this week has been really great with missionary work, that lady in the above story, we couldnt find her for the longest time so we had to ask around and thats when we met Edwin and his family. He moved her from a southern island too and made a return appointment with him and his wife. They are way cool and we will see them again this week. 

The Gonzalez family is always so amazing! This week Brother has been keeping all of his commitments and shared a scripture he came across in his reading from Moroni 10:32

READ IT! 

I know that we can come unto Christ and be perfected in him, there is so much that is hard about this life. But nothing gives more hope than the gospel of Jesus Christ. AND THAT IS AMAZING! 

Oh and Sunday that was just the best and not because after Church me and Sister Thompson walked for like miles in the blazing hot sun oh and did I mention it was fast sunday so we were starving! Seriously I dont even know how long we were walking..its a blur but we did meet a lady we will be teaching this week..worth it! 

But sunday was great because of church- church is always great and this week NINE people we are teaching came to church as well as TWO less active families!!!! I could have cried as they all kept coming..like ok maybe I did a little. 

It made the day just seem so much more wonderful and beautiful I was so happy! 

I hope you are all well and keeping the faith!

P.S Side note we watch hastening the work clips all the time which Tampa FL Stake is all in. I am so blessed that it is my home stake. I love seeing so many familiar faces be examples of missionary work!! You are the greatest! 

Love you all 

Sister Mahe