WEEK 78: HOMEBOUND

Hello everyone :) It's surreal writing this one because it means that my mission is already over. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! It feels almost like this past year and a half didn't even happen.

I'm so grateful for all the spiritual experiences I was able to have in the course of 18 months and witness the hand of God in all things. My faith has grown greatly and I feel I've changed so much more into the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be. But more important than myself, I've met so many of Heavenly Father's children that I've come to know and love greatly. Nothing could replace the time I spent on my mission and I know I will never regret the decision of making a mission. 

I just want to thank everybody for all the help and support that was given. My mission was such an amazing experience and I hope that in the future I'll be able to help others the same way that I was. 

I love the Philippines so much and it will always hold a special place in my heart and I know that one day I will go back and be with the people again that I love. And eat the food that I love!

Kabalo ako nga mga anak kita tanan sang Dios kag palangga Niya gid kita tanan. Kag tungod sina nga pagpalangga, ging hatag Niya ang iya anak nga si JesuCristo satun kag nag sakripisyo sya para satun mga sala. Palangga Niya man kita tanan. Kag kabalo man ako nga may ara kita ang isa ka buhi nga propeta subong, si President Russell M. Nelson. Amuna nag pamaagi ni Heavenly Father para maka hatag sya sang iya mga kasuguan satun hasta subong. Kag kabalo man ako nga paagi kay propeta Joseph Smith, ging panunumbalik ni JesuCristo ang iya simbahan sa kalibutan, ang Simbahan ni JesuCristo sang mga Santos sa Ulihing mga Adlaw. Kun sundon natun ang mga kasuguan sang Dios kag ang doctrina ni JesuCristo, maka balik kita tanan sa iya ginharian nga ging prepare Niya para satun tanan. Palangga ko gid si Heavenly Father kag si JesuCristo kag kabalo gid ako nga buhi sila. Kabalo man ako nga matuod ang Libro ni Mormon. Ging basa ko sya kag paagi sa balaan nga espiritu, nabal-an ko nga mga pulong gid sya sang Dios kag damu natun pwede matun-an halin sa mga ging sulat dira. Kabalo ako nga ini tanan matuod gid kag ini tanan gina bilin ko sa pangalan ni JesuCristo, amen.

He lives.

1) My batch going home with President and Sister Barredo

Week 76: COLD!

Hey everyone, it's been a good week! And for me it's been SUPER cold which honestly it probably isn't even that cold but when we go out I wear socks and when we sleep at night we don't use the electric fan. Maybe this is God preparing me for Missouri's cold weather haha. 

The work went great this week with the help of our branch members, referrals are amazing! We were able to teach three new families and some were able to attend church on Sunday. I'm actually really tired right now haha but in short they're all really great and some show some real promise. 

I'm just really grateful to be a missionary and that I have this time to serve Him, there's really is nothing like the mission life. I really appreciate all of your guys love and support to me, it means the world. Love you all!

Sister Pope

1) My beautiful area!!

Week 75: BUSCOPAN

Hey everybody, so it's been an interesting week, lots of ups and downs! But mostly ups :)

First, the passing of our prophet Thomas S. Monson startled our zone but we're also happy he'll be reunited with his wife in the next world. We were out teaching and then the Mina elders texted us that he had passed away. We were so shocked we called the finance elder, Elder Klingonsmith (my batch) and he confirmed it was true. He's been the prophet almost all my life but I'm also so happy and blessed that we live in a dispensation where a new prophet will be called and we'll receive guidance from Heavenly Father always. 

Our investigator Francis is doing great! He came to all 3 hours of church on Sunday and always has so many questions. He's still progressing well towards his baptism though and always talks with us when we buy ice cream at 7/11. He's great!

Trisha is doing great too, still progressing slowly but surely. She enjoys coming to church but is still really shy of a lot of the members given her past. We're trying to find her a good fellowshipper but everyone there is so old haha. She'll be alright though, she's doing great. 

Things are pretty much the same here though, actually there were transfers on last Monday and it's STILL us four missionaries in Sipalay; me, sister Santos, and elders Steffen and Tabligan. We've all been here for four months together now haha. I'm so grateful still though that I got to be assigned here in Sipalay, it really is the best! Although I got a little sick this week and it was a WEIRD sickness, like I felt hungry all the time even though I had just eaten, it was super weird. But I just got prescribed this medicine here called "buscopan" and I'm all better :)

That's about it though, thank you all for the love and support! It means everything :)

Sister Pope

Week 74: HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hey everyone!!! Sorry I wasn't able to email last week, I skyped my family which was really fun. Christmas was a treat, which was my second Christmas here. I love Christmas in the Philippines, people here love Jesus Christ so much so it makes the holidays here even more special. 

So actually so many miracles have happened here I don't even know where to start. Brother Mark was baptized on Dec. 23rd and it was such a special day! He was baptized with his son JM and his whole family was just so happy! He's been an investigator for ten years and we're so happy he finally made the decision to be baptized. He has such a strong testimony and we're so happy for him and his family. They're one step closer to being sealed in the temple. 

A lot of stuff has happened but I'll just write about it next week because we're really short on time. I just love you all and hope you all had a great New Year!

Sister Pope

1) one of our five Christmas dinners on the 24th

2) we played Christmas gift swap in our zone and I got a rubiks ube and 20 pesos :)

3) one of our four appointments on the 31st, that is our branch president wearing the hat

4) our mission Christmas devotional