On top of his arrival, we had sister missionaries put back in Malilipot. (apparently there were sisters here before I got here, but when I arrived, they got pulled out because one of the two of them had to go home for medical reasons) This marks my first district with sisters, and seeing as my companion is the District Leader, I expect I'll learn a lot about how to coordinate with sisters. Their names are Sister Rubia and Sister Notarte. Sister Rubia actually was assigned in Malilipot some months ago, so she was hailed in the branch with lots of hugs and smiles from the sisters of the branch. Sister Notarte is from the same batch of missionaries as Elder Pangilinan, my last companion, and seems very nice, if a bit shy.
This week I hit a landmark in my Tagalog. Elder Nierves was teaching, and said a word in English (guilt) and then hit a mind block when he tried to think of that word in Tagalog. I managed to come up with it and offer it to him. (Pagkahiya) That actually happened two or three times this week. I patted myself on the back after that lesson. Also, I've hit the point in Tagalog where I've started diverting time and resources to learning the true native language here, Bicol. There are little to no written resources in the language, so learning it will be a bit difficult, but I managed to get my hands on an old Gospel Principles book in both English and Bicol (I had to sell my right leg to get it. Mom, if I have a peg leg when I come home, will you still love me? :P ) so that should offer some help, though the Bicol they use in the book is called Naga Bicol, which is a bit different from the native dialect they speak here, so learning it should be a bit interesting. I'm determined though.
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| First grary hair. |
This week we also had a signal one typhoon, which means it was only itty bitty. It consisted of heavy winds and rain that came in at angles steeper than forty-five degrees. At some points I was holding my umbrella straight out in front of me and couldn't see anything past it as we walked. So much fun.
We've been teaching three relatives in the Branch named Al Jake, Christian, and Don. We've been teaching them the Restoration, and have invited them several times to pray. This last week, we asked about their experiences, and Christian and Don indicated that they didn't really have anything to report other than the fact that they prayed. Al Jake, however, said he felt something, but he didn't know if it was his answer. He described his feeling as a "lightening" (not to be mistaken with lightning. That's not the good kind of answer). It made me so so so happy. I let him know that that was indeed one way God answers prayers. Sometimes we carry burdens we don't even know we have, and we don't know they're there until their lifted off our shoulders, or until someone else lends their hands to the burden. When we got home, I looked up Matt 11:28-30 and read it through several times. It reads:
28. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I know that if we'll take His burden upon us, He will indeed make our burdens light. I know that He answers prayer, though He may require patience at our hands before He gives that answer. I know He loves us and has a plan for us. I love you, He loves us. Have a wonderful and love-filled week.
Love,
Elder English
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| My first district with sister missionaries, and the first one where I'm the only foreigner. |
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