punts, and white people - Feb. 16

Pamilya Ko!!!!

I for real have seen like 10 white people this week.  They are all very cold to my smiles, and energetic hand waves.  They must hate Mormons like most people.  Ha!  

This week I probably walked 25 miles.  Not joking.  It's great because we have no time to go running out here so since we are already sticky, sweaty, stinky, and full of the spirit.  We figure we can count it as exercise.  Right?  This was on account of being punted all day, every day.  Wed. we planned for 7 lessons.  ALL of them got punted.  We only taught 2 lessons the whole day, but they were first contact with people we met on the streets.  (We call them Preach by the ways, [PBTW]  so when I say PBTW, that is what I mean) Anyway, one of our PBTW we met last P-day during email.  Guess where he is from?  ENGLAND.  So guess what language we taught in?  ENGLISH!!!!  My companion and I started talking to him, his name is brother Bob and has children baptized in the 'Mormon Church' ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!  how perfect is that seed that was planted!  so we decided to visit him after the 4th punt, for we were going quite delirious.  We saw him walking home, and he invited us to come over.  Then he says "I'm drinking beer, so don't burn me."  Ha!  We all had a good laugh, we will teach him the word of wisdom soon enough.  Anyway, it was a really good lesson.  He had 7 kids, they all speak Tagalog, but understand English.  Brother Bob said that he thinks his kids should go back to Church, and that he should go with them!  Ya!!!  I know, so great!  They couldn't come this week, but hopefully next.  How rad would it be to baptize a white man in the Philippines!!!  It was a tender mercy (as mom would put it) totally made our week!

The nrest of the week week was filled with more punts, so few lessons were taught, always frustrating, but it's a new week!  The Meana family (the investigators where the preacher came during our lesson, then the next week all of them except the dad went to the other preachers church, and I was so sad.)  We had another lesson with them and they said that they all want to be baptized.  IN OUR CHURCH!!!  The dad has a lot of health problems,and is blessed to realize that this gospel is his answer to his prayers.  It's amazing to see miracles like this happen everyday here!  4 of the children came to church this week!  Our branch, Agoo 1 is so amazing, like SO amazing, at helping the missionaries our, they were so welcoming to the Meana family at Church!  That is what investigators need.  FRIENDS AT CHURCH!  So here is a loving commitment from me to you, help out them missionaries. Five them food, refferals, offer to sit in on lessons, and become friends with the less actives in your ward.  FUN, right?

Valentines day here is a big deal.  Everyone goes all out.  We counted, and we had 25 'Happy Valentine's day' shout outs!  sister Wright got asked out on a date, so we said she won! hahahahaha  I also rescued from the middle of the highway, what an adventure it is here!  

Love you all so much, you must know that by now!  I say it so much, but I still mean it!  

Kita Kits dolls!  

-sister Nott 

Baptisms and Preachers - Feb. 9

Hey Pamilia ko!

Very good week!  I am going to have to make this a short one!  Sorry, I am buying a songbook online today.  FINALLY!!! If anyone you know is planning on serving, tell them to buy a mini hymn book.

Tues was the craziest day here so far, we had an STL come work with us in our area.  It was awesome, we learned tons about planning, and managing our time with lessons!  We went to the Meana family, they are an investigating family with 11 kids!!!  And are all so great, everyone gathers to hear our lessons!  While we were teaching about living prophets today, a man walked up and asked in Tagalog"how can you know that you have the truth?"  I didn't fully understand, obviously, hindi mabuti sa Tagalog.  So the STL just says "Sister Nott, will you answer this mans question?"  So thinking he was genuine I answer with a massive smile and say "How we know is we read the Book of Mormon, we ponder it, and we pray to know the truth for ourselves.  We will feel the truthfulness of it in our hearts."Then he says in perfect English "No, show us a scripture that proves that the Book of Mormon is true instead of the Bible."  Wow, was my heart racing.  So then we continue to tell him how we believe that together they contain the full truth, then with a warm smile we answer his questions, and thank him for his insights.  He started trying to argue with us, when the dad of the family (bless his soul) stands and goes "okay sisters, wait for us at church, we'll be there!"  My happiness was un-measurable.  It really proved to me that when people want to know, they can see this is the true church.  I also think that the family was beyond grateful we didn't turn it to contention.  Yesterday the Dad came to church!!! but..... I guess some of his kids went to the Preachers church....  Ha..... Which surprises me seeing they were son on our side.  I'm hoping they are just seeing how it is, which is good.  We want them to know for themselves!  

Wed. was mission pres. interviews, mine was a whole 3 minutes.... HAHAHAHA  sort and sweet. 

Sat. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY)  was my first baptism, the font is under construction in our chapel so.... WE HAD IT AT THE BEACH!!!  it was the most beautiful setting you could ask for!  Sunset, we were near a karokee bar where someone was singing 'Stand by Me'  Ha, it really was lovely.  The missionary that got them so ready for baptism was able to come baptize them.  We had a few less actives come to church.  We have been praying so hard for so long to come and finally, yesterday HE CAME!!!!!  Masaya po ako!!!  

We have termites in our house, and they ate the boxes of Book of Mormons that were stored under our stairs, and devoured some pamplets.  So that is cool.  Anyway, like always.  Being here is the best, gets better everyday!  Love you all thanks for the emails, and support!!!  Till next week

-Sister Nott 

February 2: Another day, another peso.

Well, for the last 10 minutes I had about 4 Filipinos stand right behind me and very noticeably read my email to Hailee!  HA!  Have I ever said how much I love it here?  Well I do!  Every day I just see 5 men standing up in the back of trucks, people hanging out of trykes, I drink Milk and eggs that you buy from off the shelf, not the refrigerator.  I came to conclusion.  American worry too much about everything.   

This week has been a very disappointing, only 8 lessons type of week.... Almost all of our lessons were punted, and me and Sister Rea got very good at walking.  As the song says.  "and walked, and walked, and walked, and walked, AND walked."  This one day that was particular tough we went searching for a less active family.  Now remember.  The church attendance is like 17% here. So 50% of our time is focused on less actives.  So anyway, we were searching for this family.  No one knew who they were.  We were about to give up, but we felt like we should ask one more family, after asking for someone you always try to tell the person helping you about your message as well, so my companion asked if it would be okay if we came back and teach them bukas!  And she said yes!!!!!! So we went back the next day, and guess what.  This sweet family has 11 children, they all gathered around and listened so intently! even though they mostly only understood Ilicano, and Me and my Kasama don't even speak that much Tagalog..... But at the end we asked that that if they prayed to know that this church was true, would they be baptized.  And they said yes AGAIN!!!  We invited them all to church on Sunday, they didn't come, bummer.  But I really think that if we keep coming they will!  I have a good feeling about these ones.  They have sweet spirits!   

We have a baptism this week for A lovely Mom, and her 2 lovely Children, I am very excited!  even though they already had a Baptism date before we got here, I am going to just count it as my first one!  

Oh man, sorry this is a short email, but really, it was just a pretty routine week, no fun foods were eaten, and nothing too crazy happened.  This morning we had a zone activity, where we did a sort of 'Amazing Race'  It was about 8 million degrees, and about 500% humidity.  I will send a picture of what I looked like BEFORE we even started. So you can imagine what I looked like at the end.... It is hilarious how ugly I am here.... always.....  The weather here hasn't been too hot thus far, but I swear it changed over night.  It scares the lights out of me that it is still winter here.... DUN DUN DUN!!!!!  Anyway, I love you all.  Thanks for the love and support!  I read the story of Alma+Amulek, Ammon (what a stud), The fights between the Lamenites, and the Anti-Nephi Lehis, So if you want.  I would suggest re-reading them.  The Book of Mormon is the greatest Aklat ever in existence!  So many truths, good stories, and testimonies of God.  Joseph Smith was a prophet of God!  This church is the real deal!  No jokes!

-Sister Nott!