March 16: Dull Bus Rides, and Marriage advice

Hello po family!

It has been a good week here as a missionary in the Philippines!  I haven't become a Filipino missionary.... YET!  For I can't squat for hours on end, seriously, you give me a good 3 minutes of squatting and I panic for fear of my body snapping off my legs.  I also can't speak Tagalog. BUT, I have gotten very skilled at cleaning cobwebs off the ceiling, and man, can I get my white clothes white.  So white that they practically sparkle!  So slowly and surly I will become Filipina. 

Monday we had FHE with a Recent Convert where I tried Ilicano food for the first time.  I can't tell you the name... because I don't know it.  But dang, it is good.  I also learned that the best part on fried fishes are the parts that us silly Americans take off.  The fins, and the skin right by the head.  I learn that in America we waste the good parts of food for fear of choking on a fish bone or something.... how often does that really happen?  The family that had us was so very happy to have us there.  The Elders did a hilarious game that got about all the children in the brgy. involved!  They have such a sweet feeling in their house.  Full of lots of love.  

We started teaching a man named Rommie, he is about 60 or so.  Him and his wife just moved back from Sadi Arabia because she was a COOK FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY!!!  They have a beautiful home.  Although the wife doesn't seem too interested yet, Rommie says he has a lot of questions, he reads the pamphlets but says"It's just like the Catholic Church." So we taught the Restoration and Joseph Smith, It was a very powerful lesson.  Although Filipino, they speak to us in English, so we are able to teach so much in such a short time period!  Sana as we continue teaching Sister will join us.  There is a shirt that everyone wears here that says NEVER GIVE UP! I covet it whenever I see it because I want one so bad.  But I repent.  magsisisi ako.

We also started teaching a born again family.  That is also a tough one.  They are very dedicated in their religion (Family, you know that I was afraid the would be my main downfall as a missionary.  I really like when people are dedicated to even religion.  It is so rare now.  Everyone here is Christian.  But not religious.  Does that make sense?  But ever since being here I see the importance of the FULLNESS OF TRUTH in people lives. So it is easier that I thought to want to continue teaching them.) Born Again are pretty similar to LDS in a sense that they don't believe in statues of Mother Mary, or crosses in their home, or church.  We are going to introduce the BOM of friday, and I am way jazzed.  Hopefully they can feel the difference. Lessons are getting easier for me.  I obviously have days that I struggle like a tipped over cockroach.  But the spirit is much more prevalent more often!  

We also had quad zone training.... guess where..... BAGUIO!!!  I finally got to go.  The bus ride was far too mild for my liking, and even though it was still hot.  It was a nice break from the sauna I call home.  Elder and Sister Ardern from the area 70 spoke to us!  It was really good!!!  He started out with "We weren't going to talk much about this, but we fill impressed to talk about how missions prepare you for your eternal companion!" and for the next 1 1/2 we had really good.... marriage counsel. HAHAHAHAHA!  They kept telling story after story of missionaries who marry each other after they return home.  I was waiting for the "DON'T DO THAT" part that never came.  Oh boy, we are going to have a serious lock your heart problem in our mission now!  Ha.  But I guess we are never to young to learn... right?  Ha he also said this amazing quote. (You can make it into a wall sticker, or t-shirt.  If your heart so desires.) "Look OUT, before you look IN.  Look UP to God, before you look DOWN with despair.  Look FORWARD with faith, before you look BACK to what you had." -Elder Ardern  Him and his wife went on to tell us amazing advice how to be an effective, respected, obedient missionary!  It got me so excited to do missionary work!!!  

So I am pumped, I am healthy, I am Happy!! 

Love you all!!!

-Sister Nott

love you all, this is for your benefit!

Hello my friends and family!  Mom, and Family.  I heard your chant about longer emails, pero, I have 85 unread emails, even though I am pretty sure that 60 of those are from mom.  HAHAHA  I am going to write a quick 6 liners, so I can answer all the emails, that way every other week I won't be stressing the way I do!  Deal? deal. 

This was a good week!  I got a lot of you dear elders, I think you may have the wrong address though, so the mail is taking longer?  Not sure, but probably.  so here it is again. 

Okay, so good week.  We had to kill a baby python that was in our kitchen yesterday, then we had to burn it because our Filippino housemate said that they can take pictures with their eyes, and other snakes can hunt you down.  probs not true, but it scared me enough to just do as she said, then bury the ashes.....  We had a decent amount of lessons compared to the amount of punts we received, I scored us another straight english speaking investigator, so life is good!  Love it here.  It will be sad the day one of us gets transferred.  Maybe we will be lucky and it will never happen! 

Tell Eric and Linda CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  I am so so so so so very happy for them!!!!!!  They are a good couple, and will have the greatest marriage!  send me pictures when it happens!  OKAY?  

That's all for now!  

until next week

-sister nott!  

March 2: Tan lines, transfers, and Summer.

Remember how every letter I say that it's not here?  I swear the next week out beats it, but on the plus side.  I have a sweet 'Toms' tan line (they are a type of shoe Mom+Dad, I thought I should specify because you are kind of old and don't know that sort of thing.)  They are like crazy expensive in America $60 I think.  Here, they are 110 peso's, that is like less than $5!  Plus they are the most comfortable shoes to prosylite in.  Now, even when I take them off, my feet still looks like I'm wearing them!  #missionaryproblems


-Right as I'm about to be offended that this is all she writes to us.....


oh wow, embarrassing.  I didn't finish.

We were able to go to an FHE on Monday at a members house!  It was great.  The sister was so sweet, and made Sardine pancit!  I kid you not FAM BAM. Everyone should eat sardines always.  So tasty.  Maybe better than tuna.  Not the canned tuna here, for it is 50 times better than America.  We also played some games, taught some scriptures!  FHE is a great way to have the members warm up to the missionaries, so we always like when someone offers!  

Tues. was a sad day.  Sister (nurse) Wright got transferred..:(  She was in my batch, and my MTC roommate since we aren't done training it was a big surprise.  But she is 23, a RN, has a killer testimony, and a definite next STL.  so president probably wanted to start her on training.  She did a lot of the same things Mary would do.  So she was a blessing for me.  Mares, no one can ever replace you. OBVI!!! but her being similar made me feel you got to be here with me a little longer.  I guess Heavenly Father know I needed to slowly get used to not having you to text whenever I want.  but sometimes I send you little brain wave texts, do you get them?  Since she, and our zone leader got transferred, and Sister Wright+Cardenio had a baptism that we all attended on the beach.  After we took some "jumpshots" on the beach.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE "jumpshots"  No one jumps at the right time, and at the end everyone is frustrated.  But here is a mission miracle.  We had not one, but TWO perfect shots!  What a good day.

We were able to teach more lessons than last week.  We found a few new investigatiors, one is really promising and sweet, probably 45 with 2 kids.  Single mom.  I love the way peoples eyes light up when you share this AMAZING message on how we can live with our families in Heaven FOREVER!  It truly is a 'glad tiding'  Alma 39:15  I love even more when you have amazing member families who help this work along, by being so loving to everyone!

Wed. we had another FHE at on of those missionary member families!  Thye taught me and sister Wright )transfers wasn't until Thursday) how to make pancit, and Banana turon!!!<---- my favorite!  All it is is banana rolled in brown sugar  wrapped in a turon( i don't know how to describe it.  just ask Braden McCoy!  Ha)  I also get to eat fresh mango's whenever I feel I want one, and tried the heavenly fruit of Guava.  So ya.  Life is good!  

The Meana family always brings :D to everyone.  We went with our amazing fellow shippers to teach them.  They said how they read the Book of Mormon, then talked about what they liked, and discussed the questions their questions, they said how they have already started talking to others about reading it!  They they informed us that we couldn't come the next day because they will be finding some treat of snack to sell to have money for the tryke ride to church!  I'm telling you, solid family.  Oh man, We love them so much!  

We went to teach Brother Bob's family (he is the man from England with the Filipino children)  Anyway, he is abroad for work for 2 months, darn, but we still play games and give little lessons to his children.  We went at a time where only 3 were awake, so we got ready to teach them, they grabbed their Book of Mormon, sat down, got up and left.  So we waited a little while in the silence.  No one was coming, so we popped our head around the corner and they were ALL asleep.  HAHAHAHA!  They were bored before we even started!  It gave us a good laugh, and one more punt....

I did a PBTW to a Filipino that has lived in Cali for the past 13 years as an engineer, I haven't heard so much curse words in a while!  Ha, he also had a lot of 'swag' so automatically I did some swag back, remembered that i am a missionary now, and corrected my ways. Way to represent the church sister Nott..... Old habits die hard.... 

So ya, I would say we had another enjoyable week here in Agoo!  A man was waiting for us to walk past him so he could pass us his number and said to us "call, calling ako" Ha!  but Sister Rea lost the phone, Ha, oops..... 

The people here are the best!  Truly, this is a chosen land.  No wonder President Hinckley loved it so much!  

I love you all, Happy Birthday Adam, I hope it is the best so far!  Lots of Loves, and Filipino hospitality!  

-sister Nott

I very much miss my sister -Mary

Feb. 23: Ya, I don't know!

Okay, so I just read the Mom's subject line that says "We want longer emails"  HAHAHA!!! I really do try but it is hard when you have had 3 weeks in a row of punts!  Ha, so sorry friends and family.  but this might be another short email for not much happens when you walk and walk all day except for rad tans, and the excitement of all the different fruit that is in EVERY tree around you!  

No matter how hard this week may have been, Me and Sister Rea just seem to laugh harder every time we get punted.  it might be because it is so ironic, or because we get delirious.... either way, our spirits aren't dampened! 

Transfers are this week, and we find out tomorrow if any of our house mates are leaving us.  None should be because we are a house full of trainers/trainees.  Pero, still scary.  I know that my mission will be full of transfers, but I think that our house is the best it can possibly be.  We all get along, laugh, and cook Filipino food so We have been praying that if President feels inspired for one of us to leave, hopefully he will change his mind, and will scribble it off his list!  

Wednesday was a pretty average one.  a lot of punts, I don't know if it is the time of year or what.  People just really don't want to listen to us.  Ha, probably around Easter is will pick back up, and then again at Christmas.  HAHA!  but serious.  So a lot of walking, we finally got a lesson in about Joseph Smith to a new investigator, her Dad was a member but died a few years ago.  She is majo (kind of) receptive, so hopefully she will keep letting us come.  Then it was followed with more walking.  We only had time for one more appointment, so we prayed hard that one of our sweet less actives Sister Eswesta would be home.  and guess what?  SHE WAS!!!!  She is the funniest, person with the kindest heart.  She tells us who is praying, and is so good with answering questions, and then tells us when we are done and need to leave!  Ha, however now that we are friends, we have to politely leave for she could talk to us all day!  Anyway, she was so sweet.  She told us how happy she was we came to visit her, and then at the end of our lesson of "keeping the Sabbath day Holy" She gave us pancit, rice, and pepsi (remember how I never drank caffeine before my mission, and now I drink it quite regularly?  sorry Mom.....)  She truly was a blessing to us in our time of despair.  

Thursday was a lot the same, we heard some bad news about a few of our precious souls, just some struggles they have, it is never easy to see people choose the wrong. but luckily we were able to forget all our sorrows when we visited our Meana family!  No matter what, we always leave with smiles.  They speak straight Ilicano, and they understand Tagalog, but not mine.  obvi. So we were able to go with Two of the members that speak ilicano  We have amazing members here, which I say a lot.  But it is true.  They take so much time our of their busy schedules to come to lessons, share such great insight, and let me tell you.  They have such powerful words to say.  A lesson is always filled with the spirit when a member is there to help!  We planned a lesson on 'praying often'  which turned into praying for answers, then to the book of Mormon, then to importance of family, back to answers from the book of mormon, and praying.  It was a very powerful lesson.  They excepted a IBD, so if all goes well they will be baptized March 29th!!!!  yippee!!!!!  So excited for them, they are an amazing family.  

Saturday was like the others, started bad, ended great!  After having like 2 lessons, we were walking to the area that is closest to home and while buying Halo Halo received 7 potential investigators that want us to teach them!!!  Then as we kept walking we were invited to a birthday party of a little girl turning 4.  The whole family was there, so about 9, they fed us noodles, and cake WITH FROSTING!!!  I just really miss American desserts, so it was a nice treat!  Ha.  I think they only invited us in because we were white, and the whole time they were trying to get us to marry their 20 year old brother.  But they did say we could come back, so we'll take it!  

None of our investigators came to church, so that was cool.  ha. but other than a few downs it has been a very good week.  I understand mostly everything, at least i can make estimated guesses.  The speaking is a lot harder, but it will come.  I'm working at it!  Ha. I love you all, I love being a missionary.  I love the Philippines!!!  XOXO

-Sister Nott