This Is My Neighborhood

NO not really and I will never achieve that dream but I feel really really close. I am the one missionary that has been in the Solano branch 1 for the longest and they all know me. They all share with me how they are feeling and their lives and dreams. (Maybe they did that before but now I can understand them) I am just blown away by how much I feel a part of their family here in Solano. I even bore my testimony on it last Sunday.  I looked down my street this week and thought "this is my neighborhood." 

I worked with Nanay Gatan (our RS Pres) and Nanay Reyes this Sunday and it just felt like I was taking a Sunday walk with my mom or aunts with my best friend( sister Newere) they talked about different plants they use in their soups and were picking them off the side of the road (like Chris would). Also last Friday I conducted Tax Business with our landlord! yep I live in the Philippines ahaha (I was just asking him to sign a thing for the housing elder and sister) I have and inside Joke with Nanay Paguio about her English. (That’s my fish, that’s my bag that’s my KAWN <-- word used like Umm for us) 

It is an answer to a prayer I had when I first got here. I asked to become comfortable here in the Philippines and now I am. I am a Missionary! hahah 

Because I now don't have a crutch to lean on and I have to help Sister Newere get to know others I am speaking more Tagalog than I have ever and it just kinda clicks. Shempray (of course) I still can't say all that I want to, and I still use English when I really can't express what I need to say, but I am more comfortable with using it. I really can't hide behind Sister Diola anymore. I am so great fully for the little things she has taught me like how to teach the Gospel to others simply and without using too many words. And the little lessons like how to teach Pagsisi (repentance) and the Word of Wisdom.

Thursday we finally got out to our farthest area with our Pres Villaran. It was fun and then we taught sister Tibung and she gave me Cough drops yay! Our investigator sister Fe was sick so we prayed with her and then left. That night no one was up late they were all sleeping getting ready for all souls day it was like the calm before the storm.                                                                

All souls day like an all nighter Memorial Day. They go and hang out at the cemetery all night long until breakfast the next morning. It is to honor those that have died. For a lack of a better term a Halloween party+Memorital day= all souls day. Our landlord thought we were poor kids with no friends because we weren't invited to go to the Cemetery that next morning to have breakfast. 

Saturday we taught Jorick our new investigator he his 10 years old and his mom wanted us to come for him to keep on learning. That happens a lot actually. But it is good because she is less active and getting a refresher too. There was a baptism that day for Solano branch 1b sisters. It was Brother Pats Pamumkin (like pumkin it means Niece or Nephew) we help set it up. 

Fast Sunday: I love fast Sundays the testimonies and all. But because it was fast Sunday we didn't have a coordination meeting but we worked with the members anyway. We taught Galasinoa and then we were punted every less active we tried to go to. (Punted the act of showing up at a house and no one is there or they are there but they don't answer.) it was still good. 

that is all I love you all . mahal ko kayo.

Weird plant, like a flower?

 Milk here doesn't expire until April 2014

Sweeping on P Day