Week 25: Baptism, Interview, Wallflower and Dr. Pepper

Dearest everyone!

How's everyone? As for me and S. Arrieta, its been a productive week. Cloves' baptism went great! Him and her mother Sister C. bore their testimonies. They are very special. S. Arrieta expressed several times this week how she enjoys the work. Heaven to my ears! She says just enough to let me know and i am super happy to feel both of us fulfilling our purpose. We had interviews with President Torres. I love every conversation with my president. His counsels are very important to me and he never fails to let me feel loved. I have special messages for you Mama and Papa and it'll be in my handwritten letters. ( I know i owe you handwritten letters :( It's been a while but I'm working at them! )

So I promised you I'll share line upon line of what I learned from the last mission tour. Sister Nielson, wife of our area president shared how she finds it amusing when Filipinos try to speak english and very often we say stuff in a more funny or special way. You know me about english, so this part of her message is very special to me too. She would often hear us say "I WILL BE THE ONE" instead of just saying let me do it or i'll do it. It's a beautiful principle of being able to say "I will be the one" when the Lord calls us to serve. I was a wallflower and I would often stay in my comfort zones but mission helped me tons. I thought that I did very well in participating just enough. One thing I learned, this opportunity to be trained and converse with one of the special witnesses and wife might not come again. I ain't wallflower anymore I guess. I can often say "I will be the one" now :)

Health updates! I gained a kilo in the last 3months. Geez, and I thought I'm losing weight. That's okay, I'll do better this quarter :) What's important is I am not sick. I am well and can work hard everyday. I am so close to hitting my 6months mark of not drinking soda! This is the one of the best discipline I learned here as far as health goes. A kind missionary gave us Dr. Pepper a couple of weeks ago and mines been humbly sitting in the fridge until now. I ain't even ready to get myself a reward for a job well done yet but a Dr. Pepper will suffice. :)

I've been out here for 6 months already! It is overly crazy how fast time flies. I might or might not be transferred on Thursday. I'll go where the Lord wants me to go. S. Arrieta's training is done and I will be happy to go serve in another area but the Lord knows what's best for us. We'll see!

I love the photos! I want more! I love you tons. Have a great week! 

The prayerful servant, 

Sister Javelona

Food! I made ricerolls! Thank you so much for the nori you sent me! 

                      Come, Follow Him :) 

yes to plastic balloons :D

:) 

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Week 24: The Lord is Hastening His Work, Are You?

Hello family and friends!

It was a wonderful week here in the Philippines Butuan Mission. I almost can't wait for Monday to tell you. First of all, I did wear the stockings. The black ones. It was uhhh.. okay and it might take a while before you can see me with those thingy again. You know me I always go back to what is comfortable. Who says sister stripling warriors can't wear make up? I did the eye make up of 10 sisters on the day of the mission tour. 10! It was great to help the sisters look good and feel good. It was an opportunity to build friendship and share with them probably the only girl thing I am passionate about. These are probably not so important!

I don't think about clothes and make up as much as I think about the people so no worries ;) Cloves is ready for his baptism on Saturday! So excited for him! The C family continues to attend church for over a month now and are progressing wonderfully. S. Jocelyn and Janet are sisters, both just returned. They were both sustained in their respective ward calling this week, it was very special. S. Arrieta and I are very grateful these people let us in and allowed us to be a part of them. The Lord is truly hastening His work and I love how the members helps us missionaries.

So let me tell you about my wonderful companion. She loves washing clothes. Weird huh? Like she has full of patience about it. Honestly, I don't understand a bit how she does it. We always tease her  she could make washing her hobby. The Lord blesses me through her. Her simple example of patience affects how I do stuff that I don't really like. She continues to set the same example in many phases of our work and ordinary missionary situations.

Elder and Sister Neilson are amazing!!! I have several good pages of notes from their talks and training. I will do my best to share them with you here and in my next letters. The night before their training with us they had a devotional with the stake. Elder Nielson talked about family and how understanding our roles would create miracles. He qouted Pres. Monson statement about us loving our family, "We should never assume, we should let them know!"

I love everyone of you! I hope you would have a great week. I was craving for bread and they have a bakeshop here you can literally find everywhere. I found some great breads we could make. I miss baking but I miss more the people I do bake with. Happy birthday to my favorite sister, Elisha! You are the best sister ever!  Remember that I and the Lord loves you! 

Your sister in zion,
Sister Javelona

Beautiful sisters in zion! 

With Elder and Sister Nielson

Guess what I receive on the day of the tour? A beautiful soul gave us small pmgs :)

The ward invited us for dinner after the devotional, sweet!

The ward invited us for dinner after the devotional, sweet!

With my mission president and his wife :) 

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Week 23: Do Something Awesome Today!

Dearest family!

Hows everyone been doing? I hope everyone is ready to end the month. Here comes the summer. :) Im excited to hear from everyone as soon as the break commence. 

This might be a shorter letter again. Only because there are no other extra curricular that we did this week which means we spent more time finding and  teaching new people. Yay! I love being a missionary! Sister C got sick and couldn't get to church :( but her son Cloves went all by himself. It used to be very hard to invite this kid and now we can all see how excited he is now  about church and our teaching appointments. His baptism will be on Mar 8!  About Sister Arrieta and I, we are getting better everyday. Challenges here and there but we are two great sisters so no worries. I think I told you before she was shy but now she is doing really great with talking to everyone. We are very blessed to be here. 

I gave a talk yesterday at the sacrament about Atonement. I love teaching opportunities such as this and though you were not here I was also thinking about all of you and how the Atonement has blessed our family. Here's a beautiful scripture for you, Alma 7:11-13. Do something awesome today and read the scriptures. :)

This coming week will be interesting.  Elder Nielson and his wife will have a mission tour. I am excited to tell you about it next week. And perhaps I can attach a few photos.

I wish my baby Haley to get well soon. Take care a have a great week!

The prayerful sister, 

Sister Javelona

P.S. You might be interested to know that I consider wearing black stockings for this tour. You know how its very common to missionaries. :) Thoughts anyone? :) 

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