Week 3: Don't Be The Quite Companion and Orange Maja!

Dear Family, 

Hows everyone been doing?! I hope the preparation for the coming General Conference is going well. Us sisters weren't able to attend the RS gen meeting because of travel circumstances . I was a bit disappointed because I was excited for that. So i guess we have to wait for the liahona issue. We will have the broadcast here in the ward for the Sat and Sun session. We dont have to travel far so that's good. It is wonderful to receive and hear again new counsels and revelation from the prophets. 

This week another 2 sisters are staying with us so there are 6 of us now. They are opening an area in Butuan but they havent found an apartment yet. Sister Esguerra is the most senior so the two of them had to work with us. It is fun! Also, Sister Concepcion and I arrived here together and its good to be with someone new too. 

I amade a language study plan which incldes  learning 30 words  and 10sentences daily and reading the BOM in Cebuano out loud. I will also practice writing in my mission language so my next letters might be in Cebuano too. Bear with me! I have to do it! :) I like that Sister Esguerra is pushing me just right for me to learn. I am not allowed to speak in other language inside the apartment! I am far from being fluent but with diligence and help of the Spirit it will come. Diligence in the Christlike attribute that I am focusing on this week. The Lord expects me to work diligently  and I know that if I do so I will be an effective and happy missionary. I already have small portions in the lessons we taught this week and not testifying alone. There is joy in teaching the truth!  am struggling in finding new investigators and I am grateful that Sister Esguerra is very helpful and compassionate with me. I feel conscious and awkward still to approach houses and individuals and start up a conversation with my crooked Bisaya. I will try harder and overcome the shyness too.After all, I don't want to be the quite companion! We have two progressing investigators this week, Cristy and Kyle We were so happy they attended the sacrament.:) 

I survived the first week here in the field! There are 3 of us greenies in the apartment so celebrated! For some reason orange and is the favorite color of the sisters here so S. Esguerra made us orange maja blanca. :) 

I didn't forget... Happy Birthday Papa! I love you so much! I hope you already read the letters I sent by now. I miss you tons. Travel safe with Scarllette on Tuesday. I love you both so much.

Lastly, I would like to leave a beautiful verse to ponder and pray about, Ether 12:6. I leave you the agency to open your own scriptures or look it up in lds.org. Come on! Do it! :) Have a great week!

With my trainer S. Esguerra

The Greenies!

Love,
Sister Javelona

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WEEK 2: BAYUGAN BABY! :)

We left the MTC early in the morning of Wednesday then flew to Butuan City. The were 24 of us. 12 sisters and 12 elders. Sister Distrito became my travel and in between transfer companion automatically. We met our president and his wife at the airport. We were expecting that we will be transferred immediately but we were housed in a small hotel near the mission office for two nights. We had  more practice teachings and workshops before our transfer day on Friday.
          My companion and trainer is Sister Esguerra from Nueva Viscaya. Don't know yet how similar or contrasting our personalities are but the adjustments are going well. I feel that we are most productive during companion study and planning. I can already see that I will be trained well. She's very good at finding and talking to everyone!
          As expected, new missionaries will always be the speaker on their first Sundays in the ward. I was more shy and quiet because of being new but I am working at it. When I talked in the sacrament I immediately understood what I need to do to be successful in here. I have to work and open my mouth! Being able to talk and  share to the congregation made me feel better and less shy. Meeting the members in the ward was highlight of the day. We also had a special service in a far Baranggay. We held the sacrament in a little shack. Seeing the members try to help so others can partake the sacrament was amazing.
        So let me tell you about Bayugan City. It's an hour drive from Butuan where are mission home and office are. Now don't be fooled... because it doesn't look like a "Ciudad" to me at all. It's way less urbanized than i thought it would be. (Infact even Butuan is not) It's all rice fields and cornfields here. The store where we can buy stuff is what they call warehouse. There is no single mall here. Warehouse is pretty much like BreadMaster back home. We can see a beautiful view of rice fields and mountains on the way to our area. Wait, in fact there is a beautiful view of them just outside our study room's window. Our apartment is super nice and it's probably one of the best apartments. Also I don't want to forget to mention that we have a washing machine with dryer. I know! Very Cool! I know my mother will be happy about that. There are four of us sisters in the apartments. The more the merrier right?
        I don't feel the days are running fast yet. I feel like I've been here for a years already.  Battling the homesickness started after i left the MTC  but thing are getting better. Working makes it better. Language is not coming very fast too but it is going well. The more I recognize  my weaknesses the more I understood the principle of humility and makes me exercised my faith even more. Missionary work can be very hard especially the transitions when you have your comfort zones. But it is very rewarding. I know that if we continue to emulate the Savior and turn outward instead of turning inward for our selfish desires, we will be happier.
       I miss everyone so much! I miss my mother terribly and when i feel like it's very hard already, I remember their mothers in Alma 56:47-48. Thank you everyone for your prayers and love. I can always feel them everyday.
       I know I wrote more than I intended to do but I hope it would  bring happiness to my family and friends. This will go in a letter because internet here is very poor. I love you all so much! Have a great week!

Hacienda namon sa gawas.

                                      Hacienda nam

   Our apartment

     Love,
Sister Javelona

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Week 2: MTC IS THE BEST!!!

Hello Family!
        Kamusta kamo tanan? I hope sadya kamo! We didn't have a P-Day last week because of our departure and transfers so I will be writing a lot longer today. This will go in a letter because internet here is very slow, we will find better cafe and hopefully I could send pictures too.
        I want to update everyone that Jenny and James (TRC Investigators) attended the sacrament. Too bad we will be leaving the MTC already that week. Sister Adventura and I loved teaching them. I love S. Patricio and B. Roda, Our teachers. So if you are going to the MTC and they are your teachers BIG YAY! for you! They  are the Best!
        Leaving the MTC was bittersweet. The experiences had were very meaningful. I love my district so much. President and S. Beck are very loving. Elder and S. Eves are always ready to help with smiles. Sister and E. French are the most enthusiastic couple. I will miss E. Jackson and his funny morning jingles, I always see one or two of these couples walking holding hands while I  jog.
          We gained new friends here but the closest to us all are the 2 Enos sisters. Sister Duanthipphavong is from Laos and S. Sowangwong from Thailand. We had them as visitors in our room several times. They thought us "Come though Fount Every Blessings"in thai and sang it for them before we left.
           I will miss the MTC. There will always be a special place in my heart for this place and for the people here. I will miss practice teaching, the garden, the morning exercise. I will miss sitting with the Mosiah and Enos Sisters every meal and the elders too. I had the best MTC companion! Sister Adventura and i could be companions forever!
            Leaving the MTC first and waving goodbye to Elder Javelona made me cry. He is ready! You dont know what 12 days in the MTC can do to a missionary. Truly, the spirit of the Lord  dwells here. Being here with my brother made it more special.
            Overall, It was beyond amazing. I can catch myself looking back and wishing we could stay longer. I will be honest, I didn't want to leave! Bur I also know that E. Javelona and I and the other missionaries I love can't fulfill  our purpose here. It will be in the field  where the harvest will happen.
              Thank you MTC-Philippines. Next to the temple, this place is most sacred and I will always treasure every moment.


     Love,
Sister Javelona

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WEEK 1! MTC FINALLY!

Hello Everyone!

 

First week here at the MTC been a blast. The first night that we got here we stayed in a hotel! Super nice. Elder Javelona seemed to enjoy it more than I did thought because he ate there a lot. Seemed like most missionaries who who were housed there took advantaged of the room services and desserts!  First day at the MTC was very busy. It was process driven though so all assessments, vaccines etc were done before 12. My companion is Sister Aventura from San Carlos District. She speaks Cebuano already so I thought that was rad. We don't have language study here so when we have time left during our companion study I take time to write down several Cebuano words from her. Also,I didn't find a proselyting bag here and she gave me one!!! I love it. She also loved the cover for the planner I gave her. She is a sweet sister and we get along very well. Mosiah Distict (hiligaynon district) is the best district here! Elder Javelona is in the same district too. It's cool when you have a brother here and everyone seemed very fond of it too.

 

This week, we have two TRC investigators. We have a baptismal date for Brother James and working on teaching him the Plan of Salvation. We were not able to have Sister Jenny commit yet to baptism but we are getting there. From our last visit, she accepted our invitation to read the BOM and pray about its truthfulness. We will have another appointment with her later this afternoon and we plan to teach her the Restoration. Sister Aventura and I are excited. I was struggling a bit recognizing the spirit and teaching  as prompted by the Spirit during the TRC (because sometimes I can't seem to internalize the investigator is not my MTC teacher) but through prayers I came to know that this is the curriculum of the Lord.  The Preach My Gospel is wonderful and I am in love with it! I wish I could have known how powerful this book is before I went here. We had a devotional with Persident Echo Hawk and wife. Elder Echo Hwak talked about how our calling were inspired of the Lord and he shared with us how he witness one of the prophets give calls to missionaries. When the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies and when we obey with exactness, I know that we can be the teachers the Savior wants us to be. Also, fun fact, he is an American Indian so basically we had a Lamanite talking to us. :)

 

Health Updates. I felt the same headaches and backpains for three days here.  Now don't freak out yet! I  Ive been feeling better since I took medicines from the clinic. Just so my mother won't worry, please know we have milk during breakfast and dinner. Vegetables and fruits in every meal and exercise daily. I run daily since our first morning here and played badminton several times with a sister from Laos. It was fun. I will let you know her name when I learn it for it has has 20 letters. haha

 

I didn't find a suitable charger for my camera. Bummer!!! I know. We don't have time to take pictures here but on our last day we will have the chance to do so we I will try to send pictures. Or when I reached the field. Later will be our endowment and we are all excited for that. To be able to see the temple here everyday feels wonderful. I will write more when I reach the field next week. An hour is not enough to say half of my spiritual experiences here. Thank you for all the emails and love. If you haven't yet, send emails to Elder Javelona. He would love to hear from you all. If you are too busy and won't have time to write us both, write to him. NO really write to both of us! :D

 

I miss my little sunshine, Haley so much, please tell her what I do here so she knows.  I love being a missionary! Have a great week everyone!

 

Love,

Sister Javelona

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It's time!

So much happiness!

I am overwhelmed with all the support coming from my family and friends. Church meetings and other activities have never been this nice. My brother and I are ready to go.  I will miss home, my Focus family and my little sunlight Haley but I am also very excited to start working.

I will keep everyone updated via email and letters. I'd like to leave a special note that I love letters and I will write back! See you in 18!

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