FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
At the time of me writing this I have not yet opened up ANY of you guys' emails! I don't want to yet because I have so much to tell you all and honestly, when I turned the computer on I didn't even know where to start with telling you all that I love you and miss you. I HAVE SO MUCH MAIL IN MY EMAIL INBOX I LOVE IT! Also because I am a crier, I am legitimately crying as I am writing this email. I miss you all so much and I feel like I am getting free time out of jail or something! Well, just kidding. The MTC isn't prison. But you guys get what I mean! I LOVE YOU ALL! I LOVE THESE 60 MINUTES OF EMAIL TIME BECAUSE YOU BET I AM HITTING AWAY AT THIS KEYBOARD!!!!!!!!!!!! FRANTICALLY HITTING AWAY! And also weirdly sobbing in front of this computer.
BUT LETS GET STARTED.
KUMUSTA PO?!?!?!?!??!?!?! How are you guys?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!
SO MANY THINGS TO SAY, NOT SURE IF I HAVE ENOUGH TIME. I WROTE AN ENTIRE LIST DOWN BUT NOW IM TOO AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT BECAUSE I DONT WANT TO WASTE TIME LOOKING AT IT AND THEN THINKING IT THROUGH. I AM LITERALLY SO HAPPY TO WRITE THIS EMAIL AND I AM JUST GOING TO TELL YOU ALL ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO MY MIND.
FIRST THINGS FIRST ---- although seriously though, guys, I am so happy to write to you. Lots of tears being shed among the sisters now. We are an emotional group. But I love them all ----
GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS GREAT. My MTC District is the greatest. We are the NEPHI District (GO NEPHITES!) and I am the only Chinese girl here for MILLLLLLEEEESSSS. No kidding. I kid you not. Everyone else here is Filipino, or Polynesian (but from New Zealand/Australia), or Micronesian, like my companion. I am the only Chinese girl here and I guess I feel...special?!?!?!?!? Just kidding. The Lord loves us ALL no matter what. But YES!!!! Best MTC district. We have bonded so well over this last week and I don't even know where to begin. There is a great unity and I can feel it. I am so blessed. On Tuesday (or Wednesday...I forget which day) each of us sisters were feeling SOOOO down and homesick and we all got a blessing from the only 2 elders in our district, Elder Brunt and Elder Clark. They blessed us so beautifully and in my own blessing, Elder Clark said something that stuck with me so deeply that I want to share with you all. He said, "God knew that this would happen and so He blessed you with a sisterhood of unity. We bless you to be able to draw strength from this sisterhood."
SAY WHAAA? God knows us, yes? He does. I testify of that. That blessing I got was so powerful and gave me strength to keep going. I know, I know. Only the first week and already needing blessings? Well, who doesn't? We should always remember that the Lord is there to give us guidance and comfort whenever we need it. His love is unconditional.
THE LANGUAGE IS TOUGH TO PICK UP, BUT I'M GETTING THERE. Something way cool, though, this last week we taught our first investigator here at the MTC, and I think it was after our second lesson...but Sister Muller (my companion) came out of the room with me after we were done and she just looked at me and said, "How did you say all of that in Tagalog?" I was shocked. I couldn't even remember what I said, but I KNOW that I was talking. It was amazing, realizing that the gift of tongues is real. Because it IS. Because that whole lesson, I had no idea what to say. But I tried my best. I prayed so hard. Sister Muller prayed so hard. And the words just came, I guess. I pray so hard everyday that I will be able to get the language down. Because I WANT to be able to teach the Filipinos. I know that teaching happens through the Holy Ghost, yes, I know, but...you know, I've got to put in my effort to get something in return!!!!!!!!!
SO IF YOU GUYS THINK THAT THE CHINESE DRIVE CRAZY, WAIT TILL YOU GET ON THE ROADS HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. The first night I got here, the driver that took me to the airport was a CRAAAAZZZZYYYYYYY driver. It was INSANEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. Also he played music really loud so...you know, tender mercy of the Lord right there because you BET i was jamming to music on the way to the hotel!!!! I mean, not like in a crazy, non-sister-missionary-like way, but...still jamming nonetheless. So thankful that the Filipinos love music. Can't wait for Christmas to come around!!!! They'll be singing karaoke all night longggg!!!!!
I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL BE ABLE TO SEND YOU GUYS PICTURES TODAY :( MOM/DAD/ anyone at home, did I have a camera cord when we bought the camera????? The SD card for the camera doesn't fit into anything at this computer and so....until I am able to get a camera cord to connect it to the computer...I have nada pictures :( And I AM SO SAD ABOUT THAT!!!! I took a lot of pictures!!! Wanted to send them all :( But.......we'll see. Maybe next week. Don't worry! I am still healthy. Not gaining any weight because I control my food portions, and also we have rice like every meal and I LOVE RICE AND I KNOW HOW TO CONTROL MY RICE PORTIONS. SO it's all good. But YAAAA be rest assured, I'll have pictures for you when I can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And please if you find a camera cord back home.....probably in the box or something but I'm not quite sure.....CAN YOU SEND IT OVER!!! Like DHL it or something to the MTC address:
Sister Kimberly Teo
Philippines Manila Mission
Philippines Missionary Training Center
13 Temple Dr, White Plains Ave
Greenmeadows Subd, Quezon City
1110 Metro Manila
Philippines
PACKAGES AND MAIL ALIKE CAN BE RECEIVED AT THE PHILIPPINES MANILA MTC. JUST SAYING.
I love you all so much, I would tell you every single thing but now I realize what people mean by the saying that "A MISSION IS YOUR BEST KEPT SECRET."
Keep praying for me, because I pray for all of you. It is SO hard. So, so hard. Sometimes I wonder why I even came out here. Some days are harder than others. Sometimes I go to sleep at night crying. Yesterday I had the WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO ESCORT MY COMPANION, SISTER MULLER, THROUGH THE TEMPLE and when I got into the Celestial room i just BAWLED my eyes out. I was so humbled and so strained down by this last week that I just cried to my Heavenly Father and begged Him to help me do this. Because I don't know that I can, alone. But I know that WITH HIS HELP, and through the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I will be able to.
I LOVE YOU ALL AND I MISS YOU ALL AND 1 HOUR IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO, BUT I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES AND I AM TRYING MY BEST, EVERY DAY. Every day I wake up and tell myself to keep going.
I got this here. Take care of yourselves and know that I pray for you guys ALWAYS. (Starting to cry again)
BE SAFE. Pray. Love God. He is good. and He is great.
With love,
Sister Teo
P.s Looks like there won't be pictures this time...I apologize :( NEXT TIME!!!!!!!!
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No time!!!!! but here are some [pictures] hopefully they send through.
MOM DAD I REALLY NEED A CAMERA CORD BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ONLY SHARING CORDS AND IT SUCKS BECAUSE THERES NO TIME FOR US ALL; TO DO IT.....what should I do!??!?!?!?!?!??!?
Ok but um while the pictures are loading I'll keep typing ummmm.....
Lets see...what other cool things...
Oh so my original companion's name is sister lookubaloosooriyage.............but she didn’t show up :( i pray that she is alright though and that heavenly father is still watching over her ever if she is just back home now but um yeah but companion NOW is Sister Muller from Micronesia. We are definitely not birds of the same feather but I LOVE HER and I am trying my best to love her and be a good companion myself.
What else...
"Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy:
I know this is so true. I am so grateful for the plan of salvation and grateful for the fall and grateful for everything that has come to pass in the eternal scheme of things. I know that heavenly father is wise and knows what he is doing. I may not entirely know what my purpose is here in the Philippines yet but I am trying. I am trying so hard. I know I’ve said that a lot now but I really am. I say a prayer literally every hour, in my heart, because sometimes I don’t know how I’m going to get through it. The mtc is SOOOO tiring. But so fun. Especially because I have a good district to work with. I have good friends. And that is blessing I am so thankful for.
I bear my testimony that I KNOW this church is true. I KNOW that there is a god who loves his children.
Today we teach a new investigator and I pray that the spirit will guide us.
SO MANY STORIES GUYS.
Also yes i see that the pictures are sending through. sorry there are only those few but ummmm i will send some more next time.
I LOVE YOU ALL BYE!!!!!!!!
With love,
Sister Teo
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EW I JUST REALIZED I SENT UGLY PICTURES....HAHA JUST KIDDING WE ARE BEAUTIFUL SISTERS.
Um I promise I have more flattering photos though but the email only lets me send 15 mb of pictures each time!!!! urgh!!!!! Okay next time next time.
UNTIL THEN!!!!!!!
WITH LOVE,
SISTER TEO
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