Families Can Be Together Forever

Dear family,

My title says it all.

Families can be together forever.

This week we taught a family, a beautiful family. They are members and are trying their best to return back to church again. I LOVE them. I love them so much. Their daughter came back to Palawan to visit for Christmas- she lives in Manila for work right now- and the DAD, he came back to Santa Monica from work in Coron! (Coron is another part of Palawan) Usually it is just the Mom and the son who are here in Santa Monica, and so it was definitely GREAT to have EVERYONE all together for this Christmas season. Sister always talks about how wonderful her daughter and husband are, so it was amazing to get to see them as a whole family!

Can I just say...how beautiful it is to see families together forever? How beautiful is this gospel? How much peace does it bring into my heart, knowing that I have a forever family, and that one day I will have one of my own as well?

When we sat down with this family for our lesson, we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" for our opening hymn. The minute we got going, the daughter starts crying. And then the mom starts crying. And then I start crying. And then Sister Lockwood starts crying. And then the Dad starts crying too. (The younger brother...he's a boy. He didn't cry. But Sister Lockwood and I still LOVE him! He is 14 years old and the epitome of a teenage boy.) The whole room was in tears. It ended up being Sister Lockwood who was the only one singing through her tears because the rest of us were just crying. It was perhaps the most spiritual experience that I've had since being here. I cannot describe why I began crying. All I know is that there was this overwhelmingly warm feeling that swallowed my entire being, and before I knew it, I was in tears. I knew so strongly, then and there, that FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER. I loved seeing this family together. I love that they have a goal to be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. I know that God works in His own time and will. But one day, one day for sure, this family will be sealed forever.

I love you all! So much. Mom, Dad, Gladys, Krystal. I have the BEST family in the world! Thank you Mom and Dad for raising me the way you did. I know I wasn't the most pleasant always....okay maybe I wasn't the most pleasant half the time......and I wasn't the most perfect teenager. But thank you for raising me with the values that both of you strive so hard to protect. You are doing a wonderful job with Gladys and Krystal. I know that they are growing up to be such wonderful young women because of you. I also know that arguments take place. But guess what? It's all good. Unfortunately...just kidding, FORTUNATELY, we are sealed for forever....soooo.....ain't nobody going anywhere!

I love teaching families. We had this family (that I just wrote about) as well as the ENTIRE LOPEZ family come to church this last week! WHAT! Two whole families?!??!?! And we had one reactivation this week!!!!!!! The work with our less-actives is going really well! I am so happy! We are so blessed. We will keep working hard.

In other news,

Is it possible to burn vegetables? Because I swear I burnt vegetables. Um...to be fair, I probably spent 0.00000001% of my 18 years of life cooking, soooo.......I can be excused! Haha, no, but, I will definitely keep working on my cooking skills. Watch out 2016! Kimberly Teo is going to come home and know how to COOK.

People are starting to ask, more and more, if I am Filipina! This makes me so happy. Most of the time people ask if I'm Korean. No. I'm not Korean. I am Singaporean. I think it is because of my glasses, but I always get Korean. But it's okay. I love Koreans. One of my favorite people- Betty- she is the BEST Korean I know! Korean represent! No but, I get asked if I am Filipina! Hooray! That makes me so happy! I can finally start to remember that I am actually half-Filipino. This mission is so good for me.

We did three service projects in two weeks! So imagine this- Sister Teo (me) chopping at bamboo with a long knife. Literally. Chopping at bamboo with a knife, and then burning all of that. Also- Imagine Sister Teo (me) digging at dirt to pluck out weeds. FUN, RIGHT?!?!??!?!?!?!??!! What I would give to see myself from another's eyes! This mission is teaching me to be tough too. And I have loved it. Everytime I start feeling a little hesitant to get in the dirt, I look at Sister Lockwood who is always so ready to work, and I think, "Okay, if she can do it. So can I." And then I GET INTO IT! And I NEVER want to end, each time. I KNOW that service makes you happy. I think that is why missionaries are so happy! We have so many people to think about that we have no time to be sad and think of ourselves! I LOVE service. Mom, Dad, I promise I won't be lazy by the time I get home. Watch me clean up the whole house ;) Haha. SERVICE WORKS! So GO SERVE SOMEONE TODAY!


I LOVE YOU ALL!

Shout out to Sanskruti, too! I love you! You were always a friend of Gladys' that I LOVED and respected so much. You are a good girl with a good head on your shoulders. Hugs all the way from the Philippines!


With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. This week I am halfway through my 12-week training. Tomorrow is Transfers Day. I hope no one in my district gets sent out! I love them all!

Happy Monday!

     I get to call home on Thursday! I am so excited beyond words! I miss you guys so much. I can see why they limit communication between missionaries and their families during these eighteen months that we are out. So many emotions run through us missionaries when we know that we will get to speak with our family! And these emotions, if not kept properly, have the ability to distract us (alot). But no worries! All is good here on Palawan. My heart is settled!
This Christmas will be the first of it's kind. My first Christmas away from everyone that I love. All from when I was 1-17, my Christmases were with you guys- my family. When I was 18- and this was a beautiful Christmas- I spent it with Ether and with the Tams. Now I am 19, alone on an island, away from family, Ether, and my friends, about to celebrate my humblest Christmas ever.

     Since being here I have come to appreciate the simple things in life so much more. Money really isn't everything. I am learning this lesson more and more each day. At the start it was an adjustment to make, walking in the mud, in the rain, in the heat, living in conditions super different from what I've been used to my whole life. But now that I've been here for a month, I can safely say that those things don't matter. I look around me all day and see a people who are so humble, so satisfied with the simple things that they have. Sometimes all I want to do is run to the store and buy them all the food in the world. Sometimes I just want to give them all the money I've got. But I know that that isn't my purpose.

     What us missionaries can give them will feed them for life. It will feed them spiritually, forever and ever.  And mine is the blessing to bring this "bread of life" to them.

     Brown-outs happen alot on the island. (Brown-outs = black-outs. I don't know why they call them brown-outs here in the Philippines!!!) Electricity gets cut every now and then. And sometimes people have to be in the darkness for a while. But what this gospel can offer them is light. The light of Christ. The light that I know has helped me. This light is real. It is so real. I have seen this light change my life. God's light is real.

     Also, just real quick - and I will talk about this more in my future emails- but the work has been a little slow with our investigators. Our less-actives, on the other hand.....GOD IS HELPING US! I cannot stress how important it is to save those less-active as well. "Less-active"- I don't even like that word! It has seemed to become a stereotype, in our Church, that these people are...I don't know, way lost or way off the path. But they are not! They are all wonderful people as well. And while Sister Lockwood and I are still trying our best to bring NEW people into the gospel, we are having success with bringing less-actives back to Church! Win-win!

     Anyhow, Sister Lockwood and I are looking forward to making this Christmas one to remember for the years to come!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed to have her here with me during this season! I love her so much. I know that we were put together for a reason, and I know that this friendship I have with her will not only carry through to when we are both back at BYU, but even until after graduation! I love her to pieces.

     We had a Palawan Christmas party for all the missionaries last week! I have a LOT of pictures for you guys today. Usually I look like a sweaty, sort-of messy missionary, but for the party, I looked like my normal self. "Normal self". :) SO! I had to take pictures! And you guys get to see them! Hooray! :)
I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! CAN'T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS IN THREE DAYS! I'll send a separate email with instructions!

With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. Gla & Krys- I sent you guys birthday cards this past week! It'll probably reach you in about a month..............BUT! Read them when you can! I love you guys!

P.P.S Ether I sent another one out for you too :)

P.P.P.S. Annabelle + Valerina + Gaetana- check your mailboxes in a couple week's time as well!

+ Pres. Ostler & Sis. Ostler

+ District Christmas Party

+ Sisters are sisters (the other pair of missionaries in the house)... but we are also still 19 and 20 year old girls!!!! We had fun taking pictures in our Christmas hats last night :)

Do I Trust God Above Everything Else?

KUMUSTA PO KAYO PAMILYA?!?

     Another week has gone by here in Santa Monica! The days are fast yet slow. I'm not quite sure that I can fully wrap my head around the concept of time quite yet. One year ago this time I was in Utah. Fast forward a year later and here I am in the Philippines! On Palawan! On an island! Two years ago I was still in high school. Eleven years ago I was an eight-year old in Singapore. Where does all the time go?

This week was interesting on so many levels! Sister Lockwood and I did alot of walking for the most part, mainly because everyone was either hiding from us or not telling us the truth (.......) or busy and not at home. It was so bizarre! No kidding - so many people would see us coming and then run away. I can't even! It was so funny! At one point I couldn't even open my mouth to speak because I knew that if I did, I would burst out laughing. Sister Lockwood and I are harmless, we promise! Maybe just the words of God would hurt them. Or pierce their souls. We don't know! Either way there was alot of hiding! Alot of people would tell us they were going for a walk in five minutes and so we couldn't teach them. To believe, or not to believe? That was our big question this week........So in short- we got turned away alot. But that's okay! We are trying our best. As long as I know that I've put in MY effort, I know that God will be pleased.

Some other funny experiences - since I don't think I tell you guys about mission life enough:

1) Sis. Lockwood and I were walking to a less-active's house one night, up this big hill/roadside, when all of a sudden this motorcycle with two guys comes up from the other direction, passes us, and then the driver puts his fists in the air and says "Sisters, sisters!" In a CHANT. He was chanting "Sisters! Sisters" while he was driving by. Sis. Lockwood and I just burst out laughing. We had no idea who he was or how he knew that we were sisters. Maybe he has seen us before since we go to that area frequently. But STILL! People chanting "Sisters! Sisters!" out of nowhere? It was hilarious.

2) Another night when Sis. Lockwood and I were walking to another less-active's home, a group of boys (kids) were walking right by us and all of a sudden they ALL burst into an applause. A full-out applause. Clapping. HAHA. What?!?! The Philippines is so fun! Clapping and chanting? Hopefully they were helping God show us that He is cheering for us too. Those two moments were definitely much needed moments of comic relief. It was hard being turned away by so many (more than usual! Because usually people let us teach them! But like I said, this week was so weird.) and so having some moral support from complete strangers boosted our morale!

3) So...you have to understand that Sis. Lockwood and I are two REALLY young missionaries (young in age and young in the mission) who have been put together on Palawan island. Even though I am technically half-Filipino, Mom, I have no idea about most of the Filipino traditions here. And so here's where the story begins.

This week we "kind of" attended a funeral. Well, all we did was say hi and offer condolences, but! Sis. Lockwood and I were at such a loss about what to do! The first time we went into the house (we were looking for this one brother that we had contacted on the street one day and he had told us that his mom had passed away) we were as awkward as it could get! Should we share a message about the Plan of Salvation? Would that be kind of rude to interrupt their "mourning period"? What do Filipinos usually expect from visitors at funerals? We didn't know! And so we just shook hands and exchanged a couple of words and left. And as we walked away, Sis. Lockwood and I just looked at each other and said, "Was that rude? They offered us drinks and had opened up bottles of Coke and we had said no. Is that considered rude in the Filipino culture??" We had no clue. No clue at all. Two foreigners. Trying to figure out Filipino people.

So....WE WENT BACK!!!!! And brought with us bananas, a bag of bread, four tiny packets of cookies, and...a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. To this day Sis. Lockwood and I still aren't sure which meeting was more awkward. The first one, or the second one where we went BACK and handed them the foods and the pamphlet and still didn't teach. It was...confusing. Luckily he invited us to come back AFTER the actual funeral. And luckily we also bore quick testimonies about where his Mom is right now. So maybe it wasn't that bad. BUT EITHER WAY! This funeral thing was another one of our neat experiences this week. (I promise this story is way more interesting than it sounds!)


ANYWAYS! As you can see, the title of my email is "Do I trust God above everything else?" This was a question that stuck with me throughout this entire week. Being on the mission has really tested my obedience and my humility and willingness to submit to the will of God as well as President Ostler. Much of this thinking caused alot of internal discomfort/emotional distress- Ether knows how much thinking goes on in my head when I dwell on an issue for too long- as I tried to battle it out in my head if I should/should not obey/disobey certain rules. Don't worry- I'm not talking about anything major! It was just something REALLY small. We were told that we aren't actually supposed to chat with people during our emailing time..........which...........is...........hard.............but......I will do it. I will obey. Even though a million reasons exist for why I could probably continue even if I wanted to...........for example, I know of other people who do, whether it be parent-child communication or friend-friend communication..........I WILL NOT COMPARE MY SITUATION TO THEIRS! I. will. obey. And I know this sounds like something really small, really minute, but....it was a big thing I struggled with internally. The days leading up to today, leading up emailing today, were hard! But luckily I have built up enough resolve since then, since five days ago when the rule was officially laid down. So: I will obey.

I trust God above everything else. I know that He has a plan for me and I know that exact obedience brings miracles. I believe that exact obedience WILL bring miracles. Yesterday I had the sweet opportunity to receive a blessing, and the words said during the blessing gave me greater strength to believe that everything will be okay. Everything will work out. This week didn't see alot of lessons taught but next week will. I mean, the blessings HAVE to come! God promises us blessings when we are obedient. And so obedient I will be. (As hard as this rule is.) I trust in God. I trust Him above everything else.

I am so excited to Skype home next week! Mom/Dad, you guys should have seen the email by President Ostler by now. I'll get to skype you two for 30 minutes each individually. Yay! That's better than just the 40 minutes that most people will get. I can't wait! As of right now we still don't have alot of information about what will happen, but I'm sure you guys will be

notified!

ALSO, BIG SHOUT-OUT TO GAETANA!!!! Gaetana Wilson! I love you!!!!! Mariana is SO beautiful. Also I have a letter coming for you, so watch out for it! You and Kyle are going to be the BEST parents!!!!!!!


Here's to another week of being in the refiner's fire! Let's all do this together!

With love,
Sister Teo

Blessings, blessings, blessings!

Dear family and everyone that I love,

So remember how last week was really hard? Well this week flew by in the blink of an eye. Thank you for all the prayers said and the fingers crossed and for every good wish you sent my way here on Palawan. I have felt strengthened beyond my own capacity this past week and I KNOW, with all my heart, that it was through the help of Heavenly Father and of course because of you guys' love that I have been able to work well and work hard this week :)

     TYPHOON RUBY...didn't hit us. First of all - THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAILS OF CONCERN! Especially you Ether!! But don't worry! There is nothing to fear. I don't know where this typhoon/hurricane went but it definitely didn't hit our area here on Palawan. You guys' prayers must have turned the storm a different way around or something! We didn't even get rain! It is all blue skies and good weather right now, which is SO anti-climatic! We were expecting the worst (throwback to Typhoon Yolanda that hit last year) but LUCKILY we are all safe and sound and happy. Palawan is so beautiful. And we are so lucky that we have bee protected from this natural disaster.

     The Filipino culture is the best. I can't even begin to tell you guys how much I love it here. Who knew that we could visit people whenever we wanted? We just show up at people's houses and they let us in. I love it. I'll probably drive everyone crazy doing that when I go back to Utah. Just showing up at people's houses without letting them know in advance and expecting them to let me in. Ahhhh I am definitely going to know what it means to be Filipino by the time these 18 months are over!

     I cooked. Curry. Twice. This week. There is a Filipino saying that once a girl learns how to cook, it means she is ready for marriage. Hmmmmmmmm.......I'll let you think about that, Mom, Dad. (P.S. How do we tell when chicken is cooked......? I'm assuming when there isn't anymore blood, yes?)

     It is so wonderful being a missionary here on Santa Monica. Our branch president, President Sabido, has got to be one of the greatest men on Earth. He is so young. Early 30s? Young family. Works in the day, studies at night. Branch President of a YOUNG branch. Plus he fed us dinner a few weeks ago and is going to feed us again this next Sunday. What! How does God create such great men? Looking at him made me think of President Coffin back home. How grateful I am to serve among such wonderful people. Dad, it has made me appreciate so much more all the wonderful things you have done for your callings in the Church. It blows my mind that you actually get to work with the religious affairs bureau in Shanghai and talk with them about our church. You are setting the foundation for our CHURCH IN CHINA. That's such a big deal. Thank you for all you do.

     We teach a lot of less-active members here, probably more than or as much as we do investigators. I have come to realize that every soul is precious in the sight of God. And I have come to love these less-actives so much. I don't even really like this term, "less-active". I think that everyone is active in their own way. Some people have more troubles than others and the paths we walk are all different. But it is so important to love all. And that is something I am working on really hard. To love everyone. It is easier said than done, this act of loving. But....HOLD YOUR HORSES! When I come home from my mission I will love EVERYONE. And be more charitable. Things we learn on the mission...priceless.

Here's a quote for you guys that I read this past week:
     "Some of you may feel that you can't rise above the polluted pond, that your circumstances are too difficult, your trials too hard, your temptations too great...Remember, the stalk of the water lily grows in adversity, and as the stalk lifts the water lily, your faith will support and lift you." - Mary N. Cook, former 2nd counselor in the YW's general presidency

I know that this gospel is true. I know that this Church is true. I believe it with all my heart. I would not be who I am today if I did not know and live and believe in the principles and beliefs and teachings of the Church. I KNOW that God is at the head of our Church. He helps His missionaries. He blesses His missionaries. I know that I am safe in His hands.

"Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me." (D&C 38:7)

I love you all!

SKYPE CALL SOON! Not sure how it's going to work yet but I'll let you guys know ASAP. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!


With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. Annabelle/Valerina/girlfriends - your Christmas letters are probably going to come late because they won't get sent off until in about two weeks or so! I'm sorry! But don't worry! I love you guys and still remember who you are!! I may be on an island in the Philippines but I promise I still love you all just as much :)

P.P.S. The pictures are proof that I cooked the chicken.

Dear family and everyone that I love,

These past couple of days have been a little rough. Okay, I know, what a sad, depressing way to start an email. But do you want the truth, or do you want sunshine and daises for every week of the 18 months that I am out in the field?

It's been hard because I am so frustrated that I can't speak the language. I know that every new missionary says this and it shouldn't be surprising because I've only been here for two weeks, but...WHEN DOES IT GET BETTER?!??! When does the language come? There is so much I want to tell my investigators that I know I'd be able to in English, but when I want to in Tagalog, it always comes out choppy. Sometimes I'm not sure if I want to just remain silent and let Sis. Lockwood do all the talking instead. All I can do fluently is to bear my testimony. Is that enough?

I keep thinking about what President Ostler told me - that although I may not be able to speak the language well, I brought with me here to Palawan a different gift. Maybe not the gift of the language, per say, but... the gift of love. He told me that I bring with me the gift of love.

With everyone that we have met with and taught, I always smile. I smile so much. I try to love. I try to ask the usual questions, "How are you?" (Kumusta po kayo?) or "How was your day?" (Kumusta po ang araw nyo?). I try to tell them that we love them and that God loves them. I try everyday to love these people. And it works. I do love them. I love them greater and greater each day. I guess the reason why I want to be good at the language is because I love hem. I want them to understand me. I want them to understand what I believe in, to understand what I want to share with them. And I can't help but feel really useless sometimes when I can't say what I want to say.

It is frustrating. I won't lie. I've been trying really hard to be in better spirits.

And while I'm still working at it- here's the solution I've found.

To work.

Said President Hinckley, "The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for depression is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired."

I am trying so hard to lose myself in the work. It is not easy. But I know that if I keep trying, I will be able to do it.

ANYWAYS. ON A HAPPIER NOTE- here are some interesting things from this past week!

1) First tropical storm that I've experienced here passed by on Friday! My shoes were so dirty but it's okay because I bought super cheap rubber shoes to wear that I don't mind getting all muddy. It was AN ADVENTURE! Imagine Sister Lockwood and I- two foreigners, 19 and 20 years old, trekking through the jungles of Palawan in the rain. Made for a really good memory :)

2) Mormon missionaries meet Baptist missionaries- AWKWARD! We were on our way to an investigator's home-well, actually we were just right outside, and someone comes out and says, "Sorry, she can't meet with you now. The Baptist missionaries are here." HAHA. That amused me :)

3) My belief in angels exponentially increased this past week. Long story, but it'll be enough for me to say that S. Lockwood met an older lady with the surname Tau-Tau, and a week later we BOTH meet a younger lady named Tau-Tau who says that SHE is the ONLY Mrs. Tau-Tau around. But the cool thing is that the OLDER lady that S. Lockwood had met had TOLD her to come back again! And when we did, we found out that only a younger Tau-Tau exists? What! Angels are real. S.Lockwood talked with that older Tau-Tau. I KNOW that she led us to the younger Tau-Tau.

The life of a 19-year-old missionary is interesting. As hard as it is right now, I don't think that there is anywhere else I'd rather be. By the end of the 18 months, by the time April 2016 comes by, I hope to say:

"Wow, what a ride."

I pray for you all everyday. I love you all so much.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!! DONT FORGET THAT WE WILL GET TO SKYPE EACH OTHER!!!!!


With love,
Sister Kimberly Teo