Because He Lives

Dear family, 

AR
      So let's start out this email with Ar and how he is progressing. BECAUSE HE IS! 
     He came to church the second week in a row yesterday. We taught him the Word of Wisdom the night before and committed him to live it. I pray and pray and pray that he will be clean and that he will be able to overcome his temptations. Please pray for him. His baptism can and WILL happen and my companion and I believe in him. 
     I've been in the field four months now and I KNOW that there is a power greater than the missionaries that changes the lives of these people. Lives that were once empty, lost, and angry...change. People change. Ar can change. Ar will change. Please pray for him. Please, please, please. Later tonight we are holding an FHE at his house and have invited a bunch of YSAs/SAs to come. Hopefully they will be able to establish friendships of sorts! We want Ar to be converted to the gospel, not to the missionaries. Once we leave, ain't nothing going to help him except his Savior. He needs to understand that. There's some more ways for him to go but I BELIEVE! 


MY THIRD COMPANION 
     Sister Quilicot! She is from Bohol. She speaks Bisayan, like Sister Himarangan did. She is little but she is a ball of FIRE! She works so hard, is so diligent, loves these people naturally, is so humble, is so kind, is so patient...man, she basically has every single Christlike attribute that I can think of! I am SO excited to get to spend my last six weeks on Palawan, with HER! She is going to do so well with this area, I know it. I am so relieved to know that Santa Monica C will be in good hands when I leave! I trust her. She is AMAZING. 
     I feel like I say that about all my companions- which is true, they are amazing- but Sister Quilicot is REALLY amazing! I had actually met her the first day that we went to the mission home, right out of the MTC. She was training one of the sisters in my batch, Sister Dewan. So basically I'd already talked with her that first day and I already liked her back then! It's so much easier to love her right now! I know that I will learn so much from her. 


HOT, HOT, HOT
     I can't even, guys. It is SO HOT HERE. I don't think I have ever sweat this much in my entire life. God definitely knows how to "refine" his children because this past week we have had our electricity cut a couple of times, meaning no electric fans, meaning it's hot in the apartment, meaning...I am definitely living outside of my comfort zone. I remember thinking to myself this week, "I'm not sure if I want to laugh or to cry at my plight." For real. 
     Sometimes I can't make up my mind if I want to laugh or cry. Most of the times I think I want to cry. I cannot believe how much of the world lives without the luxuries of life that we all enjoy. We are so blessed. Let's not forget to count our blessings! 


"YOU'VE BEEN ON PALAWAN, ALRIGHT"
     Yup. This week I was officially told that I look like a Palawan missionary. Sister Quilicot, she saw me that first day, fresh out of the MTC. Still fair-skinned, still prim and proper. Now...probably a jungle-girl of sorts. My legs are scarred with mosquito and ant bites, my skin is so tanned I cannot even believe it...well! At least you know that I've been working here! That's got to be a good sign! 


#BECAUSEHELIVES
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Easter is coming up. SPREAD THE WORD: #BECAUSEHELIVES. Mom, Dad, maybe....just....just...let Gladys and Krystal worry about the hashtags and social media efforts :) But yes! Gladys. Krystal. #BECAUSEHELIVES. This is a big initiative that the Church is putting out and I'm not sure if you guys know about it already. But on Apr 5 there will be a YouTube takeover and the video will be on the front page. SPREAD THE WORD! The video is SO great. Can't tell you how much I adore our church because we're pretty hip and cool with social media things. ETHER! Remember when we realized that they had placed the video on Youtube last Easter? Remember when we saw that? That was one year ago! And now they are out with a new one!

     Because He lives, I know that my every prayer is heard. Because He lives, I know that I have strength beyond my own to help me throughout this mission. Because He lives, I KNOW that the lives of these people that I love can change. Because He lives, I have hope for their future. Because He lives, I too will live after this life. And I will have my family with me. Because He lives, I live.


     I love you all so very much. Keep the Savior in your hearts this week. Prepare yourself for General Conference, too! Also, side note: SIX MORE WEEKS UNTIL MOTHER'S DAY, MEANING SIX MORE WEEKS UNTIL WE GET TO SKYPE CALL!


With love,
Sister Teo

THIS ISLAND

Dear Family, 

A LITTLE LAUGHTER GOES A LONG WAY
     This past week we had a Family Home Evening at one of our members' houses with an investigator present. It was perhaps one of the best FHEs that I have ever attended. Not necessarily because there was deep doctrine preached. Not even because my Tagalog was perfect, because, let's face it, it's not. And it wasn't even because they fed us after (yay for Filipino spaghetti! It was one of the kids' birthdays.) It was great because we laughed. We enjoyed each other's company. We had fun! It's not forbidden to have fun even though we are missionaries. I know that life gets a little serious sometimes. Family - sometimes the atmosphere in our house gets a little serious. (Don't deny it!) When that happens, I urge you guys to...JUST LAUGH! Just like the family pictures that Gladys sent me this week! Silly pictures. Laugh! Laughter heals. Laughter works. Be happy!


THE INFLUENCE OF A GREAT LEADER
     Because I know that President and Sister Bird are leaving back to the States in a while...I just wanted to tell you guys about how important it is to be an example to everyone around you. The Birds will forever be two people that I look up to with all of my heart. President Bird, especially. I remember the first time I met him was in our Sunday School class. He was our brand new teacher and at first I thought, "WOW this brother is LOUD!" We all know how humorous President Bird is. I wondered, "WHO IS THIS MAN?!" But then at the end of that first lesson, President Bird said something to us that I have never forgotten since then. He said it with such clarity and conviction and power in his voice that to this day I cannot shake off the memory of that very scene. He quoted FTSOY (For The Strength Of Youth): "God can make more out of your life than you can."

I love the Birds. I am so thankful to have been blessed by their counsel and friendship. PRESIDENT OF ABBOTT HEALTH! THAT'S BIG! I am so happy for President Bird.

Keep doing what you do, family. Be a good example to all. You never know whose life will be changed because of you.


JENNYBEL & HER BAPTISM
     This was a first. Sweet, sweet Jennybel was ready to get baptized this past Saturday. But come 1 p.m. (which was the time of her baptism), she was still a no-show. She wasn't our baptism, she isn't even our investigator. But I feel like after the events of Saturday, Sister Himarangan, Jennybel and I will always share a special bond of sorts.

     She was late because she was in tears. She had just gotten into an argument with her boyfriend, who was also her ride to church, and he'd bailed on her last minute. She was crying. She was not dressed. She was heartbroken. All before her baptism. The elders took Sis. H and I with them to talk to her. To console her. I remember her opening the door and seeing her standing there, puffy-eyed, sobbing. I remember leaning in and just giving her a big hug and her crying on my shoulder. I remember Sister Himarangan doing the same thing. We calmed her down and sat down and talked. We made her laugh. We tried our best to help her remember the big picture. In those fifteen minutes that we were together I felt an immense love for this sweet 18-year-old. Her life will never be the same since her baptism. And Satan knew that. That is why everything unfolded the way it did right before she was going to make her commitment to the Lord to serve him. I know that Satan is as real as Heavenly Father and Jesus are. We must do all we can to make sure that Satan NEVER succeeds! It is so interesting that I'm saying this. Sometimes I feel so inadequate to "bring people unto Christ" because who am I? I am only 19 years old. 19 years old and trying to change the world. How? The power granted by the Lord to His missionaries is so real.


MORMON 9:7-11
     Mormon 9 is my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. READ IT! Especially verses 7-11. I love that we believe that God still speaks to us today. Why wouldn't he? He is our loving Father in Heaven. I know that he speaks to ME when I come to him in prayer.


AR*
(not his real name)
    Brother Ar is probably the biggest tender mercy and miracle of my week. We have been teaching him for three weeks now and I cannot tell you the changes that have taken place in this 19-year-old's life since that first day. I have come to feel such great charity for him. I believe in him. I have so much faith in him.

     Ar's parents died when he was young. He isn't close to his siblings. He has been moved around from family to family since young. Third grade education only. Knew little or nothing about God. Never prayed. Never went to church. Smokes and drinks whenever. Broken family background.

     The first time I found out about Ar's entire story, my heart broke. It broke because I have seen the effects of broken families on the lives of many people near and dear and close to me. I know the pain that they feel. I know because for a long time in high school I was told all about it. I couldn't help but feel so sad for Ar.

     It has been a long time since this area of Santa Monica C has seen a baptism. The last baptism was in September of last year. At the start of my mission I didn't think too much about it. But it wasn't until the start of last transfer that I started to panic. Why aren't baptisms happening? What's going on? Where are the people that I KNOW God is preparing to receive his gospel?

     Ar recently moved to Palawan from Manila. He is staying with his uncle and aunt and cousins who are members. They referred him to us three weeks ago.

I refuse to believe that his move is a coincidence.

     Three weeks ago, when we taught him for the first time...he was not serious at all. He was cracking jokes left and right. He would sit with his legs up on the chair. He would get up and leave halfway and return. He was not focused. Or maybe...he was nervous. The second time we went over, he smoked a cigarette right before we taught him. He cracked more jokes. He tried to be flirty. He laughed excessively.

But family, friends, everyone and anyone reading this: the gospel brings about real change.

This last week, after having met with him for the third week in a row, Ar is changing.

     He prayed. By himself. Before he would never want to. He didn't even know if God was there. He had to follow along to someone else's prayer, repeating their words. This week he prayed, heartfelt, sincere. I wanted to cry when he began his prayer. He had been so reluctant to before. But now, right in front of us, he was praying to God to help him know the truth for himself. Now he listens. He sits still. He ponders. He thinks. He gives sensible answers. He reads his assignments. He respects us. He is happier. His countenance has changed. I KNOW that he has felt something during our lessons. I KNOW how good this gospel will be for him. I believe in Ar. And yesterday, he came to church. I'm not sure that he has ever been to a church in his entire life.

I don't believe that Ar moved over to Palawan out of pure coincidence.

     We extended him a baptismal date for May 2. He accepted. He was serious when he accepted the date. He committed to prepare himself. That is six weeks away. I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I am terrified. I know how real Satan is. He is going to do everything he can to make sure that Ar doesn't make it there. I am so scared.

    But I KNOW that Heavenly Father loves Ar. I know that Ar's relatives love him too. They wouldn't have referred him to us if they didn't want to help him.

     I know there is something, even a PARTICLE of action, that me and my companion can do to help Ariel. I believe in this investigator. I am going to move forward with faith. Please pray for him. I have. So much. So earnestly. Please pray for Ar.


AND SO MY JOURNEY ISN'T OVER
I want to share with you guys what President Ostler sent me this past week:

     "...I want you to know that I received your plea to stay on the island for another transfer...Thank you for sharing your feelings openly with me. That is the kind of relationship we should have.

     I want to be open with you and let you know that I prayed about it before I read your email and I felt that...your work is not finished there.

The Lord knows. He always does.

Love,
President Ostler"

     That's right guys! Sister Teo will be on Palawan for another six more weeks. I'll hit my sixth-month mark here. That's a-third of my mission spent here on Palawan island. A THIRD! In one area! I am so, so grateful to God. He understands. He knows. I'm going to have to work really hard this next transfer! I don't know yet who my next companion will be, but I know that I will learn SO much from her, just as I have from Sister Lockwood and Sister Himarangan. I love them both.


     I love you guys! The work is great. Missionaries are always so happy, not because they don't have hard days. They do. I do. But we are happy because we choose to. Because we have God on our side. I know that there are souls to be saved here in Santa Monica C. I believe in this area. I believe in these people.

With love,
Sister Teo

The River Down Under

Dear family,

     I APOLOGIZE! This email is coming in later than usual on our P-day and I am glad that none of you have sent me emails where you are freaking out wondering where I am. Don't worry. I am safe. I am always safe.

     WE WENT TO THE UNDERGROUND RIVER EARLIER! THE FAMOUS PALAWAN UNDERGROUND RIVER! I am so blessed. This excursion to the Underground River is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for missionaries now! They used to be able to go but then it became forbidden...and today we had special permission from President Ostler to go as a zone. We are so lucky! There are a whole lot of pictures for you guys from this past week. Enjoy!


THE REASON BEHIND EVERY RULE
     So remember how before the mission I was super excited that the Filipinos love music and that pop music will be playing EVERYWHERE here? Well. I've made up my mind...that I've changed my mind. I don't like it; hearing music makes me homesick. At first I thought that it would be a tender mercy to here bits and pieces of home, of tunes and sounds that I held dear to me before the mission. But now...Now I'm not so sure. I cannot listen to a pop song without tearing up! That is how bad it gets! I'd rather go my whole mission without hearing any Taylor Swift or Eminem (what) or whoever else. It's just easier that way! I testify that there is a reason for every rule! God knows what He's doing with His missionaries!


I HAD SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE THE MISSION?
     Okay, one more thing about social media, and then I'll stop. I promise I'm a spiritual missionary. Okay but. I FORGOT ALL MY PASSWORDS! To all my accounts! My email account. My FB account. I forgot what my passwords were! Just my luck! Not quite sure what to do about that since in about a year's time I'm probably not even going to KNOW. Hmm... ;)


"HE IS SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW"
     This week, Sister Himarangan and I met with the Saquing family. They are a part-member family- only the Grandpa (the Lolo) was a member. BUT Grandpa Saquing passed away about a few weeks ago. That's how we got to know them. The Elders' Quorum brethren visited their family and eventually told us about them since they live in our area. So we headed over to say hi this past week, and they are LOVELY! So lovely. Again, very humble people. But so lovely. We had a short lesson because we were short on time, but during the lesson I felt so strongly that Lolo Saquing was so happy. And so I told them. I testified to them that what they were doing, these first few steps they were taking, were good. I told them that I felt his presence. I know that sounds a little creepy because we know that Lolo Saquing is dead...but I know that he was with us. I know that he was happy seeing his family members (daughter, son, and many grandchildren) gathered around the missionaries. Something can be done here. I know that the spirit of Elijah will turn their hearts around.


MY ACCENT

     "To be offended is a choice." 

     The Filipinos are very straightforward people. They tell you things like it is. Mom, the longer I am here in the Philippines the more I am realizing how NON-FILIPINO you are! You have totally become Singaporean/whatever-culture-we-are-in-our-house. The Filipinos tell the truth. And this week one of our less actives, Sister Jennefer, straight up laughed at my accent! Ouch. But it's okay. Said Elder...someone...(can't remember who): "To be offended is a choice." And so I just laughed it off. I'm trying! And I think I'm getting pretty alright. I mean. I'm definitely not a natural and that makes it easier on my part to shake off the laughs, but I know I am trying! The gift of tongues is real, guys! I can speak to people here and they understand me and I understand them! The accent will come :)


HOT & COLD, YES & NO
     This is basically my body right now. Diarrhea went away on Tuesday, but then just yesterday I caught something, don't know what it is. The common cold? You know. The usual symptoms. Sore throat. Feeling really, really hot but also really cold. Really tired. I feel a fever coming! All that activity we had at the underground river earlier...BUT DON'T WORRY. It's more fun in the Philippines!


ZONE CONFERENCE
     Sister H and I did it! We taught our classes. And we succeeded! Or at least I'd like to think so :) Good thing we were just a small group of us here on Palawan. 50? 60? Either way we did it. President Ostler even sat in on one of our classes to observe us. Did I freak out inside? YES! But! The spirit helped. I hope it did. The best part of all the preparation for teaching though...might have been that we learnt the most. Us, as teachers. Teachers always learn the most. Can you imagine how much I would've learnt in a year from now?! I love this mission. I love learning. I remember not really having a "fire" for school and education when I was a kid, but as I went into middle school/high school and realized that I was pretty decent in certain things, that fire just enlarged! I love learning. I love school. I miss BYU. But to all things their proper time and season.

     I love President and Sister Ostler. I cannot tell you guys- I cannot testify enough- how much God knows each of us. He places people in our lives at the specific time we need them. I know that President Ostler was called to be president of the Manila mission at the right time. He is such a spiritual man. He talked to us about being clean. He talked to us about being humble enough to repent. He emphasized that when we are clean is when we can change lives, when we will feel the spirit more abundantly in our lives. I know that we can all change and repent, whether it be of big things or of small things. He is a man of God! And so is Sister Ostler!


     So this week has been full of things OTHER than proselyting, e.g. zone conference, district conference (two days), THE UNDERGROUND RIVER, and then there's zone meeting tomorrow. Plus I've had to rest at home a night because of feeling unwell. We didn't teach as many lessons this week but hopefully that will change NEXT week! Please pray that my almost-fever will go away! It is miserable being sick and hot when it is already so HOT here!

     Sister Himarangan goes home next week! NEXT WEEK! This time next week she won't even be here with me. She will be in Manila with her going-home batch. I have come to love her like my sister. I know that God answers prayers. I remember pleading with Him to fill me with charity for my sister, and he did. I love Sister H and she is so bright. She has great things in store for her. Sometimes the relationships that we form with our companions are more important than those we form with our investigators. I am so blessed to have had two great companions.

     I LOVE YOU ALL! I pray for you guys always. I know how blessed we are to have this gospel of Jesus Christ. I will keep serving hard. Work hard too, back at home! Life is too short. Be happy. Be loving. "Be forgiving." (Daddy-stole your line.)    


With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. Thank you Krys! I know it's a bunch of pictures that you're going to have to put up!

Drinking Water Each Day, Keeps the Doctor Away!!

Dear family,

THE HARVEST
     This past week, we as a district HARVESTED MANGOES! At the Magbanua farm. The Magbanuas are a huge member family here on Palawan (unfortunately not in our branch) but one of the brothers in our branch works on their farm...and so we went and picked MANGOES! 
     It was so much fun. It was really hot. But it was really fun. Now I can say that I have officially harvested Filipino mangoes! Climbed trees! (Okay not really: I got about *that* high and then starting freaking out because I'm scared of heights.) Worked like a farmer! I wish I could show you guys those pictures but...the internet is being a little mean today and they won't load. So maybe next time. Or in a year. 

OPEN YOUR MOUTH
     So this past week at District meeting, we reviewed our numbers for the week and we realized that our OYM numbers had gone way down. Basically, an OYM is when you talk to someone/initiate a conversation and then eventually extend an invitation to them to learn more about our message. Or you invite them to go to church. It was a big wake-up call for me personally because I will admit that I've been getting a teeny bit lazy on the OYMs ever since Sister Lockwood left. I don't know; it's just less self-conscious of a matter when you talk to Filipinos with another foreigner beside you. You don't worry as much about messing up on your Tagalog. SO! I made it a goal to get back into the OYM-ing goal this past week. And I must say that I am proud with my efforts! 
     I will keep working my way back to the top. But I guess here's the lesson for you all: until you open your mouths, people won't know. They won't know about anything. If you want someone to know you love them, let them know. Open your mouth. If you want to be someone's friend, nothing's going to happen...until you open your mouth. It's scary, but it's worth it. You never know what will happen. 

AGNES (part II)
     She experienced her own miracle this past week! Her husband/"it's complicated"-boyfriend came back! She told us of how he returned and how she was crying and in the midst of her crying she began to pray. For the first time in forever (No, not "Frozen"), she prayed. What a miracle! I know that Heavenly Father blesses those who accept Him back into their lives. The minute/second they start to make changes in their lives to come closer to Him, He immediately does his part. I know this to be true. 

DEHYDRATION...and diarrhea
     So remember how we went mango harvesting? Wellllll.......because it's been a million degrees here on Palawan (and will continue to get hotter in the coming months), I kind of sort of forgot to drink enough water...and got dehydrated. Which led to exhaustion. Which led to diarrhea. Not sure how the cycle begins or ends but...yup. My last couple of days in a nutshell. 
     I remember waking up the next day (after mango harvesting), looking at myself in the mirror and thinking, "WHOA! It looks like I didn't get any sleep AT ALL!" Later I find out that I'm actually dehydrated, hence the nausea. Hence the tiredness. Hence the diarrhea. Second time now since being in the Philippines that I've gotten sick with stomach flu. Lesson to be learnt here, kids: "Drinking water each day keeps the doctor away." I will remember that. Can't wait to start eating solid foods again....only things I've had in the past 30 hours is water, gatorade, and toast. Awesome.

THIS UPCOMING WEEK...
     Will be exciting! Zone conference happens on Friday and that's where Sister H. and I will give our training to all the missionaries here on Palawan. Still a little bit freaked out, but...we got this! And then on Sunday is district conference. And next week will be full of fun stuff as well! There WILL be more pictures next week! 


I love you all! We are going to a crocodile farm later! Fun fun!

Also: I turn five months old on this mission tomorrow! FIVE MONTHS! That's one month away from being 1/3 done! But okay. I won't get ahead of myself. Know that I love you all, I pray for you all always, and I promise that you will all be happier when you do the little things. Pray. Read your scriptures. Stay close to God. He will never abandon you. 

With love,
Sister Teo

Empathy

Dear family,

You guys wanted pictures so there are a bunch coming your way today!

FIRE BURNING 
     No, not Sean Kingston's song. Fire burning because IT IS HOT, HOT, HOT here on Palawan! I never knew I could feel so hot. And it is only March! What is going to happen when April and May come around?! And we have to start work at 12 noon?! I can't even imagine the heat! Haha. No worries though. We got this. I've been using my umbrella EVERYDAY since I've gotten here (you should be proud of me, Mom!) and although I still don't understand how it is that I still get tanner and tanner even while being shaded...at least I'm protected somewhat from the sunrays. IT IS HOT! 

ELECTRICITY
     To top the heat off, BROWN-OUTS HAPPEN! So if you guys remember from my previous email, the Filipinos call 'black-outs' brown-outs. Black, brown...same thing ;) The electricity gets cut at the randomest times and I cannot remember the last time I was so grateful for ELECTRICITY. I feel so blessed to have been raised under privileged circumstances. It only took me a mission to the Philippines to realize how the rest of the world lives! More people live in the darkness than they do in the light! Isn't that crazy? We shouldn't take electricity for granted. That's right. Gla. Krys. "Don't waste electricity," in the words of Mom. TREASURE IT! Especially because you'll never know when the electricity gets cut in the middle of the night and you are drowning in sweat lying in your bed. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Maybe cold showers don't sound too bad anymore... 

ZONE CONFERENCE
     Remember how I said last week that Sister Himarangan and I will be giving trainings at zone conference? Well! At first I was super excited.........but now I am starting to feel so inadequate. The other two pairs of sisters giving the same workshop in Manila are sister-training-leaders. STLs, in short. And what of me? I am still relatively fresh on the field. Granted I have Sister Himarangan as my companion and she is WAY experienced (she goes home in 23 days!!!)...but we aren't sister-training-leaders! The STLs on Palawan aren't even teaching! And yet President called us two to! Inadequacy! Feelings of inadequacy are real. Keep praying for us that we will be able to do our part. It scares me now that I think of having to teach the ENTIRE batch of missionaries ON PALAWAN. Elders and sisters. We. will. teach. all. of. them. AHH! 

J & A
     Remember our golden investigators that came to church about a month ago? The ones that we took with us to an FHE later that night? Remember how happy Sister Lockwood and I were with them?! Well. They haven't been to church since. Killjoy! But it's okay. It's okay because we finally met with them again this past week after A had been out of town for a couple weeks and J was in the hospital. We met with them and things are going to pick up again. Note that I said GOING TO, not "maybe going to" or "ehhhhh we will see." I say "GOING TO" because I believe in them. I have so much faith in them. They are a good couple. I mean...never mind that they told us they are going to get married in May...at the Pentecostal Church! That's still two months away! Us missionaries have time to work with them. I know we can bring them over to be married in GOD'S CHURCH ;) We can do it. I have faith in them. I love them so much. They are my friends now. Please pray for them. 

AGNES
     Been saving the best for last. Agnes is 26 years old and a single/not-single mom. Basically, it's complicated. Bless her heart. Agnes was my spiritual highlight of the week. We met with her on Tuesday and it was a cry fest in her house. The spirit was there. Not because we were all crying but because I KNOW that the spirit spoke to her. It broke my heart when she told us that she feels that God doesn't hear her prayers anymore. She doesn't believe that He loves her because too much "bad stuff" has happened to her. It broke my heart. How I yearned for her to realize that her thoughts are so wrong. How I empathized with her. That one hour in her house will forever be a sacred memory to me. I cried with her as I told her how I KNOW with all surety of heart that God hasn't abandoned her. I testified to her that He loves her, that He is AWARE of her. I told her about my own experiences through which I came to know that God is indeed there. I told her of how at one period of time I, too, was angry with Him. I told her how I didn't understand why He was allowing certain things to happen to me. I told her that I was angry. But then I also told her - I testified to her - that I was wrong. He had never left me. He had always been there. He had heard every tearful prayer, every single plea. I know that He is there for her. 

    If you ask me what I remember from my setting apart prayer with President Dyer on October 8, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything other than this one thing that I do remember. I remember President Dyer telling me that a reason why I was sent here was to be able to empathize with these people. "To empathize." To feel and understand what they are going through, to some small extent. That blessing is being fulfilled. I love these people. I yearn for them. I pray for them.

     The weeks go by like nobody's business. I don't know what it's like in the real world but I cannot believe how surreal time is flying by. While it seems like I have been here for forever...it also seems like I just got here yesterday. Seeing Sister Himarangan about to leave makes me realize how quickly the mission goes by. It encourages me to keep working harder, to not waste any minute that I am here.

     I love you all so much. Friends, family, strangers, all of you guys! I can feel the strength that comes from your prayers. Do not worry; all is well.

With love,

Sister Teo

P.S.
The pictures are as follows:

The street outside our house that we walk on every night to get back to our apartment! Mom. Don't freak out.

Our investigator Hannah, 23, with her two children!

Hannah's son, Liam

Us with Hannah and her kids! They are adorable :)

Me and the chinese neighbours' cat. ANIMAL THERAPY! Playing with cats (my favorite animal) = so THERAPEUTIC. Mom. Dad. Don't freak out.

Sister H in one of our areas! Look at the GREENERY! Beautiful!

Me with Nanay and Tatay Doblado. Two of our new investigators from this week!

Me with Sister Alfeche, our Sister-Training-Leader on Palawan!