Lessons

Dear family,

I Can Juggle

     3 languages! Never in a billion, gazillion years did I think that I would be able to speak three languages. I mean, I guess I always HOPED to (maybe) learn French or something from Ether, or maybe some other exotic language ... but I never thought in a million years that I would speak Tagalog as well! Obviously there is a lot of brushing up to do with my Mandarin when I get home, but for now, I can claim that I am multilingual! The gift of tongues is #REAL.

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Still A Child Of God

     This past week as Sister Pamesa and I were on our way to the chapel (on a jeep), on hopped a homeless man. He was dressed in pretty dirty clothes, his hair was dirty, his face was dirty, his hands and feet were dirty... and it was raining really hard, so he was wet too. I remember being SO uneasy when he sat across from me in the jeep. He was staring at my necklace and I wish I didn't think this because this was so judgmental of me (forgive me!) but I feared he would snatch my necklace and harm me or something. I know, paranoid. Halfway through all those thoughts, though, I realized...what am I doing? Why am I thinking these things? 

     Here I am, 

a missionary. 

     Literally a representative of the Savior. If Jesus was beside me, He wouldn't be thinking such thoughts about this man. He would love him regardless of his clothing or situation. Within five minutes my thoughts changed from paranoia to compassion. To love.

     And because this man was homeless, he didn't have 'pamasahe' (bus fare) to pay as well. No 'pamasahe,' no seat for you on the jeep. As people got on and filled the seats he willingly sat down on the steps of the jeep, right by my feet. It was a scary couple of minutes debating within myself if I would talk to him...but I am so glad that at the end, I did - I talked to him. 

     I bent over and asked him where he was going. He said he was going to Makati Ave. I asked him what he was going to do there. He said "Not much." Unfortunately that was all we could converse about because the jeep got to our stop, and so I hurriedly and as nicely invited him to church on 19 H.V. Dela Costa. And that was that.

     I'll probably never see that man ever again in my life. But I will always remember his face. I will remember the emptiness in his eyes and how, even though his lips smiled at me, his eyes were blank still. I will never forget realizing, so poignantly, how he too, was a child of God. In the words of Elder Holland: 

are we not all beggars?

Powerful lesson learnt. 

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Jerry's Fast

     Guess who fasted for the first time in his life this week?! JERRY! We opened our fast together that night that we met for his lesson and ended after lunch the next day. Good man. He did it! Last week he slipped again and took a cigarette from his boss (I do not like this boss!) but I pray that he will see the fruits of his fast this week. I know that God will strengthen Jerry.

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Prepared

     We picked up ANOTHER Chinese investigator this past week! Her name is Jessica and she was a member referral. She is 36 and living here in Manila for the time being as she goes to graduate school. She is super intelligent, super nice, and she came to church yesterday! These Chinese people...they truly are prepared for the gospel. Can't wait for China to open it's doors to the gospel! 

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"One Day, She'll Be Just Like You"

     Yesterday at the expat ward, a brother and a sister (husband and wife) said something to me that really stuck with me. Background context: I spoke in sacrament LAST Sunday (someone give me credit for keeping my cool in front of the Seventy) and in my introductory remarks I was saying how I have lived everywhere (well, sort of). And I was also saying how much I loved it, how great it was to be an international kid etc etc. Anyways... this dad I was talking to yesterday was saying how when they looked at me on the stage last week, they saw their daughter in 15, 16 years. They said, "How amazing it would be if one day, she will grow up to be just like you." 

     All my life I had always seen these adults, these young men/women go up to the podium to give talks. I would always admire them, want to be like them, wonder how they got to where they did. I never thought that one day, someone would tell me the same thing, too. I

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The days keep on going by, but the happier and happier I seem to get.

With love,
Sister Teo

Worth It

Dear family, 

Modest Is Safest

     This past week while Sister Pamesa and I were walking to and from our teaching appointments (FYI: we live in Pasay but our area covers Makati), I was telling Sister Pamesa how there were a bunch of men out on the streets (oh, right, it was Friday night) and how it was and is so amazing that no one tries to do ANYTHING to the missionaries. And she said that in the Philippines (since people are SO religious) when they see young ladies wearing skirts that go below their knees, immediately they're like, "Oops, hands off, those people are church-going" and all. That's a really nice, comforting thought. There's a reason for why missionaries - especially the sisters - dress the way that they do! 

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City Livin'

     I can't believe that I hated it when I first got here off of Palawan. I LOVE the tall buildings! There's just something about being surrounded by skyscrapers that makes me feel really excited and pumped about life. The city reminds me of the hustle and bustle of all the other cities I have lived in and visited and I love feeling the adrenaline in me when we walk on the streets. Makes proselyting a bit more fun :) 

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Yoked

     This past week @ zone conference, President Ostler was teaching and in his remarks to the congregation he spoke about companionship unity. And he had with him a yoke. An actual yoke. The kind of yoke you put around oxen. A real yoke. And guess what? Yup, he had Sister Pamesa and I come up to the front and he put the yoke on us. And THEN he asked us to walk around the sacrament hall with the yoke still on us. It was a powerful object lesson about unity. 

     I learnt a couple things: 1) yokes are heavy, but very efficient. 2) it's easier being the same height as your companion when you're trying to wear a yoke - trust me; President put the yoke on two elders who were as different as David and Goliath was and OBVIOUSLY that did not work out well! :) Companionship unity. That's the way to go. I love SIster Pamesa, though! She is so down-to-earth and so understanding, so mature. I am learning so much from her. 

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Young, Weak... But Not Foolish

     In one of our lessons this week with a new investigator we picked up (his name is Ronel and he is PROGRESSING!), he asked us at one point what our ages were. We told him 20 and 22 respectively, and he's a grown man in his 30s. At that point it hit me: How is it that people so much older than us...can sit and listen to us tell them about God? They trust us so completely with their lives. They trust us to teach them about salvation and exaltation. And they listen. 

They believe. 

They act. 

The prophecies in the scriptures are definitely true that God uses the weak and simple things of this world to confound the wise!

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Weight

     So speaking about these people who trust us so completely, this past week we picked up another new investigator. Her name is Candy. She's from Vietnam but she's basically Chinese and speaks Chinese. I love her so much. She is my sister. It's a little hard for her to understand everything in church because it is all in English, and I am still trying to figure out how to help her best because my head is a mess when I am trying to listen and translate on-the-go...but! The Spirit compensates for my weaknesses which is good. 

     Anyhow. This week after zone conference we met with Candy and she laid everything on us. She told us her story and her struggles and all her downs (as well as ups, but mostly downs) and my heart just broke. We listened to her for a good hour and a half and my heart broke. I now know a little, just a little, of what bishops feel. Of what stake presidents feel. 

     I know a little of what they feel when people, so burdened and weighed down by the world and by their problems, come to their office and tell them EVERYTHING. I am not a bishop in any sense of the word, just a missionary, but that lesson with Candy. Man. I remember feeling SO spiritually drained afterwards. That was a LOT for a 20-year-old like myself to take in. I can't believe how trusting Candy was to let us into her life. How grateful I am that at the end of the day, Christ can take her burden and mine off of our shoulders!

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Earring Go, Wait... Earring Come Back?

     Okay, that was not grammatically correct, but that was on purpose. JERRY! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Jerry. Oh, Jerry. 

     The first time we met with him again this week (after Sunday), he had his earring back on again. And he told us he had smoked the day before because his boss offered him a cigarette and wouldn't believe that he was trying to quit. (I'd like to meet this boss and give him a piece of my mind!!!) Anyhow. Jerry makes us laugh. He is so innocent. But SO willing...to follow. We went over again the reasons for why men don't wear earrings, and since then he hasn't put it back on. (Hopefully!!!) He's hoping so hard for his September baptism.

     BTW Dad, we speak English to Jerry, as simply as we can. Sometimes when he can't find the right word in English, he says it in Chinese, and about 70% of the time I get it. (Thank you guys by the way for praying for my Chinese! It is COMING!!! It is Amazing! It doesn't sound like a broken tape anymore!)

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Marco, Carol and Sarah

     On Saturday, I was able to return back to the Bonifacio ward. And I saw Marco, Carolyn, and Sarah. I almost cried. I love them. Seeing them just reminded me of how hard I loved them, how hard I prayed for them, how much I want for them all the happiness in the world. There is such a bond I feel with them. 

     I didn't find Sarah; a TON of missionaries had taught her before I came along. But I pray that I did something, even a little, to help her. She is my friend. And then there's Marco and Carol. Found them, taught them, still waitin' for the glorious day of their baptism! I love them. Love, love, love them. Those three people held so much of my heart. They still do.

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Raff

     And then here's the climax of the week, at least for me. Remember Raff? From my Bonifacio area? And how we had helped him prepare himself for baptism? Well. The reason why I saw Marco and Carol and Sarah on Saturday was because Raff... got baptized. As Sister-Training-Leader over Sister Veras' area now (President was SO kind...I love him. Another story in it of itself!) I can attend their baptisms. 

And Raff got baptized. He did it. Raff did it. All of our sweat and tears and hard work...it paid off. 

     I didn't get to finish teaching him, but there is something SO special attending the baptism of someone you FOUND and started to teach. Raff did it. I remember as Elder Gallarde was saying the baptismal prayer, just closing my eyes real tight as tears started to well up in them, and praying and saying, "Thank you. Thank you Heavenly Father." Raff did it. Next step: TEMPLE (AND MISSION!) (He's only 20 years old!)

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     So this email has been pretty content-heavy. So much happens on the mission. I wish everyone could serve a mission to feel the happiness (and tiredness) that missionaries feel. I would never, never trade this in for anything in the world. This is worth it. So worth it.


With love,
Sister Teo

10 MONTHS AND STILL ROLLIN'

Dear family, 

The District - Makati Version

     So I just have to start out this email expressing how grateful I am to always be placed in a district with wonderful missionaries! I know that some missionaries are exposed to disobedience a lot while on their missions but I have been blessed, thus far, over the past 10 months, to have been in districts where all the elders and sisters have been super focused on the work.

     My district right now consists of the APs, the Zone Leaders, the District Leaders, us STLs, the mission office elders, and then two other sisters who are shotgunning an area (those sisters like to joke that they are the odd ones out, but there is ZERO truth to that because the fact that they are shotgunning/"white-washing" an area also gives them a thousand kudos'!) 

     Also, one of the office elders is visa waiver-waiter missionary. His original mission is the India Bangalore mission (English-speaking), his name is Elder Wakefield....and he used to be in my ward back at BYU? Whaaaaat? Small world. Funny thing is we didn't even recognize each other until he said that his bishop (Bishop Plant) was the bishop that was missing a finger. All the keys clicked then.

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Deli

     One of our investigators in the 3rd ward is Deli Casinto.

She is a good, good woman. Super hard-working, super family-oriented. She is such a great woman. 

     There are so many great Filipina women in this country that do SO much for their families. If I could give a standing ovation for each Filipina that has worked and sweated and cried over their families, I would. Filipina women are resilient and strong. This past week was hard, however, for Deli, because of some unexpected family situations. Specifically in regards to her daughter, back in their province. As Deli cried (I feel like I use the word "cry" or "cried" or "crying" a lot) and told us about their story I told her and promised her that if she wouldn't give up on her daughter, she will one day see why they had to go through this challenge. I told her the impact of the love of a mother. I told her about how grateful - INFINITELY grateful - I am for my own mother and for how her prayers, her righteous, heartfelt prayers, were heard by God.

     To be honest, I REALLY don't know where I would be today if not for the prayers of my mother during the summer/fall/winter/forever of 2013. After I got back from EFY and told everyone I hated BYU and wasn't going to go there for school? Yeah. No idea where I would be now if Mom, you hadn't fasted/prayed/done your superpower stuff to ask God to help me. A mother's love is real.

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Caizy

     Caizy is also an investigator in the 3rd ward and she is going to get married to her Utahn (Utah or Utahn?) husband in a month! But before that, she's going to get baptized on the 29th of August! Caizy is so sweet. She is so innocent. So pure. She deserves the cleansing that comes only through baptism through proper authority (she is also really fashionable; Mom she's got a beautiful red Prada bag that's just...beautiful.)

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Smoke & Shots: Jerry

     Jerry is our Chinese investigator from the 4th ward! He is SO great (Mom you probably already know about his situation based off of what you've read from Sister Lockwood's blog). Jerry is really seeking the truth. His story is really long and so we'll save that for after the mission, but in short, he has really been striving to make the necessary changes in his life in order to get baptized in September. He can do this! He can do this. I believe in him. 

     He was able to go four days this past week without smoking/drinking........until his Chinese boss invited him to a company karaoke session and then they pressured him to drink and smoke because in the Chinese working culture (and Dad, I'm sure you know all about this) it's all about relationships. "Guan xi." 

     Jerry really sees that and that's actually one reason why he left China, because he didn't like the whole concept of the business world being dependent on "guan xi." ANYHOW, we were sad that he drank and smoked (even though just a little) - BUT I have to tell you guys that on the first day that we found out that he had managed to be clean for 24 hours? It was so much to take in. I was SO happy that first night, so, so happy. We rode home in a cab after the lesson and Taylor Swift's new songs were playing and again I wanted to cry-because I love Taylor Swift and also everyone knows how I feel about hearing pop music here on the mission- but I realized...none of this matters.

     I would go through ALL the hardships in this mission all over again (maybe except for living without water.............) to feel that happiness I felt that night when Jerry told us he'd did it for the first time, that he'd gone without smoking. There was hope, that night. And there still is hope. 

There will always be hope for those that want it.

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"No Earring... For A Wedding Ring" - Jerry, Again

     Jerry is also really cool and has a "cool guy" appearance. He has had an earring on his left ear for 14 years now, never having taken it off. When we told him that he'd have to stop wearing it - well, we can all imagine the million and one feelings he must have felt inside him. I don't think that we explained it to him correctly the first time, though, because after that lesson he still came back to us with the earring still on. He'd thought that we meant that AFTER his baptism he would have to remove it. Poor guy, when we told him that we meant NOW he'd have to remove it! It was an internal struggle, I could see. But yesterday, for the first time in 14 years, he came to church without his earring. 

     Leaving/removing something that has been a part of you for so long is not easy. I applaud Jerry for his willingness to change. I know it's not a big deal to the world. An earring, an earring on a guy - so what? It's just an earring. No, it's not just an earring. For Jerry, it means the difference between new life and old life. And he's doing it. He is earring-less, and one step closer towards his September baptism.

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Best Blessing

     There has to be a section in my email this week for Gladys and Krystal. I am so glad that you two were able to get your blessing. So. Glad. I am SO happy for the comfort you two received, for the knowledge you two gained, for the love that you two felt. My patriarchal blessing changed my life. It literally did. It gave me direction. I know that it will give you direction, too. I don't think I hold any blessing dearer to my heart than my patriarchal blessing. I am so proud of the two of you!

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     I love you all! The work is great. I am still praying really hard to love the people of this area, and the love is coming; charity is coming. There is no missionary work without charity.

     Also, sorry Mom. No pictures yet with Brother Tai ("Eruption") and Sister Marquez. Mom, it's awkward, okay, going up to them wanting a picture! They are just normal people! Celebrities, yes, BIG celebrities here in the Philippines. But come Sunday, they are just normal people. Good, normal people. Plus, I still have alot of time here. I'll make sure you get your picture before I leave.

Zone conferences are this week and Sister Pamesa and I will be teaching! Wish us luck!


With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. 10-MONTH MARK TODAY! We got this.

New

Dear family, 

Be Careful What You Wish For

     Heavenly Father is the genie of all genies because he gives you exactly what you want. My new area covers the CITY. Literally. Buildings. Cars. HIGHWAYS. We walk under highways and right by the train tracks and walk by business people and by tall business buildings and there are a million people everywhere. Sound like Shanghai? Yes. 

     I just think that God has such a sense of humor that you can't really compete with him. I remember filling out my mission application and adding on it that I wanted to serve city. I wrote down how much of a "city girl" I am. Well. BAM. Guess who's in the citiest-city area there could be in our mission. Hola! 

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Like Mother, Like Daughter

     Remember how I told you guys that here in the Philippines they call trainers "Nanay" (meaning mother) and the new missionaries "Anak" (meaning child)? 

     Well.... my Nanay, Sister Lockwood...was the missionary I replaced here in this area! (But of course Mommy already knows that because she stalks Sister Lockwood's blog. No shame, Mom.)

     Sister Lockwood was here four transfers and that's a long time and people here LOVE her. It's a bit intimidating coming in and trying to top her great work, but...like mother like daughter, right? She has been one of my role models here on the mission and if she could do it here, I can, too. I just have to step up to the plate! 

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No Place Like Bonifacio

     I won't lie, though. I've been missing Bonifacio alot. Like, alot. But I'll go where the Lord wants me to go. This past Wednesday, we attended a New Trainers meeting for all of the newly called leaders, and President started off the meeting by saying how we need to accept God's will in all of our assignments. 
     
     I felt like he was speaking directly to me, especially because he KNOWS how I feel about my last area. He even singled me out halfway while speaking and said, "I'm sure Sister Teo knows what I mean, right?" I loved those people in that ward and in that area. I finally know what it means to have loved people so much that they have become a part of you. 

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Spiritual Overload

     Okay, so get this: I go to six hours of church every Sunday now. SIX. Yes, 6. Double church, every week. 

     My area - or AREAS- consists of the Makati 3rd ward (filipino ward) and the Makati 4th ward (foreigner ward). The 3rd ward meets every Sunday from 9 am to 12 pm, and the 4th ward meets every Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. Double sacrament, double Sunday School, and double Relief Society. I left church feeling so tired yesterday, but it was a good tired. The kind of happy tired. The kind of tired that makes you feel GLAD that you are tired. A spiritual overload. It's kind of like having alot of chocolate but never getting sick of it. That's me with six hours of church. 

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Running Up & Down

     And so, on that note - the memebrs of the Makati 4th ward, consisting of all the expatriates living here in Manila, live ALL around the city. And so as long as they live within mission boundaries, Sister Pamesa and I can visit them. The same rule applies to investigators who come to church there. Whether they live all the way across the other side of Manila, Sister Pamesa and I can go to them. We are basically in charge of all the foreigners in this city. All. Okay. Let's cry happy tears now. (If Sister Lockwood could do this, so can I!)

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Cold Hands, Trembling Legs

     And on ANOTHER related note, guess who I go to church with every Sunday? Other than with President and Sister Ostler? (I'm so happy I get to be so close to them!) Guesses? 

THE QUOROM OF THE SEVENTY.

     No biggie. I just go to church with the Area Presidency every Sunday. If I weren't a missionary I might break out into squeals and go all fangirl-crazy that I attend church with these leaders! To make things even better, yesterday was fast and testimony Sunday and President had texted all the missionaries to advice them to bear their testimonies if they were new to the ward/branch...and I walked up, feet shaking, palms sweaty, and bore my testimony with those three men behind me. It was so great that I got to do it in English! But STILL! AHHHHHH. So many new changes! The Lord is so funny!

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Heritage: God Never Lets You Forget

     Dad, you're going to love this. 

We have Chinese investigators. 

     Okay, ladies and gentlemen. I'm not just trying to bilingual anymore. I'm juggling MULTILINGUAL now. English. Tagalog. Chinese. 

     I almost cried myself silly when I first tried to speak Chinese this past week. I can't, anymore. I'm sorry Dad! My Chinese is not Chinese anymore! I remember feeling so ashamed of myself that sentences that I would have used to be able to form SO EASILY before now struggle to roll off the tip of my tongue! 

     Good thing, though, that our progressing Chinese investigator now - Jerry - speaks English. So he gets us. But yesterday he brought to church TWO of his friends, Kon and Candy, and they only speak Chinese! It was such. a. struggle. But good thing the Spirit works better than us normal human beings do because I know that Kon and Candy had a relatively good time despite not really understanding everything. Also, the only Chinese couple in the ward (the Hos from Taiwan) are moving OUT of the ward next month!!!!!! 

     HELP?!?!??! I am going to buy me a Chinese dictionary later. Not kidding. 

     Also, President just forwarded me a referral of this Chinese woman that a member met that "is anxious to learn about God and the Bible" and they are hoping that "two of our fine missionaries can contact her soon." 

Um.......please pray for me. PLEASE. 

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     These past few days have definitely been transitory and full of new things that I need to get used to. But it's been great thus far. Sister Pamesa goes home in October (when I hit my year mark) and so I am wondering if I will be her last companion of the mission or not. We'll see. 

     I love you all! This week has been so funny, I'm not quite sure if I want to laugh or to cry. Maybe I'll do both. 


With love,
Sister Teo