Thank you, thank you, thank you

This is it.

My last email home, as a missionary.

My last email home, as Sister Teo. 

Thank you.

Thank you for staying strong with me on this journey. 

Thank you for always praying for me, praying so hard, that from countries away I can FEEL of that extra power, heaven-sent. 

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MOM, DAD, 

Thank you for encouraging me to come on this mission. Thank you for being pushy but not over-pushy. Thank you for the obstacles we overcame together to get me on this mission. Thank you for your trust in the Lord. 18 months and 10 days later, I still remember Daddy's last words as he hugged me for the last time at the airport: "Alright, we'll leave you in God's hands now." You literally sent me off to a foreign country where I didn't speak the language. You sent me off into the world. You trusted God enough with your 19 year-old daughter. Thank you for helping me to enjoy this journey. Thank you for allowing me to grow. Thank you for never giving up on me during those "terrible teens." Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 

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GLADYS, KRYSTAL,

I love you both SO much. There have been times on this mission where I have felt a little upset that I couldn't be with the two of you while you are going through some of the most crucial stages of your lives. (Is my English correct?!?! Ugh. #itsmorefuninthePHILIPPINES!!!) I have prayed so much. SO much. For the both of you. That you would always be safe. That you would always make the right choices. That you would never walk astray. That you would be there for each other. You are two of the brightest, more beautiful girls on planet earth. I am so proud to be your older sister. And I cannot wait to see you this week. WE GOIN' ON A LOT OF SISTER DATES OKAY?!?!?!?!?! 

DAVID, PATSY,

I echo my Dad's words to you in his email. Thank you. Thank you for writing me every week, without fail. Thank you for being my second parents. Thank you for your love and support and encouragement that has been ever-present ever since the first time I announced to you all that I would be submitting my mission papers. Thank you for your advice, Patsy, that has stayed with me over these two years. I remember you telling me once that if I had fun on this mission, that the time would fly on by. I've remembered that as I've tried to overcome any temptation to be miserable. Thank you for loving me like one of your children. Thank you. 

MY GIRLFRIENDS, 

(Annabelle deserves special mention!!!) Thank you too for supporting me on this journey. I know that before this Valerina was super weirded out that I wouldn't be on social media for 18 months, and we were all sad that it would be two years again before we would see each other...but look! Look at where the time has gone. Thank you for loving me through high school and beyond. You girls played a crucial, crucial role in those important years leading up to this mission. I love you all so much. Val. Anna. Helena. Jo. So much love. 

KAYLA AND LAURA,

the Lockwood women,

Thank you, Sis, for being the angel that God sent to me to become my first companion on the mission. I cannot imagine having started out my mission with anyone else. Our innocence and our love for the Lord helped us work miracles. Thank you. You have become one of my best friends. A best friend that I found in the Philippines. Thank you for loving me from day 1. Maybe we can just forget our awkward first meeting at the Cannon Center (ha!!!) and just remember me getting out of the Palawan airport and asking you, "Do you know who I am?!?!?" I love you so much, Sis. 

And to Laura- I got your beautiful card a few weeks ago. Thank you for always keeping me in your prayers. I cannot wait to meet you one day. I know that only an angel mother like you could have raised an angel daughter like Kayla. I can't wait to see you in person!

ETHER TAM,

I am at a loss for words. Nothing can describe how grateful I am, to the very depths of my soul, for you, and for all you are, and your support for this mission, and for your emails each week. For every word of encouragement. For every prayer offered. For lifting me and lifting me and lifting me, these last two years that we've been apart. I am grateful for my parents, for your parents, for my sisters, and my girlfriends, but...Ether. Thank you. Thank you for having been there for me during the lowest of lows of the mission, and the highest of highs. Every Sunday (your Sunday, my Monday) for the past 18 months, I know that you have been sitting across a computer screen, anxiously waiting for my emails to come in. Thank you. Thank you for trusting the Lord with me. I know that it was hard sending me off. I know that we had no clue in the world what the next two years would do to me. But you always believed. You always believed in me. In what God would be able to do with me. And you never gave up. Thank you. Thank you so much. You are truly my best friend. 

This is it. 

I'll see you in Shanghai, or wherever we'll see each other when we see each other. 

This morning, I got on my knees to start personal study with a prayer, and immediately it hit me: 

Every morning for the past 18 months I have knelt in prayer at 8 a.m. in the morning to open personal study with a prayer. Personal study time has been sacred time to me on this mission. I have kneeling bruises on my knees to prove it. My prayers. Have developed SO much. Over these past 18 months. I have prayed for literally everything imaginable. 18 months. A year and half. 

Wow. 

LOGISTICS: I'll see President Dyer that same Wednesday night, RIGHT? To get released? RIGHT? We'll go there altogether right after the airport. Right? Okay. Good. 

I'm a little scared about entering China. I have nightmares they will find out I was a missionary and then capture me and never let me return home. Just kidding. 

God is with me.

And if He is with me...who can be against me? 

I'll see you all very soon.

And for this last time,

This, my last email,

is sent,

With love,

Sister Teo

The Harder Right

Dear family,

For a father

      Daddy- you celebrate your birthday this week! Happy early birthday! I hope you know that you are one of the greatest heroes in my life. I don't think that I've ever met someone as great as you are. You are my role model in my life. I don't think that I've ever met someone as great as you are. You are my role model and your example of hard work and selfless service and charity have created a deep crater of impression on me. I look up to you so much and I know that although you have blessed MANY, many lives...the greatest blessing you have bestowed has been on my life, as well as on Mommy's life and Gladys' life and Krystal's life. "Your righteousness is the greatest honor that a father can receive," said Elder Christofferson in his talk at General Conference. I will spend my whole life trying to make you proud of me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

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They say you dream of zombies

     When I "killed" Sister Pamesa (I was her last companion; that's the term they use) and she was about to go home, she told me how they say that you dream of zombies during your last couple of weeks. Or, in short, your dreams just get weirder and weirder. Well, I didn't dream up zombies but I did have two crazy dreams two nights in a row. I woke up each morning thinking, "What!" and had the biggest grin on my face. I wonder who the Dream Master is and how we dream things up.

     The first night I dreamt that I was at my wedding reception, but that it was a mix of being on a Texas ranch and the Buendia chapel at Makati. There were aLOT of people around me. I was in my wedding dress. But everyone was just walking right by me (I think they were zombies, now that I think about it...), not really caring to "enter" the door to my reception or something. And then I dreamt that the reception was in Buendia, and the decorations were super lame and my guests were running everywhere and it was a HUGE FAIL! And then I saw Ether there and I was freaking out at what a disaster this "wedding" was but then even Ether wasn't freaked out by anything! I was SO confused. I woke up shortly after and had no idea where that dream came from.

     My dream the next night was of me cleaning the bathroom. What?!?! I dreamt that the toilet bowl was clogged and I was trying to plumb it and fix it. EW! 

     So I guess I have officially joined the ranks of missionaries that dream of zombies and other weird things before they go home???

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It's never goodbye!

     This weekend we said goodbye to the Addurus! I was really sad to have to say bye. They have been transferred to Palawan, meaning, Mom and Dad, that we won't get to see them when you guys are here. I tried not to cry and I succeeded. Because I promised them that one day Ether and I will go to Jerusalem with them. YAY! 

     The Addurus deserve a shout-out here, because I KNOW that they were sent to this area to bless MY life. They were a direct and tender mercy from God to me. I don't think that my last two transfers in this area would have been as memorable and spiritually uplifting if they hadn't kept working with us. I KNOW that God is aware of me, because He sent the Addurus to me. They've helped SO many people. Senior couple missionaries do just that. They bless so many lives. But I know that the Addurus started out their mission in MY area, in MY ward, BECAUSE God loves me. And He knew that I would need the support and encouragement that the Addurus always offered us. And so, yes. We parted ways with them, but it's never goodbye! I'll see them again soon!

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Tuesday the 19th

     So...whoever shows up at Buendia next Tuesday...just know to be there at around 7 a.m to 7:30 a.m. Okay? Okay. If no one shows up I am booking MYSELF a ticket home on the 20th. I am swimming out of this country if I have to. Rain or shine. The end. 

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The race

     This is my last, full week of work. At General Conference I got the distinct impression to keep working as if this week...were my FIRST. And I remember my first week. I was as green as any missionary could get. Sister Lockwood knows. :) 

     But until the race is over...we just keep running. I also love what President Monson said in his talk: "May we choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong." 

I know that God is there.

I know that He will not forsake me.

I know that one day, I will understand.

With love,
Sister Teo

P.S. No pictures this week because WE SEE EACH OTHER NEXT WEEK ANYWAYS!

I was never supposed to go home this week

Dear family, 

Happenings from this week

1. I CUT MY HAIR.

2. SISTER VERAS (NICOLE!!!!!!!!!!!) was there. I was SO SURPRISED! I walked into Sister Mortimer's house (she's a senior couple missionary who is a professional hair stylist!) (I got my hair cut for free! Yay!) and someone opened the door but was standing BEHIND the door and didn't show his/her face. When I first walked in I thought, "Okay, it's Elder Adduru just playing a trick on me" - because I saw SISTER Adduru sitting on the Mortimers' couch- but then I just turn around...and...I SEE SISTER VERAS!!!!!!!!!!! I died right there. Oh my gosh. She is home now. She is also probably reading this now on the blog. I was going to cry when we said bye. But it's okay. She will be in Utah. RIGHT? She will be in Utah. This summer. For me. Yay. 

3. POLITICAL ELECTIONS IN MAKATI...are...quite something. I'll just leave it at that. Last week I wrote about the Easter procession. This week I saw processions too, loooong lines of people, except it was for humans now. THE CANDIDATES for Mayor/Vice-Mayor/Assistant to Mayor/Some Office. And I just keep thinking to myself: hashtag-its-more-fun-in-the-philippines!

4. YESTERDAY WAS FAST AND TESTIMONY SUNDAY. One of our returning less-actives went up to bear his testimony. His name is Jamel, and he was in the pictures I sent home a couple of weeks ago where Sister Kumari and I brought two young men to the temple for a temple tour? Okay. So he's Jamel. And Jamel goes up and bears his testimony, and he's come a LOOOOONNNNGG way. Like, a LOOOONNNGGG way. He has made a lot of changes in his life to be where he is now, with light in his countenance and in his eyes. So Jamel bears his testimony, and then he says that he has "some people to thank." He starts thanking the missionaries, and I think, "Oh that's nice, the missionaries have played a big role in helping him come back to church," but then he goes on and says "Especially for Sister Teo". And I'm sitting there thinking, "How sweet," but then he keeps going on and says "She inspires me" and "I want to go on a mission now because of her" and things along those lines and all the members are turning around in their chair looking at me!!! And I just wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury myself in it because it just sounded funny, the way that Jamel phrased his words! I didn't know if I should've been mad at the undue attention that he threw my way or if I should've been embarrassed. Well. Thank goodness that the members of the Makati 1 ward are friendly and understanding. We all just had a good laugh about it afterwards and shrugged it off. Whoo! What an experience. 

5. THIS WEEK I ALSO LEARNED NOT TO RUN FASTER THAN YOUR BODY HAS STRENGTH TO. Says it right there in the Book of Mormon. And it's true. 


6. DYING REQUESTS FROM A MISSIONARY ABOUT-TO-GO-HOME
Mom, Dad. Gladys. Krystal. 

When I get home, I am requesting that we have at LEAST ONE day where it's just Mom and I, Dad and I, Gla and I, or Krys and I, where we do absolutely NOTHING but just go out and be with each other. Meaning...Daddy, no work for one day. Like, no cell phone, no nothing. No calls. No work. Okay? That's my request. For me to get one day with each of you guys where WE are just together. Thanks. You can't say no to this request! So start thinking now what we can do while we are out. The time is nigh! 

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     April 6 is this upcoming Wednesday. I am still keeping my eyes peeled as I try to figure out and try to understand...why God decided to keep me here two extra weeks. I'm not expecting a big sign from heaven with flashing lights that say "THIS IS WHY YOU NEEDED TO STAY," but I know that these last two weeks will be very special to me. There are more lessons for me to learn here.

And I will realize, by the end of it all, 

that I was never supposed to go home this week.

With love,

Sister Teo

3 (this mission is a dream)

Dear family, 

Grow Up

     This is a random way to start off this email, BUT. Last Monday as we were leaving the house, passing by the church (because we live near the church, remember?), we saw that there was a big group of high school students gathered nearby. Turns out...they were watching a "street fight" go down between two students. Oh my goodness. 

     I am rolling my eyes a million times now as I am writing this. And pardon me for my little rant here. But these students need to grow up! I guess it's because I've been on this mission for a year and a half now and that is why I really know what it means to...be an "adult", and...well. Ugh. Those students need to grow up. I remember trying to cross the crowd and I passed by one of the two boys that were in the fight, and his eyes were dead fixed on his "opponent," and just right before I crossed him, he spat on the ground right in front of me. Phew! One more step and he would've spat ON me. I was NOT happy. But thank goodness I am a missionary and have to be polite. Okay. My rant is over. 

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My sister

    So here's another random fact. Did you guys all already know that I have a sister? On this mission? Sister Lockwood's OTHER "anak". Her second "anak," here on the mission. Her second trainee. Yes! So my sister's name is Sister Narag. She is Filipina. This last week I had exchanges with the STLs and ended up having to spend the night in their apartment- coincidentally Sister Narag's apartment, too! So we bonded and chatted and get this: Sister Lockwood, Sister Narag, and I have ALL served in the EXACT same areas. What! Talk about being one big family. Sister Lockwood and I served in Santa Monica C. Sister Narag got sent there too. Sister Narag was "born" in Makati 3/4, with Sister Lockwood. After Sister Lockwood left that area, I replaced her. 

     We're just too tight of a sisterhood! Makes me laugh. But for real, though, getting to chat with Sister Narag and to hear of how the people back in Santa Monica are doing was great. It's good to know that people still remember you from when you served there. You plant, and others harvest! 

     (P.S. Sister Narag is the sister in the picture with whom I am holding ice-cream cones with! She passed her one-year mark the day I was in the apartment so I bought her 12 ice cream cones. And then my STL said, "You're so good at celebrating!" Ha.)

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Easter: it's more fun in the Philippines

This week I saw: 
1. People carrying statues of Christ and walking down the roads in a looooonnnnnng line of procession
2. People re-enact the scene at Jerusalem right before Christ gets crucified, meaning, people were wearing Roman soldier outfits and there were men carrying wooden crosses on their backs and the "Roman soldiers" were whipping them. Ya. They whipped them. Okay. 
3. Statues of Christ.
4. Statues of Christ.
5. Statues of Christ.
6. A lot of statues of Christ where He looks very sad. 
#itsmorefuninthephilippines

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My lot

     As a district in the Makati 1 ward, we have seen a lot of miracles happen over the course of these last three months. The work has definitely picked up in each of our individual areas. The elders are seeing miracles in their areas, as are we. 

     During our weekly coordination meeting with the ward council and ward missionaries, we get to update everyone on individuals that need help in order for them to progress (more quickly). When the zone leaders stood up to give their report last Saturday and they started telling us about how GREAT everything was going and how soon all these people could get baptized...I found myself thinking, "I am so happy for them. They deserve the rewards of their hard work. Sister Kumari and I have definitely seen our area improve from the first time we both came into it, both of us being new at the same time. But how come all these people we have found/are finding/are working with...have so many problems that they need to overcome, before they can get baptized? How come the people the elders are finding are so golden that the way to baptism seems to be easy peasy, lemon squeezy? Why are OUR investigators having it so hard?" 

    I don't think I'll ever be able to fully comprehend why some people suffer more than others. I love these people. How I wish that I could give them the WORLD. How I wish that I could take away all their sadness and fix their broken families and give them TVs and build them nice houses. How I wish that it would just be so easy for them to believe everything that we share with them. How I wish for them to be happy. The real, true kind of happy. 

     I guess it is just me and Sister Kumari's lot to be working with THESE people. There are specific lessons we are learning from THEIR trials. I have no doubt that these investigators and less-actives of mine can do it. I know they can. It'll take time and a lot of hard work, but I know that they can do what it takes to BECOME happy, through the gospel of Jesus Christ. But until then...we'll just keep working hard with them, right? 

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Lopez letter

    Many updates today, huh! This week I received from Sister Narag (who just got off Palawan recently) a letter that was....FROM THE LOPEZ FAMILY! Oh bless their heart. And bless mine for waiting ONE WHOLE YEAR!!!!!!!! To hear back from them!!!!!!!!! I wanted to CRY just seeing the envelope and the words "Sister Teo" on the front. Attached is a picture of their letter. SO much love for them. 

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Goodbye Nicole

     I just told everyone Sister Veras' real name. 

SISTER VERAS GOES HOME ON WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

     All the exclamation points in the world cannot sufficiently describe how I feel about that. #MYfightisnotover

     I love you all so much! I am sorry to hear about what happened to the Coffins. My heart broke hearing the story from Gladys. I wish I could heal broken bones too so that Sister Coffin will be alright. But thank goodness that...we have the Savior. 

    And how much I have come to love, adore, and be grateful for Him. 


With love,
Sister Teo

4

Dear family,

     To tell you the truth as the weeks tick down and zoom by faster and faster...the more I am at a loss for words on what my emails should be about. I feel like I'll see you all so soon that I should just do the storytelling face-to-face...but at the same time I want to keep you all updated on how life in the PHILIPPINES has been doing! 

Science whizzes

     So last P-Day we went to the MUSEUM! Wow. What a breath of fresh air. It was pretty high-tech and had all sorts of cool science artifacts...all of which my mind has long forgotten about (sob sob). Almost all of my pictures in this week's email are from our trip to the museum. Pretty self-explanatory. 

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Saved by the Addurus

     This is a super long story whose many details will not make it onto this week's email (too lazy), but let's just say that I love the Addurus (we all know that) and they basically SAVED me and Sister Kumari's temple tour that we had planned for some people. We had originally invited an investigator to come with us, along with her LA cousin, but then last minute they cancelled on us because they got in an argument, and this was at 6:30 a.m. in the morning as Sister Kumari and I were already getting ready to leave the house...I was so close to tears because with this investigator bailing on us we still had OTHER people we had invited to come along with us, but those people were all male, and without a third female counterpart we wouldn't be able to HAVE a temple tour! For a good hour I was ringing up every sister I knew (bless their hearts) to ask if they could just impromptu come with us all the way to the temple (big request!) Well. God doesn't forsake us. The Addurus changed their entire day's plans to step in and SAVE OUR DAY. So grateful. So we ended up going to the temple with two LA members. Pictures are also included. 

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Diamonds in the rough

     Remember that family I wrote to you guys about last week? The GOLDEN family that Sister Kumari and I found from out of nowhere? THEY ALL CAME TO CHURCH LAST SUNDAY! 

    Well. Here's another hard truth: even families that look happy on the outside...maybe aren't, on the inside. 

     There is a LOT of work that we need to do with this family. Let's just leave it at that. I have contemplated much about them this past week and alot of the feelings, promptings and experiences that I (we) have had with them are very sacred and dear to my heart. But I believe that there is something here. I truly believe that. We will not let them go. 

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Lessons for life

     On that note, let me just say...that I feel like it has only been in these very LAST few weeks of the mission that God has been teaching me a variety of life lessons. Alot of pondering has been done. Alot of self-evaluation has been done. Alof of epiphanies have been received. 

I know that God is shaping me to become who He knows I can become.

And I am so very grateful.


Well! Another week has come and gone. Next week's P-Day will be on Monday. Tomorrow is zone conference day! And then the day after we have exchanges with the STLs. And then it'll be Saturday again, and then Easter Sunday...where I'll be giving a talk in sacrament! And then it'll be Monday again!

Someone tell me where these last 18 months have gone????


I love you all! 


With love,
Sister Teo

Going, going, still going

Dear family,

My friends

     The start of this past week was a little rough. But good thing that personal study time stepped in to save the week! I was reading in the D&C, in section 121, and this isn't an old section to me. I've read this a million times before. But for some reason...I found my answer and my solace in a particular phrase in verse 9. "Thy friends do stand by thee."

     This struck me very personally. "Thy friends do stand by thee and they shall hail thee with warm hearts and friendly hands." 

     This spoke to me in a way that only I will be able to understand. I know that I am not alone. I know that prayers are being offered for me. I know that people are cheering me on. I know that I am NEVER alone. I am thankful for all the many, many good friends that I have that have never left my side, in good times or in bad. Good friends and of course, family, too. I am blessed. This verse provided the much needed comfort that I was seeking for!

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Weak and simple

     Sister Kumari and I are teaching a 79 year old man who is hardcore Catholic. He knows his Bible very, very well. Sister Kumari and I, on the other hand...well. We know stuff. But we don't KNOW know the verses in the Bible like he does. This last week we joined with the Addurus in teaching him about temples and family history work and baptisms for the dead. This was a very new idea to him. Which is strange...but it isn't even a new idea at all, if you read the Bible. Ahem. Okay. 

     Anyways. He was very pleasantly humbled when we pointed out to him all the verses in the Bible (he won't let us teach him from the Book of Mormon; he says that it contradicts the Bible. K.) that talk directly about the spirit world and saving ordinances for the dead etc. And as I sat in that room I thought about how I have never imagined myself teaching someone as old as this Tatay is. And looking back on these past 17 months of experience as a missionary...I understand very well now what it means for the weak and simple to confound the wise men of this world. I've seen the fulfillment of that scripture, alright!

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Umbrella count

     I just need to write a sentence or two about how many umbrellas I've used/had over these last 17 months. The count is at eight or nine. I either keep losing them or they break somehow. But I am confident that my umbrella right now will last me til April 20. 

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Record number

     Another sentence about numbers. Last week President sent all of us a text congratulating us for having achieved the highest number of OYMs in a week! 14,471. In a week, all of us talked to a total of 14, 471 people. That's a record number for this MISSION. Ever. It's not a super high number and we know that there is much more to improve on...but how uplifting it is to know that there is progression. And that Sister Kumari and I contributed to that number! 

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When your walls come down

     And now here is a note about how the people that seem the strongest on the outside, really aren't, on the inside. This last week Sister Kumari and I found and taught one new less-active and one investigator. On the note of the investigator-his name is Rogelio and he is 19. The first time you see him you would probably think that he's "got it all." He's well-built for a 19 year old, he's got the looks, he's smart and a very well-mannered kid. On Sunday, as he sat down with us and we got to know him a little bit more (we taught him at church! He came to church for the first time!), this boy broke down like a baby. I remember looking at him and thinking, "Wow." Just wow. I never knew that behind that strong front he has were all these problems and sadness and a LONGING for something more. And then a similar thing happened with our less-active sister, too. In our lesson with her (also on Sunday), she too broke down and cried. And shared with us what all her worries were. Her fears. The loneliness she feels. 

     Coming away from those two experiences I couldn't help but realize that there IS sadness in this world. That's just the way that this world was made. Sadness has to be in this world...in order for people to know happiness. I also know that our trials and our sadness bring us closer to God. And that was what we testified to those two individuals. That through their hard times they would find God, and that they would find what they are looking for. So maybe...maybe it isn't a bad thing afterall, to have some hard times in life. 

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This could go somewhere

     Another update on our proselyting efforts: we found a NEW family that we really believe has GREAT potential to embrace the gospel! They are the MARAVILLAs. They are so great. So loving. So easy to connect with. They live in SUCH humble circumstances and yet they still love each other and are close to each other and are so willing to welcome two foreigner strangers into their home. I think that there's something here with this family. We haven't taught them yet but we will, this Thursday night at 7 pm. This could go somewhere. God blesses families. There's something here for this family. 

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Miscellaneous

 The count is down to 5. 
We didn't email yesterday because we go to the museum today as a district! And museums don't open on Mondays. So our P-day got switched to today!
Next week we email on Tuesday again because that is our temple day. 
This week is going to go by SO. FAST.
Oh. Marco and Carol came to our church...AGAIN! All the way from their house! Can I just say...I LOVE these two so much?


     Don't worry, amigos. I'll make sure to be 100% Sister Teo up till April 19. And then I'll see Mommy and Daddy and then cry a flood of tears and then, okay, I'll be Kim.


With love,
Sister Teo

Sporadic

Dear family, 

Some things that ran through my head this week

1."Pray. Pray really hard. Pray to love these people. It worked at the start of your mission; it will work now."
2."Yes! It's working! I've been focused on the work this week. I've given it my best. I am so tired, though. I just want to sleep..........and take a long nap........Hmm. Maybe after the mission."
3."It is getting SO hot here! Thank goodness I am no longer on Palawan! It was BURNING up there!"
4."I am so thankful that they don't have brown-outs (blackouts) here on the mainland."
5."I've come SO far. From those first few, humble months on Palawan... What a journey."
6."The Spirit of Elijah is real. We are finding and teaching a good number of new, part-member individuals and families. This can't be a coincidence."
7."I just wish that everyone would stop judging us and just listen to what we have to say for five minutes. And then afterwards, ACT on what we've told them."
8."How come people don't believe that this is true? Why is it so hard for them to believe?"
9."Well...I'm glad that I believe. I'm so glad that I believe."
10."Sister Kumari is getting better and better at Tagalog. It is a miracle to watch a child grow, little by little, but surely."
11."I remember having so much respect for Sister Lockwood as my trainer. I hope that I am doing my best for Sister Kumari so that she learns what she needs to learn. I hope I'm loving her enough."
12."Wow! Talk about being a 'mother.' You are so painfully made aware of all your weaknesses and what you need to improve on. I'm glad that I get this opportunity to train. I'm glad that God is helping me become a better, more refined person in this process. I'm glad that Sister Kumari is my last companion."
13."I just want to eat Halo-Halo all day, every day..."
14."I think I'll miss having all these tropical fruits when I'm back in Utah."
15."I am tired but it's the good kind of tired. It's the I-am-content-with-how-hard-I-worked-today tired."
16."Yes! We talked to 190 people this week! We hit the mission standard of excellence!"
17."I remember President promising us at our Finish Strong meeting that if we give ALL that we have these last couple of weeks, that someone that we talk to within these last couple of weeks WILL end up getting baptized somewhere down the road, and that person WILL get to go through the temple. Have I already found that person? Where is this person?"
18."I know I can, I know I can, I know I can."

Six.


With love,
Sister Teo

Easy? No. Worth it? Yes.

Dear family, 

Forget yourself, and go to work

     Probably the truest advice ever given to missionaries. That's all I can say. 

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And this, the greatest of all

     Without charity, the work is nothing. I testify. 

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The end is just as hard as the beginning

     Maybe all my RM friends already know what this means. This past week was rougher than usual, for some reason. For some reason I felt like Satan was working extra hard in getting me to lose focus. I remember it being difficult, at the start of the mission, to keep my thoughts ON the mission. And then the months went by and then I got to a year and more, and it was alright to keep going, to keep pressing forward, because I knew that the finish line was still a ways away. But now that things are getting real...why is it just as hard as it was in the beginning? 

     I like to compare this to running long-distance because 1) that's my thing, 2) I know how it feels to run for a long time and then get tired, and 3) the mission is basically a long-distance race. I remember the times that I ran and ran and was so tired and wanted to stop, but kept running anyway, and then afterwards felt SO proud of myself and so accomplished. I've noticed that into about twenty minutes of running is when the temptation to stop running pops into my head. But here's what I've learnt from real life experience: that when you keep running when you are the MOST tired is when the rewarding finish...feels the most deserved. And so. Alot of prayers were said this last week where I begged God to protect me from the "temptations" of the last stretch. And it's working.

     It is working because I started praying for charity. I started praying to LOVE. To love my companion more, to love this area more, to love my investigators more, to love these less-actives more, to love ALL the Filipinos more...I realized that that was the missing link. At the start of the mission I prayed SO hard for charity. So hard. And that was what got me through the hard days. The epiphany hit me this last week that I am probably feeling tired and out of focus because I haven't been praying for charity anymore. I just assumed that I already love this people and my companion as much as I already possibly can. WRONG! There is always more room for love. I testify. There is never "enough" love. There is always more.

     And because I have made it an effort to love more, my heart is staying put, now. No more running away to other places in my head. No more feelings of dragging my feet. My heart has stayed put since. And I am grateful. You've got to love. 

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We did something right

     This weekend was just fantastic because God gave me little tender mercies that I did not expect! On Saturdays Sister Kumari and I head over to the chapel to run, and this last Saturday...guess who I saw, out of the blue?! My RCs from Boni 4th! Brian! Delos Santos? Remember him? Brian? My FIRST ever baptism, like, only two weeks after I moved into the area, and I was estatic at that time because Palawan had been as dry on baptisms as a drought? Brian! I was SO happy to see him with all the other church members (they were playing basketball). I was so happy to see that he was still active in church activities and still going strong. My heart was so comforted. We did something right. 

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My family. Mine.

     I must say, though, that although seeing Brian was a gift of joy...what happened yesterday at church was a million times better. So Sister Kumari and I were walking towards the sacrament hall...when I notice this woman turned around in her seat, looking outside the doors, towards our direction. I stopped in my tracks and squinted my eyes for a while because I was so confused. Super confused. Was...was that...Carol? And who was that man beside her? Was that...Could that be Marco?

     What?

     Yup. Marco and Carol came all the way to our chapel to attend sacrament meeting. They had missed their 8:30 a.m. sacrament at their ward and...had made the trek to my chapel, all the way from their home. They weren't even sure what time I met for sacrament meeting but just decided to give it a try. They came. They were there.

     I cannot tell you the million and one bolts of LOVE that I felt for them as we were together. As we were reunited. I love them SO much. They are MY family. I unashamedly title myself their FIRST MISSIONARY, and THEY are MY family. I have SO much hope for them. I have so much faith in God's plans for them. It's almost been a year and they still aren't married and they still aren't baptized, but I KNOW that there is more for them. I KNOW it. They are MY family. And they will forever be my friends. 

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     Well- that's what you get when you serve a mission, right? 18 months worth of stories and friendships and miracles. The mission is SO beautiful. So, so beautiful. It is also the hardest thing that I have ever done, but it is so beautiful. 

     What if, when the time comes, I won't want to leave?

With love,
Sister Teo

You pray, you love, you love, you pray

Dear family,

Top priority

     Okay. This NEEDS to be on the top of this week's email. GLA- YOU GOT INTO BYU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I weren't a missionary right this very moment I would be screaming inappropriately right now in this little internet cafe. I am so happy for you! I am so glad. I never doubted that God would answer our prayers. I always knew that He would take care of you. That's not to say, though, that if you didn't get into BYU that He wasn't watching out for you. I just mean to say that...He knows exactly what we need. And He is merciful and SO good. My testimony of that has been solidified a million times, over and over again, throughout the course of these 16-going-on-17 months. I am so HAPPY! We'll get to rock out COUGARTOWN together! And then in a year's time, Krystal will join us. AHHHHHHHHHHH! So happy. Now we just need to get Mommy and Daddy to move over. Yes? Maybe? 

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"I fear no man"

     Every week from now on deserves a paragraph about the Addurus. Sorry. It's just that they work with us two days a week as we proselyte and so we have become really close friends, and I just admire the two of them so much. Plus I secretly ALWAYS want to work with them because it makes me feel like I'm with you, Mom and Dad, and...it gives me GOOD FEELS... ;) BUT ANYWAYYYS...

     Elder Adduru is FEARLESS. He will talk to anyone and everyone about ANYTHING related to the Church. He is not afraid of anything. He is so wise. We were eating at Mang-Inasal this past week, and when you get to meet Elder Adduru you will realize that he speaks REALLY LOUD in public (no shame!), and well, we were eating together in the middle of this restaurant (that's where our table was) and he starts talking really loudly/explaining really loudly all about James E. Talmage's "Jesus The Christ," giving explanations on the deep doctrine in the book that I don't understand. Pre-mission Sister Teo would have cringed in discomfort and a little embarrassment, but now-mission Sister Teo EMBRACES IT ALL! Everyone in our area will come to know all about "THE MORMONS" soon enough. Everyone will know Elder and Sister Adduru. I love it. He fears no man. I need to fear no man, too. 

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Three kingdoms...of cold showers

     This needs to make the list on my email today.

Telestial kingdom of the cold shower: My 2nd area.

Terrestrial kingdom of cold shower: My last area (3rd area)

CELESTIAL KINGDOM OF COLD SHOWER: THIS CURRENT AREA

I can't even tell you how cold the water is. Oh my gosh. So cold. I wish I got a snapchat of all the faces I make whenever the water first hits my skin. SO COLD. The end. 

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Fallen in love

     You'll know when Sister Teo has fallen in love with an investigator/less-active family...when she starts packing snacks for the kids for church. I went and did it. I packed snacks for the kids of a less-active family that is "returning" status, and that started coming to church only when we got into this area.I don't think that missionaries are ever "prideful" about any of their converts/returns, but I know that missionaries definitely feel happy and accomplished, in a way, when they see that the Spirit works THROUGH them to touch these people's hearts. And so it is with this family. The Grafias. I love them so much. I tried my very best not to give them my heart..................but then I've prayed for them too much and wanted the best for them since the very beginning, that I couldn't help but...fall in love with them. I love this family. 

     There is something about families. Whole families. Families that once knew of the joy of this gospel but that somehow got lost along the way...God loves families. I know that the highest order of heaven has everything to do with families. And the Grafias...I know that they can do it. I know that they can come back. I know that it is their time. And with my love, and Sister Kumari's love, and God's love, and the love of the ward, I know that they will. I gave them my heart, and I will use all of my heart (mightmindstrength) to serve them and help them. 

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Finish-ing strong

     The Finish Strong meeting this past week was very helpful. President and Sister Ostler offered a lot of words of wisdom. Our assignment is to think of what our goals are for our future. We have the First Week goals, then the First Month goals, then the First Year goals, and then the Five Year goals. If anything, this mission has taught me so much about the importance of goal-setting. So I am confident that I will not fail in this assignment! But the future is nigh. Not all that close yet, but it is nigh. This week marks the start of the new transfer. The last transfer. Are we really at this point...? 


I love you all so much. In this past couple of weeks, I have realized that I have prayed for fervently for all of you, all the time.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.


With love,
Sister Teo


P.S. The weird picture of all of us in blue was when we had to go to the MTC to get our X-Rays done in order to make sure that none of us departing missionaries have tuberculosis.

I don't. Yay! 

Down to single digits

Dear family, 

Addurus

     Last week I wrote to you all about Elder and Sister Adduru, and I have to put it out there that when you, Mom and Dad, come over...we are SO going out to their house to meet them. They remind me SO much of the both of you. SO much. Because they are assigned to this ward, they work as normal proselyting missionaries (with "senior couple missionary" exceptions) and so they've been out to work with us a couple of times now. Getting to work with them so closely has only made me love them that much more. 

     Daddy, Elder Adduru reminds me so much of you. The way he talks, the way he fearlessly meets EVERYONE and isn't shy about ANYTHING...Mommy, Sister Adduru has that quiet dignity the way you do. But she is also smart like you are. They balance each other so well. I see the both of you when I see them, which doesn't make things any "easier" on my part because I just miss the both of you and can't wait for you to come over in April. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH THEM! 

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Lost sheep, returned

     I still stand by what I have said these last couple of weeks, that this area reminds me so much of Santa Monica. Work with investigators is a little slow, but our Less-Active action is moving pretty sweetly! Sometimes I wonder what is more beautiful to watch: a new convert get baptized, or someone who has fallen away...come back. Either way. The Atonement is real. I see it at work every day as people's hearts are softened. People that haven't come to church in years...trust in the Lord enough to come back. The prodigal son always returns. That is one thing that President Ostler emphasizes a lot. No one is ever so far away from  the love of God. People can change, and people can come back. And I am happy that I get to see this happen, again.

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Time, the best medicine

     Sister Kumari and I are getting along so much better now. As with each new companionship, time is the best medicine. And by "getting along so much better," I just mean that we are finally getting used to how we both work. We know each other now. We know how to balance each other. We trust each other now. This is also another beautiful thing about the mission: watching two complete strangers become friends and sisters. 

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President's email home

     Just so you know...when President wrote you guys that email this past week, him and I were sitting together in his office! We were in an interview and I brought up that you, Mommy and Daddy, would be coming over to get me, and then President said, "Oh yes, I got an email from your Dad last night but I haven't been able to read it through properly yet," and so he whipped out his laptop and read out your email and then typed out that reply that you guys got...all while we were together. Just thought that was a fun fact that I could share with you all :) President is really excited to get to see you guys again. And so am I! 

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Good morning, sunshine... NOT

     One day this past week I woke up to a text from one of our investigators telling us that she didn't want us to come visit her anymore. I think that I would have been more loving about all of this if I hadn't read the text...at 6:20 a.m. in the morning. Right, when the alarm rang I also noticed that her text had come in the night before. And so I can testify...that getting a "break-up text" first thing in the morning is not sunshine and daisies, and definitely not the best thing for a missionary to wake up to! But it's all good. Sometimes missionaries "dump" their investigators; sometimes the investigators dump the missionaries first. #WELCOMETOTHEMISSION

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     This Wednesday we have what is called the "Finish Strong" meeting. It is a meeting for all missionaries going home the next transfer. That's me. I can't believe I'm...going to that meeting. Throughout the mission, you always think that your time to go home will NEVER come and that you will forever be stuck in the Philippines and never see civilization again (haha)...but...time keeps going and one day or later, your time comes, too. I'm looking forward to that meeting. 

      It is probably the only meeting that missionaries in our mission will ever attend that talks nothing about missionary work and everything about the future. It'll be interesting. 


I love you all! And we are down to nine.


With love,
Sister Teo