Heavenly Father Is So Good

Dear family,

     Whoooo! It is a STRUGGLE writing this email right now because I am super down with some kind of sickness (on/off fever + flu + LBMs + on/off throwing up + crazy body aches) and all I want is some of Mommy's porridge and Daddy walking into my room to see if I'm doing fine...sickness on this mission is very different from being sick at home!

+ + + + + + + + + +

The Sabbath

     This past week @ MLC (Missionary Leadership Conference) a huuuuge emphasis was placed on keeping the Sabbath Day holy and President Ostler even made us go through the entire training on the Sabbath that the First Presidency had put out for all the leaders in the church. It was very interesting and I learnt so much more about Sabbath Day observance. 

     In that meeting I made personal commitments to myself to improve my behavior on Sundays after the mission, because we all know that I was not perfect with it before....well! Now that I've openly told you guys my goal, you can hold me accountable when April 2016 comes around! It also struck me that sleeping for five hours after church is NOT keeping the Sabbath holy! Oooooops.....(laughed out loud with Sister Lockwood on this.)

+ + + + + + + + + +

Exchanges: Sister Vaka

     I was able to go on exchanges with Sister Vaka this week and I have to say how MUCH God was in that exchange. 

     Sister Vaka and I were together in Santa Monica and so we are really good friends. I love her. I remember at the end of my last exchange with the other sisters President Ostler telling me that I shouldn't worry too much about ME, and how I need to make the exchange super good or whether the sister will like ME for this/that. He told me that the purpose of going on exchanges with other sisters, being an STL, is to let Christ...work through you. 

To become as transparent as possible. 

     And I think that it happened this time around with Sister Vaka. I think that I needed that exchange with her as much as she needed it with me. I was spiritually uplifted by her and I know that the things we shared with each other were all inspired by Heavenly Father. It is so special to see how she and I have grown over the course of this mission!

     Also, side note - we worked in HER area (Bonifacio!!!!!!!) the first day, which means that I got to see...yes, you're right! I got to see Carol and Sarah and the recent converts of that area and nothing beats seeing familiar faces. It is so wonderful to see them progressing. They are still all working on the marriage process and it's just a waiting game that way, BUT. They are getting somewhere!

+ + + + + + + + + +

Guess How Many?

     Investigators came to church yesterday?!
...
...

16

     SADKJHJASKDHBXCAUE I would've cried myself silly on Palawan if you told me that so many people would be at church. All 16 of those investigators going to church was further proof and evidence to me that this is God's work, not the work of the missionaries. Sister Pamesa and I take NO credit whatsoever for the rewards and fruits of this work. I wish I understood that better at the start of my mission, but like what you said, Daddy, in your email this week - to every thing there is a season. BUT STILL THOUGH! That's 16 people coming closer to Christ. I am so happy for them. God is so good.

     (Out of these 16 were SIX Chinese investigators, five of whom were coming for the first time!) (Talk about Heavenly Father sending people to the right place at the right time!)

+ + + + + + + + + +

     Okay, my thoughts are kind of running all over the place right now because it is SO hot here and I feel SO uncomfortable and bless Sister Pamesa's heart because although it is our P-Day today she is going to be at home with me for all of it because I am going to be in bed the whole of today.

Heavenly Father is still so good, though.

With love,
Sister Teo

Baptism, Exchanges &... Some Spit

Dear family, 

Caizy

     Guess whose baptism was a success on Saturday? Caizy's! Sister Pamesa and I (& I am sure Sister Lockwood as well) are super proud of her because she has come a looooong way, not just in the discussions with the missionaries but in LIFE! She is a warrior. A beautiful warrior. She was baptized by her fiance, Mark, and they will be married in the coming month(s). It is so great to see people dressed in white, and not for the last time either! Caizy is going to be SUCH a good leader in this church, I know it! 

     And so on that note of her baptism, I just have to say how grateful I am that Heavenly Father has allowed me to see baptisms over these last five months. I'm sure you all remember how down I was about the baptismal drought on Palawan...but I know that those experiences I had on that island were to prepare me for all the wonderful things that I have experienced thus far in these last two areas that I have been in. I am so grateful. Gratitude always wins!

+ + + + + + + + + + +

Exchanges

     Did you guys know that Sister Pamesa was called to be an STL even younger in her mission than I was?! She was only at her halfway mark (or even before that!) when she got called! (I was almost at my tenth month mark.) Anyhow, as an STL we have to go on exchanges with other sister missionaries just to see how they are doing, to help out with any problems etc., to see how the work is going in their area...meaning that Sister Pamesa and I get split up and we go with one of the companion from the pair. This week Sister Pamesa and I went on TWO exchanges back to back, and I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot, but TRUST ME! It was so tiring; I was mentally exhausted by the end of it all! I loved it, don't get me wrong - exchanges are SO great because you get to learn from the sister you are with and it is such an opportunity to be humble and loving, but wow, Sister Pamesa's been doing this for eight months now! I am in awe. The exchanges went great though! 

     I love these sisters under our stewardship and I know that I was a bit nervous at the start because all of these sisters are older than I am in the mission...but thank goodness for the grace of God because all went well and we all had fun.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

"And He Suffereth It"

"And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." (1 Nephi 19:9)

     I've never had this happen to me before, EVER, but... for the first time in my life/mission, I got spat on this week. Spat on or spat at? Either way, I was on exchanges with Sister Walker and we had gotten out of a lesson with Jerry. We were walking with Jerry to the place where we usually catch the jeep back home, and as we were walking and talking, this lady who was also just walking down the road from the other direction, walked by me...

and spat in my face. 

Right in my face. She had even made the loud spitting sound that it was loud enough of a spit to make everyone else look and gasp in shock. I was shocked. I was really shocked. But my first reaction was that I laughed. What? Did someone really just spit in my face?

     This event has stuck with me this entire week (it happened Tuesday night). At the start I was really amused because now I can officially say that I am part of the ranks of all the missionaries in the world (biblical, Book of Mormon or even just modern day times) who have been spat on. Literally spat on. By the world. And that just amused me. But later that night as I pondered more on the significance of what had happened, the amusement turned into humiliation a bit. I couldn't believe that someone spat in my face. And that everyone saw. I hadn't done anything wrong to deserve yucky spit. 

     It's been almost a week now and from that event I feel like I have come to appreciate my Savior so much more. Christ went through EVERYTHING. He went through being spat on and teased and mocked and hit. He went through rejection - undeserved rejection. And if the best life this world has ever known has been through all of that, who am I to complain about what little trials God puts me through? 

I am proud to be a missionary.

I am proud of what I am doing.

I am proud of what I have become.

     Spit or no spit, we are doing a great work, and it is a work that will never stop.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

Momma

     ONTO A BRIGHTER TOPIC- Mom! Your birthday is this week! Happy birthday in advance! Your package got here, too! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 

     I didn't believe you when you said you wanted to see if you or Ether would "win," but you were for real! Haha, don't worry you two, there is no competition! Thank you so much though, Mom! I can't wait for you to open my present, too! It isn't much but I am so glad that it got to you safe. It is a little piece of the Philippines. 
     

You are the best, Mom. Thank you for raising my sisters and I so wonderfully. Thank you for being the best partner in life that Daddy could ever ask for. 

     We're not perfect, none of us are, but I see you trying each and everyday. I love you so much. 

This mission just keeps rolling on!

With love,
Sister Teo

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.

+ + + + + + + + + + 

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. 

+ + + + + + + + + + 

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.

+ + + + + + + + + + 

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! 

+ + + + + + + + + + 

"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

+ + + + + + + + + + 

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! 

+ + + + + + + + + +

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 :) 

+ + + + + + + + + +

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. 

+ + + + + + + + + +

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!

+ + + + + + + + + +

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!

+ + + + + + + + + +

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!)

+ + + + + + + + + +

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.

+ + + + + + + + + +

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!)

+ + + + + + + + + +

     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.

+ + + + + + + + + 

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.

+ + + + + + + + + 

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.)

+ + + + + + + + + 

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.

+ + + + + + + + + 

"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.

+ + + + + + + + + 

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!

+ + + + + + + + + 

     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.