charmer

We met a drunk Philippino Johnny Cash, I guess we don't have to add drunk because if you say Johnny Cash you should just assume that he's drunk. He loves me. I met him once and I got him on the first meeting, I guess, i'm such a charmer. 'He knew he like me the first time he saw me.' I have a way with the old men here.

I have been praying super hard to know how I can help Sister Ellsworth, I have felt like she has been broken, she had some really hard times her first couple of transfers, and it really has been weird for me to be the follow-up trainer, I feel like an adoptive mom, like she isn't really mine, I don't really know how to explain it. But I am trying to get to the deepest issues, and I think I've been going about it in the wrong way, I have to get back to the basics with her. Its not about Tagalog, its not about grammar or vocab, it never was and never is, ever.  It is about believing in yourself and knowing that you can achieve great things through the help of Our Heavenly Father.  Faith. Understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ will increase your desire more than any other thing your could do. I am trying to step back enough and put myself in the right spot to guide her not to tell her that this is something that each and everyone of us has to figure out. You will not learn anything if someone else is doing the task for you, you have to try it yourself. I can't make her, I have to let her, and allow her to come to her own understanding and to really take that leap of faith for herself. 

I've really learned a lot about love and charity these past couple of weeks. I've been praying to know that what I am doing is right, to feel that I have Charity for others.  As we watched the Christmas Devotional my thoughts were turned and I reflected on my "old self" I have come so far. I know that Heavenly Father is so proud of me. What a blessing it really is to be able to serve others here in The Philippines. I love the people. I love missionary work. I love my Savior. I will never stop.

Lubao

We had a wonderful experience this week teaching an inactive member. She really is so strong, her faith and understanding about trials was really inspiriting to me. She has a 3 year old child, they live in a house about the size of our bathroom, one room siya. Tapos, her kid has a disease where his brain has too much water or something like that, normally they would do surgery to help him but they don't have enough money. And she is scared because the doctors said it is a really risky surgery. Benneth, her son, has a stretched skull so much that he can't sit up or stand or walk.  It really was a great moment for me to just hear of the testimony of this sister. Sister Christy Berog, she always reads her Book of Mormon and prays to Heavenly Father. She doesn't have any way to get to church because her husband has to work, he is a dump truck driver and its hard for her to get to church because of her child, he is really heavy. I often feel like I'm here to meet the people that I meet to learn from them. I'm not really a teacher here, I'm the one learning and growing and being added upon. I really felt such compassion for her, I can't imagine being in her shoes. I meet so many great people like this wonderful young woman everyday of my life. I am so blessed to know these valiant people and to see their courage and strength that they recieve through the gospel. Sometimes to just feel like you've known them much longer than on a one time basis. To see her smile through her tears was something that I won't forget.

I have been sent here to Lubao for a reason. I have a great work to do here, I will not ever ever stop serving others. There is no other way to feel such great joy. If you are feeling down or sad or alone, just go out and serve someone, for real. Help someone that really needs you. They are waiting for you.