Another week gone and past and we are still working hard! This past week I really think I have slimmed down and am now darker than some of the Filipinos! Even though I have the WORST farmers tan! It's funny because here I actually still look pretty white compared to everyone else, but I'm sure I will go home and be the darkest person in the family.
Sister Raneses is such an awesome companion! We just seem to get along and she is so easy to be around. Everyday, I see her putting in her best effort and doing her best to adjust which has made it really easy for us to start working as a team. One thing is for sure, it is definitely nice to have a Filipina companion again... NO MORE LANGUAGE BARRIER! She relates to everyone so well. Sister Raneses has only been here two weeks, yet all our investigators already absolutely love her! She is an awesome missionary, companion, and friend.
So it has been a pretty normal week of work... I killed some some cockroaches, killed some giant spiders, and am in the process of learning to cook!
As usual, we have been teaching a lot of awesome people.
After the baptism of Ferdinand last week for example, his wife has been opening up to us a lot more. I remember in particular when we went over the other day and she opened up to us, crying and thanking us for everything. She said that at Ferdinad's baptism, she had felt... weird. She said she couldn't describe it, but she had felt really happy while all the speakers were talking and it almost made her want to cry. We told her that was the Holy Ghost she was feeling and that one of the blessings of baptism is that we are able to have that feeling all the time if we are worthy.
There have been times this week when I have been so tired, I didn't think I could go on. And without Sister Black and her never-ending diligence/energy for me to rely on, it has been... different. In some ways, I have had to step up a lot more. I think I have been a lot happier because of it. I know one thing I have learned is that it doesn't really matter how I might be feeling because we do not serve a mission for our own needs, we are here for others. Which means we must learn to put our own needs aside.
I have seen that as we have done that, we have experienced more miracles in the mission and I have really felt my faith and testimony grow. For example, I know that God will answer our prayers, even for the smallest things.
The other day, I was studying when all I could think was how nice it would be to have a doughnut. In our neighborhood, there are a lot of people who walk through the streets shouting out their different goods for sale. In particular, there is one guy who walks down our street sometimes yelling out "donuts! DOONUUT!!" selling just about the tastiest doughnuts in the whole world!
Anyways, I remember wanting one of those doughnuts so bad that I actually said a little prayer that the doughnut man would come to our house that day. The day continued and still no doughnut. But around lunch time, Sister Marino and Sister Tu'i got home for lunch and I was surprised to see that they had bought some doughnuts! Immediately, Sister Tu'i said that see was too full to eat hers and handed me a doughnut, and a few minutes later, Sister Marino handed me one as well.
I was shocked! And immediately thought of the little prayer I had said earlier that day, the prayer I had just received an answer to. I think that experience really helped my testimony of prayer to grow.
Besides that, so much has happened... as usual. I remember going into one of our investigators bathroom the other day only to find about 30 cockroaches running all over the place and dying. Apparently he had just used raid.
And I even got to call Sister Black the other night to see if she had the receipt for our electric bill! It was so nice to talk to her for a few minutes and it sounds like she is doing awesome in Goa (my last area)! I am so happy that she has gotten to meet my recent converts there and that they all seem to be doing well.
Of course I miss Sister Black, but to be honest I am so grateful to be Sister Raneses's companion now. I am learning a lot from her. I know I am not always the best companion, but I am really trying hard to do my best. I know that if we continue to work hard together, we are going to have an awesome transfer!
For now though, I guess I will just say that I love being a missionary. I am so happy here and ready for another great week to come. Until then, I wish you all the best... and as usual, the best week ever. Let's make this week better than the last.
Sister Matheny
"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified" - Psalms 40:16
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