True Love

It's crazy how once you spend enough time in one place, how much you will come to love the people there.

  Before coming to the Philippines, I never expected to find my true love here. But to my pleasant surprise, since getting here, the Philippines and it's people have completely stolen my heart . . .

 . . . and safe to say, I never want to leave.  

Sad to say however, before this relationship started, we both knew it would be temporary, so if nothing else, I am determined to take as much of the Philippines home with me when the time comes and to leave my all here in the last few months that I still have. I love these people so much and everyday, I just love them more!

I love the way you can talk to anyone you want here and they are so open and willing to be your friend right away. 

I love slouching in tiny little tricycles as we weave our way around all the pot-holes in the road. I love how whenever I am hungry, there is always a tindahan nearby where I can buy some bread and home-made peanut butter to snack on. I love saying hi to everyone I meet and the way I feel every time I get to share the gospel with someone

 (or something 😉) . . .

That all being said, despite my love for the people here, there are still some things that will never change: I still am terrible at cooking Filipino foods (especially fried fish), I fall every-time I walk through a rice-field, 

and I am still the favorite foreign delicacy of all the mosquitoes here, but then again . . . I guess nobody's perfect and I think there will always be things to adjust to no-matter what your situation, that is what life is all about!

So all-in-all, this week has it's share of laughs, 

 joy, 

tears, pain and everything in-between. 

There were times I really couldn't hold back the tears when our investigators opened up to us about their worries, problems, and struggles, trusting that we would be able to help. There were other times I couldn't stop smiling because I was so happy as people opened up to us in tears and gratitude for the change this gospel has brought to their life. Yes, this week definitely had its heartbreaks, and there were times that I came home so exhausted, I didn't think I could go on one more day.  It was at these times though, that I have really learned to CLING to my Book of Mormon (my Iron Rod) and after the good, the bad and everything in-between I know that The Book of Mormon has the power to get you through anything life has to throw at you.

In addition to my Book of Mormon, I think that it is truly my love of this place and these people that also help me to keep going everyday.

 It is forgetting myself and putting them and their needs before my own that ends up giving me what I need to keep going and to love them even more. Because as it says in the scriptures, to truly find yourself, you first have to lose yourself.

 Lose yourself in the work, the people, the needs of others, and more than anything: Lose yourself in Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, Brother, Friend and the one and only way to what we all truly seek: peace, love, happiness and never-ending joy in the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

Sure, there might be bumps in the road to get there, but I promise that if we just keep pushing along, enjoying the ride as we go, then it will all work out for the best in the end.

So for now, I think that is my plan, just keep going, keep loving, keep walking, keep sharing, and keep enjoying every day and every moment and every second the Lord has blessed me with here. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week full of Love, Laughter and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Love,

Sister Matheny