This week was basically the busiest week EVER! Every day we were running all over the place getting stuff done and now, I am really looking forward to a week of solid work, so that we can get down to business helping all the people in our area to become converted.
For one, on Monday and Tuesday we spent the day in Naga for MLC.
MLC was good and lots was learned, leaving me all fired-up to give it my all these next few weeks - "to leave my area better than I found it."
In addition, two more main-events happened while we were in Naga. For one, since we had some extra time Monday evening after emailing, we went and had a foot spa (which cost the equivalent of $10 for both me and Sister Cabral).
Since we are always walking through mud, dirt, and grime, it can be hard to keep the dirt off of your toes, and in addition, walking around all day makes it easy to get ingrown toenails. So after the foot spa when I looked down to see my feet all clean and fresh, I walked out of the place feeling like I had new feet!
The other main event that happened was I GOT BIT BY A COCKROACH while sleeping in the Canaman apartment, and let me tell you, THEY ITCH!!! For the next few days, every time I looked down and saw the big red bump on my arm, I couldn't help but feel annoyed that I had a cockroach climbing all over me in my sleep.
Anyways, after a busy couple of days in Naga, we came home and woke up early on Wednesday morning for the Medical Mission we had been enlisted to work in. At the Stake Center, doctors had come to give free check-ups for people with eye problems (like Cataract), club-foot, and cleft lips. Anyone with problems like these would be sent to Manila for a free surgery to fix the problems.
Overall, it was sad to see all of these people with problems like the 2 year old baby I met with a cleft-lip so bad it was basically like she didn't even have a top lip. And her teeth were all deformed and sticking out wrong, or another 5 year old who had a cataract that left the pupil of her eye completely white and cloudy. But I was also deeply touched by the love that was shown there. I just remember thinking: "wow, these doctors are really doing a good thing. They are going to be able to bless and change so many lives!"
It also made me wish that I had some skills to become a doctor so that I could reach out and help people in that way too. But hey, everyone has their own skills and I think that I in particular would cry and pass out at the slightest sight of blood, let alone operate on another person! EWWW! NO THANK YOU!!!
With all the hard-work and miracles, it has been easy to get a good night sleep the past few weeks and I have been having a lot more dreams than usual, like when I woke up on Thursday from a dream where I had been preparing to go see the new Star Wars movie in theaters and nobody else seemed worried about being on time. I remember just thinking as I woke up: "that's weird... real-life. I don't think I'm ready to handle that quite yet" and then we got back down to work.
To be honest, it is hard to describe all the miracles that happened this week throughout our work, but safe to say there were many, and my joy is full. I remember one miracle in particular last Saturday where after teaching a part-member with all her little kids and some of the neighbors, we tactfully had the neighbor kids lead us to their own homes so we could meet (and teach) their families as well.
Upon arriving at the first little-girls house, I felt my stomach sink as we looked into the room to see their wall completely covered in crosses, Santos, and Piña Francia's, basically screaming "I'M A CATHOLIC!" Nevertheless, we waited as 10-year-old Sheina rushed in to call her mom.
A few seconds latter, a very disgruntled looking nanay walked out of the kitchen, hands wet from the work she had been doing.
Immediately, we approached her and started complimenting her for how well-behaved, smart and attentive her child had been at the Sureta Family and that we wanted to compliment her for such a good-upbringing. We then proceeded to introduce ourselves and tell her that we had a message to share with their family about Jesus Christ that would bless them.
Obviously uninterested, the nanay gave us the typical excuses, even adding that they pray all the time, and their prayer is different than ours. Undaunted, we told her we would simply leave a pamphlet for them to read and--starting with a prayer--we gave a short message, introducing prophets, eternal families, and the restoration before inviting them to church this upcoming Sunday.
As we shared, the nanay's whole demeanor changed. Tears started brimming in her eyes and as we paused to ask her how she was feeling about our message, she responded "I've never listened to missionaries like you before, and now I wish I had sooner." The spirit flooded the room and I was amazed by the change that the gospel message had on her. Before leaving, Sheina gave the closing prayer, and nanay was happy to set a return appointment for the upcoming week, and even committed to read the pamphlet!
And that wasn't the first great change of heart I saw this week. I have been amazed as day after fay the people around us seem to be becoming converted! Even the members are starting to get fired-up to do missionary work. I've never seen anything like it in my other wards!
After a workshop Sunday afternoon about how to give an overview of the Plan of Salvation and get referrals, each member shared their feelings from the workshop about their renewed enthusiasm and rekindled fire to do missionary work. It was AWESOME!
Also, I felt the spirit overwhelmingly strong at Aldwin's baptism last Saturday when Austin (his brother who was baptized just weeks before) got to use his newly conferred Priesthood Power to baptize Aldwin.
We all left the baptism with smiles on our faces which continued until the next day when the spirit was just as strong as Aldwin received the Holy Ghost.
Finally, I remember feeling especially happy when Hannah's mom gave her permission to be baptized if she wants to. Hannah's family are not members, but her mom still remembers the good feelings she had from the times she attended church with her aunt when she was younger. As she signed the parental consent form, I remember thinking "wow! That's amazing!" 20 years ago I'm sure the Acobera family never imagined that their efforts to bring Hannah's mom to church would provide the way for Hannah to discover the gospel. It was once again a lesson to me that God really does have a perfect plan and perfect timing for every single one of His children. And all of these experiences are just the tip of the Ice-burg of all the miracles and happiness we experienced this week.
And to be honest, as I think that I only get to do this 3 more times, it almost rips my heart in half. Being a missionary was one of the hardest things I decided to do. I still remember the time I got on that plane to go to the MTC thinking "what have I done? I have made a terrible error in judgement!!!" But that decision ended up being hands-down the best choice I have ever made. And now, THE TIME IS GOING BY WAY TOO FAST!!!
So for those of you serving right now, preparing to serve or even just contemplating the idea, GO FOR IT! Enjoy every minute! Because every single moment will be worth it.
They say you gain 10-years of life experience as you serve a mission...well, I guess I haven't quite proven that since I'm still a missionary but so far, I think I have a solid 8.5 years worth. Meaning I still have a few weeks of hard-work to make up the rest and I intend to do just that!
So until next week, I have some work to do! I love you all and hope you have the best week EVER!
Love,
Sister Matheny
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