Transfer week!

So this week was the last of the transfer,

(Our last district photo...sniff, sniff)

 so naturally... Sister Black was stressing out a little bit towards the end of the week (she was wondering if she would transfer). For me, I wasn't too stressed because I am still new to this area, so there wasn't much of a chance that I would transfer. The only thing I did really worry about was if Sister Black would transfer. I wasn't sure how I would feel if that happened.

I know for me, transferring was the start of a whole new adventure! There were lots of things that were really hard about it, but there were other parts that were really great! Like meeting a bunch of new and amazing people, getting to see a new place, and having so many great opportunities to learn from a new companion. And I didn't know if Sister Black would get to go through that.

But when we got the transfer announcements last night and I learned that Sister Black would not transfer, I actually remember feeling more happy and relieved than I had expected. Sister Black is super masipag (hard working), she always does her best and puts in her best efforts and I don't feel like I'm done learning from her quite yet.  Besides, we've been having too much fun here! 

She can't leave yet!

Like last Monday for example, we had an awesome district activity in these really pretty mountain/hill area!  (I posted lots of pictures last week but here's a few more!)

It was super fun! 

Especially since it is the first district activity I've got to have since I started my mission. We got to play some fun games 

and hike over to eat adobo and fried chicken

  next to this beautiful lake, 

I don't think I have ever wanted to jump into a lake so bad! Since it was SUPER INIT (HOT) outside. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a cold shower as much as when we got back to our apartment later that afternoon. The only thing that was hard about p-day was that we didn't get the "proper" amount of cleaning time... so my room is in need of just a little bit of a clean again. I'll have to work on that today especially since we've been seeing some of these bad boys...

which basically makes me feel like this...

 Sadly, Sister Sosoter (our roommate) did get transferred so we had a kabahay going away breakfast for her.  

We're going to miss her!  We've all had so much fun together!

 Speaking of food, I got to try squid this week!

We went out to lunch

and we've eaten a lot of watermelon which I LOVE!!!

YUM!!!

This week we have been really busy! I have basically buried myself in the area book trying to get it all organized and finding people that might have the potential to progress... it has been a project! But I am FINALLY finished and I really think all of that work might help our area to progress. In addition, I think I have a word of wisdom problem: with ice cream! It has been so hot here that I feel like I am always craving a nice cold ice cream, halo,

 or soft drink. Especially when it feels like no matter how much water I drink, I can not seem to stay hydrated. Oh well... only one month to go of the sun daw, so I'm not too worried. I can handle that! I just keep picturing all the weight I am going to sweat off and the summer bod I am going to get, which really helps keep me motivated

Finally, our investigators are awesome as usual 

and I absolutely LOVE the kids here! 

We have a couple of baptisms in the upcoming weeks, which I am really excited for and I have seen so many of our investigators grow and change so much! I have seen people gain testimonies, gain hope, and gain smiles. I have seen people cut down on cigarettes and other bad habits and watched as they testify that they know this church is true.

In addition, I have also had a couple heartbreaks. I felt my heart rip in half this week when we went over to find one of our investigators drunk. He has really been struggling to overcome the word of wisdom and it is hard to watch him start to slip, especially when I literally have no idea of what more I can do!

It's so weird! I feel like I give all I have and it's never enough. There is always more that I could or should be doing. At the very least, looking back at this transfer I feel good. I feel like we worked hard and really did our best to help this area to progress. I feel like we made a difference. But I do not feel satisfied. I know there is still more we can do! We can love more, laugh more and help more people and I know if we just do that, we can see even more progress in our area in these upcoming weeks.

I think that is what I have learned the most from this transfer: that a mission really teaches you how to love. I feel like people come and go here so fast! You finally get to now someone and the next thing you know, they are gone! Which means you've got to start leaning to love them REALLY FAST!

So I guess that's about it... another transfer come and gone and I'M STILL ALIVE!!! And ready to work. 

and to be honest, I can't wait to see what this transfer has in store for us.

I love you all and hope you have a great week full of love, laughter, service, and smiles

Sincerely, Sister Matheny

Lifted by the Light & Love of Christ

This week has definitely been one full of many successes. We have been working hard over here trying to accomplish our goals and the work ended up paying off! Because not only did we get everything we had planned accomplished, we exceeded our goals :) and had lots of fun doing it.  

Today we had an awesome district meeting...

 and we went hiking...

  It is so gorgeous here, don't you think?!

  So, this week has been great! I think I've drank more water than ever with the increasing heat here! Literally, I think I stop at almost every tindahan we pass for more water, since I have been downing all my water bottles so fast! 

The other night we didn't end up with enough time between our appointments to get more so by the time we finally got to one of our members houses and asked for some water, Sister Black and I downed almost an entire litter by ourselves within a couple seconds! We were so thirsty! The members looked so amazed by how much we managed to drink and we all had a good laugh.

Speaking of good laughs, I think one of my biggest struggles here is names. Granted, I have gotten so much better at remembering names since I started my mission but every now and then there is still a name I can't remember no matter how hard I try. Usually, it's not a problem when that happens though because I just ask how to spell their name and figure it out from there (so they won't think I forgot). The problem is when someone ends up with a really obvious/easy to spell name, like Bob for example. Because then you have to choose: do you want to look dumb for not being able to spell their name? Or do you want them to know you forgot? Well of course I don't want them to know I forgot, so our conversations always end up looking a little like this:

ME: "How do you spell your name?"

THEM: *with a look like I am crazy/dumb* "It's Bob... B - O - B"

ME: *With fake surprise but on the inside, feeling really silly* "OH!!!! Pala! I thought it was b - o - O - b!"

Besides that, the kids here are still adorable

and they like to follow us around while we are headed from appointment to appointment.

 I have heard them start shouting "Sister Matheny!" as we pass by, which is super cute! (sometimes they call me Sister White, because Sister Black is my companion). 

In addition, we have eaten pretty well this week...

and I made pizza for my kabahays

 and we had some mac & cheese and other goodies my mom sent for Easter.

  I was super thankful for everything she sent and I know my roommates were too :) So thanks mom for everything, I love you a ton!

Besides that, we also had lots of really good lessons this week. I think one thing that really helped was the spirit. Recently, I feel like it has been getting easier and easier to recognize and follow the spirit, which really seems to help. And even when I have a bad day or it's really hot out,

 I always come home happy 

and with a big smile on my face because I'm so full of the spirit! It's AMAZING!

This week, some lessons that stood out to me a lot started with the Ajero family when we managed to offer a little comfort to Nanay Ajero as she cried to us about the feelings she has been having since her husband unexpectedly died two months ago. She was asking why it had to happen to him? He was a good husband and didn't do anything wrong. We comforted her by sharing part of the plan of salvation and before we left, she thanked us smiling. We felt really good about the lesson as we left.

Additionally, I was so happy when we went over to our investigator Mark's house to find he had read through 1 Nephi 7 and really has a strong desire to be baptized. In addition, I remember feeling so hopeless when we went over to Tatay Nagrampa's this week and he still hadn't made any progress with smoking.

I remember not having any idea of what to do or say. He comes to church every week, has read the whole BOM and has gotten down to 1 cigar every other day... but he doesn't want to give up that one! I was at a loss for what else we could do to help him when suddenly, the words just started to come.

Without even thinking, I shared parts of the plan of salvation. I could feel that the spirit was there as we testified of the importance of baptism and the Savior's atonement for us. I could feel that the Holy Ghost was there and as we taught, something weird happened: I saw Tatay change. I saw him start to want to change. By the end of the lesson, I could see a light and determination in Tatay's eyes that wasn't there before.

When we left, the spirit was so strong and I felt so good, I felt that we had made a difference, which is what I came here to do.

Finally, this Sunday I felt so accomplished as Sister Black and I led our "army" into church. We worked so hard  this week and I felt it all pay off when we managed to get 10 of our investigators to church this week. Granted, we definitely had a bit of a workout going to pick them all up as we literally ran back and forth from house to house trying to get them all ready and to church on time. At least I can now say that I think I have a little taste of what it feels like to be a mom, trying to get everyone to church or school on time, It's SO STRESSFUL! But I have to admit, I couldn't help but smile as I saw the look on the elders faces as all our investigators came to church.

After church, I almost cried as we visited another one of our members, the Isip family, and she explained to us the problems they have been having. Apparently, earlier that day, her husband's food cart had gotten tipped over by a passing car so they had no money for the day to feed their family or get a tricey to church (since Nanay had a stroke and can't really walk). It is so hard to watch that amazing/special family struggle so much. They always are feeding us and doing nice things for us when sometimes they don't even have enough to feed themselves. Sometimes, they have to resort to catching mice for dinner... it breaks my heart!

I  have definitely learned a lot since I got here, from these people and their amazing example to me. I know I could not handle half of the struggles they go through every day 

and there have been so many times that I have not been able to hold back the tears as I feel only a particle of the problems that weigh on some of the people here. It's so humbling!

 But the reason we keep going and working our hardest is because we know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much. And through His gospel, I know that the weight of all life's burdens can be lifted

 as we are filled with the light and love of Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. I know He lives and I know He loves each of us so very much.

I hope you all have the best week ever :)

Sincerely, Sister Matheny