Email #9: Mother's Day Phonecall

We got to talk to our girl last night.  It was wonderful !!  And……. HORRIBLE!  It was so good to see her smile, to hear her voice, to just TALK to her face to face for a few minutes.  It was so incredibly difficult to say goodbye after 45 minutes.  The time went by so quickly.  She was emotional, especially when she saw the cat.  HA!  She DOES love that thing more than me !!  She said that she is doing really good, but that it is VERY difficult.  She confided in Chad her frustration over the language.  She told me that it is hard, but she went into more depth with Chad.  He said that she gets called names and made fun of ALOT.  Ugh!  HARD!  Chad was able to help her I think…..  and give her some good advice.  Chad swears to me that it is all very normal.  And, every person I've known that has gone foreign has said the same thing to me.  "Ya…..  that happens."  It will just all of a sudden get better.  But - she loves the work.  She had a rag that she constantly swiped at her sweaty forehead.  It was so cute!  At first I thought it was for her tears….  but no.  It was for the sweat!  It was very hard to say goodbye.  She was like, "I gotta go."  But - she didn't want to say goodbye.  So - I finally just said, through my tears, "Ok - Kenna.  Here we go.  1, 2, 3…. " and hit the button.  Then I laid down on the carpet in the living room and cried.  But - hey….  only 7 and 1/2 months before I get to do this again.  Chad said that by the next phone call she won't be homesick at all, or be emotional.  Ah!  But….  I WILL!   Later she did email me this short email about her week.  

So quick review of this week. Probably the saddest week yet....

We had a few lessons this week, Not alot which was sad. But our investigators didn't really progress at all this week. The saddest is May Fransisco. We had to drop her. She isn’t progressing and we had a member come with us and because she was there May decided to tell us what she really thought.  She said she doesn’t like it – doesn’t want it - doesn't like the steps for prayer and won’t get baptized. But when it is just Sister Sevia and I she said she believes and knows it is true.  SO we said thank you and left and won’t be going back. IT was so hard!! I don’t want to drop her but we have to....

We also had interviews with President Tye. He gave us TOOTSIE POPS!!!!  I was so excited.  They are one of my favorites!!!!! It was good. Sister Tye had to talk to both Sister Sevia and I instead of us by ourselves because we have so many medical problems. My feet, my dehydration, Sister Sevia’s back. So we felt bad. But it’s okay. My medicine will help with lots of water.

Oh and guess what? We got a new sister in the apartment. Sister Bodota was emergency transferred and we got a new sister.  Sister Bulabon. Bodota was having companionship problems and got transferred. This sister is super nice and helps me with my Tagalog haha.

Sister Mayberry

New sister

cowboy hat -- I felt right at home !!

Little kitty - made me miss Tinker

Family Home Evening

Email #8:Xhyrus was baptized!!!

 

Xhyrus baptism
May 3, 2014

Magaling Ka sa Tagalog!!! Talaga!!!

Xhyrus was baptized!!! His dad was able to baptize him.  It was so cool!!! He was really happy and so was Jenny. It was great.  I was so happy. Greatest feeling ever! I can’t wait for Russel to get baptized. Their younger brother Web Web came to the baptism and church the next day (which was a big deal because he has refused to meet with us.) I am so excited.  Hopefully we can start teaching him!!

So I will be calling next Sunday about the same time as I am writing this. We will probably come about 10 so 7-8ish your time. I am so excited too!!! And ahhhhh MY KITTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and thanks for the pictures!!! I am so proud of Chad!!! I haven’t gotten anything from you yet but tomorrow we have a zone meeting and that is when I would get stuff.  So we will see.

So this week was really really weird. Monday after we had p-day we had FHE with Jamie  (which by the way is pronounced HI-ME) and his family. It was so frustrating. The sisters were late.  Brother Wilmar who planned it was late. They prepared food that sat there for a while because everyone was late. Brother Wilmar wasn’t prepared and had to take time after he got there to prepare. It was annoying and we had little time because since everyone was late curfew was coming up.  Brother Jamie left half way through because his diabetes was hurting him so bad he had to leave. He was in so much pain! It was terrible to see! And on Thursday we found out that he went to the hospital. He comes home today so we will see how he is doing this week.

Tuesday it rained!!! And Wednesday!!!! I like it because it cools down a lot when it rains! We went and visited May. The one whose husband died. There is something holding her back and we don’t know what it is. I want so badly to help her but I just cant. We have tried everything. On Sunday we even went and picked her up for church like we said and we got there and she said she wasn’t going. We were so sad. I do not know how to reach her...

Another family is the Mariano family. It is the nanay (mom) and 4 children.  The husband doesn’t want to listen. We have been teaching them from the first day we got there. They have been learning for a while but hasn’t been super receptive but hasn’t turned it down either. So we visited them Tuesday and Saturday and invited them to church AGAIN.  But this time SHE CAME!!!! It was great but she had to leave part way through 2^nd hour because of her litttle baby. But she came!! So excited.  And then we visited her after church too. It was great!! So excited when they walked in!!!

Cristelda.  Idk if I have told you abut her (maybe called her Christy) but she is a friend of Sister Jenny and she is great. She wants to learn everything  about the church and Tuesday during our lesson I taught her about the Book of Mormon. Her son came in and was listening but he didn’t want to join in. So we asked her if she comes to know it is true will she get baptized.   We gave her a date and then asked if she had any questions. He perked up and asked,  “If I am going to be baptized -  shouldn’t i know everything.”  I was like WHAT?!?!?!??!? You are listening!!!! And so Sister Jenny and Sister Sevia talked to him about the Book of Mormon and another question and I talked to Sister Cristelda about America.   Haha she had questions. But it was great because her son really does want to learn.  Then when we went and taught Xhyrus and Russel,  he joined us! And again he had questions and he was writing down questions he had for us. It is wonderful to see!!! I think there is a lot there!!!

Thursday Thursday Thursday.....  So our waterbill is due the last day of the month and last month the other sister went to go pay it on the 1st and they were denied. They were told that they have to go to Las Pinas to pay it because it is late. So we thought they would do that.  Haha Nope. They didn’t.  So the same thing happened this month. The bills are the responsibility of the sister who has been there the longest, which is neither me or Sister Sevia. So when we found this out we took matters into our own hands. We paid the electricity -- which was on time but the water is now 2 days late and hasn’t been paid for 2 months. We got a notice that it was going to be shut off. So we text President Tye and told him.  He gave us permission to go and pay it. We had no idea where it was so we went to Bacoor where you have to go to get anywhere. We asked around.  Someone said to take a certain jeepney.   So we went and the jeepney driver had no clue so he ended up taking us past Las Pinas. We were super close to Manilla. The airplanes were about 1 minute from landing --  Almost touching the buildings. It was crazy! And we asked and no one knew how to get there.  So then someone helped us but then we had to wait for a jeepney and there were NONE coming.  It started raining. Pretty sure we were either on the outskirts or out of our mission. So we get on that and then that one doesn’t know either.  So then someone gets on and tells us it is in this mall. So we go in and it isn’t there.  Noone knows where we’re supposed to be.  By  this time it is already 5 and they close at 5.  We have no idea how to get home. No idea where we were. So we go to the jeepneys and we see a bunch of elders and were like --dang it!!!  But they were really nice and helped us get home because they were going to the mission office.  From there we could get home. But it took the whole day! 0 lessons because when we got home we had FHE.   It was definitely an adventure. It was fun though!

So this weekend was fiesta. It celebrates Christ. On Friday morning (we didn’t get to see) people were dancing in all the streets and there were lots of fireworks.  Friday there were parades of bands and again lots of fireworks. It was crazy!! Lots of HUGE cross displays everywhere and virgin Mary. It was definitely different. SO it was hard to teach because everyone was at the fiesta. But we managed with a few lessons. It was crazy for sure.  We started our fast on Saturday at noon.  I have decided that fasting is the sign for everyone to give you food. We went to an investigator who owns a restaurant and he gave us soda and food while we watched the parade so we didn’t eat it or drink it. We just left it and then asked to have plastic (they put everything in plastic so you take it with you).  So we did and then a member tried giving us food and was mad when we told her we started our fast already.  So we took it in plastic too.  Then we went to the 7/11 where all the poor kids beg for money.  We gave them all our food. They were happy! Haha.

So I can tell my language is getting better. I have been able to understand a little bit more this week and I have been able to say a lot from the beginning. Just understanding it is tough.  But I can see it improving -- finally!! I know I am hard on myself...

Until Skype next week :)

Sister Mayberry

"Alam ko po na totoo ang aklat ni mormon. Isinalin ni Joesph smith ang aklat ni mormon sa pamamagitan na kapangyarihan ng dyios. Tumawag ang dyios ni Joseph smith sa propeta. Alam ko po na kung magbasa ng aklat ni mormon at magdasal na nakakatanggap ng paghahayag para sa sarilli mo. Ito ay totoo. Alam ko po na ng buo puso."

"I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith translated it through the power of god. God called Joseph smith to be a prophet. I know that if you read the Book of Mormon and pray,  you will be able to receive revelation for yourself. It is true. I know that with my whole heart."

Can you believe I made a
scripture case???

Why does everyone want to feed us on
Fast Sunday?????

Dang - these busses get close.
We weren't even getting on.

Email #7: I was like “Ah sister, I don’t know how to live in rain!! Teach me.”

Mahal Ko Kayo!!!! Nagmimiss ako ninyo sobrang!!! Ito ay crazy ditto pero sobrang mesaya!!! 

(I love you all. I miss you alot. It is crazy here but very fun.)

So Mother’s Day. We will Skype on Monday so it will be your Mother’s Day. And no I do not have a skype so you will need to make one for me and tell me the information so I can log on. And it will just be in this little internet cafe -- same one I email in. I am so excited!!!!

So my city is called Novelta. And my ward is Noveleta ward and my area is Noveleta b. Molino is a different city.

So Monday we went bowling!!! So much fun and I won just saying :) By alot too!!! It was so much fun!! It was 2 zones combined so I was able to see most of the people from my batch.  It was alot of fun though!!!! After that we had FHE with Jenny and her anak (child) the ones getting baptized. It was so much fun. Her anak are great!!! I love that family. We are ALWAYS laughing. And they teach me Tagalog all the time. It was so so so  much fun!!!

So Tuesday we had another FHE but with the Montemayor family. Sister Stromburg (who is an RM) is here in the Philippines. She is also a teacher at the MTC.  She wasn't my teacher but she was my sub teacher a few times. It was great to see her. But oh my gosh -- so on the way to FHE we took a trike and IT HAD PORN IN IT!! All the walls were covered with pictures of women on it!! We asked if we could patay and liwanag  (kill the lights). So it wasn’t a problem but oh my gosh we couldn’t stop laughing.

Wednesday was a good day. We went to a place called Pulo. (That’s just the areas name).  It is super poor and super super close. I sent a picture before of me in a hallway that was so small.  It’s the same place. And we saw the Oribello family – (Less active) and we had our lesson under a house in hammocks on the beach. It was so small though.  All the Filipino could stand and me and Sister Sevia had to crouch. It was so cool!!!! And we taught her about prayer.  I testified of prayer so well. Sister Sevia was trying to find a scripture so I had to talk and I was able to!!! I am able to speak alot of Tagalog but I’m not good at understanding, which makes it very hard to speak because I don’t know what I need to say. But when I know what is going on I can speak haha.  It was transfer day so Sister Aua'ae left and we have a new sister. Sister Bodoto. She is super nice.  I like her.  She does her dishes haha. And, she helped me clean today!!!! Her and Sister Lamson are having a hard time but Sister Bodota hasn't even been in the field for a week -- so it will get better.

Friday it rained and it rained hard. We weren’t outside yet so that was good. But I was like “Ah sister, I don’t know how to live in rain!! Teach me.”  Haha. I was like -- how are we suppose to go out in that. It flooded so fast too!!! It only rained for like 2 hours but it was crazy! Once August hits it will be insane!!!

So Saturday Xhryrus and Russel had their baptism interviews. Xhyrus is getting baptized Saturday but Russel has to wait two weeks because he stopped drinking coffee and tea 2 weeks ago but it has to be 4 weeks.  So he is waiting.  But Xhyrus isn’t. And guess what?!?!?!?! They BOTH WANT TO SERVE MISSIONS!!!! I am so excited!!!!!! THEY ARE SERVING MISSIONS!!!! It was the best news EVER!!!! That night we went and visited Jamie (the one that has really bad diabetes. Like about to cut off his leg bad.) It is so hard. Brother Wilmar came and gave him a blessing. I hope he felt the power from it. The spirit was so strong. Beth, the wife, was crying (she is less active which by the way is now activated). I am so worried about him he was cringing in pain the whole time.

SO yesterday we said goodbye to Sister Stromburge. She came and worked with us and we visited her convert who is now less active. It was great!!! Bu oh my gosh -- I was so scared!!! At church they told me and Sister Sevia that we were speaking!!! I was like no!!! I can’t give a talk right off the top of my head in Tagalog!!! I was so scared!! Then they said that Sister Stromburge is instead. So it was good but seriously – the scariest moment of my life!!! Ahhhh!!!

So it is normal here to called people fat. It is really weird. They have no problem calling you fat. It kinda hurts because in America you don’t do that but here it’s normal. So weird!!! I learned a new word kakaiba ka.  I just said “You’re weird.” Yep weird right? This language is so strange. Every two weeks we get 4200 pesos which is bout 90 dollars. I spend about 22 of that on food. That is how little money is here. I took out 600 and lost it. Here that is a lot but when I did the math that (plus the 200 atm fee) is only about 16 dollars. It is crazy!!!! Everything here is so much less money.

So go to you tube and search young women values Cavite stake and find Noveleta ward.  They made a video!! Watch it because it’s my ward :)

So my feet are so bad!! I am taking that medicine all the time now because it helps.  Right now they are almost normal haha.  So last night we went to a member’s home for dinner. I ate it.  It’s called something like chocolate something. So I am eating it and I ask what it is and the sister (don’t know her name) said -- I’ll tell you after you are done. I was thinking, “Oh so it is one of those.”  So I finish and asked again. She said it is BLOOD. It was pieces of pork in pork blood!!! It didn’t taste terrible but the texture of the liquid was grainy. It was weird. But not terrible haha. So there -- you can tell people that haha.

Well momma I love you so much!!!!! I’m praying for all of you!!!!

Love Sister Mayberry

Sister Berguson

Pulo

Noveleta Ward Young Women: Young Women Values - Choice and Accountability