There are no ordinary people

So, this morning I woke up to a monster in my room.  It was a cockroach the size of ME just chilling on my wall when I opened my eyes.  I sat up so quickly that my entire puny little metal bunk bed almost tipped over.  I didn't scream though.  I just ushered it out the door and didn't invite it to come back...or to come unto Christ.

I haven't seen any snakes yet.  hopefully soon.  If not, I'll have to get a tattoo of one (woop - there it is).

I feel like I've been here for 100 years, but then I realize that I still don't even completely know my way around this place.  But this last week, I really focused on my attitude.  I studied the scriptures so hard and drowned myself in studying the characteristic of Christ.  Then, I tried to apply those to myself.

I'll be honest...it's freaking hard.  Especially when my natural reaction to many of the things I face each day would be to just roll my eyes, say a sarcastic remark, cry or even swear (wait. what?)

But this week, when we would get lost, or punted, or when we would not understand what someone was saying to us - basically whenever we were in a pickle -  I would just think, "oh this is hilarious.  This is way better than 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' - I wish my family could see this."

It takes a lot of motivation and courage to get out to work.  Like in Santiago, it used to be I was anxious to get the morning studies done so we could go out and find people and teach...But here in Solano, I find myself cherishing  every minute I get to study.  And when time is up I think, "I'm scared to go out and face the world - I wish I could just do language study for the next 100 hours."  But that lack of courage has helped me...I know it has...because I literally have to plead with Heavenly Father to take care of me.  I plead with him every morning before we head out to work to help me, to be my companion, and to send angels to walk with me.  He's pulled through for me.  He always does.

                                   I saw a miracle this week.

In our area we take a tricey out to our furthest point and then walk our way back as we stop by those we teach.  I've gotten used to getting punted 98% of the time.  And on this particular day I was seeing that kind of outcome as we got rejected about 13 times in a row.

As we were walking down the highway, Sister Nawere stopped at a gate.  I asked who we were seeing.  She struggled to answer me, but tried her best to explain that she had never really met the lady before, but knew that she had been baptized, but wasn't coming to church.  So, this Nanay came out and looked at us like we were strange.  She was hesitant to open the gate and asked why we were there.  I proceeded to introduce who we were and asked her name and other 'get to know you,' questions.  She let us in, but her attitude was hard.  Which just made me work even harder to get to know her.  The miracle....she knows English.  Super well.  Like at one point I just stopped speaking in Tagalog and spoke to her in English.

We talked forever, and as time went on, it was very apparent that her heart was softened.  She opened up to me about how she stopped going to church because she didn't feel completely accepted.  She told me about how after the missionary that converted her went home...nobody ever loved her so much.  She didn't feel welcomed.  She said church was uncomfortable because she felt alone.  It broke my heart. Because I was thinking about M. and N. and M. and T. and the other investigators I had in Santiago and how much I loved them...and how my final last words to Sister L. were "L - take care of them.  They are so important to me."

It made me think of this missionary that she talked about, and how sad he would feel if he knew that one of the people he taught and baptized and loved so dearly wasn't feeling the love that she needed.  Nanay E.  showed us pictures of this Elder and told me stories of how incredible and close he was to her family.  As I stared at the pictures, I could only imagine him saying the same thing to me, "Sister Frame - please take care of her.  She is so important to me." It then clicked.  All of it.  I could just picture the Savior saying it to me, about all the people I meet here in the Philippines.  "Mads  - please take care of them.  They mean so much to me."

My love for Nanay E. was overwhelming.  I just wanted to tell her, but couldn't even express it all in words.  So I did my best.

I told Nany E. a few things.  The first being that she was a pure answer to my prayers.  I told her about how I'm new to this area, and not completely comfortable, and how even as a missionary I'm looking for friends.  And how I was praying to meet her.  I had been praying ALL week to meet someone that I could talk with.  The second being that I loved her.  I just simply stated that.  And then I bore testimony that I know her Heavenly Father loved her.

We've been back each day.  She's very special to me.  Heavenly Father really had my back that day.

I really got to know Sister N. this week.  She's a sweet girl.  I tried to put myself in her shoes.  I put myself in the situation of not knowing Tagalog which took no effort at all, but also not knowing English.  I have it easy compared to her.  So my love and appreciation for her diligence and work and smile grew ten fold.  I'm grateful for her.  It doesn't change our ability to speak, but it makes the days easier, more peaceful, and more enjoyable.

The work is scary, frustrating, hard, and at times feels impossible.  But it has the most happy, spiritual, rewarding and peaceful moments that make it worth it.  I'm grateful to be a part of it.

Have the best week - Merry Christmas - I love you.

-Sister Frame

alma 34:41

My heart is getting full

Hi!  This week I learned that this is truly Heavenly Father's work.  Truly.  He puts people in the path.  I've seen it in countless ways -

There's Sister V., in her 50's and so sweet.  She's been less active for about 5 years because she has a problem smoking, and for some reason, never really felt like coming to church.  The first week I was here, we visited her (I was kinda just a deer in the headlights and had no idea who we were teaching, where we were going, or what I was doing). But, the first Sunday I remember my companion freaking out with excitement because Sister V. was at church. 

She comes to church each week now.

We have gotten very close to her.  She is incredible.  We often catch her smoking when we go visit her - and - we have taught her many lessons on the Word of Wisdom.  But this week - I was really contemplating on how we can show her how much we care about her and how badly we want her to stop smoking -  not just because it's a commandment and all that missionary protocol.

So, I took a shot in the dark.

I mean...I've never had to kick a smoking habit, but I tried to think and remember ways I've heard of people quitting the old cigarettes.  So, on our way to her house, we pass a grocery store.  Sister P. and I went inside and looked around - I had no idea what I was looking for really, but naturally I was drawn to the candy aisle (a little for myself, let's be honest).  But the idea came to me.  I started grabbing bags of Mentos - all flavors.  Sister P. looked at me disgusted:  "You cannot be expecting to lose weight if all you continue to eat is candy."  I said, "No, I think it's for Sister V."  So retarded, I know, but I bought her a few bags.  We went to her house, and I pulled the bag out, set it in front of her and just looked at it.  She said,  "What's this, Sister?"  I replied, "You're gonna stop smoking."  (It was so demanding....but not too rude).  Then I proceeded to say, "When you want to smoke, (and I said this pointing to her pack and lighter sitting right behind her), try and just eat a candy instead.  Try it for one day.  Just see if you can do it for one day."

Then, she just started crying - I didn't know if I offended her or what....ok, I didn't.  But, I think it got through to her...

that we actually care for her.  As Sister V.  We love her and want her to stop smoking not just because she is supposed to.

But because we have a place for her as an individual in our hearts.

It was such a testifying experience of love and the power that is can have.

Now, Sister V. has a daughter in law - D.  She's 18 and about 7 months pregnant.  The most incredible and sweetest girl in the world.  We met her while we were visiting Sister V.  She just came in and listened, and we've been teaching her ever since.  She is so ready and cannot wait to get baptized.

Yesterday, at church, she came and put her arm around me as we walked into Sacrament Meeting and she said in broken English, 

"Sister Frame, I am so grateful for you.  Thank you for teaching me everything you know about Jesus Christ."

That right there almost made me drop dead.  Seriously?  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  Cause sometimes I feel uncomfortable at church here.  Ha - so bad to say, I know.  But church is stressful for so many reasons - praying the whole time that your investigators will show up, feeling judged because I don't know Tagalog - some Sunday church blocks are just exhausting.  What D. said to me - it made every embarrassing moment that day worth it.  oh my  gosh.  I just looked at D. and said, "Danica, Thank You!  You have changed my life more than you know.  And You have taught ME about Jesus."  I just love that girl so much.

Remember John Paul - the one that had a baptism date for yesterday....but he moved a few weeks ago?  Well, one day when we were teaching him about the Atonement, I noticed this girl sitting in the background on the steps listening to us.  The next time, Sister  P. approached her.  She was SO shy.  Her name is N.  She explained that she liked the way that we explained the Atonement, and she was so touched and understood it clearly.  We started teaching her right after John Paul moved....like it was a miracle.  A golden investigator traded for another golden investigator.  Although she was so so so shy, she had many questions.  She listens.  She reads and wants to learn.  She is so receptive. 

And she is going to get baptized August 17.  

Her sister moved in with her....N. started talking about the church with her, and she started listening to us also. 

I think back to the time when I was so sad John Paul left.  I still am.  But Heavenly Father had it all in the works.  We've met these incredible people.  I'm so grateful for that.

As for weather and language - like, blah.  It's so hot....The other day it was so sunny out and within 2 1/2 minutes, a downpour!  We were in Tramo and it's all dirt roads.  There was so much rain.  My umbrella was useless.  My feet were completely emerged into the mud up to my ankles, the noise of the rain hitting all the tin roofs and smacking the mud was so unbelievable loud, and I stopped dead in my tracks, looked up at the sky, and couldn't help but laugh.  Like, it hit me:  "I'm caught in a rainstorm, soaking wet, so muddy, in the middle of the Philippines...on a mission." These are the kind of experiences I could only imagine just three months ago.  And now I'm living it.  It was unreal.  It felt good.

I made it the entire day, July 23, without anyone knowing it was my birthday.  and honestly, I forgot really. The best part of the day was that I reached my goal of finishing the Book of Mormon on that day.

That book has changed my life. I've read it before, and I'll read it many times again, but the way that it influenced and changed me as a person this time around I will never forget.  That book is TRUE!  I hold it so dear to my heart.  I want everyone I come in contact with to have the same feelings that I have for it for themselves.

Because if they did - I know that they would be happy, and they would come to know their Savior Jesus Christ and His love for us on a level that can't be felt or learned without reading it.

Be happy!  We have so many reasons to be.