Monday, December 8, 2014

December 8, 2014 Oh. My. Goodness. LAST WEEK.


Bro Narding, Delio Cayanan, Tatay Lero, Vernie, Loida, Gwen

Another FHE at Tatay Lero's house


Hello Family!!

Well, my subject line says it all.  I can't believe it.  It still doesn't really feel like I'll be leaving the Philippines next week.  I feel like I'm just going to keep serving here.  But everyone keeps telling me "You're going to be spending Christmas with your family!" So weird. Everyone here in the mission who is close to going home always gets sick. So true to form, I got sick on Friday.  Everyone at church laughed at me and said that I'm homesick and not to worry because I'm really close to going home.

This week was pretty good.  We met a new investigator named Ron who I feel is really interested.  I noticed him one day when we were walking to a different investigators house and saw him watching us  come down the street.  Unfortunately, that day I didn't stop to talk to him.  But then two days later, we were walking down the same street and I saw him again.  And again he was watching us with that look on his face that he kind of wanted to talk to us, but was too shy to call out.  So we stopped and talked to him.  We were about halfway through saying that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, when he asked "What days are you sisters here?"  we told him Wednesday and Friday.  He said "Oh good!  I only have half day of work on those days." So we set up an appointment and then went back to him last Friday.  He listened to our message about the restoration and was super excited about the Book of Mormon.  He told us that he really wants to change.  He said that when he was younger, he was pretty wild.  He kind of ran away from home for several years.  And then his dad died.  He felt really guilty that he wasn't here to help take care of things because he is the oldest.  So he came back and is helping his mom and siblings and trying to make up for the things he did when he was younger.  I can just tell that he is ready to change and I know how much the gospel will help ease his regrets.  Sis Lucillo told him that it is possible to see his dad again in the next life and be with him again.  He said "Really?"  At the end of the lesson, he said that he wants to keep listening to us and he wants to read the Book of Mormon.

Vernie is doing pretty good.  He really really really wants to get baptized but he had a little obstacle come up this week.  His grandma decided she doesn't want him to get baptized.  (she's the one who is his guardian)  So Vernie was pretty sad on Saturday and said that he was really angry with his grandma because he's turning 18 this week so he's old enough to make his own decisions.  But he said that he didn't say anything to her because he was afraid that he would say something bad while he was angry.  But he told Sis Lucillo that he feels like God hasn't answered his prayers and that it's taking a long time.  Sis Lucillo told him that he needs to keep praying and pray for his grandma.  There is a way for him to be baptized this month!!  So that's the challenged that were working with this week.

Well, that's kind of the update from Pilar, Bataan, Philippines.  It's finally hit me that I'm going home and I'm kind of feeling sad.  It's kind of funny, your whole mission you look forward to going home...until the last week.  And then you realize that you won't have this again.  And that they're going to take away your name tag.  And then your power and authority is going to be gone.  But I have been sooooooo blessed by serving a mission!  I am so grateful that I was called on a mission!  There are so many things that I have learned and I have seen so many miracles while I have been here.  But most of all, I feel like my testimony has been tried and solidified.  I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  I know that it was restored through Joseph Smith.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us and He sent His son to earth so that we could return to Him.  I know that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and become worthy for the kingdom of God.   I love our Savior!  And I know that the Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Him and through it we will draw closer to Him.

I hope that you all have a great week!

Mahal ko kayo!!!

Sister Sirrine

Thursday, December 4, 2014

December 1, 2014 An Amazing Week!

In Wakas.  Aren't the houses cute? They are called 'Kubo' when they are made of bamboo and not concrete
 Kamusta???

This week was an AMAZING week!!!!  I had some of the best days of my mission this last week and I just really really love being a missionary!!!

First of all, Monday we had a FHE at the home of Delio and James.  Delio actually invited US to come do an FHE at their house and he told us to invite the investigators that we are teaching just down the street.  It was awesome!!!! I wish that all members would do that!!  Usually we have to ask THEM.  So on Monday we had an awesome FHE.

But maybe I should give a little background on our investigators.  They are the investigators that came to church two weeks ago.  One of them is named Vernie (prounounced 'bernie') and the other is Robin, and then Robin's sisters.  So we've really been teaching Vernie and sometimes Robin as well.  Vernie has been praying about if Joseph Smith is a true prophet, but it's been about 2 weeks and he said that he hasn't gotten an answer yet.  But he's been killing the Book of Mormon!  (on Saturday he was in 1 Nephi 19 and he's only had it for 2 weeks!!)  So on Monday for FHE we watched The Restoration movie.  You could tell he and Robin really felt the spirit while they were watching.  When we asked what they liked, Vernie said he liked that Joseph really searched for the truth.  Robin liked when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him.  Delio bore his testimony about how he came to know that this church is true and it was such a strong testimony!  Then Vernie and Robin asked me and Sis Lucillo how we came to know that it was true.  I've never had an investigator really ask me that.  So I got to share that with them.
FHE at Delio's house!  We played a game with uling (charcoal)

our investigators: Queenie, Ann, Vernie, Robin, and Narding

With James Cayanan
With Sis Lucillo 


The next day, we went to Vernie's house and he said that FHE was super great and he loved it.  We asked him if he'd gotten an answer yet about Joseph Smith.  He said not yet, but he felt close.  Then I asked him how his preparation was for baptism.  He said "Uhhh...No comment." Then we asked about his reading from the Book of Mormon.  His face lit up and he said that he read his assignment (Nephi's vision) and three extra chapters.  He said "I love reading this book!  I feel so good when I read it and I just want to keep reading!"  So then we told him that God doesn't answer everyone's prayers the same.  We asked him where he thought the good feeling came from when he read the Book of Mormon.  He thought for a minute and said, "From God."  And we asked him if he believed it was true.  He said "yes, I believe this book is true".  So then we said, if the book of true, then Joseph Smith has to be true because he was the one that translated it.  He nodded and then I asked, "Do you think that is the answer to your prayer if Joseph is a true prophet?"  He was quiet for a second and then said "Maybe....yes!"  and then looked really excited. We then talked about faith and what faith was.  When we had him read in Alma 32, he said, "Oh so faith is just like this answer....believing without actually having proof."  Then we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ sharing scriptures for every principle.  We got to baptism and we shared 3 Nephi 11:33-34 that we all need to be baptized.  And then in the same chapter that Christ gives authority to certain people to be able to baptize.  We extended the baptismal commitment again to him and asked him if he would be willing to follow God's commandment and be baptized by someone who has proper authority. He said, "Because I know this book is true and believe what is written in it, yes, I will be baptized!"  The spirit was so strong!!!!  He finally recognized that he had been receiving an answer, he just didn't really know it.  And, I saw the power of the Book of Mormon.  It is true what it says in Preach My Gospel that the Book of Mormon should be at the center of our teaching because it gives validity to what we are saying and helps them feel the spirit.  I know that Vernie didn't accept baptism because of us, he accepted it because he felt the spirit and the truth of the Book of Mormon.  It was such a great lesson!!!

We just had such an awesome week.  We had three days that had amazing lessons, the spirit was so strong and we WERE NOT PUNTED!!!!  If we were punted, we knocked at the next door neighbor or talked to someone standing nearby and they let us in to teach them.  Sis Lucillo and I came home every day so happy and excited to be missionaries.  Being a missionary is so fun when that happens!  Too bad every day can't be like that, but you do need opposition to be able to really enjoy the good days.  Also, something funny happened; we were walking in one of our areas and there were a ton of kids there.  As we passed by, I heard one of them say "Look!! It's Mama Mary! (St. Mary)"  They think because I'm white, I'm St Mary.  Kind of funny.
Thanksgiving dinner at the Whites'!!
 

The couple missionaries invited us over on Thursday and we had a Thanksgiving dinner!!!  It was amazing!  We had duck, chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, salad, vegetables, and Sister White's handmade a pumpkin and apple pies.  It was one of the best meals I've had my whole mission!!!!  Unfortunately, we were sooooooooooo full afterwards and then we still had to proselyte.  That is probably the first day in my mission that I have really walked slow.  It felt kind of weird.  I was still full the next day.  But it was delicious!! Can't wait to eat American food again!


I love being a missionary!!!  Heavenly Father really blesses and guides His missionaries.  Even though it is kind of hard sometimes, there are some really great moments when people really accept what you are teaching and sharing with them.  And you can see the difference in them when they feel the spirit!

Well, hope that you all have a great week!  Love you all!!!
In the bukid
mahal ko kayo!
Sister Sirrine

With Sis Lucillo
The Abayan family: Gwen, LA, Roberto, Loyda











Sunday, November 23, 2014

November 24, 2014 Time is getting shorter

A pomelo.  Basically a Filipino grapefruit, literally the size of dodgeballs.  They are HUGE!  And delicious


Kumusta!!!

Well, this week was another good week.  Man, time is flying.  Everyone here is reminding me of when I go home.  One sister in my zone is counting down the days for me.  And all of my recent converts and the other people we visit always ask, "When are you leaving again sister??"  I'm trying not to think about it but everyone else is doing that for me! But I am super excited.

Nothing too exciting this week (just the normal missionary stuff) but we do have a family that we're excited about.  It is the Apo family.  (funny thing: 'apo' in tagalog is 'grandchild'.  Great last name!) Sonny is the husband and Marites is the wife.  We've only taught a few lessons but they really listen when we teach them.  We originally met Marites's father on the street and he stopped us because he lived in San Diego for like 30 years.  So he stopped me and started talking to me and how he is an American citizen.  (He's a VERY talkative 81 year old! He talked about all sorts of stuff about America) So then we asked if we could meet his kids.  We met Marites and we taught her and her husband and son right then.  They have two super adorable granddaughters and one of them is Mary's age.  I just love love love to teach families!

Also, Delio and James showed up in white shirts and black pants yesterday!!!  I love that!  It is so exciting when the recent converts show up dressed in a white shirt and pass the sacrament.  I have seen such a change in the life of Delio.  It is so neat to see his and James' knowledge growing and their desire to have faith grow stronger.  That is the best thing for a missionary!

Sister Lucillo and I are doing great here.  I'm starting to feel like I've knocked on every door here in Pilar but we are still finding new people.  Even though it is slow, we are seeing progress here in Pilar and the members here are getting excited about the temple.  Some of our less actives have been given callings and they are already doing great at fulfilling them.  Gigi Raguero (a less active) was called to the primary and she is so excited!  (we taught primary again yesterday. Haha I'm getting pretty good at it)  It's so great to see them when they are truly involved in the church!

Well, I hope you all have a great week!  I'm trying to work harder than ever here.  I can feel the time getting shorter and shorter and it makes me nervous.  It's going so fast.  I love this work!!!

Mahal ko kayo!
Sister Sirrine






Saturday, November 22, 2014

November 17, 2014 Youth to teach!


Out in the bukid with Roque kids.  The cart that  Karibao pull in the fields.  


Orion Zone at Mount Samat

Foreigners are more expensive
Missionaries love pictures! 

Kind of looks like me and E. Armbruster have twin Philippino sons....haha

This is what happened to Magellum!!!  He got lost sailing around the world and landed in the Philippines.  He was killed here (I think he was eaten...but don't quote me on that one) This is that scene on the Mount Samat cross.  He is being stepped on by Lapu-Lapu as his boat is sailing away.  His crew got away but he didn't make it!


Hello Hello!!!!

Well, this week was kind of a crazy week.  One day was really good and then the next was...not so good.  But it ended great so that's all that matters.

First of all, this week we found a lot of new investigators.  We found 4 youth kids that we taught on Thursday. I usually don't teach kids because if you teach kids you run several risks: 1) they don't have permission to get baptized or come to church 2) they'll be baptized and then quickly go less active because they have no parental support.  So as a rule, I've avoided teaching kids and tried to get their parents.  But these kids live really close to the church and they are 16 and 17 so they do have the ability to know for themselves if this is true and get themselves to church.  So we taught them and they prayed about Joseph Smith and then on Saturday were so excited to get a Book of Mormon.  They said that they were going to come to church on Sunday but they did ask if there were a lot of youth their age.  We only have 2 active youth right now.  1 young women and 1 young man (James!).  So we told them not really, but to come anyway.  So they said that they would.  I was super worried about church on Sunday because there was a scheduled brownout from 8am to 5 pm which meant there was no AC and no microphone and there probably wouldn't be a lot of people to attend.  But we had 59 people come to church (lately it's been in the 30's) and all of the less active youth came to church!!!!  But the Santos kids hadn't showed up yet and I was super worried that they weren't coming but then after the sacrament, five of them walked into the church!!!!  The youth leaders were so excited!  They finally had youth to teach!  And afterwards, we asked them how church was and they were so excited.  They said it was great and we found out later that they asked one of the members how they can be baptized.  We're really trying to find youth and primary right now so that the branch isn't just old people here.  It was super exciting.  And lots of people got new callings today, people that we have been working with and they are excited about it.  It is so true that you need a calling to really be active in the church and to feel involved.  Otherwise it is easy to fall away.
All the youth that came to church!  Including the Santos kids!

The funny thing is that we got to church and after sacrament, the Primary president went home so there was no one to teach primary.  Usually, Sis Domingo would teach primary and I went and helped out in gospel principles class.  But yesterday, there was no choice.  We had to teach it.  I was actually really nervous to teach primary (we all know how I am with kids...)!  But we grabbed the primary manual and we actually had a pretty good lesson.  The Santos kids brought their little brother who is 6 and he was the best kid in the primary class!  He answered all the questions, participated in the games, did a great job at drawing and then I taught them 'Book of Mormon Stories' and he sang along and did the actions too.  He was really excited to come back next week.  The Lord really does help us in our weaknesses!  I guess that I can survive teaching primary

And Jocelyn finally came to church again!  Her day off from work is Sunday, but lately with all the occasions happening here, her boss has made her work on Sunday.  Jocelyn hasn't felt like she could refuse her boss because if she does, she'll get fired and they will have no work.  So we did a couple lessons about praying and having the faith to follow the commandments and the Lord will help you.  So FINALLY, this week, she told her boss that she can't work on Sunday because her husband is angry and she needs to go to church.  Go Jocelyn!!!  So she was able to come to church again after several weeks of not being able to and now hopefully her baptism will really happen in December.  Kind of a scary thing to do, but she put her faith in Heavenly Father and her boss accepted what she said.  No more work on Sunday!

Mount Samat!  My new companion Sis Lucillo
I'm loving being companions with Sis Lucillo and our work is getting better!  We found a lot of new investigators that were taught before by previous missionaries and we're hoping that now is the time for them to accept the gospel.  Just keep praying!!!  Love the work!  Love my area!  I love being a missionary!
Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Sirrine







Photos from trip to Manilla



Bus station going to manila at 2 am. We look so tired..

In the Manila immigration office.  Apparently I'm an alien...

We found a restaurant that has Mexican food.  It's called ArmyNavy.  Best food of the mission!
Manila bay!!!

Sunday, November 9, 2014

November 10, 2014 If you can drive in Manila, you can drive anywhere!

Hello Hello!

Well, as you can tell from my subject line....we are in Manila!  So crazy!  We had to go to the mission home last night and leave at two this morning to get on a bus to Manila so that we could go to the embassy, or something like that, and get fingerprints done so that we could leave the country.  And the driving here is like NOTHING you have ever seen.  We thought we were going to die but somehow we made it out alive.  I will never ever drive in Manila. Man.  It's getting real.  there were 9 of us sisters that went and we definitely stuck out: 9 blond, white sisters walking around together.  We are so tired but that's okay!  Afterwards we were able to stop at this restaurant called Army Navy that has MEXICAN FOOD!!!!  It was a unanimous vote to go there.  We are all really happy right now.

This week I got a new companion, Sister Lucillo who is a Filipina from Bikol.  I was actually housemates with her in my second area when she was a brand new missionary and now we are companions!  She is the sweetest sister ever and she is so nervous with her new calling as an STL and tells me all the time "tulungan mo ako, sister!" (help me sister!) but I know that she is going to do great.  And I'm excited that she is my last companion. It was an answer to my prayer because I really wanted a Filipina as my last companion.  So it's going to be fun.

This week I had a neat experience.  On Friday, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize.  When I answered, there was a man that asked "Is this Sister Sirrine?" At first I was a little creeped out because I didn't know why this man was calling me.  He said something about him being taught by the elders in our zone but I still had no idea why he was calling me.  Then he asked if I remembered him.  (uhhh....no....) He said, "Remember?  You taught me at Rey Lopez's house."  Then I remembered about two months ago, we went to our less active, Brother Lopez.  There was another man in the house sitting by a full ashtray who had long, unkempt hair, unshaved beard, and well-worn, ripped dusty clothes on.  My first thought when we walked into the house was 'Oh no.  He's going to ruin the lesson.' as I looked around to see if there were any empty beer bottles in the room.  I couldn't decide if we should teach or not.  And then Sis Domingo looked at him and invited him to listen to us.  He said okay he would listen.  So we briefly taught him the Restoration and he actually listened!  He said that he would pray about Joseph Smith and that he would come to church on Sunday (he never came).  So we asked if we could teach him again and he said that he was almost never there, he was always working in the bukid (field). And it was really far away so he only came down out of the mountain sometimes.  So right there we lost hope.  Oh well.  I guess if we go back some time and he's there we'll teach him again.  But then, I got a call from him saying that he was being taught by the elders in our zone and that he was getting baptized on November 22nd!  He said, "Sister Sirrine, thank you so much!  If you hadn't have taught me I would have never known the truth!  So much has changed about me.  I shaved my beard and I have a nice hair cut now and my whole family is going to be baptized with me."  He just said thank you over and over and said that one day he would come to our branch for church.  I couldn't believe it!  This kind of stuff never happens!  We always teach the Restoration over and over and you know that you are planting seeds and probably one day, they will accept it.  But you never get to hear the ending of that story.  Well, rarely.  I then talked to the elders at district conference and asked them about him.  They said "Oh yeah!  We kept forgetting to tell you about him and his family!"  One elder asked how they found him.  They said "One day we decided to go up the the mountains and there was a house there.  So we knocked and before we said anything, he said 'come in' and called his entire family to listen to us."  The other elder said, "You were punted weren't you?  Who would just randomly decide to go up into the mountain?"

It's amazing how the Lord helps us in this work!  There are really miracles that happen all the time!  I feel so blessed that I got to hear his story and that I got to be a small part of it.  It's amazing how to Lord also lets us know that our efforts are not going wasted.  Sometimes it feels that way as a missionary as you teach the first lesson over and over again and people don't want to accept it.  But no effort is wasted!  And it goes to show that the most unlikely people are the ones who will accept the message and we can't judge who we should share it to and who we shouldn't.

I love this work!  I love being a missionary!  There are definitely challenges but the challenges make us grow and become better people!  I know that this church is true and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration.  And I know that he was called of God and given the priesthood power to direct this church.  And I know that our Savior Jesus Christ stands at the head of this church and guides His living prophet today through revelation.

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Sirrine

November 3, 2014 Teaching two by two

Sis Domingo's last supper....


Kamusta!

Well, this week was CRAZY!  On Tuesday morning, Sis Ah Hong was taken to Manila to the hospital (because she still wasn't better) and we were told that she wasn't coming back because she is in the batch to leave this Wednesday.  So she had to get better or they weren't going to let her out of the country.  So she was taken and the three of us were left.  So we had to try and figure out a way to work in both of our areas.  Which is hard.  Trust me.  The first day we spent a lot of money on transportation going back and forth.  And I was so tired at the end of that day.  The next day, the senior missionary couple (Elder and Sister White) came and they were my companions for the day while sis Domingo and Sis Cagata worked in the other area.  I have a testimony of the importance of going out two by two.  It is really hard to be a solo missionary!  The Whites don't know how to speak Tagalog so I had to do it all: teaching, translating, contacting, etc.  (My voice was pretty much shot after that day) I am so grateful that here in the mission, I always have someone to help me (besides the spirit of course) and to be a second witness.  And a help in the teaching.  It is really not the best to just have one teacher, much better if there are two.  But we did have some neat experiences that day.  When we got to one of my areas, we got out of the car (a great bonus of working with the senior couple: they have a CAR!!!! Don't need to pay for transportation!) and a woman came up to me and said "Sister, I am a member."  I found out that she was baptized over 30 years ago and after about 6 years she fell away.  But it made me wonder because we are always in that area, so why that day she decided to come up to us and tell us she was a member? But she has had some trials in her life and she said that the best time in her life was when she was active.  She had so many blessings then.  So she wants to come back and she wants her husband to get baptized as well.  So that's kind of neat!
The Pilar sisters: Sis Ah Hong, Sis Domingo, Sis Cagata and Me!
Then on Thursday, I was working with a member as my companion and we went to a less active who hasn't been at her house for about a week now.  She said that she was angry at her neighbors so she decided to leave before she did something bad.  Then she proceeded to tell us what they did to make her so mad at them (I didn't really want to know that...) and little by little I could feel the spirit leave.  As she was telling the story, she got all worked up and angry again.  There were some words that she was saying that I didn't understand (I understood the story) she was just telling that story so fast that every time I tried to interject and turn it spiritual again, she just kept talking.  Eventually I got to share a scripture and tell her to pray everyday and she calmed down and then we left.  When we were outside, the member told me that she was swearing while she was telling her story.  I said "Oh really?  I didn't really know what she was saying sometimes but I could feel that the spirit was gone."  She laughed and said "No wonder you didn't seem uncomfortable in there!"  Of course!  I don't know swear words in Tagalog!  But it was just a testimony to me how important our language is.  Even though those words really mean nothing to me, I could feel that the spirit was gone.  It is so important to use good language even when people can't understand.  It brings the spirit.

And then on Sunday, we got to watch a Philippines broadcast because Dallin H Oaks came to the Philippines.  It was so good and I learned so much!  They really stressed how important it is to feast daily on the scriptures.  It makes a huge difference in your personal conversion, even if you already believe.  And that you won't fall away if you regularly study the scriptures.  I know that is true!  Opposition is working hard against us but the scriptures are the tools that Heavenly Father has given us to win the battle every day and come out stronger.  I love the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon!  I know it is true with all my heart because I have read it, studied it, and asked if it was true.  And I was answered that it is.

I love you all!  Keep reading your scriptures especially the Book of Mormon.

Mahal ko kayo!
Sister Sirrine

Last pic with the Trajano family.  Hopefully Marilyn will be baptized this month!








October 27, 2014 Baptism of Juzzmin Trajano

Baptism of Juzzmin Myers Trajano!!!


Hello family!

Well, this week was great!  It was a little strange because Sis Ah Hong was still having to stay at home and rest, so Sis Domingo and I took turns staying home with her and then we halved our time so we worked half the day in our area and half the day in their area.  It was really hard.  We were just trying to get to as many people as we possibly could.  I have been praying so hard about our goals for next month because since our work was kind of disrupted for a few days, we didn’t have any goals really for November.  I have been praying so hard that although our time is only half of what it should be, that we would find some people or the people that we have been teaching would start progressing.  I want to bear testimony that the Lord answers our prayers and he is aware of our situation and if we are giving our best, He will help us and make it enough.  We found a golden investigator that was actually a former investigator and even though we taught her one lesson, she came to church on Sunday.  Two of our investigators that we’ve been teaching started progressing and overcame some challenges to be able to come to church. And a part member has started coming to church with her family who are recent converts.  All of a sudden, we have several possible goals for November and just last Tuesday I was wondering who could possibly be our November goals because we haven’t been able to really work in our area.  And the amazing thing is, the same thing happened to the sisters in the other area.  They had absolutely no goals but some amazing things happened and they have several goals now.  The Lord is really aware of us and He knows when we are trying our best.  Those things shouldn’t have happened with how little time we spent in all of our areas but they did.  We definitely saw a miracle in Pilar!  And now we just have to continue to give our best so that the goals actually happen this month.

And of course, the other exciting news of the week is that Mark Trajano's daughter, Juzzmin was baptized on Saturday!!!!  She was super excited to be baptized.  We really tried to get her older brother to be ready as well, but for some reason he likes playing basketball much more than listening to us.  Sigh.  We'll keep working on him.  And, Mark's wife, Marilyn has been coming to church the last two Sundays.  Hopefully by the time I leave here, she will be ready to be baptized as well!!  I love that family so much!  And Mark is so awesome.  He is really looking forward to being sealed in the temple and does everything he can to get his family to listen to us and read and come to church.  He practically begs his wife to come to church on Sundays.

Well, this is my last week with Sis Domingo.  She is going home next week.  That is so weird.  She is frantically packing all of her stuff (it's not going to fit in her suitcase....) and getting ready to leave.  But this week we are going to work really hard to find more investigators and help the ones that we have to progress.  Even though I have been here for 5 months, I haven't gotten tired of the area yet which is amazing because it is pretty small!  But there are a lot of people here that the Lord is preparing for the missionaries.  The work is really progressing and the prophecy is so true that Joseph Smiths name will be had for good and bad.  EVERYONE is hearing his name!

Well, I love you all! Hope you have a great week!

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Sirrine