Philippines for Eighteen : 3 weeks na lang!?!

Hello po my beautiful family?

How are all of you? I miss you but I know the time is far spent and I will see you sa madaling panahon:)

Sister Galabay, Sister, Me Cayacay & Sister Melosantos

It has been a week full of adventures, laughs, surprises, disappointments, and miracles.

Haha Monday night I woke up at 2:00 am to some super loud noises outside and dogs freaking out haha it sounded like someone was breaking through a gate/fence/door. There was a huge boom, and then this light shined directly in our room and then turned to this creepy red light. Haha the adrenalin started pumping immediately and I was wide awake (but I think my mind was still half asleep... you know how I am when I just wake up.... weird things happen haha). Anyway, I was almost positive someone had broken into our apartment. I woke up Sister Melosantos, and we noticed how the light in the hallway was on. I thought that it wasn't on before and we started freaking out. Haha we were whispering figuring out our game plan. Haha I said that we should just lock the door from the inside and she said we should put our dresser in front of it (I know we sound paranoid but keep in mind we just woke up). Hahah we then crawled on the ground (so we couldn't be seen from the window) and pushed the dresser in front. Haha returned to our beds and then said a prayer for comfort. I then asked Sister Melosantos if she was going to go back to sleep and she said she would observe/watch for a while and then go back to sleep. Haha I don't remember but apparently I said, "ok," turned over and fell asleep immediately as if nothing had happened. Classic Haley.

hahaha We asked the landlord the next day and apparently someone had just come home late and was super loud.

My companion always laughs at me because I am always calm, smiling, laughing, but if I see a cockroach, rat, or something creepy happens I'm super dramatic and immediately seem like I'm angry. Haha then when it's all fine I'm just back to normal. Haha it's hard to explain but she always makes fun of me for it haha.

This week we also had the opportunity to do service 2 times where we cleaned different school that are getting ready for the new school year in about a week.

It was hilarious though.... Sister Morales (she is called Mamu here) is super good at english and there was this little boy who was about to pee on a motorcycle and she goes up to him and starts speaking to him in english hahahhahah when she is angry or serious she will speak in english. Haha she goes up to him.... "HEY! HEY! Don't pee on there. Don't pee on there! They will cut your penis!" Oh my goodness when she said that I burst out laughing and couldn't stop. I guess it just doesn't mean as much to them because it is in a different language but I was so shocked. I haven't heard that word in quite sometime. Hahah it was one of the funniest things. I told her that I would tell my family the story so mom and dad... you can tease her about it when you get here. She is funny and has a good sense of humor.

Sister Galabay, Me, Sister Morales & Sister Melosantos

So besides all of the craziness, of course missionary work has some sad and disappointing times. For example, I was on exchanges on Tuesday and we went to go teach this less-active who served a mission but now she is about 65 years old. Normally she will at least let us teach her but this time she wouldn't let us share with her, even the shortest 10 minute lesson. She said, "no sisters... the Holy Ghost isn't with me." We said, "Well, Sister Ellen! That's why we want to teach you.. so that you can feel the spirit." Then she said, "No. If the Holy Ghost isn't with me, it is better that way." When she said that I was so shocked.. How can someone who served a mission say things like this? But that is what happens when over time we slowly let go of the iron rod, stop doing the small little things that count, and one day we find ourselves so far off the path we don't have a desire to return. I was really sad but that is part of us having our agency. No matter what, Heavenly Father won't force us to choose the right, no matter how much he wants to be happy.

Then the next night, Sister Melosantos and I went to teach the Salvador family and we found Brother Gilbert sitting alone outside, smoking and drinking. So sad. I was sooo sad. But I know that it is just part of being a new member... even if you are baptized, it is still hard to change from old habits. But I walked away soo sad.

So the next night Sister Melosantos and I went and taught there family but we just went and approached it as if it was a brand new start. We just joked around with them and chatted with them for a while and then we gave a super cool lesson on faith. You could see the change in their hope and desire. Their two kids accepted to be baptized and Brother Gilbert said that he would quit smoking to make sure that he is worthy to baptize them. So we are really praying for them.

Sister Harding, Me & Sister Melosantos

And one un-expected new investigator... Sister Emy Diola. She is a widow and I actually met her with Sister Maagad but we were just now able to go back and teach her. She is sooo smiley and nice and just seems prepared for the gospel. She is Catholic but was saying how she knows it is wrong to have 'Santos' or graven images (which they worship in the catholic church) and is sort of searching for the truth. After our first lesson she came to church last Sunday and was actually there before us! It was awesome. I hope that she will get baptized on June 20th so you can witness one last baptism mom and dad!! haha it is possible.