We thought wrong about not getting affected from the Earthquake! Our weather was so so SO intense this week. Im not joking... it rained non-stop from tuesday till saturday. And then it also rained sunday. And im not just talking a light rainfall... i mean BUCKETS! The entire Tacloban area was flooded. Even other areas in region 8 were bad. Mainly all the little areas around Tacloban were way bad though. I never knew what a flood meant until this week. Our area was the worst out of all the office areas. V&G is classic for flooding when we get lots of rain.. but that flood is like 2 or 3 inches in the road. By Wednesday night there was a foot of water in the road and the really bad part of V&G was 1 meter high! The highest the standing water reached was by Thursday morning. Even tho it continued to rain, the water slowly went down. Only the really bad parts are still a little flooded but those evacuated were able to move back in today. We had landslides in some areas too!... so many people were evacuated because of the flood. Our apartment owner said he was lived here for 7 years and there has never been standing water outside on the road. Outside our house there was almost a foot on thursday morning! Another lady in the ward said that this is the worst in 30 years! Only one other time it was high but not to the point of evacuation.
On wednesday night we decided to go contact an old investigator but soon found that God sent us in that direction for another purpose. We spent 30 minute helping our bishop and his family move mattresses and other belongings to the empty upstairs apartment that their house i attached to. When we got there the rain was only like a few inches outside and just starting to come into their house. The youngest boy was brushing it off the porch with a broom. After those 30 min the water was 2 inches throughout the entire house! It was rising SO fast! We were drenched and stopped by the Malits to get some hot water to wash our skin (cause there are diseases in standing water). We had no stove at that time to heat water cause we are still getting all moved in to the new apartment. They were so nice and fed us a yummy dinner and then drove us home (even tho we live down the street) By that time the water in the road had gone from 3 inches to 6!
The next days were crazy! We tramped through the flooded streets trying to help people. Sister Blonquist got some cute purple rain boots! None fit me... guess all the filipinos got to those sizes first.. hehe. On saturday we went around with members and delivered relief goods to families that were affected and needed help. It was awesome! I love helping people!
Sometimes riding on the pot2xs were like we were in a water park! It was super fun and all Sister Blonquist and i did was laugh! It was like we were in the ocean as we rode and walked around! Waves were created from the cars and other pot2xs. They even washed up on us a couple times and we got soaked! Sister Blonquist and I joked all week saying, "Hey!... its raining!"
Made enchaladas for lunch for all us missionaries in our ward... oh my... mmm, mmm, mmm... SO GOOD! It was a nice perk to the crazy week for us all!
Scripture of the week... Alma 37:38-47. this week i compared the Liahona to a patriarchal blessing... pretty cool!
Gugma gad!
Sister Carissa Jones
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
IM ALIVE!
Well i didnt say much last week so ill review...
It was transfer week and man was that crazy but exciting! Sister Blonquist and I are still together thankfully! We love each other... he. But with being in the office we got lots of calls and questions and were able to see how stressful it is for the assistants. Luckily we were able to help them chill out by helping to add a little humor to the stress :) We all get along so well. Sister Blonquist and I are always saying, "I hope that the elders have the same idea about us all being best friends after the mission!" haha. We love the elders. Such great examples they are to us!
I received great news when transfers were announced! Im gonna be a lola!! (which means the sister i trained is training!) My apo (grandchild) is filipina. Her name is Sister Manzano. Sister Larsen was freaking out when she was told she would be training. I called her and we talked and i told her that she was more than ready! We just talked earlier today too and she seems to be great! When you train you grow so much because you have a lot on your shoulders. Also, Heavenly Father is able to show you just how much you actually DO know that you didnt realize before. My most favorite text that i received from Sister Larsen this week was something like, "Sister Jones, thank you so much for being my nanay! Sorry i got frustrated when you would fall asleep during nightly planning sessions! I know how you feel now... its so exhausting!!" haha... oh i love the mission!
So this week...
#1... our investigator Joey is doing amazing! He came to church for the second time yesterday and loves it! We passed by on saturday morning and saw him our reading pamphlets and the Book of Mormon! There is no greater sight for a missionary! Sister Blonquist and I just looked at each other and smiled. We love Joey. He is so prepared and has such a great support system already. Being on a mission makes me want to be the best fellowshipper after the mission. All i want to do when i get home is work with the missionaries!! Joey is getting bapstized on April 2 and makes amazing progress at every visit! (we've only visited 4 times so far but it feels like we have known him for a lifetime!) People like Joey make the mission all worth it!!
#2... As for other investigators... we are meeting some interesting people. Most dont want to continue or are just too crazy to continue. There are so many stories but the best one from these past two weeks is we happened to meet two different men that voiced to us that they want 3 FAMILIES! The first said it in front of his wife in a lesson... she was disgusted but put up with it.We asked this man, before the prayer, what he wanted because we always do that so we can pray for those things that they want in their life. He straight up said, with no hesitation, "i want 3 families!, money, etc.." S. Blonquist then turns to me and whispers under her breath... "you're praying!" haha. I did but definately didnt ask Heavenly Father that this man could have 3 families.
During the lesson the man spoke english to us and kept standing up and pointing his finger at me and calling me a "he" while he was talking to S. Blonquist. (there is no gender difference in these languages so when they speak english they call girls "he" and boys "she".) He had something against me... maybe cause i stood up in the lesson and asked him to sit down cause we dont want to fight and when he stands its like we are fighting with each other. That wasnt a good idea... but S. Blonquist saved me... that is why there are two of us!
The next man was on a jeepney ride home... this ride lasted 30 min... What a LONG 30 min! First off, he kept going off about lots of things to us. Then we tried to calm it down by asking about his family, which just made things more crazy. He flat our said that one family is good, two families are better and three families are best!! We told him no and that is very very wrong but he was set on his idea. I thought actually he was going to kiss S. Blonquist, he was so close to her face. And as a missionary you just dont even know what to do... those situations are EXTRA AWKWARD!! But we made it out alive.
Sister Blonquist has a good theory... since we met two men in one week that want specifically 3 families. They have their one right... then these two beautiful americanas come in... and that makes 3! sick!
#3...This week was what we call "puntastic". We literally didnt teach once on thursday or friday cause we just kept getting punted! We werent happy but tried to stay positive... You can never give up! Cause the work is not yet done!!
#4...Guess what!? We got an apartment in Tacloban! We are so excited. It is brand new! And smell like new. Its like all fresh construction (so i think of Dad every time i walk in and smile!) We are moving in today actually so tonight will be the first night. YAY! Its literally down the block from the Malits and the mission office! We love it already!
It was transfer week and man was that crazy but exciting! Sister Blonquist and I are still together thankfully! We love each other... he. But with being in the office we got lots of calls and questions and were able to see how stressful it is for the assistants. Luckily we were able to help them chill out by helping to add a little humor to the stress :) We all get along so well. Sister Blonquist and I are always saying, "I hope that the elders have the same idea about us all being best friends after the mission!" haha. We love the elders. Such great examples they are to us!
I received great news when transfers were announced! Im gonna be a lola!! (which means the sister i trained is training!) My apo (grandchild) is filipina. Her name is Sister Manzano. Sister Larsen was freaking out when she was told she would be training. I called her and we talked and i told her that she was more than ready! We just talked earlier today too and she seems to be great! When you train you grow so much because you have a lot on your shoulders. Also, Heavenly Father is able to show you just how much you actually DO know that you didnt realize before. My most favorite text that i received from Sister Larsen this week was something like, "Sister Jones, thank you so much for being my nanay! Sorry i got frustrated when you would fall asleep during nightly planning sessions! I know how you feel now... its so exhausting!!" haha... oh i love the mission!
So this week...
#1... our investigator Joey is doing amazing! He came to church for the second time yesterday and loves it! We passed by on saturday morning and saw him our reading pamphlets and the Book of Mormon! There is no greater sight for a missionary! Sister Blonquist and I just looked at each other and smiled. We love Joey. He is so prepared and has such a great support system already. Being on a mission makes me want to be the best fellowshipper after the mission. All i want to do when i get home is work with the missionaries!! Joey is getting bapstized on April 2 and makes amazing progress at every visit! (we've only visited 4 times so far but it feels like we have known him for a lifetime!) People like Joey make the mission all worth it!!
#2... As for other investigators... we are meeting some interesting people. Most dont want to continue or are just too crazy to continue. There are so many stories but the best one from these past two weeks is we happened to meet two different men that voiced to us that they want 3 FAMILIES! The first said it in front of his wife in a lesson... she was disgusted but put up with it.We asked this man, before the prayer, what he wanted because we always do that so we can pray for those things that they want in their life. He straight up said, with no hesitation, "i want 3 families!, money, etc.." S. Blonquist then turns to me and whispers under her breath... "you're praying!" haha. I did but definately didnt ask Heavenly Father that this man could have 3 families.
During the lesson the man spoke english to us and kept standing up and pointing his finger at me and calling me a "he" while he was talking to S. Blonquist. (there is no gender difference in these languages so when they speak english they call girls "he" and boys "she".) He had something against me... maybe cause i stood up in the lesson and asked him to sit down cause we dont want to fight and when he stands its like we are fighting with each other. That wasnt a good idea... but S. Blonquist saved me... that is why there are two of us!
The next man was on a jeepney ride home... this ride lasted 30 min... What a LONG 30 min! First off, he kept going off about lots of things to us. Then we tried to calm it down by asking about his family, which just made things more crazy. He flat our said that one family is good, two families are better and three families are best!! We told him no and that is very very wrong but he was set on his idea. I thought actually he was going to kiss S. Blonquist, he was so close to her face. And as a missionary you just dont even know what to do... those situations are EXTRA AWKWARD!! But we made it out alive.
Sister Blonquist has a good theory... since we met two men in one week that want specifically 3 families. They have their one right... then these two beautiful americanas come in... and that makes 3! sick!
#3...This week was what we call "puntastic". We literally didnt teach once on thursday or friday cause we just kept getting punted! We werent happy but tried to stay positive... You can never give up! Cause the work is not yet done!!
#4...Guess what!? We got an apartment in Tacloban! We are so excited. It is brand new! And smell like new. Its like all fresh construction (so i think of Dad every time i walk in and smile!) We are moving in today actually so tonight will be the first night. YAY! Its literally down the block from the Malits and the mission office! We love it already!
Today we got the best pay back ever! We are always making the office elders treats and they are always like "we will get you back sisters!" And today was the day! They successfully pulled off the the ultimate mission. They made us PEACH COBBLER! They asked Sister Malit to use their oven in the mission home. They put it on our desk in the office and we were speechless! I cant even describe how yummy it was and how thankful we were! BEST DAY EVER!! (these elders know how to cook!!)... THANKS ELDER HAWKES and ELDER BINGHAM!!
#5...So the Earthquake and Tsunami...
The earthquake in Japan we here was huge! 8.2 or something yeah? There is a member in Japan that was from Albuera and i pray that she is ok and wasnt harmed! On friday we received a text from President Malit about the earthquake and that we were on a #2 tsunami alert. The tsunami was predicted to be 1 meter which could do some damage so he was keeping us updated along with all the other people on the streets. Luckily the tsunami never actually hit the Philippines so its ok! We just got buckets and buckets of rain! Like im not kidding, BUCKETS! Our whole area was flooded. We walked all day saturday in water up to our knees! Also the poor little pot2x drivers are pedaling their bikes and the pedals are under the water! Sister Blonquist and i decided that it was like being in a water park all day! haha! We got drenched but it was an unforgettable experience!
So im alive and very healthy so no need to worry! I love you all and hope you are all doing great! Pray for those people in japan, hawaii, and california.
Scripture of the week... Genesis 26: 6-10 (i think)... i got to explain the word "sporting" (vs. 8) to a filipino elder earlier today... haha
Mahal,
Sister Carissa Jones
#5...So the Earthquake and Tsunami...
The earthquake in Japan we here was huge! 8.2 or something yeah? There is a member in Japan that was from Albuera and i pray that she is ok and wasnt harmed! On friday we received a text from President Malit about the earthquake and that we were on a #2 tsunami alert. The tsunami was predicted to be 1 meter which could do some damage so he was keeping us updated along with all the other people on the streets. Luckily the tsunami never actually hit the Philippines so its ok! We just got buckets and buckets of rain! Like im not kidding, BUCKETS! Our whole area was flooded. We walked all day saturday in water up to our knees! Also the poor little pot2x drivers are pedaling their bikes and the pedals are under the water! Sister Blonquist and i decided that it was like being in a water park all day! haha! We got drenched but it was an unforgettable experience!
So im alive and very healthy so no need to worry! I love you all and hope you are all doing great! Pray for those people in japan, hawaii, and california.
Scripture of the week... Genesis 26: 6-10 (i think)... i got to explain the word "sporting" (vs. 8) to a filipino elder earlier today... haha
Mahal,
Sister Carissa Jones
February 28, 2011
Is there something faster than flying? cause whatever that is, that is what is happening to the time on the mission! WOW!
This week was AMAZING! Really busy.. of course but nothing is better than being busy busy busy as a missionaryo! We travelled and did more training and then worked with 3 different companionships. Its so great to work with the other sisters and learn from them. I learn so much about the work too cause the Spirit is different depending on how the work is being done and is really felt. I got to work with Sister Laddaran from Hong Kong... well she was born in the Philippines, then lived in Paris then worked teaching english in Japan and Hong Kong and some other places. She arrive two weeks ago but is such a great missionary! I love when you meet people on the mission and you just click (other missionaries or just anyone). Sister Blonquist and i were talking about this and what a blessing it is to be here and serve here. The mission is full of tender mercies from the Lord as He allows us to be reunited with our friends from the life before. I feel my Savior's love!
We actually got to do some tracting and work in Tacloban this week!!! YAY! Sister Blonquist and i were beyond stoked... you have no idea! We were probably the two happiest people in the world. I love love love being a missionary! Sometimes during lessons ill just get this thot like, "MAN... you LOVE this! This feels so good!"
Sister Blonquist and i literally have the same brain... its insane. We always will turn to the other person to say something... always seems to start as a question tho to like lead into what you want to talk about (its a missionary habit) but as soon as you ask the question the other will be like, umm yay... blah blah blah... and its exactly what the other was thinking. We laugh so hard all the time about how we are always on the same page! Like even random stuff like riding on the jeepney and asking, "So what do you think about so and so" and then the other saying, "i was JUST thinking that!" Or "I just figured out why i came to the Philippines!" and then the other person says the exact reason cause you just noticed the same thing happen! I just love her! We have a blast! Heavenly Father loves us too! an extra funny... Sister Blonquist spent 30 min of MCM picking lice eggs out of my hair!... oh yeah, mom... i have lice! eww
Scripture of the week 2 Nephi 32. Its been used a lot this week to help the people we taught! Such a short chapter but so full of great information if you take the time to study!
I love you all so much!!
Gugma
Sister Carissa Jones
This week was AMAZING! Really busy.. of course but nothing is better than being busy busy busy as a missionaryo! We travelled and did more training and then worked with 3 different companionships. Its so great to work with the other sisters and learn from them. I learn so much about the work too cause the Spirit is different depending on how the work is being done and is really felt. I got to work with Sister Laddaran from Hong Kong... well she was born in the Philippines, then lived in Paris then worked teaching english in Japan and Hong Kong and some other places. She arrive two weeks ago but is such a great missionary! I love when you meet people on the mission and you just click (other missionaries or just anyone). Sister Blonquist and i were talking about this and what a blessing it is to be here and serve here. The mission is full of tender mercies from the Lord as He allows us to be reunited with our friends from the life before. I feel my Savior's love!
We actually got to do some tracting and work in Tacloban this week!!! YAY! Sister Blonquist and i were beyond stoked... you have no idea! We were probably the two happiest people in the world. I love love love being a missionary! Sometimes during lessons ill just get this thot like, "MAN... you LOVE this! This feels so good!"
Sister Blonquist and i literally have the same brain... its insane. We always will turn to the other person to say something... always seems to start as a question tho to like lead into what you want to talk about (its a missionary habit) but as soon as you ask the question the other will be like, umm yay... blah blah blah... and its exactly what the other was thinking. We laugh so hard all the time about how we are always on the same page! Like even random stuff like riding on the jeepney and asking, "So what do you think about so and so" and then the other saying, "i was JUST thinking that!" Or "I just figured out why i came to the Philippines!" and then the other person says the exact reason cause you just noticed the same thing happen! I just love her! We have a blast! Heavenly Father loves us too! an extra funny... Sister Blonquist spent 30 min of MCM picking lice eggs out of my hair!... oh yeah, mom... i have lice! eww
Scripture of the week 2 Nephi 32. Its been used a lot this week to help the people we taught! Such a short chapter but so full of great information if you take the time to study!
I love you all so much!!
Gugma
Sister Carissa Jones
Monday, February 21, 2011
February 21, 2011
This week was amazingly fun and crazy!
I got to go back to my old area and work and see a baptism of 4 people that i started teaching! I met a really cool guy on a bus and taught him as we rode and gave him the elders number where he lives. He text them the next day and told the elders that he met us and wants to join our faith! WOW cool!! On the ride back to Tacloban i stopped and held the bus cause i had to get off and go to the bathroom! I was praying SO hard cause i had to go SO bad! The bus came to a stop so i immediately asked to get off and pee... I ran to a random house and paid him 5 pisos to use his CR (bathroom). It was a little creepy cause it was a dark alley thingy and my comp was still on the bus but both of our prayers kept us safe! hehe. We gave a few trainings at zone conference and i was drugged on benadryl for one! I didnt realize that it made you sleepy when Sister Schneider gave it to me that morning!! I literally fell asleep as i was talking as Sister Blonquist and I were preparing for the training! All we could do was laugh about the situation! Please pray for us to find an apartment cause we still havent. We are just continuing in faith. That is faith... taking a few steps in the dark, showing Heavenly Father that you trust Him... then after those few steps of faith He will take your hand and guide you!
Scripture of the week... Alma 30. Read it this morning and remembered how much i love it! All things denote there is a God and we all have always known that there is a God!
Love you!
Gugma Hinduru
Sister Jones
I got to go back to my old area and work and see a baptism of 4 people that i started teaching! I met a really cool guy on a bus and taught him as we rode and gave him the elders number where he lives. He text them the next day and told the elders that he met us and wants to join our faith! WOW cool!! On the ride back to Tacloban i stopped and held the bus cause i had to get off and go to the bathroom! I was praying SO hard cause i had to go SO bad! The bus came to a stop so i immediately asked to get off and pee... I ran to a random house and paid him 5 pisos to use his CR (bathroom). It was a little creepy cause it was a dark alley thingy and my comp was still on the bus but both of our prayers kept us safe! hehe. We gave a few trainings at zone conference and i was drugged on benadryl for one! I didnt realize that it made you sleepy when Sister Schneider gave it to me that morning!! I literally fell asleep as i was talking as Sister Blonquist and I were preparing for the training! All we could do was laugh about the situation! Please pray for us to find an apartment cause we still havent. We are just continuing in faith. That is faith... taking a few steps in the dark, showing Heavenly Father that you trust Him... then after those few steps of faith He will take your hand and guide you!
Scripture of the week... Alma 30. Read it this morning and remembered how much i love it! All things denote there is a God and we all have always known that there is a God!
Love you!
Gugma Hinduru
Sister Jones
Valentine's Day 2011
Well hello and i send my love to you all on this very happy valentines day! On the way walking to the internet shop a little ADORABLE girl was walking too and said quietly but sincerely, "You are very beautiful." It was SO cute so i of course told her she was too cause she was! and gave her a little heart balloon from Shakeys Pizza restaurant we had just ate at and told her happy valentines day. I just love people in the Philippines! Sometimes they are very blunt and its not too nice but times like this, its nice... haha.
This week was another week of crazy travel! But OH SO FUN! We worked in 3 different areas. Tanauan (which is where we live currently), Sogod, and last Hilongos. All the sisters were super awesome! I had amazing, spiritual experiences in each companion exchange. I feel like the most blessed sister missionary ever! By the end of the travels we were very exhausted. Luckily the Elder Assistants were in the same zone we were on saturday so we were able to ride in a nice air con car on the way home to Tacloban. Not that i enjoyed the air con myself.. i curled up in my malong but Sister Blonquist was excited so we were both happy. We hit a dog on the ride home... Elder Cabrera really tried not to hit it but it ran right into us. He got up and ran to the side with his leg up and about 5 dogs ran up to him. It was like they were saying, "Dude! you ok man? That was insane!... you just got hit!"
Upon arriving home i found that my leg was starting to swell and hurt pretty bad. We attended a baptism in our ward from the elders (there are 8 missionaries in our ward). And by the end of the baptism my leg was throbbing and and i could hardly walk! The office elders drove us home thankfully and i soaked it in hot water... it felt like boiling lava hot but im sure it was pretty normal to you all. My skin just isnt use to it anymore. On Sunday i could hardly walk but i managed and i can walk today. Its still really swollen... as in like nasty cankle going on but hopefully its not permanent... haha. Another ridiculous thing that happened in the category of swelling is this morning i wake up at 330 to do my laba (washing) and the left side of my top lip is swollen! After discussing it with Sister Blonquist we decided that it was a tiki kiss (which is like these little lizards that run around everywhere!) This same swelling lip thing happened to Sister Christianson two weeks ago and almost every night i wake up in crazy itch attacks! But then i have no bug bites. So the conclusion is that the mga tiki just crawl on me and then one decided to kiss me last night. Its pretty legit... i mean it is Valentines day!
Ok so we are on a great search for an apartment so PLEASE pray that we can find one in Tacloban for us sisters cause we dont want to transfer! This week we had so many brownouts! Last week we had one for 48 hours (sat thru mon) and then on sunday we had one in Tacloban so church was fun. The generator kept the lights on but no air con... oh i was in heaven with just the open windows but the other missionaries werent so much happy! haha. Im turning into such a filipina and i LOVE IT! I take that as such a compliment when people tell me that.
Last night was a fun experience... We were out of support and literally didnt have enough to get home from our apartment. We were short about 15 pisos. So... we are searching in all the corners of our bags to find extra changes. This is why we should always have 1000 pisos on us as a reserve fund... oops. But not really oops casue because a tender mercy of the Lord i remembered that last week i had put 1000 pisos in my journal which was in my bag. Oh what a blessing!
So on the spiritual side. I had some amazing experiences this week. The first one is a monumental moment of my mission for sure. As we were teaching this returning member family the Spirit was so strong. I asked them inspired questions, guided by the Spirit so that they were actually able to teach themselves and the Spirit was able to witness to them. The room was full of tears and as Sis. Schneider (my comp at the time) was talking i received the strongest witness from the Lord that this is true. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth and i am a true representative of Jesus Christ Himself! This is something i could never deny. I love Heavenly Father and the love that He has for me and all His children!
Another experience was helping a investigator realize that she is more than ready for baptism! She doesnt need to wait anymore and she now knows that in her heart! I used the Book of Mormon. She bore her strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and how she knows that if she has a question she can read that book and find all answers!! It was stronger than most member testimonies of the Book of Mormon!! She was kinda looking for a sign to know she was ready... As i ask questions and taught from the Book of Mormon it gave her the opportunity to bear her testimony which then, thru the Spirit, i was able to know that the answer that Heavenly Father had given her was the Book of Mormon! I was able to tell her that and then everything made sense to her. The light in her eyes was the best and the witness i personally gained was unforgettable!
Well the scripture of the week would have to be Mosiah 4:27. With the craziness of our assignment right now i have to remind myself of this simple truth! Remembering that as long as i have the Spirit and am diligent i will accomplish all that the Lord wants done, even if i may think that i didnt get done everything i thot needed to get done. This is His work... not mine.
I love you all so much and pray for you daily!
Gugma Gad,
Sister Carissa Jones
Monday, February 7, 2011
The wonderful life of a missionary! Feb. 7th 2011
Musta!
Every week is so busy, i dont even know where to begin! Bottom line... life is great and i love being a missionary!
Sister Blonquist and I continue to enjoy being in the office... especially S. Blonquist with the air con.. hehe. The elders arent tired of us yet... probably because we try to keep them fat with yummy snacks. This week we successfully made rice crispy treats! what an achievement! whoot whoot!! We werent in the office too much because we did lots of traveling to work with the sisters in other areas.
First we working in Dagami, which is close to Tacloban. We worked with Sister Brinton and Sister Dustin. Both are amazing missionaries and we had SO much fun. Sister Blonquist has been companions with them both and Dagami was her old area.
Next destination was to Mondragon, which is at the top of Samar! WOW! What a great experience. This is the only sister area in Samar and just recently got opened. We didnt think we would ever be able to be in Samar but look how the Lord blesses us! It was a long ride but it was fun. We rode with the Assistants (Elder Cabrera and Elder Hawkes). And also had one other elder, Elder Bowman, part of the way. We bought lots of snacks for the trip! We had a few set backs so we didnt get out until late and we finally arrived in Mondragon at 11:30 p.m. The sisters up there were amazing. Both filipinas, Sister Ponte and Sister Escanan. It rained the entire day we were there and i gave my umbrella to Sister Blonquist cause at least i had a rain coat... Well thats what i thot! Turns out that if you are in heavy rain for a long time the wettness starts to leak thru and your clothes get drenched! Oh well... sacrifice is where its at! The waray ive been learning is different from the waray there so it was fun to learn a new waray for a couple days! It was so beautiful up there and we were like right on the ocean! The waves were going every direction... a really interesting but cool sight to see.
We road back with President Malit, which was so amazing! We had 5 hours to be with our mission president and ask him anything... of course the first thing we ask was, "what's your favorite food?" hehe. It turned into a great spiritual experience and i gained some answers and assurances that i had been looking for.
On saturday we had a baptism! Two little girls. Their father is a member who isnt active. Their grandma is active and has been bringing them to church for years but the parents wouldnt allow them to be baptized until just recently. We were blessed to be able to teach them and be apart of their special day! They were so cute and gave the sweetest, pure testimonies. We visited them on Sunday and they said they felt so good at the baptism that they wanted to be baptized every week (you can thru the sacrament... how cool is that!) They also said that they wanted us to visit every day! Oh how we wish we could but we will be all over Leyte this week!
So today we were practicing teaching (Sis. Blonquist and I) and we didnt feel like talking to the wall so we pulled out a picture of you Andrew and we taught you... it was a pretty saweet lesson... im pretty sure you loved it and wanted to be baptized.. hehe.
I just love how much i am growing. I learn so much every week i wish i could convey it all to you. Ill try to organize my thots better so i can make my emails more spiritual. I cant even explain how different i am spiritually. It has changed me for the better and i thank Heavenly Father daily for it! I LOVE being a missionary!
Scripture of the week... So i was reading today and just really liked this scripture. My favorite Christlike attribute on my mission has been hope... so with that... I was reading in Alma about when Aaron teaches the king (Lamoni's father).. great story!... ok so the scripture of the week is Alma 22:15-16. Let us ask ourselves as well... Are we willing to give up everything to receive this eternal joy? Are we willing to give up temporal things to have eternal things? Then are we willing to have faith=act so that we can gain the hope=assurity that we will receive the promised blessings.
Cge. Do you all know how much i love you!!? Its a lot!!
Gugma gad!
Sister Carissa Jones
Every week is so busy, i dont even know where to begin! Bottom line... life is great and i love being a missionary!
Sister Blonquist and I continue to enjoy being in the office... especially S. Blonquist with the air con.. hehe. The elders arent tired of us yet... probably because we try to keep them fat with yummy snacks. This week we successfully made rice crispy treats! what an achievement! whoot whoot!! We werent in the office too much because we did lots of traveling to work with the sisters in other areas.
First we working in Dagami, which is close to Tacloban. We worked with Sister Brinton and Sister Dustin. Both are amazing missionaries and we had SO much fun. Sister Blonquist has been companions with them both and Dagami was her old area.
Next destination was to Mondragon, which is at the top of Samar! WOW! What a great experience. This is the only sister area in Samar and just recently got opened. We didnt think we would ever be able to be in Samar but look how the Lord blesses us! It was a long ride but it was fun. We rode with the Assistants (Elder Cabrera and Elder Hawkes). And also had one other elder, Elder Bowman, part of the way. We bought lots of snacks for the trip! We had a few set backs so we didnt get out until late and we finally arrived in Mondragon at 11:30 p.m. The sisters up there were amazing. Both filipinas, Sister Ponte and Sister Escanan. It rained the entire day we were there and i gave my umbrella to Sister Blonquist cause at least i had a rain coat... Well thats what i thot! Turns out that if you are in heavy rain for a long time the wettness starts to leak thru and your clothes get drenched! Oh well... sacrifice is where its at! The waray ive been learning is different from the waray there so it was fun to learn a new waray for a couple days! It was so beautiful up there and we were like right on the ocean! The waves were going every direction... a really interesting but cool sight to see.
We road back with President Malit, which was so amazing! We had 5 hours to be with our mission president and ask him anything... of course the first thing we ask was, "what's your favorite food?" hehe. It turned into a great spiritual experience and i gained some answers and assurances that i had been looking for.
On saturday we had a baptism! Two little girls. Their father is a member who isnt active. Their grandma is active and has been bringing them to church for years but the parents wouldnt allow them to be baptized until just recently. We were blessed to be able to teach them and be apart of their special day! They were so cute and gave the sweetest, pure testimonies. We visited them on Sunday and they said they felt so good at the baptism that they wanted to be baptized every week (you can thru the sacrament... how cool is that!) They also said that they wanted us to visit every day! Oh how we wish we could but we will be all over Leyte this week!
So today we were practicing teaching (Sis. Blonquist and I) and we didnt feel like talking to the wall so we pulled out a picture of you Andrew and we taught you... it was a pretty saweet lesson... im pretty sure you loved it and wanted to be baptized.. hehe.
I just love how much i am growing. I learn so much every week i wish i could convey it all to you. Ill try to organize my thots better so i can make my emails more spiritual. I cant even explain how different i am spiritually. It has changed me for the better and i thank Heavenly Father daily for it! I LOVE being a missionary!
Scripture of the week... So i was reading today and just really liked this scripture. My favorite Christlike attribute on my mission has been hope... so with that... I was reading in Alma about when Aaron teaches the king (Lamoni's father).. great story!... ok so the scripture of the week is Alma 22:15-16. Let us ask ourselves as well... Are we willing to give up everything to receive this eternal joy? Are we willing to give up temporal things to have eternal things? Then are we willing to have faith=act so that we can gain the hope=assurity that we will receive the promised blessings.
Cge. Do you all know how much i love you!!? Its a lot!!
Gugma gad!
Sister Carissa Jones
Thursday, February 3, 2011
February 3, 2011
Just want to apologize for being such a slacker at keeping this blog up to date. I have a goal to be better. We had a great Wedding (Andrew and Stacey) December 21st and then Mark and I went on an amazing cruise to the Caribbean last month. I am now back to reality and the cold weather. We love hearing from Carissa and as you will read she is having an amazing time and does not want to come home but will in July sometime. YEA for us!
Love, Lynette
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