EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello mommaaaaaa!!!!!!Hello My FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!!!!! :)
I totally love Sister Roncal. She has such a desire to be good and we
are on the same page with everything--and when we aren’t, it'll take us
about 5 minutes to figure out what the other person is trying to say
in Tagalog or in English, and everything's fine. She is quick moving,
clean, helpful, and so humble and willing to learn. I am learning so
much from her that way. She served as a part time missionary before,
so the training part of my time this cycle really is more of an
internal struggle than anything--figuring out what she could possibly
learn from me. President told me that she just needs someone to help
her teach by the spirit--so I am doing my best to keep our
companionship a divine one, and listen to my own promptings, and
discernments. Sister Roncal came basically pre-trained and full of
fire. We ended the week with 11 investigators who have accepted
baptismal dates.
One day was full of just talking to people in a neighborhood here
called Osmena. And it turned out to be "less-active finding day." We
had BBQ chicken at LEAH's, and a skinny woman with hair down to her
back asked us if we were Mormon. When we said yes, she told us that
she was also a member. Something I've noticed here is that even though
people stop coming to church, there's still a sense of pride found in
being a member--enough to say, "Hey, I'm a member." We took down her
information, and scheduled to share with her next Sunday when she is
available.
Later in the day we went back to contact a previous OYM of ours, Mina.
When we sat down with her, we started talking about Joseph Smith and
she mentioned casually that she was baptized about 12 years ago when
she was really young--she didn't remember anything about the church.
We sat outside of their old, wooden two-story as we shared, and I kept
hearing something up above us to the left--like faint stomping and
thumping on the wood paneling. I thought maybe it was the people
inside, until I heard a squeak from a gaping hole in the ceiling. I
secretly glanced over once to see what it was, but there was nothing.
A few minutes later, in the middle of my testimony, I heard a loud
thump and slap and looked over and saw a RAT, THE SIZE OF A SMALL DOG
flop onto the pavement and run into the house. EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I was
speechless for about 2 seconds, I think I also maybe gasped quietly,
but really wanted to scream and throw up...
Another woman we taught that day said that her husband was a
less-active member.
What else...what else...
There is a young returned missionary couple here, the Go's, who gave
Sister Roncal and I a referral--Jonathan Passion. We spent 1/2 of a
morning just asking people if they knew a Jonathan Passion and where
he lived, but no one knew. Finally, after asking and asking, we
discovered his name was Nelson and what he did for a living and where
he lived and what time he'd be home. We returned at the time we were
told, and he came out to see us. He told us he wanted to know how to
become a member, and we taught him his first lesson that night in the
Go family home. He shared so much with us about his life, we gave him
a brief-spirit-directed overview of the Restoration, and he accepted a
baptismal date before we could even get the question out. He came to
church two days later.
There are people here who are ready.
We've been looking for a new apartment to live in, because the one we
are in is SO LOUD in the mornings and all throughout the night. There
are about 15 dogs in our surrounding premises and every night and
morning and daytime and mealtime and shower time and study time and
washing the dishes time and whenever, they bark. One misfires, and the
rest go off. On top of the dogs, there are drunk men next door every
night, a bombay who lives in the back of our compound whose kinda
creepy, and motors. This morning I woke up to dogs, motors, and
someone playing a xylophone? It was 6:00am. The elders found us an
apartment, and Sister Roncal and I went to look at it...well...lets
just say...I was reminded of the time Pop found that house on
Amarillo? The roof was tin, and there were gaps between the roof and
cement cinderblocks, so any critters or bird or mosquitos could come
in. The downstairs was tiled nice, but the upstairs was all wood and I
could see where the mice had chewed their little holes. ek! Also,
there were black and white photos of some old Filipino man everywhere
and Sister Roncal and I held on to each other and squealed as we
talked about there being a potential ghost...we're still looking for
an apartment...
I got a package from Sarah Roughton!!!! Sweetheart! She sent me
fruit snacks and thin mints (I made cookies and ice cream for the
elders and stuck some thin mints in it for them. I learned how to make
ice cream from Elder Apin. :) ) and a cd that she burned. The cd has beautiful songs. Please tell her that I am so sosososo grateful!
Also! I got a letter from Mallorie Lamb. Remember her?! She is waiting
for her call right now...maybe she even has it by now? When you find
out via facebook or something, will you let me know?! I am so happy
for her and excited!!!
OMG MOM. Please squeeze Alainna SO HARD for me when you see her and
kiss her face and head and pinch her bum. She is so sososososososososoos loved by me!!! TellMichelle I love her, and think of her often. Thank her for all her support and prayers. Give her a big kiss and hug for me.
You know, you can attach pictures to your email to me? I don’t have ANY
pictures of my family here. Sad:( Pictures PLEASE, if you all get a chance ;)
My english is getting so terrible, momma. Every time I see the older
Sisters and Elders from America that only speak English, I get
confused about what words to use. I hope that I won’t be too weird when I get
home:/
Today, is my 8 month anniversary!!!!! Of being on my mission. Next
month, I am half-way. Can you believe it? For my anniversary, Sister
Roncal and I are teaching a lesson, OYMing, and putting on an FHE. Hah.
How are things going with Pop? Tell him I love him.
We get to see General Conference this upcoming weekend.
I can't attach pictures cause there is no memory card reader at this shop. Blah.
Anyways, thats all I can think of. And I am out of time. We are working hard.
I love you all soooo much! All my FAMILY and FRIENDS :) Thank you all for helping me and being such a great support to me on my mission. I feel your prayers and love you all for thinking of me and giving me the strength I need. I love you my GRANDMA, kisses and hugs sent to you!! Give all my little babies and Brother's and Sister's hugs and kisses from me.
Love you so much my Momma and Pop!!!!
Your bebe,
Sister Fort