Moments

Maupay na Aga ha iyo ngatanan. 

Kamusta Kam? 

These last two weeks have been busy. Last Monday we had a Zone Activity in Tacloban! It was combined with Tolosa Zone and Carigara Zone so we got to see a lot of missionaries and friends. We played missionary tag then went outside and played basketball and volleyball. It was a lot of fun and reminded me of the MTC days. 

Then this past week we had 3 FHE's and 2 of them were surprise birthday parties! They were so fun. The first FHE's here in Tanauan and all in one week! Oh by the way, this coming Wednesday is Transfer day!! I have no idea what will happen and will not know until Tuesday, but I am pretty sure Sister Esekia and I are splitting! Which will be sad. We have come a really far way and I'm going to miss her. 

Friday I learned how to play a Filipino game, Sepa! You hit a little coin thing as many times as you can then kick it. I asked these two little girls who are part-member investigators what their favorite game was, then asked them to teach me. All the little kids in the neighborhood gathered around and we played. haha They were going crazy. It was so fun. 

Sunday, Sister Esekia gave a short talk because it is probably her last, then we had a musical number!! I played the uke and the two of us sang the song "How Can I Be." It reminded me of Girl's Camp days and EFY when we would sing it. haha I was so nervous and was pretty shaky as we started, but once we got into the chorus I calmed down and it went well. 

In the last two weeks I have also caught 9 mice by chasing them down with a plastic bag around my hand. . . . the mission really does prepare for life.

This morning we woke up at 3:30 and went hiking! It was so pretty. It ended up raining on our way back down so we all got wet, but it was still a lot of fun!  

Sorry no update last week, but I am still alive and kicking. :) Loving missionary life. I'm in denial of how little time I have left. Just trying to take it one day at a time and really appreciate the little things. Even though we have so many stresses in our day to day lives, one of our main purposes in life is to be happy, and happiness does not equal fun. Happiness is peace and joy from knowing you are doing the right thing. 

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/moments-that-matter-most-2

Hope you all are doing well. Keep on keepin' on! Hinay!

Sister Healey

Playing with the neighborhood children

FHE birthday party

Another FHE birthday party

Catching mice

Views from early morning hike

Views from early morning hike

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

Maupay na Aga! 

Kamusta man kam? Sorry no update last week. I was too busy skyping my family for mother's day!! This last Monday was election day here in the Philippines so it was super busy. It was dangerous to work so we stayed home most of the day, (except to skype). It was so good to see them and hear their voices. It is so funny. One of the first things they told me was that I have a Polynesian accent. I think they have accents! It's so fun to hear them pronounce Filipino words and things. :)  After all it's more fun in the Philippines. ;) 

We had a ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) this past week and we had Stake Conference. Recently Sister Esekia and I have been really focusing on finding Less Active families and members. It has been so fun meeting all of these amazing people and doing all we can to love and serve them.

Yesterday when we were walking down the highway at night because there were no service cars or pedicabs, we passed this little house and a little girl was out fetching water. She saw us and just came and hugged me then went back to fetch more water. It was so random. But sweet. haha The filipino kids love foreigners. They always yell out to me and practice their English or "He Joe!" or "Americana, Americana!" There is never a boring day here. 

We had a CSP (Community Service Project) in one of the Barangays (kind of like a big neighborhood). It was SO hot. But we wore the yellow Mormon Helping Hands pennys and picked up garbage around the Barangay Hall and playground. It was so fun and one old tatay that lives there was yelling at all the other people that live there passing by, "Why don't you help?! You live here! They have people not from here cleaning up your garbage!" Then he said something about some of us members cleaning being from Africa. haha It was so funny. 

I love missionary work and doing service. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." Right? :) So lets all look for opportunities in our day to day lives to serve. I heard a quote the other day from a Quorum of the Seventy, that I really like. "Happiness does not mean fun. It is peace and joy from knowing you are doing the right thing." 

I know that is true and that true happiness in life comes from following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-05-21-hope-ya-know-we-had-a-hard-time?lang=eng

I love you all. I hope you had a good week. :) Take care always. 

Sister Healey

Sister Esekia and Sister Healey

Helping Hands Service Project

9 Months na. Half way X(

Maupay na Aga! 

Kamusta kamo?! We are finally starting to get better! Hopefully we will return to the work this week. (I'm so sick of sitting at home) Sister Esekia and I are doing great! This past week I lost my voice, but the few days we did work, we saw some miracles. 

This one cool experience was, we were waiting on a Tricycle (A motorcycle with a big side cart for passengers) to go out to a far area and as we waited, I started talking to this lady next to me. One thing led to the next and she asked, "How does someone become Mormon?" and it was like "ding ding ding! Correct question!!" Missionaries love that question. Right then right there, even as we were squished in this little cart, surrounded by people, needing to shout because of the wind, I taught her the first lesson. When she got off the tricycle she gave us her number. The next morning we went and taught her and she cried as we all felt the Holy Ghost testify of the truth. Her name is Cherry. It just goes to show that we don't know who will receive the message. Who is ready. 

Our job as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to open our mouths at all times and in all places. Sharing the good news of the restored gospel. The Lord is preparing those ready and willing. We just have to find them. You never know. Just get out there and "swing" It doesn't matter if you are rejected. What matters is that you tried. 

As for the rest of my week: 

I killed a gigantic spider in our bathroom. 

My Hawaiian housemate taught me to play the ukulele. 

I got a little more updated in my journal. 

I went to a funeral and helped dress the dead person for burial. 

Iton la. I'm still alive and kicking and loving serving the Lord. 

As for all of you, why don't you ask yourself. "What more can I do?" Or as the Apostle said, "What lack I yet?" 

I ask myself that everyday. Let's all continue to improve and become more Christ-like. 

I love you all! Take care! And happy mother's day next Sunday to all of you mother figures in the world. :) 

Sister Healey

P.S. That spider is holding a dead cockroach. 

The gigantic spider in the bathroom!