Actually, this week has gone
really fast. I think probably due to the fact that I was sick for two
days last week. Probably the sickest I can remember being since the week
right before I reported--super high fever, headache, body aches,
nausea, the whole 9 yards. Turns out it's even worse when you don't have
a couch to lay on or a mother to take care of you. My companion, Sister
Rimano, is super sweet, and literally a lifesaver, but not quite
mother-level yet. ;) It was actually mostly frustrating because we were
scheduled to have our first exchanges on Thursday. So when I woke up
with an intense headache and low fever on Wednesday morning, we had to
decide whether to chance working, or staying home so I could recover to
work the next day. Well, we opted to let me take it easy, and by
Wednesday night I was feeling much better. We went to bed on time and
everything, but then I woke up a little before 4am on Thursday morning
with a spiking fever (like 103 degrees when we got around to taking my
temp), but too weak and in too much pain to do anything about it.
Luckily, Sister Rimano was able to wake up and get me medicine and help
me take it, as well as bringing me a wet handkerchief to help bring my
temp down. I was eventually able to fall asleep again and in the morning
we texted the Elders to come give me a blessing. I honestly was so
kawawa (pitiful). I was all tough and sat on our dining room chair for
the blessing, but then like two minutes after it finished, they were
standing talking (waiting for the rain to slow before they left) and I
just pathetically got off the chair and had to lay on the floor. I have
to say, though, the power of the Priesthood is SO REAL. And Heavenly
Father takes care of his missionaries! Sister Rimano had to go to the
mission office on Friday for an interview, so we really couldn't afford
for me to be sick another day. The Lord really came through, though, and
gave me the strength to be able to get up on Friday and even go work
for a couple hours before we had to commute to the city (which was
another thing I was worried about that He sustained me though).
Basically, I just have to testify that we really are just living life in
His hands. Or, if we aren't, we should be, because He is so much better
at working things out for us than if we try to do things on our own.
We had our first exchanges this week. One with
our kabahay, Sister Tipasa and Sister Tehei (I love them! They are such
great missionaries! I was actually super intimidated when we started our
joint companionship study and realized just how good of missionaries
they are and so hard-working) and another with sisters I don't know
quite as well. I was pretty nervous, actually and had to humble myself
and pray a lot to get over my own insecurities and remember that I am
just here as an instrument and representative for Jesus Christ--there's
no room for fear in stead of faith. It all ultimately turned out okay,
though, and I have been learning a lot about myself. One thing I have
been learning more than anything is true humility--literally begging the
Lord for help, recognizing that I can't do ANYTHING without Him. I seem
to be fine with all the theoretical leadership parts of being an STL,
but when it comes to actually working with the sisters, I'm just
like.....bah! :P It has been a great experience though, because I have
already learned that all I need to do is turn to the Lord and He is
right there. I've been praying for Charity, to be able to see these
wonderful sisters the way that He does, and to know how I can help them.
It is amazing how powerful it really is when we follow the counsel to
replace our fear with faith. There is so much available to us if we just
appeal to the Lord for it.
I'm basically out of time (I'm sorry!!!!). This week
has been good, though! Our area is doing alright, even though we
weren't able to work in it very much last week. Our 2 investigators with
a bap. date are doing well. The one is progressing really well and on
track (James, 19, boyfriend of a member/ward missionary. So golden!).
The other one is doing alright, but we are still working on an adult to
be his mentor (Joeferd, the son of less-active/part-member family. His
teenage sister is active but we aren't sure if it is enough because he
has missed a couple Sundays even when she came). Also, we found/ran
into/were contacted by a less-active returned missionary yesterday. I
will journal that story because it is so good! If I don't find time to
tell it next week, I'll tell you when I get home for sure. Anyhow, his
family aren't members, so we will be seeing them on Saturday and have
hope for them as well! Overall, things in our area are going well (sorry
I don't have time to tell you all the stories that I wish I could!
There are so many good ones from this week!!). Sorry this email has been
kind of dull (I'm a little worn out from our early morning temple
trip--though I know that is no excuse!). I promise I will send a better
one next week!
That is all for now. I love you, miss you, pray for you! Hope you have a great week!!
Love always,
Sister Emma Franks
Photo credits: Gladys Martinez
L to R: Sister Tehei, Sister Rimano, Roselyn (ward missionary reporting to Baguio mission this week), Sister Tipasa, me!
Us and the ward missionaries (and our ward mission leader on the far right) after missionary correlation last Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment