Happy TRANSFERS!!!
It is so
hard to believe that it is transfer week already!! The last 6 weeks
have gone by SO fast!! I have loved every moment, though. :) My
experience here in Taytay is one that I hope never to forget. The people
here are so incredible! And I have witnessed so many miracles in just
the short time I have been here. It is a little hard to believe, but my
time in Taytay is already up! I was informed on Sunday evening that I
will be going BACK TO ANTIPOLO (the first place I served)!! Not to San
Isidro or Cogeo Zone, but back to Antipolo City at least. I am a little
nervous, but excited too. My new companion is my current companion's old
companion (haha that just sounds complicated!), and S. Morrell loved
her, so I am sure I will too. :) There is a story that goes along with
all of this though.
Firstly, just a quick sidenote. I have been starting
to recognize a lot of changes that have taken place in my attitude the
past two transfers. I never thought I would get to this point, but I
think I can honestly say I finally feel like a missionary. My
thoughts/desires/priorities have somehow all become centered on our
investigators and less-actives and the ward. My goal this transfer was
to focus on using time more effectively, and as a result, my perspective
on the way we spend our time here as missionaries has completely turned
around. Instead of viewing our proselyting time as a kind of "shift"
that we have to spend away from our house, it just feels like doing what
you are supposed to be doing. And not just that, but the most fun and
rewarding thing to do! Yes, there are still difficult days, but the
temptation to do anything else besides finding and teaching people the
Gospel of Jesus Christ has basically faded away. Of course I am still a
long way from perfect, and it's sad that it has taken me a whole year to
get to this point, but I am glad at least that the last 6 months I will
be able to say I have definitely given 100% to this work, and to the
Lord. Okay--tangent over.
So anyhow, Sunday was a crazy day. We had a baptism
after church (Jhey-ar, the best friend of our recent convert, John
Michael), which was so good. It was awesome having it after church
because there was SO MUCH MEMBER SUPPORT. And Jhey-ar is honestly just
amazing. Multiple members commented at the baptism that they were
surprised to find out he wasn't a member yet, because he has been so
involved in the ward activities the past couple of months (literally
since he started investigating), including going with the Elders Quorum
to visit less-active members! Both he and John Michael are going to make
great missionaries someday (Jhey-ar is 20, John Michael is 19)--they
are already so good at sharing the Gospel and their testimonies in a
very natural, casual way.
So anyway, after the baptism and lunch, went to find a less active
and his family (which turned out not to be a less-active at all, but
actually just a long-time former investigator), and then went to meet
the girls who wanted to work with us, so we could split. So far so good,
nothing to out-of-the-ordinary. THEN we get to the place we were going
to meet the girls and find out there are actually ELEVEN youth and YSAs
that want to work with us!! It's an understatement to say we were a
little overwhelmed. Sister Morrell and I had a quick planning session
and decided to go ahead and split and each take half. That was the start
of the craziness. It worked out okay in the end (at least my "team"),
but since none of them are actually ward missionaries, they can only
bear testimony, so every lesson was pretty much just Sister Franks
sharing a spiritual thought followed by a brief testimony meeting by the
5 of them. We had one lesson, though, with the sister of another recent
convert (Lordrine). Lordine, as part of the lesson and one of the YSAs
working with me, shared his testimony and the blessings that have come
from the Gospel and how he really wants it for the rest of his family.
It was such a sincere and tender moment to hear him being so open and
honest with his sister, and to see how he just genuinely wants to help
her. John Michael was also with us, and he just shared a simple
heartfelt testimony in response to Lordrine about how he can relate (his
family are less-active, and he wants them to be a part of the Church
too), and how they both just need to keep pressing on and setting the
example and doing what they can to help their families. It was so
powerful, the Spirit was so strong. It is amazing to see the bonding
that has taken place among the YSAs in the ward here in Taytay. They are
forming such a solid support group for one another--I just can't help
but smile every time I see them together. :)
Anyhow, we got back on Sunday night and Sister Morrell and I were
caught up in conversation about our day and the different families we
had been able to see and how the lessons went, etc., when we get a text
from President Revillo saying "please text me when you get home." I
quickly responded that we were home, and then we just sat on the kitchen
floor, waiting. Both Sister Morrell and I knew what was happening,
because you only get a call from President if you are going to be
Emergency Transferred, or if you are going to be given a leadership
assignment. I remembered my second transfer, when Sister Campbell got
called about being made STL (Sister Training Leader), and knew somehow
that that was going to be happening to me. It seemed really illogical,
because I just got here to Taytay, but the Spirit has kind of been
telling me all week that I should be prepared for this, and I actually
prayed as part of my fast that I would be ready if it did happen. So
after the longest half hour of my life, he finally called and we had the
most awkward 5 minute conversation (I don't know why but I am so
awkward with President Revillo, and then add on top of that my regular
phone-awkwardness...it was pretty entertaining), and he informed me I
will be transferring and serving as an STL in Antipolo.
I still have really mixed feelings about the whole thing. I'm
excited, of course, for all that I will learn from these new
experiences, and most of all for the chance to give back and serve my
fellow sisters (I have really loved and learned a lot from the STLs that
I have been able to work with so far on this mission), but also REALLY
nervous! Like, way more so than in the MTC, because none of that really
felt real. And I was thinking this morning about what kind of STL I want
to be (thinking of all the sisters I know that served as STL) when the
thought came to me "you aren't supposed to be any of them. The Lord
wants YOU." and that kind of intimidates me. But all in all, it will be
an adventure and I am sure I will have lots more stories to tell next
week!
I have to say, I am so grateful for the chance that I
have had to be companions with Sister Morrell. I have learned so much
from her and the time we have been able to spend together. She taught me
a lot about teaching from the heart. I love watching her teach and
seeing in her eyes how much she really loves this Gospel. I have also
learned a lot about myself this transfer, and the things I need to work
on and improve and overcome.
Other exciting news from this week: Edith came
to church!!!! Her kids were sick so she left them home with her
husband, but she said next week she will bring them. We were SO SO
EXCITED!!! And I am so glad she had a good experience! And we owe it ALL
to the members (the ones who referred her), who brought her and sat
with her in the classes--they are the best!!!! I honestly can't tell you
how much I love and appreciate member missionaries and fellowshippers.
Pretty sure they are worth more than....not just gold (that's not worth
too much anymore) but something was more precious than gold. Like that
giant diamond at Tiffany's in NYC or something.
Speaking of which, heard another great quote from our district
leader yesterday. He asked one of their members, Cynthia, in a lesson:
"how many missionaries do we have in our ward?" She responded, "four"
(the 4 elders assigned there). He answered, "that's right. But wouldn't
it be great if we had five? Cynthia, would you like to be a missionary?"
He then talked about how every member can be a missionary, and how
wouldn't it be great if they had 100 missionaries in their ward?! I just
thought that was a really cool insight, because it is so true. When we
think of the missionaries in our ward or area, we think of the ones
wearing a nametag. But really, the ones who get the most work done are
the ones without, the ones who just go about their lives, living and
sharing the Gospel. I honestly really believe that. You are all so
awesome!!
Well, I am out of time for now, and I am sure you
are probably tired of reading anyway (I'm already tired of my voice and
I'm the one writing this), so I'll just bid farewell until next week.
I love you all so much! I hope you are doing well! Thank you to all
those who respond to these--I'm sorry I don't always get a chance to
respond to you individually. I really do love hearing about your lives
though. :) Hope you all have a great week!
Love always,
Sister Emma Franks
P.S. HAPPY JUNE!!
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