Big Feet and the Power of Prayer

Sister Wood at the post office in Laoag

HI EVERYONE!

Another week has gone by! Whoa.

I don't understand how over in the states I can go from being told I look old to coming here and people thinking I am 14. Yes I repeat 14. Someone thought I was 14. Do I look like I am 14? Hahahaha I can't get over how hilarious that is. They say I have a "young face." Haha yet I could smash most of the adults here with my big feet!!! Speaking of feet, on last P-Day  we were at the mall and they had the Taylor Swift collection of Keds, so of course I asked if they had my size. Well, they only had up to size 9. In the whole mall. Joke right? Hahaha all I could do was laugh. Yeah I am a monster here! As you can tell in the pictures, the boy and girl are some of our investigators, and he is standing on his tippy toes!!!
So I have really had to adapt to the food here. Everything that isn't supposed to be sweet is sweet, and everything that is supposed to be sweet isn't. That includes spaghetti. Their spaghetti is sweet! And I have really tried to be okay with that, but I finally came to the point where I had to make american style, and now I won't every turn back. :) I also eat peanut butter and jelly all the time haha it is the closest thing to home food! And reminds me of my mother. But yeah, it's my favorite. My favorite food here so far is dragon fruit. It is the most amazing fruit in the world I love it. And we have an investigator that has dragon fruit orchards :) So you best believe I love going there!!! :) Nah, she is super cool as well and speaks english!

The other night, we were walking home from the ward activity and a rat ran right by my foot. I screamed so loud and probably had a vert of like 40+ I jumped so high..... hahaha. AH the critters here scare me sometimes, but I still love it!

I have realized the power of prayer this week. I have always loved praying, but this week it is kind of like BAM. My companion and I were trying to really help people understand that prayer really is a conversation with God. And he wants us to communicate with him all the time. Well we went and taught these ladies that were so cool. Loved them. And we emphasized this topic really hard in our lesson. At the end we asked her to pray. We showed her how to do it and stuff, and at first they are always shy, but as she began to pray it was amazing.. the Spirit came into the room so quick. She continued praying and she got to the point where she couldn't anymore and we just sat there in silence with our heads down and arms folded. She couldn't continue. She had felt the spirit so strong that she began to be emotional and couldn't even continue her prayer!!! What an amazing thing. Sister Rico finished praying, and the lady just kept wiping back tears. How powerful!! She realized that prayer really is a conversation with God. Before going to bed, it is my favorite thing to do. It is the only time I have to myself to really have a 1 on 1 conversation with God. It is my time to pour my heart out to him, and it is so comforting knowing that I can. I challenge everyone to make prayer a priority and develop a good relationship with our father in heaven.

Have an amazing week. Stay safe, and know I am thinking about you all!

Love,

Sister Wood

 

Tall Sister Wood and her investigators, he is standing on his tippy toes! (we only get partially downloaded pictures, but its still great to see her happy face)

Elder Zach Taylor - Visa Is Here!!

Alright, guys, something amazing happened today... I got my travel plans to Argentina!!!!! I'm allowed to e-mail you today and tell you! So.. I'll be leaving from Salt Lake on Tuesday. We will travel to Asuncion, Paraguay. We'll be there Wednesday morning at 6:45 am their time. I understand once we get there, we'll find out how we're getting to Argentina. I'm so excited!!! One of the elders in my district will be in my travel group too, so it'll be good to know someone. Ahhhh man I can't believe I'm actually going straight down there! A week from now I'll be in another country... so crazy! I'm way excited but so nervous but even more excited.. Well... that's my exciting news for the day! I'm so happy

Elder Zach Taylor - August 21 update

Elder Taylor - Cool picture




 

Hello again!
This week...I don't really know what to say. It's been really good but kinda sad at the same time. I'll start with last Friday. One of our really great teachers, Hermano Miller, decided to go on vacation to Hawaii this week, so Friday was the last day that we got to see him. We had a really cool last talk that day though that I'll just share a few things about. We went outside and sat at a table by one of the residence buildings and we had a bunch of food because this one elder that left last week decided to just dump all of his extra stuff in our room.. it's pretty ridiculous but it made for a good snack while we were talking. Anyway, he showed us a bunch of pictures from his mission in Columbia which got me way excited to go serve. We also had a really cool talk about what we do after we die. We talked about how it's pretty much just a bunch of missionary work and we'll be looking after our posterity on this earth. Something I had never thought about before he brought this up was that like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost is an actual being and can't be everywhere at once. However, his presence can be felt everywhere. It's a cool idea that we talked about... he told us that he thinks that the holy ghost's presence is felt through the angels of our ancestors that come and whisper to us what we need. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost". It made sense to me, and I wouldn't doubt that that's what we'll be doing.
As if it wasn't enough for Hermano Miller to leave, Hermana Christensen left this week too. She's going to teach in the Mexico MTC, so we had our last class with her yesterday. She too showed us pictures of her mission in San Diego and told us a few stories that got me way excited. She also told us that she thinks that we've been called to learn Spanish not only for these two years, but as a tool throughout our lives as well which I thought was really cool. We still had some leftover snacks, so we had those while we talked outside in the same spot as Hermano Miller. I can't really explain it, but it was a lot sadder to leave our teachers than I thought it would be. We took a final district picture with her and said goodbye.. it was hard! That was the first time I really wanted to hug a girl while on my mission! haha Both our teachers have been such a good influence on us. I wish I could explain it, but it's just something you have to experience.
Another thing, I did receive notice that I would be reassigned because my visa hasn't come yet. However, this week the three elders in my district going to Buenos Aires got 90 day tourist visas to Argentina. I'm guessing they just hope that our actual visas will come before those 90 days are up. I'm pretty sure they're doing that for all the Argentina missionaries now instead of reassigning us, however, my mission is the only one that hasn't received anything yet... so where I'll be in a week from now is kind of up in the air at this point.
Something cool we got to do this week was teach a lesson to a member over skype. My companion and I taught a lesson to a guy that lives in Columbia. He was really nice and we enjoyed sharing a message with him. It was cool because since that's where my teacher went, I was used to hearing his accent so it wasn't too hard to understand.
We got a new district last week, and something kind of random but cool was that one of the new Elders told my companion and I that we are the biggest example to him since he's gotten here. A lot of the other elders like to goof off a bit too much at times.. it was cool to hear him say that to us.
On Sunday, a former BYU and NFL player, Vai  Sikahema spoke to us. He was so interesting to listen to and really funny. I don't remember all that he said, but he just talked a lot about his mission and it got me really excited to go!
Well, that's about it for this week. Hope you're all doing well!

One thing hermano miller told us that I forgot to say was that, while you are still good friends with everyone at home, there's a certain bond that comes between those you serve with and meet on your mission. something about sharing those moments where you testify of the gospel to someone just bonds you in a way that nothing else can. We taught our investigator that Hermana Christensen was acting as yesterday for the last time. Even though she wasn't real, it was so hard to have that last visit with her. I can't imagine what it's like for real. Also, when she said the closing prayer for class, she started to tear up a little... it was so sad! She's been such a great teacher and has given me so much confidence as I go out. She told us that she loves us and knows we'll be great missionaries several times, which makes me feel good about leaving.
Well, I guess that's it! hasta luego!

Elder Taylor

Elder Xavier Stilson - I"ll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Elder Stilson with Maryangela who was recently baptized

 

Hey everyone! Well it is my first week here in Brazil Vitoria mission! My first area is in the city of Sao Matues. It is at the very  top of our mission. A 5 hour bus ride from the main city of Vitoria! But it is  great. I love the people here and our mission President is awesome! He is the  nicest man you could ever meet in your life!

Our area is just the whole city of Sao Matues and I really  wish I could tell you all about our investigators and everything but I do not  know Portuguese and so it is hard haha. I was able to teach in English in  Colorado and loved it so much! But out here I know nothing and it is hard  trying to even understand what little kids are trying to talk about... But what  can ya do. It is hard not knowing how the investigators I left in Colorado are  doing. It was hard leaving them. Where as if I still were in Colorado and got transferred,  I could have called them all and talked to them for a few seconds! But here I can’t  call and have no clue about what is going on so it is hard. But everything  else is ok! After the morning is over, we go out to see people.  I forget all about what is going on and I can  focus even though I cannot understand haha. But Brazil is awesome and the  people here are amazing! Every home is concrete and everyone is very worried  about security here! That is why there are bars on everything haha even in the  richer areas! Also, there is a lot of garbage on the street.  Every night after 6 everyone puts the garbage  on the curb and they have people whose job it is to sweep the streets by  hand.  Around noon they look clean  again!:) We have already had 2 baptisms and 2 marriages this week. It was  really cool because on Saturday Cleder was baptized and then Sunday he baptized  his daughter Maryangela!! That was an amazing thing to experience!!! It is  different here in Brazil. You don’t have to teach them all of the lessons  before they can be baptized! If you meet someone on the street on Saturday and  they come to church on Sunday and want to be baptized, it will happen right  after sacrament meeting! That is really hard to grasp but it is whatever haha. My  first comp is Elder Torres. He is a great guy and is a Brazilian from Sao  Paulo. He is about 6.5 and a big dude. We share an apartment with another  companionship as well. It is cool because Elder Crapo, from my district in the  MTC, lives with us.  We all get along  really well! Some of the things I have already seen are awesome! There are  parrots everywhere and they are beautiful! I also saw a cobra for the first  time! It actually came out of one of the members homes and went right next to  my foot! So for the next 30 mins we were all with long steel poles trying to  find this big snake, but we never did find it! It buried itself in a pile of  junk so he won. But we are all still alive ;) haha  Our church house is in the middle of a street  and I am going to get some pictures of it this week to show everyone.  It is a dinky little thing but hey at least  it is something no? The members have asked to get a chapel there and they  finally got permission to!! They just need to get permission on a place in the  area so that we can start to build it. Hopefully it will happen really soon!:) Well,  there really isn’t much more to talk about due to the fact that we spent  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday traveling and then Thursday shopping and cleaning  so we only had the three days but it is all good! Well I love you all and hope  to hear from you soon!!!

Eu amo Voces!

Amor,

Elder  Stilson

 

Elder Stilson and his Zone Leader

Brazilian Home Security System

 

Sister Courtnee Wood - A Mouse in our Shower Bucket

 

Sister Wood in Rainy Laoag

 

 

Hello everybody!

Well that was the fastest week of my life! 

It has been raining so much the last few days. Actually it has never stopped. I think I finally got my feel for the Philippines when we were wading through puddles up to our calves this week! Haha awesome right? Well with water comes loads of frogs. Like loads. They are all over the roads, most splatted and guts all over the place from being run over, but yes lots of cool frogs. I tried catching some in my umbrella (taking after my dad). But with rain comes cool weather so it is the best thing in the world! Gosh I am not complaining! I would rather be wet and cool then sweating hot! 

We found some friends in our apartment this week, I mean not super bad, but there were 2 ginormous cockroaches and then we found A MOUSE in our SHOWER BUCKET!!! Yeah that really grossed me out. I refuse to use it haha. I will get over it sooner or later. 

We spoke in sacrament this week. All 6 of us sister missionaries, because yes we got a new set in our ward! Yay! But the funniest thing was that one of the conpanionships had a baptism this week so we all went to it. We go and they have us down for a musical number. So 4 of us (yes that includes me) goes up and sings a song that we picked right on the spot. Nearer my God to thee I think. Hahaha yeah it was great.....

 

I mostly want to share with you all an experience we had this week right out of my journal:

" We made an appointment to teach Mervina and her daughter. We went there to teach and she let us in and invited all the young workers (that we had previously taughty) to stay and join. So they did, probably just cause they felt forced. They are troopers! Anyway, we were planning to teach about the BOM. All the workers were there, and then Mervina got up and left and they said she had visitors. So we didn't think anything of it. We began and prayed, and sister Rico started introducing the BOM. Then finally in walks Mervina with some people. They went over to her kitchen table, so we just proceeded. As we started teaching about the BOM we could tell the people at the table were listenbing in. Then an older man  walks over and sets a stool down to be part of it. Right then he began arguing against all the things we were teaching about the BOM. Come to find out, he is a pastor for Mervina's church and they had set up and made an appointment with their pastor at the same time. Don't worry though, nothing was going to stop us. There was a reason that Sister Rosell had chose to work with us (sister rico's trainer) cause she is fluent in Tagalog and used to be their religion Until she read the BOM. She did most the talking. And even though the pastor was literally shouting and arguing with us, and saying things I won't write, the spirit never left the room. It was as if the spirit was screaming at them as we spoke with pure boldness. Sister Rosell bore the most incredible testimony about Joseph smith and the first vision. We never rose our voices, just spoke truths that were so bold. The spirit was so dense and I know the people felt it there. It was the most incredible experience for my faith and testimony. It strenghtened my whole being. When we finally got some silence from the pastor, we each bore our testimonies about the BOM. I bore mine last, and the spirit was so strong my heart was pounding. The spirit guided me on what to say, and I really don't recall what I said, all I know is I got emotional because of the spirit (which I haven't done the whole time being here)) AND THE FACT THAT i WANTED ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO THE MESSAGE OF THE RESTORE GOSPEL.  I have never wanted something so bad. The whole appointment I was saying a prayer in my heart that they would be open minded. By the end of our testimonioes, the spirit was so strong and I know they all felt it. We just did the only thing we could and challeneged them to read and pray like said in Moroni 10:3-5. Sister Rosell asked if I would pray to  close, so we kneeled to pray and everyone refused to kneel. They just stood, so I began my prayer. All I can say is my prayer was completely guided by the spirit. The pastor and someone else began mocking the things I said as I prayed and I heard him and the things he said for a split second, but as I continued praying my heart out it felt like us 3 were the only people in the room. After the prayer we shook all their hands, left a BOM on the chair and left. That experience has already changed my whole mission."

I wrote a lot more about that experience, but because of time I just want everyone to know that I know the Book of Mormon is true, and the Gospel of Jesus christ is the only true church on the earth. I am so honored to be able to represent him and wear his name everyday.

Thank you all for all of the continued support.

- Sister Wood

PS: Filipino children are reading this letter over my shoulder as we speak. Yay for no personal space. :)

Elder Zach Taylor - August 7-14th update

Elder Zach Taylor

 

 

Hello again!

Okay so this week has been pretty much the best week of my life. Everything was just so good... the lessons from our teachers were good every day, we got to do some new stuff, and I've seen a bunch more people I know! It's been great.

Well first of all, I saw my cousin Rebecca on...friday I think it was. It was cool to see her! She gave me a hug, and you know, we're not supposed to do that here so some people walking by kinda had weird looks on their faces.. luckily one Elder in my district yelled "It's okay, they're cousins!" What a nice guy... haha ;) I've also seen a lot more friends from school here this week! These names probably don't mean anything to you.. but i saw Justin Ly, Kyle Mollinet, Scott Sweeten, Ellie Garlitz, Chase Snow... I think that's all. It's been cool to see so many people!

On sunday, our zone was asked to be ushers for the devotional. It was cool to wear the tag that says "usher" and be all official...but not gonna lie it felt kinda pointless. I pretty much just stood at the top of the stairs and made sure people sat down..which they just did by themselves. Oh well, it was pretty cool to help out anyway.

Now for the best part of the week. I've just got to say, my teachers are two of the coolest people I've ever met. They really have helped me to see things in a different way and have gotten me really excited to go serve. But anyway, sometimes Hermano Miller likes to just take a half hour and have us ask questions and we answer them with scriptures usually from the book of mormon, but sometimes with other ones. On friday, we got talking somehow about what the "more sure word of prophecy" is. He had us read in D&C 131. In there, it says that the more sure word of prophecy is the second comforter that we receive. It's being sealed up unto a knowledge that you will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom. He explained that in other instances of that happening, prophets would actually see Christ himself and he would tell them that they are going to the celestial kingdom, and they would know that they had been saved. He then told us to read Elder Holland's testimony from April's general conference. In it, he says something like "I know these things by what Peter called the more sure word of prophecy." He had us just think for a minute about the implications of that. He then went on to say that the great thing about this church is that people can say all they want, but unless they have living clergy that actually speak to Jesus Christ, he doesn't want to hear it. I've been brought into a whole new perspective of who these men actually are. Christ himself is literally involved in running this church, and that is why it is the ONLY true church on the face of the earth. It makes me want to really study the words of the modern prophets like I would the scriptures, because, after all, isn't that exactly what the scriptures are?

On saturday, hermano miller got talking with us again about the celestial kingdom. He told us that the thing that makes us different from other churches is that this church challenges us to become something rather than just get to a final destination. He said this life is not about getting to a celestial kingdom, but about becoming a celestial being. He said that as he's gained in knowledge, he can feel himself becoming more like the savior, more of a celestial being. I was always worried that I would come back and not do the same things I did before, but I've come to realize that it simply won't be a part of me. Hermano Miller said that it just becomes part of our nature as we get closer to becoming celestial beings. Things that we used to do we simply won't want to anymore because of who we are becoming. I thought that was really cool.

Back to the whole thing with the apostles.. last night, Richard G. Scott spoke in the devotional. After having realized more fully who he is as an apostle of Jesus Christ, I could just feel the spirit enter the room so strongly as we all stood up when he walked in. There seemed to be more light surrounding him than anyone else. It really is amazing who the prophets and apostles are, and I have a whole new respect and knowledge of them. One cool thing was that he promised us that we would be able to learn the language as we had faith. I though it was amazing to have an apostle right there actually telling us that. It was so cool!

I'm realizing I'm really going to miss my teachers.. they're so amazing. We took a picture with them yesterday since Hermano Miller is leaving to hawaii in friday for a week and we probably won't see him again before we leave. Hermana Christensen is leaving to teach in the Mexico MTC on tuesday or something, so that's kinda sad too... I'm realizing how hard it's going to be to have to leave these people I've met in the MTC. I mean I still miss you guys.. but this is much worse. haha just kidding ;) I guess it's something I'm going to have to get used to, not only on my mission but afterwards as well. I included the picture we took yesterday. The one on the far left that's almost as tall as me is hermano miller, and hermana christensen is (obviously) the only girl in the picture. They're both amazing teachers and I'll miss them after this last week and a half is up.

Well, sorry to overload you all with spiritual stuff and my personal feelings about leaving... hopefully you've made it this far. haha The MTC is great, but I can't wait to get out there. Adios!

- Elder Taylor

Sister Wood - I AM HERE!

Sister Wood arrived in Laoag on Wednesday July 31st. She has been assigned to the Laoag Stake which is near the mission home. Her companion/trainer is Sister Rico from California. We were so excited to get her first e-mail from the Philippines.


KUMUSTA ANG LAHAT MGA TAO!

I SEE THAT IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT I WROTE THIS EMAIL IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE I MEAN REALLY, I AM HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. 

SINCE I GOT OFF THE PLANE I HAVEN'T STOPPED SWEATING. SO YEAH, THAT'S THAT. AND WON'T STOP UNTIL MY PLANE LANDS BACK AT HOME NEXT DECEMBER! I AM DRIPPING SWEAT AS I TYPE THIS EMAIL!

AS WE HAVE BEGUN WORKING, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN SO HUMBLED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES HERE. IT IS ALMOST UNDESCRIABLE THE LIVING CONDITIONS HERE. I KNOW I WAS SENT HERE FOR A REASON THOUGH, AND I AM ALREADY GETTING A TASTE FOR THAT REASON. THE LOVE I ALREADY HAVE FOR THESE PEOPLE IS INCREDIBLE. HAHA I DIDNT THINK I COULD LOVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN SUCH SHORT TIME. IT MAKES MISSIONARY WORK EVEN BETTER.

SO FOR THE LITTLE DETAILS HAHA, I SLEEP ON TOP OF MY BED AND THAT IS ALL. NO COVERS OR ANYTHING, WITH THE WINDOW OPEN AND FAN BLOWING ON ME!!! THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I HAVE TO GET USED TO, AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE FOOD. I MEAN IT IS NOT HORRIBLE, PERRO I JUST GOTTA GET USED TO THE WAY IT IS. I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH OF A CLEAN FREAK I WAS (BUT I REALLY AM NOT) SINCE I GOT HERE. MESS JUST DRIVES ME NUTS!!!! I DO MY BEST TO KEEP MY STUFF TIDY.

 

Tricycle - Sister Wood's method of transportation

 

OUR FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IS LITTLE TRIKES, AND I DO NOT FIT IN THEM SO I HAVE TO BE ALL HUNCHED OVER AND EVERYONE JUST LAUGHS! AT THEIR LITTLE SHOPS THEY GIVE US GLASS BOTTLES FOR DRINKS, BUT THEN THEY TAKE THE BOTTLE AND DUMP THE DRINK INTO A LITTLE BAGGIE! AND WE DRINK IT OUT WITH A STRAW HAHA HOW AWESOME RIGHT? 

THE BIGGEST THING IS EVERYONE STARES AT ME. EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. THEY DON'T CARE EITHER!!!! LIKE I THINK THEY THINK I AM AN ALIEN AND DON'T SEE PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME, BUT I AM HUMAN, LITTLE DO THEY KNOW HAHA. GOOD THING I COULD CARE LESS, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN GUYS ARE PLAYING BBALL THEY LOOK AT ME LIKE I SHOULD BE OUT THERE PLAYING! (WHICH I SHOULD). PLUS WHEN WE WALK PASSED GUYS THEY THINK I AM BEAUTIFUL JUST CAUSE I AM AMERICAN, AND HALF THE TIME WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SAYING TO US OR ABOUT US, SO THAT'S GOOD. MY COMPANION IS SISTER RICO FROM CALIFORNIA. WE GET ALONG SUPER WELL. 

WE WERE IN A LESSON WITH THE MOST ADORABLE FAMILY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUTSIDE, SOMEONE STARTS BLASTING TAYLOR SWIFT. I LOOKED AT MY KASAMA LIKE HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FOCUS AND TEACH WHEN THIS IS PLAYING?!?!?! HAHA BUT I LOVED IT. I LOVE THE ELEGADO FAMILY.... AND THEY LOOKED AT THE PICTURES OF MY FAMILY AND LOVED IT. 

THE MOST "PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE" LESSON WE HAD WAS LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE TEACHING A LESS ACTIVE LADY. THEIR HOMES ARE HARDLY ANYTHING, SO WE WALKED INTO WHAT WAS THEIR HOUSE AND SIT DOWN AND BEGIN SHARING OUR MESSAGE. WE SAT THEIR AT GAVE HER THE LESSON WHILE HER KIDS WERE RUNNING AROUND WITH THEIR UNDERWEAR ON, THEIR GOATS WERE NEXT TO US EATING THEIR BANANAS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAVING TO EAT, AND ANTS WERE CRAWLING ON ME!!!! I GOT A LITTLE FREAKED OUT. BUT ITS OKAY ITS OKAY. THE SPIRIT WAS STILL THERE AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS HAHA.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ALREADY FROM BEING HERE. I AM SO BLESSED FOR ALL OF THE THINGS I HAVE. 

EVERYWHERE I GO I GET CALLED ON BY THE PEOPLE TO GIVE THE OPENING PRAYER. I  FIND IT HILARIOUS. IN RELIEF SOCIETY AND EVERY SINGLE LESSON HAHA! IT WAS FAST SUNDAY AND I HADN'T GOT UP AND BORE MY TESTIOMONY IN SACRAMENT, AND THE BISHOPRIC LITERALLY CUED TO ME FROM THE STAND THAT I NEED TO GO UP HAHA I THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS. THE  WHOLE SACRAMANET IS LIKE A ZOO OF LOUDNESS AND THEN WHEN THE TALL AMERICAN GIRL THAT HAD TO LIFT UP THE MICROPHONE TALL GOT UP, THE WHOLE PLACE WHEN QUIET. :) I LIKED IT. 

THE TAGALOG IS COMING SLOWLY BUT SURELY HAHA. THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH THE POWER TO BEAR AN EXTREAMELY STRONG TESTIMONY IN ENGLISH, SO FOR THAT I AM GRATEFUL. THEY UNDERSTAND ENGLISH, THEY JUST CAN'T SPEAK. THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME IN COUNTLESS WAYS ALREADY SINCE BEING HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THOUGH I KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HARDEST THING I DO IN MY LIFE, IT IS GOING TO BE WORTH IT, AND I REALLY AM HAPPY HERE, AND EVERYDAY IS BETTER AN BETTER!!! :) I KNOW THAT THE WORK WE ARE DOING OUT HERE IS REAL, AND IT IS A BLESSING. MY TESTIMONY IS STRENGTHENED EVERYDAY.

SALAMAT FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT I HAVE RECEIVED IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.  

- SISTER KAHOY (WOOD)

PS CHURCH IS NOW MY FAVORITE THING EVER. AIR CONDITIONING. I SIT RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT IN EVERY MEETING.