March 11,
2013
Dear Family,
So much news
this week. It is good to hear from you and about how your lives are
going. It's always hard to know what kind of things you wanna hear but
then I realize it's probably about the same as the emails I receive. I just
enjoy whatever information you choose to share. :) This week I can answer some
questions.
Eating--
well, pretty much the same stuff as before. I haven't found cinnamon raisin
bread yet but I am surviving with delicious wheat bread. :) I cut PB from
my diet.... yea. haha. We have more diner apt here which is really
nice. We have been fed some really delicious stuff like Sinigong (I don't
know how to spell, I most often simply speak and listen haha), BBQ, sandwiches,
and more. We eat out normally once a week (p-day) at... wait
for it.... McDonalds. I have fallen in love (sadly) with the cheesburger.
It is great and cheap. So yea. I know like McDonalds. Not good for
my katawan (body).
I came
straight from the airport to a chapel in Manila where the mission office is
located. So my stuff from the mission home was waiting there with my
companion. We may be part of bigger conferences now but I don't know cause we
haven't had one yet. Yes I attend Bayan 1st ward and I don't know about the
green roof but that is probably it. :) haha. Google earth sure is great.
I don't think I will drive a car on my mission. I think only the AP's
drive cars here.
We live in a
house with two stories. Downstairs is open area with kitchen and dining
and living room all connected and then the bathroom. Upstairs is 2
bedrooms and a balcony where we sometimes plan or stretch after exercising.
Sounds great and it totally is but before you decide I am totally
spoiled, still no hot water and the water here feels colder since it is less
hot. haha. But it is actually all good, I enjoy it a lot. I got 4
weeks off of laundry because my last companion didn't mind going to a laundry
shop to get it done. Yay! And there was one nearby. But here we are back
to it. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting and enjoyed the breeze and the
view (I'll send pics next week) while doing laundry with my companion. I
didn't burn my hands this time but our hands (Sister M and I) started peeling
the next day and lasted a couple of days! haha. We were like people are
going to think we are diseased when we shake their hands. But no one, as
far as we could tell, noticed. haha It didn't hurt and they are all good now so
woohoo. :)
Language here
is pretty much the same as Palawan but there are subtle differences and it
makes it harder to understand people. haha. I can't make puns in
Tagalog yet... I'll work on mastering it still. haha. Congrats to mom for using
her Tagalog. :) I'm proud. haha. Thanks for the package in
advance. :)
I was
thinking just the other day about how funny it is that the mission always finds
new ways to challenge me. haha. I guess that is what life does as well
and for the beautiful purpose of making us better and helping us reach our
divine potential. First it is one thing and then when I learn how to deal
with that I get a new thing to learn how to deal with. I must have a lot
of things Heavenly Father wants me to change or learn. :)
So this week
has been a little challenging in that we haven't had as many people to teach.
We can totally feel the Spirit helping us as we teach but it is hard when you
don't have people to teach.... We are working hard to find more people to help
progress towards baptism but it has been somewhat slow going. We are
excited to see what this week holds.
This last
week we had a cool experience with the Spirit. We were told by the Spirit
to stop at this house even though we were on our way to another apt and we had no
idea why but as we "Tao Po" -ed the person inside let out a yelp of
recognition (not usual for people because Sister missionaries still aren't
widely recognized in this area.). He came out saying, "They aren't
here." What? Well, turns out his grandparents are both members but
have been less active. When we went back another day it turns out they
were really active in Manila for years but now Tatay has a heart condition that
makes it hard to travel. Turns out their records aren't in the ward and
no one knew they lived there... no one, except Heavenly Father. Heavenly
Father knows where all his children are and each ONE is important to Him.
It was such a great experience and I thank Heavenly Father for
the opportunity to be His missionary as a tool in His hand. And
the great part is, I don't have to be a missionary to be a tool in His hand.
We are all tools in His hands through visiting teaching, home teaching,
following promptings to serve others and go places even when we have no idea why
and may not see the results of our actions. I hope to improve my skill of
following the will of God through the Spirit everyday.
I know that
Heavenly Father is watching out for each of us and has plans for us. I
don't know the reasons for all the bad in the lives of good people, but I do
know that Heavenly Father is control of everything and He has a plan, a PERFECT
plan for every individual on the earth and if we will just follow Him with
faith we will receive a perfect, fullness of joy in the life to come and peace
in this life. :)
Thanks for
all of your support and the examples that you are to me. I love you all and
miss you lots!
Love,
Sister
Hamm
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