Rachel's letter of the week with a few fun facts and pictures

Some fun facts of the week:

           - I ate pig intestines! They were actually quite delicious and I didn't get sick! ;)

           - We had a special baptism of sweet Mikaela Baraoidan

           - I am coming to absolutely love our ward and the leaders, they are so amazing and hilarious!!!!

            -Filipinos deal with their problems 2 different ways, one- eating, and two, laughing away their problems 

      Love to you all!!!!! I am sorry for the short letter but hey, a picture is a thousand words, right? :) 

            Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

                  Mahal ko kayo!

                        Sister Andelin

Pictures:

Our Apartment and some beautiful plants

Chico.....a delicious fruit :)

Transportation:

      From the inside of a tricycle.....

     A horse drawn car ride that is quite common, called Kalesa

Our first baptism, Mikaela Baraiodan

 A dead bird we found...haha

 The goregeous rice fields of Salet-part of our area not in the city.

 More in Salet South...a hotel.

 The District!!!!! Our special clan.

 The Sisters in our apartment.

 With our STL's (Sister Training Leaders)

With my companion Sister Jolo..

My dearest friends and family!! It has been such a wonderful week! So many ups and downs and ups, but you only remember the ups! :) The mission is truly such a beautiful thing. Those of you that heard about the baguio/typhoon, don't worry. It wasn't anywhere near us. We got a little bit of wind, that's all. The weather here in the city is sunny sunny sunny, all day every day. It is just our area, in other areas it rains so much more. Things are getting exciting here for Christmas! We had our ward Christmas party as well, very different than the one at home! Everything is decorated so beautifully, and it's fun to see their replacements for Christmas trees here haha :) The food is great, I tried quail eggs this week as well as chico, a delicious fruit that is special to this area. The vegetables here are so different, they come in all shapes and sizes. Mom, you would love it... except for the fact that they fry everything in oil. We eat rice every day, all three meals. Here they eat noodles on rice very often. It seemed weird at first but now I like it! :)

     We are teaching some special people right now. Sister Mikaela, a nine year old convert is going to be baptized tomorrow! First baptism yay!!! I'll send pictures :) Also we have Ronald. It has been incredible to watch him. When we first met him he was super quiet, nervous, and very addicted to cigarettes. That is very common here, especially in the city. He is committed to baptism now, and I see such a difference in him. He has such beautiful answers to our questions, and has even asked questions! He has gone to church 3 weeks in a row, hasn't smoked in a whole week, and he is just happier. It's moments like these that I see that this is truly God's work and not ours. All we do is teach him lessons and invite him to church and be his friend, and yet he has been able to change his lifestyle. I know it is because of the Lord's power and his open heart. Also, we met a girl who has had a lot of sin in her life, a lot a lot. And she confessed to us freely. Our mission president told us this would happen because people recognize us as servants of the Lord. We are so grateful that we will be able to help her turn her life around and be relieved of the burden and pain of guilt. She truly has that desire to change. 

         We are meeting people that have been so prepared by the Lord! A member's girlfriend, Jennifer, is an example.  We have taught her 2 lessons, and when we started teaching about the Restoration, she had read the pamphlet so thoroughly and could tell us the story of Joseph Smith! She is so sweet and only 16 years old. We said the First Vision in Joseph Smith's own words, and then my companion asked her if she believed this story, she said yes, without hesitating. When she said yes, my whole body just got tingles all over! She has such faith! Ahh this is such a beautiful experience! I hope that anyone who hasn't served will get the chance to, it is so special. 

       This week I have felt the Spirit really guiding my words. As a missionary, it's not automatic. You really have to have faith to let go of trying to plan what you want to say, and just listen to the person. Then... you talk and see what comes out. I am seeing so many blessings, and I am so grateful to know that we are truly not alone in this work. I know it's the same for all of us. Heavenly Father is there for all of us, it is His greatest wish to help us. But we have to come to Him, ask Him for help and take the necessary steps. We have to have faith in His power and qualify for it through keeping His commandments. But it is so real. I am seeing so many things that I haven't seen before, because of all the distractions around me in high school. I want you all to know that God is truly real, He loves and knows each of us perfectly. This is the most important work in the world. So share the gospel! He can teach you what to say, you don't have to be a missionary with a tag to be a missionary. :) I know these things are true :) I love you all and I love this job! Good thing I got a while left :) Have a fantastic week and EMAIL me so I can hear what's happening in your lovely lives :)

            Mahal na mahal kita!

                        Sister Andelin

Rachel's letter 12-1-14

Agyamanak!!!! I mean happy thanksgiving!!! Agyamanak means thank you in Ilokano, and it kind of sounds like a noise a turkey might make..? :) How are you all? Mom sent me some pictures and I loved them all! Emily, wow, what creative decorations!!!! I have never seen such beauties in my life!! :) And Catherine, you sneaky one! What a great surprise!!! :) I hope you are all having so much fun and getting excited for Christmas!! Can you believe it's December 1st?!? And the tree is all chopped and set up, you are so proactive!! Spencer has braces now, WHOOPIE!! and congrats on making the basketball team!!!!! Woohoo, that will be so much fun and it will keep you busy! Joy, how has school been? What have you been doing these days of your life? And mom, you should really think about get getting Emily a dog ;) hahaha

    I love you all so much and I loved seeing the pictures of the Christmas tree hacking down!! It really doesn't feel like the same christmas here, its so warm out! But people say merry christmas to you on the streets, and the grocery stores play Christmas music, everyone is just so excited! I am sure you all had a blast with Alec and Christine and Reid and Bowie! :)

      Okay! This week has been a very full and busy week! I feel like I have been here forever when it's been only a week and a half! haha:) Wow, the people here are so receptive. Everyone here that I have met believes in Christ.We invited many people to be baptized this week even in the first lesson, and 4 said yes!! :) So exciting, so we have a lot of people to work with and teach. 

      The children here are THE CUTEST!!! I wanna adopt one someday. One day my companion and I were walking and a group of children saw me and started freaking out (because I'm white). They all ran up and said "What's your name, what's your name?! Trying to practice their English I guess. And they kept touching me and shaking my hand, touching my hair, and two little girls said, "can we give you a kiss?" haha another day some kids saw us and said "Hi Elders!" with bright smiles on their faces. Everyone here is so friendly, really. Everyone says "Hi sisters! " when we pass on the street. I love it! 

     Our ward here is very different, most of the time I can't understand what people are saying in classes and talks because it's largely Ilokano. But I love it, I love smiling and meeting people and joking with them, I just feel at home here. We had a senior couple come in this week, the Lashers from Idaho! They are so nice. I feel a little bad for them because they didn't have any language training! They only had 2 months from the time they got their call to when they left.

     I have seen a lot of miracles here. Moments when I just feel like.. I need to talk to that person! or I need to stop at that house! I have been strengthened as I do my best and am prayerfully seeking out those prepared. This is truly God's work. He knows us and has placed us wherever we are in the world for specific reasons, for specific people we need to touch. Are we prepared and worthy of those opportunities? Are we praying to recognize them? I know that this gospel is the truth, it is so beautiful and divinely ordained for us to find joy here on earth. I love teaching and seeing people change and act in faith. 

    I love you all and thank you for your prayers and support!!!! You are the best family EVER!!!!!! And you have been such great strengths and examples to me throughout my life. Have a wonderful week!!!!

               Love, Sister Andelinnn