Say Cheese!

note from mom---Found some great pics on the mission website from Sister K's last zone conference.  Love these rare "finds"!! and OH MAN! I love and miss that girl!!

One Year Down!

Well the summer season is just starting so that means the heat is back ON. For all of you suffering through the freezing cold, I guess you could come here to thaw out, besides, "it's more fun in the Philippines!"

Last Sunday, it rained a ton! Sister Sanchez and I were looking at each other wondering if it would clear up enough for our pday hike last Monday. We made sure to ask for good weather in our prayers that night, and the next day we woke up to a beautiful morning. It was hot, but we were happy that the skies were clear. We met up with our district and began our hike to Bansing Falls. As we were talking to random people asking where we were headed, they all replied about how far that was...and it was far! We hiked for about two hours, almost all of it being uphill and the path was lined with that thick sticky mud because of the previous day. It was a hard hike--I was sore for the four days after--but it was well worth it. Maganda talaga! 

Just like the hike, the best things come as we endure hard things. This week we were able to have another zone conference with President and Sister Rahlf. It was all about our eternal progression and motivation to accomplish hard things. Sister Rahlf shared a quote from President Eyring's mother, who said, "If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill." Enduring to the end requires effort, but that's what strengthens us, and our faith, and will help us find pure joy. To hard things there is always some kind of fear, but we have two options on how we can react to that fear: 1) Face Everything And Run, or 2) Face Everything And Rise.  I think I choose the second option, to rise to the higher ground. It is prettier up there anyway.

Although we come to hard points in life, and we might find it stressful and difficult, there are always ways to find joy within the journey. Buhay ng missionary-always on the go, but we know how precious every moment is. Time goes by fast, and before you know it, you realize you have officially been set apart as a missionary for a full year. (I don't know whether to be excited for that big accomplishment, or sad that I have such little time left...I still feel like a greenie...). 

So as we take advantage of every moment we have, make sure to laugh along the way.  As a missionary, random and awkward things happen everyday and the best thing to do is just laugh about it. One of the terms we use in this mission is OYM, meaning "open your mouth." So one day, as Sister Sanchez and I were walking, we saw these two ladies and we decided we would OYM them. Without even being able to really say hello they immediately started explaining how they were Christian missionaries. They just kept talking over each other that they didn't give us a chance to really say anything. But we were able to hand them a pamphlet about the restoration of the gospel before leaving. As we walked away, I turned to Sister Sanchez with a confused look and said, "I think we just got OYMed!" I never thought I would be the one getting OYMed on the mission... The other side of that is actually doing the OYMing. I can be really awkward experiences, especially if you start talking to someone who starts speaking in another language that is not either Tagalog or English or even Ilocano.

Another funny thing is the reactions of others as they see a white person. Did you know I am famous?! I didn't either.... As I walk past, people whisper quite loudly to look at the Americana walking past. Sometimes little kids scream as if an eleven year old girl just saw Justin Beiber. Other kids just run up to me and ask for high fives, while others just rub my skin as I walk past. But I have to say the funniest reactions are when they yell to their friends, "Americana," and I reply in Tagalog that I am actually Filipino and they all get this mixture of confused and disappointing looks. But I can't lie so I just say "joke lang!" and they are excited again.

I guess one of the things that makes time fly so fast is just enjoying the time that we have wherever we are. It is easy to get stressed, frustrated, or given trials on those uphill journeys, but there is no happy spirit in that. It's all about finding joy in the journey. As someone I love always says, Just Keep Smilin' :)

Have a great week,
Sister Koncurat

Q&A

What has been your biggest challenge this week? One of the biggest challenges we have is finding people. Addresses are different here because people kind of just build a house where ever there is space, so when we receive a referral, sometimes it is a little hard to find them, unless the person giving the referral takes us straight to there house or they have a phone number. We received a lot of referrals, which is a huge blessing, but the problem is actually meeting them. We walk in the general vicinity that the house is located and just ask the people around if they know the person we are looking for. We finally found the house of one of the referrals we did receive, but three very large unfriendly dogs were doing a good job at protecting it. We decided to try again another time.

What has been your biggest concern? Our biggest concern right now is keeping our investigator with a baptism date progressing. In this area, every time we have had a progressing investigator, about to be baptized, something has happened and they no longer are progressing. Our Nanay right now has been coming to church every week and is reading The Book of Mormon, and all I have found is that her biggest concern is that she wants someone else to be baptized at the same time, which there is. Fewh haha

What has been your biggest success? This week's biggest success is that we reached all of our goals for the week! Not only did we reach our goals, but we were able to help people find a little joy this week.

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? This week, Sister Sanchez and I got to go on exchanges with the STLs and I actually got to be companions for a day with Sister Matanatabu (my companion in my last area!). We taught an older couple and they were so fun to talk to. Probably one of my favorite appointments all week. Even through the laughter, the spirit was so strong and we could tell they really appreciated us being there.


What are you looking forward to this coming week? Last week the zone leaders and the sister training leaders got to go to Cauayan for the monthly mission leadership council, which means Tuesday we have zone meeting. I love zone meeting because the messages shared a coming from President and Sister Rahlf. It is always a good spiritual booster.

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. The goal that I am working towards is smiling more. That sounds kind of funny, but what I have realized is sometimes my face is too serious when I teach. This gospel is the gospel of happiness. How am I supposed to testify of the happiness if I look too serious. Haha

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week? The scripture of the week is from Alma 26, which is one of my most favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. In verse 37 it says, "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." God is mindful of us no matter where we are or our situations we may be in. He knows!

Have a most awesome week everyone.

Love, Sister K