Unstoppable

This week we had the chance to have an all sisters conference and it was all about becoming unstoppable. I loved this quote,

"You are unstoppable, not because you do not have failures or doubts, but because you continue on despite them. You are unstoppable because you realize that God's plan for you is bigger than the human mind can comprehend." 

I think I can add to the first line that being unstoppable is also getting rejected but we continue to keep trying. This week's biggest rejection was when we show up to one house. As we begin talking to the man standing at the gate he receives a phone call. He proceeds to answer it and then tells the person on the phone, "Just wait, I have to find some way to get rid of the Mormons."   R E J E C T E D!

   

Everyday we go out and try to teach people, but we barely have any control over anything. This past week happened to be one of those weeks were it seemed that no one was available to be taught. Here, we call that "punted." It was a punted week, but one thing that we can control is realizing that there was a purpose in that. Because we were punted this week, we were able to contact many new people that we haven't met before. Although getting rejected is a big part of it, and it is exhausting walking out under the hot summer sun, we were able to find some new potential investigators.


The reason why rejections are OK is because that just leads us closer to the one who will say yes. This coming week, we have an investigator that will be baptized. He is one of the fruits of contacting. The sisters accidentally went to his house, when it was supposed to be his neighbor, but they took the opportunity to talk to him and teach him. He was really prepared before they even taught him but even more so now.
  

For all of us, we can become unstoppable and fulfill God's plan as we keep going, despite the failures, rejections, or even doubts that are put in our path.

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Koncurat
Philippines Cauayan Mission
February 2014-August 2015

a great mother's day

{note from mom--sorry I forgot to post this last week...got all wrapped up in being able to see my girl through Google Hangouts. It was so great seeing her cute face and hearing her voice. She looks great and is doing amazingly well. She definitely has a fun accent and has forgotten a few english words. How bizarre to listen to her easily carry on conversation in a completely different language. Oh man, we can't wait to see her for real! Here is a couple of "family photos"}

From May 10th- Mother's Day

Thanks again for all your prayers that have really kept us safe from this past storm. Typhoon Noul was a Category 5 storm that was directed to hit our mission but the center ended up being off the cost. We did experience some good rain and some strong winds, and power outages for a short time, but the day still went on as normal. Apparently our mission is where the typhoons go to melt, so they tend to not take such a big effect as it could.

I don't know what it is but these last few typhoons keeping happening on Sunday mornings, right in the middle of our church time, but a few people did end up attending. During the sacrament, the power went out and all we could hear was the wind ferociously blowing outside, yet I felt such a great feeling of peace.

I thought back to when I just had received my mission call. I was so excited and terrified, mostly terrified because shortly after I found out where I would be serving, the great Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines. I suddenly had a connection to the people here, but at the same time, I thought to myself, "I'm going to die!" ..Yeah that was a little over-dramatic, but hearing of the damage that it caused and all the devastation, you could only imagine the feeling of soon, that is where I will be.

Now I have been in the Philippines for over a year and I love it here. I felt at peace during this last storm, mostly because as I sat thinking about the Savior while listening to the wind and just feeling like He knows us and is protecting us.

During this past year, I have felt the Savior more at my side then ever before. We need not to fear of anything because He has a plan for us. As we do what He wants us to do and look to Him, we can feel of that peace and comfort in knowing that He is there. He loves us and will protect us.

Work still went on, whether there was Typhoon or not. Around 6, the rain finally stopped, which made it a little easier, but still the ground was very wet. We visited a family, but getting to their house was pretty tricky with the ground being very soft, thick mud. But we made it to their house! It took two brother helping us and a couple of random planks of wood, but I was just proud to say I didn't end up falling...just my feet and legs were it bit covered in mud. hah!

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Koncurat
Philippines Cauayan Mission
February 2014-August 2015

crazy busy...or maybe just plain crazy?

 There is not much to say other than speaking Tagalog in a southern accent is very very funny! This week has been so crazy busy. Sister A and I have been non-stop on the go, but there are always times for being completely ridiculous and laughing. Some misconceptions people might have about missionary work is that is it is boring because all you do it work-work-work. But what some might not understand, work can be fun! It all just depends on your attitude. One great thing about this calling is that I was called to be Sister Koncurat, not just a robot. There are times that call for seriousness and others where we need to make things a little happier. For all those preparing for missions, remember to find the balance, but don't forget to always be obedient. Exact obedience brings blessings.

This week I've seen some of those blessings. It is hard to number them, but one things is contacting. At the start of this year, our mission made a new goal to talk with at least 70 new people about our unique message of the gospel and invite them to act upon it. Before, I thought reaching out to talk to people was really intimidating, but it has become one of my favorite things. As we have tried our best to be obedient to this goal, there have been people put in our path that have really made a difference. In the next coming weeks, one of our first fruits of contacting will be baptized. Miracles do happen as we try our best and the Lord makes up the rest. 

Love this work! Love you all!
Have a great week!
Sister Koncurat
Philippines Cauayan Mission
February 2014-August 2015

P.S.  so...I received my "trunky letter" ...not sure how I feel about that.  Guess my time here is winding down, but there is so much more to do, so I'm just not going to think about it.  (trunky letter definition-the letter telling you when your time is up and how you're getting home, boo!)

Picture A Day Challenge

Sent Sister K a PICTURE-A-DAY challenge...

This was the result from the last few months

Companions

Makes Me HAPPY

Culture

 

 

Planner--

Service--

yep...service includes gathering poop 

Ward Members

District/Zone

Beauty all around--

I work out!!

Tender Mercies

AND last but not least!!  An Awkward Moment...ewww  ; )

Listen to the Music...

Hi -Dee-Ho Everyone,

Let me tell you...General Conference was the thing I was looking forward to all week long! With much prayer, I waited to hear what the Lord would have me hear. So you could only imagine the disappointment when we walked into the chapel to find the video connection was awful. The video kept stuttering and the screen would turn black every couple of minutes. So frustrating!! We sat there as the hour changed and conference began, the video still stuttering until the screen went completely black. We talked with the somebody to try to find a better way, but it would take a while. In all, it took about 45 minutes to get the video working properly, but within those 45 minutes, Sister Atienza and I looked at each other, feeling a little annoyed, thinking that we need to bring the spirit back. We stood up and got everyone singing "We Thank Thee, Oh God, for a Prophet." Though we are no Tabernacle Choir, nor do we have the voices of angels, but the spirit was so strong and those simple words spoke even louder than they have ever been before. I feel so grateful to listen to the words of the leaders that the Lord has called to be His voice unto His people. I especially love how much the music can be like unto a prayer. If you noticed, at the end of many of the songs the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings, they sing the word, "Amen." ...Love that!

I also loved the talk from Elder Wilfred W. Andersen about remembering to listen to the music. I agree that dancing without music is pretty awkward. As we do the routine dance steps, I just want to add my testimony to listen to the music, feel of the spirit it can bring, and I know it will bring more happiness.

I always thought that the last six months of the mission would just moving at snail pace, but honestly this is the fastest time in the mission that I have experienced. This is already the last week of the transfer cycle. I hope Sister Atienza doesn't get transferred. She only has one cycle left until she goes home, so I hope I'm the one to "kill" her ; )




I think it is so fast because we are so busy every day. But I'm glad to be busy. It means miracles are happening. This week's miracle was when we found out that our "eternal investigators" finally got permission from their parents to be baptized and will be able to be baptized next week! They come to church every Sunday and read The Book of Mormon everyday. They have been wanting this for a long time! This change of heart from the parents was a miracle that started with fasting. I loved what President Eyring said about fasting on Saturday morning. Before the mission, I never really took fasting as a serious commandment, but now I can see the miracles that can happen. That is something I want to keep with me for the rest of my life.









this is how I role...


the best zone!



so pretty here...


Love you all and hope you are able to hear the spiritual music of everyday.
Have a great week!
love,
Sister Koncurat

Everything is Awesome!!

I can't believe my little brother is going to Madagascar! That is so cool!! I guess he can "move it, move it" along with the Leemers, right?! Sorry..that was a bad Dad joke... ; } He'll be so great and speaking a language I've never even heard of before...Malagasy? what? At least I had heard of Tagalog before I got my call. He is totally meant to go there! I'm just sad we will miss each other by just a month or so.

As for me..Seriously, "everything is awesome!" (Que the music). I'm having a good time. Love this area. Love my companion. Love my housemates. Splits are pretty fun and I didn't get us lost! We had two splits this week, so we've been pretty busy. And we have another two this week... a little crazy, but it is a good experience getting to help the other sisters here. This area is super progressing. Already we had a baptism this past week and one planned for almost every week (exception of General Conference weekend) until May 9. 

Miracles are happening here. I'll just share a few tender mercies of the week.

1. There was a sisters that the missionaries have been teaching for quite a while. She used to be really active in going to church, reading, praying and whatnot...but I guess something happened and she stopped doing all of that kind of stuff. We were about ready to drop her, but we weren't able to get to her house last Saturday. She ended up coming to church this past Sunday and we plan to follow up with her tomorrow. I hope she continues her progression.
2.Another girl is about 10 years old and is our new investigator. She is so excited to learn, as in if she even sees us walking she runs as fast as she can, arms waving and everything, yelling "sisters, sisters! Are you going to teach me now? What is my reading assignment? Am I a Mormon yet?" She has about a million questions, but is already looking forward to when she is old enough to go on a mission.
3. As we were walking one day we saw a member who introduced us to another member. We thought that he was a less-active member, but it turns out he is pretty active. He just sometimes attends church in other areas because he travels for his job. But we set an appointment to meet with him (this was before we knew he was an active member) and we come to find other that his wife is not a member. She had attended church a couple times with her husband, but has never been taught or even introduced by the missionaries. She is really interested in learning more and has some really great questions. She is really searching for truth. AMAZING!

I love this work! I can't wait for Jason to get to experience it too! As for exchanges it was pretty fun. I split with Sister Acosta on Wednesday and Sister Sutherby on Saturday. Sister Acosta is from a part in the southern region of the Philippines. Their native language down there is normally Cebuano, but in her part they all speak Ilocano. Too bad here in Ilagan there aren't very many Ilocano speakers. It is more Ibanag and Tagalog here. She is awesome though. She is in the same batch as my anak (trainee), Sister Garcia. And Sister Sutherby is from Colorado and is only in her second cycle. Still pretty new and it kind of reminds me of how little Tagalog I new when I first got here. She is trying really hard and to speak as much as she can. It's weird for me to think back to how I was so shy, scared, and completely intimidated and realize now, I can totally speak and understand Tagalog! Crazy! I have come along way...

Anyway, it was a good week and I have two more companion exchanges this week. Looking forward to another great week in the mission.

Love you all!
Sister K


P.S. Sister Atienza and I counted how many times we have to hand wash our laundry. She is at 10 and I am at 22. I'll be home in 22 weeks!?! OH MY GOSH! But as much as I LOVE washing my clothes in a bucket every week (not), the giant spider eating the cockroach on our walls, and the other crazy things that I experience here on a daily basis, I'm perfectly happy being where I am :)