Well, my pumping water, bathing out of a bucket pioneer days are over...sort of. We have water inside our apartment woo hoo! Such a big relief! But, we are still doing lots of walking and walking and more walking! So, I guess I'm still a pioneer. ...did I say I'm still walking?


I think the first sign of a "masipag" missionary is while you are walking, you can start to feel your shoe completely falling apart. I think these had a few good miles on them, but it makes me so sad to have to throw them away...

It's official, I'm a "masipag" missionary-meaning: hard-working.

This past week, we enjoyed our last district meeting of the transfer. It was also my branch companion's first district meeting. She was pretty excited to get to be a part of it. For her first week, Sister Infante, a young member of the branch here in Bayombong, has been working with me. She is waiting for her mission call and used this week as a mini training. It's like having a second anak (baby)! I'm really enjoying getting to know her. She's pretty amazing. She is 22 years old, a primary counselor, seminary teacher, and is waiting for her mission call. Even though she is busy, she was really excited to help me out while I'm in companion limbo. In return, I've been helping her out in seminary, it's been pretty fun. Good things are happening in the area. Transfers are this Wednesday and I will, once again make the trek to Cauayan to meet my 4th companion of the month.


Mom told me in her letter she had been praying for our landlady to soften her heart and have compassion on us sisters (and fix our water tank). It worked! ...prayers are answered in so many ways. I had a pretty severe bout of stomach flu last week, and she was so sweet to give me flat sprite and sit with me while Sister Infante went to buy a thermometer. She has definitely been softened to our plite and thanks to a priesthood blessing and prayers coming from both sides of the world, I'm feeling a lot better! It is amazing what the priesthood can do for us. I have such a strong testimony that it is the power from God and that it has truly blessed my life in so many ways.


Hope you all have a great week!! Thanks for all your prayers and concerns. Things are looking up!


-Sister Koncurat

Ano ba iyan?!

Bye Sister Garcia

[NOTE from Mom---She would never say it but Erin is having a rough couple of weeks and sure could use some love from friends and family.  Any notes of encouragement will be awesome.   erin.koncurat@myldsmail.net]

Where do I start. This has probably been one of the craziest weeks of my mission so far. I guess I can start from last Monday. 

Our P-Day went about normal. Did the normal emailing in the morning, some grocery shopping, went to "MacDo" for a fancy lunch (McDonalds here is like a 5 star restaurant lol). We came home to do our laundry AND....we have no running water!!  "Ano ba iyan?!" (meaning; what?)   Its been a week now and we still don't have water in our house. UGH!!!  At least we have a handy dandy manual water pump outside in the yard.  Sounds fun right?!   I swear, it's like living in the pioneer days.  No big deal, for our morning showers we get a work out pumping and then carrying buckets of water up the stairs to our CR (apt).  By the time we get it fixed, I'll be stronger than Seth ;) ..better keep up that weight lifting, lil' bro! 

[note from mom-so the landlady downstairs doesn't want to fix the water pump tank...she thinks the sisters are too destructive and keeps threatening to kick them out.. crazy lady for sure.  I confirmed that the mission home does know about the situation but she's not sure how or when it will be remedied.]

Tuesday morning we had our monthly zone meeting, also pretty normal. It was all about magnifying our calling as missionaries. One of my favorite take-a-ways was a scripture found in Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." It was a good reminder for what was about to happen next...

After the meeting, Sister Garcia and I took a nice 3 hour bus ride up to Cauayan City where we spent the night in the comfort of the mission home and had a REAL SHOWER in the morning, complete with hot water...It was a good break before having to pump and carry that water again. 

Wednesday morning, I had to say goodbye to Sister Garcia, who needed to return home for just a little while, but will be back to finish her mission soon, I hope.

The rest of the day I worked with some sisters in Cauayan City until I was able to find travel companions for the way back to Bayombong. I stayed the night at the Sister Trainer Leader's apartment in Solano and met my temporary part-time companion. She served her mission for 13 months in the Davao mission, but had to come home for health reasons. While at home, her health improved enough to try out mission life again with me. Unfortunately by the morning of our third day together, her migraines came on full force, so she went home again as well. So for this next week and a half I'll be working with a member from the branch here and living in a threesome at night with my fellow apartment sisters.  

Though things are going a little bit differently than the normal, the work still goes on. The blessings still come and I can definitely feel Christ's strength with me.

Mahal ko kayo!
Sister Koncurat

P.S. If you missed the young adult fireside, check it out! https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-devotionals/2015/01/living-with-purpose-the-importance-of-real-intent?cid=HPSU011115617&lang=eng

Magandang buhay!

Magandang buhay! (Good Life)

Can I just testify how true the Book of Mormon is?! It has the power to change lives, seriously! Right now, it is my goal for everyone I teach to read it. I heard a story not too long ago about someone who had a friend that was not a member of the church. The friend had a severe smoking addiction and every time he tried to quit, he would relapse. The friend gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon and told him if he would read it, he would be able to break the addiction. He started reading the first couple chapters and questioned his friend's theory, saying how he didn't really see how this would break his addiction. The friend replied, "Keep reading." The man got further into the Book of Mormon and questioned again, but the friend yet replied, "Keep reading." Eventually by the end of reading, the man no longer had a taste for cigarettes and took the challenge to ask God if it what he read was true. Without a doubt, the man knew it was.

Here, on my mission, I have seen miracles brought about because of the Book of Mormon. I have seen the change in the unity of families because of the restored gospel. Right now, I can see the progress already as our investigator is in the middle of reading the Book of Mormon.

We met one of our newest investigators just a couple weeks ago. When we met her, she hardly said a word, but when we asked if we could return to see her, she replied, "If you want to." The following visit, we gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon. Although seemingly uninterested, she accepted it and said she would read it. We were shocked when the next time we came back she told us that she wasn't done, but to our surprise, she was already half way through. She has now finished it, only 3 weeks later, and has accepted the invitation to be baptized. Amazing, di ba?

This past week, at our quarterly interviews, Sister Rahlf asked us who our favorite Book of Mormon hero is. I said Ammon, from the book of Alma. He was a wicked man, but when he came to find the truth, he spent the rest of his life serving the Lord. He stood against those who hated him, who even wanted to kill him, but because of his exceeding faith and his righteous purpose, he was protected. He knew which way he faced, when he said that the strength he had was not his own, but of the Lords. His mission has inspired my purpose and the work that I do here.

I challenge everyone to read the Book of Mormon, even if you have already read it, read it again! If you don't know of it's truthfulness, ask our Heavenly Father in prayer. Take advantage of the blessing that we have right at our fingertips.     http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Koncurat

Maligayong Bagong Taon!

It's 2015 already?! What?? Sheesh, time is flying!!  I know I say that all the time but it TOTALLY DOES!!  With all the excitement that happens on new years eve, we were asked to be in by 6 pm to keep safe.   My fellow apartment mates and I all played games and I introduced them to roasted s'mores (can you believe none of them had a clue what s'mores were? ah, Americano!) Then at midnight a ton of fireworks started to going off so we went out and watched them in the street. One very funny tradition here, at midnight, everyone jumps up, so they literally jump into the new year. We got so distracted with our games that we forgot to do the countdown or jump. I will make sure to bring that tradition home with me next year though.  One of the games we did play had a penalty if you lost.... the winner got to draw on your face with lipstick. I guess my winning luck has left me, because I lost almost every time.... I look so great, right?!

Because of the early curfew,  I was able to do some reflecting and goal setting. This has been one of the most interesting years of my life and it will be a time I will never ever forget.  As hard as a mission is, I can say, I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. Just one year ago, I was just preparing to leave for my mission.  Before embarking on this awesome adventure, I was getting some last minute shopping done, sewing skirts, and being just plain lazy (yeah, I admit it, I was pretty darn lazy); you really don't know what work is until...

I remember talking with my older brother, sharing with him how nervous I was not really knowing what was to come. He assured me that serving a mission is one of the hardest things we could do, but one of the best as well. This week I was thinking about that, knowing now that a mission is so hard, why would anyone want to do it?  ...and then I remembered the first part in the Plan of Salvation. In our pre-earthly existence, Heavenly Father told us of His plan. He told us we were going to have challenges and tests in this life, but there are greater blessings to come if we choose to accept His plan. Everyone of us that is here now on the earth; rejoiced and choose His great plan. Knowing that we have hard things ahead didn't deter us.  I've witnessed both the challenges and the great blessings throughout this past year and it's been so awesome.  2015 will be full of all new challenges but I know the blessings will also be poured out upon us all.  For those preparing to go on a mission, know it isn't always easy working as hard as we do, or striving for that perfect strict obedience, but I can also tell you, the tender mercies of the Lord, the changes you see in yourself and those around you are some of the greatest things you could ever witness in your life. I encourage everyone who is able to serve a mission, just GO! "If ye have the desires to serve God, ye are called to the work (D&C 4:3)." The greatest thing about a mission and about life in general is that we are not alone in any of it. We have Jesus Christ at our side, always willing to help. I testify that I have felt him at my side every step of the way.

Today as we were on our way back from Banaue Rice Terraces for our Prep Day Activity, we stopped for a second and I saw this sign posted at the top of a waiting shed.

Remember, He is always there. And I testify that the hardest things lead to some of the greatest blessings and incomprehensible JOY.

Maligayong Bagong Taon! (Happy New Year)
Love you all!
Sister Koncurat

PS.  We had a great trip to the rice terraces and I got a new camera for Christmas sooooo...tons o'pics!

duck face selfie! and one of my most favorite people I've met, Sister Akau from Kiribati, Kiribati people are so awesome!

Sis A in our traditional Ifugao tribal hats

tradiontional Ifugao women...they're so cute, right?!

Happy New Year!!

note from mom--Sister K didn't get a lot of time to write this week since she got to skype with us on Christmas Day.  She did send a few photos she took with her new camera we sent her.  I expect some great photography next week when she visits Banaue Rice Terraces again. 

[Christmas here in Nueva Vizcaya]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Love,
Sister K

HE is the GIFT!

Merry Christmas to All!! 

In my personal study, I am studying the life of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. I love the story of his birth. As I think about the work of the angel that came to tell that Christ was born and proclaim peace and good will for all mankind, I liken it to the work that I am doing here. In a way, missionaries can be like those angels spreading the good news of the gospel and being a proclaimer of peace. I feel so blessed to be here and be a part of this great and marvelous work, bringing that love, joy, and peace to all as we testify of our Savior Jesus Christ.

This past week was pretty great. We were able to go to Santiago for a Christmas devotional. Sister Rahlf talked about the music of Christmas and President Rahlf talked about the gifts of Christmas. When we really think about what the true meaning of Christmas and the real blessing it is in our life, it becomes so much more special. He showed us a picture of one of his favorite paintings. It was a room full of toys and presents, yet the two kids were completely focused on the little nativity set. For anyone who hasn't seen the "He is the Gift" video, I challenge you to watch it and this Christmas really think about the gift of our Savior and His example to us all.   [please watch the link below]

Even with Christmas coming up, missionary work still goes about as normal. This week we had kind of a funny experience. Last Sunday, a member introduced us to a couple that lived close by him. We taught them that day and they were excited for us to come back. We set a return appointment for a specific time and everything. Even the day before we saw one of the the family members and confirmed that we would see them the following day. So when we showed up at there house for the appointment, their house had been completely abandoned. All the walls were stripped of the bamboo frame and there was nothing left...GONE...VANISHED!! Sister Garcia and I stood there puzzled, thinking that they must have ran away from us as fast as possible. Turns out they didn't. They just had to move for a problem with the land that they were on, but for a while we were so confused. It was a great laugh afterward!  ; )

Hope you all have a great week and a very Merry CHRISTmas!!  Remember, HE is the gift!

Love you all,
Sister K

I hope I'm always a "Lifter"

Ten more days 'till Christmas!!! Meaning ten more days until I can Skype the fam!! The countdown begins!

I got quite a few questions this week from various people so here are my answers...

So this week was pretty great. The most memorable thing was last Thursday we got to go back to Santiago to hear from Elder and Sister Bowen. When President Rahlf introduced them, he explained how they were "lifters." They are the kind of people who lift others higher, rather than "leaners" that tend to not necessarily bring others down, but make things heavier than they should be. So I ask myself, "Am I a lifter, or a leaner?" There were so many great things about what they talked about, so it is hard to say it all, but I testify that the spirit was very strong.

The times I probably feel the strongest spirit, though, is when I am able to testify about the reasons why I am on a mission. We have a less-active that we taught a couple days ago. She is a young mother of 2 and her husband currently is living abroad for work. She hasn't been to church in over a year and in the past had no desire in coming back. This week as we were teaching she ask why we would leave our family for so long, and if we were worried about them. What I was able to tell her was that I wouldn't be this far from home if I didn't know that this church is true. I testified of how I was sent here to help families learn what my family has been blessed with my whole life and that I am not really worried about them because there has been a promise that as we serve the Lord, our families are being taken care of. The spirit was undeniable. This Sunday she came to church with her two kids. Miracles, I tell ya!

One tradition, I've learned here in the Pines that I will bring back with me. Is "Sopas Sunday." I love sopas. It is like this macaroni soup with cabbage and carrots and pretty much whatever you want to add into it. We make it a lot on Sunday because the title just fits. They other thing is curry so that is something I will probably make often when I get home too. They're all great for student cheap eats!

The streets are crowed. There are a ton of different kinds of vehicles and it is always soooooo loud. Motorcycles are the most popular form of transportation. So it sounds like a dirt bike track most of the time. There are a lot shops along the streets and BBQ street vendors too. And it doesn't really matter where you walk. Most people don't really walk on the sidewalks anyway... But you have to be careful because there is no such thing a traffic lane,  people just drive wherever they want.  

Hope that answered your questions. If anyone has anymore feel free to ask!  I would love to hear from you!

love you all!

Sister K.