Kumusta mgatao!

My scripture of the week D&C 84:88

I have been very sick this week. Cough drops and tissue have been my best friends. We did the calculations and I have consumed over 800 calories worth of cough drops in the past 3 days. One class, I crossed the room so many times to get tissues that an Elder got up and put the box on my desk. 

But a little cold won't stop the work. Oh, no! According to the last progress check, I have about 600 words of Tagalog vocabulary and I have memorized the missionary purpose, baptismal invitation, and first vision in Tagalog. Our lessons have invited the spirit better as we have been able to simply plan out the concepts that we are going to teach in English instead of trying to translate phrases and memorize them. 

For the Fourth of July, we watched the Stadium of Fire firework show from the windows of the new MTC buildings. It was pretty cool but the extended curfew wasn't worth it because we still had to get up at the same time the next morning.

Since I really didn't take any pictures this week let me just share some funny things that happened:

One of the Elders in my district came up to me and whispered "Can you keep a secret? You know how we can't have pets?" and then preceded to show me a picture of a paper bowl filled with dirt. "His name is Korihor" he said. And that's the story of how the Elders have a pet Rolly Polly who they named after the Anti Christ from the Book of Mormon. (Korihor died 2 days later) 

I was in the bathroom stall changing when all of a sudden from the stall next to me I hear a flush and a "SISTER! MY NAME TAG IS IN THE TOILET!" and that's the story of how Sister Terry flushed away her name tag.

The last incident happened in a silent class as we were all doing separate language studies. One Elder, who was intensely studying a English/Tagalog dictionary, states "Never going to give you up and never going to let you down are almost the same in Tagalog." (They aren't) 

Naga Sisters

Here is one picture right after going to the temple for the last time. The Provo temple just closed for cleaning so unless I go to the temple while staying in Manila, it was my last time for 18 months.

My Wall

One thing I have noticed is that I am a weirdly optimistic missionary. I always knew I was an optimist, but when I think about the monumental work that gathering Zion is, how can I not work with a sense of joy and urgency? The opportunity to have power and authority to preach to and love people through the spirit is AMAZING! A mission isn't some sacrifice that takes you away from normal life. This is how I want my life to be every single day after my mission. I feel so close to God and I know once I don't have this sacred calling some things will change but I hope that never does. I always wish to be in the service of my God and fellow men. I hope my future husband loves missionary work as much as I do because this is NOT the last mission that I am going to serve! This is the hope for my future and I see it with perfect brightness because it is centered in my Lord and savior Jesus Christ

I hope you all have a magandang araw! (beautiful day) 

-Sister Gray