August 19, 2013: God Puts Those in Your Path that Need Your Help

Kamusta Pamilya

I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!!!!! On hard days I remember that I have emails full of inspiring words and people praying, loving and supporting me. It makes it all worth it. Emails are absolutely precious to me. I can't express that enough. 

Question for everyone. If someone has already been baptized in another church (all my investigators have been baptized Catholic and usually Baptist too. haha)  I want to explain the purpose without straight up telling them their baptism didn't count. It didn't matter. It was wrong. They were baptized before because they wanted to follow God they just didn't have the truth. Help!

A lot happened this week. I ate a lot of new foods, like chicken noodle soup with huge chunks of banana in it. Apparently its very popular here.

Also, Rumbutan, that crazy spikey fruit they have in grocery stores. It's like a giant peeled grape inside. Super good. 

I ate sugar cane. So good! It really looks like bamboo, like a huge think bamboo stick that's not hollow. Then you cut off the outside and eat the inside.. still like a stick.and the texture is too but it tastes really sweet. You just chew it for  a few seconds then spit it out. It's pretty funny. I felt like a real Filipino. 

Oh and agogo. It's like ice mixed with an otter pop. Way good. 

Oh dear. I'm trying to speak more to everyone right? So i asked this little boy what his name is. and he looks at me and just started peeing. Yep, happened. A lot of time little kids don't wear pants. just longer shirts. and babies never have diapers. So that was awesome. 

A couple of kids started following us around in one of our areas, so i started mimicking everything they did and they thought it was hilarious. I just have to be happy and nice because I usually can't think of anything to say. you know how I'm shy when I first meet people and don't know what to say or to little kids.. multiply that times 100 because i have to say it all in another language. but im trying. 

They have brown outs here pretty often. aka no power. because of too much wind or rain or just no reason. they can last for 5 minutes or days. We had 2 this week and one was 12 hours long. 6pm to 6am. So we had to do all our studying and cooking by candlelight. And it's really hot because no one can use fans so we are just dripping in sweat. awesome. 

oh and the funniest thing this week. we are teaching a girl named clysel and her sister is a recent convert glysel joy... yeah they sound like the same name to me too. they are only a year apart and look like twins. so we are always confused about which is which. and my companion commited joy to get baptized..... again... oopps. she said yes though haha. so we are accidently teaching false doctrine. it was way funny. 

The elders in the ward had a baptism this week and it was great. Hopefully ill be going to baptisms every Saturday for the rest of my mission. That's the goal. 

We had 11 less actives come to church yesterday. It was so awesome. On of the men hasn't come for 6 years and he text us last night and said "thank you for guiding me sisters". It was so awesome!!!!!

And my favorite investigator family(the Ramos family) came to church for the first time. My companion and I both started tearing up. They are so awesome. They have 4 kids. 3 adorable nice boys that love the missionaries and 1 baby girl that is so cute! They are truly searching for the truth and said they loved church. It just makes me so so so happy. We found them because we were lost and we needed directions for another house. We stopped to ask and they asked if we could come back. Interesting that God puts those in your path that need your help. I know this is His work. I think of My Comission often and try to say and do what He would say and do to the very people He has sent me. 

Another girl, Clarence, is preparing for baptism on the 31st. We found her on accident too and she is awesome. When we taught her yesterday she really looked different. Beautiful. Happier and more confident. I can see she is changing and I am so happy the gospel is blessing her life. 

One thing i love about this place is all the people live really close.. like the same neighborhood as their cousins and parents. It's awesome. I think it's so important that we live close. I would even consider living in a house like that to be close to family. It's the most important. :) 

I also realized the importance today of loving people, really loving them. Sincerely wanting to know how they are doing and then listening. actually listening. That's how they will recognize love. It's such a huge deal. Listen to people. Be sincerely interested in them. 

I love you all so much! You're the greatest! I love loving people. I am trying hard to show love to everyone. Love people. Truly love them and everything else will come. When we love God, really love Him, we want to obey. We want to do what He asks and it doesn't seem hard. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

Sister Kimberly Foote

August 12, 2013: If We Really Know God, We will Trust Him

Kamusta kamo pamilia. Ma-ayong aga (Hi everyone. Good morning)

Those are the words I use the most... pretty much all I can confidently say haha. It's good though. I'm loving it here. 

The start of this week was pretty rough, but the end was good. We had ward conference and we had 3 investigators and 6 less actives we have been teaching come!!! so awesome :) And one of the less actives hasn't been to church for 6 years. 

Last week when we were trying to get home we went like 5 minutes too far on the bus and when we got off we were lost because we are both new to the area. We were taking the jeepney home but it was dark and pouring rain so we couldn't see our neighborhood. (You just yell "here" when you want them to stop. There are no "bus stops") so we went too far and when we got off we were lost. A member who happened to be on the bus too jumped off and walked with us until we found our neighborhood. People here are seriously so nice! She was late for work but helped anyway. And we were walking on a 1 foot wide path in the dark with a 7ft drop off into muddy water. Awesome times here. 

People here are sooo funny. Oh my goodness. The little kids are just so excited for us to come to their houses. It's so cute. And they love giving high fives. 

And the people STARE at us everywhere we are. Every person. We are the only Americans I've seen since I've been here so they are just happy to see us. Everyone calls us beautiful all the time....yeah we are covered in sweat and so gross..so whatever. 

I see funny things here everyday. There are lizards that just hang out on everyone's walls all the time. It's fine, no one cares and sometimes they chase each other. It's entertaining. And there are chickens fighting in the streets and what not. It's great. There are ants everywhere, but i haven't seen any huge gross bugs.....yet.

I have a shower bucket. Not that bad minus it's cold water. And i have to wash my clothes in a bucket every week that's a little rough i don't really know what I'm doing. But i have 2 Filipino sisters in my house so they try to teach me, and just laugh and say I'm cute because I'm doing it totally wrong. 

Teaching is going pretty well. I always bear my testimony and pray and try to teach a few principles or recite the first vision. It's hard because I don't really understand what the people are saying most of the time...so I just guess based on facial expressions mostly. When people ask me questions I just kinda stare at them because i don't know what the right response is. I also taught the bishop and his family fhe last week... kinda intimidating in Ilonggo.

 That's what the nice houses look like. We also teach in some bamboo huts. 

I have been studying a lot about God's love and I know the scripture in John 17:3 (And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.) is so true. If we really know God we will trust Him. He is so loving and merciful and only does things to help us. WE are his work. (Moses 1:39--For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.)

President Hinckley said we need to bring people into the gospel with kindness, so that's my goal for the week. Love and serve everyone.

I am loving life here, even though some days are hard. I am grateful for what I'm learning and for my faith. God loves us. He loves us. 

I love you so much!!!

Love, 

Sister Foote

Alma 31:34-35--

 34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

 35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.

August 5: They Understand the Blessings that come from the Gospel

Kamusta Pamilya ko.

I have been so blessed this week. I have been happier than I expected to be. So, I traveled forever but was able to sleep some so that was good and I was with my district which was great. I sat next to a Filipino on the way and she said she told me about the Philippines. I gave her a pass along card and she seemed fairly interested. 

Then we had training but you already saw pictures of that. Then i met my trainer Sister Rosdahl. She is from America and is so nice. Se has only been here for 3 months so it's kinda crazy, but she understand almost everything and speaks pretty well. I understand when she talks. and some things others say. but not tons, especially when they really start going off.. telling a story or something. It's pure gibberish. 

I am convinced the 3 year olds know more Ilonggo than i do. And they do. It's so funny to hear toddlers talk because I can't tell if they are babbling or speaking Ilonggo. It's all the same to me. 

I'm in a 'wealthier' area. It still is poorer than anything I've ever seen, but most the people are fairly educated so they speak some English. Church was hilarious. They switch back and forth between English and Ilonggo every few words, then 3 minutes of straight Ilonggo and then straight English, and it's just random words. I can't figure out how they decide which language to speak. 

the kids are SO cute! I love them . They are hilarious. I am the only american I've seen besides my companion so people always stare. When we start speaking Ilonggo, their jaw drops. It's awesome. 

I have had some good food so far. Banana q... bbq banana with brown sugar around it. SO good. The bananas and mangoes really are SO GOOD. 

The hard part of this week is we are the first sisters in our area in 5 years so we were white washed. We have no idea where we are going or who to teach or anything. But the members have been so helpful. They will go with us for 5 hours at a time. They're awesome and so excited about missionary work, and so excited to have sisters! They all bore their testimonies about missionary work. Everyone. And i bore my testimony.. mostly Ilonggo.(Bishop asked us to). they sacrifice a lot to come to church and they all dress in their best. They understand the blessings that come from the gospel. One of the sisters said in church "money is not a measure of how blessed we are." 

We had one investigator and one less active come to church. Awesome. 

In the handbook it says "You represent the Lord in this area". I am trying hard to do that and show love. I want people to notice I'm different not just because I'm american but because I am emulating Christ. 

I love you!!!

ill explain more about the country next week. Keep praying for me. I think this week will be hard. 

Love,

Sister Foote 

July 31: First Views and Experiences is the Philippines

July 31: The Philippines-- Different than Anything I've Ever Seen

I made it to the mission home this morning. We traveled for over 2 days and slept for 5 hours in a hotel. We are in Bacolod now and its GORGEOUS!!! It's like Hawaii but better. It's so pretty. There are fields and beautiful trees everywhere.

But it's crazy. So crazy. Different than anything I've ever seen. The poverty is so evident. There are shacks built connected to each other everywhere with bamboo walls and dirty floors. Seriously so crazy. And those will be my areas. They keep all the sisters close to Bacolod so the senior couples can help if they need to. They greeted us at the airport today and they are so cute.

All the food I've had so far has been delicious.. the fish heads will come later.

It doesn't feel real but ill meet my companion today and start teaching tomorrow. (She is with her trainer, Sister Rosdahl, in the photo above.)

I love you, I love you, I love you!!!!!!

Love,
Sister Foote

July 25: God Will Bless You When You are in His Service

I leave for the Philippines in 4 days!!! I still love the MTC but I'm getting more and more ready to leave. I only have one real day of class left. It's so crazy and a little bit sad. I have grown so so close to my district. I love them all so much and my teachers are the greatest thing that have ever happen to me. They are so sweet, so funny, and so incredibly in tune with the spirit. It is amazing. It feels weird to be leaving and I just keep thinking there are other things I need to learn but our teachers say they are confident that we are ready! It's really amazing all we have learned. 

 

This week has been great. We got to host new missionaries again which was super fun. I loved meeting the two girls I hosted. They are going to be awesome missionaries. It's cool to remember how  far I've come and how much I've changed.

 

Probably the best part of the week is that I was able to memorize the whole 1st vision in ilonggo in one day (last friday). It was awesome. I really love it and can feel the power of the words even if they do just sound like gibberish. I know I was blessed to be able to learn it that quickly and it's been fun to help the other missionaries in my district learn too. My companion and I will just stop random missionaries outside and recite the first vision or bear our testimonies to them. It's a lot of fun.

 

I sang in the choir for the last time on Tuesday and we sang Praise to the Man. It was an awesome version and really cool. 

 

Life in the MTC is great. I love it. I love it. To all those considering a mission.... Go :) Don't be afraid or feel too inadequate. God will bless you when you are in His service. This work is so so important and can truly change and bless lives. All the things I thought I'd miss? I don't. I don't feel like I'm really sacrificing, I'm just getting blessings. We are helping God find His children.. What a great call. He is absolutely involved in this work. It is truly worth every sacrifice.

  

Anyway i love you lots and lots and lots. Kabalo ako nga makahimo ko ini (I know that I can do this. haha)

Next time you hear from me ill be in the Philippines!!!!!! And I'm sure I'll have a lot of adventures to report. Love you all so much! Pray for me. I'll need it now more than ever :) 

 

Sister Kimberly Foote

July 18, 2013: Faith and Fear Cannot Coexist

Kamusta Kamo!  Maayong Hapon!

I love you all so much. This week has mostly been really great. I had a lot of great experiences... 

including being able to see my dear sweet parents everyday. What an absolute blessing. I sad goodbye for real 2 days ago and it was a much better, more confident goodbye. I now understand more about being a missionary, being a companion and I have learned so much about this gospel and following the spirit. 

I get my travel plans... TOMORROW!!! Which means I leave for the Philippines a week from Monday.  Only a few more days of real showers and I only get to use a washing machine one more time.. but it's all so worth it. The other day we were sitting in class and I was just overcome with the thought,"This is worth every sacrifice. Every single one." And so I am more encouraged to study harder, to learn more, and be positive even though things are hard.

Every week we teach at TRC and last week we taught a woman from Bacolod. She is like 50 and so nice. It was so awesome to talk to her and I really was able to understand a lot. Forming sentences comes a lot faster for me now. It's still hard but I am trying to recognize the progress I have made. Funny story... 2 days ago I was trying hard to SYL (Speak Your Language) so I was trying to ask my district..."Can I please sit here" but it was taking me a long time to get the words out and in the mean time someone else sat down in my seat. It was awkward and hilarious.

Oh possibly the highlight of my week was that I learned Head Shoulders Knees and Toes in Ilonggo! It's awesome and way funny. (I've gotta entertain myself somehow, right?)

Ok, awesome thing happened yesterday!!! We got to host the new missionaries. It was so much fun. I loved getting to greet the new missionaries and tell them about how much I love the MTC!! It's the greatest. But I forgot to mention the chocolate milk... what was i thinking??? I dropped the first girl off at her Portuguese class and her teacher wasn't speaking any English. I felt bad leaving her with that shocked overwhelmed look on her face. I know I looked just like that a month ago. But I know she'll be great. She will learn and progress just like I did. It really was so cool to be able to see how far I've come, how much I've grown and how much I've learned.

But the best part of hosting was that I got to host KAYLA RICHARDSON!! She was so so so excited and happy. She is doing so great and I love her. And i happened to see her at night when she was going back to her residence and she said she had a great day and gave me a huge hug. So let her parents know she is the best.

One of my goals this week is to work on memorizing the first vision in Ilonggo. It is super hard but I now know what all the words mean so hopefully it won't be too difficult. Oh, and I memorized the "My Comission" by Bruce R Mckonkie. ....so so so good! You need to look it up. It was when I heard the Las Vegas missionaries recite this that I actually got excited about serving a mission. What a blessing it is to represent Jesus Christ.

I love the idea that faith and fear can not coexist. Our teacher was talking about how we pray all day for the gift of tongues and the spirit and to remember what we have studied. We prepare our lessons but when we walk in the door we say to ourselves, "I can't do this." We let fear back into our lives and our faith shrinks. We need to truly trust in God. Trust He actually will help us. His promises don't just apply to everyone else. They are for you, and for me.

Love forever

Sister Kimberly Foote