Week 17

Well this week was busy! We taught a total of 7 lessons haha. Compared to our 20+... But it is because we went to the island! Catanduanes! From tuesday until thursday. The boat ride there was super long. I wrote letters and took a nap. But it was so long. The water was a little rocky but not as bad as we had been expecting. Once we got to the island we had to take a tricey! to the city where the Sister missionaries are. Yeah a tricey, not a jeepney. For like 30-45 minutes. On like not paved roads. It was rough... I think that made me more sick than the boat ride. Catanduanes was super pretty. And the work there is great- missionaries have a lot of people to teach. BUT, well conditions are hard. Like I think I'm roughing it here in Tabaco, but man there- its hard. We didn't have water for like over a day. For no reason at all. It was frustrating. That's just how it is on the island- they commonly lose water. But yeah it was fun. Guess what I did there- WORKED IN A RICE FIELD. Yeah ME! It was super dirty and hot but what an experience. Basically we like were weeding in the rice field with all the old men who like farm there. It was a service activity. But the best part- I got to where one of those cool hats! Sorry I don't have a picture I really wish I did. But yeah like you know those straw hats that you see like Asians wearing in the rice fields? I wore one. And felt super cool... The exchanges were cool. Their area is legit jungle. Let me tell you a story, we took a tricey for about 20 minutes until we hit the end of the paved road then the tricey wouldn't take us any farther. Then we walked for about a mile on a dirt road. Then that road ended. Then we took this small path in the tall grass for a few minutes til we hit a river. Then we CROSS THE RIVER by stones. Then we enter legit jungle. Like where monkeys live. And we HIKE (I'm like sweating from this) up the mountain jungle and I'm just thinking- there is NO WAY someone lives out here. But behold. There was! Two houses actually. And we taught a less active and it was so peaceful and the Spirit was really strong. I am still amazed at how far out they live. Basically all they eat is coconut because the market is so far and they are really poor. Which is really sad. It amazes me how people have such strong faith despite their terrible circumstances. But yeah that's basically my story for Catanduanes. It was fun but living there is a lot harder which makes me really hope I don't get transferred there ever... Speaking of- TRANSFERS. This is my LAST week as a trainee. It's been interesting and I really have learned a lot. This upcoming Saturday we will find out who is being transferred and who is staying (me or Sister Andrada!) I really have no idea and no preference. I'm excited for whatever is next. 

So the rest of this week, we focused on the Besmonte family of course. Their baptismal interview was on saturday. It was amazing. LK went first (the daughter) and she was super nervous, but came out SKIPPING. She was so excited (and still is) for her baptism. Next was Brother Besmonte, he wasn't really nervous but he is excited as well. Next was Sister Besmonte. Her interview was AT LEAST 45 minutes long. She is such a talker. But she came out and was excited and is sure she wants to be baptized this upcoming saturday :) YAY. Last was Kazzter. He was super nervous. He even had me review all the questions with him while the others were going. But he came out excited. It was the first time my district leader had interviewed people for baptism so he was all excited too. He even noted- This family is GOLDEN. They were prepared by Heavenly Father long before we came along. This family has strengthened my testimony, seeing their faith but also seeing how the Lord's promise to missionaries, that He is preparing people, yeah I see that fulfilled. I love this family so much and am very grateful the Lord trusted ME with them. After their interviews we asked them who they wanted to baptize them. We had thought it would be one of the Brothers who came with us a lot to teaching appointments and has been a great fellow-shipper for them. But sister surprised us all. Who she asked for made us all laugh and wonder if it was possible. I'll tell you all next week after the baptism to tell you WHO is baptizing this amazingly golden family :)

Yeah I don't have much else to say. We have a new family we are starting to teach who seem really interested as well. They came to church yesterday which surprised us! We have only taught this family once, and asked them to come to church but weren't super like pushy about it. Then they showed up! So that was a great surprise. I am looking forward to teaching them again later this week. Problem is that the father works in Legazpi during the week and is only home like on weekends. Another problem is that they speak Bicol and very little Tagalog. Which is just a JOY for me. I hardly know Tagalog- and all I know of Bicol is how to say Yes, No, and Good morning, afternoon, evening. Oh well! I trust that Heavenly Father will help them! 

So yeah my tagalog is coming. I am pretty confident to teach anything and can say almost anything I want while we are in lessons. But conversations are pretty bad. Like impossible. And understanding is difficult. People speak a lot of Bicol so that's an added difficulty to understanding. But when they do speak Tagalog, and they speak slow, I can get an idea of what they said MOST THE TIME. I keep working. I wish that one day I would wake up fluent, but I don't think Heavenly Father works that way. Who knows- He can do miracles! Ha.

So yeah I don't really have a spiritual thought... I didn't really plan my blog out this week like I normally do... I was busy! We had a district activity this morning. It was... well we meant to go to waterfalls but then we got to this place called Aqua falls... and it was just a swimming pool. SO that was a no... We ended up playing volleyball. It was fun but I'm really bad. Thing's are good. I do like it here but it's tiring. It never ends. We have a busy week. Tuesday is Missionary Leadership Council so me and Sister Andrada have to be in Legazpi for a meeting at like 8am. Which means leaving here at 6am. We have zone training on friday which will be fun. And saturday is SUPER busy. We have NO time to proselyte on saturday. We have a meeting in the morning, then the relief society broadcast in the afternoon, then the Besmonte's baptism at 4. Then we have a party for a member that we were invited to go to. And there will probably be A LOT of less actives at it so we need to go. But yeah that's my upcoming week :) I hope you all have a good week! 

Mahal ko kayo!

~Sister Ianuzi

Week 16

Hi everyone

This past week was so long. For no reason at all really. We should of had a really productive week and been teaching a lot but we just got punted (like people weren't there for us to teach or were busy and wouldn't let us) A LOT. We taught 16 lessons the whole week. Normally we are like 10 higher than that. But I guess it's OK. We tried our hardest. We are working hard to prepare the Besmonte's for baptism. They are sure that this is the path for them (hearing that is like the best thing in the world- all you other missionaries know!) but of course like many are, they are a little scared. The kids are scared for the interview itself but not for the actual baptism. The parents are more scared just because they understand how big of a commitment this is and really want to live and follow all of the covenants they will be making. They are really golden- like seriously. I feel blessed to be able to help them and bring them the gospel. 

This past week I studied about faith a lot. And realized how important it is to ACT on your faith. Like the bible says- Faith without works is dead! We teach a lot of people who say they have faith in Jesus Christ and all that He did for them, yet they don't follow His example. Jesus Christ is clear that we are to follow the example He has set for us, and through that example we will be happy. True faith means working hard EVERYDAY to become more like your Savoir Jesus Christ. Believing without acting is weak. Really if you had true faith in Christ, you would act on it and do the things He has asked you to do. The bible dictionary says "Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true and must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation." Our faith is really important! It is what leads to salvation! Remember to act on your faith :)

Other things from this past week, um I finished a journal? For like the first time ever. The food is good. Like really good- which is a problem because I am eating a lot. And probably gaining weight. Oh well! I blame the rice! There is a typhoon happening up north so we have had intense winds here. Which means a lot of brown outs. And like it makes wearing a skirt kind of difficult! Haha! And it's a problem because the pudjuk drivers don't want to take us to our apartment because it's up a hill, and they don't want to go against the wind. So that is fun- it means more walking for us! That's probably good because of all the food I eat! We are going to Catanduanes this week for exchanges- its an island here in the zone. I'm excited to see how it is different. But also a little scared. If this wind keeps up the boat ride will be rough... It's about a 4 hour boat ride but with wind it may be longer! Oh well! It's all an adventure!

I hope you are all doing good

Mahal Kita

Sister Ianuzi :)

p.s. I still don't know tagalog. The day I wake up fluent I'll be sure to mention it in the email, but until then just assume I continue sounding like a 2 year old babbling...

Week 15

This past week flew by. Time is really starting to go by fast! We had mission tour this past week. We had Elder and Sister Neilson visit us, of the seventy. I learned A TON. Sister Neilson talked a lot about how it's important that you choose the perspective you have, and that you look for holiness in everyday life. Elder Neilson talked a lot about how important it is to use the enabling power of the atonement and not just the redeeming power. I loved an example he used saying, look at how old the leaders of our church are. And look at how old the missionaries are. Neither of those people could do what they do without the help of the atonement. 80 year old men would not have the energy to do the work they do if there wasn't divine help. And 18 year old boys wouldn't have so much success in sharing the gospel if it wasn't for divine help. That help all comes through the enabling power of the atonement. It is so amazing to see and to use!

Well this past week we had more exchanges. Every exchanges I am learning to love Sister Andrada more and appreciate our companionship more. I don't want to get a new companion in a few weeks! We are still teaching and preparing the Besmonte family for baptism on October 5th- they are just as excited as we are! And yeah I am just living life as a missionary. I study a lot and am out teaching as much as we can. My language is coming along... slowly... This past week though I had 3 people compliment me and comment how much I've improved in Tagalog since I first got here. So that was a really nice boost in confidence. I am now basically always able to teach- it's just conversation and understanding that I am struggling with. But I know it will come in time as Heavenly Father see's it is needed. I hope you are all doing well. I am loving life as a missionary :) I miss you all but I love it here! Ha.

Mahal Kita

Sister Ianuzi

p.s. PLEASE write me :)

Week 14

This past week I studied some about charity and love. And I realized, how much charity helps us more than it helps the person you are giving it too. Does that seem like counter-active to anyone else? ANYWAYS, I liked this scripture 

 And acharity suffereth long, and is bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But acharity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endurethcforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

(Moroni 7:45-48) And just how like if we do something out of charity and love, we are promised by God, that we won't fail in it. Like how awesome of a promise is that? Truly, faith hope and charity are a fountain of all righteousness. 

So as I am typing this a huge cockroach just crawled across the table. And so now I am having a panic attack and I don't know where it went. GAH. Philippinesssss. Anyways, we had exchanges again this week so that Sister Andrada could be trained as a Sister Training Leader. So now this week have MORE exchanges with sisters in our district. Basically we have exchanges every week left of the transfer. We have mission tour this week which will be fun. That means traveling to Legazpi- traveling is always fun. Except we have to be there at 8 so we have to leave at like 6am. Which will NOT be fun. Oh well. Worth it! Keep sending me mail everyone- I love it :) And I am really good at writing anyone back who wrote me! Things are going good. Oh something funny. They say "gray-ham" for the word graham like graham cracker. I laughed for a while when I heard that one. So I learned how to say "are you going to go down?" this week, No joke it is "Bababa ka ba?" LIKE HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT?! How is this even a language. Bababa ka ba? Anyways, yeah if that gives you any idea of what this language is like- you'll know how I'm doing at speaking it.

So the BEST thing that happened this past week- THE BESMONTES COMMITTED TO BAPTISM ON OCTOBER 5th! AND ARE SO EXCITED! They basically asked for the date. The WHOLE family! Me and Sister Andrada jumped around in happiness when we got out of the lesson. I love this family so much it makes me so happy to see them excited to follow Christ's example for us. Yeah, that was the best thing that has happened thus far on the mission.

I hope you are all doing well. My life is going good. I am happy! I like it here! I miss you all! Mahal Kita -Sister Ianuzi

Week 13

So we studied about the Book of Mormon all week in companionship study. And I really just how important it is that my investigators read the book DAILY. When you read the Book of Mormon you have the Holy Ghost with you. And that feeling will lead to baptism. Only from reading it can you know that is it true. But notice how for years, since it was published, people have tried to dispute it and say it is false. And yet they haven't been able to prove it. And while so many people try to say its not true, hundreds of people every year learn for themselves that it IS true. The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth, as said by Joseph Smith. I know this as well. I love reading the Book of Mormon and can clearly see the difference it makes in my day when I read it. I hope everyone who reads my blog will take the initiative to read the Book of Mormon and find out for themselves if the book is true. Honestly what do you have to lose? Just spend 10 minutes a day reading it and say a year from now you'll be done (probably sooner). And then you will know. It is true. And it will help you in your life. In ways you can't imagine. You will be happier. I promise. And President Hinckley said "Without reservation, I promise you that if you will prayfully read the Book of Mormon regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hears the Spirit of the Lord" I really hope you all read it. It's changed my life. It's why I am here.

So about this week, Sister Andrada was made a Sister Training Leader. Which means a lot of traveling for us this transfer. We have meetings in Legazpi, and then exchanges. Which means- I'm going to the island! (Our zone has one of the small islands thats in the mission) I'm a little excited if you couldn't notice. We got a new sister in the apartment, Sister Mwea! She is new and in training. She's from like an island in the pacific... I can't remember where! Sorry! Somewhere I've never heard of before. She is still adjusting to the area, I remember my adjustment was hard. Um what else, oh I'm learning to cook a lot which is cool. I'm getting terrible tan lines on my feet. And probably the highlight of the week would be the Besmonte family! They ALL came to church yesterday. I started tearing up when I saw them all walk in as a family. They love this gospel and they love the branch and the branch loves them. They were so prepared for this gospel in their lives it is amazing to see how Heavenly Father works. I love that family so much. I really hope that I see them baptized, but of course I recognize that it is all up to Heavenly Father!

Anyways, I don't have much to say. Or much time. But I hope youare all having a great week!

Mahal Kita

Sister Ianuzi