Week 34

Hello po sa inyo lahat!

I hope you all had a good week! I sure did! Ha. We have a new family that we are teaching who like told us they wanted to be baptized before we even said anything. Ha love how that happens. So we will see what happens from now on! We had sisters from Catanduanes stay in the Apartment one night. There was a new sister from America who seemed overwhelmed like I used to be. Ha that time in the beginning is so hard to adjust. But now I love it here in the Pines! We had exchanges this past week which were fine… We actually taught a ton of lessons this week. I don’t know what was different! But it made me happy! Ha I don’t really have any like stories though from this week so sorry. A less active member that we teach actually gave us a list of vocabulary this week ha. So I’ll take that as a sign I still need to learn Tagalog but hey- I’m grateful for the help! She also included the Bicol ha. So hard. Oh ha one funny story about church. We were in Gospel Principles class which is always kind of crazy here in Legazpi but yeah. We were somehow on the topic of how men need women (it was like how God created Eve so Adam wouldn’t be alone…) and this one old single guy in the  class made the comment “eh basta may pagkain!” which like doesn’t translate directly but means “eh at least we have food!” Me and Sister Whaanga are still laughing about it. SO yeah that probably wasn’t that funny for all of you but yeah filppino humor is different than American. Really different.  But its all good! I was studying this week about the importance of families because we are teaching a family home evening later tonight on it. But I read the Family Proclamation. I encourage everyone to read and learn about the divine nature of our families and the importance. I know that this gospel is the way for us to return back to Heavenly Father as a family. And that is the only way to be truly happy. I miss you all and hope you are all doing good! (or how I would say it: Alam ko na ang ebanghelyo ay yung paraan para sa atin na makabalik sa Ama sa Langit bilang pamilya. At ito po ang paraan para sa atin na matangap tunay na kaligayahan.)

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Ianuzi

Ps- here in the link to the Family Proclamation

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation

Week 33

Magandang araw po! This week was good! Me and my companion have started getting really close. And we both are worried because there seems to be no problem... and we all know when there is no problem something big is coming. So yeah calm before the storm. Ha. Anyways it has been SO SO cold here. Actually I asked and its been like in the 70's. But I am absolutely FREEZING. I wear sweaters always. And in the apartment I have like thick socks on always and my blanket wrapped around me. Showering in the morning is the most miserable time of my day because its so cold. I think after being here for so long I can't handle ANYTHING cold. I wonder how I am ever going to live in snow ever again... We had maraming dinner appointments this past week so that was fun as always. The ward is very kind here to missionaries. Oh! I hit my 6 months in the Pines this past week! We didn't really do anything for it because it was so cold outside I just wanted to curl up in bed the second we were done working at night. I really have been so cold... The Philippinos are laughing that me the American is cold. I got a lot more letters this week and now am overwhelmed with writing back. But I promise I will get back to you all asap! Ummm in other news I have gotten about 100 more bug bites this week. Which I don't understand because its been cold. Basically my legs are just full of bug bite scars. What a fun life. Oh I am currently reading the Book of Mormon over and it is just SO GOOD. Like I read it and I am like "why have I never seen this before!" And I am always sharing this with my companion who just laughs at me. Because it happens like on every  page. But yeah it is so good. And I encourage everyone to read it! For the first time or for the hundreth! There is always something more to learn! I hope you are all doing good! I miss you all! I will get back to all the letters! Thank you talaga!

Mahal ko kayo

Sister Ianuzi

Week 32

Well this past week was a long one. But it's okay! One thing I thought of to mention- here in the Philippines whenever you ask someone for directions or like where something is in a store- they go with you to find it or get it. And if they can't they ask someone else to take you. It was really awkward at first but now I'm used to it. People here are just like really nice. We were teaching this old Nanay last night and like we finish the lesson and like were about to ask to say a closing prayer when she brings us out dinner. It was SO SO kind of her. They are kind of struggling (like most people here) with money and with just like having food. I always hate when people feed us who hardly have enough food for themselves. But she just loves us and missionaries so much and is just such a kind sweet old Nanay. She is a member, we are trying to get her to go to the temple but the problem is money. She come to church most weeks now since I've been here. I really like her. We had zone training this past week which was great. We learned a lot about the importance of teaching people and really focusing on their needs. And not just teaching lessons and going about things fast as if they weren't imporant. Because like I am sharing the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. This is important for people to understand and to live. So I am trying to really focus and understand different concerns on the people right now. I got MARAMING MGA SULAT! (many letters) this week. So salamat sa indo gabos! (thank you to you all in bicol) And I will work on writing you all back. It has been SO SO cold here. Like really I have worn like sweaters almost everyday. I think there is a storm somewhere south of here right now so we have like a low pressure point. So it is so windy and just cold (well cold for here in the Pines). SO yeah thats my week. I hope you are all doing good. Namimiss ko kayo!

Sister Ianuzi

Week 31

Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyo lahat! ha. So this past week was a little crazy. It was transfer week and then New Years. First about New Years- I was so tired from transfers that I ended up falling asleep and then just waking up at 12 because the fireworks were so loud outside. Ha what a way to bring in the year 2014 hahaha. But anyways the word for new in tagalog in Bago. It also means change. So I challenge everyone to use this year of 2014 to change and become the better you. Set goals and just work on becoming more Christlike. Well so this past week I have felt God's help in my life more than ever before. I have been called to be a Senior Companion which is crazy. So I am leading my companion around in like everything and I always feel like I don't know what I am doing. But it was actually a really good week of work and we taught a lot and we found a lot of people to go back to this week. So my new companion is Sister Whaanga from New Zealand. So yeah I also am like her follow up trainer so she has been here for 3 months. And so I am trying to teach her Tagalog. Me. Yeah it's kind of crazy. I am supposed to be like understanding everyone and leading everything when half the time I don't know what is going on. So yeah its kind of crazy. But Sister Whaanga is great. She is so crazy and loud and funny. Her nickname is energizer bunny because she never stops. But it makes the work a lot more fun. So yeah it will be an interesting transfer with the both of us trying to speak Tagalog. But hey- this is what the Lord wanted so we are both working our hardest! And who the Lord calls He qualifies! I know this is true. I know this work is true. And this is the time that He needs me to do it. And so I will continue to give my all and I know that's all He expects.

Mahal ko kayo! Patuloy na lang! At ignat 'lagi!

(I love you all! Just continue! And take care always!)

Sister Ianuzi