Week 43

Hello po sa inyo lahaT! 

The cap on the T is because I realized I really suck at pronouncing the T in Tagalog. And Sister Jemino has been helping. Kahit I know Tagalog- I still speak it with an American accent. So MEET MY NEW COMPANION: Sister Jemino! Taga Davao, Mindanao area of the Philippines. So like the southern part. She is SO SO sweet and kind. And like basically pretrained. But lets first tell the story of how she got here. So the plan was on wednesday we go to the church (the trainers) at 8 and wait for them to show up around 9. But then it was like 10 and no one had showed up yet. There has been a big festival going on lately so there is a lot of traffic but we were worried. Then I receive a text from the AP saying "flight canceled" thats it. ha. So yeah all the new missionaries didn't show up. Then everyone like the APs and leaders goes on super stress mode and tries to find them a new flight- but the earliest flight isn't until Friday. So then they end up feeding us lunch and tell us to go out to work in my area. Ha. They ended up deciding to BUS the new missionaries down from Manila to Legazpi. That's like over 12 hours! kawawa sila! But they get here on thursday! They are all so tired ha but they are so nice! We have a training and get to know each other and it was a good day- just long. The new missionaries were all SO tired. Friday we had our first day of work together! Wow she was so good! even though it was kind of an off day and a lot of walking she was so good! I am so excited to be her companion! So on saturday night we were out teaching and we get a text saying "magsasalita ka bukas" meaning "you will speak tomorrow" WHAT?! Thanks for the heads up. SO yeah thats the life of a missionary- when people cancel last minute the missionaries always speak! Grrr. But yeah sundaymorning comes along. Church starts and midway though the opening song- brown out. So yeah I get to speak without a mike and its SUPER hot. But ha I did it. Sympre about missionary work. But yeah it was all good. And at church yesterday we had a less active come for the first time in about 5 years! Miracles are starting here in Legazpi! Gotta love it! I am excited to continue to work here and serve with Sister Jemino! Hope you all have a great week! Mahal kita!

Sister Ianuzi

Week 42

Magandang linggo sa inyo lahat!

So this week was okay. I’ve gotten a small cold so that’s a little annoying. And I stepped on a rusty nail on Saturday so now it hurts to walk but hey- I just keep on going. If the pain doesn’t go away beforetomorrow I’ll go see a doctor. Or who knows- maybe I’ll come home footless! Ha. Joke-lang. So miracle for the week! We had one Nanay come to church yesterday for the first time in 10 to 20 years. It almost made me cry I was so happy. I am excited to go teach her this week and encourage her to come again. On that note- transfer announcements came on Saturday night. I am staying here for another 3 months. I got called to train. That means 7 and a half months in Legazpi. I feel so spoiled here. But anyways! I do love the people here. Sister Whaanga is transferred. I am really sad to see her leave. She is so fun! Oh sad news! My bag has finally ripped. The one I brought from home as my mission bag. It lasted a good 9 months! But now is gone. And will be missed. And I already bought the replacement. Which I probably spent too much on but oh well. Hopefully it lasts me the next 9 months. But my main pair of shoes are still going strong! I’m hoping they last the whole mission. Gotta love ya some crocs! But yeah time is really flying here. Hopefully things continue to be great! Have a good week!

Mahal kita!

Sister Ianuzi

Week 41

Hello po sa inyo lahat!

So gotta make this one fast sorry! But it was a great week! We got 35 lessons! Like what?! It’s the like mission goal here and like no one gets it ha. But hey! We do now! It was great. We are so tired from it but hopefully we do it again this week. Wednesday was fun! We were at an investigators house (Larry, he is SUPER cool) and he goes and climbs a coconut tree and gives us buko! And not like 1 buko but like 5 ha! We cut them open (well he does) and like gahh sobrang masarap! You have no idea. Like the coconut milk straight from the coconut?! Best thing ever. Really. And then the buko itself is so good. Friday we had zone training and it was good. I really learned a lot about how like I can’t get in the way of the Lord doing his work. I am His instrument and He needs me. So I hope I keep doing good and let Him do His work. Sunday was great. We went HARD. We were so close to the 35 lessons so we just kept going til curfew to get them ha! And we did! We had some members feed us lunch which was so sweet and kind. AND the best part! We had SIX investigators come to church! WHAT?! That’s unheard of ha. We were sitting in sacrament meeting and like we had 3 which is good as it is! But then a little bit into it this family we are teaching, the Legsons, come ! Nay, Tay and 1 daughter. It was so good! They really enjoyed it. I couldn’t stop smiling the whole day. The work here in Legazpi is picking up and I’m loving it. I really hope and pray this isn’t my last week here… Transfers are next week and this is my 3^rd transfer in the area. Who knows- only God! I hope you are all doing great! I need to write like a ton of people letters soooo yeah just be patient if you are waiting for a reply. Namimiss ko kayo!

Mahal ko kayo

Sister Ianuzi

Week 40

Well this week was crazy. I’ll start out on Tuesday- we go to teach John and find out JOHN IS BEING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! Ha. President decided he is ready and we don’t need to wait one more week. And yeah well it goes against the standards but President calls the shots soooo yeah. We hurry and prepare him! Ha. We end up going there every day of the week ha. Wednesday was my 9 month mark so yeah that was crazy. We had a really good day of teaching with a strong spirit is like all of our lessons. Couldn’t have asked for a better day! We even go to do some community service! And when I say we I mean Sister Whaanga did as I walked behind. We were walking down a mountain after teaching and we see a lady bringing 2 pals of water up a mountain. So we ask to help- and she keeps trying to say no because she said she lives far. But we couldn’t let her do it alone! It as hot! Anyways so like I’m a weakling and couldn’t lift the pal of water because it was like heavy! But Sister Whaanga could ha. So she carries one and the lady carried one. And I walk behind hahaha. But man- I was TIRED> And I didn’t even carry anything. She wasn’t joking when she said she lives far. She was AT THE TOP! But yeah its all good. She is nice and said we can go back to teach her. We just haven’t made it up the hill yet… Its really high up ha. Saturday was the baptism! YAY! John was so happy! He is a quiet person but he just kept smiling the whole time. I felt the Spirit and knew that he was ready for this. He really has changed since the missionaries started teaching him. We had another investigator show up to the baptism, Eillen. She is so funny and so great. Afterwards she says “seguro ako yung susunod!” meaning “maybe I’ll be the next one!” So yeah- hopefully! Ha. Sunday was Johns confirmation and he was ordained to  a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. He is excited and so happy to finally be baptized. I can’t believe this even happened still. It was all so fast but so happy and exciting. I am really happy with where I am right now. I feel like I am doing what the Lord needs me to do. And I am so grateful to be here with all these amazing people. I love this work! I hope you are all doing good too!

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Ianuzi

Week 39

Hello po! Kamusta po kayo!? This week was good. It flew by really. We had a ton of meetings and practices so I felt like we hardly worked. But hopefully we get more time this week. We had mission tour this past week which was fun. I really learned a lot about setting goals and am motivated to become the best I can be. This past weekend we also had stake conference here is Legazpi and it was great. Somehow we ended up in the Stake Choir but yeah it was all good. We had FOUR investigators at church on sunday. We were SO SO SO shocked. We saw 2 there and were so happy and then like 2 more came up to us at the end that we hadn't even seen!! One was Eillen, our amazing investigator who loves all this. We are hoping to meet her husband this week and be able to talk more about baptism with her. Then John was able to come again. We are hoping to finalize his baptism for this month sometime. And one of the best miracles I saw was Arleen. She is a member but hasn't been to church in over 7 years. I love her- she lives SUPER far away. Part of the big problem she doesn't come to church is that it is so far away and costs so much to come. We even struggle paying to go out to visit people in the area but we love the people there so we sacrifice. But she CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY! And she walked half the way because she couldn't afford the whole ride. I don't think I've ever been so proud of someone. I really love her and I know she knows this Gospel is true. I am so grateful for the love from Heavenly Father for each of us and all the help He willingly gives to us to help us through life. So yeah thats my life right now. Sister Whaanga is great and I feel like she does most the work most the time. She is so enthusiastic and upbeat- I should really try to be like her more! Ha. I hope you are all doing good!

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Ianuzi

Week 38

Magandang hapon sa inyo lahat. Sobrang maganda ang linggo ko ngayon. Nakakita ko ang kaibahan dito sa Legazpi and sobrang masaya ako. Maraming lessons kami itong linggo so sympre masaya kami. My all time high so far in the mission for total lessons. We have a bunch of new investigators and we have new baptismal dates and we have progressing investigators. We have a lot of members willing to work with us. All the sudden there was a like 180 change to the work- but of course I'm not complaining. I've really learned how diligence and patience are a big part of this work. My miracle for the week happened yesterday at church, sacrament meeting had started and we had no one there. Very few less actives and no investigators. (it was raining. when it rains no one comes. it sucks) but then about 15 minutes into the meeting, Ellaine, a new investigator walks in with her two young daughters. Me and Sister Whaanga almost started to cry we were so happy. We just started teaching Ellaine last week. We got to her twice. She is SO interested and I am really excited to continue with her. I know this is the Lords work. I am so grateful for the chance to help in it and help these people here. I truly have come to love the Pines and it is so crazy how fast time flies. I see the Lords help in everything here. This past week I found myself speaking Tagalog words I didn't even know. After a lesson I had to ask Sister Whaanga if she remembered what I had said and we wrote it down to look up later (it was right! and made sense!) The gift of tongues is true. And amazing. Kahit namiss ko kayo- gustong gusto ko yung mission. Mahal ko ang mga tao at ang culture dito. Talaga I love it all. Alam ko na itong simbahan ay yung kaharian ng Diyos dito sa mundo at ito lang ang paraan para sa atin na makabalik sa Diyos. Alam ko na may plano ng Diyos para sa atin lahat at mahal na mahal tayo ng Diyos. Mahal ko kayo. At sympre namimiss ko kayo.

Ingay kayo 'lagi

Sister Ianuzi

Week 37

Hello po sa inyo lahat!

Well I finished typing this whole thing out once, and then we lost power here in the internet shop and I lost it. SO now it is time to round two- and I am lazy so it will not be as exciting ha. This past week was just a regular week here. I don’t have a ton to say. It is getting quite warm here and this heat really takes all my energy. I am like always tired now so that’s a great feeling ha. I wake up and am already tired. But oh well- that’s missionary work! We have a new sister in the house- She is from Samoa and is super cute and nice. But I cannot say her last name for the life of me yet. Let alone spell it ha. Me and Sister Whaanga are just continuing trying to find more investigators because Legazpi desperately needs them. We are continuing to work with John, but he is so ready for baptism we are just passing time right now. Hopefully all goes well in the upcoming weeks though! Oh funny story- I was talking with Sister Whaanga and said “Sometimes I think I look tan but then I realize I am sitting in the dark.” SO yeah that’s my life here. I try so hard to get tan but I am still the whitest person in the room at any given moment. But for myself- I have gotten darker. Just with really bad farmer tan lines. #missionarylifeinthepines. Ha. OH! I almost forgot! Last Monday the Elders surprise me with 10893597398 letters! Ok not that many but like A LOT. I still haven’t even read all of them because I haven’t had enough time. So thank you J I am replying as fast as I can of course. Well this past week I read Jacob 7 and REALLY enjoyed it. Jacob has such strong faith and hope and patience. Even though Sherem is trying to try his faith, Jacob doesn't falter. It really shows how important our testimonies are and how we never know what kind of trials we will face- but that with a strong testimony we can overcome everything. Well yup- I said more the first time I wrote this but I’m too lazy now. Ha sorry. Namimiss ko kayo!

Mahal kita

Sister Ianuzi