I've heard already that you can tell I'm doing a lot better, just from the pictures. Well, it's true :)
It's really funny actually. After I emailed last Monday, I was in the worst mood. I let it travel into Tuesday as well. It was the most unsuccessful night/morning. I was so tired of everything, and so down, and so confused. I had NO idea what to do. Those are the hardest/scariest times on the mission. Being so lost. But we're so lucky to have the Lord on our side, because you know what you do in those moments of desperation? You kneel down. Kneel down, and pray. Sister T and I struggled as a companionship monday and tuesday, and then, despite what we were going through, we knelt down together and just cried. It was probably the most desperate prayer I've ever given. She's been getting migraines, causing her to not be able to work, and making me feel useless. So we were a mess! Haha but we got up, we went out, and found 4 youth waiting at our appointment to help us out for the day. What a blessing they were! We tracted and got totally rejected by every single person, taught a few lessons, and came home in the best mood I've ever been in. I felt so successful, even though it was a normal day! Nothing happened, nothing was different, other than the fact that we completely humbled ourselves and gave ourselves to the Lord. And guess what? He totally provided, specifically 4 youth in fact, that were so excited to help us.
We went to Tacloban this week for Sister T's check up. It was so good to see everyone, as always. It's nice to see others from my MTC batch alive, and still treading through the language. We've got this! We got a few days to encourage each other and then get back to work.
Once we got back, the Elder's had a referral for us. Her name is C, she's the owner of their new apartment. We went straight to her house the next day just to meet her. We taught the most amazing lesson. It's funny, I was SO nervous in the MTC whenever we had to teach. But ever since I've been here, even though I've had EVERY reason to be nervous not knowing the language, I haven't been nervous once. This one especially. We just talked to her. We got to know her, who she was, what she was struggling with, and we loved her the second she opened her mouth. It was so easy. I understood everything that went on, despite the language differences. We both knew exactly what to teach her, and it was not what we planned at all. But we taught her what we knew she needed to know, for the next hour. And she was so perceptive! We asked her to read the book of mormon, she said "Sigi". We asked her to pray about the book of mormon, she said, "Sigi". And we asked her that when she got the answer that is was true, would she be baptized, she said, "Sigi". You know how a missionaries job is to just go and preach the gospel, and the Lord will prepare the people? Yeah, he totally prepares his people. I have no idea what will happen with her, but I know what I felt in that lesson: Heavenly Father's love for me, for my companion and for her. It was so clear and it was so right. I am so glad I'm here. If only to have gained that testimony for myself. I'm beginning to learn how exactly to trust in the Lord.
Our investigator got baptized this week! As seen in the pictures. He's awesome, we're so proud of him! I was so lucky to have him as my first baptism.
We also had a family come to church this week! The family who's daughter passed away. We gave them a reading assignment and committed them to come this week. They did! We were so happy to see them :) Seeing children and youth with their parents at church after seeing them attend alone is the sweetest thing I have ever witnessed. We don't realize how lucky most of us are to have our whole family with us at church. It is such a blessing.
So, yes. I am doing amazing. The members here are taking care of us so well! I've committed to stop eating so much rice though, it makes me so full so fast, but it doesn't fulfill any food cravings...which is really stupid but it's annoying! Haha so I haven't eaten as much rice the past few days and I'm feeling a lot better! I'll be riced out by the time I get home, I just know it. Summer is officially over here! It's now rainy season! So it's still hot, but it'll get cooler more often. Tender Mercy for us Americans haha.
I love you all!!!! And I miss you all every day, but it's not too distracting anymore. Missionary work is fun when you actually work your hardest. Imagine that!
Sister Hogge
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