Mission Time In Cebu

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cellulitis

So I have had a little bit of an adventure this week. Before I get into all the gruesome details. I just wanted to tell you yes I love blood stew...haha. I didn't know that I had been eating it reguraly until last week. oops. Oh and our baptisms were wonderful, I felt the spirit soo strong and they were soo happy. Even little michael was behaved all through out church the next day. Also I spoke on sunday again and told them how my happiest joy comes from seeing the people you love be baptized. We also had a family that has been having very many problems start family prayer and there have been miracles in their family relationships from that. I hope they continue. So now here is the story...

So we all know that I am not to bright when it comes to injuries. Yes I do have a lot of pride. So we were walking from our wonderful baptisms and I have severe aching crazy pain in my foot. I was limping pretty bad, but I didn't want to tell S. Martin so I told her I just needed new shoes. Well we keep on working but our appointments fall through. So when we get home I just have a little blister so I ignore it. The next day we go to church and I have tolerable pain, but when we get home I am once again in super severe pain but no sign of an injury. So yes we work the whole day...and I have a high pain tolerance but it was excrutiating. We thought maybe we should text sister hansen, but I was like no lets wait and see if it heals. I was taking so anit biotics and the next day we went to district meeting and my entire foot was swollen and all the Elders were like YES YOU SHOULD TEXT S> HANSEN and you SHOULD NOT be working. OF course I said I was fine, I had taken excedrin and then we were walking to the CSP and I found another stalker that we have pictures of yes!! He kept talking to me and I told him one of the elders was my husband and he is very angry. haha but he still wouldnt leave me alone. We have pictures dont you worry. So finally we got ahold of S. Hansen and she said that yes I have a medical emergency and I need to come to Cebu. That the disease could be serious and if it reaches my heart I could die, or also lose my foot. She said supposedly the pain is soo bad I should be on cruches and was suprised I had been walking...haha. oops. well...of course we are never down in our Bogo Zone. The elders started to make jokes that I would end up as one of the videos on mormon.org. and be a one legged skier and saying "I'm Cari, I'm a missionary, I'm an amputee and I'm a mormon." and they would be soo proud to say they knew me. haha so we laughed the whole time. But I was a little scared...my foot looked pretty bad. But I wasn't gonna let it get me down. S. martin and I took the 4 hour bus ride to cebu packed up for 4 days and we went to the hospital and met the APs there that night. Yes and we i2led the whole way there...haha. The doctor told me that yes I do have cellulitis. (yes...that disease) and I can't work for at least 3 days...and she gave me a whole bunch of pills and if I develop a fever or it gets worse I have to be admitted into the hospital. So I have been chilling (slightly going crazy) in the apas apartment with 4 sisters and s martin. But they do have a hot shower which I havent experienced for the past 10 months. I think I can leave tomorrow DONT WORRY b/c I think that my foot looks better. Its really hard being confined to an apt. when your a missionary. I miss the work, and feel guilty for not working. Its like I feel like there is some way we could be working AND I worry about the area. But we've had a little fun, we found a way to hook up the tv and watch some proselyting videos and the sisters are fun here. SO DON"T WORRY, I just had another adventure. Oh and mail me those letters I would love to read them, and I love you all. Don't worry about me even when I was scared I read my setting apart blessing that I would be safe from sickness and injury and just knew everything would be all right, so we just tried to laugh the whole trip and make fun of the whole situation. Well love you all...sorry I never have time for the internet to long.

Ayo AYo

Car

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Well...it might be spring for all of you, but summer has started here and IT IS HOTT! Well it has been raining super hard or super hott one of the extremes.

We had the most amazing week, we doubled the mission standards hitting 40 lessons!!!! I didn't think it was possible but we did it :) and through diligence of course comes success...we had 7 of our baptismal candidates attend church-three which should be baptized this Saturday!! I am sending home a cd of pictures this week soo hopefully you should be looking forward to getting 2. I just love these investigators...one is a single mother who has completely changed around her life and is so excited. The other is a 15 year old boy that we just have lots of fun with and has completely made a turn around, stopped drugs and smoking and is just loving being apart of the youth in the church. He has a friend we are teaching which is just the nicest funniest little filipino with the funniest smile. The last is one of my favorites and one of the most difficult he is 9 years old and he has 11 brothers and sisters and tons of relatives and we have been teaching him for soo long b/c he is very very stubborn. But his family has returned to church b/c of him and although he is super stubborn he is super funny. You will be able to tell by the pictures he loves pictures and sometimes gets violent with us b/c he needs to be the center of the picture. super funny. He was soo nervous for his interview but after wards came out dancing and E. Hardin just said he laughed the whole interview. It will be on of my greatest moments to see this little guy go into the waters of baptism. E. Hardin thought he was only 4 years old...haha.

We had a district CSP this last Monday...whacked down weeds with machetes (no idea the spelling) You can just guess the elders LOVED that! We got to drink and eat fresh coconuts...the fruit here is just amazing. I usually boil bananas or eat fried food on the street or rice. I don't know I am soo random there is no rhyme or reason to my eating here. I do miss mexican food like crazy but I don't know how you would send that. I don't need any make up or tooth paste I have a ton.

So I was kissed. I have been trying to be such an obedient and good missionary but I am sorry mom and dad. I was kissed on my mission....oops. There was a drunk man and he told me he loved me and took my hand and kissed it long and hard. haha. He was harmless though...his friend tried to stump me with a question. He asked if we all came from Adam and Eve why are there filipinos and Americans and Chinese? I just sat there and then he kept questioning and I was like well what do you think? and he got mad and said "WHY are you white and I am brown?" and I said, "Brother its b/c its hotter here." (funnier in cebuano) everyone laughed and he was confused and a little disheveled b/c he lost his edge.haha

So we had a district activity. We wanted to go hiking and they wanted to bring live chickens to kill and cook. haha. elders... but then it rained so we went to this area we had never been to and ended up trying to cross a river by the ocean that was deeper then we thoughts and Elder Banzon fell and cut open his foot so the elders took a shirt and ripped it so we could continue our journey. We ended up wandering through a grave yard which had human skulls and bones every where. Until we finally ended up on a private beach resort.oops. It was pretty beautiful though, but we decided as missionaries it is not good to be trespassing. So we just got back from a long adventure of wandering in the jungle and beaches with elders and machetes, spearing trees. haha. yes I am in the Philippines.

I just wanted to say..I AM SO PROUD OF SCOTT, yes I can't wait for him to just serve a wonderful fulfilling mission. But as much as it sounds like all fun and games it is definitely work. HARD WORK, but the most worth it work I have ever done. I think President Davis is going to have to hunt me down to remove this name badge and release me. B/c I don't know if I can willingly allow myself to have this amazing power and spirit gone from me. I just love helping these people and having them set an example for me. Each of them has a piece of my heart forever. This place is engraved in my heart. I love it.
Padayon sa inyong ehemplo ug maayong gibuhat!! I love you all!!!

Love,

Cari

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Bogo 3/8/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKEY!!!! I felt soo bad I never said it to Dad on his birthday...but I always think about all of you on your birthdays...I love you soo much.

I am soo happy that Janessa is serving a mission...I just think every girl should serve. But I am very biased. And I received letters from Emily and Virginia...its always fun to get those surprise letters you don't expect, letters are definitely the best thing. Oh and by the way I've been receiving letters from all my converts....and I am proud to say ALL are very active and even fellow shipping the new investigators in Mabolo. I feel like such a proud mama, I am one lucky missionary to have these people in my life.

Oh and we are looking forward to HOPEFULLY 5 baptisms this March...HOPEFULLY!! But you know how things go, Satan is strong...but God is stronger. I always joke how our investigators are like little caterpillars waiting to hatch out of their cocoons...soo corny..I know. But its soo true, they always start out soo shy and nervous (to pray especially or even answer questions-filipino culture usually) but then they just become these strong, amazing people that are examples to me.

That dinner for Brookey just sounds amazing...can that be my homecoming dinner..haha? (I told Cari that Brooke chose bbq'd cheeseburgers, tater tots, macaroni salad, and cheescake for her birthday dinner) Tell Brooke I'll bring her home a dog, I sent you a picture of one, you'll just love him. By the way we found a huge lizzard in our apartment last night, apparently they can jump on you and if they do...you can't remove it bc it will pull off your skin with it, so you just have to wait until it wants to get off you. I was a little scared, but he's gone now. I took a picture, don't worry.

I went to the temple today...got to take another beautiful drive on the coast with the sunrise. Life just does not get better. I saw all my MTC batch again except for Schenk and Johnson. I have seen Elder McBride last transfer his first day but didn't get a chance to talk to him.

What picture of me is on the wall? haha.

The lice is gone, we had some investigators and members pulling lice out of my hair again..haha. They love to do it, they say it makes them happy. So I give the people what they want.

I am glad Scott is not dating...FOCUS on the mission...girls are trouble.haha. He's still little Scotty to me. Courtney SHOULD NOT transfer to the UofU terrible place (jk....but BYU is better) Most of the missionaries are not BYU fans haha. Unsa pa?

You would just love my people here...its amazing to see the change in these people and their testimony, pray for my investigators, pray for my converts.

I have been praying and fasting for Richard's son. I just feel soo comforted about it...that everything will be okay. I know the Lord is always protecting us and everything is in the Lord's hands if we are living the right way. I pray and fast for your family mom and even testify about them to my investigators I know there are miracles about to happen. I just know it. I feel it as I talk about it with my investigators. I know this mission is such a miracle I can't talk about it without getting emotional. I just wish I had more time. WALAY TIME! Its true I am soo tired but I just wish I had the energy to just run to every appointment....I feel your prayers. I feel close to you all everyday, closer than I even felt when I was living with you. B/c now I know, now I know what I have talked about my whole life up until now, is real. Its not just words its my life. I heard a testimony where a missionary said "The way I walk is my testimony, the way I talk and act is my testimony." Soo true...the way we live our lives is our testimony. Love you all....

AYO AYO!!!

Cari (carry on!!!)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Hump Week

So yes Bogo Zone is being translated, we have NO TRANSFERS this transfer....absolutely amazing, except for one of the Zone leaders who translated with out us, he is now AP. I swear all the Aps come from Bogo. So my admirer has laid off a little bit, I think he left a hand made wooden flower on my door step, but now he only calls me idol and says he misses me. He doesnt attempt to talk to me too much. Sounds like your cruise was absolutely amazing, jealous kaayo especially since b/c I have fallen in love with the Book of Mormon on my mission I would love to see that. So last week I spoke again on the spot during sacrament meeting, I'm getting pretty used to that, and this week I get to teach primary!!! Which I'm really excited about, I just love the kids here...last week I did the singing time. We have some good investigators. Jerson, is a 14 yr old boy we found by doing quick I2ls just inviting to church, and he showed up. He has a past but he is really changing and has even started to memorize the articles of faith. He is participating in the youth dance for the jubilee this may. and is really excited. We also have a single mother who also is find a real love for the gospel. Our lessons are very spiritual, I cried last time when talking about the temple and seeing you two in the celestial room for the first time. I told her it was a glimpse of heaven. I always use our family for an example. haha. So if things keep going right we should be having some baptisms again this month!!! YAY!! my greatest joy. Other than that, not too much has happened.

I'm really sorry about Dan...wow. He needs to be careful, but I'm probably the last one to be saying that...every time I see this tall coconut tree I just want to climb it...there are little grooves to put your feet in so you can climb up. Luckily I have smarter companions and they would never let me do it. Especially in a skirt, I'm trying to obey missionary conduct, but that is probably the hardest thing for me...haha. I'm trying to become sister like. We had a basketball game this morning and I was trying really hard not to be competitive and guard the elders. haha. I'll be more careful after my mission, I know God protected me so that I could serve here...but after that I probably wont have the same protection..haha. Tell Dan he is in my prayers and I think I sent him a letter which he should be getting soon.

My lice is getting better...slowly losing it. I'm jealous you held a gator....so far I've only held snakes and a huge biting lizard...that will be in the picture cd I just sent. He was killed right after and skinned, Elder Frecker has the skin...seriously the elders souvenirs are soo weird. I will continue to pray for aunt cathe...I fasted for her and Richard's little boy. I know miracles happen. They really do!!! Love you all soo much!!! Be happy everyday we have the Gospel!! I feel close to you all everyday, and use you in my lessons and testimonies. Continue to share your experiences.


Love you all,

Carry on!