KUMUSTA?! It is seriously blowing my mind how fast the time is just flying by! I feel like I was just sitting down to email you guys yesterday! Craziness! So like all my other emails, this week's is likewise going to be all over the place, pasensiya. I try to organize it somewhat but it ends up just a mess, so I apologize, but nonetheless I hope you learn lots and enjoy! :)
First off I had a pretty good week. Thursday, my comp and I prayed to have a better day and to work really hard to stay awake, etc, because TH are so dang hard for us. Welp we were doing GREAT! seriously alllll day we just stayed awake, were focused, everything, then that night things went a bit downhill. 1) I didn't get a letter from you guys which was way harder than I expected. I guess I really do rely on those things to keep me going, no worries though, I was fine. :) 2) I don't know if Mel told you, but the sister missionaries are singing in the General Relief Society Broadcast! So cool right?! Welp my kasama and I have been singing in the choir since we got here, we sing at devotionals and stuff so we were really excited when the director told us we would be singing at General Conference! He told us that we would get a letter in the mail telling us our part, etc. Welp we never got them. It was/is really really really disappointing. I don't exactly understand why not but to say the least, my companion and I will not be singing in the choir. So the other 2 sisters in my district who are amazing, and who are our sister training leaders, they got letters to sing in the choir. Man, this has been so hard on me the past couple weeks and especially this week as I have had to just sit back and let everyone else do what I am usually the one to do. Does that make sense? It's kind of confusing but I feel like I try to be involved in lots of things, I have always been the leader type and now I am none of that, just a missionary, which I know is great, but it's still hard, my companion couldn't care less but yeah. that's it. So unless a miracle happens, which I'm praying for, I will not be singing at General Conference. Oh well, more time to learn Tagalog and practice teaching right? :)
Okay moving on to a happier note, sorry haha
(A personal note written to each of the family here....not included)
YES of course I have a countdown to the Philippines, what kind of a question is that?? Ha! I am so stoked! This Monday we will be losing two more districts so my little district will be the oldest! Isn't that crazy? I swear I just got here yesterday. Then Tuesday we are off to our new home on West Campus then less than 2 weeks later, NAGA HERE I COME. :) So yes we are moving. I guess they are doing renovations or something so there are quite a few people heading over to West Campus/Wyview. I am actually pretty excited because I will get to experience both campuses. That rarely happens so that's pretty neat-o.
Things with my Kasama are going better. They were never bad per se but we are getting closer and growing more every single week, it's wonderful and truly amazing to watch and track our progress. Yes, she will be my kasama for the whole time, but that is okay with me, it's hard at times but I love her and we really have come a long way together so I can't wait to see how we will continue to learn, grow, and improve together. As far as I know Oct 07 is still our departure date, get this, we get our travel plans this upcoming FRIDAY! AH! It is a big big big deal here and we are all ecstatic! I know I get to call you from the airport, not sure if it is in Salt Lake or during my layover in Cali or Oregon or something, I don't know that. I will find this all out hopefully Friday when I get my plans. I will let you know as soon as I can, don't you even worry. :)
So glad you guys were inspired by Felix's story and that you are sharing it! How cool! I am proud :) ha I love all my teachers here. I have learned so much from all of them and they really are just amazing. I'm pretty sure I said this last week, but I just learn so much more every week! It's amazing! So one of my most favorite teachers ever, Brother Lopez, has been leaving the last 10 minutes of class for questions about the Philippines and his mission, etc. Welp this week he told us about the animals in the 'Pines, well in his mission at least, San Pablo. He said that he would be sitting at dinner and a spider, correction, a monster, would hop right up next to his plate. He said the spider's body was bigger than his whole hand and under it's belly it had this white "cookie" hanging there. The spider would then begin to shake, and quiver and all of a sudden that "cookie" broke into a million pieces and next thing you know you are getting a little extra protein from all the baby spiders in your food. Sounds delicious right? FALSE! That is so nasty. I am not very excited for that. He said the first time it happened he jumped up and screamed and the family whose house it was just looked at him like he was insane while they continued to eat their baby spiders. hahaha I was dying of laughter because I could not believe what I was hearing! I will for sure keep you posted on whether or not that happens to me. Lookin' forward to the adventure. :) Oh also he says they have these massive Moneter (spelling?) Lizards that just FALL from the trees! Uh, I'm sorry what? haha Apparently they make for good supper so they just run away from people, but still, what if it falls ON me?! oh boy oh boy, i can't wait. :) haha
OH! I saw Allena yesterday! Well first off, a friend of mine came up to me the other day saying that she was in the doctor's office when a Sister O..something.. stood up and asked if anyone knew a Sister Roderick and that she says hi but she's on west campus so that's why I haven't seen her, etc. So I knew exactly who it was and thought that was really sweet and you know, just yeah ha then yesterday in the cafeteria cute little Allena came running up to me and gave me a bug hug! She was there with her district for in-field orientation because they head out for California on Tuesday! God is great. What a blessing that was for the both of us to see each other at that exact moment right before she leaves, miracle for sure. Also another miracle get this, her companion is Sister Alicia Faudree from Tooele Utah, aka my old roommate Brittni's best best friend. I wondered if they would be companions because I knew they were both going to Sacramento and sure enough they are companions! Awesome! I didn't have my camera with me but Sister Faudree said she would email those to me eventually so I'll send those when I can. Also, Allena said she hasn't gotten mail yet..Maybe you guys could write her or encourage others to write her? She said it was a huge blessing to see me, a part of home from Virginia, because she was a bit homesick. :) Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside that I could help in that way :)
Okay soooo exciting news of the week (along with everything else I just told you)! We committed both of our investigators, Nocon and Jun-Jun to baptism on October 4th! (Remember this is just role play, kind of) but still, the spirit is so strong in all of our lessons and it feels so great to be sharing this true gospel with these people and working every single day to bring them closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite things about my mission so far is the opportunity I have to just search, study, and dive deep into the scriptures every single day. I LOVE the scriptures. I loved them before my mission but it is a completely different, greater, love and appreciation for them now. The scriptures are truly the word of God and I challenge you guys to not only read them more but study them and look for answers to your questions and concerns. We do this activity every once in awhile where we think of a question we have, about anything really, we pick a random chapter in the Book of Mormon, and we study it and search for an answer to that question. Try it, it works. I promise. It amazes me every single time I do it. :)
Oh one last story, last Sunday at the end of sacrament meeting the counselor got up and said "and now Sister Roderick will give the closing prayer?" I looked up thinking "uh..what? was that my name?" everyone looked over at me, I was so confused because they hadn't asked me before hand so I said "I mean, I can." so sure enough I just pranced right on up there and gave the closing sacrament prayer in Tagalog. my first time praying in a different language in front of a big group of people. I didn't even have time to be nervous and lots of people came up and complimented me on how good the prayer was. Made me feel good, there is hope! I am getting better! haha :)
Sorry that this letter was all over the place again and not too exciting this week but only so much happens here in the good ol' MTC. I really do love it here and am loving immersing myself in the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a great work this is and what a remarkable opportunity this is for me to learn and grow and bring others unto Christ. As one of my teacher's once said, "We are in the business of Salvation." Open your mouth and talk to your friends and family. Do not be afraid to share what you know to be true because this is the true gospel and God will bless you for your efforts to draw people closer to Him. I love you all so much and hope to hear from you soon!
Mahal Kita!
-Sister Emily Roderick
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| Em and Hannon, a college roommate, both at the MTC now! |
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| Emily with Emily Petersen - she ran into her at the Temple Visitor's Center |
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