Ang Aking Unang Aki

Hello All! Fam, friends, lahat!

What a week it has been. 

Monday I said goodbye to the lovely Sister Sanft. That has been a lot harder than I expected it to be to say goodbye to her but that's okay. I'm growing, learning, and doing alright. She is now home in Texas and doing well. :)

Monday night until Wednesday morning I stayed in my old apartment in  Canaman with Sisters Andres and Barlow. We worked in their area while I awaited the arrival of my new companion from the Manila MTC. 

We went to Ace's house for dinner! He didn't know I was in Naga so I got to surprise him and his family! I was a little nervous to go again but it was so great! (especially since my Tagalog is way better now haha) BUT it was awesome to see and visit for a bit with him and his family. I went up to his dad (who is usually drunk but love him anyways) and asked "Tatay, do you remember me?" He looked up at me and reached out like he was going to pat my cheeks and says "Of course! Sister Roderick! How could I forget such a lovely face??" haha it was really cute and warmed my heart. :) I love that family and all those people in Canaman so much! I also happened to see 2 of my old investigators just on the street while we were walking and my heart was just leaping for joy! It is so true what they say about missionaries love for the people they teach. We plan for, work for, work with, pray for, fast for, study for, cry for, everything for these people! We are truly invested in these people, no wonder we love them so much!

So then Wednesday morning, I went with 2 other sisters to the mission home for our New Trainers Training to prepare to receive our new companions. I really wasn't too nervous to get a trainee because welp, what help is being nervous going to do for me? A solid nothing. So I decided to stay calm and it was a much better way I think. hah anyways, President and the Assistants gave us some instruction, we ate lunch, practiced taught, etc. then came time for announcements! Of course all the trainers and trainees are staring at each other as we're anticipating who will be our new companion. So first name called, "Sister Araja, congratulations on your new companion and trainer, Sister Roderick." What a blessing to go first! Ha less time for tummy sickness. :) 

So yup! Sister Cheyen Araja is my new companion, aki (kid), fresh from the MTC and I love her lots. She is from Manila. She was baptized in 2006. She is really organized and kind. We are getting along really well and I am SO happy with our companionship. Granted it is only week one, but I am hopeful for our future and know that we will see lots of miracles these next 3 months. I have already learned so much from her! Each companionship is just so different, it truly is interesting to see the different dynamics of each companionship. She has such a big heart and a desire to be exactly obedient and to work hard-just the kind of missionary I prayed to have come join me in Baao. With 2 missionaries unified in the same purpose and love for the work and the people, SO much work and SO many miracles happen. :) I have already had to step out of my comfort zone this week though as she knows nothing about our area, meaning I have had to lead most if not all of the lessons. She is getting more acquainted with the schedule and the area though so little by little we'll be working more fluidly together.

In other news: the older sister of our investigator as well as the mother of one of our less-active members both passed away this weekend, so we will be attending more funeral services this week. I will have now attended more funerals on my mission than in my whole life. I don't like it but we are doing what we can to show love and support to these families at this time in their life. 

One thing I have been trying to be better at these past couple weeks is not comparing myself to others and likewise not letting others bring me down. That is a blessing and a curse of the Filipino people-they say whatever they want, whenever they want to, not aware sometimes of how it will affect others. Sometimes we say things or do things that we don't necessarily mean to be degrading but it may still have an effect on others. SO, I have been trying to focus on my Father in Heaven's love for me and not worry about what others think. It is truly amazing what happens when you place Heavenly Father at the top of your priority list. Of course, we may still sometimes be hurt by the words and actions of others, but when God is our focus, nothing can being us down for good. We have greater strength to jump back up and to push forward with a smile on our face because no matter what others say or do, we KNOW that our Father in Heaven is there for us and loves us more than we can comprehend. What a peace that brings to my life. Even at times when we may feel completely alone, helpless, stressed, or self-conscious, be reassured that Heavenly Father knows us all personally, is here for us all, and loves us all. :) Press forward saints. 

Thank you Daddy for the talk you sent me, it could not have been more perfect timing. This is the testimony of Elder Holland at the end of his talk:

“Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another,” said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting foreveryone, ‘robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb’ [Revelation 7:14]. May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize” 

I want to add my testimony to that of Elder Holland's that Heavenly Father does love and know each of us personally. He knows our strengths and He knows our weaknesses. Keep the faith always and remember that we are all runners of this same race. We all may be different but there is only one way to finish the race honorably and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Keep on keepin' on. :)

I love you, miss you, am proud of you, and have faith in you. Smile! Life is to be enjoyed, not only endured. Until next week lovelies!

Mahal Kita!

-Sister Roderick

3 More Months, Let's Go!

Well, it is officially my last day with Sister Sanft. Where has the time gone? I swear we were just back in Canaman (my first area) as apartmentmates, and now we have already been companions for 8 weeks and I am sending her home tonight! What?!  Time is such a strange thing, kind of scary at times. Anywho, I am definitely sad to see Sister Sanft go but I am glad we had the time we had to work together as companions.

Saturday night we got transfer announcements and I received the lovely word that I will be staying in Baao for another 3 months while I train a new missionary. Of course there are a few butterflies floating around in my tummy right about now but it will be good and I am excited for all I am about to learn. 6 solid months in Baao, that means a whole one third of my mission in one small town. Bring it on. I am so stoked. What a great place to spend 6 months of my mission. :)

On that happy note, we have sooo many investigators with baptismal dates. Our teaching pool right now is tremendous! We have 8 baptisms all scheduled for the 12th of April! (plus we have General Conference that day..) That will be an AMAZING day. :)

Let's see, what happened this week?...

Tuesday we went back out to the house of the young girl that passed away and attended her funeral. We went with the thought that it would be 2 maybe 3 hours long, but nope, it ended up being over 6 hours long...BUT it was worth it. A bunch of the members from our District rented a Jeepney and rode out to the funeral together. It was amazing to see the sacrifices made and the support shown to this family at this hard time in their life.

Later on in the week I got a sore throat and started getting a cold. I have now been wrestling with a terrible cold and cough for the past 4 or so days. Not fun. On top of that, there was a typhoon again in the South so we have had really cold, stormy weather the past couple days, that really does not help my sickness. Oh well, push through and I will get better eventually.

Sunday, Sister Sanft gave her farewell talk. We took lots of pictures, visited with others, ate lunch, etc. then headed out to the cemetary with an investigator family of ours who lost their son 2 years ago. They invited us to go with them to visit the gravesite and of course we gladly accepted the invitation. As we walked up to his tomb, they called out to him and told him that he had some visitors. It was hard for me to watch this family visit the grave of their 23 year old son but there was such a strong spirit there. That night we went to their home and taught them about temples and eternal families. The gospel really just brings such a peace to my life. I know that there is a life after this life and that we will be together with our families if we are worthy and do all we can to prepare to meet God again. The family told us the very first time we met them how they had not felt true happiness since the passing of their son but that since we have been teaching them again, they are happy again, truly happy. I wish I could share a piece of what was felt last night as we taught about forever families. They are so excited to go to the temple and to not only do the work for their son but to be sealed together for all time and eternity. The uncle said something like, "You know, if he were still alive, he would be right here with us, listening, and accepting the gospel too." What joy it brings to my heart to exclaim to them that it's okay, that he can and will accept the gospel. Just do what you can, prepare yourself to be worthy to enter the temple, then go and do the work for him and for the rest of your family. The temple is truly the house of the Lord and is so sacred, special, and dear to my heart. Families CAN be together forever :)

Lots of change this week but of course with change comes the chance to learn, grow, and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. Keep smiling and doing all you can to place Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the center and focus of your life.

Much love to all of you from good ol' lil' Baao, Philippines. :)

Mahal Kita!

-Sister Roderick

Keep On Keeping On

Hello friends and family! Hope all is well with you! Life is good as ever here in Baao!

Remember Sister Hansel? She is the young girl that was in the hospital last week..well early Tuesday morning we receive word that she had passed away at midnight the night before. It was a big shock for Sister Sanft and I and we sat their for a long while thinking, praying, and crying for this family. I had not gotten to know the girl or her family very well but we feel for them and are heartbroken for them and for their loss. We got permission from our mission president to go to a different area to attend the live-in of Hansel and to visit with her family. (here in the Philippines, immediately after a death, the body is prepared, lain in the coffin, then taken to the families home where it stays for about a week for others to come see and pay their respects, then after about a week they hold the actual service and burial). This was my first time going to a live-in here and it was really difficult for me. We walked into the home with this young girl laying right their as her mother comes running from the other room and starts weeping into my chest as I just hold her. I didn't know what else to do but just cry and hold her. My heart aches for this family. We sat and visited with the mom, dad, and little brother of Hansel for awhile before heading back to our area to go to our different appointments. Mom, Hansel, and the little brother are members and the father has been investigating the church for many years but hasn't really shown progress. Before we left their house on Tuesday, Brother told us that he was ready to listen to us again and to become a member so that he could be with his family forever. I know that families can be together forever through the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is in my life to know that I can see my family again after this life.

This week has definitely been a tough one for me with different concerns and challenges but even through the struggles, I am proud to be a missionary and am happy to be here. We have a promise from our Father in Heaven that when we endure trials well, we will succeed in the end and receive many blessings. I definitely saw that this week as I struggled with some things but chose to press forward with faith and likewise I experienced many miracles and blessings in our work. One of those blessings was the successful baptism of Spencer! :) Spencer is an 11-yr old boy whose mother, father, and older brother are members. He now lives with his mother and step-father and have stopped coming to church due to some financial challenges in their life. He was baptized a couple years ago but was never confirmed a member of the church and never received the gift of the Holy Ghost so he needed to be baptized again. Anywho, long story short, he has been coming to church every Sunday and this weekend he was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we could not be happier for him. :)

My goal here on my mission is to complete families and help families become forever families through the covenants and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love these people and want them to know what I know and what we know as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. This gospel is centered on our Savior Jesus Christ and families. When we put Him in the center of our lives, we find true joy and happiness in this life and find peace and hope in the life to come.

Love you all! Keep sharing the gospel with your friends and family! :)

-Sister Roderick

Oh Sweet Baao!

What a week. 

Tuesday: More clean up of our area. Contacting, returning, evaluating, etc. Plus taught one of my favorite families here in Baao. :) 

Wednesday: Rise and Shine, off to Naga we went at 6:45 in the morning. Met Elders Rogers and Manouis plus the office elders at the mission office at 8:30 to head out for the airport. The office elders dropped us off at the Naga Pili Airport where we waited for our plane to leave at 10:45. Weirdest thing ever to face the back of the plane while flying. Yup it happened. Didn't even know those seats existed but weirdly enough we sat facing our companions the whole way to Manila. Landed in the crazy, massive city of Manila. Our driver picked us up and took us straight to the Bureau of Immigration where we waited around (people watching and making small talk as people of every nationality, race, color, size, shape, etc., passed by). Elder Rogers and Sister Sanft took a couple pictures and did their fingerprinting then off we went again, back to the hotel. Checked in, used the CR (comfort room), dropped our bags, and gone again. We then spent the next 5 or so hours exploring Manila/the Mall of Asia, aka the largest mall in ALL of Asia! Yeah, I can now officially say I have been to the MOA. Quite the accomplishment. It was fun to see some different parts of the city and to eat American food again (Wendy's, real ice cream, jamba juice) but it was so expensive and crowded as all get out. Oh but while drinking our delicious jamba juices we were sititng out on a bench in the mall and right there in front of us was a professional hockey game going on- Canada vs Philippines. What on earth? First of all, what mall has a huge ice skating rink in the middle of it, secondly, with professional teams playing on it?? haha that was pretty neat to see for a couple minutes. So then we caught a taxi (my first official taxi ride was to the MOA) back to the hotel where we got KFC for dinner, quickly ate, took a nice, hot shower, then somehow made it into bed again. We were absolutely worn out so it was nice to fall asleep in a nice, clean, big, comfortable  bed. :)

 Thursday: Got a call from the front desk at 4:20 am telling us that our driver was going to be there to get us really soon and that we needed to get up and go wake the elders up too because they weren't answering their phone. HA. it is funny now looking back on it, but in the moment we were not happy campers (that's ironic because we weren't camping at all, but rather sleeping in a nice bed at a hotel..anyways haha) SO we got up, got ready, and met the driver downstairs at 5 in the morning. Insanity. He drove us groggy four missionaries to the airport and helped us check in then we waited woot woot for 2 and a half hours for our plane. (you think he could have come a little later so we could have gotten a bit more sleep or something) Anywho, I ate a delicious Cinnabon cinnamon roll and mango shake for breakfast. (Mangoes are my new favorite fruit. I LOVE mango season.) Then, as we were boarding the plane I got a text from a member in our ward saying that a less active sister's daughter was in the hospital in Naga and needed a Priesthood blessing. I texted as many people as I could to let them know before I got on the plane and had to turn off the phone. When we landed in Naga the office elders were there to pick us up and asked if we wanted to go with them to the hospital. I had never met this family before but we felt we needed to go to provide support and love at this difficult time. There are lots of different kinds of hospitals here in the Philippines and the ones they send us missionaries to are much different than those that the locals generally go to due to lack of money or lack of insurance. This was my first time going to a hospital for someone else besides missionaries and it took great effort to hold back the tears as I walked through the halls of that hospital. There were people everywhere. The halls were lined with hurt or sick people awaiting treatment. Cots lined the walls, rooms were full to capacity of people, and the number of people actually working and helping was significantly less than those needing help. It was really hard to see that but we smiled and did what we could to bring some light into that dark place. When we finally weaved back to little Hansel in her hospital bed, I was about emotionally drained. This poor 13 year old girl was swollen beyond recognition, couldn't open her eyes, so weak she could barely move her body. We still are not exactly sure what is wrong but she has had a sickness now for many years that became worse over the past few weeks as she has not been able to go in for her medication. We talked with the family a little bit and tried to comfort the best we could. The elders stood right there in the middle of the hospital and gave her a beautiful blessing of healing. There was so much going on around us and yet it was as if there was a bubble surrounding that hospital bed. I know God loves all of His children and He knows each of us personally. The Spirit was so strong in that little part of the hospital that day. The little girl's father is not a member of the church, but as the elders finished the blessing, he was overwhelmed with emotion and weeped over his daughter. What a special experience that was to witness the true power of the Priesthood and the gospel in our lives. I pray that that father's heart will be softened and desire to be baptized like his family. After we left the hospital, we caught the bus and headed back to Baao. Sister Sanft and I fell asleep on the bus and didn't wake up until we were pulling in to Baao. It was so nice to be back. :) I love Baao so much.

Friday: We had Zone Training in Iriga in the morning. It is always so fun to get together with the other missionaries and to learn, grow, eat, talk, visit, teach, and laugh together. It is also fun to see my lovely trainer, Sister Webster. I love the missionaries here and am so grateful for all the friendships I have made. 

Funny story of the week..we frequently run at night from appointment to appointment out in our far areas to save time, teach more lessons, visit with more people, and get more done in the short hours we have to work. So, again, we were running and out of nowhere a speed bump appeared. Apparently my companion is more cat than human and caught herself before falling, but me on the other hand, well I hate cats. I biffed it. Straight up ate the cement. It was so embarrassing but before I could even think about it, I had jumped up again and started running up the street because we couldn't be late! Yep. True story. So once on the bus, I stopped to assess the damage and I now have 2 massive, lovely scrapes on my knees. They cause a decent amount of pain but all is well, we were on time for our lesson and that is all that matters. It was quite funny though when the brother asked what happened to my knees. We told him we were running to make it here on time and I fell. I sure hope they realize how much we love them. haha :) fun times.

Saturday: The beloved weekly planning. Got to teach some great lessons too! We now have 8 people with baptismal dates so we are excited for the next 2 months! :)

Sunday: We are now in a pretty good schedule where we stand at the back of the room during Sacrament meeting while herding little children back into the room, then doing our best to teach Primary, while somehow teaching the Young Women at the same time. Sundays used to be my favorite. Oh BUT we did have more than 80 people at church again! Wooooo hoooo! I am so happy! (even if Sundays are the hardest!)

Monday: Here I am again. Time flies. It's weird. Sister Sanft now has only 2 weeks left before she leaves. What? Yeah. I'm kind of freaking out.

The view from our apartment - home again.

Thanks for all the love! Talk to you soon!

Mahal Kita!

-Sister Roderick

Ninety (beautiful) One!

I wish I could explain to you just how quickly things are progressing here in Baao but I know it would not do it justice! We had a solid 91 people at church yesterday! Almost 30 more than last week! That is saying something. We are so so so happy here and Baao! I love it here! 

Riding with a Rooster!

We are closing up the "cleaning up" chapter of this area and entering the "teaching, converting, and baptizing" phase. I like this phase a lot more. :) We are teaching so many families! It feels good to finally be teaching people who have the desire to learn and the desire to change rather than just listening because we're foreigners or just to be nice. We have a family right now that we are teaching (3 siblings that have their own families) and they are truly progressing! Some went to church yesterday and every time we teach them they have the most amazing questions that just make us smile bigger than anything in the world! We absolutely love questions, especially questions from their heart and soul, that show to us their true desire. :) Missionary work is amazing.

Also this week my arm got swollen, bright red, and created quite a bit of discomfort on my part. Still not sure what happened to cause that, but anyways, I asked for a Priesthood blessing from the elders. They came and gave me a beautiful blessing and I am now doing much better. But I learned a couple things from that blessing. I was reminded of Heavenly Father's love for me and for all of His children. I was told in the blessing that Heavenly Father is aware of those areas in which I am not confident and that I am doing better than I give myself credit for. The words the elder used were the exact wording or close to it that I have been using in my prayers lately. It was such a testimony to me that Heavenly Father does listen to our prayers and He likewise answers them. I thought I was getting a blessing for my arm but it turns out I need to hear some other direction and receive other comfort from my Father in Heaven. Even though I am far from my family, I know that God is always here for me and that He will never leave me as I strive to remain true and faithful to Him always. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that they know us better than we know ourselves. I know that God hears and answers prayers. I know that the Priesthood is the power of God here on earth and that all people can be blessed by it. I am grateful for the knowledge of God's plan in my life and the opportunity I get to talk with Him every single day. He will never fail us or forsake us. This is a talk that I really enjoyed and learned a lot from, fro this past General Conference. I know that what the prophet shares is true and that we can truly always rely on our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ. 

 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/i-will-not-fail-thee-nor-forsake-thee?lang=eng

One last thing: I am going to Manila! Yup! We found out this past week that Sister Sanft has to go to finish up some visa/fingerprinting stuff for her to leave and as her companion, I get to go with her! We fly out Wednesday morning then fly home Thursday morning! A whole day in Manila! We get to go to the temple too!!!!! I cannot even tell you how excited I am to go to the temple again! I miss going to the temple! We are really excited for this little adventure :) Pictures to come next week I am sure! :)

Love you lots!

Mahal Kita!

-Sister Roderick

The View from the Balcony