Up Down Up Down Up?

Time is ticking down...yikes!

10 things of my week.

1. Zone training on Thursday. Always great. Love hearing from my mission leaders and seeing the other missionaries. Weird to me that I am not one of the 'old' missionaries in the mission. Huh? When did that happen?

2. Sometimes it just hits me that I am in  the Philippines, speaking Tagalog. Think about it, crazy right? It hit me the other day mid-sentence when my companion (whom I love dearly and will miss when transfers come around) and I were talking in straight Tagalog. I am still far from being fluent but finally I feel like I can understand and communicate decently! Yes! Just upward from here.

3. We're sick. yucks. 5 of the 6 missionaries in my district have the same sickness- cold, cough, congestion, fever bleh. Work was slow this week.

4. Someone broke into our church building this week and stole our computer...uh oh. Not sure how that happened and what we are going to do about it but yeah, not good.

5. Attended another funeral.

6. 3 service projects. I am getting pretty darn good at using a machete to do just about anything yardwork-y. Dad, you gotta get one. Plus I am so tan! People keep telling me I am turning Filipina now ha YES! :)

7. You know how we have been searching for all the 'lost sheep?' or the members that no one knows anymore. Welp we walked for about 2 hours out in the middle of nowhere bukid or rice fields to find this guy. His brother is a member that we visit here close to town and who just happened to be out working way far out in the bukid when we showed up..i wish i could have had my camera ready. Tatay's face was priceless! He is working up on the roof of their farm house when he sees us walk up and his eyes get HUGE and mouth drops. hah he goes "why are you here? how did you get here? what? what?" hahaha funnier in Tagalog. Anywho, he was so shocked that we went all the way out there. Then when we asked him where his brother (the less active) was he simply pointed to a guy sitting close by and we all started busting up laughing. Yup. The crazy sister missionaries that walk and search all over just for you. We gon' find you. No empty seats. :)

8. Had a meeting with our branch mission leader yesterday. Apparently some of the members aren't too happy with our work. Not sure why. It was discouraging for a bit then we realized we are working dang hard and there should be no room for complaining so we just put on a big smile and are gonna work harder.

9. Passed our cleaning check this morning. :) That's good. A clean home really is a happy home.

10. I have started reading the book, Jesus the Christ, this week and it is phenomenal. I am at this point where I never want to stop reading the scriptures and other like books. I love increasing my knowledge of the gospel and having my faith and testimony grow. Although I still have a long way to go, I can feel the conversion happening in me. Change is always present. I am  continually striving to be more like my Savior everyday and to follow his example. I challenge all of you to reassess your life and think of what you spend your time doing. You have 24 hours in 1 day. Do you spend your time wisely? Are you using your time  to learn, grow, and come closer to our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ? Try it and you will gain much greater joy and motivation in your life when you strive harder to center your life on Him and to do all things with a desire to become more like Him.

Love you all. Mahal ko kayo! Take care! :)

-Sister Roderick