Dear President Schmutz,
Can I just point out that this is my third open area. I want to say I accept that the Lord is
trying to humble me. Its not easy
opening an area its stressful, and it takes time to learn the area. I think though when I transfer in march to
Negros ;) (just kidding but if its the Lords will...With faith hehe) that
Sister Taylor will be much more prepared to lead since we are learning the area
together.
PRESIDENT!! I think that Sister
Schmutz needs to have a
discussion with the elders about cleaning their apartments again. We
came into the apartment shocked. Luckily we didnt have time to look
around
since we went straight to work with the zone leaders. We luckily went
to the store before coming
home to the apartment and bought cleaning supplies while we were there.
It took me 6 hours to clean the
bathroom. Can I just say its bad when
you find a bottle of Domex and zonrox bleach full, unused with mold
growing on
the out side. We thought it was pretty
ironic! Supposedly the best cleaning
product in the world Dormex with mold growing on the outside! Thank you
president for the humbling experience.
We still estimate it will take about 3 weeks to clean the whole house
its a work in progress, but at least we have a spotless bathroom!! Have
I ever mentioned that I like a clean
house almost to the point of OCD. I
think I have discovered the reason the elders are getting sick so
often. I think it has something to do with their mattresses. When I
took the mattress cover off to be
cleaned I discovered a black mattress pad underneath that smelled
stale. I dont know how many elders have slept in
that bed sick, and I am sure never washed the mattress cover after.
When I washed the mattress cover the first
two rinses the water was black. Then
next rinse cycle the water was brown.
Then the next two rinse cycles the water was yellow!! I let the cover
soak for about one full day
then washed the years of dirt off of the cover.
I refuse to sleep on the mattress pad and have just been sleeping on the
wood part of the bed. Its not very
comfortable, but at least I wont get sick.
Sister Taylor has braved it and just put her sheet on the bed she has
yet to try to wash the cover she says if she doesn't look its like its
clean,
but she has gotten a small cough I told her its from sleeping on the
mattress. We texted Elder Ernstrom about
getting new mattresses and hopefully they come soon. President I won't
even
tell you about the rest of the house! At
least one positive thing is that I have only seen one dead cockroach
under the
fridge in the last week we have lived in the house. Unlike the last
house when we had to fortify
the house against the big roaches getting into the house. Ahh the life
of a missionary. Maybe thats why they don't require the
sisters to go on a mission they are afraid we will be scared for life
when we
get emergency transfered into elders apartments. I hope that this will
bring a smile to your
face remembering the time when you were an elder in the mission feild
president
I would only hope that you weren't this bad about cleaning!! Also I
would like
you to know Elder Hardin mentioned how clean the apartment was when he
gave us
the key. Thats when you know your in for
a big surprise!!
At least President I have Sister Pangue YEY!! She has been working with us for the last 4
days. She will work with us again
tomorrow. Who trained that girl she is
ready for her mission :) One concern of sister Pangue though was that the
elders would not go back to the basics they just did book of mormon share every
lesson. I think that its not a bad
thing, but it would be more effective to review also especially since the ward
has not done any new member lessons. I
looked at the teaching records and almost all of the progress records were book
of mormon share. I am not sure if this
was laziness in filling out the progress record or if they really just do book
of mormon shares. On the other hand it
might be a good thing because they are focusing on the book of mormon. I am not sure yet since we are new into the
area.
We have had the oppurtunity to teach one of their recent
converts Sister Aileen(recent convert) and her husband Brother Brian
Millang(member since child) and they had a strong testimony. We reviewed the restoration with her and have
talked with the bishopric during PEC meeting about getting the ward members to
do new member lessons. We also taught
the brother Adrianne who is on and off active.
He is 19 years old and has no desire to serve a mission. We plan to focus on getting him on a mission.
We visited the Commendador family.
Sister Cesarnie is a recent convert. her son James has listened to the
missionaries but he is just 15 years old going to school near Bogo. The
father
brother Wilson has listened to the missionaries but likes to debate.
We have decided next time we visit we will
try to get him to try to find his answers himself. Many of the
bishopric have met him going to
FHE's and they even agree he only likes to debate. We will continue to
visit with him. He is a drinker though and we could not teach
him last time since he had been drinking.
We visited the Ybanez family. Sister
Wella the daughter walked us out of
the house after the lesson and opened up about her father. He has LOC
problems for many years. She had just found out about it since they
changed cell phones and she read his text messages. she is having a
hard time, but we encouraged
her rather than just sit in her house to come with us to work. She
worked with us yesterday. We also have been encouraging her to serve a
mission. She is 28 years old, and has a
nonmember boyfriend. I hope that she
doesn't take a wrong step in her life.
We visited the Jacob family who is active in the
church. They inspire me for the
future. We don't often visit faithful
families, but when I got the chance to visit the Jacob family and share with
them I could feel the hope in their house rather than the feeling going into
the fallen and lost members houses.
We also visited MaryFe Sorono, Christina Ngujo, Rustan
Lamban, and Rose Cosip. They are all
members. Sister MaryFe and Christina
have live-in partners. Sister Rustan is
a returning member. Sister Rose is
preparing to enter the temple. We
discussed the importance of preparing ourselves to enter into the temple. Its interesting to see people in so many
different stages.
We attended the PEC meeting yesterday and it was very
helpful. We are starrting to work with
the bishopric to help the ward progress.
Sister Taylor is quiet.
We don't talk much, but she is willing to lead the lessons, and follow
the training program. I would say that
we don't really relate, but we just co-exist.
Its not a bad relationship. You
realize on the mission that you don't have to relate to someone it's
still
possible to co-exist and do the work of the Lord. If you just serve
them and be diligent in the
work. I had hoped though that we would
have a great relationship, but to be honest President we just go
together like
oil and water. Although you can put them
into the same jar they will immediately seperate into their individual
sections
of the jar. They can still co-exist and
stay in the same jar without fighting, and sometimes you can get some
cool
effects like those toys with the blue water effect that drips into the
bottom
part and you can flip it. I dont know if
you know what I am talking about but the point is we are doing our
best. I am not sure we are the most effective
together, but will we both stay diligent that I know for sure. Maybe we
will be bestfriends after the mission. I am trying to be a good
example, and so at
least she can fly on her own. I am glad
I have learned patience through other comapnions for this period when I
am
having to train. To quote you president
with leadership comes a great responsibilty.
That with pressure on our shoulders it helps us stand.
Thank You President I know that your burden is far heavier
than mine, and for that I am grateful that you are so willing to serve us
missionaries with a permenant smile on your face.
Sincerly,
Sister Bruno
No comments:
Post a Comment