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I didn't email last week because I just talked to my family on Skype instead for Mother's Day! It was definitely good to talk to them and tell them about the adventures that I have here everyday. Getting advice from them helped me get back on track.
Anyway, this week was a pretty good week. We had a baptism, a CSP, Zone Conference, and taught some pretty good lessons. Our investigator "J" got baptized on Saturday and it was awesome! At first her mom didn't want her to be baptized but we had an FHE with the family and then asked again a few days later if it was okay and she said yes! It was awesome. J is such an awesome girl and has a good future in the church. She bore a really good testimony after her baptism. I couldn't totally understand what she was saying but she knows the church is true and she feels so happy to be a member! Our CSP was strange. We harvested manga (mangoes) so that basically means that Elders were climbing trees and the rest of us were throwing mangoes to get them out of the trees. Don't worry MOM! I didn't climb a tree this time!! (just a roof - haha). It was really fun though. Zone Conference was pretty good. I learned how to budget, how to cook, and most importantly that being a converted missionary is essential! Being consecrated is one thing but being converted is another. I also saw Sister Pierce there!! When we taught lessons this week they were pretty good. Most people here are super nice and willing to listen, the challenge is just getting people to come to church! Things are going okay here. I love you all! Thank you for forgiving me for not emailing last week! Also remember to look at my blog - sisterkatelynhughes.weebly.com - more stuff is on there every week including pictures and stuff. Until next week!! Keep reading the BOM and praying everyday! Love Sister Hughes Q1) How does Orion (the city) compare to San Felipe? A1) Orion is A LOT bigger than San Felipe. It is also a lot more like fancy or rich I guess. There are a lot of houses here that are massive so sometimes when Sister Tafisi and I are out finding we will "tao po" at the huge houses. We like to entertain ourselves that way. I think it is prettier here in Orion, but our view of the ocean isn't as pretty. There isn't really a beach like we had in San Felipe, or at least not one that I have found. Q2) How does your branch in Orion compare to your branch in San Felipe? A2) This one is hard to answer because I've only gone to church in Orion twice. I'll admit I miss my branch in San Felipe, but that's mostly because I got to know everyone there. Q3) Have you made connections with any new favorite members in Orion yet? A3) I mostly talk to the little kids here. There is one little girl name Lexie that is my buddy. I just need to get to know more members. Q4) What have you learned about missionary work from Sister Tafiti? How long has she been out? A4) The best thing I have learned from Sister Tafisi is that everyone's style is different. You can still be out working hard without pushing yourself over the edge to the point of killing yourself (which is what I tend to do). She has been out for a year so she goes home in the October transfer. Q5) Have you made connections with any new favorite members in Orion yet? A5) Ummm. Ya alrgiht dad? This is the same as question 3 - hahahaha :) Q6) What can we expect for your phone call home on Mother’s Day? A6) I will most likley be using Google Hangouts to call again, like I did on Christmas from San Diego. It will be Monday for me here and Sunday for you all. I will try to call between 7-9 at night your time and most likely we will be able to talk for about an hour or so :) Q7) Have you received any packages since your last email? If so, what? (We’ve kind of lost track of how long it takes you to receive packages.) A7) I haven't gotten any packages since last week, but if any are here I will get them this Thursday after interviews with our Mission President or next week at Zone Conference. Once I get them I can let you know what is in them. Q8) Can you tell us more about your daily routine? What is a typical day of missionary work like for you? A8) Just normal missionary stuff. Our daily routine is walking up, shower, breakfast, kabahay study (which is Book of Mormon reading with the people you live with) and personal study. After that we go out for morning work, then come back for lunch/language study, then go out for afternoon work. Our curfew is between 8:30 and 9 at night. When we get home we usually write on our journals, talk, eat, plan the next day, etc. Then we crash. Q9) What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the past 6 months while serving a mission? A9) The biggest lesson I have learned is that discouragement is pointless and that I am in charge of my own happiness. When I was in California I'll admit I made that an unpleasant experience for myself, so now I am making the most of every situation. I am in control if I get along with my companion and if I make the day good or bad. Sister Smallman would always tell me that happiness is my decision, so that's what I go by. Now I'm happier than I've ever been. Q10) Are you healthy? Is there anything you need from home? A10) I am pretty healthy. Every morning I seem to wake up with back pain. I don't know why, but I am going to ask Sister Leftwich if there is anything I can do to cure myself. Other than that I am good!! LETTER TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS: So it's crazy to think that I have been gone for 6 months already! And at this time next year I will be on a plane ride home.... CRAZY! But I am not ready to come home so I am going to work work work while I have the chance. Everyone tells me that it goes by really fast. That scares me. Of course I miss home, but the Philippines is turning into home for me. It's crazy how much I love this weird country and the people here. Anways! This week was alright. Not too much happened. We have been exploring the area, which is massive! Every time we trike somewhere I wait for Sister Tafisi to tell me we have left the area but nope! We have one investigator named Jam whose baptism is probably going to be Saturday. She has her interview this week and hopefully everything goes well. She is what you would call a "golden" investigator if I'm being honest. She pretty much teaches us every lesson and bears her testimony to us sometimes.. she's awesome! But yeah, not too much has happened! I don't have too much to report on. We are just trying to find so our investigator pool can grow a lot. I just want you all to know that I know this church is true! I know the Book of Mormon is true and being able to read from it every day gives me guidance and happiness. I would encourage all of you to read, even if it is just one verse, everyday. I love you all! Thank you for your support and prayers :) Love Sister Hughes "Who You Are" by Jon Jorgensen
You are beautiful You are smart You are funny You are kind You are unique You are worthy of love and affection You are never too much And you are always enough You are precious You are a diamond, a rose, a pearl The most stunning of all God’s creation You are worth more than you could ever imagine Worth more than the numbers on a scale, or the hair product you use, or the shoes you wear More than how many girls wish they were you, or how many guys wish they had you More than the price tags on your clothes, or the percentage at the top of your math test, or even the number of friends you have on Facebook Your worth surpasses all earthly things Because in the eyes of The Lord God, you are loved and you are worth dying for Regardless of who you think you are Whether you model in a magazine, or you model pottery with grandma Whether you’re on the hot list, or the not list Whether you’re the head cheerleader, or seventh grade dropout Whether you’re miss popular, or you’ve never had anyone you could call a friend Whether you love yourself and love your life, or you can’t stand to look in the mirror and you feel as if everything in your life is falling apart Whether you are such a winner, or you feel like the world biggest failure Regardless of who you think you are The reality is that you deserve someone who would give up their life for you Because you too are powerful And strong And capable Read about the women of the Bible Esther, Ruth, Martha, Mary These women changed the world forever And inside of you Each and everyone one of you Is a woman with that same power That same strength And that same world changing capability And your responsibility is to set that woman free This is who you are And any voices in your mind that tell you differently are from the enemy And next time you hear them, you say, “Nuh uh! Not me satan, I am a daughter of the living God, cherished, loved, and adored above all things, by the creator of all things, for the glory of Him who is greater than all things. I AM AWESOME! And don’t you forget it! That is who you are. |