Hey there dad! I am honestly so happy to hear that you have all been reading the Book of Mormon together. It is the best book ever and I am always happier when I read it prayerfully. But you ready for school? It honestly blows my mind that summer is over already! I have been in Pilar the whole time you had summer and it is so weird to think about. But I know how important and easier having a schedule is haha.
Anywho here are your answers! 1- We do have a washing machine! I filmed a video of me using it but I don't know where the video went so I will send it next week. It is magical and makes life so much easier! 2- We think the beast that bit me was a cockroach but I'm not convinced. The mission nurse told me that it was cellulitis that got infected.. I don't even know that that means but all I can say is it HURT for quite a while haha! It is healed by now, I just have a pretty scar haha! 3- So I bought myself a new camera, it was only about $100. It is okay but I like my old one better, oh well! 4- So Sister Morales has been out the longest of the 3 of us so technically she is senior comp. She goes home in February, then me in May, then Sister Regodos in September. Both of them are really awesome and hard working missionaries. Sister Morales is from Cavite which is like 2 hours away haha! I think she was less than thrilled when she got called to Olongapo. Sister Regodos' first language is Hiligaynon so sometimes she has a hard time with the language too. But they are both the nicest sisters you'll ever meet, so if I have to be in a trio I'm glad it is with them. But I don't really consider myself a trainer but I have a really good chance of training next cycle because we are getting 5 foreigner sisters. Usually a foreigner trains a foreigner. So we will see!! 5- We have no places to eat in Pilar haha! If we ever eat at a fast food place it is in Balanga or Orion. We always go to Balanga for pday and Orion for District Meeting so we usually grab some food when we have the chance. My favorite is Jollibee. There is one in San Diego that we will have to go to when I get home. 6- I still get headaches sometimes but I feel like they have been getting better. They aren't as frequent anymore, but when it is really rainy my head is poundy which isn't fun haha! 7- I love contacts! It makes life so much easier especially when it is rainy outside. I think I am okay with the glasses I have but I know that I have pair at home so you can send those if you want. 8- I haven't heard anything about the Face to Face. I totally forgot that that was happening because we weren't invited, but I'm sure it was good!! 9- Right now we are working with 3 investigators to get them prepared for baptism. They are all kids so they aren't totally reliable but they really do have a desire. Jonathan, Joshua, and Abegail are their names. They are all part member kids so they do have support from their families... mostly. But on August 25 we are expecting to have at least 1 baptism. Jonathan is the most willing and progressing. He is probably the nicest and most willing kid I've ever met! 10- I like the Stove Top idea actually... but anything you want to send I am good with!! I would love some letters from everyone in the family. :) Anyway! That is all from me for now! Thank you for everything dad!! I love you and hope that you get back into the swing of things at work! I love you :) Love Sister Hughes Hello everyone!! This week was definitely an interesting one. I have kind of been fighting an internal battle on whether I am an effective or good missionary. I have the terrible tendency to be really hard on myself but one of my companions gave me a pep talk this week that really helped. She told me that it's all about the mindset. I am the one in control of whether I can do this or not. Whether I can actually teach the Filipinos in the Tagalog language. Whether I can teach repentance and baptize converts. My companion told me that I should first start with my mindset and then with love. Loving the people here is more important than being able to speak the language. By not just speaking at people but by showing them the love of Christ through me is all they really need. It was kind of the smack in the head I needed. I came to understand that despite my flaws, I have the Savior by my side and he is the perfect companion. I need to understand that despite I can't teach as well as I want, I can at least help them feel of the love that EVERYONE deserves. We can't see ourselves any different than each other. We are all sons and daughters of god with flaws. I am finally starting to understand it. I love you all. I am grateful for your prayers. I know this church is true and I know that the Philippines is the best country on earth... sorry America. Being able to serve here is such a privilege and I am so grateful that I have 9 more months to change myself and bring my family back home.
Love Sister Hughes |