Hello everyone!!!
How has your week been??? I'm still struggling to speak English, so forgive me:)
This week has been one of my favorite weeks on the mission...I can't even begin to describe how special it has been and I'm kind of scared to talk about it too much, like it'll go away the more I try to talk about it. So I won't share a lot (for the sake of time as well), but here are a couple of the beautiful things that happened this week. Now that I think about it, it truly was a week of miracles:)
1. Sister Armin. Sister Armin is one of our less-actives that have been less-active pretty much since last year after her baptism. Her neighbors have told us that she's still drinking and swearing, and sometimes when we go to her house she hides from us. Over last transfer though (6 weeks), she's slowly warmed up to us though and has opened up to us about her life and struggles. Her husband never gives her money and she sometimes has a hard time feeding her 9 kids, or even buying soap to wash their clothes. But this week, we've seen such a huge change in her!! Her heart has been softened, her countance and everything has changed. And guess what? Yesterday she came to church!!! Her oldest son got a job, and gave her 35 pesos (less than a dollar in America), and she chose to come to church!!! I love her so much!!!
2. Sister Anicia. Like I said last week, her husband passed away. She's been out of town for the funeral, so we haven't got to teach her but we text her every night and share a scripture through text. On Friday was our weekly planning, and we turned to her teaching record, and suddenly I just started to cry. I looked over and Sister Ioane was crying as well. The spirit is so strong and I know that we are not alone in this work, that her husband will be helping US help her accept the gospel, and hopefully with her entire family. It was so so special.
3. Empathy. One of my leaders before I left on my mission gave me a little metal pendant with an angel on it. He said that during my mission he hoped I wouldn't learn just about charity but about empathy as well. The poverty here in the Philippines is heart-breaking sometimes, and sometimes it's so hard because there's nothing I can do to help except teach. But this week, I've come to understand them at least a little bit better, even though I know I am still far from it. We've been a little sick, a little tight budget wise, but whenever I think about complaining or taking a break, I think about our courageous members here that continue on in faith and love for their Savior and their families. We're supposed to be the teachers, but I feel sometimes that I'm learning a lot more from THEM. They're incredible.
Sorry it's simple, I'll tell ya'll about it someday- it's hard to fit all this into a simple email! But I know with all my heart that Christ lives. He is our Savior. We are witnesses of Him. I love with all my heart and will never deny it.
Thank you for everything and take care always,
love,
Sister Allen :)