6 months down

6 months- piece of cake. JOKE that was definitely no cake. The hardest thing ever. But the best kind of hard!! I just can't believe I'm at 6 months already- I feel like I'm fresh out of the mtc still. weird. 

Hey so this week was great! First can I just say how much I love this place. I mean, it is the most beautiful thing ever! every day I feel like I'm walking in a calendar picture, or in a painting, or on discovery channel. I wish I could just bottle it and send it to you! It's so vibrant! Colors I feel like I've never seen before here! The green is SO GREEN and there are so many natural occurring colors that are so bright and vibrant, AH MAN! I love it. And the air is so fresh and the rice is so beautiful and AHH! I'm so very lucky to be in this beautiful world!

this is rice

Something not so great- 2 of our baptismal dates backed out on us this week, and our recent convert is moving to the elders area. NOO! We had a teary lesson with one of them when she told us she can't get baptized anymore. Long story but really it just comes down to sacrifice and what people are willing to give. Lots of people back out and get scared at the thought of sacrificing temporal security for an intangible faith that everything will work out. I wasn't that frustrated, people have agency and all. I was more sad than anything that they got so close but didn't follow through. Why do people sell themselves short? Why do they settle for less?

We taught a lady and the sun was out and after the lesson she told me my legs looked like the flesh of a snake when you skin it cause they are so white. burrrrnnnnn. If only these people knew how insulting that would be in America where white actually is not desirable XD oh well! 

I drank some buko juice. It's yummy. 

These are those crazy motherless kids!  I feel like Wendy from Peter Pan.

We went a-tracting yet again and oym-ed to everyone. It's rough going when your teaching pool is very small and the people in it aren't even sure people, we just go to their homes and hope they are home, hope they don't lie and hide from us, hope they will progress yada yada yada. So much walking its crazy! I don't know how my feet are still attached to my legs. 

Something I learned this week was this: remember that lady that I said looked like the mama from the Goonies? That she freaked me out because she looked just like her? Well, me being the dumb that I am didn't want to go to her, she was our back up back up back up plan, but as luck would have it we got punted from anything else and she was the only option. So we went against what I wanted and SLAM I got a nice lesson learned. She actually opened up to us about her problems and why she was offended from the leaders and what her deal was with being less active and was crying and stuff. Sis G and her are from the same province and so they had that connection, just things that if we didn't go who knows if she ever would have talked to anyone about it. I got a nice reminder that this isn't about where I want to go or what to do, but the people that need help whether they look like the creepy mother on the Goonies or not. I felt real bad. 

For a happy story now--guess what! we were way out far from town by a mountain, I stopped to write something in my planner and I heard someone yell "hey! hey you!" in English! what the heck? So I looked through these bushes and lo and behold- an old American man was in this little house! I was so shocked! We went up to him, he's here with his "woman" (ya he introduced her, "this is my woman!" so proud.....uhh...) they are from Texas but just visiting here. Anyway the cool part of the story is as he talked to me I COMPLETELY FORGOT ENGLISH!! like, no lie! He would ask me a question and I would answer him in tagalog, then he would just stare blankly and I would realize that I wasn't speaking his language, and then went back and had such a hard time trying to translate it for him. I sounded so stupid, my English was so broken! It was so weird!! After we left I just marveled at A) how lame is sounded and B) what a miracle that is!!! the gift of touuuunggggeeesss! yessss!!! but its only when I'm out proselyting. I have no problem talking to my kasama or in the house in English. But when its time to go out teaching, I am entitled to God's help in the language! I'm only learning the language for God's purposes, not my own so it makes sense that I cant speak it when I want, only when I have too. super amazing!

So the 23rd was 6 months for me, we had interviews with President and Sis Reeder. It's so nice to talk to them, its been a long time! They are the sweetest and wisest and most humble people ever, I love them! I wish we could have interviews every week or something! I've looked back in my journal and been amazed at the progress I've made. I feel like I'm not even the same person that came out of the mtc! I've changed so much and learned so much in every aspect of everything- its impossible to describe! the language- there's no way I could be doing as well as I am now without help from the other side. There's no way I could even still exist and live here in this crazy wild country and somehow be ok without help! I am not doing this alone!

I got a text from the secretary on the 23rd and he said to go check my email (it was just some legal fingerprinting paper thing) but he didn't say that in the text so I was so stressed about what it could be. Sis G read the text out loud again and then (jokingly) said "wait there's one more text! sister, start packing your things...." and i just yelled "WHAT?? and then I started to cry. Yeah. Haah what an evil joke Sis. G! she laughed and said just kidding sister!! not really! But still, it freaked me out. it was like my whole life flashed before my eyes! I am so glad I still have one year here. It's so hard but its so good. I'm so glad I am here.

the rs and the miraculous grapefruit

Yesterday some of the RS actually worked with us! We were so stoked and planned all these less active sisters that they would be great to visit with them, but it turns out we didn't get anywhere. We taught one lesson, then they got side tracked cause this lady had a huuuuugggge tree with ginormous grapefruit in it. they went over and were inspecting the fruit and then before we knew it the husband climbed up the tree and got one, the lady hacked it up with a machete and we were sitting down eating. chit chat chit chat. wasting away time. They wanted to take pictures with it. (I will include them, they are so funny and awkward but they have no idea) then we finally got out, they said there was a member waaaayyy out in the way that they knew and they said they would take us there, so we said ok and were expecting this lost-less active, we got all the way there and out comes the Elder's Quorum Pres and his active little family. Seriously? Then to make it worse instead of leaving and helping some people who actually needed our help, those people went and found MORE grapefruit and it all repeated over again! They got the machete and we sat around eating grapefruit. It's like Satan was trying to make me explode, I had way too much than a humanly portion of grapefruit for one day. Shudder shudder. 

Hey I held 2 baby goats this week, the first was in the path on the way to a lesson and Sis G ran and caught it. Yay! Then the ones that me and Sis G are both holding was with the grapefruit people. I ran and caught them HAHA! Please take notice of the mama goat in the back haha her face is so distressed. 

One more thing- I saw this wrong English bumper sticker that reads "don't get more closed to me, get more closed to god" HAHAHAHAHA yes people, get more closed to God. Not me. 

i lovvvvvee eyoouuuuuuU!!!!! thank you all for the prayers and support! i miss you mama and papa! but you're good, I'm good, I can't complain! over and out till next week!

Sis McGrath

hey this is mango float- make it! so much yum!

this is a funny sign in the store

sister mikratt reporting for duty!

Hey! This week felt so long I can't believe its only been 7 days since I've emailed you! 

So I have a new kasama!! She's awesome! Shes filipina (YES) and her name is sister g! She's so nice! I miss sister s though! ah man she was so funny. I've got some good stories :) But anyways my new kasama! She goes home in 6 months and just became a senior with me. She's so super sweet! She speaks like, almost all tagalog so sometimes communication can be a barrier, but she's pretty good at english. Its like me I guess, I "know" tagalog but naturally revert to englsih (duh) and she "knows" english but naturally reverts to tagalog. So this will be good for me :) She has such a cool story, she's one of 11 kids and she's the only member. She was raised by her grandparents who were members and her aunt is supporting her on the mission.  She just told her family she would be living in Naga for 18 months and that's it! They've emailed her 5 times since she's been here. I can't imagine! She's super happy and cool with it though, doesn't feel sorry for herself. She's super good at finding fruits and vegetables- like we are walking and she points out all the pineapple growing under the ground and looks up in the trees and finds all these fruits and stuff. Sweetness! 

Also fun fact- her dad's job is to raise chickens for eating and for fighting. Have I ever written about the cock fights? Well men bet so much money on their chickens and train them to fight and they battle 2 on 2 in this arena until the death! So freaky right! And they have these little blade things called taro that rest inbetween their talons and so they can slice each other! The taro are coated with a poisonous chemical and so they chop each other and murder each other! So sister g's job is to feed them and take care of them and train them to fight. (she says this all like its no big deal haha if only she knew). Anyways men pay so much money for the best chicken and then bet everything on them and then drink away their spoils. It's kinda sickening, they hold their chickens and treat them better than their own children who are hungry in their little hut. Pretty messed up. 

But ya. Sis g is cool. When we teach it's like FINALLY someone gives me time to speak and it's like we are an equal companionship with equal responsibility and teaching time and everything. Which is so awesome because I am just now finally starting to feel like I can pull my own weight instead of be this big white american blob that someone has to drag around and correct my tagalog. And what's even better we are so hard working together! I dont want to tell you numbers cause I'm not about that life...but let's just say we taught a lottt of lessons this last week. There is a new standard of excellence to do 50 oyms per week- an oym counts as talking to someone, getting to know them then sharing a gospel truth with them and asking for a return appointment or if they want to know more. We need like 7/8 a day to reach 50 a week, man its pretty hard! Try talking to 7 people a day you've never seen before and ask them to be taught by missionaries! But we've seen a lot of success and are doing just fine. I love talking to people and just waltzing into their homes, sitting on their floors and talking about the gospel. It's SO FUN! I lOVE itttttt! 

It's also super fun cause we meet a lot of crazy people. Haha one lady the other day- HA! so much was so funny- as we were teaching she kept scooting farther and farther away and she said "sorry now sis, I'm going away from you cause I smell so bad." then she would get up and apologize for the smell in her wake and say "ah! my bad smell! I haven't showered in a long time!" HAHA but its sooo normal, like she wasn't even embarrassed or anything. People really just say it like it is here, it's awesome! Just a ton of little things like that this week where I just crack up and say "its more fun in the ppines". 

Oh man that reminds me. I did a bad bad thing. ohhh shudder, it was so bad. We were walking back from the store and we had a ton of groceries, and there was a man talking to his buddy and there was only a little space behind him that I could squeeze by, and it was raining so I had my umbrella, and I totally underestimated my umbrella maneuvering skills and I SMACKED him right in the back of the head with my umbrella fist! It was so so hard! like, I bet he has a bruise! THEN to make it WORSE.....oh gosh. so his head flew forward because I decked him, then the front of his face flew right into my umbrella right as I jerked it back to me....sis g said she saw every single feature of the guys face through the fabric of my umbrella, and then I jerked him back and he bumped into me! It was soooo bad!!!! Everyone on the street stopped and stared at me and I just said I was soooo so sorry like a million times but he just glared at me and didn't give me any consoling words like "it's ok" or anything. so ya, I've got enemies here now. I hope I never see him again for as long as I live. With my luck we will probably find his house and oym him and he will recognize me cause I'm the only white girl in this place and who knows. Ahg. 

What else. Oh I have new kabahay- Sis m is sis c's new kasama! shes the oldest one in the mission shes like in her 30s and she's so great. She laughs all the time and is so so nice. we have a happy house! Hm what else. Oh ya, so church got canceled because there was a signal 2 typhoon (just super windy and rainy) and they texted and said work was canceled too and so just update your area books and do your studies. YAy we were so happy cause it looked too blasted cold and miserable out there. So we took a little nap, then woke up to a text that said JOKE work isn't canceled keep teaching everyone needs an opportunity! OH JOY! So I took off my knee socks, put on my cardi party and we braved the storm! It was pretty miserable not gonna lie. The wind was so strong the fabric of my umbrella was con-caving under the pressure and it flipped inside out a couple times. It was so dang cold! no one told me it was ever gonna be cold! (don't send anything I'm fine it's really hot now) Anyways, that was pretty fun. 

Oh ya then the Pope came here to the ppines. Every single house with a tv was watching him and his little speech, and since we were tracting we would go sit in the house and they wouldn't turn him off so I saw like, a lot of his speech. He was in his little pope outfit with a yellow plastic rain poncho over it cause it was super rainy and windy.  Anyway, kinda a killer for work but that's all good. I think he's home now.

Hm what else. Oh ya so on Wednesday we went to teach these kids of a member so they can get baptized, but the dad hollered all the neighborhood scounrels to come and listen to us. so the lesson consisted of me and sis g on 2 chairs and like, 10 or so kids sitting around us with lesson 1 pamphlets. they would all raise their hands so eagerly to read something from the pamphlet haha. They were pretty wild but we bribed them to be quiet and listen and if they did we would take a picture at the end. About half got bored and went to go play but the other half stood it out! It was a nice little lesson on prophets :) I will try to send the pic haha. The little girl's prayer was so cute "hopefully I can get baptized, hopefully daddy will be safe at work..." The dad is a member and he has 4 kids and his wife left them, so they have no mother :( i feel like Wendy when I go there tending to the lost boys :( I gave them my headband I was wearing and brush the girls hair and stuff. They are super crazy kids, when they see us walking they yell from sooo far "SIIISTEERRRRR!!!" and charge with open arms and jump on us. They really do need a mother :) 

Ok well I don't know what else to report! You've got a lotta stories this week, enjoy! I love you all family and thank you for everything you have taught me and for the way you raised me. Life would be so sad and empty without you! Oh hey I'm sending a pic of a recipe I drew for mango float- its so easy to make and so delish! It's gonna change ward parties forever! Hannah's gonna love it! Make it! Enjoy it! Love it!

over and out,

sister mcgrath 

its time to get FUNKY FUNky funky funky erybody clap yo HANDS

Random song to start of emails always make them more fun, right? That song has no relation to anything, turns out I'm actually not jamming at a disco stomping my right 3 times right now.

I'm in a computer shop with my temporary companion SISTER C (shes so the best) because both of us just said goodbye to our departing kasamas yesterday!! It was so sad! Sis S and Sis A left right after church! we took them to the bus station, all their stuff got packed on and in like 2 minutes they were gone! out of our lives for forever! it was so sad! Sister S is so tough and strong on the outside- its like a cultural thing, you've always gotta appear strong, but when I gave her a hug goodbye she got tears in her eyes. She totally would deny it if you ask her, but there were TEARS people! Soft as a marshmallow on the inside. 

Ah man, I was so really sad because for honest, I probably will never see them again in this life! I'm not planning any trips to Tonga or Sis. A's part of the ppines anytime soon. What is this, mission? i become so close to some one and then BAM severed from my life forever! thank goodness for facebook (wow I think that's the first time I've ever said that) so I can keep in contact.

me and a baka (cow). this thing scared the living daylights out of me!
we were walking back down the path at night with our cell phone light cause
we forgot the torch and it stood up came to us and i screamed
SO LOUD! haha i cried. it was so scary and hilarious.

I really am going to miss Sis S! She's so so funny. I've got so many stories. It's been weird living with people on the other end of the mission than me, even Sis C dies next transfer! It's so odd to see them stress about life and school and future and all of the stuff they left behind. Its just weird to have a different perspective of it all, here I am about to start my 4th transfer surrounded by dying people. 

Anyways, me and Sis C go to Naga tomorrow to transfer point and get our new kasamas!!! AHH!! Sis C will have the new sister training leader and I will have some sister, who knows! It's so stressful! but I feel like i can handle anyone, if i could have Sister S I can take anyone. Come on pres, let me at 'er! I've got this.

oh hey update on the S's hair- we spent mannnny  maaany hours in the salon, these gay guys did it for her and it looks good! The whole time I was thinking princess diaries when they whip her all up and straighten her hair- she looked exactly like it at the beginning when they brushed through it all HA. but ya, never doing that. what a waste of time and money and brain cells that die cause of all the chemical fumes in your nostrils? Whatever, suit yourself girls. 

"you broke my glasses!
you broke my brush!"

"and make her......a princess."

OH NO I'm forgetting everything that happened this week! Not a ton of work because Sis C was sick and we had splits to cover both our areas. I went on splits with Sis A and learned a whoooole lot. She's such a good missionary, so talented at everything! She taught me so so much in just one day. Don't worry I wrote it all down in my journal. 

me with a makeshift umbrella- you prob think i look
dumb but people really do this and its not weird. i promise

               Sis S and I spent our last days of her mission life together, our last lesson was with these kids that were being super bad and crazy and I thought S was going to go beat them, she stood up with fists and nostrils flared and she stood up so fast the only candle in the house blew out. In my brain I was like "no...no Sis S don't beat these kids! I know they're crazy but you cant just hit them!" She didn't and sat down and to this day they are all still breathing. Let's just say when we both have kids our parenting styles will be very very different. Haha so ya, that was our last lesson haha. Oh man she is so funny. I'm going to miss her! 

So yep, now its just me and Sis. C in our apartment. Last night we went to the area broadcast that the area presidency gave about goals for the ppines. I hope the wards can turn all these goals into reality. Everyone's really good at making goals but not so great on the whole execution side. 

aaand me and Sis. C in a tricey. ye-haaw.

We bought stuff for mango float this morning after we cleaned and washed clothes (its like graham crackers and sweetened condensed milk mixed with fresh cream in layers with mango slices in between its the BEST) and so that's chilling in the fridge. Were just walking around like 2 white girls on the loose. We get quite the stares as we go. 

Um another thing....the grand total spider count in our apartment is FOUR. WHAT THE HECK. not little ones, those huge monster ones like i sent a pic of! they are so big! seriously like my hand!!! AHHH! and I'm the only one who finds them! 

one was in my closet! 

one was walking towards my desk! 

one was in a bucket i was going to use for washing! 

its like they know i hate them! what am i going to do without Sis S. She just gets a plastic bag, puts her hand in it, and GRABS it with her hand! Ok I'm done ranting. just scared out of my mind that's all. if one touches me i am DONE. DONE I SAY! 

2 crazy girls squeezing a puppy and a kitten

Well I'm really sorry this email is not that great this week, its been crazy and getting S all ready and packed to go. sorry I've got no super inspirational stuff to share or life changing advice. sarrryyy! go fish! 

I love you familee, I love your emails and faces on my wall (I'm not a psycho taxidermist...i mean pictures okay.) I miss you. I am doing so good. I am learning so much, SO MUCH!! there's no way i could ever explain it all. Also I'm progressing in Tagalog! woah woah not fluent, lets not jump to conclusions, but from my first day in Goa to now I can see mad progress. Isn't that weird? I can't see from day to day but looking back on the last 6 weeks everything is so different. I'm excited for this next transfer, I have a feeling its going to be really hard. But that's just how it is, as soon as you get comfortable and good its time to shake it up and take on the next level. So here I go!! wish me luck and keep me in your prayers! 

Love Sis. McGrath 

check out this English!

HAAAA HAA i had to buy it.

HAPPY 2015!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!  It's 2015 can you believe it!! I am especially so pumped for this year because I get to spend all 365 days of it being a missionary and doing the greatest work in the world! This is probably going to be the hardest and best and most growing phase of my life I will ever go through. I'm sure I'm going to cry a lot but have so much to be happy and grateful for too. I'm making every day count and working my smartest!

 



To celebrate new years we did.....sleep. haha. We were walking in the morning though and there are all of these huts with fireworks you can buy....and well.... the arsonist in me couldn't help it and I bought some. DON'T WORRY it was just sparklers, but I bought a box of 100. AND SO sparkling ensued on our balcony. Yes, it was only like 6:30 but it was still awesome. I felt like an oldie "eh you kids go party, gmas got to get her sleep!!" I treasure my sleep time more than anything though, don't mess with my sleep time.

We had curfew 2 days for new years because new years is like, even more of a party time than Christmas was. SOOO many people and crowds and people selling stuff in the streets and fireworks everywhere and loud loud LOUD! People just light the fireworks in the street or wherever, no rules or safety precautions. Kids all around, people could shewt their eyes out. That's probably why we were in for curfew. They had them going all night but I slept like a rock. 

What else even happened this week.....I don't know, nothing really changed as far as the people not letting us in, the area, or anything, that's all the same but I'm so happy! And it was because I got some wonderfully amazing emails last Monday from the priesthood holders I know! It was so weird, it was like all of the emails I got were connected and related, they all told me the same message that I never even said out loud but they answered none the less. It's gotta be the Spirit! 

Anyways this week I have had 0 TOLERANCE for negative thoughts. Nothing. Nothing even the slightest big bad or depressing or degrading. As soon as I think something like "ooh I have no idea what I'm doing, I don't know how to speak that, I can't" I yell in my brain "NO!" and then quote "look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not".  And it seriously works! We were in one lesson and we were working with a recently returned missionary (that's one thing to make you feel inadequate and inexperienced and dumb) and she was talking and doing awesome, Sis. S was doing good, and I was like "ahh I can't do thiss NO!" then I changed my mind right there, told myself to fear not, and opened my mouth and I did it! It seriously is a miracle that I can do this work, there's no way I am doing this alone! It was so cool to use the scriptures in that way- I have never used them like that. They really are like shields to Satan's tiny eroding comments in my brain. Every little thing that comes into my mind that makes me feel bad I just have got no time for anymore. I'm not ever wasting my time on thoughts like that again! In the article (link) Dad sent me (which I printed and read and re-read) it is talking about thoughts like fears and self-doubts, and it says "a bird might land on your head but he doesn't have to build a nest there." I might have fears but they don't have to stay there. It's been so different being proactive about my thoughts instead of just getting hit with what comes. I don't know if that all makes sense but to me it was such a great lesson that I learned and needed to learn. (There's this twerp kid playing a gun game with his buds in the computer shop right next to me and he's YELLING in my EAR and he smells bad. DO YOU MIND?!) 

Ok so what else. Ok lets talk people. The cool grandparents with the jackfruit we went to on Christmas eve hid from us. Awwwww maann! we went and knocked and tao poed and I called their names (we heard them inside and their dog and the lights were on) but they were really quiet and didn't open the door. We went by again and same thing, "no people." GRrrh. That's kind of annoying because I KNOW they felt the Spirit our first visit and it's dumb they don't want to feel that way again. Well, everyone has the right to choose so it's ok I guess. I just feel so bad for them and the people who don't choose to listen or to act on our message. Why does anyone choose to not be fully and 100% happy? Why would you want anything less than life with your family for forever, the peace that comes through the atonement and obedience? why don't you want this! It's like someone saying hey you can have this entire meal that is so expensive and delish and it comes with chocolate cake and drinks and a mint and a toothpick when you are done FOR FREE and the person says- ehh I think I will just have one bite. I'm just so busy with my work, I'm busy with my house, I'm busy busy busy. Sorry maybe next time sisters, if i have time. BUT IT'S FREE! you can have it all for no price! Everyone can have eternal life and bliss for freeeeee! geez people. It's your choice though!

We taught an old lady who was soo blind and it was so funny- all during the lesson she would randomly burst and say "taga saan ka!" "where are you from!" and we told her like, a ton of times already. Aaand she guessed that Sis. S's age was 40+. HAAAA I've been calling her 40+ all week. "Do you want me to help you up the stairs? Do you need me to get that so your joints don't hurt?" haha its been fun :) 

Speaking of Sis. S.- she's leeeving on a jett plaaanee NEXT WEEK! shes done with her mishie! dying! Next Tuesday is transfers so this is her last full week. ANd then the reigns fall to me as far as the area and people and everything goes. And I get a new kasamaaaa ehh so nervousss! It's so stress getting a new companion. There's a lesson you've got to learn from each one though so I'm just leaving it to the hands of President Reeder and the Spirit and taking what I get (ha is there any other choice? no) But ya, thats gonna be fun. As soon as you learn a lesson you needed to or gotten over a hard thing another thing comes flying right at you. We are emailing early this week cause Sis. S. is going to rebond her hair (which apparently means to make it straight or something) and it takes like, 7-ish or more hours. And her hair is so crazy thick- like Mahana on Johnny Lingo. SOO I will be in the salon for a loooong timeee. I've got so much laundry to wash but it will all be worth the sacrifice when S's hair is pretty.   :)))))))

Well a lot lot lot more stuff happens in the week but its so hard to condense it into a neat little summary. I just am learning so much and growing so much, I can't see it from day to day but looking back to the start of the transfer, and even more when looking back at Mercedes I am like a completely different person. Maybe not completely different, just enhanced :) This mission is so good and so hard and so life changing really. It's crazy. 

PS oh ya I remembered now we had 3 lunch appointments on new years! 3 WHOLE ONES! I ate soooo much more than I've ever eaten in my LIFE! They get way offended if you don't eat one of everything and try everything, and even more offended if they found out you went to one person in the ward's house and not theirs. Oh my gosh I was soooo fullll I was like 4 mos preggers. But the food was all soooo good! We had hopia and rice and pasta and spaghetti and meat things and stuff that I don't know what its called, and bread cake thing and "ice cream" and so much soda and riceeeee out the wazoo! I had to waddle home. I thought I would need a wheelchair. I had to lose the belt after the 2nd one. I was afraid if I opened my mouth it would all spill out the top. My eye sight got blurry and speech was slurred. My ankles swelled past normal size. I was andres the giant's lovely daughter. I had to be wheeled out by oompa loompas to be juiced. I was- (ok ok I'm done I will stop. It's all a big lie I was just really really full. I just like to enhance my story - it's more fun, no?)

GOODBBYEEE TILL NEXT WEEK!  Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts and thinking about little old me here on an island! Thank you! I love you!!! Have a wonderful week! 

Sister McGrath