Sister Brittany Ann Mecham : Week 5 Philippines. "I Feel Like I am in Tarzan"

Hello family!!

Well time really is flying. I LOVE YOUR EMAILS!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously. It is super weird for me to think that you are all just chillin back home while I am in this absolutely gorgeous (yet super dirty at the same time) place on the opposite side of the world from you. It totally feels and looks like Tarzan. It's great. This week has been good though. There were no more run in's with pigs so that was a plus, and I got to go to some new places here!!

We taught some really great lessons this week and some really not so great. one really good one was to a brother investigator. We got one of his neighbors to come to the lesson since we aren't allowed to teach men alone. His neighbor has finally started going back to church (I absolutely love her by the way and she has the CUTEST daughter).

We read the intro to the book of Mormon and he had TONS of questions it was so great and what's even better is that he understands English (which I feel guilty speaking sometimes because I really should use more Tagalog...but oh well)!! We were able to answer his questions about Joseph Smith and the gold plates. At the end I bore my testimony and said how great it was that he had so many questions and got them all answered just by reading the intro. I told him the more he reads and studies the book and asks more questions, the more answers he will get. It was such a good lesson. After the lesson, the Sister who came with us told sister Nabus that she had learned a lot too. It was a really great experience.

Another good lesson was tracting one day, we went up to 2 ladies and were going to OYM them, but one invited us in to her house (booyah) and we just shared with her the importance of prayer and shared a scripture with her. She said she was really interested to know what Mormon's beliefs are because she has been to so many other churches, but saw us the other day and was curious! The only problem is though she works late everyday till like 9, so hopefully we will be able to figure out a way to teach her.

I have been reading the conference edition of the Ensign and it just makes me realize how lucky we are to have prophets and to have the spirit with us always.

We had district meeting on Wednesday, new missionary check-up on Thursday in San Pablo, so I got to see my whole batch of missionaries and talk about what has been hard on our missions. It was really good to hear that pretty much everyone is having the same struggles and it was also really good to see Sister Smart again!!

On Friday sister Nabus and I went to San Jose. It is about 3 hours away. President lets the missionaries who are leaving visit one of their areas for their last Sunday. Sister Nabus leaves next week. We were supposed to be having a fireside in Candelaria but it got cancelled while we were gone so we spent that Friday night visiting some of the families she taught and then went to their branch on Sunday. It was really fun and I really liked that area.

Sunday we did more tracting when we got home.We ran into several of the members at another member's house. They invited us to have FHE with them. It was SO fun!! I had no idea what they were saying half the time! They had me and sister Nabus share spiritual thoughts and then we played a game. I shared Mosiah 2:41 because it totally fits the church. We are on the other side of the world, but I felt the spirit exactly like I did at home. It just solidifies to me even more that the church is true!

Today was SO good though!! It was our zone P-day so we went to the most amazingly gorgeous beach I have ever seen!!! Holy cow! It was gorgeous! If I ever get a chance to come back to the Philippines, I am definitely going there. It was so pretty! We all were able to just talk, get our feet wet a little and play some games and just look at the gorgeous views. It was amazing! Also I got a lovely little sunburn on my arms.

In other news, I have been more diligent in using my insect repellent, but now they are biting my hands! So, I really lather up every day before we go out! No more big ugly bites!

The work is hard, but I think that's how it is supposed to be, so I just keep doing my best. I have to put so much faith in Heavenly Father every day and just really trust that he will help me and protect me. I know that the spirit is so important in our lessons and I know that I need to do my part by studying and focusing on the investigators to be worthy to have the spirit be in our lessons.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!! I am so glad I made the choice to come here and I am SO glad I am in the Philippines. It is definitely not America, but I am getting
used to it. Next week I will be getting a new trainer because Sister Nabus leaves :( but I am SO glad I was able to get to know her. She is so strong and so beautiful and has such a great spirit about her.
Love you all,
Sister Mecham