Bagyo, Wala Tubig, Transfers, at Mga Investigators nam in. Week 19

1. We are all alive and healthy here in the thriving metropolis of Candelaria. The bagyo (typhoon) only hit us with heavy rain and wind, so Thursday and Friday we couldn't work and just sat home all day and read scriptures, wrote in our journals, and washed clothes. Our power went out a couple times so that was exciting. Saturday morning there were still dark skies and it poured in the morning. Our water tank was broken and they didn't know how long we would be without water. We have 2 huge buckets that have water in them, but I still freaked out and Sister Lorente and I went and bought some big water jugs that morning. By the time we finished our studies,  it was fixed. Ha I felt kinda silly, but I figured next time the water tank is broken we will have clean water to drink. I feel really bad for these other areas though. We are so blessed to be here. The storm was pretty bad and the wind and rain was crazy, so I can only imagine what condition these other areas were in. It's pretty scary.

2. We had to say goodbye to Sister Mckinney on Thursday morning, and now we have a new housemate! Her name is Sister Manu, so we now have 2 Tongans here in Candelaria and they speak Tongan ALL THE TIME. It is interesting! Some of the words sound like they swearing in English ha so it definitely catches my attention sometimes. It is super weird not having Sister Mckinney there any more, and now I am pretty sure I am the ONLY caucasion in at least a 100 mile radius of Candelaria. (well maybe not 100 miles, but it kinda feels like it).

3. The weirdest food I had this week was just some tofu. It was actually quite delicious!

4. WE HAD AN INVESTIGATOR AT CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His  is 67. He is a former military guy and so it has been a really rocky time trying to gain his trust. But I know he is living proof that the Book of Mormon changes people because he was at church yesterday and every time we go to teach him, he is waiting for us. It was such a miracle. But the even bigger miracle was that our sacrament meeting was SO REVERENT! I have never seen the whole ward so quite. It was such a blessing and Sister Lorente and I were really hoping it was a good environment for him to feel the spirit. After sacrament and even before, a lot of the ward members came up and shook his hand and welcomed him. Then in the Sunday school class, one of the men that just got baptized 3 years ago sat with him and talked to him after about his conversion. It was such a perfect Sunday and such a tender mercy to see that Heavenly Father is answering our prayers for this ward. We will go back to visit him on Tuesday and we are really hoping that he was able to feel the spirit!

5. My Tagalog is improving leaps and bounds. I have noticed I use taglish a lot more and I am understanding a lot more. I am definitely not fluent, but it is a lot easier for me to read in Tagalog, and teach. So that is a huge blessing. I still miss a lot of what people say but when I try to concentrate on the Spirit, every time, I just feel SO strongly that they all just need to know that Heavenly Father loves them.

I love my mission. I love the things I have changed. I love that I am doing the Lord's work. And I love this work!!

Love, Sister Mecham