"Hey Joe", "Barbie", "Ako,sabon na lang" (I just use soap!) Week 21

Well. This week has been the pits!

 In first Nephi it says that they traveled through the wilderness for 8 years and experienced all sorts of hardships and trials. I think about that all the time and am SO grateful that my mission (in the wilderness) is only 18 months. The trials I am facing now really aren't that fun. 

But then I always have to remember in 1 Nephi 17:1-3 about how the Lord provided a way for all his commandments to be fulfilled. I know that somehow these humongous trials we have now with ALL of our investigators will some how work out.

President Peterson has asked us to memorize the Standard of Truth from Joseph Smith.

 It says..."The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every nation, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say The work is done."

I know that I am doing the Lords work. There is nothing that can stop this work, even if it looks quite impossible right now. I never thought that I would experience so much hate radiating off of a person when they yelled at us for saying that there was an apostasy and that "everyone is a prophet", or being afraid to tell someone that it costs 500 pesos ($14) to get papers and a birth certificate copy for them to get married and them responding that they only make 300 pesos every day (maybe 4-5 times a week) for their family of 6, or trying to help someone prepare for baptism who grew up Muslim, and then realizing that penalty for her if she ever went back to her family would be a total nightmare.

 I didn't ever think I would be faced with any of these problems in my entire life. But in just one week I've had it all. None of them are my problems, but because I am a representative of Jesus Christ, these now feel like my own personal challenges. I am learning more about the Atonement and patience and trust than I ever have in my entire life. I am grateful for these challenges though. I have absolutely no idea what I can do in any of these situations, but I know that the standard of truth is real.

This gospel will be heard in every ear and there are people here I have been called to help. President Peterson also had us read "Mountains to Climb" by Pres. Eyring. We read it as a companionship last night and it has helped me so much. I think Heavenly Father really wants me to learn about the atonement, patience, and trust right now, because I know that I am really being tested by all of them right now.

On a brighter note though I have some fun facts;

If you are a white person in the Philippines, you will hear "hey Joe" at least once a day. (in reference to when the GI's were here)

We were walking down the street one day and this little girl just stops dead and stares at me then says, "BARBIE". We are now teaching her mom :)

We started teaching our Ward mission leaders sister and their little neighbor girl came over. Her name is Nicole and she is 4. And after the lesson was over, we were eating crackers and drinking coke and the little girl like grabs my hair and was kind of playing with it. Then she asks "Anong shampoo na gamit mo?" (what kind of shampoo do you use?). Then she smelt it and then rubbed her little hands through her hair and says "Ako, sabon na lang" (I just use soap). Oh my gosh. It was the CUTEST thing EVER!!

Any way. This past week has not been my favorite, and I really have no idea what we are going to do with all these different investigators. It is hard. But I know that Heavenly Father will take care of these people and that everything will work out how it needs to.

Love, 

Sister Mecham

This is actually the same river I washed clothes in at the beginning of my mission, just a different spot.

Crossing the river to get to Z's house!! (one of our investigators)

Another Fun Fact. Our STL (also a Sister Harris) straightened my hair for me with our iron. #reasonswhyilovethephilippines!