Sister Brittany Ann Mecham : Glenda Week 55

So last weekend was pangit (ugly). Then this week was just pinaka pangit (most ugly)

Tuesday Typhoon Glenda came to town and kept us up all night, shut off our power and did a lot of damage to pretty much all of Laguna.

We were up around 3 am because the wind was just going CRAZY outside.By 5:30 it eased up and we slept until 6:30. We then went out to see what happened. To our shock we found leaves and debris ALL OVER the place. We went out our gate (yes still in our pajamas) and looked around some more. There were tons of trees and branches all over the place and 2 of our neighbors huge trees were completely uprooted and blocking the street. It was a mess!

There was no damage to our house, just a little flood in the other sister's room, but nothing bad.

Luckily Tuesday we had come home in the afternoon because the rain was SO strong. We showered and I did my laundry too. because We had handled a trash bag that had a dead cat in it! That's another story I will have to tell you in person...

It turned out to be a huge blessing for me because we have no way to do laundry at this point... and that was also our last shower till Thursday night. That shower was at a member's house because they have running water. We have had to go there every night since then to shower. And then our phone was dead for a few days but by Saturday we heard that there was another member who had electricity. We finally got our phone charged at their home.

Honestly, these last few days have been a blur. I am amazed to see how well everyone in the city responded to this. There were HUGE lines of people waiting to get water from the water district place and from places that sell mineral water. And, literally all the candles are sold out! It is nuts! It really has caused the city to come together. There are tons of people out on the streets now and everyone just hangs out outside now. It is a very unique experience for me.

We helped a member family on Wednesday morning clean up their house. Their roof was not strong so they had a big flood.( We went without showers that day) Then on Saturday, the house of a family who is being taught just totally toppled over. We went and cleaned up some of the debris from the rubble of this house.

For some strange reason in the middle of all this, we had Zone training meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the dark church, and then transfers Thursday morning. Why? I think at this point missionary work is so ingrained into all of us, we just keep doing the normal missionary thing, even if it means doing it by candlelight and not showering.

I know that I was prepared for these challenges though. I read in Ether 6 last week how the Jaredite barges were ‘tight like unto a dish’ and I think that is what happened to me this last week because I kind of feel like I have been tossed onto the sea and I am just being tossed around. Everything is definitely falling apart around me . I kind of just feel alone almost. But I know Christ is the Jaredite barge holding me in safe with his light there and all the other provisions and sources of light (the scriptures, members, my family,etc.) in with me so that I don’t get tosses out to the sea alone.

I am incredibly grateful for the overwhelming peace I have felt these last few days. I know it is Heavenly Father easing these burdens that are on my shoulders. I am so blessed for this strength and peace I am feeling right now. I am also very glad that I am here with sister Woodruff. My mission experience has prepared me to help her get adjusted to mission life in the Philippines. I know that in one year she will be helping another sister to stay strong.

This week has been crazy and it has been really hard on our investigators too. Somehow we have found a few new ones and I feel a lot of hope. Some people we were teaching have dropped us. We now have some time to work with the members more and help them prepare their friends for the gospel.

I really don't know what this week will bring. they are telling us there is another typhoon on the way. Woot! We are ready for it.

I love you all so much. This is the only true church and all of these pangit trials are just to make us stronger and to help us be more prepared for the time when Christ will come.

Have a good week! and don't forget; lock your doors, buy lots of candles, GET YOUR FOOD STORAGE, and make sure those huge blue things ACTUALLY HAVE WATER IN THEM. But really. You better believe when I go back home I( am going to have the best food and water storage EVER.

I really love you all!! Ingat po kayo!(please use caution)

Love,

Sister Mecham