Normal? Week 56

Well I am very glad to say this week has been fairly normal! 'Normal' as in running water, electricity, no robbers, showering in my own house, and a happy companion. And a new camera (thank you mom and dad for sending me money!!!). I didn't know that those would be such great sources of joy, but after these last few weeks, I don't think I could ask for anything more. It's definitely more fun in the Philippines.

Monday night we had an F.H.E. with a cute little recent convert family from December and then we headed to Cabuyao for exchanges. Sometime in the night in Cabuyao the electricity came back and we woke up to the other sisters in the house screaming with excitement and turning all the lights on. Haha it was quite exciting. I guess that Monday night though the water and electricty came back on in Canlubang too, so I returned home Wednesday morning to a normal functioning house again. It was a huge blessing!!

This week was full of ups and downs in our work. We are really just turning our focus to members. That has brought some miracles and some trials, but we generally have great support from our ward. I think there has been a lot of stress from these last couple weeks. Plus, on Monday night we got some bad news that one of the member's houses was burned pretty much to the ground Sunday night. They said that one of their neighbors left a candle burning and then went out. They had locked their house. Within 5 minutes there were billows of smoke coming from the house and then the winds picked up and carried the fire 2 houses over to the members house. Everything they own was destroyed. Everything! During week the ward came together and started gathering toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, blankets, clothes, under clothes, etc. to give to this family. It was just heart breaking. 

We went over to the remains of their house and just swept up the charcole and tried to clean up the floors. they still have a foundation to their house and are talking of rebuilding there, so we just went and started to clean it up for them. 

They are living right now with their family of 8 and another family of 5 in the Barangay's senior citizen meeting house and they hate it. We are hoping the ward will be able to round up some supplies to help them rebuild their house.

I just can't believe all this destruction in just a small amount of time. I have noticed though that because it is affecting everyone, people are coming together more and more. People I feel are kinder and more open when we talk to them. In the midst of these trials, there are a lot of miracles coming I feel.

We had a great day at church yesterday and had 3 of our investigators there! Our ward did a great job of fellow shipping them and just talking to them and helping them feel welcome! One of those investigators  is about to turn 16 but already has an 'asawa'  (husband) but they definitely are not married. We visited her Saturday night and the lesson was great! She had read the pamphlet we left and had prayed and was so interested the whole time. At the end of the lesson I really wanted to invite her to be baptized, but we knew we needed to go over the law of chastity first, plus she is super young. We just invited her to church and she accepted!!

 The next day she came and volunteered to say the prayer in Sunday school and was commenting the whole time and just so involved. At the end of our meetings, she said she just loved church and loved how she felt! It was such a blessing.

We were able to meet with some members and share a message with them about missionary work. We decided that we just want to slowly help our members give referrals, so they feel more confident in sharing the gospel with their friends, and we really felt the spirit as we invited them to pray for their specific friends. It was a really good Sunday.

We are really doing good here. of course we are always looking for new investigators and are seeing the miracles with some and struggles with others, but we are confident in our efforts and are hoping for more miracles! 

This last Thursday we went to Cabuyao for Zone interviews and had time to introduce ourselves to president and just talk to him and sister Mangum. President Mangum said that with what is happening with the trials of my mission, he felt like I am kind of like Job, everything kind of fell apart around me and I felt like the last man standing. But he said that it was because Heavenly Father knew that I could stand up under this pressure no matter what came my way. He also said that these might have come in order for me to see what I really am capable of. 

I am grateful for these trials. I am sure there are many more to come, but I am ready for them!

Love,

Sister Mecham

P.S. I got a 'trunky' text yesterday. Trunky means that you are always thinking about home and just want to pack your trunks and go home. 

But any way, the office couple sent us a text and asked for all of our information for our NOVEMBER 19TH DEPARTURE DATE. I freaked out! I can't believe that time is going so fast. I refuse to be 'trunky' though.There is still SO MUCH TO BE DONE!!