Maligayang Pagdating sa Pilipinas!: June 2013

Monday, June 3, 2013

Let me begin with a story.

The other evening, I was teaching the Plan of Salvation to some investigators. I was getting really into it, but when I asked them a question, no response. Nothing. So I look up and they're gone. No people. So I sat up really quickly to get a better look and smacked my head on the top bunk bed. Then I was fully awake. Sister Lamberte said I woke her up because I was teaching the plan of salvation in my sleep. She woke up to me saying, "Ito po ay yung plano ng Diyos para sa atin. Ang Plano ng Kaligtasan." Then I went on for an unusually long amount of time until I sat up bigla. So that's my life right now. I teach every one that will let me teach them, even when I'm sleeping.

This week so rough. But also good! We had so many investigators at church on Sunday. We have so many sure baptisms and even more that aren't sure! Life as a missionary is wonderful.

Living with only Pinays is still an adventure. Filipinos don't like exercising, I don't remember if I told you that already. But Sister Reyes is weird and she loves exercising. SO that means we drag our companions along to jog to baywalk, play tennis at PSU or play basketball at the church every morning. My life is GREAT.

The best thing about missionary work is FINDING and OYM. Seriously it's fun. The first thing that people say when I start talking to them is, "AY, marunong ka magtagalog, pala." Which means, "AY, you know how to speak tagalog, i'm surprised by that." But after that passes, it's fun to follow the spirit and find out who is ready for the message and who just likes to speak to a tall American who can speak tagalog. And people ALWAYS laugh at me when I ask if I can help them with whatever their doing. It's great. Missionary work is great. I am beyond excited for RYAN! MAGMIMISYON SIYA! MALAPIT NA!

Ayon, that's all I have this week. Keep praying for me. Mahirap ang gawain na ito. MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT.

Sister Mecham / Sister Matangkat

(One of our LAs actually calls me Sister Matangkat. Sister Tall.)

This is a picture of me at the palengke. Ignore how sweaty I am, we jogged there this morning after playing basketball at the church. Masarap ang mga baboy dito. They have a dish here called Pork Sisig. Which is actually the face of the pig - chopped up and fried. Masarap!

Send a Letter

Sister Ashley Nicole Mecham

Philippines Manila Mission

Provo Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 E

Provo, UT, 84604

United States

Sister Mecham will be in the MTC until February 25th. After that, her address will be:

Sister Ashley Nicole Mecham

Philippines Manila Mission

PO Box 1997

Makati Central PO, Makati City

1200 Metro Manila

Philippines

However, it is cheaper to mail things via the Church Pouch Mail Service. You can mail things to them for the cost of regular postage instead of international. You may only send postcards or letters on a single piece of paper that is folded into three panels and taped at the top (no envelopes).

Sister Mecham's pouch address is:

Sister Ashley Nicole Mecham

Philippines Manila Mission

P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT, 84130

Send a Package

Use the same PO Box mailing address as above.

However, every package entering the Philippines through the US Mail system and other carriers is inspected and randomly opened to verify values and contents.

The value of the contents, as stated by the shipper, is added to the postage costs you paid when you sent the package in the mail. These two values added together establish the baseline for the Custom Fees and Taxes that will be paid by the missionary.

These fees are deducted from the missionaries monthly support money.

Recommendation:

Ship small parcels more frequently. Parcels having a total value of less than $48.00 are exempt from duty fees. Remember the total value is the estimated value stated by the shipper plus the cost to mail the parcel. If two parcels are received at the same time even though shipped separately, they will be combined.