ANG HABA NG LINGGO

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Ashley Mecham	8:27 PM (17 hours ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Jamie, Liza, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

This was a long week. It was hard. And we're still having so many blessings. 

I know I keep talking about this, but we OYM'd two more people this week that happened to be baptized years ago but then moved here and didn't know where the church was. When I came this area, there was 1 less active member that lived in our area. Now we have 8. WHAT? That's so many, and the other seven we met through just talking to people. And one of them, Sister Lenie, is returning! And she's referring all her friends and neighbors. It's awesome. 

This week we had zone conference. Our zone leader wrote a huge 16 on the whiteboard and said, "This is how many baptisms the Lord wants us to have in March. That means we need 2 baptisms per companionship. How many of you believe we can reach this goal?" Everyone went silent. My first thought was how rough shape our area was in when I got here and how there was literally no one left behind from the last missionary to be baptized. But then, I thought of how he phrased that, "how many the Lord wants us to have." Then I shouted YES. Which was actually awkwardly loud. Every one else was still silent. He asked again, "Do you believe we can reach this?" Silence. "YES!!!" -coming from me only. Then he taught us how we need to have faith that we can do the things that the Lord has commanded us. And how these next two weeks will make or break it for March. SO, I know that we need a ton of faith here. But I really know that the Lord will help us do His will. This past week I've really been feeling like my faith was through the roof, but then Sunday came and only one investigator came to church. (If no one comes to church, no one can be baptized). But then I read this talk from this guy that says when things don't happen the way we hoped, "REDOUBLE YOUR FAITH AND TRY AGAIN." So, this week, I'll be redoubling my faith. Because I know my Father in Heaven loves His children in Paranaque and He will help us help them if we have enough faith.

That's all. I hope all is well with you. This next week a member is making me lasagna. This past week they fed me peaches. Those two things don't really exist in the Philippines unless you're very wealthy. Our members are very wealthy. I'm going to get fat here. 

Sister Mecham

Ang Bilis ng Linggo

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Ashley Mecham	Feb 9 (8 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

This week went so fast.

• Our apartment is awesome. We have a basketball hoop.
• We had temple day last week, which was why I emailed on Tuesday. I love the temple.
• I would get fat in this area if it wasn't for all the walking. Our members feed us like crazy. We walk like crazy. Our area is huge like my first two areas on Palawan. The eating and the walking cancel each other out, hopefully.
• It's summer now. My skin is melting off of my body every time I walk outside. But, on the bright side, I'm getting my missionary tan back!
• I've started cooking again. (I secretly love not being a sister trainer leader...so much time!) We made Sinigang! This week we'll make adobong manok.
• We have an investigator named Cynthia who is wealthy and wants to take us with her on a vacation to Palawan. I so almost said yes. 
• It's even weirder than I imagined having an American companion but I'm getting used to it. 
• I ate Durian, finally. It's a fruit that comes from Mindinao that kills you when you smell it but the sends you to heaven when you eat it. That's what the member said that fed it to us. I've heard about it from day one but never tasted it because it doesn't grow here and it's expensive. It really smells like death - the worst smell you've ever smelled. But it tastes nice. 
• We are seeing so many miracles in this area. We've been praying for them and they're coming. We keep talking to random people (not so random, following the spirit) and they keep ending up to be members that haven't come to church in ages. Lenie is an example of that, and she came to church last week for the first time in over six years! She's great. We also talked to this man Ramon on like my first day here and he told us that his sister is a member but lives in New York. Then we went back to his house a million times and he was never there or busy. Then we finally taught him. Right when he sat down he says, "So, what's up?" Then, we laughed. Then, he said, in english, "You know, you don't have to convince me that your message is true because I was already baptized." But I assumed he was already baptized Catholic. But no, he was baptized in 1972 and hasn't been to church since the 1980's. He will come to church this next Sunday. MIRACLES.  My Father in Heaven loves me, but more than that, He loves the people in this area and he is preparing them for us. 

That is a bullet list of the things of this week. For next week:

• Happy Valentine's Day. They don't have a saying for that in Tagalog because they only stole that holiday and there isn't a Filipino equivalent, I think.

That's all. Love you!

'ster Mech

Sobra na

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Ashley Mecham	Feb 3
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

There's too many things that happened this week for me to tell you them all.

Last Monday we were finally able to go back to Elias Samonte because he had been in the hospital and was pretty sick. We talked to him, and he said that because he has been sick, he hasn't been able to smoke. He said that the smell of cigarettes makes his insides hurt. He pointed to a little lizard on the ceiling and said, in english, "I feel like that is my transformation." I died laughing. But, want to know a secret? I've been praying that that exact thing would happen. Not the lizard, but that he would get sick and not be able to smoke any more (like Ming on PMG dvds). So, he had not smoked for 10 days. The Lord works in mysterious ways. 

Then, on Tuesday morning, I had just begun my personal study when President Stucki called. (which is not rare for us as leaders). But then, he started thanking me for my service as an STL and then fired me. Hah, okay, not really, I just have been reassigned. I HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED. I cried the most tears I've cried in a very very long time. I think I scared our roommates. I even surprised myself. I LOVE LOVE LOVE PASAY 1ST WARD. When I got to that area in September it was sad because there was nothing happening. I've been working my tail off getting the area to progress and was finally seeing the fruits of our efforts. We had like one million families with baptismal dates. And the best, Snookie and Mel will be baptized next week and I won't be there. They cried and I cried and it was depressing. And then I cried a ton more. 

And now I'm in Paranaque 3rd Ward. This area has been deemed by our APs as "The Hardest Area in the Mission." I will tell you why: I've seen the biggest and nicest houses in my entire time here in the Philippines - way nicer than a lot of houses in Utah. And the area is huge - we walk a lot and we see no one outside. I left my area of 22 baptismal dates for February and March to ZERO baptismal dates and ZERO progressing investigators. The people here are very very wealthy. I will include a picture. But, it's a great opportunity to find future leaders here in the Philippines so I'm pumped about it. I just have to find them... But the ward is so so great and very supportive and they feed us so much. I would get fat here if it weren't for how much we WALK WALK WALK forever. 

But listen, ^^^ those things are not negative. I cried when I first got here, but the Lord has really shown me why I'm here. I'm so excited to fix this area! I know the Lord is preparing people for us here and I'm so excited to find them! We have already been blessed with so many new investigators and now are up to four baptismal dates. It's coming! 

And let me tell you a miracle: The other day we were walking when I saw a man that I knew. I knew I knew him but I couldn't remember how. Then, he knew me too! Turns out, it's a man I OYM'd in Pasay who turned out to be a member who has been less active for a while. We weren't able to teach him in Pasay because his lived with his boss who wouldn't let us enter. BUT, his new boss here WILL let us enter. We taught him, and he came to church last Sunday. I was such a crazy miracle that I already knew him and that he is now prepared to return and become an active member in the church! Boo yah!

My new companion is Sister Jensen. She is American. She is my first American companion and she is really white and American. I'm not used to being around an American so often. Her Tagalog needs improvement, which is one of the reasons President Stucki said he gave me her. I'm helping her, I'm fixing the area. SERVICE YEAH I LOVE IT.

That's all I have. Lemme give you some pictures.

1. This is an awesome sweater I bought at Mall of Asia. It was expensive.

2. This is Snookie and her adorable son Maco who loves me and I love him. I didn't get a picture with Mel because I didn't get to say goodbye to him because I only had half a day for goodbyes to everyone and he had work. That is Angelina Jolie in the background.

More pictures to come that won't fit here! Love you!

Sister Mecham

THE BERST WERK EVR

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Ashley Mecham	Jan 26
to me, Amanda, Liza, Lindsey, Jamie, Kendra, Elizabeth, Austin, D, Ryan, Patrick

"I think myself to be happy..." in the words of Paul. I had a great week.

Snookie and Mel are the best couple ever. We taught them keep the sabbath day holy last week which we knew would be awkward because they always do their laundry on Sunday. (Doing laundry in the Philippines is a very intense endeavor - definitely not a worthy Sabbath day activity.) We opened with the ten commandments - #4. After we read the scripture, Snookie says, "Bale, bawal maglaba sa Linggo?" or "So, we shouldn't wash our clothes on Sunday?" and I said, "From what you read in that scripture, what do you think?" Her answer, "Bawal maglaba." It was awesome how we didn't have to point out specific things in their life that they aren't doing right, we just let the Lord say it with the scriptures. Then they spent the next 15 minutes making a plan on how to finish all their laundry before Sunday. It was awesome. And then, on Sunday, THEY HAD THEIR INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT STUCKI. They were so so nervous. But, of course, they passed because they are the two best people in the entire world. They will definitely be baptized on the 15th of February. FINALLY.

Also, my first baptism in this area, the miracle one, JP Mayor, received the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday. I was so proud.

Also, we pulled off four exchanges this week and it went so smoothly. The first was with Sister Riddle from my batch that I went to elementary school. She is a crazy exercise addict but it was fine. Then with another american sister from my batch. Exchanges with batch mates are weird because you know you're at the same point of your mission... But then I had the best exchange every with Sister Alberto - she's a fairly new missionary but is so so talented. We basically sprinted around our area talking to everyone and teaching in unity and it was brilliant. I love filipina companions. It was also really great because I WAS SO SICK. I had like three different sicknesses torturing me but wanted to go on the exchange anyway because I could still walk. I just basically pretended I wasn't sick for three days and it was a great and productive week.

This week our most wealthy members, the Gapiz family, fed us RIBS. and SALAD. I rarely see salad here and have never seen ribs! My mind was blown and it was delicious. Then they found out I like lasagna and that is what they will be making for our next dinner appointment. I never thought I would miss American food.

Okay, now this is one of my favorite miracles this week. I don't remember if I told you, but about a month ago, one of my favorite families told us in a text message not to come back for a while because the wife just gave birth and needs to recover. I was devastated. But this week I've been thinking about them a ton but have been too scared to stop by because I wasn't sure if it had been enough time. Then, out of the blue on Friday, they text and say that they want us to visit them again - every evening at 5pm. I died with joy. Then, when we were teaching them again, Sister Jesica (who has the most sarcastic and harsh personality) says under her breath, "Kasi, namis ko kayo..." Which means, I missed you. Then I paused and asked her to repeat that louder. It was hilarious. She did not want to admit she missed us! The Lord was telling me to go back but I let my fear of Jesica (just kidding, halfly) get in the way!! Follow the spirit Sister Mecham!

Okay, that's all. It was the busiest week of traveling for exchanges and working so hard and it was so fun and I love being a missionary and I'm so tired so now it's time to clean the apartment. OHHHHH GUESS WHERE I"M GOINGGGGGGG.

MALLLLLL OFFFFF ASIAAAAAAA. We're going to the Mall of Asia right after this. It's the largest mall in all of Asia and missionaries are not allowed to go there but we got special permission from President and I'm going to buy a hoodie.

Love you all,

Sister Mecham

Alma 17:23

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Ashley Mecham	Jan 19 (1 day ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

"Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die."

That's how I'm feeling, sorry if I never come home!

This week was the best! Sister Tuia and I are experiencing so many miracles.

For example, we received a referral from the elders a few weeks ago. We tried so hard to find the address, but no one knew where it was. Then, the other day, in our planning, I really felt like we should try again to find it the next day. So we did. We found someone who knew where it was. They led us down some sketchy stairs to a door. When you open the door, there just a tunnel that leads somewhere underground. And it's pitch black. And of course I have to do a nice hunch walk in order to fit in the tunnel. Then it leads to a place that is not pitch black, but still a tunnel. But the ground changes from dirt to 2x4 bridges over a filthy river. And there are TONS of houses down there. I felt like I entered into a new world. Sister Tuia was terrified, but I was used to walking on the little bridges because of Palawan. We found the house of the referral. Then, for some reason, I really felt like we should keep walking down the bridge tunnel. Finally, it came to the end, about half a mile underground. And there was a house. And there was a man and his wife and his seven children sitting in it doing nothing. They invited us in. The husband, Candido, and his wife, Rosilyn, are legally married (which is rare). We taught them the message of the restoration and they all accepted a baptismal date for February. The best part is, THEY UNDERSTAND. They really understood the message. And, when we returned the next day, they had read a huge chunk of the Book of Mormon and are really praying to find out if it's true. They will be coming to church this week. All nine of them. We have really been praying to find investigators that will progress in the gospel, especially potential priesthood holders and families. The Lord is showering down blessing on our area.

Oh, there was another point to that story. On the way out of the tunnel (because, of course, there is only one way out - back the way we came_, Sister Tuia was so happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel that she started sprinting and in my laughter and distracted walking I hit my head on something SO HARD and actually got a mild concussion. But really, I'm okay. It was worth finding that family.

Another quicker miracle, SNOOKIE AND MEL BALANGKIT WILL BE BAPTIZED ON FEBRUARY 15. They are finally ready to have an interview with President Stucki and they chose their date for the 15th. I nearly cried with joy. They are the cutest family of all time.

That's about it for time. I love you all. Don't worry about me here. I'm the happiest I've ever been even though my head aches now. Hah, I passed the one year mark, but it just means I'm sprinting even faster! I love the Lord and I love His work.

'di pa ako uuwi

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Ashley Mecham	Jan 12 (8 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

Dear Family,

This week was tired. We had so so many meetings. And temple day! But we only had one full day of work the whole week. But it was still a good week. We found some golden investigators and we're super excited.

This week while I was on an exchange with Sister Agreda, we were teaching someone on the street when out of no where a lady comes up and says she's a talent scout and wants me to be in a commercial. I said no. She was very persistent. I still said no.

This morning they made me go get finger printed for my exit visa. I'm not coming home yet, but it's weird. This week I'll reach my 1 year mark on my mission. That doesn't seem like real life.

This morning I was begging the AP to convince President Stucki that I need to train again. He said it isn't going to happen. I think he's lying.

You know what's a good talk from this last conference? "Look Ahead and Believe" by Edward Dube. I read it when I was halfway. I read it this morning. Coincidence? No.

One of the sisters we went on exchanges with recently found out she has lice. I slept in her bed. I don't think I inherited them, but I'll keep you updated.

I almost forgot! I got your package, mom! You are the best best best mom in the whole world! The clothes are the best and just what I needed. And Elder Mecham is pogi naman! Thank you so much! Also, I'm not really sure how to use the oil things you sent...

I'm not feeling super well, so forgive me for the strange email! I love you! Be safe.

Sister Mecham

Nagpunta kami sa templo, kasi...

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Ashley Mecham	Jan 7 (13 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan, Liza

Sorry for a late email. We had the opportunity to go to the temple earlier today which means they switched pday to tuesday. I don't want to talk about spelling or punctuation or grammar right now because I have no time but I have to get these things out there:

New Years Eve is crazy town here, drunk people with SO MANY HUGE FIREWORKS. Or so I hear. We were thankfully sentenced to time in our apartment by 6pm, thankfully because it was seriously crazy town outside. Sister Tuia and Sister Wemhoner and Sister Belardo and I cooked a huge feast and it was awesome. I made lumpia which are these delicious little deep fried bits of heaven. I neither saw nor heard fireworks because our apartment has no windows. Apparently it was awesome and huge. Then we were in bed but 10:30 but awoken and midnight by the loudest noises I've ever heard, even though our apartment is like a soundproof bunker. Only one of our investigators was wounded as she saved her baby from a wayward firework. The baby was unharmed. New Years day was such a rough day of work because everyone was still drunk or sleeping from being drunk or went on vacation because it's too crazy in Manila for this holiday. But we found a lot of new people to teach, only about half of which were drunk. Hah. 

The best thing that happened this week was about Elias Samonte. We've been cracking down on him because he isn't making much lasting progress on his quitting of smoking. He'll quit for like a few days and then smoke like 16 cigarettes and it's nuts. But, at church on Sunday, he told me, "Gusto kong lumayo so inyo pero parang... hindi ko kaya..." Which basically means that he doesn't want to be taught or come to church but he like physically can't stay away. I laughed in his face. We were fasting for him on Sunday and when he didn't show up to church I was crushed. But he was just late. Then he told me about how he was really not planning on coming to church that day but then, as he was cooking, he was just really rushing and he didn't know why and then somehow he changed his clothes and headed to church. It was hilarious. He like really didn't want to come but the Lord basically grabbed him by the collar and dragged him there. It was a great story. Then he bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting and it was so powerful. He's such a gem. Hopefully he'll be baptized in February. 

That's all the miracles I have time for. Love you all. Stay safe ha.

Sister Mecham