Transferred!

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Ashley Mecham	May 26 (2 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Patrick, Eliza, Lindsey, Jamie, kendra.knudsen, Elizabeth

Joke lang.

Dito pa ako sa Palawan. Still here on Palawan.

BUT. I got a new companion. No more Sister Hunt. Umiyak ako. She is now in
Manila Zone shotgunning an area and working as Sister Trainer Leader. She
is the best. I miss her dearly.

Ibig-sabihin, I am leading this area. Ibig-sabihin, we just walk around
lost all day. Okay, not really. I'm doing fine. But it is so much more
stressful! What if I forget someone while planning! What if I forget all of
our appointments! I already lost an investigator's house. Don't worry, I
found it again. But yes, stressed. However, I have definitely seen how the
Lord has blessed me. When I first came here I remember thinking that I
would never remember where all these people live or who they are. But now
it is seriously so crazy how all of this knowledge comes to my remembrance
while planning or when our appointments fall through. It definitely doesn't
come from me. I could not do this on my own.

Anyway, may bagong kasama na ako. I have a new companion. Sister Lamberte.
PINAY. I was really looking forward to getting a pinay companion to help me
with the language, but, turns out that Tagalog is her third language. So
she and Sister Hunt are basically on the same level. Also, living with only
Filipinas is WEIRD. But okay. They just eat way less. Hah. And they don't
use toilet paper (don't ask me what they do use... I have no idea). But
Sister Reyes is still here so I am happy na happy about that. But normal
pinays don't like Sister Reyes. Probably because she is more American than
I am. Hah, not really. She is just hilarious and most Filipinos don't
really get her humor. But yes, I am still being well fed by her! Food for
the week: Turon = MASARAP. Probably really bad for you. Lumpia wrappers
filled with a banana mixture and deep fried. Sarap na sarap. Super
delicious.

Well, that's about it, folks. Hope everything is going well for you on the
other side! of the world.

Mahal na mahal ko kayo lahat! Ingat kayo doon!

Sister Mecham

1. Me with Sister Hunt and Sister De Leon and I honestly don't know who that is. From Sister De Leon's branch. I just wanted to include this picture because I feel like I always look this way. Jumping around like an excited puppy while my trunky trainer gives me strange looks

. 2. Azzley and us again! We're really into jumping pictures over here.

Dear family,

Azzley was baptized! Pictures attached. President and Sister Stucki attended because they were on the island for district conference. I love them. This last week was SERIOUSLY AWESOME. We almost met every single one of our goals! Which, like, never really happens. We worked real hard and it paid off. We found some new people who are totally ready for the gospel! And they're progressing! Good stuff. 

So let me tell you about something that I've noticed here. I think I've talked about it before. It's the youth here. They are outstanding. Not even just the youth that are members. For example, we are teaching this YSA aged girl who is pretty great. But her 10 year old cousin named Sunshine is seriously magaling (talented). We haven't even counted her as a new investigator because we aren't teaching her parents because they live far away. But we taught her with her cousin and she basically jumped on the opportunity to be baptized. Then when we went back for the second visit she had already read up to 2 Nephi 11. Like, she's seriously so smart and gets it. Then, we're teaching this other family and we've been teaching the mom for about a week longer than the rest. We only taught her son, Bryan, one time but he totally got it, too. Then, surprise, he showed up at church all on his own. He road his bike by himself to come to church. And they like in the dulo of our area. Which means very far from the chapel. So yeah, I'm excited about the rising generation here. Last example, we have these two investigators who have been taught for a while by previous missionaries. 13 year old Xandra and 10 year old Tonio. They've been reading the Book of Mormon together every day for a while. Their parents are members, but they're less active. And we can't baptize children who have less active parents because they have no support and can't come to church on their own, usually. Their parents won't even attend our lessons. But the saddest part is that every time one of them prays during our lessons, they pray to be able to be baptized. It breaks my heart. The parents here need to pull their act together for the sake of the children! Maysakit sa puso ko. Anyway, that's my beef.

Kanina (Earlier today), I cooked my first Filipino meal almost all on my own! It was for the Burts, our couple missionaries. And it was delicious! I didn't take pictures, sorry about it. But it was seriously delicious. Just wait, I'll recreate it in just over a year. Yikes, that's close.

Transfers are this week and Sister Hunt is Trunkyville U.S.A. Or, I guess, Trunkyville PHI. She is sure she is transferring, and I am too. I would be so surprised if I were out of here. Palawan 4 lyf! Luckily, I won't be training this transfer because we aren't getting any new missionaries until July. And I probably won't be training then either. Even though Sister Stucki and the Burts keep telling me I most likely will be. It's too stressful. I'm still a baby missionary! I'm barely ready for my Nanay to leave me, and especially not ready to become a Nanay. That's that.

That's really all I have this week. I'm feeling really great! The Lord is continually blessing me and I am so grateful to be here. I'm truly becoming who the Lord wants me to be!

I love you all! Enjoy the pictures! One is from Azzley's baptism and one is me with Tabs (pronounced like Tubs, it comes from Mataba which means fat.) Tabs and I are the same age. He was born the day I got to Palawan. Cute.

 

Fun fact: I have named Tabs's Parents Jacob (Mom), Leah (Maybe dad) and Rachel (Maybe dad). Because I have been reading the Old Testament in my personal study and there is some pretty freak stuff in there.

Over and out,

Sister Mecham

Just pictures, if you're into that kind of thing.

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Ashley Mecham	Apr 28 (6 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Patrick, Eliza, Lindsey, Jamie

Just one picture. Sorry about it. This is me and some of my district plus some members at BM Beach last P Day. Check out how awesome my shirt is - that's a map of Palawan. It was awesome because we got to play volleyball! I haven't played since the MTC! Mostly just the Americans, Pinoys don't like volleyball much. But yeah, I'm living in paradise.

Kahit sino

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Ashley Mecham	Apr 28 (6 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Patrick, Lindsey, Eliza, Jamie

Dear Ang Pinakamagandang Pamilya sa lahat ng mga pamilya sa mundo,

This week was awesome! 

But, first thing is first: Mother's day! It's totally coming up, amiright? I don't really know for sure how I will be contacting you, but it might over skype. So hurry up and learn how to use that :)

Second thing up: The pictures! Baptisms! 

1. TATAY DANILO! Meet Tatay Danilo at Sister Acu. Sister has been a member for a while now. Notice the skirt I am wearing - made for me by Sister Acu. Magaling siya, 'di ba? Also notice how much larger I am than both of them! Yeah! Being tall rocks. Anyway, this is at Tatay's baptism. I honestly don't think I've ever seen anyone happier in my entire life. He is truly converted to the gospel.*

2. The Gonzalez children! The Gonzalez family is one of our recent converts, so Rica Mae (middle) is not one of our converts, but it feels like it because we still visit them every week! Also, don't focus on Jerome (bottom left). That was not intentional, I'm sure of it.

So, back to this week. Sister Hunt and I were totally feelin' it during our weekly planning last week so we set our goal for New Investigators insanely high. Like, 2.5 times higher than we usually obtain. But, like I said, we were totally feelin' it. And guess what? "You can do it, if you will be prayerful and faithful. You can do better than you have ever done before." WE DID IT. Hah, we totally exceeded our goal. It's beautiful because I know that the Lord will give you whatever you pray for if your will is aligned with His, at hindi nanunumbat. 

*So lately I've been really focusing on conversion. In Luke 22:32 it talks about how once you are converted, you must strengthen your brethren. That is one of the reasons I came here - because of how blessed I have been to always have the knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in my life - I just want to share the joy I've felt with everyone! I also recently read in Alma 23:5-6 and thought of Tatay Danilo. It says that as many as believed and were converted unto the Lord never did fall away. One of my goals as a missionary is to make sure all of my converts are converted. Here in the Philippines, we have A LOT of less active members. Back in the 1900's, missionaries came here and seriously baptized so many people that are now inactive because the were not truly converted to begin with. Some of them that we have found recently don't remember anything about what the missionaries taught them. No knowledge of Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon. So we have to teach them as if they were new investigators, except we can't drop them if they aren't interested! Hah. But seriously. That was a tangent. Back to where I was going originally - God doesn't care how many people you baptize. He cares about how many people are converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Which is why we also focus so hard here on less active members. This work is beautiful. 

Tapos, mga miyembros namin - kailangan sila maging truly converted din. Uhh, sorry. Saying that sounds weird in english to me. We need to make sure that our members here are truly converted to the gospel as well - not just to the church. We have so many members who are active - they come to church every week and fulfill their callings - however, who knows what they do the rest of the week. So we have to teach them to. Too many people to teach, too little time to teach them. 

Well, that's all folks. Mahal na mahal ko kayo, talaga.

Sister Mecham

A Real Short One

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Ashley Mecham	10:08 PM (18 minutes ago)
to me, Amanda, Patrick, Lindsey, Eliza

Kumusta ang Pamilya at mga Kaibigan ko!

Another beautiful week here on Palawan. This email will probably be a shorty because of the lack of internet here. Slow slow slow so I emailed President first to be sure to get that in. 

Listen up, TATAY DANILO GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY. It was crazy because we didn't know if it was going to happen or not! I don't remember what I told you about him, but he had to have another interview with President Stucki because of some things that happened in like 1972, His baptism was scheduled for Saturday and President was coming to Palawan on Friday for our interviews (I passed). So, cutting it a little close. I was the most stressed I've been since I got here! After their interview, President called us into the office and asked us if we thought Tatay was ready for baptism and YESSSSSSS. So he approved it! Tatay was unbelievably excited. He started bawling uncontrollably and in english said, "I'm really happy." even though he looked so upset. He is a real gem. And he was baptized and confirmed. If anyone deserves this gospel in their lives, it's Tatay Danilo. I'll try to upload a picture, but the internet might be too slow.

Ano pa....

Oh, let me tell you what I've learned. ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR NANAY. Especially when you think you shouldn't. Two examples of this:

1. The other day I needed a grilled cheese sandwich. But, you know, they don't have real cheese here. So I bought that processed cheese that comes in tin foil and a card board box and was so excited. When I got home, Sister Hunt (my nanay) told me to put it in the fridge so the ants don't get it but I was like, naahhhhh. No need because it's sealed. Nope. When I went to use it, the ants were INSIDE the seal. I have no idea about it.

2. Umbrellas. We had a huge storm and I still haven't bought an umbrella. Plus, playing in the rain is fun. So I was running through it like a crazy person on the way home from a lesson when it was POURING and Sister Hunt chastised me for no umbrella. Then she told me that I should put a towel on my head so I don't get sick and I was like, naahhhhh. No need because that's crazy. But, alas, I am SICK SICK SICK. My cough sounds like I'm seriously dying and sometimes I seriously think I am. So that's that.

That's about all the time. Sorry about it.

I love you all and so so appreciate hearing from you even if I don't reply!

Mahal na mahal ko kayo,

Sister Mecham

PS. Pictures didn't work. Next week na lang

Mahirap ang linggo ko!

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Ashley Mecham	Apr 14 (5 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Patrick, Eliza

To my dearly beloved and beautiful family,

Kumusta po kayo lahat?? That good?

This week was ROUGH. Seriously, it started out so difficult. Remember Myra? I sent you a picture of her. She decided not to get baptized. And two of our other new investigators left us a note that they don't want us to return. (Because Filipinos don't say no, usually. They usually just hide from you if they don't want to visit with you.) So this was them being bold, you know. Then another of our investigators is moving to the mainland. Plus we had to drop a few because they just weren't progressing. So, mahirap ang linggo ko. Plus we were so worried about the our numbers this week because we had Zone Meeting and General Conference. But listen, the Lord blessed us so much! We did better this week than we've ever done before! So beautiful.

But listen, this email will be shorter than ever because I had to type a story for President. Like, I still have tons of homework here. It's cool, though.

Okay, I've got a great story. Listen up:

We were teaching a lesson to an investigator and it started raining like CRAZY. The raindrops on the tin roof were SO INCREDIBLY LOUD. We were literally yelling the lesson to them. Then it got to the point in the lesson where I felt like I needed to extend a baptismal commitment to him. BUT, I hestitated because you can't yell a baptismal invitation at someone. I needed the spirit to be there. I turned to Sister Hunt and whispered, "Should I do it?" She didn't know either. Then suddenly, silence. The rain completely stopped. BAM. Needless to say, Azzley Santos is getting baptized on May 18th. Miracle of miracles.

CONFERENCE. Oh man, I love conference. We got to watch it in english. They had both available at our chapel because a lot of the younger folks here like to listen in english. But I didn't get to watch the last session because we had a brown out. Sad. 

We have a baptism this week! Definitely one for an 8 year old in our recent convert family and sana TATAY DANILO. The one who quit smoking. But he still needs one more interview with President. I'll let you know. I'm praying hard over here. 

Oh, I have another story! I almost got robbed! We were walking at night and it was almost curfew so we were hustling when a man jumped out from behind a fence and tried to grab my bag! But I'm too quick! I squealed and just started booking it which freaked him out and he didn't pursue. So don't worry! I'm still safe here! Haha. Seriously, don't worry. 

FOOD THIS WEEK: Ube flavored ice cream. They really need to bring it to the U.S. It is heaven. Plus this thing that SIster Reyes made for me. It's like, fried saba, which is a class of saging, which is banana. Pinakamasarap siya. 

That's literally all my time. Go read all the conference talks again. They're all beautiful. 

I love you all.

Sister Mecham