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

Maligayang Bagong Taon

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Ashley Mecham	9:22 PM (15 hours ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

That was a strange Christmas call. The call dropped while you were making me talk to the cat... and then time was up. Hah! But it was great hearing your voices family! Mahal na mahal ko kayo!

This week was crazy time. We talked to SO MANY PEOPLE and it was awesome. Christmas was three set dinner appointments with members and then everyone else in the world forcing food down our throats. It was painful. But it was beautiful because we had the opportunity to share the reason of Christmas to all of Pasay City. But, sadly, the next day was suffering the effects of food poisoning. It was painful. I'm still feeling it. 

However, on Saturday we had the best day! Sister Tuia and I were feeling so sick but we felt like we really had to work anyway so we did. We would walk around like zombies and then pretend to be normal when we saw someone we needed to talk to. Then we would turn into zombies immediately after until we found someone else. It was awesome! We found a ton of people to teach! But by the end of the day, we still hadn't reached our goal for new investigators. We had set a high goal the night before and really had faith that we could reach it. It was 8:00 p.m. Our last appointment wasn't home and our back up was asleep. We were so happy. It was a great opportunity to find a family to teach. We said a prayer and the spirit led us to a street I'd never been down before. We passed a home but turned back. I was apprehensive about knocking on the door because it was late. But I knew the Lord wanted me to, so I did. A father came to the door and I had no idea what I was going to say. I opened my mouth and I don't remember the words that came out but he let us in. We taught him, his wife, and his 8 children the message of the Restoration of the Gospel. The spirit was strong and they invited us to return. It's a simple story, but for me, it's a miracle. We set inspired goals and worked with faith that the Lord would help us reach them even though we felt so sick. The Lord loves us, but even more, He loves the Monillas family and wanted them to hear His message of love and hope to the world.

This week I've been super frustrated with the disobedience of missionaries! I've accidently become the obedience police and it's really awkward. BUT, in John 15:18-19, Jesus teaches that if we want to be loved by the world, we have to join the world. But, He says, "I have chosen you out of the world." Especially as missionaries, we have a higher standard we must live by and though the world, or even other missionaries, don't see the importance of it, the Lord does. And that's that. 

Happy New Year, family. Don't smooch too much.

Sister Mecham

Flooding Pasay City Hall with Book of Mormons

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Ashley Mecham	Dec 23 (7 days ago)
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Kendra, Jamie, Liza, Lindsey, Patrick, D, Ryan

Dear Family,

MALIGAYANG PASKO. Merry Christmas, eh. Christmas in the Philippines is the same as Christmas in Utah but replace the snow with drunk people. I know, I've used that joke before.

This week was a big cheese ball of crazy. They sell cheese balls here but they're 1,800 pesos, which is like, way over the missionary budget. So no real cheese balls. We had transfer day. My daughter, Sister Francisquete, finally came back from Palawan. (don't worry, I'm still reigning champ for longest sister on Palawan. I was 5 transfers, she was only 4.) Anyway, I got to see her. It was blissful. Her new companion is Sister Disoloila from Fiji who is insanely adorable. I spent the whole transfer day running around, teaching and helping the new missionaries. So I had no time to cry my eyes out because Sister de Leon left me. She became my best friend. She is the prettier, filipina version of me. 

The next day after transfer day was our mission christmas party which was okay, but I would have rather been working. Especially because when I got there our zone leader told me I had a main part in the play he wrote for our zone presentation. Ayaw kong umakting. That's that.

Then on Saturday DOROTHY was BAPTIZED. It was awesome. She's great. And guess who baptized her? Our other recent convert - Joshua! It was a beautiful experience. Before it happened, I asked Joshua if he was nervous. He said, "No, this is my priesthood duty." BAM. So rad. 

We then actually had a ward Christmas party that was a fund raiser for Tacloban. We gave them our Christmas party budget AND had a fundraiser Christmas party. Pasay is the best ward.

Oh, Sister Tuia is my companion. She is Samoan. She's my first companion where I speak more Tagalog than her. It's weird.

Okay, this is about all the time I have because I already spent most my p-day Christmas caroling with the primary children of our ward. We went to city hall and the children soften the hearts of the people and we made so many contacts and passed out so many book of mormons and it was such a great experience. But now I have no time to wash my clothes. It's okay. Who needs clean clothes? Char, joke. 

Merry Christmas! I adore you all!

AYAW AYAW, pero, ayos lang

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Ashley Mecham	Dec 15
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, ryan.mecham

Last week I got to go on exchanges with Sister Reyes! Maybe we just talked about Palawan the whole time... mostly kidding. We did work I swear. But, as the exchange is coming to a close, Sister de Leon texts me, "Sis, magtatrain ako." My response, "Biro lang ba ito? Kasi, hinda sya nakakatawa." Which means, "Sis, I'm going to train." NOOOO! Sister de Leon has been fired as a Sister Trainer Leader and gets to train. This was a shock because, so far in our mission, no Sister Trainer Leader has been let go! They always finish their mission as STLs. But listen, even though it is sad news for me because I adore Sister de Leon, it is also great news because hopefully that will happen to me, too! Not that I don't love serving my sisters, I just super love training. And my new companion will be Sister Tuia! I met her in the MTC, she's one transfer ahead of me. She's from American Samoa and she's hilarious so I'm super pumped. I've been praying that my new companion wouldn't be American (I'm not racist, I swear. Filipinos are just easier to get along with than Americans...) But I only got a half american! Hah, I'm super excited. It's going to be like the old times with Sister Hunt. But anyway, let's talk about real things.

This week was a good one! It's been the first week in a while that we got to spend most of the time actually working in our area. We have seen so many miracles. We're working so hard to get baptisms this month. We have so many investigators that are so so so close. They all just have super huge problems and need to be interviewed by President Stucki in order to be baptized and that takes time. But, I am patient. We're going to have some really great baptisms in the upcoming week. Hey, can you do me a favor and pray for our investigator Elias Samonte? He's so great and is so ready to be baptized but he is struggling so much quitting smoking. We've done everything to help him, including making calendars, visits multiple times a day, daily scripture verse texts, calamansi juice, at iba pa. It all really comes down to himself and the Lord and his willingness to just do it. But, please pray for him. I know he can do it, he just doesn't believe that.

This week will be crazy. Transfer week which means I have tons of meetings and I have to teach a ton at the meetings and it's super fun and not stressful at all. Also, we have our mission christmas party! Who knew? Missionaries actually just party all the time. But I think Sister Francisquete will be transferring off of Palawan so I will get to see her! Mother and daughter united at last. 

Anyway, I just had a keyboard malfunction which took some time out of my email, so I know it's short short but that's just about good. Love you all!

Oh wait, the Christmas call is coming up! I'm not sure what time I will be able to call, but I'll let you know. Do you want me to call on Christmas? Or Christmas Eve? Or the day after Christmas? Which will be more convenient where you will all be there? Also, I can Skype you if you want. It would be awesome if the chitlins Braden and Bailey could be there because they're probably huge. I also have no idea how to skype from here, but let me know asap what your skype info things are so I can give it a shot. No promises, I might just end up calling. 

ttyoc

Sister Mecham

maiyakin na ako

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Ashley Mecham	Dec 8
to me, Amanda, Austin, Elizabeth, Liza, Jamie, Kendra, Lindsey, Patrick, D, ryan.mecham

Hey, I love you!

This week was rough! Whew! We had MLC where I cried in front of all the mission leadership and it was super awkward. Especially because I never cry. Okay, exaggeration. BUT usually never. Anyway, moving on. I learned a lot and it was great.

I'm trying to remember what else happened this week... This is embarrassing. Um, okay. Oh! I went on an exchange with a sister that is struggling so much. She wants to go home so bad because she's been here five months and can barely speak tagalog. She is so discouraged but we are doing everything we can to keep her here, respecting her agency hah. But that was my duty at this last exchange. And it was awesome. I felt the spirit working through me as we worked through the day to help build her confidence in herself and in the Savior and I found myself saying things to her that I would never have said to anyone. At the end of the exchange, she expressed her desire to stay on her mission and how she has a new commitment to be diligent in serving the Lord in order to feel the JOY in missionary work. It was an incredible experience that I can't exactly explain. Basta, because Heavenly Father loves her and knows she has much more to do on her mission, He put into my mouth the things that would help her. That usually only happens to me for the people we teach, but now it's happening to help the Lord's missionaries here in Manila mission! I love being a missionary!

"In the end, your heart and your will is all that you have to give that the Lord does not already have."

Sister Mecham