I
have a little over a week left and I don't really know what I'm
feeling. I'm exhausted and tired and am so excited to see everyone and
come back home, yet at the same time, I cry thinking about leaving the
Philippines, and the mission, and the moment when I have to take off my
nametag. I'm even tearing up now thinking about it as a I write this
letter, and I still have over a week. I have a feeling the next weeks
are going to be a little emotional. But overall, I'm just more than
grateful for the experiences I've had here on the mission and for the
experiences I've had growing up in our home that led me to deciding to
serve a mission in the first place. Here on the mission, it's definitely
been a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. Many tears have been
shed, both of joy and of sadness. But I wouldn't exchange those
experiences for anything. Last Monday we stayed over in Bacolod because
we had MLC the following morning. We slept at the Bacolod 2nd ward
sister's apartment, my first area. I went out and worked with Sister
Foote and I was able to see one of my first converts, Tony. I just
wanted to cry. He's still so strong, wanting to serve a mission, and now
two of his coworkers have since joined the church. That's only one
experience of so many where you are just filled with the love, and joy,
and the Spirit. On the mission, I've experienced that rich satisfaction
that comes to us only when we know we helped another along the pathway
to eternal life. I have come to know my Savior and my Heavenly Father in a
way and to a degree that might not have happened otherwise or that might
have taken me much longer. I've not only seen the gospel bless the lives
and change the hearts of others, but experienced that change of heart
as well. The past weekend when we were under apartment lockdown during the
typhoon, we had a Liahona reading marathon. But one quote that I loved
which reminded me of the two of you was, "If we truly have a testimony
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it will manifest itself in our lives."
One of the greatest things I'll take away from the mission is an even
greater love and appreciation for both you and Dad. Thank you for your
support, prayers, and constant love, not only from the past eighteen
months, but from the past twenty plus years.
But
with that said, this week was definitely a little more exciting than
others. Tuesday we had MLC at the mission home. Sister Oquias and I had
to "edper" in front of everybody, which basically means role play, and
pretend we were teaching an investigator. We do those types of things in
almost all training meetings, but it was a little more nerve wracking
knowing our audience is President Lopez and all other leaders from the
mission.... but it all turned out okay haha. Then Wednesday, we had ward
home evening at the church as a farewell to the sister leaving on her
mission. Thursday we gave our training at our zone meeting and then
Friday, after working in the morning, we were put on lockdown that night
until Saturday. We were planning on just staying in our apartment for
lockdown, but then president sent a text saying anyone who lives close
to the ocean or in the mountains had to transfer to the city.
Considering you can see the ocean from our apartment, only a two minute
walk away, we hurried to pack some things and transferred to another
sister's apartment for the weekend. Yet, the typhoon never even came to
us. There was hardly a drizzle of rain this weekend. We spent
Friday night and all day Saturday trying not to go crazy while being
stuck inside. We all had cabin fever. But on Sunday morning the
lockdown was over and we were able to go to church and work that
afternoon. What's especially sad is that over 300 people from Pulupandan
evacuated in our church building, yet come Sunday morning there was
hardly any members at sacrament meeting.... It's hard because you see
everybody preparing for the storm physically, but do they realize that
we need to prepare spiritually for the future? But I guess that's when
missionaries and members come into the picture, to help them realize and
prepare. But overall, it was a good week. It's definitely bittersweet -
the mission coming to a close, but I'm glad I still have a full week
left of full-time proselytizing time.
I love you! See you in a little over a week!
xxx
Sister Fitzgerald
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