October 27, 2013

Family!

It's true, I'm training! The assistants called Sister Bendoy and I last Monday, we found out that Sister Bendoy would be transferred and I would stay in the area to train! Pretty much all day Tuesday and Wednesday I both wanted to puke and cry at the same time, but since actually meeting Sister Luke on Thursday, I've felt at peace and almost excited to train and be the one to help not only her but our area progress and grow. At times I definitely feel like I'm not ready, especially when I feel like I just finished training and still have so much to learn, especially regarding the language, but this gives us both an opportunity to learn together and become better and successful missionaries.

This week has definitely been eventful! Sister Bendoy left on Tuesday, I had a temporary companion until Thursday, Sister Luke arrived on Thursday, A was baptized on Saturday (!!!) and now it's p-day again! It's been an adjustment now having an American companion, because now the stares and comments have doubled haha, but it's been fun. This week we've really tried to focus on expanding our investigator pool, and we found the most precious family. We've taught her and her kids twice now, and we're really hopeful that she will progress, especially because she totally accepted the aspect of prophets, about Joseph Smith, and especially Thomas S. Monson today. I felt the Spirit so strongly during the lesson, I even teared up a little bit when Sister Luke was saying the first vision. In that moment, I truly just felt the power of the gospel and the conversion process, and how truly blessed we are to have it in our life. That it truly is for everyone, and as a missionary, I feel blessed to spend each of my days trying to help others realize what we already know. We also taught this older, retired couple last night. We were walking home, and this lady was opening her gate about to walk inside, so we stopped to talk to her. She invited us inside, and we ended up teaching her and her husband. And, the exciting news was that we could do it in English, which was a weird but really fun because I'm so used to teaching in Ilonggo. He had a lot of questions about the Mormon beliefs (maybe because he figured this would be the first and last time he would let the missionaries in) so the lesson was all over the place, but they were both really receptive and I could see their interest to know what we believe. I feel like a lot of the time, especially back at home, people just think Mormonism is just one big secret, but if they actually just took the time to listen, to read and to learn what it is we actually believe, they would realize the truthfulness of it. We're really hoping we have the opportunity to teach them again. J and F also came with us to church yesterday (!) which is always exciting

Now, to tell the story of A's baptism. So Friday, the district leader came to interview him. It was one big hot mess, because at first he wasn't home, so the DL's left, and then two minutes later he arrived home, so then they came back to interview him, and then I didn't bring his teaching record, so we went back home to get it, and then we came back, and almost didn't have the BR but thankfully we did. So he was interviewed and everything was set for Saturday. So then Saturday comes, and there was leak in the water, so the font had brown water... (which wasn't too bad), but then bishop said to wait for him to get there, so the baptism which was suppose to be at 2, started at 3:30....but in the end it was a spiritual and happy experience.  After he was baptized, he shared his testimony, and the Spirit really did testify to me that he was ready, and I felt that joy that I think comes when you know that you're helping Heavenly Father's work here upon the earth. That's definitely something I"ve been thinking about a lot the past couple days, because over and over again in the scriptures it talks about that joy that all these missionaries in the BOM feel while they're teaching. And that truly is what I've felt the past week, pure joy. I truly love being a missionary, and I'm so grateful that I decided to serve, and I truly can't picture myself anywhere else, than here in the Philippines at this time. 

I love you all! Anyways, send my love to everyone! 

xoxo,

Cami

 

Sister Fitzgerald and her new companion, Sister Luke

 

October 20, 2013

Pamilya!

It has been such an eventful and fun week... and although weeks seems to go by really fast, this one seemed to go by especially fast. Literally, yesterday I was sitting in this computer writing you all. 

Week Recap:

Tuesday- We had the earthquake! We were in the middle of our personal studies, and then it started shaking. I look up at Sister Bendoy, and we were like, "It's an earthquake!" and then she basically runs outside. It didn't last too long but I felt like I was still moving for the rest of the morning. It wasn't big enough to do any damage in Bacolod but it was definitely what everyone talked about at every lesson we had later that day.

Wednesday- Mission Tour! Four sisters slept over at our house who live farther away from the city so Tuesday night we had a sleepover, and it was especially fun trying to get eight girls showered and ready before 7 in the morning... but somehow we did it. For mission tour, President and Sister Nielsen visited. We had breakfast, then a separate sisters meeting with Sister Nielsen while there was a leadership meeting with President Nielsen. Then we had a combined meeting for the rest of the morning and afternoon. For the past month, we've been studying the talk "In the Strength of the Lord" by Elder Bednar, so President Nielsen expounded on that. It discusses how the Atonement of Jesus Christ gives us not only redeeming power, but also enabling power. That we can rely on the Atonement to not only be cleansed from sin, which is the redeeming power, but also to strengthened as we try to become better and more Christlike through the enabling power. It's a really good talk (read it!) and it gives several examples of stories in the Book of Mormon that help us understand how we can utilize the enabling power in our lives more effectively.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday- I'm trying to think if anything especially exciting happened the past couple of days... but I think it was just mission life as usual. We're still teaching A and his baptism is planned for this Saturday! We're also still teaching J, and she is just a doll. She's one of our first investigators where I can truly see her desire to learn. Just the other day during our lesson she had a highlighter out, marking her Book of Mormon. She truly has that desire and it's spiritually gratifying seeing someone come closer to our Savior. It truly is a blessing being a missionary and I'm excited I still have over a year to learn, to grow, and to teach and help others come closer to Christ. 

Sunday Night/Monday Morning- So yesterday, our water stopped working... and you don't realize how much you use water until it's gone. So, we wash our dishes from dinner from our bucket of rain water that's been outside for who knows how long. We texted the landlord... but no response. So then we wake up this morning, we still have no water so we can't clean, we can't eat, we can't wash, we can't shower... and we're still sweaty and smelly from yesterday. So basically we're just sitting around until 8.. when we are supposed to start studies. Then finally, the landlord texts us and basically tells us they can't fix it today. So, we ended up taking bucket showers from rain water we filtered through a shirt.... oh the joys of mission life. I'm just hoping we have water soon...

I'm glad that everything is going well at home! Have fun all of you together in Phoenix this week! Enjoy the sun and know I'm sweating too, just half way across the world! Transfers are this week and we should find out tonight if I'm staying in the area, or if Sister Bendoy is... I think I'm okay either way so I'll have to let you know next week what happens!

love you all! 

xoxo,

Cami

October 13, 2013

Family!

Another week has passed! Sometimes it feels like time goes by so fast and it seems like just yesterday I was at the computer typing a letter. I always loving reading your letters about what's happening at home.

Okay, so here's a recap of the week:

TUESDAY: My bag broke! Yeah, I know, I'm really disappointed too, especially because it was my beautiful, black fossil bag! The strap that attaches the sides of the shoulder strap to the bag came undone, don't know if that makes sense so basically it's unfixable unless you have a heavy duty sewing machine... but now I don't know what to do with it. Should I toss it, should I send it home, or should I just keep it until I fly home and try to fix it there? I feel bad because it was expensive! But I bought a bag from the mission for only 500 pesos and it's better anyways, and waterproof.

WEDNESDAY: We had companion exchanges with the STL's (sister training leaders). It was actually really nice to experience a different area and different teaching style. I went to Sister Sander's area (she goes home in November!) and we taught all afternoon, then I spent the night at their apartment, and we had studies together Thursday morning before we switched back that afternoon. I didn't bring any food with me, and she was low on support, so basically we lived off bananas, mangoes, and bread for the whole 24 hours we were together haha. If there was one thing I learned from her is that I just need to talk to everyone- to others on the jeepeney, tricycle drivers, people in tychangges along the road, everyone. She said that with only two months lefts, she feels like it's her last chance. So this week, I'm going to be more courageous. She also said that she wouldn't be surprised if I trained next transfer... I know that a lot of sisters have done that after being trained themselves, but I think I would actually cry for a whole 24 hours if I did. There's still so much I don't know and understand regarding both the language and teaching. But I know that if I am called to train, Heavenly Father will not only help me, but he'll qualify me for the work.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: I got your package! and in perfect time for general conference. All the missionaries loved me with my American candy.... and we might only have one bag left of sour watermelons haha. But thank you for everything, and I've worn my new nightgown every night since then :) 

SATURDAY/SUNDAY: An amazing two days listening to conference. They broadcasted it in our stake center. There were a ton of members for the Sunday morning session, but hardly any for all the others... especially Saturday. Pretty sure there might have been more missionaries in our chapel than there were members. But it was definitely a very spiritually uplifting experience and I can't wait for the Liahona to come out to study their talks further. Saturday morning, two of our investigators came with us. They are sisters. I might have mentioned them before. Her name is J, and she is seriously the sweetest girl. Hopefully she'll be baptized in November! She's so eager to learn, and always has so many questions, but openly and faithfully accepts everything we teach. She's been reading the Book of Mormon, and I know that as long as she continues to seek the witness and the answers she desires with faith, I know she will gain a testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel. We also have had the opportunity to keep teaching A. He was going to get baptized this Saturday, but this past week we learned that he's having surgery today, so we most likely will have to postpone his baptism for later depending on his recovery. But regardless, it's amazing to see people come closer to Christ, for them to learn of the amazing comfort that comes from the knowledge of the gospel.

This week we have our mission tour with President Nielsen! It should be really exciting. This is also the last week of the transfer. I don't know if I'll stay in the area or Sister Bendoy, but we'll find out next Monday!

I love you all. Send everyone my love! Especially Grandpa and the littles!

xoxo,

Cami

October 6, 2013

Mom and Dad,

I can't believe another week has past. Time is going by so fast. This week overall has been good. Some ups and downs but I'm doing okay now so hopefully it will stay that way the rest of the week. 

This past week we had follow-up training with everyone from my batch. It was so fun seeing everyone. I feel like there's almost a special bond between all of us, maybe because we're all experiencing the joys of mission life together, or maybe because we're all experiencing the struggles of mission life together but regardless, everyone seemed so happy, which is how it should be.

The Philippines also created a new requirement for our visas, so all of us Americans had to go the mission office on Saturday to get fingerprinted. It was basically a mission reunion because there was probably about 100 missionaries just talking, waiting to get fingerprinted.. But what was fun was that outside there was SportsFest for the youth in our stake, where they had their cheer/dancing competition. It was so fun to watch, especially because there's this boy in our ward and he's the one that choreographed and taught our ward, so Sister Bendoy and I have been wanting see him cheer forever, and then we finally got our chance.

Our missionary work is starting to progress more than it has in the past. This past week we've really focused on trying to find new families and investigators to teach, and one mom and her daughter even came to church this past week! A, the father of the YSA member in our ward who we've been teaching should also get baptized this month. He's come to church the past month and this past week during one of our lessons, he bore his testimony to us saying he knows that the church and Book of Mormon is true. 

We have general conference next Saturday and Sunday! I'm so excited. There's something so special and spiritual about conference. I think about when we were younger, and how it was just an excuse to have church in our pajamas on the couch, but every since freshman year, it's almost the highlight of my year. I'm so excited.

One funny story this past week, we were walking through one of the neighborhoods in our area, and there's this big group of kids just playing in the road. And then, they all start chanting/screaming "Cana, cana, cana!" which is short for Americans. So basically, I had to walk through a group of thirty kids, all screaming at me. It was funny.

I love you all. I never can think of what to write in these letters but know that I'm happy, and this next week I'll try to write specific things downs so I know what to share to you!

xoxo,

Sister Fitz

September 29, 2013

Family,

It's seriously the highlight of my p-day reading family letters. I love you all so much and miss you all, but I am so grateful to be a missionary right now. I find myself thinking all the time, even though I've been out for three months already, "How did I get here, is this real life?" It seriously feels like yesterday that they made the announcement, and I didn't even know if I wanted to go on a mission or not, but I seriously am so glad that I decided to serve. At least once a day, we'll just walking or I'll be in the jeepney, and my hand automatically goes to my chest, to feel my name tag. I feel so honored every day to wear Christ's name, to be a literal representative of him and a messenger of his gospel. Especially with Maddy already home, and my companion leaving in the next two months, I'm reminded how fast this time passes as a missionary. On our last day in the MTC, Sister Tamang shared her testimony, and she broke down explaining how she's no longer a missionary, how she no longer has the opportunity to wear that badge, and she tried to explain to us how great of a blessing and privilege it is to wear it. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, and I love being a missionary, and I truly feel honored and privileged to wear my nametag every day.

This past week was "family week", which is a big deal here. They've had activities all week at the government building, and special ward activities, etc. Oh my, I do not want to see those pictures from Family Week at the government building. It was raining outside so they moved it inside.... definitely too many people in one building. The place was packed, it was so hot, and after waiting for maybe 45 minutes, they had us sing... so I'm sure I looked like a hot, sweaty mess. But it was definitely a cool experience. We sang "Love at Home" in Ilonggo with the missionaries in our zone. Even though I think it sounded terrible, everyone enjoyed it. 

We've had another good week here on the mission. It hasn't rained as much as last week which has been nice. We continue to teach, and to walk, and to teach, but I don't mean that in a bad way. I love what we do as missionaries. Before the mission, I was like "how can I do this for eighteen months, doing the same thing over and over again every day?" But really, it doesn't even feel like that. I love it. Yes, of course I have bad days where all I want to do is go to sleep, and start over again the next day. Especially when I get frustrated with myself or with our work. But overall, I love being a missionary. Especially when you have a lesson, where your investigator shares her testimony or you can feel the Spirit working with them, and you know that's why you are on a mission.That's why I'm here in the Philippines. That even if it's hard, it's worth it.

Okay, I'm running out of time...

1. Yesterday, I had Pizza Hut for lunch, and McDonald's for dinner. A member after church was like, I have pizza in my car, are you sisters hungry?.... so of course we ate pizza. And then last night the first counselor of the stake president who's in from Sister Van Slooten's ward brought us leftovers and with it he brought us McDonald's.... funniest thing ever.

2. I'm not sick, nor have any sort of boils under my arms.. thankfully. Although I do have a ton of mosquito bites.. but that's kind of inevitable.

3.Seriously, I need a diet plan too. Whoever thought I would lose weight in the Philippines is crazy. I've never eaten as much as I do now.

I love you all!

xoxo,

Sister Fitz

Family Week at the Bacolod Government Building

Missionaries Singing "Love at Home"

September 22, 2013

Family!!!

Seriously, I might be tearing up a little bit looking at the photos of Maddy coming home. I saw them and was like "She would wear that on the plane..." and then read that she changed before meeting mom and dad. That's so exciting. All day Wednesday, I was like, Maddy's on the plane right now heading home, and then all day Thursday, I was like, she's probably already home by now. I seriously can't believe she's home and how fast it has gone by. Don't go too crazy :) 

I'm so glad that Grandma's funeral was so beautiful and that so many came. I truly feel so blessed to have had her in my life and to know that she will be waiting for us on the other side. This life isn't the end, and being on a mission especially, it makes everything so much clearer, to realize the eternal perspective of everything, rather than getting caught up with the mundane, trivial aspects that control our lives. I think that will probably be the hardest part coming off the mission, and something that Maddy's probably dealing with right now.

This week has been both good and bad. 

Monday: Such a fun a P-Day. We went downtown and went shopping at all the secondhand stores and found some cute cheap clothes. We might have also bought pastries and doughnuts for later in the week.

Tuesday: We seriously walked, and walked, and walked, and nobody was home. Out of our seven hours of proselyting, we only had two lessons. It was exhausting. But that night, four sisters stayed at our house for conference the next day, so all eight of us had  pillow talk on the mattresses spread out on the floor. And they're having us a keep the extra mattresses until after the mission tour next month, so we stacked them, and made a couch for the next month.

Wednesday: We had zone conference, and it was really good. I saw all the missionaries from my batch which was really fun, but it was also really spiritually uplifting and inspiring. I think I might have said this once, but President Lopez is seriously the funniest person and such a snuggle bug. 

Thursday/Friday/Saturday: There was a huge storm that would come and go. It seriously sounded like I was at the base of a waterfall, when the rain was especially strong. We got caught out in it one night, and my clothes seriously got soaked. Front and back was completely drenched. I have a picture, but it takes forever to load, so I can't send it this week. I need to buy a new umbrella because it's on the smaller side.... the members always make fun of me because whether I have it or not, I'll get soaked either way.

I love you all and am so excited to think that all three of you are together for the next couple of months. I miss you all, but I'm more grateful than ever to be on a mission. This week especially, I've realized how much I need to grow and I've seen so many things that I can improve and work on as a person. I know more than ever, that I was meant to serve a mission and am grateful for this opportunity, even though it's hard, and it's only gonna get harder.

I love you all!

xoxoxo,

Sister Fitz

Pictures from Zone Conference

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September 15, 2013

Mom and Dad,

It's hard to know what to say because of what's happened this week with Grandma and Grandpa. But I'm so comforted to know that you were able to be there, by her side as she passed. President Lopez called me Friday morning and told me and explained how she was talking about her missionaries up until she passed. My heart is so full of love right now. It's hard being away and not being able to offer that support that I know our family needs right now, but I know that Heavenly Father is by your side, strengthening and comforting you. I'm sending all my love to both you, our family, and especially Grandpa. I'm write him a letter tonight and send in the mail as soon as I can. Please express to him how much I love him, and how grateful I am to have him as my grandpa, and for setting that example for me. I love you all, send my love to our whole family as well.

Other than that, our week has been pretty good. Yes, Sister Van Slooten is training, so we have a new sister in our apartment! Six girls from her batch are training after just completing their own training, so now it's stressing me out because that could easily be me in six weeks... and right now, I'm no where near being ready to train. But I can definitely see how I've progressed in the past six weeks. It's still hard for me to understand them, and half the time they might not understand me either, but I'm trying, and I know that eventually it will come.

On Tuesday I got a package from Maddy and is seriously made my whole week. I might have cried. Seriously, I love our family so much. Especially with Grandma passing this week as well, it makes me realize how lucky I am and how grateful I am to have been given such an amazing family. Your examples, faith, love, and support are the only reason I'm the person I am now. In the little book she made me, there's a picture of us as family, and she wrote, "Relax, we have eternity." The Plan of Salvation is real, and I'm so grateful that we do have eternity together as a family. I might be gone for the next year, but that's nothing compared to that.

Sister Bendoy and I continue to have so much fun together. She actually might be the funniest person I know. The past couple weeks, we sometimes watch The District at night, and one night we decided to make our own video. So the past three nights, we "document" our day, the same way they do. We talk about our day, what we did, how our lessons went... they're so awkward, yet so funny to watch.

This past week our teachings have been good, and we had some investigators come to church which is always exciting. I gave a talk yesterday in sacrament meeting, and being the person I am, I stressed out and gave mostly all of it in English... so I don't think they understood any of it. But I learned my lesson for next time, give it in Ilonggo, even if it's only two minutes long. We also got fed a lot this week, which never happens. On Friday, four out of five lessons, they fed us. Which is usually exciting, if I wasn't already so full. Also on birthdays, they always have spaghetti and cake... we had spaghetti three times this week. So much for losing weight in the Philippines...

I love you all. I'm praying for you always, especially Grandpa right now. Send everyone my love.

xoxo,

Sister Fitz

p.s. HOW IS MADDY ALREADY COMING HOME THIS WEDNESDAY?! craziness.

Bacolod 2nd Ward Missionaries