Kamusta mga tawo (Hello People),
Last week was definitely just anxiety-filled with a new space and people and new everything. This week was WAY different. Overall I had a great time this week and I learned so much! I guess I just needed to understand that it takes time to adjust and I shouldn't expect results of comfort RIGHT AWAY. So to summarize this week, I just feel like it was so good because I was waking up each morning always willing to work as hard as I can - whether it was to study Ilonggo, or to read my scriptures, or whether it's exercise time and I'm playing volleyball/basketball. I just really want to do my best in everything because I don't want to regret anything once it's over. Also, I can't believe I've survived a week here at the MTC. Oddly enough, it feels like I've been here forever, yet it also feels like I just barley came.
Continuing on since the previous time I e-mailed:
Saturday -
This was the day that I realized things would get better. Last Wednesday to Friday was just not the best.. but honestly I don't think anyone ever has a perfect first day or couple of days. So after receiving great advice about how to improve the weird companion situation that I'm in, I decided to stop feeding into my negativity and start doing something about it. I made sure that I would be prepared to the best of my ability and I knew that God and Jesus Christ would help me with the rest and whatever I'm lacking. I had a lesson with my investigator named Brother J*. Honestly I was so nervous to go in and teach by myself because I'm supposed to have a companion teaching with me, however I prepared myself the best I can to help Brother J. Despite the language barrier, I felt like it was such a great lesson because he was receptive of what I discussed with him. And when I ended with a prayer, I just felt the right words come out of my mouth! It was crazy because it was words I didn't think I could remember. I know that God gives the Gift of Tongues to whoever wants to learn, and since I've desired to learn Ilonggo not for myself but to help others, I have felt the words that my investigator needs to hear be given to my mind through the Holy Ghost's help!
Later in the day, all the people going to Philippines (we all hang out with each other a-lot and there are about 23 Elders and 5 Sisters total) had something called Family Home Evening and it's basically a time to share a spiritual experience and then play a game after. We played Mafia and Signs and it was just hilarious.
Sunday -
Two highlights that happened today was church and choir. So by default, since I'm the only girl in my class, I'm what they call "Sister Training Leader" and that means I have to keep an eye on the Sisters, but since I'm the only Sister, I keep an eye on myself (which is pretty awesome! haha). A responsibility as being "STL" is to attend early morning meetings discussing the performance of our district (or class), and it was a good start to my day (although it was early). So then during church they do this thing where they randomly select 2 people to speak because they want to prepare us for the Philippines since in the Philippines, sometimes there are times when people aren't assigned to speak at church so they ask the missionaries to speak. I had a huge feeling that I would be selected and I was tsakto (right)! It was a great experience and a good way for people to learn about who I was, since I am new. I spoke about having Faith in Jesus Christ and I felt like it was the perfect topic because of what I had went through the past few days. People thanked me for what I said and it was just a really fulfilling experience. Later we joined choir and it was so great to be able to sing! I'm not like the best singer, pero I love singing (anyone who has been in a car with me knows how much I love to sing-along) and it was a good time to just focus on singing and what the lyrics mean.
Monday -
I have never been soooo thankful for assigned gym time. I've missed working out so much! While I was at UCLA it was up to me whether or not gusto ko mag (I want to) exercise. But here at the MTC, since it's like assigned and I sit in class for a long period of time, I really WANT to relieve some stress (although it isn't bad stress). So yeah I've been playing volleyball and basketball and I've been able to make more friends that way too!
Tuesday -
This day didn't start off too well because I sort of felt alone. However, I confided to my roommates and they were so nice, supportive and let me know that it is normal to feel that way and I'm not alone. The day ended well because there was a devotional from Elder Nielson of the Seventy and his wife (basically meaning someone spoke to us and it was really inspiring!) and we performed our choir song, Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Also we had a discussion after the devotional and one of the Elders said that sometimes it's necessary that we have a "Trial of Faith" so that we learn how to continue having faith in Jesus Christ and how He can help us through literally everything!! At the end of the day, we sang Happy Birthday to one of my roommates and instead of cake we had cinnamon rolls - it was gooooooood.
Wednesday -
This day my desire to help the people of Philippines grew so much more! Like I literally just want to get on a plane and go over there so I can start helping them! My desire grew because one of our teachers shared a scripture from D&C 90:11 - "For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ." Also this day, I started missing my mom's cooking like a-lot. MOMMY, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, I MISS YOUR COOKING.. AND OH YEAH I MISS YOU TOO.
Thursday -
Even though my companions and I are not in the same classroom, this day was just a really good day for us! Oh yeah I should say we sit in a classroom for like 3 hours straight, 2 times a day. Surprisingly it goes by quickly though. So anyways, when we weren't in class, my companions and I had a-lot of good laughs! Honestly before coming to the MTC I was worried about 1) not making friends and 2) I was also worried about not meeting people who understand my sarcasm. Haha, well anyways I feel like comfortable enough to be myself and it has just been fun. (:
So that was my week! I had a very fun and spiritual week. I can't believe that I'm only 5 more e-mails away from being in the Philippines! I know time will fly by and I'm trying my best to make every moment count. Hope you all have a good weekend!
Halong mga abyan (Goodbye friends)!
- Sister Venturaš
Send me an e-mail:
elza.ventura@myldsmail.net
Written letters and packages:
Sister Elza Ventura
Philippines Iloilo Mission
OsmeƱa Street,
Arevalo, Iloilo City,
5000 Iloilo
Philippines
Mga Kodak! (Pictures):
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| Kodak 1: Classe ko |
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| Kodak 2: Look at the Elder next to me! Haha, working hard or hardly working? (He's holding a banana). |
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| Kodak 3: Elevator pic, FTW. |
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| Kodak 4: My district. |
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| Kodak 5: Yay for packages, shout-out to my Mommy, Kuya, Daddy, Tita Arlene, and Stefa BLFFY for the packages I received my first week! |
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| Kodak 6: Me pointing to where I'm going, |
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| Kodak 7: My companions and I with a photo bomber, haha. |
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