Maayong aga pamilya ko!! AY GALI somehow I finally made it to Bacolod, and survived the first week. This week I really don't know where to start. First of all SISTER SCHENK is my companion...seriously SO crazy (entered Provo MTC the same day, and visa waited together in Arizona together)! There have been so many times this week that we would be walking down dirt roads or riding in a tricycle, then stop and think..... How in the world is this even real? Arriving in Bacolod was the sweetest experience ever! I cried so much when I first saw all my MTC sisters. I can't believe I'm here, I'm really here! I love it!! I love the people, the culture and the food. The last day at the Manila MTC, they gave us balut, (duck eggs incubated almost to the point of hatching and then boiled), and to be honest it really wasn't that bad. It was just getting over the thought of what I was eating haha. BalutNow it's just Sister Schenk and I, two very puti nga mga kana (white Americans) in the middle of Sagay. The first night here, Sister Schenk and I made it back to Sagay at like 6:30, and it was DOWN POURING. Like, the ocean was falling out of the sky. By the time we triked to our home, we were SOAKED, and my bags were soaked too! We opened the door, and the house was a little flooded, then ran back out in the rain to bishop's house. They had fixed Thanksgiving for us!! We had Chicken, potatoes, lumpia, cordon-blue, and a special Filippino dish, ube caserol, and then Ice cream cake. I didn't know how to reject any of the food so I was forced to have like 6 servings of ice cream. I was so full I felt sick! We also found 7 new people to teach! It was awesome! Also a cool experience this week was when we met a lady named Ann; Her husband won't let her go to church, but she feels like he is slowly warming up to the idea. She's read the entire Doctrine and Covenants, and is almost done with the Book of Mormon. She cried while she bore her testimony to us, and it was partly in English so I could understand. She said before the missionaries came, she didn't know how to pray, and she didn't know God. It was one of the strongest testimonies I've ever heard in my entire life. She wants to be baptized and go to the temple SO bad. It will just take time. Saturday we also got locked out of our house. The sisters from Old Sagay had to go to the hospital near our house, so while they waited for the test results, they asked if they could hang out at our house. We said sure, and told them to hide the key when they left. We went home around 5:30 to grab something, and there were NO keys, we prayed and prayed and searched and searched, but NO keys. We climbed our gate, and tried to break into our house, but no luck. Two hours later, the caretaker came, and he got us in! Sunday was Busy busy busy. We went to a referral, and as we were squished on a trike, with 5 other Filippinos, riding through a bumpy sugar cane field, we couldn't stop laughing at what our life is. haha. We are living the dream! Sorry I didn't have much time, and had so much more to tell you! I will send more pictures next week. I love you all so much! Halong kamo! our houseWe have non flushing toilets, bucket showers, and our house is like a lizard sanctuary. :)
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Dear Brother and Sister Adams,
I and Sister Sumagpao were thrilled with the arrival of Sister Adams, here in the Philippines Bacolod Mission on Wednesday, November 21, 2018. She came here prepared, excited, and enthusiastic about becoming a full time representative of the Lord in this part of His vineyard. Sister Adams has had her first training session and is now serving in her first assignment with a competent missionary trainer. Your missionary is assigned in the Sagay Zone (Sagay Ward), and her companion is Sister Schenk. Thank you for inspiring and supporting your missionary in this profound calling. We encourage you to write her, regularly each week. Please include positive news of family updates and uplifting experiences that will bring joy, comfort, and spiritual strength. Further, kindly omit mention of family problems or other issues that will bring worry or concern. Our mission area is an awesome part of our country and your missionary is in for one of the best experiences of her life. With your support and encouragement she will mature and grow to reach her divine potential. She will develop an increased love for her fellow missionaries and other people as she aligns her will with that of God's. We love your missionary and we appreciate this chance to work with her and be a part of her progress. With all my love and respect, Elmer S. Sumagpao President, Philippines Bacolod Mission Philippines Bacolod MissionThu, Nov 22, 2:04 AM (3 days ago) to [email protected], me I got this fun little note & picture tonight. Em is finally in Bacolod! It does my heart good to see her smile, & I ❤ the curls the humidity is giving her hair.
Hello Sister Adams, Here is the update about your missionary. She is doing good and high in spirit! Have a great day! President Sumagpao Where do I even start?! I think I might just be living in a dream. I can't believe I actually made it to the Philippines. These past couple of days have felt like an entire week. I just remember flying overhead Manila fighting the sudden urge of tears rising to my eyes. It has been the longest road getting to this point. We were picked up from the airport by President Carlos, he is one of the funniest people ever. The bus ride over to the MTC was so chaotic, but I loved every minute of it. Looking out the bus window I just felt overwhelming love and gratitude. I couldn't stop laughing when a Jeepney pulled up to the side of our bus and four or five Filipinos caught eyes with me and just stared, like an unbreakable stare! I waved and they gave me the biggest tooth filled grin I have ever seen. Their jeepney kept pulling up side by side over and over again as we made our way through the crazy, traffic filled streets of Manila and they just kept staring, which sent me into a fit of laughing, because I felt so awkward. Now that I think of it I should have had them smile for a picture ;) Yesterday we were making our way back to class after lunch (which was rice, yet again) only to be stopped by everyone making their way back outside and toward the gym for what was supposed to be an emergency meeting. A few minutes later we were surprised by the one and only David Archuleta. All of the little Filipina's around me were freaking out, which made my inner fan girl come out. He brought me to tears with some of the things he said, and shared. One thing in particular was that there would be hard, horrible days when all we can do is fall to our knees, and cry to the Lord for strength and help, but that is when miracles happen. I'm taking everything in one day at a time, and trusting everything will work as I keep putting my trust and Faith in the Lord. Love you all, and thanks for all the prayers and support. Palangga ta kamo Other interesting things that she wrote as we emailed back and forth for a minute:
This MTC here is so different from the Provo MTC. They feed us so much food, and we have a lot of free time, and class is a lot shorter. The rooms are a lot nicer too, and its so cool to see all the different people that are here, because it's the MTC for all of Asia so there are a whole lot of missionaries from the Philippine's, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, China, Bangladesh and a bunch of other places that I forgot. Everyone is so friendly, and just wants to stop and talk with you, probably too because I'm white and blonde lol. It's the funniest thing, anytime there is a devotional there are like three Filipina's that will come find, and sit with me every time. I love them! All the Illonggo speaking missionaries were on the other plane, so I got to meet them all at the MTC, and we've all made friends really quickly. Three of the sisters are also going to Bacolod. She and her companion were going to the Manila Temple today. She said you have to make a reservation 1st before going. We received a phone call from President Newman on Wed. Nov. 7th. He called Eric at work, and they did a conference call with Emily. He told Em that she could wait till December to go, or she could leave next week. She and Eric quickly decided right then that she would leave next week. We weren't sure what day that would be, so we started packing right away. We got another phone call from President Newman Friday morning, saying that her flight plan was to leave the next Monday! It was quite a whirlwind getting ready that fast, but I think a blessing in the end for Emily to finally get to the Philippines! GOODBYE HUGS! Is it already time to go? The second time saying goodbye was harder!
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Sister Emily Adams
Philippines Bacolod Mission April 18, 2018-October 2019 Mailing Address
Sister Emily Adams
Philippines Bacolod Mission Galo St. between Lacson & Mabini Brgy.22, Bacolod City 6100 Negros Occidental Philippines Archives
January 2020
Companions Provo, Utah MTC
#1 Sister Anna Wilde From Dallas, Texas Taylor, Arizona
#2 Sister Jamie Stuart (trainer) Pleasant Grove, Utah & #3 Sister Kendall Richards Idaho Falls, Idaho Show Low, Arizona
#4 Sister Brooke Casebolt Roy, Utah Manila, Philippine's
#5 Sister Perry Serving in the Iloilo mission from Fiji Sagay, Philippines
#6 Sister Lauren Schenk (Trainer) Syracuse, Utah Sagay, Philippines
#7 Sister Ashley Ellis Highland, Utah Pulupandan, Philippines
#8 Sister Andrea Camille Sales Isabela, Philippines Hinigarin, Philippines
#9 Sister Castillo Sta. Cruz Zambalis, Philippines. Hinigarin, Philippines
#10 Sister Natalie Miner Pleasant Grove, Utah Cadiz, Philippines
#11 Sister Kate Blakeslee Meridian, Idaho Bacolod, Philippines
#12 Sister Kalyx Christensen San Diego, California Bacolod, Philippines
#13 Sister Stephanie Garcia Pangisan, Philippines Bacolod, Philippines
#14 Sister Santa Barbara Marikina, Manila, Philippines Bacolod, Phililppines
#15 Sister Eliza Clark Corvallis, Oregon |