A Good Week

Another week here in the Philippines. Can't believe I've been here for almost a month! Highlight of the week was that 2 of our friends accepted our baptismal invitation!! Our friend Jay, who is 25, and his niece Denielle who is 9! We have been teaching Jay for a couple of weeks now and he is really progressing! Him and Denielle live with their aunts and uncles who are all members so they have lots of support around them. Jay has been coming to church every week so far. When we first started teaching him, he was super quiet and wouldn't talk much, but he's started opening up more and getting more comfortable with asking questions and talking during our lessons. I think partly because I am slightly improving on the language and I'm able to talk with him more which makes it less awkward then both of us sitting there in silence haha. But this week we had Denielle join our lesson with Jay for the first time. We taught about baptism and they both had so much to say and were so engaged! They said yes so fast when we asked if they wanted to be baptized! 


And our friend Khiro! He is still progressing a lot and plans to be baptized on June 28! So excited for him! 


During one of our lessons this week a HUGE rat ran under my legs. Like literally the size of a cat it was terrible. 


The sanitation skills here in the Philippines slightly concern me. I'm not quite sure how I'm not sick yet. People here never wash their hands like ever. And everyones always wiping the sweat off their face with their hands, then shaking our hands, then making our food with their hands, stirring drinks with their hands, and they EAT with their hands! And they never wash their hands. So that's gross.


As hard as a mission is, there is truly nowhere else I'd rather be. I have no doubt that this church is true and that missionary work brings so much joy. The days are so long, so hot, so mentally and physically exhausting and I can barely understand anything that people say. But somehow I feel SO MUCH JOY. Earlier this week we were walking back home after a lesson and I was so happy. I started thinking, why am I so happy? This should be so hard! And its because when we give ourselves to Christ, THERE IS JOY. It's still hard and still exhausting but there is joy through Christ. Bringing people to Christ is truly so amazing. We are introducing people into a gospel where they can find true purpose and meaning in life. We are showing them where they can find true joy. How cool is that??? 


Alright thats all, love you all! 


Sister Eades


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