Well....I got emergency transferred! Yeah, this week has been crazy. They called me on Tuesday morning and informed me and said they were coming to pick me up tomorrow morning...so I packed on Tuesday, said my goodbyes to a few people and boom. I was gone. Now...I am assigned to Quezon City South Zone in Quirino 1st Ward. Actually our chapel is the Mission Office and we just live a couple blocks away so everything in the mission is so convienantly (...sorry I'm losing my spelling) close. I'm in a three-some companionship with Sister Tingey from Arizona and Sister Acostan from Bacolod.
They said that there was a new missionary that came in late from Pakistan so they did some switching around of companionships....now Sister Soliven is with Sister Tomase and Sister Tomase's old companion is the new missionary's trainer. I miss Sister Soliven a lot....I was really sad to leave. But I am loving it here too. Sister Acostan and Sister Tingey are awesome! I already love them both so much. I was worried at first that I would be the awkward 3rd wheel because I could see that they were really close, but we all get along really well and are close.
Actually, this is Sister Tingey's last transfer before she goes home, and she will actually be leaving on July 7th, before the transfer ends. So for the last few weeks of the transfer it'll just be me and Sister Acostan.
Anyway....this week has been crazy, but awesome! Monday night before I left, we had an FHE with Jocelyn (the pregnant one who we brought a cake to in the last email). It was so much fun. And she actually got teary-eyed and thanked us for celebrating her birthday with her and having FHE. She said that this is the first time in her life that she's had a cake for her birthday and she was so happy.
Also, remember from last week our actually progessing investigator?? Elvie! Well, ha, it was hard. We were so excited and things were going awesome with her. But then she informed us that she was leaving back to her province...we were happy for her and she was scared because she wanted to keep being taught. But we let her know that she could still be taught by the missionaries in her province. It was bittersweet. We were sad that we were losing our really only receptive investigator, but we were happy for her and excited that she was loving and accepting the gospel so much.
My new area is great! I miss Pateros, but I'm learning to love this area too. It is definitely more in the city! I feel like it's more.....civilized here. haha there are actually sidewalks! And a lot more real cars--not just jeepneys and tricyles. There are still squatters in our area, but even the squatters here seem a little more well-off than the ones in my previous area. We also have some middle and upper class in our area--our area is HUGE compared to Pateros. I am so lost here haha I can't figure out how to get around. It's not as flat either. There are hills and stairs--I like it. And our apartment is so big!! atleast compared to our little place before. There are 7 of us living there and actually guess what?? Sister Lopez is one of my kabahays!! ahhh (my companion from the MTC). It was so good to see her, I am so glad that she is in my apartment! It brought me so much comfort when I got transferred on a whim.
We had a great week so far here, we are teaching a guy named Ronald and he is so awesome! We showed up and the Book of Mormon and also the picture book of Book of Mormon Stories was open on his table. He is already half-way through Alma he is just soaking it all in and loves it so much. He is a little bit baklat..(gay). He paints his fingernails and such, but he is so excited and receptive of the gospel. Luckily they already taught him Law of Chastity before I got here haha and he accepted it fully. He has a baptism date for July 19th. So I'm excited for him!
Also, you'll see pictures of the cutest old nanay ever! Nanay Elvira. She is such a gangster haha :) she always wears her little Etnies hat. We saw her the other day weeding and we stopped and helped her. She didn't want to let us but we helped her anyway :) She was so cute and went and got us juice and bread. We love her so much! Hopefully we'll be able to teach her soon.
This week we went to teach one of our investigators, Marilou. She is the sweetest. And when we went, we noticed that their little house was just full with stacks and stacks and stacks of dirty laundry. We asked if she needed help and of course she said no. There are 12 of them that live there and poor nanay handwashes all the laundry all by herself. We told her that tomorrow morning we would come and do her laundry for her. She laughed and said no, I think she thought we were joking. But we told her we'd be there at 8. Haha I wish you could have seen her face when we showed up the next morning! She was so surprised! And she tried to be stubborn and not let us help, but we were more stubborn. She just kept laughing in beweilderment as we grabbed buckets and soap and sat down to start washing their clothes. It seriously...was the funnest thing ever. We talked and laughed for 3 hours as we washed loads and loads of clothes. Her 17-year old daughter, Laudy, even came and talked to me and started helping too. I was soooo exhausted afterwards, but it was so worth it. I feel so bad for Marilou. These people work so hard every day. Well, Sunday rolled around...and guess who was at church? Marilou! She had a really great time. Our ward here is awesome. It is a power ward, the members are so strong. I'm so excited for Marilou.
We are also teaching....a very interesting couple. Ha. Bernadeth and Emmanuel Santiago. Bernadeth is 32....and her husband Emmanuel....is 79. Actually 80 next month. And...they have a little girl. So...I was a little bit weirded out. Actually a lot a bit wierded out. haha, but they are still the coolest people. and tatay is so funny. He can't really hear very well, but he is really knowledgeable in the Bible and just loves having us come so he can learn more. And he calls me his favorite. Haha he says I'm Scandinavian? And he keeps trying to tell me to marry his son. ha! Bernadeth is so sweet too, she is very outgoing and loving. It's kind of weird to see them together...holding hands and her taking care of him in his bad health...just because it seems like he should be her dad or grandpa...but at the same time, we love going to teach them because they are really the sweetest people.
So I met Satan yesterday. No, I'm serious.
Haha I met a man named Satan yesterday. That is his real name! He is an uncle of one of the ward members here and we went to try and teach him. His father named him Satan...he named his brother Jesus...and his other brother Pilot. Haha man, I love it here.
Anyway, I'm running out of time, but I am so excited to be here. Honestly, this transfer has been hard. This adjustment has been a little hard too. I feel like I left my heart and home back in Pateros. Here though, I have been so welcomed and so loved. And already, I am falling in love again with the people, the area, the ward, my companions. You can never not love missionary work. It is the hardest....but most rewarding thing.
Keep going strong back at home! I love and miss you all so much. Thank you for your love. I can feel the strength that I'm receiving from your prayers.
Mahal na mahal ko kayo!
Sister Oyler
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