Happy Friday!

Hello,

Sorry if you didn't get my email last week! It didn't send for some reason. If you want it I think my mom put it on my blog.. sisterzolliebacolod.blogspot.com 

On Saturday I was reciting the missionary purpose in Hiligaynon while we were walking to class and someone from the Philippines was walking behind me and I didn't know. They ran up to me after and said Maayo Gid!!! It made me so happy. Hiligaynon has my heart. 

I memorized Joseph Smith's First Vision in Hiligaynon this week. When I recited it to my teacher I got kind of emotional because it just hit me what I was saying. Nothing can bring the spirit faster than those words especially when you're relying on the Gift of Tongues to know how to say it. 

Sundays are happy days at the MTC. They're so peaceful and filled with so many peaceful spiritual moments. For our training meeting we talked about Matthew 14- the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. We talked about how that miracle was more for the Apostles than the people. If we bring what we have to the table and try our best Christ will magnify it with extra to spare. Also Christ performed that miracle right after His best friend was killed. The character of Christ is to turn outward and serve- always- especially in times of personal trial. I'm working on being better at that. My zone went for a Sunday walk together. We have such a good time everyone is really close and we laugh so much. Our choir song this week was More Holiness Give Me. Brother Eggett told us and incredibly sad but touching story about the composer--- He was on a train ride with his wife and their two boys were left with a family friend. The train was crossing a bridge and the bridge collapsed. He was able to escape but when he looked around for his wife he couldn't find her anywhere so he ran back up to the bridge and got back on the train. The coal from the engine car had started a fire and the car that they had been in was burning. He found his wife trapped under some metal and he couldn't get her out so he sat with her and let himself burn so she wouldn't have to be alone-- :'( It was the saddest story I've ever heard but the song had so much more meaning to me and you could feel a strong shift in the attitude of the choir. I think we often forget that everyone has trauma and hard times in their lives even when we haven't heard about them or even if they hide it really well. We need to think more about being compassionate first without having to have a reason. Treat everyone as the Savior would. 

 

Brother Eggett was also our devotional speaker on Sunday- He is hilarious. He said  "What do you think it was like to Jesus' little brother? Imagine having your big brother 100% absolutely perfect and having to grow up behind that. I bet Mary would say 'Why can't you be more like Jesus?' and that's probably where the primary song comes from.. 'I'm TRYING to be like Jesus!'"

 

We watched legacy for our Sunday movie and every time there was a kiss all the missionaries cheered. Silly :)

We had our first TRC this week which was so fun! We met two returned sister missionaries who served in Bacolod and Iloilo. They gave us good advice and we got to practice speaking Hiligaynon with someone other than our teachers! 

On Tuesday we walked around one of the classroom buildings as a zone and looked at all the pictures of Christ. It filled my heart so much I overflowed lots and lots and lots of tears. I feel so incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to be a representative of Christ. It really made me think about my name tag and why I'm really here. It's so excited to have the calling to invite others to come unto Christ. I feel how much He loves me and I can't wait to give that gift to sweet people in the Philippines. I made a goal to think about both names over my heart every time I do something- So I can make my family proud and I can make Jesus Christ proud. I love this opportunity. I can't emphasize enough how lucky I feel. 

We're teaching a lot more now and it's hard work but it's so rewarding. We learn something new every single day and we improve every single day with the help of the Spirit. Missionary work is Work but it's fun. 

I love it here. I love this Gospel. I love Hiligaynon..

Palangga kamo!!!! 

Sorry I didn't really take pictures this week but this is probably my favorite mural here. It's Nephi looking at Jerusalem trying to figure out how to get the plates from Laban.