Hello!

Week 3

Merry Early Christmas Everyone!!! (Malagaya Pasko!!!)

At the Manila Temple

Me and Sister Vi, my comp.

First off I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAILEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WUVVVVVV YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week has been very long but AMAZING!! I've learned so much and had some amazing experiences! Sister Vi and I have been teaching two investigators, Brother Ace and Sister Samantha. They are both really hard! Brother Ace keeps falling asleep during our lessons haha!! and Sister Samantha has had a lot of questions about the Book of Mormon. But it has really helped me stretch and rely more on my Savior. I have had to do that a lot lately.

I've realized that I need more humility and more confidence in order to teach. It has really helped me become better :) I have also realized that it doesn't matter that I don't know the language, what matters is that the Spirit is there during the lessons. As long as the Spirit is there and the investigator can feel it than that is all that matters. :) I've also come to realize more how powerful Hymns are! We have sung a few in some of our lessons from the Tagalog hymn book and it is amazing how it touches the investigator. So keep singing as much as you can!!!

There is so much to say but so little time! :) Everything here is amazing!! The food even!! But I am getting really tired of rice for every meal ;) We have had it for seriously every meal!! haha! Also I've had to eat a whole fish, like off of the bones with the head and eyes still attached :) mmmm yummy ;) but it has really helped me become less afraid. I've also come to appreciate food more.

There are so many people here who are so thin because of malnourishment. I feel so blessed. There is an Elder that just got here and he is from Tacloban. He arrived with only a very small bag and his big heart and testimony. It breaks my heart. I can't imagine what that would be like to loose most of your family and then leave on your mission a month later. And here I am crying because I miss my family when I know that I can see them again in 18 months. I feel so blessed. I think we all need to really count our blessings more because there are people here who barely have anything but are so faithful and so loving. It makes us sometimes look like wimps! ;) But I think during this holiday season we need to reflect on what we already have, not what we want. We have the gospel and the Atonement, a loving Heavenly Father and family. That's all we need!!! Who cares about presents when we have the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives?! I am so grateful for this gospel and for all that it has done for me. I am so grateful for my Savior and for all that He did for me so that I may live with Him and my family again!!! Oh how blessed I am!!!!

I love you all so much! I wish I could write more, but I am running out of time. Please please remember what Christmas is REALLY all about!!!

LOVE LOVE,

Sister Dalley :)

If you want to DearElder me feel free to do so!!! Also send actual letters to my mission home address!

 

My roommates and me.

My companion, Sister Vi, and me.

Elders in my district.

Part of my district.

My Christmas tree from home.

My Nativity advent from home.  I couldn't help but open all of them early. Yesterday was a hard day :/ I miss you all so much.