Sister BreAnna Merrill: November 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

November 17th

Hello my gorgeous mga pamilia at mga kaibigan!! kamusta na kayo?

Yun. So this week has rocked!! We got 12 new missionaries from the Tacloban mission. (the mission with the huge typhoon) Let me just say how watched over missionaries are. There was around 98,000 people that died from the storm but all of the missionaries (around 250) were safe and all have been re-assigned to different missions here in the Philippines.

Sister and I are doing awesome! I LOVE having a Tongan companion even though sometimes were very makulit at magulo. (basically meaning.... we are goofs). Its been a fun and very quick couple of weeks. I cannot believe that we only have 2 weeks left and then transfers. After transfers, we will only have 6 weeks left together!! Its seriously speeding by so fast! And.... not to sound trunky or anything... but after that.... lets just say that I will be coming home soon. My secret prayer is that I do not train again though because I will have that 3 months left but I want to just.... well.. mama needs a break ;)

I know that whatever happens is His will and I will obey.

We had a really good day yesterday. We extended a baptism date to a little boy (MJ) whos parents are less active but came to church yesterday! We also had... drum roll..... 7 investigators at church yesterday!! That was awesome! We had only seen 4 of them and then after sacrament meeting, our family of 3 came up to us. We were pretty much speechless.

We have one family who we are teaching right now pretty close to where we live. The DeJesus family. The Dad is progressing like crazy and yesterday the wife came. It was so amazing to see there cute young family. We are getting ready for there baptism too but they need to get married first before they can get baptized. So expect some wedding photos in the next couple of weeks. ;)

Welp, thats all my brain can think up at this time. I love you all and am so excited to talk with you guys at christmas! I hope that you guys are ready for Thanksgiving! What are your plans ??

Mahal ko kayo at namimiss ko kayo. magingat kayo lagi.

--
Mahal, Sister Merrill

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

November 10th

How are you all? im sure some were worried and others were terrified of the typhoon. I am just fine we did have a long power outage here but im ok some damage was done but material items can always be replaced. You know its truly an amazing site to see how the gospel blesses peoples lives. How it will give them the strength to fight off are trials both physically and spiritually. I have seen both sides of coin for those who have faith in the gospel of jesus christ and those who dont. Even if there lives are almost exactly similar job wise, where their house is or their social status. But they are still miles apart when it comes to their reactions to set backs. some freak out and cry and others pick themselves and look to the future. Please keep the people in your prayers though because it has been a big loss for a lot of people. They have been saying that there are already so many who have died and around 80 missionaries that they cannot find. (A member told us that. I dont know if its true or not)

Things are going well though. We have been trying to find families lately. We have one new brother who we are teaching. Bro Deguzman and we have another bro. Chris. With bro chris, he is ready!! We are just trying to teach his mom and dad. Even though bro chris is older, its always better to try for families. I will keep you updated with them. How is everyone doing back at home? What are the plans for Thanksgiving? I love you all!!!

--
Mahal, Sister Merrill

November 13th

Update (13 November 2013 - 1:00 p.m. MST) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to assist with relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. Church Welfare Department personnel are working with Philippines Area leaders to establish a relief operations center and distribute supplies. Many areas affected by the storm are still without power or running water, and communication systems are not fully operational.

Seven of the 21 Church missions in the Philippines were impacted by the storm, but all missionaries are safe. Missionaries in the hardest-hit areas have been evacuated to safer locations, including missionaries assigned to the Tacloban area. Those missionaries are now safely in Manila, staying in Church housing near the Manila Temple and missionary training center. Mission and area leaders will meet with missionaries in the coming days to evaluate their needs and determine future assignments. It is possible that some missionaries who are approaching the conclusion of their service may choose to return home. Missionaries in areas less severely affected by the storm will soon begin organizing to assist with relief efforts.

Many Latter-day Saints and others who have seen the devastation in the Philippines have contacted the Church wanting to know how they can help. They are encouraged to pray for those affected by this disaster. They may also consider increasing their fast-offering donations and/or donating to the Churchhumanitarian fund (http://give.lds.org/humanitarian-fund). The Church draws upon these funds to sustain its humanitarian work around the world. There are many opportunities to support other reputable agencies that also respond to disasters.

The Church has a vast, local volunteer force among the members in the region and is not seeking volunteers to travel to the Philippines as part of its relief efforts. In addition, the Church has learned that the most effective way to respond to disasters is to work locally, purchasing needed supplies in country as near to the disaster as possible. This not only ensures that the goods are appropriate for the area but it helps build up impaired, local economies.

UPDATE (11 November 2013 - 7: 15 p.m. MST) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that all of its missionaries serving in the 21 missions in the Philippines have been contacted and are safe following the devastating loss of life from Typhoon Haiyan. The parents of those who had been unaccounted for have been personally contacted.

The Church expressed its love and sympathy to all those affected by this disaster and all the people of the Philippines. Church buildings provided life-saving refuge during the storm and are now serving as shelters and disaster relief sites.

The Church is pleased to engage with other relief agencies in the Philippines to address the aftermath of the storm. It is providing food, water, shelter and other life-sustaining resources.

UPDATE (11 November 2013 - 10:45 a.m. MST)In recent hours, Church leaders have made significant progress establishing contact with missionaries in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. All missionaries have been contacted with the exception of 24 missionaries serving primarily in one location where communications have been especially difficult. Church representatives are doing everything possible to contact missionaries and have been providing updates to family members of missionaries regarding their status as soon as they become available. Local Church leaders continue to determine the safety and well-being of Church members in the impacted areas and to seek out ways to assist others affected by the typhoon.

UPDATE (10 November 2013 - 11:00 p.m. MST) Elder W. Craig Zwick, an executive director in the Church's Missionary Department, reported this evening that, "Church leaders continue to make contact with missionaries throughout the Tacloban Mission in the Philippines, and all those we have been able to reach are safe. We anticipate that as we continue to re-establish communication, the remaining missionaries will be located and found well. We unite our faith and prayers with others in behalf of the people of the Philippines."

November 10th

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/10/us-philippines-typhoon-idUSBRE9A603Q20131110

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-missionaries-serve-in-tacloban-day-after-devasting-typhoon-hits

Many Latter-day Saints and others who have seen the devastation in the Philippines have contacted the Church wanting to know how they can help. They are encouraged to pray for those affected by this disaster. They may also consider increasing their fast-offering donations and/or donating to the Church humanitarian fund (http://give.lds.org/humanitarian-fund). The Church draws upon these funds to sustain its humanitarian work around the world. There are many opportunities to support other reputable agencies that also respond to disasters.

November 3rd

Hello everyone!! Thank you so much for all of the pictures of Halloween!!!! I hope that you all just closed your eyes for a few seconds and pictured that i was there with you. If you didnt.... well... shows how much you REALLY miss me ;)

We had kind of our own Halloween events here in the Philippines. They (like i said last week) celebrate "all saints day" for the 1st and 2nd of Nov.

I was kind of surprised at how creepy it was. haha. They have lots of.... interesting believes. They take food to the grave yard and "feed" the dead. And it wouldnt be a party if they didnt stay there all night and play cards and drink. Thats what they do for funerals by the way. They believe that the dead body can not be left alone so they keep it in the home for a week to two weeks and play cards, drink, and kareoke all the night through. Anyway, another thing they do for all saints day is once it gets dark everyone keeps their lights off (if they have them) and they use candles. It was weird walking home and just seeing candles. I thought we were in one of those scary village movies.

Things have been going really well with sister finau. There is a language barrier but thats ok. I basically just speak tagalog to her because its hard to speak english for her so might as well become fluent in tagalog when i can. no? ;)

Our area has been kind of....rough. We have been having a hard time with finding people who REALLY want to listen to the gospel and not just to be nice, or have foreigners in their home. We have been doing some fun stuff with trying to find people to teach though. We have gone old school and brought out the soap box. (hopefully you get that... or else... that wasnt funny. sorry.) We do "preach by the bus". so.. we stand in the front of the bus (on the inside) and just start teaching a lesson. Its quite a thrill.

Its been a big focus to find the elect. So I will let you guys know if anything blossoms. We have some potential. I hope that things are good back in the U.S. And I want you all to know that I love you so much!!!!!!!

Love. Me.

--
Mahal, Sister Merrill

October 27th

Hello family!! So. are you ready to hear who my new companion is? maybe you know from the "subject". My new companion is sister finau. she is from Tonga and is SO>>>..... amazing!! she is so humble and so chill! haha its really nice as a trainer to have a tongan because they are so go with the flow. no stress!!

Although.. yeah... i was hoping to get a filipina.. God has something else in store for me. And im thankful that sister finau is part of that. Plus, I know now how to pray (simply) in tongan. who knew missions would teach you so many languages! :) It is funny though becasue everyone thinks she is filipina so they talk to her and then she looks at me and i start speaking. They get so amazed that i speak tagalog haha.

How is everyone doing at home? I hope you are all safe and happy. Has it snowed yet over there? Are you guys so excited for Halloween!!!???? I am so jealous of all of you. But we do have a fun holiday coming up here in the Philippines. Its on the 1 and 2 of november. "all saints day". Its the day they go and celebrate the dead. Its kind of like halloween because they have scary movies on all the time and they tell scary stories. They get pretty crazy because we have to be in the house at 6pm those two days.

What are the kids going to be for halloween? Did I ask if it snowed yet? Hopefully not so you guys wont freeze while outside.

We have been doing really well out here. It has been hard these past couple of days starting over and finding people. But its also one of my favorite things. I love to just talk with everyone and observe everyday life. Helping people with their tasks is pretty fun too. Just to start washing the clothes with them or whatever. Its fun to see their reaction. Alright, I have to go email President. I love you all and want to hear how everyone is doing. Send me pictures!!!

--
Mahal, Sister Merrill

October 21st

Hello Family!! I had written a "rough draft" of an email to send out today... but do to my brain... I forgot it. I was going to try and be organized with my thoughts but lets be honest, that would be just too easy. ;)

A lot has happened this week. Ready for it!? Ok, well nothing too crazy but it has been a good week.

I was called as a trainer..... AGAIN!!! WOOO HOO!! (thats only kind of sarcastic...) I have been training my whole mission basically and am happy to say that im pretty sure i might be an "eternal trainer". I am just PRAYING that it is not another american. My whole mish i have had 1 filipino out here. Somethings off and i need some culture up in here ;)

Oh!! I saw Sister Evans (my 1st "anak") because she is training again and her trainee is training instantly!! (im kind of proud of my family out here on the mish). Well. Do you guys remeber me telling you about sis Virginia and bro von mark? our two investigators in my 1st area? Well, bro von mark got baptised and now his sister is getting baptised too!! and sis virginia.... We had referred her family over to the elders in their area while we taught sis virginia. Well... come to find out that her family is progressing like crazy and they are ALL getting baptised as a family!!!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THEM!!! aww!! hopefully i can get some pictures.

Well, thats all i can think of right now. Transfers come up on fridayu and im kind of hoping to get transferred.... :) I will let you know next week.

PS. if you send packages, you can send it through LBC it will get here faster because it is a philippines thing. I love you guys!!

Mom, send me pics of the house all decorated!!

October 13th

Hello family!!! How is everyone doing!!?? So conference.... AMAZING ya!!?? I know all yall have already seen it.... but thats what happens when your on a foreign mish.

What was your guys' favorite talk? I want to hear you guys' input and thoughts.

Lets say that I learned a lot of things.

I had told you guys of maybe coming home in Feb instead of April Well... I am going to stay so I will be coming home in the beginning of April. Just so you guys know.