June 27, 2013

June 27, 2013  10:52 pm

Hey everyone!!!

 

So this is really crazy, but in less than one week I will be out in my mission!!!! I can barely believe it!!!

 

First off I am feeling much better.  I was really sick all thursday and friday last week with the flu, so I was able to stay in bed all day.  That was kinda nice.  But the funny part was on Saturday when I was feeling good, my companion wakes up very sick with more stomach pains like before.  So she stayed in bed all day.  Luckily one of the other girls in our room (there is 5 of us- one companionship of 3) has been really sick with a massive migraine for the past 3 weeks... So after lunch, I was able to go with the other 2 sisters on splits so we could all get to the rest of our classes.  So that was weird because I was not with my companion.  But she is feeling better now too.

 

Sunday was really good. We had a really good day of church.  One thing that our district has been doing in SundaySchool together is to each bare a short testimony and/or something we learned this week.  It was really powerful and great.  Our district is becoming really close and that makes everything much more awesome. And that night we watched the january mtc devotional from Provo with Holland.  It you every get the chance to find it, WATCH it!! it was so good :)

 

Monday was kinda average... classes... studying... more classes... more studying... you can get the picture.  But the people here are great and I am beginning to get to know some of the new batch.  There is proably 15 people in their class... 4 americans all from Utah. but they are really nice.

 

Tuesday we had a lesson with one of our investigators (and when I say investigators I mean one of our teachers) who is named Abigail.  she is a very tough investigator and does not use any english.  But we taught her and we were planning on teaching on the restoration, but after Sister Atata shared a scripture about baptism it was 2 Nephi 31:5-7 i believe.  They began talking about why we need to be baptized and at the end I was able to ask her to be baptized and she said yesss! it was a great feeling because the spirit was so strong in the room and leading the lesson so much.  Oh and we had a devotional with Elder and Sister Ardern who are in the 70 and it was such a good devotional!! We sang How Firm a Foundation which brought the spirit so much.  It was a really fantastic night

 

Wednesday came the really interesting day... WE WENT PROSELYTING AGAIN!! it was so much fun!  This week we went to the Quezon City mission which is were some of the people in my district are going.  But it was so much fun.  We took a lot of jimpney's that are these crazy bus/taxi/i dont know what you want to call them but they are insane.  Just look it up because it is really difficult to try to explain...  But our missionary who we  did splits with is a native and when we went to a less active man's home she basically only did the greetings/getting to know yous and answering any of his questions.  She told us we are going to teach the entire lesson which was probably a good 40 minutes.  It was really difficult and a lot of times we were stuck for a loss of words. But overall it was a really great experience.  It was fun to see how more of the Philippines. 

 

Other than that Thursday was kinda average again.  Not amazing by any means, but still really good.  I mean how bad can it be when I am on a mission.  The sad part of the day came when Sister Owens (who is in our district and one of my roommates) came to us saying that she will be going home on Friday.  She is the one who has been really sick with the dibilitating headache and it is getting worse.  So she left and that was a really hard part of the day.

 

So far today we have gone to the temple for the last time in the MTC.  I just love the temple sooo much and I have loved being able to go every week while here.  

 

Also, it is so much fun hearing from all of you.  It seems everyone is doing pretty well.  All of you are in my prayers and I miss you guys a ton!! I loved seeing all the pictures of what has been happening back where you guys are. it is so fun to see how everyone is and some of the things that you all are doing.

 

For the scripture, I was able to read Alma 7:23-24  all about Christ-like attributes.   I love this work and am so glad that I am able to serve the Lord for 18 months.  It is such a cool time to be a missionary.  I am seeing so many scriptures that say "the time of the Lord/the Kingdom is at hand."  it is cool to see it all in action. 

 

Well I love you alll and the next time I will write you all is in Manila!!!!

 

~Sister Rebecca Bishop~

Hello Everyone June 21, 2013

Hey guys,

 

So this has been an interesting week, really good and really odd in other ways.  Not bad just different.  Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were kinda uneventful. Not gonna lie.  But overall they were very good!

 

The last batch of missionaries just left on wednesday. I became really good friends with a bunch of them.  It is hard to not get to know the other missionaries really well because there are only so many of us to know.  So that was really sad saying goodbye was really hard.  My favorite people in that batch were 4 Elders from Austrailia.  They are all really funny and some really great guys.  But now that they have left, we are the oldest ones. 

 

It is weird to think that now in less than a week, we will be leaving to go as well.  I cannot believe that it has been a month because everyday here is pretty much the same as the day before.  But now I have only around 17 months left! crazy huh!?

 

Sorry if this email is not going to be very long but it has not been the most interesting of weeks.

 

But also on Wednesday we were able to go out into the city to go Proselyting in Manila.  Sister Atata and I were put with S. Riddle from Amereican Fork, Ut and she has been out for 4 months.  It is cool to see how much she has learned within that first little bit of her time out here.  We were able to go to 2 appointments with her, they were really cool. I was able to bare my testimony in both of them.  I sounded pretty good.  Well as good as can expect myself to be at this point.  We met with Jean who is inactive and so is his family.  We read from 3 Nephi just to get him to read the Book of Mormon.  That was really cool to see him as he is an actual person with a story.  Next we met up with a ward missionary whose name i cannot remember for the life of me.  But we went ot go to meet with Grace.  She is getting baptized on June 29th so she has had all the lessons.  So instead of teaching we watched The Restoration video.  It was in Tagolog with English subtitles.  I was able to recognize words that they were saying but the grammar is different in tagolog. 

 

In the second lesson the weird part of my day came.  We were sitting in this woman's tiny living room just starting the movie when I look down at my foot because something is tickling it, and there is a cochroach ON MY FOOT! it was easily the grossist part of my week.  Luckily I did not scream because that would be completely rude to do in an investigator's home, but it is what I felt like on the inside.....  Oh and it rained a lot when we were out.  The Philippines are just getting into their rainy season right now, so we always have to bring our umbrellas everywhere we go. 

 

It was cool to use the language outside of the MTC for the first time.  I know that it will all come with time. 

 

I got a bit sick yesterday and today.  Just a virus that has been going around the MTC but don't worry mom nothing to worry about.  I am fine!!! I was able to stay and sleep yesterday so that was really nice.  But I am getting better :) all is well here.

 

I promise everything is going well here! Miss all of you a ton! it is cool to see how much the work is progressing over here.  I know that the Lord will bless us when we follow him!

 

Now to try to answer some of the questions:

 

-The Manila temple is quite small.  around the same size or maybe smaller than the provo temple.  so that is an interesting adjustment.

-No sarcasm is weird and hard but people in the philippines dont really understand it so I guess this is just preparing me...

-I will for sure be staying in Manila.  I will not be reasigned to Cavite.

-I am assuming the visa will come through.  I have not heard otherwise....

-I leave the MTC on July 3rd

-That is cool about the Yeates.  When I was in Manila, I heard about an elder serving in Manila who is from Chantilly. I did not recognize his name, Elder Teddy i think, but small world!

-For the most part I am totally healthy :) but I am still doing okay health wise!

 

I love all of you so much and I can't wait to see all of you again!  17 more months baby!!!

 

I love this work and I am so grateful to be a missionary right now.  It is so cool to see how much the work is being hastened for these last days. Also, how many scriptures actually apply to missionary work in these days.  I have loved reading and studying the scriptures everyday and makes me so grateful for them.  

 

Scripture of the Week:  (ps this needs to become a legit thing....)

 

Mosiah 15:28-31

"And nwo I say unto your that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Yea, Lord, thy watchmen shall lift up their voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."

 

Love you all!!

 

Sister Bishop

June 13, 2013

June 13, 2013

Hey everyone!!!

 

It is so good to hear from everyone! I am glad to hear everything is going well.  It has been actually a very good week here in the MTC! I just barely got back from the temple where we have trips every p-day.  So that was really fun.  Oh and today we do not have much going on so we can really take a break from our hectic schedules. 

 

So starting last week one of the Doctors here for all of the missions in the Philippines talked to President Beck and he recommended my district to do a case study for her that might be implemented in all of the Philippines missions... cool right!  So we as a district are supposed to work on unity for the 2 weeks.  In that we are to make all comments postitive (no negative comments or sarcasam...), uplift others at all times, and work not critisizing anyone because Sister French promised us if we do that then the "Spirtit cannot be constrained".  So far I have seen myself really work on continuing to stay positive and uplifting others.  The sarcasam is a hard one... But overall I am seeing a large difference in our district and with other people as well.  It is also making me be able to keep a good mindset with my mission and focusing on what is important. 

 

I am really starting to see my language improve.  I am being able to speak and understand what people are saying with more ease in class and lessons.  Though I know that they will not speak this slow in real life but it is nice at least knowing that I am learning more.  I see myself being able to up more of Tagolog each day.  When we are in our lessons with our investigators,  I am able to speak much more by the spirit and say what I feel prompted by the Spirit to say which has been a real blessing with furthering our investigators (and no they are just practice, actually our progressing investigators are just our teachers).  I am being able ot understand much more what even the Filipinos in the MTC are saying.   OH and on sunday ALL of my investigators came to church!  We have our two progressing investigators and a less-active (another teacher for the TRC), but on sunday we get a little slip of paper saying if any came and they all did! Such a good feeling!

 

It is actually really funny how cool all the Filipino missionaries think my name is.  They are all like "ohhhh sister bishop, I have never met a girl bishop". they think they are so hilarious. so thanks dad for the name :)

 

S. Atata got sick again this week so she stayed in bed pretty much all day.  That day I was able to read all of 2 Nephi and finish up all of the lessons in PMG which means that in less than 2 days I read all of PMG.  But it was nice to take a mental health day for me durning that time. 

 

Each night we do these online assessments that check understanding and progress here at the good ol' mtc.  and I am consistantly getting a really high score and people in my class know that.  So I have now become the person most everyone goes to for church answers.  That made me really happy because it shows me just how much I know about the gospel and how much I learned from home, church, seminary, and byu.  It always makes me happy when I can share some insight or knowledge that I gained previous to my mission.  So a huge thanks to anyone who has taught me!

 

Sister Atata found out what was wrong from the doctor.  I wont go into it too much but she is going to be totally fine.  We are going to go back to the city to go to a doctors and get medicine that will fix the problem.   So the city is crazy and extremely insaine.  But it is a facinating culture over here and I am excited to serve. 

 

I have become best friends with a few other sisters from another district.  S. Larsen (the one from VA), S. Kelsey (UT), S. Tiley (Figi), S. Tavana (New Zeland), and S. Teihe (New Zeland).  These girls are aboslutely amazing and I love spending any of our free time with them!

 

As for some of my other reading, I was able to read through Jacob 5 which has so many good references to missionary work!  As of this morning I am already in Mosiah.  I started the Book of Mormon the first day I came here and I am excited to see how much I can get through while here. 

 

The language barrier between S. Atata and I is getting better and I am seeing our relationship improve a lot this past week.  This week there has been a ton more up than downs which makes me so happy.  I am excited to see what then next week has in store.

 

I can't believe how many missionaries are leaving from home!  I am so excited for all of them as they start this amazing journey and time of their lives!

 

It is really hot here and humid but I am getting more used to it.  Well maybe just a little be less dreading it as I dont think I will ever be exactly used to the humidity and heat. 

 

This next week will be very interesting as we are going out to the city to proselyte with other missionaries (older ones. don't worry!)  But that will be exciting and really nerve wracking.  But it will be so amazing!

 

I love being on a mission and seeing how much the Lord loves me and helps me through the more difficult times in my life.  He really does bless his children and his missionaries.  I am so amazed by how much he really does want us all to succeed and return to him

 

Scripture of the week:

1 Nephi 3:7

" I will go and odo the things which the Lord has commanded, for I know the Lord giveth not commandments unto the children of men, save he shatll prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

 

I love you all so much and think about you everyday!  I love you and you are always in my prayers!!

 

Sister Bishop

Week 2

Hi everyone!!!

 

So I am in my second week here at the mtc and things have been interesting.  It is weird to think that it is already June.  It seems like just yesterday I was home and on the other hand it feels like we have been here forever!!!!!!! 

 

Cool experience Attach another fileabout prayer last friday when I could not find my mini Preach My Gospel for a few hours.  I had just taught a practice investigator and I could not find it after.  So I decided to say a prayer asking to help me find it. After going to a class for an hour, a sister asked another sister if she had my pmg because she had her's so finally I was able to get my book back.  So that was pretty cool.

 

The food here can be quite interesting we have a good deal of Filipino food but occationally we do have other types such as one day we had hamburgers :) and another we had pasta.  Which both made me really happy.  Liz: I tried ube and it is actually quite good, kinda weird but good.  We have rice with EVERYTHING here and that has taken some getting used to.

 

To sum up the week there has been a lot of good and bad.  There had been many times that have been trials of my faith and all.  First, my companion does not know very much english.  She is not fluent and it takes a while for there to be understanding on her end.  So that has been a huge barrier this past week that I hope will get better.  I have gotten quite frustrated this week with small things that happen, but I know that it is all for good and that I will be able to be blessed.  Sister Atata is a convert of less than a year so it can be quite difficut coupled with the language to understand how much she knowss  She got really sick this week with a lot of pain in her side.  We had to go to the hospitial to get some tests done and so from that I was able to see part of the city which was cool and kinda frightening.  They drive crazy over here.  Its is a bit like Greece in some aspects but people are less curtious of other people. 

 

I am working through the language, but by no means is it easy.  I know that the language comes with a lot of time and will not be fully understood until we are out in the field.  I heard from one of my teachers that most people in Manila do speak a good deal of english and we speak mostly Taglish (Tagolog and English)  so that calmed me a good bit! 

 

We were able to go to the temple last week as well as today.  It is a very small temple but it is really beautiful.  (yes it is all in english, even our sacrament meetings are in english)

 

I do feel like that things are getting better and that I am learning a lot.  By no means is it going to be easy, but that just means that it is going to be worth it. 

 

On Wednesday night we said goodbye to the group of missionaries who were leaving to go tho their missions.  It makes me really anxious to leave, but there is still a lot that needs to be learned before that can happen! 

 

Today, our district was assigned to welcome the incoming batch of missionaries so that was cool to see people who are just coming in.  We are now officially not the newbies!  There are only a couple americans in that class.  But it is fun!  Some of them looked so lost when they were coming in, and it was weird to think that only 2 weeks ago that was me (that day was the longest day ever!).  I had fun taking them to all of the different requirements and stations here at the mtc.  President Beck talked to us this morning and he has been here for 4 months and the mtc has already doubled in size since then and in the next months or so it will be triple the size of when he started.  Crazy huh?!

 

The work of the Lord is truly being hastened and I am just excited to be a part of it. 

 

A quick scripture that has helped me this week is 1 Nephi 18:16 and D&C 121:7-8

 

I miss you guys tons and I hope all of you are doing well.  I really miss home and seeing and talking to you guys everyday.  I love you guys so much and I really look foward to seeing you guy in 17 months and 2 weeks! haha but it is sooo true.  I love all of you and loved hearing from all of you this week. 

 

 I am 1/39 of the way done with my mission!!  just thought i would throw that in :)

 

"People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care."

 

Love you!

Sister Bishop

Pictures, MTC Manila Life is good - some pictures of the MTC, my District, my companion Sister Atata, Pres and Sister Beck, and beautiful Manila