So the theme of this week is Sarah. I think I talked about her a few emails back? Shes the 10 year old girl with a ton of family problems that we miraculously met and is super elect. On Thursday night Sister Lisaca and I were just walking up to the gate of our complex on our way home when we see Sarah and a few of her friends and she tells us that she was kicked out of her house earlier that day and had no where to sleep and was hoping to be able to stay with us :( We explained to her that as much as we wanted to we couldn't let her stay with us. We thought of some members that might be able to let her spend the night until we could figure something out, and I remembered a family that lives close to her aunt's house and are super sweet people, so we went to try them. Poor Sarah was so shy she just hung back a few houses while we talked with them. We explained the situation and they were more than happy to let her spend the night. They invited her in and started getting food ready for her and her friends and assured us she was in good hands. We let them know how grateful we were and made a plan to go with them to talk with her aunt the next day. Sarah spent the whole day with them, probably the first time she has ever experienced a happy family atmosphere. That night we all went to her aunts house to figure out what to do. Her aunt came out to the gate, yelling in Tagalog (so I couldn't really understand) and saying that Sarah was a brat and didn't want to follow rules and she wasn't going to be responsible for someone like her. Even though I couldn't understand everything, I could definitely see the effect it was having on Sarah. She just put on this stone face, and her eyes and focus just kind of disappeared, like she had gone somewhere else :( Brother Minosa calmed down her aunt until she agreed to let Sarah come in and sleep. But Sarah wouldn't go in. She just stood like a statue, clutching the gate, and refusing to go in. OH my heart was breaking. I went up and started rubbing her back and whispering in her ear that it was only for the night, we would come see her in the morning and everything always seemed worse at night anyways, that she was strong and could stay one night. She started crying and would not go in, repeating "Indi ko ya, indi ko ya" (I won't I won't). HEART BROKEN. It was far past our curfew and the Minosas asked us to go, promising they would stay until it was resolved. So we just had to walk away. Praying like crazy the whole time. Sister Minosa texted us later to say that Sarah had gone in after they had promised her that she could come to their house first thing in the morning and have breakfast with them and even spend the day if she wanted, as long as she promised to sleep at her aunt's house.
The next day we went and met Sarah at the place at the park where we usually teach her. She was better, smiling and happy again, eager to talk about her Book of Mormon reading. She said the night before she read almost the whole night and felt like she was in the arms of Jesus. We had a great lesson on Plan of Salvation and she was super excited to come to church the next day. She said that her aunt had been upset gid the night before but that the house help held her back from doing anything to Sarah and that this morning she just ignored her. We promised to see her at church the next day and went about the rest of our work. That night as we came home, there was Sarah at the gate again. Kicked out again. She had come home a few minutes late for her 6pm curfew. We went with her to her aunts house to try and talk with her. The aunt wouldn't answer the door. So we went back to the Minosas again and they let her stay again. Sarah came to church with them in the morning and then we walked home with her after. Speaking to her aunt AGAIN. and convincing her to let Sarah back in. She only agreed because school is starting back up the next day. We haven't met with Sarah since but we'll go visit her later again tonight.
Ah!!! So hard!! I want so bad to just let her come stay with us! Or just get her out of that situation. I know that it wasn't a coincidence that we met her when we did. Heavenly Father knows Sarah and has given her this opportunity to know that theres more out there than what shes experienced. Through us and the other members she can feel His love and learn of His plan for her. She can get comfort from reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, keeping the commitments we give her. We are working really hard to get her baptized, she needs the permission of her parents who are currently in Manila, which is why she is with her aunt. We know they will say yes! We just need her aunt to contact them and get formal permission so that she can sign her consent form. We plan on going and talking to her about it later. Even if this can't be the time for Sarah, the things she is learning is going to bless her now and forever, whether she has the chance to fully accept it now or not. If anything, I just want her to know that we love her. Heavenly Father knows and loves her. I'm so glad that she was able to come to us when she needed help and for the covenant keeping members who opened their home to her. Please keep her in your prayers.
Basically all of our progressing investigators are kids haha. We are teaching about 16 right now. Two different groups of all these little friends. They have the best questions, read like crazy, and clamor over each other to be the one to pray for the lesson. We walked with a group of them to church on sunday and we all just filled up a whole row haha. I joked to the elders in the ward as they filed out to primary "I'm a mom!" haha ;) As we walked them home one of the houses was playing music as we went past and there I was, walking down this flora and fauna filled street in the Philippines with 5 of the cutest little kids ever, with Mumford and Sons literally playing in the background. Moments like that come all the time in my mission and I feel like Alma 27:17 ;)
New years was great! It was definitely something else to experience it here hahaha. The fireworks are... not like the ones at home haha. They are super dangerous. And no sparks or lights. Just a deafening explosion. They are literally just bombs. Every year people lose hands, fingers, feet, and eyes from fireworks. So all the missionaries go in early to avoid them haha. The more well-off people can afford to buy the fireworks I'm familiar with, the ones that are nice and pretty and explode in the sky and don't kill people haha. From our view in our apartment we could watch the fireworks shows in the city. Pretty cool way to ring in the new year, even with the house next door sounding like it was blowing up every 5 seconds ;)
I got tired of my usual morning workout and had the genius idea to try the stretching and jumps and kicks routine we did back in cheer. Yeah. I felt like uncle rico filming himself doing football plays -__-
Theres this one area where we work where literally, everyone is crazy. They are all insane. Luiza? Yeah, its her neighborhood. We were teaching a 5432 year old less active woman there and the lesson basically went like this,
"How has your Book of Mormon reading been, Lorenza?"
"Fine, fine.. so has Jesus Christ come again? Did he come back?"
"... No, Lorenza. Not yet."
I love my language study with Sister Lisaca. I feel like I'm in that "Hamburger scene" from the Pink Panther.
Sis L: Dis are my books.
Me: No, say THESE are my books.
Sis L: DIS are my books.
Me: No, okay, say 'wee'
Sis L: WEE
Me: Great! Now say THESE
Sis L: DIS
hahahaha I love it.
Well! This week has been super full! I can't believe its Monday again already. So so so so glad that you're all doing so well!! I love you all SOOOOOO MUCHHHHH and I hope you have a fantastic week!!!!!
All my love, Sister Manwaring
PS. Sister Judd... 10 days..... :D :D :D :D :D
heres a couple picsss
Yep i live here.
Sarah and cute little friends, she's the one on the left
One of out converts made the skirt for me hahaha!
I have no clue what type of animal this is haha 
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