The Run-around

Rainy season has officially begun... you know what that means?!?! Flooding, brown outs, lightning storms, etc... Every day is an adventure haha! It's so fun.

Next week I hit 6 months since I boarded the plane in SeaTac. Man, I am a different person now than I was then. But yet I'm still the same in a lot of ways. It's exciting, changing so fast that I can actually see it in myself. 

Let's get to work, the clock is running down. 18 minutes.. go!

Wednesday: Zone activity! We drove out to Dauin because they are supposed to have legendary beaches, but it was fiesta when we got there. Drunks, and loud music. So we went to a different beach that me and my companion had stumbled upon while tracting. There was a fiesta there too, so we went to the field that was nearby. Our district leader introduced a new snack to me and I have been addicted to it ever since. They are these chocolate wafer bars, so good. 

That night we taught our recent convert, she is so awesome! She's already in Jarom in her personal reading. She's a rockstar! Her brother is a less active and sits in on the lessons, they are such a good family. 

We went and taught our IBD (investigator with a baptismal date for anyone that is wondering) and she had read too! I feel so blessed right now with these 2 amazing women. They are the lights of Bacong for me right now. 

Thursday: Still my least favorite day of the week. We tracted ALL DAY LONG! We still managed to get 3 lessons so I feel a bit better about it. One of our investigators isn't progressing so we had to drop her. 

We went up this really long road into the Bukid and got an OST, halfway through a man showed up who told us he is a less active. He had been baptized like 7 years ago and a month after his baptism he went to jail and he just recently got out, and he's really shy to go back to church. We're gonna work with him. 

Tender Mercy that night though, on our walk home we passed the park and we saw a woman we had OST'ed weeks ago that we thought was golden walking around so we sprinted over to her and started talking to her, we haven't been able to get in contact with her for weeks. 

Friday: Lots and lots occurred. We got another OST. There was tracting. There was frustration. That night when we went to teach an investigator there was a bat flying around their house that eventually perched in the rafters. We taught the 10 commandments and her husband says "I've broken thou shalt not kill" and we said "Brother what?" (keep in mind he is a HUGE jokester) and then he says "When I was a teenager, all the ladies liked me. I had a killer smile" I about died laughing it was sooo funny.
On our walk home that night there was this perfect circle of fog around the moon. It looked like a grey halo. 

Also we saw this mystery species that we spent the whole week trying to figure out what it is. We went back yesterday and discovered it was a hamster. First one i've seen here.
Saturday: Punted, tracting, nothing to report. Oh except we had a lunch apointment near the beach, it was beautiful. 

Sunday: We had kuyogs working with us! Yay! We ate cake! We taught one of our good investigators. 

Monday: We had transfer calls! I'm staying in Bacong with Sister K for another transfer! I'm excited I love her to death. We took a bus to Siaton and worked there with Sister Beyer because her companion went home, end of her mission. It was fun, we worked in the rain and the sunset was beautiful. We taught this old Nanay who I adore. 

Tuesday: tracting, I love it. 

Sorry, my time is out. I'll have a really awesome personal study for you all next week! Love you lots!!
-Sister Dunn

Chicks, kids, and puppies

Well let's get through this! Another week has come and gone, Pictures are taking forever to send, so be thankful if you even get 2 this week :(

Wednesday: After emailing we went to the native store and picked up the cases we ordered for our mini preach my gospels. We had Mexican food for lunch with the Dumaguete Sisters. I love Sister Hartog, she's from New Zealand and promised that I could come visit her after the mission and we would do the LOTR tour. So.. guess what I'm going to be doing! I got a chimichanga. not as good as back home, but it was REAL cheese. 

That night we extended a date for one of our investigators so we now have an IBD! Yay I'm so excited, she's ready. She's been taught by missionaries before, so everything we teach her is kind of a refresher for her. 

Thursday: A long disappointing day, no detail will be added. 

Friday: After we finished weekly planning the AP's called and told us they were on Negros.. and that they were coming by our apartment in an hour with the mission president to check up on it. We jumped so fast into cleaning, I must thank Mom at this part for teaching me how to clean effectively and quickly. That place shined by the time they got there. shh, don't tell.
We got to hold baby chickens at our recent converts house! 

Saturday: We went to the Elder's baptism, a little boy. It was really sweet. He was so excited to share his testimony. And one of our investigators brought her family to branch home evening! Tender mercies! I was so excited. And a member from Dumaguete gave us a ride home in her CAR! It was weird riding in a Ford explorer in the Philippines. 

Sunday: We were late to church because no Jeepney's or trikes wanted to give us a ride. The day was really long, and really exhausting. We were punted all day. We tracted all day. Although we saw 3 baby goats in the middle of this field so we ran over to them and petted them, my companion almost picked one up. 

Monday: This was just the week of baby animals. We got to pet 2 adorable puppies. They were so fluffy. One of them, it was a man holding it on the back of a motorcycle. He didn't say a word to us, but nodded his head when I asked if we could pet his puppy. It was a very strange encounter. We taught our IBD, she is doing so great. Her understanding is excellent, and she is doing her BOM reading. I'm so excited we are seeing success here in Bacong. 

On our way back from District meeting we were in a jeepney and a man on a motorcycle drove by screaming at the top of his lungs. Everyone in the jeepney was shocked beyond all belief. and later there was this man walking 2 identical goats. It was interesting haha, just walking them down the road. Oh and wild chickens are a thing here. 

Tuesday: We tracted in a new area, and met this woman feeding her cow. It started raining so she invited us inside, we taught her the Restoration and I shared the first vision, the spirit was so strong I was sure it was going to be great... and she told us she didn't want to pray or anything, that our message was the same. I hear that all the time here, it's hard... 

On of our recent converts who is never home was finally home! tender mercy! we were able to teach her, we're trying to get her to read right now. There was a brownout so when we got home we had to light candles all around our apartment. I hate brownouts because the water is connected to the electric so it means no water, no light, and it's an invitation for every cockroach in the world to have a vacation inside our apartment. I killed like 10 this week. And a GIANT centipede crawled on my leg during planning earlier this week. Scariest thing of my life. It was like 8 inches long and fat, I about died. 

But that's life here, and it's actually wonderful haha, things that would have bugged me before, aren't as much of a problem or at all diay. I'm alive, I'm happy, I'm doing my job here. 

There's a scripture I want everyone to look up. 3 Nephi 21:9. This is a glad message, and no not everyone will accept it. but let's keep on trying. Everyone with me now!

Love you all lots,
-Sister Katrina Dunn-

Storm

Well hello all you beautiful people. I am currently bumping motab in my headphones because the people in this internethan are using less than desirable language. Well you get that no matter where you go in the world. Also I'm eating McDonalds french fries... no regrets. Sige, this week has been a whirlwind. I'll just share. 

I finally made it into my new journal, someone please be proud. I have a few happy birthdays to wish... for one: Happy birthday Nick! Happy birthday Taylor! I really hope i didn't forget anyone else, I'm sorry the days kind of blur together. 

Wednesday: after buying a ten year supply of mogu we went home and I napped. OR tried to. I think that i actually updated my journal. 

Thursday: A very long day. We visited 2 of our investigators and a few Less actives. 

Friday: Weekly planning, da da da da there was a bunch of punting. Oh and I got to try fresh buko juice. We were at the branch presidents house and he cut open fresh coconut from the trees outside, and we stuck straws in it and sucked all the water out, then we cut it all the way open and used a spoon to eat the inside. It was lami, and i managed to eat the whole thing. It was difficult. 

Saturday: We went up to Buntod, I was feeling kind of sick. I struggled through a few lessons. One of the less actives was feeding all of her farm animals and there was baby pigs they were so cute. the geese are crazy. i digress. 

Sunday: One of the members we love had her baby, he's a tiny little thing. We went by and saw him, adorable. We taught the nanny for their other daughter while we were there, she's one of our investigators. We also had a really spiritual lesson on the plan of salvation with a different investigator. The longer I'm out here the more I realize that EVERYTHING boils down to the plan of salvation. 

That night i was woken up at about 12:30 by the loudest storm i have ever encountered. It sounded like a teenage giant was learning to play the drums. Or that the sky was literally trying to tear itself in half. the sky was flashing white with lightning too, it was so crazy, so loud that i had to cover my ears. 

Monday: We had district meeting in Dumaguete, we got KFC for lunch. BAD IDEA! I was sick for the rest of the day. I do not suggest KFC unless you want your stomach to be in the worst pain of your life. Usually its pretty good, but not that day! We only had one lesson because we got punted the rest of the day. It was hard tracting for 7 hours. 

Tuesday: One of our harder less actives was being really sassy when we got there. we have a really good new investigator who lives right on the beach, we shared about priesthood with him and his family. I'm really excited to see how he progresses. 

Wednesday: here we are again, talking about my week. And here we will be again in exactly a week.
I continued my study this week on the Atonement. I hope everyone realizes how big of a deal the atonement is. EVERYTHING boils down to the plan of salvation, and what is the center of the plan of salvation? The atonement. 

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

This is the only way to return to live with heavenly father again. The price has been paid, we just need to do our part. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ, I hope you are all too.

Love the missionaries in your area, they are trying the best they can.
Love you so much,
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Chika

Hello to all, I hope one day you can all join me in the wonderful land of the Philippines. Everyone here is buotan gyud, I'm excited to continue to serve here.

Wednesday: We did the fish eating thing again, fabulous. Bonded over buko shakes. The vicious little fish bit off one of my scabs, rude. I was able to print a bunch of really pretty pictures, :D We visited a girl, it was our 2nd visit with her. She is 16 years old, really nice, really willing to learn. Then her Lolo (grandpa) came out and was asking us "why don't you do the cross? Why do you use 

pamphlets?" kind of accusatory. I was trying not to laugh, cause he was just this tiny little old man. We found out her aunt is a less active, who remembers almost nothing about the Church. We have a lot of work to do. The night when we were half asleep during planning (don't judge us we were exhausted) and I felt the mattress shake, and I thought it was Sister K and so I looked up, but then I saw the table moving too and I was like "what in the world? OH It's a earthquake!" It lasted like 30 seconds, it was really cool. Luckily no damage or aftershocks that we could see. 

Thursday: we got up early and went to Dumaguete for Zone Training Meeting. They shared about becoming the 4th missionary. Everyone should read it, it was beautiful. It's a talk. It's not just for missionaries haha. After that we went to Robinson's for lunch. We spent the day working with Less Actives, my favorite. they need a lot of help. 

Friday: Weekly planning, that means a ton of snacks :D. We taught a less active named Julita, who hasn't been active since the 90's. Her entire family was baptized but they have all died, her parents, her daughter, her husband, so her life has kind of taken a sharp left turn. We're trying to help her come back too. We were able to teach a woman named Aimee, she's has slightly odd beliefs, but good nonetheless, we think she might be receptive. That night we bought tempura on our way to our last apointment, and I went to throw out the plastic bag in a garbage outside of a restaurant and when I pulled back the garbage back a GIANT RAT came flying out of the garbage. It was bigger than Bandeau, I screamed so loudly and jumped backwards. This man driving past on a motorcycle looked scared when I screamed. My companion could NOT stop laughing. It was terrifying. 

Saturday: Sherilyn's baptism! Our one and only IBD, it went really well. One of the other missionaries there was talking to us about less actives, stopped halfway through her sentence, turned to Sherilyn and said "You better not go inactive, you stay strong." she just nodded solemnly. 

Sunday: Fasting. Is definitely something I have had to gain a testimony of on my mission. Raquel (one of the members) worked with us and showed us more of the area. We would be lost without her. We were able to visit even more less actives. That night when we were home, these two boys were in their backyard (which backs up against our patio) and were singing Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith at the top of their lungs. I started laughing, and they saw me in the window and were like "WHAT!?" shocked probably to see an American diay haha. 

Monday: District meeting, KFC afterwards. Fabulous. They have something called a mexican rice bowl. wait.. texas barbeque bowl. It was delightful. We visited one of the active members, her house is right on the beach underneath all these palm trees. We stood on the beach for a minute and just watched the waves. It was gorgeous. We taught a lesson to an investigators who has a TON of questions about the end of the world. Hard to answer let me tell you. One of the members gave us a referral and said "I'm trusting you with her, I'm putting my trust in you, don't let me down." scary. The STL's came over monday night, slept over, and the next day I went out to work with Sister Beyer for exchanges. It was so much fun. 

Tuesday: We taught one of our less actives up in Buntod, and he finally opened up to us. He was offended, we are working on it. We went to visit another Less active and we sat under this tree and tons of ants kept falling on us and biting us. She flat out told us she didn't believe in the book of mormon or joseph smith. I was soo grateful for her honesty. I hate when people beat around the bush to save face. I'm excited to help her. We went to try and find a family, and this nanay we often walk past had just died, like an hour before, so we talked to her daughter, and gave her our information. Back at the house we did char shining moments! hehe :D lovely. The STL's slept over again and left before we woke up to head back to Siaton.

Wednesday: so far, we have gotten a jeepney to dumaguete..
So chika means like chikachika. Hard to explain, like talking like.. chit chat I guess. Me and my comp have just gotten so close this week, chika all the time. I love it!
My study this week really focused on the atonement. How Jesus Christ is our light. Yesterday i asked one of my LA's to choose the song for the lesson and he chose "the lord is my light" the lyrics rang true for me for the rest of the day. Light will ALWAYS conquer dark. I am so excited to be a missionary, and spread the light.
Love you all sooo much.


-Sister Katrina Dunn

Kalayo/Fuego

Well it has been an incredibly fast and incredibly slow last 9 days. Murag, exhausting gihapon. Family, mga tawo, I miss you. 

I'll keep this email fairly brief, well that's a lie, i will probably write a WHOLE LOT! 

Last week was a STRUGGLE! People literally ran from us when they saw us coming, but things are turning around. We did in fact save the life of a seahorse, it was suffering in this little plastic cup so we ran it down to the baybayon and released it into the ocean. We are some real mother theresa's. 

The fish spa was... fabulous! Everyone should try it in their life. And if you haven't tried a buko shake, try one of those too. Lami gyud siya. Zone conference was fabulous, we are always so blessed to hear from our mission president and his wonderful wife! I love President and Sister McCurdy. 

They are so funny too. 

In stake conference, we found out Elder Perry died. We were devastated. My companion and I just sat there and cried. The Elder's were very startled. The worst part is we didn't even know he was sick, he looked so healthy at the last general conference. 

Our designated ice cream lady in san miguel REFUSED to open the chocolate swirl for us last week, but when we went back yesterday it was open so of course i bought two cones. My companion was reduced to calling san miguel "dautan" (wicked) for a few short moments. just a joke hahah. 

In district meeting we were practice taught by one of the brand new missionary's, and at the end, it was my turn to give advice. I AM SOME HOW FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MISSION TO GIVE ADVICE TO NEW MISSIONARIES! Also, i hit five months in the mission in a few days. Who's puking? Time is moving way too fast. in a month i will only have a year left. WHAT IN THE WORLD!?!? 

So the title of the email... kalayo is the visaya word for fire. and everyone knows fuego. in weekly planning we decided our theme this week would be 'NEVER LOSE OUR FUEGO' it's going pretty good. We are starting to ROCK this area this week. Bacong is also right on the beach, We found several new people to teach. 

There was this beach villa and everyone was saying "it's soo mahal, it's so mahal" (expensive) and so i asked out of curiosity. I converted the amount into american dollars. To stay in this beach villa for a MONTH, is only $600. No wonder there are so many joe's here. 

Sige, so now I want to share my personal study from this week. Think about this question: "Why is Jesus Christ so important in my life?" Just think about it. I ended up studying grace, and it was beautiful. 2 Corinthians 12: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 

Isn't that beautiful? I think it is. We need to bear affliction in patience, this last week has been the Refiner's fire for us. But we just need to remember, every time someone runs from us, we are blessed, for we are in Christ's service, because he will make us strong. I testify that that is true. He strengthens me, lifts me higher than I could ever imagine. 

A quote from the last conference, the talk by Jeffrey R Holland: He grabbed me, he helped me, and refused to let me fall. 

Let us all remember Jesus Christ, and thank every day for everything he's done for us. For we were in free fall, and now we are saved. 

I love you all, have an awesome week!


-Sister Katrina Dunn