The End of Summer

I started my mission on January 7th, 2015. At that time, I had (i think it was) 544 days till I went home. Now I have 7 days. I first opened my call on October 5th, 2014 in between sessions of General Conference. I have 94 days from that point until I was to report to the MTC and I remember my mom telling me it was going to fly. And it did. 

I remember on Mother's Day, in 2015, I had 1 minute left of my skype call with my family, looking at 7 months of not being able to see their faces ahead of me, and hearing my mom again say "it's going to fly". Next thing I know it's Christmas. I blink one more time, it's Mother's Day again, and now I'm sitting in a little internethan, in Cebu City, while every missionary that walks in says "It's your last p-day right?" 

Sorry, I don't mean to reminisce so much, but it's been a sweet ride. To be honest I didn't want it to fly, but it did. I think every new mission, when they first get to the MTC feels that fear, most of them being away from their family for the first time. I remember as well my first night in the MTC, crying myself to sleep, not knowing how I was going to make it through the second day, let alone the rest of the 18 months I had ahead of me. Now I just laugh about it, and I'm happy whenever I hear of new missionaries going out into the world to serve the Lord.
So that leads me to this week specifically. Happy Birthday Mallory! Happy 4th of July America! I actually saw fireworks on Saturday.. not sure why, but I personally celebrated by watching them for a minute. 

Wednesday: we spent the entire day cleaning the apartment! Not super exciting but boy, did it shine!
Thursday: We had a wonderful day, HenrieLyn worked with us, and we saw miracles. 2 new investigators, and a day PACKED FULL of work. We got to work with some Less actives, and recent converts as well. That evening though we got hit with a huge flash flood. yep, just walking down the street in dirty flood water up to our knees while the rain just pelted us. 

Friday: my (LAST) weekly planning. I was so thrilled. hehe:D We went out, got punted 4 times, got 1 appointment and then... the rains came down and the floods came up.. for 5 hours.. The whole city was hit with bad flash floods. Unfortunately we did not have a house built upon a rock, and ended up getting soaking wet for the rest of the day. Not super pleasant... But we endured. 

Saturday: IT POURED AGAIN!! But we still managed to teach a days worth of lessons. Although like 50% of our FTE's for the day were making fun of us because we were all wet. And our 2 set appointments called and canceled on us. 

Sunday: Fast sunday, my favorite! I bore my testimony, and yea... it was nice. I gave a bunch of my candy away to the little kids at church. And then a british sister missionary in my zone called me Father Christmas. We were punted again, but we had a good day of FTE's. We hit our goal for the week. 

Monday: The district leader asked me to read my call letter in front of the district and explain how I felt about being set apart. "Let's just invite sister Dunn up here, because she's about to go home, not to rub it in or anything". :P
We walk and walk but punted anyways. so, okay...we were walking up the hill and we look forward and see two missionaries and I was thinking "wait, this is our area, who is that...?" and then they got closer and I saw that it was sister tago and I just started running and we hugged and it was super cool. Last time I get to see her.

We've started teaching this new part member family, and the daughter in law is super good. She understands so fast, and asks a lot of questions, and I'm really enjoying teaching her!
We ended up at Nanay Santiago's calendaria and we were sitting there and another LA showed up and it was perfect, because she's never at her house when we go by, but the Lord created an opportunity for us to teach her anyways.
Two sets of STL's stayed at our house and they brought us pizza from the MLC sister's meeting.. yes!! 

Tuesday: I didn't feel so hot but we went out to work, and we hit our goals anyways!

So this is my last email as a missionary.. i think... so I'll share my last thoughts I guess. I was trying to find the perfect scripture to share this week and I just kept thinking and thinking and I decided there is no perfect scripture, because this work is described in so many different verses. I thought about 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" and also I really liked 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” which are both good scriptures. I have let myself change for this time that I've been given. I've tried to be the very best, so I could be effective. 

But the verses I liked the most is actually an entire chapter. 2 Corinthians 4. I read it this morning just feeling like... happy with what I've accomplished. "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 

I have tried to see the eternal things. I have seen the impact the Savior has had on my life. I know he lives. I know his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church on the earth. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, and that through him this church was restored. I know President Thomas S. Monson is his servant today, and I know that the Book of Mormon is true. 

I'm grateful for the Philippines Cebu Mission that changed my life :D
I love being a missionary (because this is only the beginning)
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Sunog

Week 3 blues got me down... but it's week 4, so it's in the past. And as Edna Mode puts it "I never look back darling!" 

Wednesday: we got punted that evening after P-day.. curse of week 3 i'm telling you! 

Thursday: It was a better day. HenrieLyn worked with us, i love her so much! She's so much fun, and she's a really good missionary. We hit up all our appointments that day, and we ate barbecue, there is a surplus of street food in Apas. It might be the best and worst thing that's ever happened to me. 

Friday: We got a call from the zone leaders that morning about a giant fire in our area, luckily it was far away from where we live. We did a temple tour with one of our investigators. We could feel the spirit really strongly. It was nice walking around the temple, and explaining the various ordinances, and relating it to the restoration. I learned a lot too, mostly through the spirit. 

Saturday: We went to go teach one of the members, and when we were walking to her house we were like "It's lighter here that normal.." and we looked up the alleyway and all the buildings were gone. It looked like skeletons, all the structures of the buildings that used to be there. All the houses and everything in them was completely destroyed. We ran around the wreckage and down the mountain to where the Sister works, and we found her just cooking food for her little calendaria, and I said "sister, we went by your house!" and she just says "there is no house." but she didn't seem very upset about it. She lost everything, and she was just joking around with us like normal. And then she insisted that we eat before she would let us leave.

Sunday: She even came to church! She is going to be so blessed. She's been such a big example to me the past few days! We were also able to teach our investigator at church as well. Also later when we were on splits I experienced a moment of breaking in and trespassing at a members house.. hehe :) I'll save that story for another day. 

Monday: THE PACKAGE CAME! in all of it's wonder! we have been eating like queens! Thank you so much Debbie and Mother!! We went on exchanges to Basak. We had a member work with us the whole day (I got to work with sister Quinney again!) and she brought her daughter with and she's like 7 and the cutest thing ever, so we were just running down the streets, swinging her around because she kept wanting to hang on our arms. We got kind of punted in their area,but everything still worked out ok. 

Tuesday: because of traffic,it tooks us an hour to get home through the jeepney network. super tiring! We found 2 new investigators!! this week looks better! Still seeing miracles from/in the mission!
I've been thinking a lot this week about the resurrection! my study this morning led me to 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

"54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

I really liked that part.. o death, where is thy sting? After thinking about all the people I've met, and hearing the sorrows that they've experienced because of death, I've loved the opportunity to teach people that it 'isn't the end'. Naa pa jud, even if we don't see it yet. For this is my joy, to teach the people of Cebu that they will live again, with their families. In my last week and a half of work I will be steadfast, and always abound in the work of the Lord.

I love being a missionary! 

-Sister Katrina Dunn

Mission Tour

Happy birthday Sawyer and Grandma!! 92 and 3! Some big birthday's no? Hehe :D
So bad news.. I did not find out where the sword of Laban is. But we heard a lot of other amazing things. Have no fear.

Wednesday: It was the normal.. We were doing laba in the afternoon and then the AP's call us and are like "Yea we're with Elder Ardern on the way to your house." luckily the house was already clean! But we jumped into action and did the touch ups in 5 minutes. He brought a really good spirit into our house, and he was telling us the secret to getting names up on our baptism board. And then he finished with this quote: "Those who honor the Lord, the Lord honors." Anyways it was an interesting experience.

Thursday: Got up early, got ready, headed down to the chapel. My interview was really awesome. I got some really good advice and insights for my life, it was a really special experience. I got to see everyone I love before I go home, last conference, last chance to take pictures with everyone. It's been a roller coaster. We learned a lot of really amazing things from our president and from Elder Ardern. When General Authorities talk to missionaries, they mean business.

Friday: We got this referral from the Elders, so we went to go teach her. She talked for SO LONG, but she has a lot of really good questions. We tried to keep her on topic so that she would understand without confusing herself.

Saturday: A very successful day. We went to one of our appointments and this man was outside and he was smoking so I asked him to put it out, so he threw it away and then I invited him to listen, so he came inside and now we have a new investigator! And we're teaching his wife too. 

Sunday: We had a Japanese investigator come to church. He really would prefer Elders to teach him. No I'm not offended, I understand haha... He was taught before by the Elders here but they got transferred out and now it's just Sisters in the ward... so... yea...
We had a lot of kuyogs work with us, but we managed to make it work. The day was ultimately a success.

Monday: Right when we got to work we saw one of the members (we teach her mom) so we were like "hey come with us really fast to teach your mom okay?" and she went with us and worked better than if it had just been us.
We helped a disabled woman hike a giant container of water up a mountain. and then we climbed another mountain to get to a lesson. Lot's of mountains, very tired ang akong legs. 

Tuesday: Long Evil Punted Day... LEPD... Basta, it was no fun. Almost every appointment we tried... they were either gone, or selling bananas, or getting water, or doing laba, or a multitude of other things so we couldn't teach. We were so discouraged by the end of the day. Everything was not looking good.

Wednesday: I realize after this I only have 2 more P-Days left... make your emails good...
My spiritual thought for today comes from my personal study this morning. After a totally awful day yesterday, I was like "okay, what do I need to learn here?" and I happened to be studying in Mosiah 8. You might be wondering, "what's in Mosiah 8?" Well I'll tell you.
Ammon and his friends are chilling with King Limhi, and King Limhi asks Ammon "hey, do you know how to translate?" Ammon doesn't, but that's not what I'm getting at right now. Limhi, after his people went through so many persecutions he was like "Okay, I want to get my people out of captivity." so he sends 43 strong men into the wilderness for the purpose of finding the Land of Zarahemla.

In verse 8 it reads: "And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent..." they were lost.. but because the were diligent they found the 24 plates that is the book of Ether. They went looking for the Land of Zarahemla, but the Lord had a greater purpose, and they ended up finding the record about the BROTHER OF JARED! That is just so cool to me! But anyways, I know that if we in this work, continue in diligence, even if it's 100 degrees outside, and people are rejecting us left and right, there is still a greater plan for us than we have for ourselves.

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Donut

            

okay i have to have my hands fly like the wind, completely out of time. enjoy selfies in krispee kreme and pictures of my beautiful area. I'll be sad to leave this all behind, but I'm excited for the next few weeks that I have here! 

I've gotten to work with many amazing people this week, and tomorrow will be extra fabulous, because the AP's called and told me that I'm one of 10 people in the entire mission that get's to be interviewed by Elder Ardern of the 1st quorum of the seventy for the upcoming mission tour! So I am through the roof ecstatic! I'm going to ask where the sword of laban is.. just kidding, i'll be serious. I'm really excited! 

We have a new IBD, and we're going to hopefully start extending more IBD's this week to a few more people. 

I went to a lesson this week, and one of our investigators had started the BOM all by himself, and had a ton of good questions! 

Anyways, I love you all, be safe, see you all very soon! 1 month na lang!
I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

The Land of Stairs

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY TAY!! I can't believe you're already 8!! that's insane!! okay family.. apas is fabulous. we have this massive IT park in my area, let's just talk about this for a second okay...i have like 3 mcdonalds in my area, a burger king, starbucks, KFC, 2 jollibees, 2 7/11's and wait for it... A KRISPEE KREME!! Can we just address this for a second. I HAVE AN AMERICAN DONUT SHOP IN MY AREA and i couldn't be happier.. i've already eaten there, don't worry. 

The area is so full of miracle people as well, so it's worth it to climb a million miles of stairs every day, even though it's exhausting.
and it's tigulan right now so... that means FLOODING!! sister larsen knows what im talking about.. it's not just flooding..it's a river! It is dirty rivers.. everywhere. it means wading up to our knees. But my legs are like super buff now, from months and months of bukid, so i barely even lose my breath anymore. feeling fabulous. not skinny, but strong. 

We had 2 elect investigators at church on sunday, and almost all of our recent converts came to church on sunday. 

We went on splits on sunday and I worked with HenrieLyn and I'm pretty sure she's my new best friend, I absolutely love her.. 

so my batch is my new district leader, so that's a bit weird,. especially when he introduced himself to the district and he said "so i've been out for a while, about 1 year and a half...' so that hit me really hard. my mission is down to embers, but I'm going to make it a burning fire. We are killing it in the work, and I ADORE MY AREA!! The city is the place to be, seeing the temple every day..

I love being a missionary!!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Ad2 sa Apas

okay.. big apology for my bad memory..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAIMIE AND NICK!!!. i knew i was missing something. i had it written in my planner and everything and i forgot to email it, but anyways i hope you ate lots of cake and loved life.. 

family... we worked super hard this week and... bahhh im so sad we had so much success this week, and then last night nagtapok me sa balay dayon transfer calls came and our area is closing!! so i'm not dying in Aloguinsan.. I'm headed to the city!!! going to see lot's of miracles, and i get to see the temple everyday! Apas here i come!! 

I just want to let everyone know that i have approximately an MTC's time length until i see all of your beautiful faces again. it's my last transfer, i'm gonna make it count. I love my mission to pieces, i've seen and felt so many miracles. I know the Savior loves us!!
I only have 5 more emails left!! So that's a bit crazy!!!

Love you all!!
I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Miracle of Zone Conference #50

I saw miracles. I saw happiness, and tears, and love. 

Wednesday: the activity at Hermit's Cove didn't work out. It's okay though, we can't swim anyways.

 
Thursday: Trying hard not to debate with people.. hehe... the struggle is real. But sometimes my scale of kaya is low. 

Friday: Oh my gulay we were so punted... but, we continue in faith bitaw? haha..

Saturday: day of miracles!! Day full of people that were at home, and willing to be taught. And I love that things go up and down and that the Lord knows what we need when we need it. And we totally walked up this hill and saw a ton of wood reindeers, and I was really confused for a second and then we asked what they were for..: EXPORT daw. So whenever you all see those vine-like reindeer at Christmas time.. I know a dealer haha. 

Sunday: It rained all day and it was SUPER HUMID. just saying. i taught gospel principles again, and yea.. it was on repentance and we ALL learned some important lessons.
We had to reserve one of our gahi investigators... maybe it's not her time yet.. but i had a really interesting moment with her when i bore her my testimony. I know the things that i've been teaching these 16 months are true.. and we can be so blessed if we just hang on a bit. 

We traveled to Pinamungajan and slept at the sister apartment. We got up @ 4AMand took a ghetto V-hire to the city.. and the driver totally hit a dog when we were riding and i was front seat so I saw it (and felt it) and i screamed and the elders all started laughing at me.. my life is super exciting..
We went to that tablea chocolate shop again and i got that fabulous chocolate frio and i was in heaven... i suggest it to all who come to the philippines. 

I gave my photos for immigration to sister nelson and she tacked them on my page.. and when i saw sister quinney she told me that our flights have already been scheduled. im like mentally losing it.. time is too fast!!!
The zone conference was AMAZING oh my goodness. We learned a lot, but the biggest thing that stood out to me was "know the why" of the work we are doing. Love truly is in the center of all of this. 

After Lunch we saw a bunch of missionaries that served here before and are back for a humanitarian project, and my brain was like flipping because I saw so many people i knew from my training... and then i bore my final testimony to all the missionaries on cebu island... and i was trying not to cry as I released 16 months worth of testimony and feeling to every body.. it was a really good experience.
I saw a bunch of my old companions... sister quinney, sister tago, and sister atienza.. and then just people i love like sister hartog... 

after the conference was over, we were all taking pictures outside, and i was talking to some of the RM's that were there and then i heard someone say "peasants sila bitaw" and i recognized the voice and i turned and it was Sister Beyer! I screamed and cried and just hugged her.. I haven't seen her since she went home in August and it was super fabulous and everything just came flooding back from before and we just had a few minutes of our old deep talks and.. it was the cherry on top of the whole day. we walked out to the street, and she took a jeepney, and i took a taxi... and im really excited to see her again in July. I love her so much! 

My zone got another v-hire back to Pinamungajan and we played a bunch of car games, and like half of them couldn't get them, but it was a lot of fun, and we were a bit loud but hahah, i don't think the driver hates us too much.
We slept at the sister's again because it was too late to take a tricycle back to Alo.. 

Tuesday: we woke up, took a trike, and then did our studies as normal. and then we worked our butts off all day. We are exhausted but it was totally worth it! we found a ton of new people to teach, and that are ready now. #scatteredIsrael. and we did some service... we like.. shucked corn... i think thats what its called.

Anyways family... i love you!!!!!
I love being a missionary!
Love,
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Sorry it's a short one!

family... 

this week was good. siempre, there was punting, but we are still a live. later we are going to hermits cove, i'll take pictures.. and everything so you can see more of my mission! hahha, love you all!!! keep smiling!!!

love you alll!!!
xoxo
-sister katrina dunn

Going to the temple, and we're...

Doing a session!! It was amazing, even if I had to ride in a v-hire at 3AM, worth it always.. I don't have time to write, like 5 minutes. 

So I just want to highlight, that i also got to skype my family and I loved every second of it! Especially the part when Debbie made a special guest appearance and I started to cry. I miss everyone hahha!! But I know where I'm supposed to be right now, there's a time and a season for everything! 

I got to write a tender mercy, and I got candy in return. Highlights of going to the mission office!
Aloguinsan is.. the same, but we are continuing in patience, and loving it! Mostly. haaha, yes there are trials, but we can overcome it all. 

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Issues? #Be Grateful

Happy birthday Logan! Malipayon ang adlaw sa imong pagkatawo! Also early happy birthday to Amber, because her's is this week as well! :D I miss you all lots! 

Wednesday: we did a CSP at the Pinamungajan sister's apartment! it was super dirty, and needed some love. That night we taught a lesson at a members house, and the mom was wearing a shirt that said "issues? #be grateful". easily one of the best shirts i've seen in a long time. 

Thursday. and Friday. #punted. and i almost broke my foot. and my companion informed me that i "sneeze with poise". 

Saturday: Feb's baptism!! He was so excited! Aloguinsan is rolling along! 

Sunday: E. Adriano began a branch choir. all the members are really excited. we are singing hymn #165 abide with me tis eventide for a musical fireside. Should be interesting. I'm excited!

Monday: Successful day ba! we accomplished many things. and we received timtams and we feasted on them and everything was wonderful! Also, they had mars bars at 7/11 and so life was great. I remember the first time i tried a mars bar was with Amber at the Alderwood mall. feels like so long ago hahah. 

Tuesday: We found a new investigator. She's really looking for peace and something to help her family be more united. She's really good!
We also 'met' some LA's and they... were not interested in even shaking our hands. but we continue, and we smile! Yay! 

We got lost in a canyon, and i just said "It's part of the adventure!" and we smiled and joked until we made it back out and found a man feeding his cow, and he gave us directions. It's part of growing up my dear! 

Wednesday: We are going to Bojo river later, should be amazing! I'll take pictures!
I love being a missionary!!


-Sister Katrina Dunn

Snickers

Family!! Okay, what is this, and everyone getting married? #startled.
This week was up and down but we saw many miracles!! Success!! 

Wednesday: Sister Corachea and I decided to save our money, so we went to Pinamungajan and went to the sister's MASSIVE apartment and chica'ed and i left a sticky note trail for Sister Atienza because she was going to be the new missionary there. 

Thursday: we got up early, got on a big jeep that was blasting the best hits of Madonna, and headed to Toledo. I spent a good 4 hours sitting inside of the McDo there. transfer day is... long, and tiring, especially if there is a change in the companionship. just saying. I put sister corachea on the barge and waved goodbye as she headed to her 2nd area! She's growing up so fast hehe! 

And then miracle of all miracles, my lovely Sister Hartog showed up.. I haven't seen her since my 3rd area so you can imagine my excitement when i saw her again! I squealed and hugged her and we chica'ed until the new companions came and life was fab. We threw coins into the bay and let little kids swim to get them. yes, that's a thing, and it's awesome.
Sister Avenila got to Toledo and she was so tired that she slept in the jeepney on the way home, and that is a HARD thing to do.. because they are not super comfortable. 

Friday: area is progressing. except for nanay that likes to read the bible, she read from the book of mormon and said "your bible is so different!" and we had to reteach that its not a bible, and she promised she'd read it! so yay!!
many people here are being gahi towards us, it feels like satan is getting to everyone first, but jesus still wins every time. we are still seeing progress.. 

Saturday: we went to G and she told us that she is moving to the city, i was SOO SAD!!! no she can't be moving, she's so good!! I encouraged to find the church there and go there. 

Sunday: i taught gospel principles again. we had a new investigator in class, and she was super interested! we went to her house after church and she's really super good! 

Monday: I was eating a snickers and one of the elders looked at me and says... "headache?" the whole zone knows that when i eat a snickers i have a headache. I almost started laughing. We had a really successful day, we were able to achieve all of our goals. also jefferson passed his interview for his baptism so it should be this saturday! 

Tuesday: we went back to the new investigator C, she had read the pamphlet and she had watched the restoration video by herself and she had a lot of really good questions, she's sooo receptive!! We were overjoyed!! and then, the cherry on top: while we were walking home last night, we were super exhausted from hiking all day, and we got a text from G, she decided not to move to the city and she really wants us to come back!! We have another appointment on thursday!! woohoo!! so miracles for sure here in aloguinsan! 

I love my new companion, she is a really good missionary! our lessons are electric, the spirit is so strong.
I love being a missionary!
-Sister Dunn

Escaveche

Wednesday: we had a last zone lunch @ mang inasal.. i've decided i like the pecho better than the paa. just sayin. at the house my companion took a nap and i was bored so i drew a picture of her on a sticky note and stuck it on her hand and she was so scared she jumped up haha. 

Thursday: we had a successful day, considering we spent the first part of the week in Toledo and we didn't have the chance really to work in our area. Our new investigator G, the one that was taught before is really progressing! Bad news though, one of our investigators didn't come back on Sunday because he was staying in the city to work. 

Friday: We met this nanay, and we sit down to teach her, and she starts talking about the bible. She reads the bible every day.. I NEVER meet investigators that read the scriptures every day, i was just like "whaaaat???" it was so cool, because when we were testifying of the book of mormon, we were showing her a scripture in 3 nephi, and she was like "that sounds familiar." and i was like "it's in the bible too!" man it was so cool.

later when we went to a members house, one of the pigs escaped in the middle of the lesson and the daughter was screaming chasing it around the yard it was so funny.
Sister Corachea during nightly planning was trying to make a reference in visaya and she says.. "bungol ug upaw." and i just look at her for a minute and say "Deaf and bald? What are you talking about?" and then we both die laughing and i say "do you mean deaf and mute?" apparently mute in tagalog is upaw.. but in visaya its bald so... language barriers hahhahahhaha

Saturday: one of our to-be IBD's moved back to the city... ugh.. wala na cya. we treated ourselves to ice cream and we took it to Nay Fely's house and she got us Butong, and life was fabulous. 

Sunday: I taught gospel principles, abrahamic covenant. whew.. we ate escaveche at a members house and it was delicious!!! i have the recipe, so i'll make it when i come home. 

Monday: we got a new stove and electric fans, because the old ones were so bad and broken. We feel so fancy now when we cook. so miracle of all miracles, on sat and sun we went to G but she wasn't home both times so we were like, ugh.. is she punting us? does she not want to be taught? so we were feeling pretty discouraged but we tried again on monday, and she was home! and when she saw us her face just lit up!! She's the one that was taught a year ago but then moved. During the lesson we asked how she liked being taught and she said that she really wanted to learn more, she was worried that the two days were we missed each other we wouldnt want to go back to her, and she was really hoping we would come back because she wants to learn. I wanted to fist bump! 

Tuesday: we had a long/fast day, i can't describe it, transfer call day is kuyaw.. sister corachea is going to mabini, and my new companion is sister avenila! Who was my co-zone in san carlos, and she's hilarious, so of course i am thrilled! we are going to have so much fun. 

Wednesday: this morning my companion read me a passage out of the red handbook about how Return missionaries need to get married when they get home and she says "and now sister, that you are in the last 12 weeks of your mission you need to remembers this" i was speechless like "WHATTTTT???"" she's too fresh ahhahahha, but i love her.

Seeing miracles in Aloguinsan!
I love being a missionary!
Love,
Sister Katrina Dunn

Back to the Start

GEN CON weekend is the supreme.. just saying. here we go:)

Wednesday: We had a zone activity at Tajao Beach, it was good, we played volleyball.. and on the way back to Pinamungajan.. yess you guessed it.. THE TRICYCLE BROKE DOWN!! 2 times a charm I say.. we had to walk all the way back to the merkado and catch a tricycle there... painn.... i say.. 

Thursday: ZTM in the morning. We FTE'D all day, and it was good, we were working towards meeting our goal!! we got punted again.. same old same old. 

Friday: we helped tatay make brooms, which is super fun to do.. and relaxing just saying. we went to nanay later and she got us butong and banana and we just ate and it was fabulous and then she let us share with her. 

Saturday: GEN CONF!!! all parts of it was amazing.. i loved all the talks... but the best part was...

Sunday: Jeffrey R. Hollands epic talk. and the picture of the dinosaur.. all of the messages we heard were about children.. look out rising generation, you're the elect! 

Monday: we had another CSP of making brooms. I'm getting good, i just know I am. We had to take an early jeepney to toledo because we have exchanges. We went to the Cannons for dinner and they fed us chicken salad sandwiches and they gave us a ride to the STL's apartment! they are so nice!!!! 

Tuesday: I worked with Sister Woodmansee in my first area... back to Toledo again. I got to see Kyla! I was so excited.. after that though we got really punted so we prayed and then right when we said amen, this woman walked up and we were able to teach her.. tender mercies of the Lord!!
SO MUCH MORE HAPPENED, but I am out of time.. i love you all dearly!! 

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

99

Mission life continues to be inspiring and hard work. Just keep swimming daw...
Wednesday: we went directly to Toledo, the jeepney ride always makes me sick... we went to get the paperwork for our apartment signed when we came back, and the landlord has ALL OF THE LAND BEFORE TIME MOVIES ON DVD!! I was in absolute awe... brought back so many memories. 

Thursday: Zone interviews. I love zone interviews, it's always a reassurance, knowing that I'm on the path I'm supposed to be on. We met and taught this man and he has a ton of questions. He was converted to his religion in 2012 but he still has a bunch of unanswered questions. It was an interesting lesson, but good.
Someone graduated so they killed a goat and 2 chickens to eat for the celebration. We passed by their house and saw all the hair and I was like "oh, what died?" hahah, delicious!! but we didn't eat any, but it smelled nice. 

Friday: I'm studying humility right now, i decided it's a big thing i need to work on right now. As a mission we are each choosing a christlike attribute to work on, that's what i chose.
We were given a bunch of free star apple. we went back to one of our investigators and she was so happy to see us again. She's so nice, I have big hopes for her :D 

Saturday: We went to Toledo for general women's session of GC and it was really good! I loved the theme of service! Neill Marriott's talk was my favorite, i felt like she was talking to me personally.
Duterte, the mayor of Davao, the one running for president in the philippines was visiting Toledo so traffic was a madhouse. And on the ride home, we are in the middle of nowhere in Bato and THE JEEPNEY BROKE DOWN!! I was like... PAGSURE!! we all had to get out and wait on the side of the road for the next jeepney to come along. I never thought i would be victim to a broken down jeepney... as carlotta says in phantom of the opera: these things do happen! 

Sunday: I almost had to teach primary, but one of the elders wanted to do it. I dodged a bullet there. one of our investigators hid from us, but I went to the other side of the house and said "SISTER, HOW ARE YOU!" and she came out and was nice, and let us come in. We helped her take the corn kernels off the cob (i don't know how to say it in english) nagtang2x me sa mais.. 

Monday: TIng's had tocino... and they had empanada apparently, but i didn't see it and my companion told me about it later.. so i didn't get any..
we tracted some more. went back to one of our investigators, we had a really powerful lesson on the book of mormon. She still had her old copy from when she was taught before. 

Tuesday: we tracted all day, saw little success, but no effort is wasted!! 

Wednesday: we have a zone activity later, hopefully it goes well and we have fun :D

99.. problems 

99.. miracles daily :D
99.. days.
Make it count! ;)

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Semana Santa

Wednesday: i wrote a bucket load of pouch to everyone in the mission that i love. that night when we left the apartment to work i touch my chest and realized i didn't have my tag so sister corachea starts laughing and goes "you're not a missi... OH NO!" she had forgotten her tag too!! we were laughing so hard, we ran back to the apartment to put them back on. 

Thursday: we continue to tract... #misyon lyfe. and we met this girl who was super friendly and we taught her but she turned out to be surprisingly gahi for a 20 year old. i fed a dancing cow coconut leaves... life continues to be thrilling.

Friday: Good Friday.. still don't understand why it's called good friday... we were fed banignit 4 TIMES!!! i liked it the first time, i was ready to puke by the end of the night. I felt so sick!! note to future missionaries to serve in cebu mission. BUDGET HOW MUCH BANIGNIT YOU EAT ON GOOD FRIDAY! my companion pronounced 'monopoly' like this... mo no pole e and i about died laughing. 

Saturday: THE WEDDING!!! of Jeofre and Jovanni, we're helping him get some things figured out so that he can be baptized. They are so good!! i've been to several weddings now in my mission.
we needed a kuyog so we could teach cyrus so we went over to the neighbors where i knew a member lived and.. SHE HID FROM US IN THE BATHROOM!! so that was fun, we could hear her trying not to make noise, hahah i was trying not to laugh.
also.. LECHON BABOY because there was a fiesta, thank you, it's fabulous. 

 
Sunday: there's an italian in the branch and i struggle to talk in english, i keep reverting to visaya, the struggle is real. we had a really good lesson on sunday about the priesthood, it was really good to see the less actives opening up about how they feel about the priesthood.there was a man in his late 30s there who was baptized as a child and hadnt been back to church since. he's making the small steps back. 

Monday: we found this woman who was taught before and then moved and now we found her!! she seemed really excited to have us back to teach her, im excited to see how she progresses. 

Tuesday: tracting.. again.... 

Sister Corachea and I are doing the hard work here in aloguinsan, and we are slowly but surely seeing the miracles!! 

I love being a missionary!!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Shiblon

Hi loved ones!
How is everything? I hope you all had a good week with many successes! The Lord is on our side! I know it :D 

Wednesday: We went to Toledo to do our shopping. The jeepney ride makes me want to throw up, it's an hour both ways.. patay na lang. I did end up getting a pedicure so all is well. 

Thursday: We had a successful day, and we had fresh buko twice! So very delicious! And my companion and I are continuing to eat healthy. We eat mais rice and fresh fish pretty much every day. We went to two of our IBD's and had very good lessons with them before hiking out to the middle of nowhere to visit one of our investigators. Always an adventure. 

Friday: We OST'ed a man who was taught by missionaries before. Besides being a little bit proud, he was still receptive, and for the most part kind. 

Saturday: Cyrus' baptism, it went well. Success!! But then after that everything went downhill, we were SUPER PUNTED! It was painful. We walked all day trying to talk to people and they didn't want anything to do with us. 

Sunday: I am the Branch Pianist. I'm not very good, but i can bang out a tune with both hands. I also gave a talk on scripture study. We were punted all day again... so... hmm... 

Monday: I had kinilao for lunch. it was delicious, i hadn't had it since Bacong. We tracted again and finally saw some success. It's a process. We also had a member kuyog with us and that really helped. We've started teaching Cyrus' brother as well. It's really awesome seeing his example for him. 

Tuesday: We OST'ed this woman who makes seashell necklaces for a living, and so i bought a few from her, they are super cool and only 1 peso each!! She was taught many years ago, but doesn't remember much. Her husband passed away a few years ago because he fell out of a coconut tree. She's raised her 7 kids by herself. Wow. 

Wednesday: We got another tricycle to Toldeo... kapoy kaayo! still feels like death. they drive so SLOW! I'm hoping for more sucess this week. 

I had a cool study the other day in Alma. I was reading Alma's letters to his three sons, and I noticed some things. In his letter to Helaman he says "now you may think this is foolishness in me, but it is for a wise purpose." I imagine Helaman, he's the oldest son, probably a little bit proud, think's he's got his life together, and probably thinks his old man doesn't know much, but Helaman get's things done.
Then you read Alma's letter to Shiblon, all he does is thanks him for his steadiness, and encourages him to continue. Shiblon is probably the quiet, dependable one, does what he's asked, doesn't care about recognition, he's the reliable one. Alma doesn't need to worry about him.
And then there is Alma's letter to Corianton, where he basically says "you have been very bad." Corianton is the selfish, free loving, baby of the family who does what he wants. 

I remembered a stewardship implementation when i was serving in Sibulan. Every day before you go to bed, identify which of Alma's sons you were that day. Some days I feel like Helaman, i can do it all myself (that's a lie, you can never do it all yourself, but sometimes I'm prideful) some days I'm Shiblon, I do what I'm supposed to, I'm obedient, i recognize the Lord's hand in all things,
and i hope i'm never like corianton, but some days we ALL are.

I honestly hope we all strive to be like Shiblon, that's what the Lord needs. A lot of Shiblon's.
Just a thought, that's what i studied yesterday, it really stuck with me.
I love being a missionary!


-Sister Katrina Dunn

Bukid, Beaches, Small Dipper

Okay... I don't think I'll be sending pictures because this Internet Shop is super sketch... So until we find a better one.. I'm sorry about that too because Aloguinsan is a BEAUTIFUL AREA! As in! We have bukid, we have white sand beaches, and everything in between. It's hands down the prettiest area of my mission. And, it's close to my first area! I asked the STL's that on our exchanges if we could maybe go and visit my Recent Converts from Toledo! 

My companion is Sister Corachea, she's 23, she's a med tech, she's from Batangas, which makes her my 2nd companion from Batangas. She's in her follow up training, so she still uses a lot of Tagalog, but I'm learning a lot from her! I love her! 

Wednesday: my last day with my beloved anak, Sister Angar. We (sister angar, sister perez, and jen) all went to People's Park and took a bunch of pictures with all the miniature buildings. You feel like a giant in People's Park, it was a lot of fun! We went to the Reantuco's for the last time and they fed me my favorite for dinner, misua and sardines, and pusit! I cried leaving their house. And then we went to Joy's and I had to say goodbye to her, and I cried there too! I love the people in San Carlos, it's such a beloved area to me. 

Thursday: I got up, did my last minute packing... lingered around the house waiting for the ZL's to come pick us up... they took us to Pantallan and we all did like an assembly line with the luggage to get it all onto the barge. I spent the ride on the barge talking to Sister Biolena and Sister Kahoalii, it felt like 2 transfers ago when the three of us were riding to Cebu to pick up our anaks, and now we are all done training. The mission is dali kaayo. 

I met Sister Shirley (the follow up trainer of my anak, she was on her way to San Carlos) and I told her "take care of sister angar!!!" I met Sister Corachea in Toledo, and she immediately asked me if i was hungry at we went to mcdo. That is the RIGHT QUESTION to ask your travel exhausted companion. We got on a jeepney for an hour to go to Aloguinsan, and then called the Elder's to take my luggage upstairs to our apartment, so very nice.
That night we walked to the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BUKID in the PITCH BLACK DARK with only flashlights, to get to an investigator. the upside of it was that i caught a firefly. it's the first time i've seen one in real life.. i think, anyways it was cool. 

Friday: everyone thinks i'm sister quinney, it takes them about 5 minutes to take a good look at me and go "OH you're new!" well mao gani!
We finished an appointment and went down the side of this mountain to FTE and there's all this white sand and clean clear water and it was magical gyud!
We visited our IBD Cyrus, and are helping him prepare for his baptism next week. He's 10 years old but he's so serious some times it makes me laugh. 

I was trying to explain the constellations to S. Corachea and so i mentioned about the Big Dipper and the little dipper and then later that night we were walking home and she looks up and goes "oh, it's the small dipper!" I laughed so hard!
There's a part of our area, you stand on this bridge and look out to the water and it's like 4 different colors of bright blue it's so pretty! 

Saturday: Cyrus had his interview for his baptism and he passed so he's all good to go!
We went to an appointment at a less active's house and they were trying to get me to impersonate Jennifer Lawrence from Hunger Games. 

Sunday: We had a successful PEC after church. I was pleased, things seem to be working here in Aloguinsan branch. 

Monday: Nanay Coring came to work with us! she's so good, she loves to work with missionaries even though she's in her 70's! She walks all over with us, and never complains! #rockstar
We had a wala'y klaro zone council. nothing was counseled, so i'm confused as to the point of it. all we did was eat so i think it just constitutes as a lunch.
The Elder's called when we were planning and said they were going to stop by the apartment on their way home and give something to us. so i said jokingly, if it isn't food i don't want it. it was a white chocolate toblerone! I was like, "WHUT?!?" BUOTAN!!! MABAIT!!! NICE!!! 

Tuesday: Nay Coring worked again, (and she's going to work on thursday daw) Sister Corachea made me lunch #BLESSED. she made dulingan (fish) and monggo beans with pork chop and then we had latu (seaweeds) in vinegar and onions. SO DELICIOUS!!
Iris took us on a short cut, and we found another beach. They are popping up everywhere here! I'll try to send pictures at some point in my life hahah.
I love Sister Corachea, we are ALWAYS laughing, she's so much fun! There's never a boring or quiet moment! She thinks I'm crazy haha, but it's okay! 

I know we are going to see miracles in Aloguinsan this transfer!
I love being a missionary!


-Sister Katrina Dunn

Seashell

They are currently playing Lady Gaga's best hits in this ghetto Gaisano and I'm getting a headache. I used to think I liked Lady Gaga. No, I don't actually. Took a while to figure that one out.

Sister Quero gave me this massive seashell from Sipaway.. It made me think of something from ZTM. What you see may not be what you hear. Open your spiritual eyes and ears :D
This week was interesting. And fabulous, but my life always is.
News Update: I am officially caught up on my journal, but that partially has to do with the fact that Sister Larsen went home, and I'm not overly chica'ing with anyone.

Wednesday: Sister Larsen's last p-day. Go big or go home. I picked up the pencil skirts I had made. She made them 4 inches shorter than I wanted... It's at a questionable length. The struggle is real. I bought a pair of knock-off Ray Bans, because they were cheap and no one is ever going to know the difference in America. We had a shirt made, it's fabulous. And we went to the Merkado and I saw a guy there that had worked with me and Sister Conjelado in Toldeo A YEAR AGO! and he remembered me. Wut?!? Also, I took a nap. P-day success. 

Thursday: We were tracting in San Jose and we met 2 cows named Sofna and Asnar. You might not think this means much, but it does, because they were HALF HOLSTEIN. American's take holstein cows for granted, but when they don't exist in the Philippines, and neither do the words "fresh dairy" it means quite a lot. Also I saw baby turkeys, and if you think baby chickens are cute, you should see baby turkeys.
I mention all these things because on Thursday there was much walking and much punting and I'm trying to focus on the upside. That night when we walked up to Clark's house I could see through the kawayan that he was reading the Bible I got him for Christmas. He's so awesome. 

Friday: Sister Angar ROCKED weekly planning. I was proud. A member told us a story about how 2 snakes got in a fight and one of them died, and so the other one went and got tree bark and then brought it back and used it to heal and bring the snake back from the dead.... and as a result of that she bought a serum made from this tree bark that would heal all her wounds but then she used it all to help her neighbors and she doesn't have it anymore. 

Saturday: ZTM. Burgers and Beer (its the name of the restaurant, I'm not drinking beer I promise), all in all a good morning. But then we went to a lesson with one of our investigators, and after talking about the "wheat and the chaff" in ZTM i saw it in person. The whole lesson her son was yelling from the other room. "WE AREN'T GOING TO CONVERT SIS, STOP TRYING SIS!" and he was being really rude and sarcastic. We invited him to join but he was like "I'm busy." yea he was busy giving us a hard time
We ran into our american again, the one that debated with me last time as well. The pain NEVER ends I swear. But he was at least nice this time. He was buying a beat up 1976 Honda Motorcycle, he restores them as a hobby. He was buying it from our investigator.
My last night of chica with sister Larsen, it was sad. 

Sunday: in the morning. in the mourning. I wish I could explain my feelings whenever Sister's that I love go home. It's really difficult. But we had to say goodbye.
We got pretty punted by our investigators. One of them was having a celebration for her baby's baptism that we walked in on, that was awkward. Note to self, avoid awkward moments. 

Monday: Junnah worked with us. It was fabulous. Having an RM work with you is so effective. because they know how to teach, and the share just the right amount. 

Tuesday: We went to one of our investigators who is quite elderly. she told us that she was upset because last night her husband came home drunk. I was about 100% that her husband had passed away so i asked her, "nay, diba namatay imong bana?" and she's like yea, but I fought with him last night?" so Sister angar asks her "in your dream?" and she's like "no, last night, but he died not that long ago.." so we were really confused. and then she asked us where our third companion was and we were really confused because it had only ever been the 2 of us to come and teach her, but she was certain there was 3 of them. 

Anyways Transfer calls came and I'm going to Aloguinsan which is known for being a hard area. I'm follow up training again. It's an area just south of cebu so I feel like I just went full circle in my mission. I'm right back where I started. Sigh.. when I work with the STL's it will be in my first area, which could either be a blessing or a curse.. 

Anyways... I'll just keep smiling. I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn


This is traditional clothing for festivals in the Philippines. The Quero's let me try it on.

Bunyag #4 sa San Carlos

For lack of a better title that will have to do, I'm drawing a blank right now. My creativity skills have taken a graceful swan dive down the toilet. Bah, I'll improve one day! 

Wednesday: there was a poorly structured zone activity that the ZL's didn't really even come to, so I don't know what happened there. Sister Larsen and I just kicked a soccer ball back and forth. My coordination skills are on point!
We found all of these jeans at the house so we did a little bit of acrobatics while trying to put them on... when you've been eating deep fried foods for over a year and only been wearing skirts things like 'skinny jeans' are not physically possible. 

Thursday: MASSIVE BROWN OUT!! Life was not fun, and when we went home in the night it was so creepy, it was pitch black and there was this one abandoned tricycle on the road with just an eery blue light shining from it so THAT wasn't fun.
Junnah and Annalie came to work with us, and i somehow got suckered in to Junnah trying to do my eyebrows, but she did it dark so i felt like a clown hahahha, it was fabulous. 

Friday: i made the anak start week 11 early, so she led weekly planning.
these little kids were being loud during a lesson, playing with this plastic bottle, so when they threw it on the ground I picked it up and hid it, and the little boy got SUPER mad at me and went to tell his aunt, (we were teaching the grandmother she didnt even care... and neither did his aunt) so i gave the bottle back to him and he HIT me with it! The little stinker hit me with a coke bottle. I just started laughing.
we went down this abandoned road, looking for these people for the elders, come to find out later, it's super dangerous out there so it's a good thing we survived. #blessed. 

Saturday: we got a call in the morning that there was no water because of the huge brown out and the reserve water had been used to water the grass at the church, so there wasn't going to be water for the baptism, so we were freaking out, not sure what we were going to do, we tried to find a clean beach to go to, and we were stressed all day, and then an hour before the baptism was supposed to happen, the water came back on!! SUCCESS!!! The baptism was super nice, I've been working with him for 4 months so i was happy to see it come together. 

Sunday: I gave a talk in sacrament meeting and i got a little bit teary eyed. I love San Carlos. Hooray for dinner appointments!!! Lumpia and chicken!!! 

Monday: We got to help translate for a temple recommend interview, it was super nindot nga opportunity. It was a long day, the Dunne's were nice and gave us a ride home from Trozo, so shining moments to them!!
It's always weird when the STL's leave for MLC, the house is always so mingaw! 

Tuesday: PUNTeD gihapon.. our golden investigator is avoiding us:( i don't know what happened. I managed to do a weeks worth of laba in only an hour and a half, i think i should get an award!

Wednesday: just going to go pay our bills. It's sister larsen's last pday in the mission field so we are going to have fun, relax. I'm sad, I don't want her to go. It's always really hard saying goodbye to missionaries that i love!! 

Anyways: I love being a missionary!!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

#TIGER

I'm experiencing a truly difficult moment right now. In the location we are emailing they are blasting Paramore music and, the struggle is real. (Honestly it took me a really long time to write that sentence because I kept making English grammar mistakes). But alas, I will make it through. #strong. 

So I'm slacking on my journal, again. But I'm at least only a few days behind, I'll catch up later today. All is well. 

Wednesday: Haha, the support didn't come in till waaayy late so we had no money for groceries so we just went back to the apartment and Sister Larsen and I put funny captions on a bunch of pictures and were dying laughing. When there was finally kwarta naglakaw me didto sa Gaisano, kay wala'y lain. 

Thursday: The STL's had exchanges so we had lunch together. It was a slow afternoon, we got pretty punted, so we did a member visit to encourage missionary work. Then later we had an OST with a really nice nanay, I saw her through the gate so I just started talking to her, and then I asked her where the entrance was and then I just walked right in and we sat down and taught. 

Friday: We went back to our Nanay with the broken arm. poor thing. We stopped by one of our LA's as well but she was selling at her tindahan so she wouldn't let us teach her. Next time na lang... We went out to Castillo and Christian wasn't there so we were only able to teach Cristale Mae. And then we went to Gemma, she's still looking for a fish net hammock for me, I'm so happy! She's so thoughtful! She's going to look in Zamboanga when she goes. On the walk home we saw Larry and their little baby, the surgery is finished!!! His cleft lip is gone! I'm almost cried I was so happy! We just high fived because we got to be a tiny part in the whole process. 

Saturday: Exchanges with the favorite!! Sister Larsen and I worked together! We went up to Palampas and had a blast!! We taught Nanay and Tatay Ruben. It took me forever to get them to smile for the picture. They're so cute. They had this CR that the walls had gotten knocked down in Typhoon Yolanda so there's just this random toilet in the middle of their property so whenever missionaries go up there we have to take a picture with it hahah but I'm not going to send it :D 

We went to Nanay Carmen later in the day, and she's fabulous. She made us all these banana treats (ever since then she sends home little bags of food for us with the STL's) #HAYAHAY.
We had a busy afternoon, almost got debated with by one of their investigators but we followed the spirit and managed to divert him. I think he's progressing again.
#TIGER is an inside joke, but it applies SOO WELL to life and everything that happens when you get 2 foreigners walking around together in San Carlos. 

Sunday: I've started decorating the INSIDE of my planner hahah, it's looking fabulous. We had a boy come up to us in church and saw he wants to be baptized (it's exciting these things never happen for me), we still have to meet his parents and ask if its okay if we teach him. And hopefully teach his parents as well. 

Monday: We found a GOLDEN JUD investigator. She's hard core, she's so cool. Her major is Marine Engineering and she swims for 5 hours a day, and in her 3 year she's going to be dropped out of an airplane into the ocean and she has to swim to shore. She has so many questions and she's so receptive.
We had an apartment check after district meeting, kulbahan!! The Dunne's were kind and worked with us! I love working with them, they have such good testimonies!
There's this boy in our area, he's 16, and every time we see him he's NOT on the ground. So far we've caught him hanging in the gutters, on a roof, on a tindahan, in a banana tree, on a cement wall, and in a mango tree. It's so funny, his name's Jason we're just like "Hey Jason". 

Tuesday: Raymart told us this fabulous knock knock joke in visaya that I will have to say when I come home, although I'll be the only one that understands, but we died laughing. His baptism is this saturday! IT'S A GO!
Junnah worked with us, she's an RM, and she is FABULOUS! She's such a good teacher. we taught some REALLY GOOD lessons. We taught this one OST and I had this moment where the spirit LITERALLY spoke through me, I don't even remember what I said, I didn't even think about it, it just happened, and the woman just started opening up to us about her life. It was awesome!
We went to our RC's house and her teenage nephew comes out wearing a kimono it was so funny. It reminded me of New Girl with Schmidt is always wearing a kimono. 

Wednesday: We did grocery this morning before email, and there was some fear because the power is being shady today, it keeps browning out.
We have a zone activity later today, hopefully it will be fun.

I had a moment of fear yesterday, I don't have a lot of time left...
San Carlos is GROWING! We are seeing so much progress here, we are overcoming and winning!
I love being a missionary.


-Sister Katrina Dunn

Millennials

I didn't write in my journal all week so I don't remember what happened.
Wednesday: i went to ukhay2x with Sister Larsen and she found a rockin batman t-shirt. 

Thursday:I had exchanges with Sister Perez, it was a lot of fun, we had a crazy day and ended up teaching a preacher of another church, who wanted to debate, at least he was nice about it. I learned a lot from Sister Perez, she's actually my batch going home, so we have the same amount of time left in the mission, it's so weird. Nanay Tessie asked for a copy of this picture so I'm going to print one for her. 

Friday: We OST'ed right off the bat. She's really sweet, we had a really nice lesson with her about the Restoration. She's 19 years old.
The Dunne's took us out to the Castillo family, all the little kids were excited to see them. That evening we had the interview for Raymart's baptism, he's all ready to go. I'm so excited for him, and to see all the progress he's made. 

Saturday: We practiced our song for the zone conference. Sister Larsen coerced me and Sister Anger into singing for the zone conference. We had a lesson with one of our nanays. She fell and broke her arm and they dont have money to go to the doctor so she's struggling right now, we're trying to help them figure out a plan.
We found another LA family, and they came to church on Sunday! We were so excited when we saw them walk up! And then at night was the baptism of Nanay Carmen, her story is amazing, but I don't have time to tell it right now. We went to support her, she's the RC of the other branches sisters. She made a ton of empanada and lumpia nga gulay so we were eating good! 

Sunday: we found a new investigator named Christopher. He's searching for the truth and he seems really good. We're excited to see how he progresses. 

Monday: District meeting. we went back to some of our other investigators, and were able to help them, we've had some really good spiritual lessons with them.
We found another new investigator, named Benji who is also searching for the truth. We are finding a lot of new miracles lately, it makes it exciting. 

Tuesday: Zone CONFERENCE!! I sang "I know that my redeemer lives" and probably embarrassed myself to the moon and back.
It was a really good conference, we watched the devotional from BYU hawaii by Elder Nelson, it was super good. We are true millennials! 

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

YOMO

Yay!! Congratulations to Savannah!! Japan! That's incredible! Come join me here in the ring of Fire hahahh, you'll love the tropics, it's the best place to serve. Maybe I'll see you in the airport or something on my way home, we pass through Japan hahah, no... I think I miss you by just a few weeks, darn it :D Well, it'll fly by regardless. I know mine has!

Wednesday: I picked up my dress. I had another dress made for me, it's fabulous. She made it a little too loose, so me and Sister Larsen joke that it's my bag dress, but I still pull it off fabulously.
We took the Dunne's to the market to help them get fruits and vegetables. Since they are foreigners, people like to rip them off, we were trying to make sure that didn't happen.
We taught a boy about his covenants, he was baptized on Saturday. He's a child of record, his mom has such a good desire to go to the temple. 

Thursday: punted! punted again! (i was trying to make it sound like the line from Lion King). We went back to investigator, oi! She was so gahi! I couldn't believe it!
We taught Raymart (our IBD, he's the only member in his family joining the church) about his baptismal covenants, it's almost his baptism! 

Friday: Our LA's baby got bit by a puppy, which is apparently a cause for concern.. I heard that they are more likely to carry rabies, I don't know if that's true, maybe it is... One of the other families we teach, one of the boys had this creepy book called the Dollhouse Murders and he kept asking me what the big english words mean. 

Saturday: I taught my companion the word gullible by managing to convince her that there was a cat in the house. She fell for it hahha, it was pretty funny. We didn't have any small change to pay for plete so we had to walk everywhere, that can be remedied hopefully soon hahha, today perhaps. The boy was baptized, but there wasn't enough water in the font so it took a few tries to get it right. 

Sunday: One of the members we are working with is sad because her husband won't come to church (nonmember). That's one of our projects right now. We went to this other woman who LOVES to talk, I closed the lesson and she didn't hear me so Sister Angar had to close it again hahah, it was pretty funny. The Dunne's are fabulous and fed us a break the fast dinner of sloppy joes! I had 3. Yea, get on my level. And then I had 2 slices of chocolate cake. You only mission once. #YOMO

Monday: We found baby goats! So of course we picked them up and took pictures. On Tuesday we found another BRAND NEW BABY! HE was so cute! So many baby animals. This day though was kind of the day of creepy people, we kept running into creepy jud people, at one point we had to run hahah. There were guys outside of our apartment cutting coconuts so we bought some from them, because I miss buko juice! 

Tuesday: Our fridge had been stinky from some fish so we finally ate it, and the fridge already smells better. We got SOO punted, it's crazy. We practiced the interview questions with Raymart, so that he's ready to go for his interview this weekend. 

Everyone's doing like trunky talks hahha, this time will fly :D But I love you all!
I love being a missionary :D
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Debate

Okay i need to bang this email out pretty quickly.. I'll just start by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDAN AND SAVANNAH!! Hey savannah, I got my mission call two days after my 19th birthday, you're just like me! And Jordan, 34 isn't THAT old. You're still quite young, never fear.

Wednesday: i got sized for my dress by my mananahi, it should be done today! we'll go pick it up later. I also found this AWFUL twilight coloring book, it was made in china, i'll attach a picture.. it came with badly photoshopped stickers, so i'm laughing pretty hard. it was a scheduled fun day so we went THRIFT SHOPPING! 

Thursday: our less active force-fed me beco, it was pretty good but it made me feel kind of sick afterwards, but I'm alive, and it was worth it.
I GOT MY PACKAGE!! thanks to the lovely Dunne's for braving the sea and going to cebu to get it for me. shout out to debbie and my mom for all the goodies, we're loving it here at the house. especially the peanut butter. 

I also received the christmas card from the ward. brother sykes wrote in visaya, i was so excited! I was like "WHAT?!? WHO KNOWS VISAYA!! oh wait he served here hahhah, it was cool, i really appreciated the ward for doing that for me.
we convinced our IBD and his best friend to perform the chacha and tango for us, they are pretty good! 

Friday: PUNTED!! for three days i'll have you know... mahirap talaga if i'm using tagalog. A drunk man approached me, he had his address tattooed on his chest so he wont get lost. he tried to convince me his drink was 'original wine'. not sure what that means. we were just laughing, and then we just walked away. 

Saturday: feeling pretty discouraged, getting punted pretty badly. pressing forward regardless. our less active opened up to us about his past, we're working on helping overcome some pretty heavy obstacles.
A woman that tried to debate with me started to pet my head. I was not happy. 

Sunday: 2 of the YW were nice enough to work with us. Another person debated with me, or tried to. I refuse to debate, i just testify and leave it at that. spirit of contention will do NOTHING. the YW showed us around to a lot of the members, so that was really awesome, we have a better understanding of the area. 

Monday: We got to listen to the missionary broadcast, it was really good. I feel really blessed that the apostles felt to address us. It was really inspiriing, ive been trying to apply it to my work here. i've seen a huge upturn in the work since then. 

Tuesday: I got debated with, by 3 more people. I just listened quietly to them. The longer i get in my mission, the more difficult people i meet. I'll talk more about it when I come home, it's hard not to get flamed up over it. 

I just want to say that I'm grateful that the gospel has been restored in it's fullness on the earth. everything else is just a whisper, smoke, fragments of what we actually need. We are blessed to have prophets, and apostles today, and more than all of that, the book of mormon. the bible and the book of mormon truly work together. 

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

  

The Pig

This week was wala'y klaro. If you speak visaya then you will know what I'm talking about. There was a lot of crazy/interesting things! 

Wednesday: There was a zone activity.. i think it goes down in history as the craziest zone activity ever. We go out to Calingling with the Dunne's and meet the rest of the zone there. We are right by this river and everyone is working hard to prepare the food. We have people skinning bananas, cracking open coconuts, scraping the coconut out of the shell, building what looks like a fire altar out of stones and banana tree trunks, and then me and my companion organized the vegetables.
So the zone leader shows up with a pig, pulling it behind him with a rope around his neck. When I was told we were going to eat pig, i didn't imagine we would see it alive. But alas, it arrived alive. The elder's ended up killing it (it was very loud, lot of blood, can't say I've ever seen anything quite like it before), preparing it, and putting in this homemade altar oven thing. It cooked so fast, and it was super delicious. I think our zone should get a reward. 

Thursday: We deep cleaned the apartment. It needed it badly. We spent a good 30 minutes looking for a less active. We found her singing in the videokehan. Mom, she sang "when you say nothing at all" and dedicated it to you. Just letting you know. Later that day we saw our investigator also singing videoke at the top of her lungs so we couldn't teach her... we're losing everyone to videoke.
This tatay we always walk past in campo 7 finally told us his name. tatay mente.
We had an FHE with the Lopez family, had a lot of fun. 

Friday: went out to eat for lunch, witnessed a guy from canada have a fit over his food because he didn't like the turkey. peasant..
I met the CUTEST little girl on a tricycle, she's 5, her name is Babylyn. she reminds me of Taylor, she kept asking me a bunch of questions.
Saturday: We got papers organized so one of the baby's of our less active can have a free cleft lip surgery! I hope it works out,their baby is so cute.
we were late to district conference because they told us it started at 5,, but it actually started at 4.... ka-awkward. 

Sunday: I ran out of milk. rough morning. District conference was really good. I really enjoyed the talks, we're trying to help sancarlos become a STAKE! It's going to happen, I can feel it.
I made this american flag out of these block things and it looked like a rocket so I called it a "freedom rocket" like those popsicles in america. we followed up with this member family on their reading, they haven't read since last year. I'm shocked by how few members of the church actually read their scriptures daily. I need to step up when I come home. 

Monday: we led zone language study, it was a blast. jokes... but i love having a native speaker as my companion. we met this old drunk tatay putting pink lipstick all in his beard so that he could "get rid of the white hairs" he found the tube on the side of the road. 

Tuesday: Some man walked into our lesson and tried to debate with me. I've been getting that a lot lately in my mission. I don't know why.. i think it's to help build my patience and kindness.... i'm getting sent the difficult people now.. I'm a seasoned missionary apparently.
the past few days have been really rainy and cold so we heated water and I had my first hot shower in the past year. It was glorious, i forgot how good it feels. all y'all are lucky with your hot water just saying. 

Love and miss you all!
I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn
P.s. we made our plates out of coconut tree leaves. #fabulous #bukidlife

Oh My Gulay

I started my 5th journal this week. Journal #4 was the biggest one so it took a whopping 5 months to fill in. I have many journal goals for when I come home as well, that's something I wish I did more as a teenager.

Wednesday: We had a productive day at the market, buying fruits and vegetables and fish. (BTW we cooked the fish later and it was delicious! its called bilongbilong). we're trying to eat more fresh foods instead of chips and other snacks. Hence, the homemade popcorn as well. Char. 

Thursday: I got hit with a mad cold and cough. I've been coughing all week. i think that is my biggest challenge on my mission, i can't stay well for very long. i think my health is almost back.
We taught a less active who stomped around her house like a 5 year old, i felt my patience being tested but i endured. Loving kindness, kana lang.
Shout out to the Reantuco's for feeding us Lechon Manok for dinner, still one of my favorites.

Friday: the ever thrilling weekly planning. we taught a woman who spoke mostly in Illongo so I had no idea what was going on. okay, i had a little bit of an idea, but it's quite different from the language I've been speaking for the past year.
some woman on a random trike kept taking pictures of me on her cell phone.
Also Cristale Mae, one of our recent converts is an absolute rock star. She's 12 and she took her book of Mormon to school so she could share with her friends. i was so proud of her example. I love the Castillo family. 

Saturday: sister Angar and I took a nice walk in the morning, and a pack of stray dogs wouldn't let us walk down one street so we had to back track. they just told us to leave, barking at us and such. "okay okay, we get the message"
We got asked if we were nuns... that was pretty funny. I bought a refillable star wars cup from 7/11, Kaylyn you have have it when I come home considering you like it so much. also, we don't know who the character is on the side of it, but he's wearing all black and he has a red light-saber so we just call him Satan.
there was a woman on one of the trikes who wanted to debate about religion, but all the stuff she was saying was a bunch of lies, i think she'd been misinformed. 

Sunday: Sister Angar gave a beautiful talk on reverence in sacrament meeting. It was so quiet, it was nice.
We learned about the tree of life in sunday school, we need to hold fast to the rod of iron. buot pasabot WE NEED TO READ OUR SCRIPTURES. somehow that doesn't click enough with people.
We went to a less active, she's only 15. she was skipping school with a bunch of her friends. bad environment, i wish she'd just remember what she knew before, and realize what she needs to do.
Trying not to get tired, trying to keep going here. I do love San Carlos, it's just truly difficult as well. that may have less to do with the area, and more to do with the fact that missions are just hard. staying optimistic, imma keep smiling :D

I love being a missionary!

love,
Sister Katrina Dunn

The One Year

I'm almost finished writing in this journal. That will be 4 journals filled in only 1 year. I've been kind of slacking lately. Only doing a page. I used to do like 2-3. At least I have something written. Cge... this week. 

Wednesday: Surprise interviews with President. Mine was good. :D But that's all I'm gonna say! SECRET!! 

Thursday: My one year mark. Officially. We celebrated with balut. Which by the way I have eaten 4 times this week alone. I haven't taken pictures yet, maybe next time. 

Friday: We shared about the Atonement with our recent converts and their family. It was a really good lesson. they are an example of a family who has sacrificed everything for each other. They are amazing. 

Saturday: We were teaching a lesson and the neighbor across the tiny path had a very loud argument with herself, and so we had to close the lesson because there was no spirit. One of our LAs knows what she needs to be doing, but she's being lazy... and not doing it. We're trying to help her.
I ate balut, but it was only 16 days so it wasn't very good, so i moved up to 18 days, much better. 

Sunday: many small miracles. we had an MCM, and were able to discuss the work. it was really good to see the involvement of the branch. I was so happy.
There was a broadcast for the philippines area, and it was late getting started so we missed most of it, but what we did see was good. They talked about the goals for multi generational families in the philippines, and also keeping the sabbath day holy.
one of our favorite members fed me bananas and sinkamas. 

Monday: I've been learning tagalog. I'm getting pretty good if i do say so myself. I'm learning it through visaya because it translates better than through english.
We got in this tricycle and this woman took a selfie with me without asking, so i just smiled really big haha, I'm famous here. jokes!!
We read to gemma out of 3rd nephi 11 because it's her favorite story in the book of mormon.it was really neat getting to read it aloud with her. she loved it. 

We went to get balut again, and when I peeled the first part of the shell off the little duck head was right there and I was like "hold up, usually I don't see it" so i was a little bit apprehensive, but i just drank the sabaw out of it and peeled the rest of the shell off, and put some salt and vinegar on it. and then when I tried to shove the whole thing in my mouth, the body broke away form the rest of the balut and fell into my hand, so I'm just holding this dead baby duck in my hand and chewing what actually got into my mouth and my companion just goes "come on sister dunn, you can do it, that's the best part!" so i take one more look and the adorable little beak and feet and eyes and then I pop it in my mouth and start chewing., I think I'm a changed person. Then I ate a second one. delicious. 

Tuesday: a long difficult day. sigh, it wasn't too bad. I think we're making progress with one of our investigators so that's good. 

Oh family, i love the philippines. It's my favorite.
I was reading in Mosiah 8:20 this morning and what struck me was the fact that the lord continutes to 'suffer with us' even when we're off the path. It made me feel better, how much he loves us and is willing to keep going along with us. He wont leave us alone.

I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

New Years (wala'y resolution)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 6th. Exactly 1 year ago was my last day as a normal person. I remember getting set apart, with the best blessing, and then sitting in the living room of my home with Debbie and Logan discussing mission life, terrified out of my mind, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and I think on the plane I did a weird mixture of the two.

Tomorrow is my one year since I entered the MTC. I think of all the amazing people I've met, and I don't want to get nostalgic but I have a lot of thank you's to extend when I come home. I have the most amazing support system. I love you all!

Wednesday: We had a district activity. I watched them play, so that I could write in my journal, but then a group of 11 year old boys sat with me and we talked for a few minutes, so I was successfully distracted. The store was so busy so we did our shopping at the Mercado. It's okay, I'm native now.

Thursday: I got asked by my recent convert if animals could talk in the garden of eden, i think she was a little disappointed when I told her that they were just normal animals. We went to the Dunne's that night (sister Angar made tsamporado, my favorite!) to watch movies as a zone. We were supposed to watch Inside Out and Big Hero 6 which I was SUPER excited for, but inside out wouldn't download so we watched BH6 and Frozen. Sad to say I've never been so disappointed to watch Frozen. It was still enjoyable. 

At midnight was one of the loudest things I've ever experienced. People were setting off bombs and fireworks. In the Philippines, the objective is to, at midnight, make as much noise as you possibly can. It was fun, but I was exhausted, and as missionaries, it is impossible to catch up on sleep. 

Friday: EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED! It was difficult. 

Saturday: Our IBD's are giving me a hard time. I'm still working at it. I love them, and I want them to come to church. 

Sunday: So we went to their house to pick them up and they refused to come with because one of them was kind of sick. Okay, we will keep working at this, because I want them to succeed. I don't give up easy.
I finally cooked the pasta and mashed potatoes you sent me Mom and Debbie. They were delicious. No i have not yet seen a sighting of the package, but I have a hope that it will appear tomorrow!
I consumed more food on Sunday than any human should. I couldn't stop eating, I don't know why. Oh and I gave Clark his very own bible for Christmas, so we went to his house and talked about it with him. He's the most diligent 13 year old to read the scriptures ever! And his grandma, nanay po is the best! 

Monday: Exhausted does not look good on me. We practice taught on the Dunne's. In English. It was so hard! I'm not a good missionary in the english language. I have very limited abilities. They wanted to come work with us, so we went to our IBD's and she opened up more to us about what's holding her back. We went to my favorite LA and we're trying to help her get married. I saw some real miracles there, I see her faith building. She's so strong. 

We went to Trozo to the Castillo family whom I LOVE and ADORE! They are the best.
Tuesday: we finally managed to pay our electric bill. We waited in line for 1 hour and a half. Have pity on me please, it was a madhouse. At least the teller was still kind and not in a bad mood, that's good. 

The security guard at 7/11 started making fun of me because I eat there all the time. They have cranberry juice, don't judge! and their hot dogs, y'all know I love hot dogs.
We went to San Jose, Rosie is doing do good! She's coming to church, she just has to. Of all the problems in mission life, getting investigators to church has to be the hardest. 

Wednesday: The construction on our street this morning was SOO LOUD! Studying was difficult. But we're alive. I have no plans today, just boring shopping. Maybe something crazy will happen that I can tell you about next week. 

San Carlos is my hardest area, but I LOVE IT! I'm stretching and growing, and it's always a challange, but I'm stronger now than I've ever been before. Tomorrow is one year. that only leaves 6 months. See you all then. Kita kits, halong mo!

I love being a missionary!
Love,
Sister Katrina Dunn