The Anak

FAMILY!! I'm alive!! I'm no longer sick!! Miracles!!! I'm seeing so many blessings in my life right now! I'm healthy, I have a fabulous new companion, and San Carlos is progressing! #work

Wednesday: I was crying like a baby in Toledo. I miss my first area. I saw so many wonderful things there. It was a blessing to pass through, even if only for a moment. We got a jeepney express with the other trainers to Cebu and got there pretty late. We weren't allowed in temple complex because we might see the new missionaries so we walked right on past and saw some senior couples! These lovely people pulled 1000 pesos out of their pocket and told us to get something good to eat! We found this fabulous chocolate cafe and got these delicious things called Frio's! and I got this like dark sipping chocolate. Mom, you would love it. pure dark chocolate. it's that tiny glass because it's soooo rich. we all shared it. Then we went to this super fancy build your own pizza place that reminded me of one of those fancy restaraunts in Seattle. We built our own DELICIOUS PIZZA's and then went back to the apartment. Sister Abenoja was there because she's training too! BEST FRIEND! 

Thursday: we got up early and headed down to the temple. President had us for breakfast at his house. peach cobbler, bacon, the whole nine yards. We are so spoiled! I love it! It felt good to eat after 2 weeks of almost no food.
They lined the new missionaries on the lawn facing the temple and then we walked out behind them and when I stood behind my new missionary I started to cry because I knew she was mine. The trainers sang called to serve and then the new missionaries turned around and saw us for the first time. It was a really special experience. 

When I walked down to distribution I saw Mai2x, who i haven't seen since my training! I cried when I hugged her, she got me through my training, and now she's in the MTC. I'm so proud of her!
We took a bus back to Toledo, and I got to FTE a sikad driver, and her remembered me from my training! I got to see Sister Atienza, my follow up trainee, she's follow up training now, it's amazing to see how she's grown. We got a boat back to San Carlos and didn't get in till late. 

Friday: weekly planning, everything is a teaching moment. It's interesting having someone watch my every move to see how I do things. That's what training is i guess, teach by example.
I'm almost out of time so I just want to give shining moments to Sister Angar. She's from Davao, her and her brother are both on missions. She's super white, like as white as me, everyone here thinks it's really funny. She's native visaya so I dont have to train in the language (thank goodness), She's so good I swear she's pretrained. I learn so much from her every day. I'm so proud to have her as my companion. She loves the people here so deeply. 

I was able to go on exchanges yesterday and I had a heart to heart with my STL sister Larsen. She was trained in the same area as me, so she loves the same people i do there. She is so down to earth and a really good listener, I'm learning a lot from her. It feels really nice to have a good support system in the house. I feel exceptionally blessed.
I always feel like I have no time, is it bad to complain that 2 hours isn't enough? 

I loved my personal study this morning. I was reading in Joshua about when the waters of the river jordan receded when the feet of those bearing the ark of the covenant stepped in. Then they laid twelve stones as tribute. I chose 12 stones in my own life that represent the things I have gained since I've started striving to make Christ the center of my life. I wrote them down and I just want to say I've gained so much strength from my Savior. Jesus Christ has done it all for me. I'm trying to now go the extra mile for him. 

I love being a missionary!! I'll see you family on Christmas! love youusss!
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Spoiled

Hello family!

I know I say that every week but I can’t think of anything else to say. This week has been long! Yet short… And I’ve been really sick. Thank you for the prayers you’ve sent my way.

Wednesday: Sister Iongi worked with us because the Gihulngan sisters were staying the night at our house because…

Thursday: ZTM! Zone training meeting. We have them once a month. This time the workshop was on the missionaries first needing to improve their attitude, and then work hard for the miracles. I agree, there’s always room for improvement.

We went out to Trozo and the Castillo’s had made us pinaypay and Bicol express. I was in food heaven! It was glorious! That night I deep cleaned the bathroom, because I wanted to do something productive. The smell of bleach was so strong.

Friday: We had weekly planning for week 5. I can’t understand/believe where this transfer has gone. Time is moving so fast. We went to Joy and we were teaching about Pre-Mortal life and she just says “No, I want to talk about heaven.” So we changed lessons haha, she’s our recent convert, I love her so much.

Saturday: I woke up sooo sick. I was throwing up, I spent the whole day nursing a large blue Gatorade. I couldn’t even make it through personal study I went into my room and passed out. I wanted to rest but we had things we had to do, so we went out to Trozo and the Castillo kids were interviewed for their baptism. They passed! Then we had to go back to San Carlos, because it’s Russel’s baptism! I was so excited! I gave the talk at his baptism, go me! I’m a trooper.

Sunday: Fast and testimony meeting. The most interested fast and testimony meeting I’ve ever been subject to, but I’ll talk about it another time. The Dunne’s had us sisters over for dinner and it was fabulous. Potatoes and Chili and creamed corn, and REAL PARMESAN! I’m so spoiled. It was amazing, and a lot of fun just talking with them!

There’s a fiesta in Campo 7 this week, so we went by to visit a family and this drunk German man approached me and asked “From what are you?” in a really thick, slurred accent and I had no idea what he was talking about, but he left us alone after a second so it’s all good. He thought I was German because of my blonde hair.

Monday: We’ve been doing this 22 days closer to Christ program for Christmas and its super awesome. Also our DL gave a really good workshop in District Meeting, I was impressed. We went on exchanges and I worked with Sister Iongi, and we were able to visit Charlyn and she was sick, but let us teach her anyway. We’re trying to help her feel the love in the church, and not feel so discouraged.

Tuesday: We had a CSP in the morning, it was fun, and we pulled rocks from the river, so I got to hang out in a really warm, beautiful river. It was all great until I started feeling sick again, so when we got home I had to rest. I feel sad, I want to be working but I’ve been so weak lately.

Wednesday: I woke up this morning and I thought I was going to die. Be thankful that I have enough energy to give a full accounting of my week. I do in fact love San Carlos, do not fear, I just have not been feeling so great lately. This week I hope I’ll feel better because we are headed off to Dumaguete tomorrow for Christmas conference. I hope the bus ride doesn’t make the situation worse. Anyways, I love you family. Always remember that Christ is working alongside us!

I love being a missionary!

Love,

Sister Katrina Dunn

Lechon Thanksgiving

Yea, we celebrated thanksgiving here! It was delicious do not worry! Also big happy birthday shout out to Dad and Kyle! Happy birthday:D I love and miss you guys! Basta, this week, was long but short at the same time. Missionaries understand what I mean. Also I have had an ongoing headache for well over a week now and it won't go away. Ouch. 

Wednesday: We celebrated Thanksgiving with Filipino style. Lechon Manok and rice. It was delicious, lechon is my favorite. Y'all don't know what you're missing. While all the missionaries played frisbee I sat and talked with Sister Dunne about the mission. I love her, she's so cool! Everyone was playing barefoot and one of the elder's cut his foot on some glass and it was bleeding pretty badly, but he's okay. 

Thursday: EXCHANGES with Sister Jopson. She's such a stellar missionary, and she's my kabalay! She gets it DONE! I'm so amazed whenever I work with STL's because they've got it together gyud. We met some really amazing people that I'm excited to continue teaching. 

Friday: Weekly planning, a huge stress-er for me. Organizing interviews and baptisms and everything. But it'll all work out. 

Saturday: We went out to Trozo and it started POURING down rain at the end of one of our lessons and we had no umbrella. So we had to run through the rain to the next house, it was quite interesting trying not to slip. My goal for Saturday was to smile at everyone I saw, and I got pretty darn close to hitting my goal! I was able to talk to more people because of it, everyone just says my face is so isog! I'm working on it, i'm working on it! 

Sunday: No impromptu talks, thank goodness. 5th sundays are always interesting though. There's a family visiting the branch from Utah and the little girls only speak English and it's so hard for me to talk to them. Because everyone here that speaks english also speaks bisaya so i can mix them together.. the struggle is real. I don't think I can talk when I come home.
We were able to teach Evelyn! She was home finally, and she had some friends with her. She's a LA who was baptized a few years ago, she's 16. She's really awesome! I'm trying to get on her good side haha. Her friends were excited to join in as well. 

Monday: the leaders all headed off to Cebu for MLC so we had the apartment to ourselves for 2 days, it's pretty cool hahaha. in district meeting we were practice teaching and I got super distracted by the elder's thumbnails. They've started this new disgusting thing where they think it is appropriate to grow out there thumbnails several inches long. NASTY! 

Tuesday: I pulled out all of the former investigators that I thought were potential to go back to and we tried to contact all of them but most of them weren't home or still weren't interested. At least I tried. We worked our butts off tracting yesterday but it was to no avail. Lisod kaayo, apan padayon lang mi. there's nothing else we can do. 

So I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY DECEMBER. I was looking at the date and I realized I hit 1 year next month. Who can believe I've already been gone that long? I can't, that's for sure. Time moves SO RIDICULOUSLY FAST as a missionary. Have pity on me that's it's going by too fast, i blink and I transfer, or another month has come and gone. I swear it was just my birthday, but that was 2 months ago. A LOT IS HAPPENING! And members keep telling me I need to get married IMMEDIATELY after my mission, like within a few weeks and I'm just like 'WOAH WOAH calm down there!'. But it's funny too, anyways, keep the prayers coming. I could use them!

I love being a missionary!
Love, Sister Katrina Dunn

Bruise

Hello family! Okay so I totally forgot to mention that I ate Balut the night before transfer day. It was really good, you should all be proud of me. Luckily it was dark because someone took a picture and I looked at it the next day and I was like "good thing I couldn't see it because I never would have eaten that". I would eat it again though, it was like a really hard boiled egg. Cge let's get to the weekly.

Wednesday: There was a brief amount of Ukayukay (thriftshopping) before we went to the church to practice for the Christmas conference. Turns out Irish dancing is actually incredibly hard and none of us our very good at it, but we have fun and that's what matters. One of our zone leaders looks like a leprechaun when he does it, it's really funny.
That night we bought a cake and we went to the Lopez family to celebrate Emma Hale's 4th Birthday. I'll attach some pictures, they are so cute. We had a Family Home Evening with them. Russell's baptism is this Saturday. 

Thursday: We began a tremendous undertaking. It was originally intended to be something we do every day but we burned out after one time. We went JOGGING! Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I JOGGED. It felt very nice, but the following mornings we were too tired. If we get around to it will do it again.
We got punted ALL DAY. We did manages to get some lessons, don't think we're entirely ineffective. I did manage to find 5 peso batchoy, something I haven't eaten since my first area. 

Friday: An investigator ran from us #missionarylyfe. We ate dinner from a calendaria, which I usually love but then I found a piece of plastic in my soup. 

Saturday: We got punted and then got trapped at a member's house because a huge storm hit and we didn't have an umbrella, and then her house was like flooding and we just had to wait for it to pass before we could run home and grab our umbrellas. 

Sunday: I gave a talk in church, but I was asked to give the talk 2 minutes before Sacrament meeting started. I talked on missionary work. It was in visaya, everybody clap your hands I'm officially bilingual, hahha. I just chose a scripture and managed to follow the spirit for 7 minutes while I talked about it. I shared about how Ammon and his brethren pray unto the Lord for the power of the spirit to go with them. GANI, every day I pray for that. It's a NECESSARY part of missionary work.
We decided to tract for all the less actives that have been hiding from member's for years. We found 2. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at finding them.
That night we get home and the STL's scared the living lights out of us I screamed so loud, and they got it on video so that's great. And then later I was trying to go to the kitchen and our water thing was leaky and there was water on the floor, so I slipped in it and my arm caught on the cabinet I was standing next to as I was reaching out to stop my fall and now I have this giant multicolored bruise on my arm. It makes a good story. 

Monday: There was a brownout from Sunday 3pm until Monday 10am so we were roasting all night, and the water went out too. And we had ran out of drinking water on Saturday night. Life is very exciting. When it came back on in District Meeting we all cheered! And immediately bumped the aircon on. Fabulous. Also I am really good at eating with my hands. Just saying. We're also doing a Samoan dance for the Christmas conference. I am not a graceful human.
Our IBD asked me if it was true we have to fight a multi-headed/multi-eyed monster to get into heaven. Her questions keep me entertained. 

Tuesday: We OST'ed an elect woman but she lives in another CITY so I am devastated. I was trying so hard! We found a few more less actives today, and I'm trying my hardest to help one of the Recent Converts in the area. She's special, I know she is, but she won't come to church. I tried to help her with Laba but she won't let me. She body blocks me from the laba bucket.
I spilled my ice cream on myself what else is new.
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season in America. I'm having fun here, don't worry. We laugh every day, we keep on smiling. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I hope your breaks are fabulous. 

We've been sharing a lot about the atonement lately and I've been reading in 1 Nephi and there is a scripture that I love, 1 Nephi 19:9. "And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men." He was bruised for us, he didn't have to be but he was. I continued my reading in Jesus the Christ yesterday and the part I had left off at was when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. I was amazed that the apostles could sleep. And then I thought of all the times that we "sleep" in our lives, even in our missions. Do we not stand up for what we believe? Do we 'take breaks' when things get hard? Are we embarrassed of our Savior. I remember in my training whenever I didn't want to FTE my trainer would ask me "Are you embarrassed of Jesus Christ?" I want it to be absolutely clear, especially in this tough last days, that I am not. Even when people are willingly walking away, when they are 'sleeping' as it were, I don't want to walk away.
I love being a missionary! I hope the gospel of Jesus Christ is 'working for you'.
-Sister Katrina Dunn

Dunn & Dunne

Sorry the clock is ticking, I think I saved enough time today to write a decent amount for everybody.
Wednesday: I got a pedicure (and a really good one) for 50 pesos, and y'all probably don't know what that means.. that's just over $1. Yea, it was fabulous. Also I cleaned our bathroom at the house, because it was disgusting. It was well needed. I tried to make brownies yet I failed epic-ly. 

Thursday: I could not sleep the night before. I laid awake for hours I was so exhausted. It was Zone Training Meeting, it was really good. The zone is getting pumped up to work this transfer. Work hard. Also we're starting to prepare for the Christmas conference, I'm so excited I get to go back to my apartment in Sibulan for a night!
I received the second box! I have been devouring chocolate all week, and it's amazing. Also we have been punted ALL weekend. It's kind of annoying actually. That means I think, we're supposed to be FINDING someone. But I don't know who.. Our last appointment, the little girls brought their friends over to look at me because they'd never seen an american in person before. 

Friday: Friday the 13th, hold on to your butts. I hope you all enjoyed my Jurassic Park reference right there. Old habits die hard. We went out to Trozo (the farthest part of our area) and Sister Castillo gave us a referral who actually might be golden. I'm really excited. She's such an active member missionary. I love the Castillo family. 

Saturday: punted all day... sad. It's putting quite a dent in our key indicators, although I think everyone should be impressed that we still managed to hit our goals. The Lord is on our side. 

Sunday: primary program in Sacrament meeting. We ran out of gas in our apartment so we cooked this like corned beef mixture in the rice cooker. It seemed to taste okay.
We visited an LA who talked about ISIS the whole time. I didn't realize that was such a problem. We've been thinking about Paris the past few days, keeping them in our prayers. It hit major news worldwide I think, I'm not sure. I just hear snippets here and there. 

Monday: We started our practice for the Christmas program. We are doing an Irish dance, the Dunne's are teaching us. It's really fun, we just jump around and have a good time.
We visited Charlene (she punted us the last few days) but she PROMISED we could teach her on Monday. She's a recent convert, but she's about to hit a year. I want her to just COME TO CHURCH! I feel like the white missionary from the District. 

We had several OST's and we were able to go back to Rosie. She's a woman who called us out last week and told us she always wanted to go into the church but she was too shy. We taught her and her daughter and her niece as well. They seem good.
We had to drop one of the long time investigators. She just wanted us as friends, we kindly let her know if she wants to come to church and be baptized we'll keep coming to teach her. We just had to reexplain our purpose to her so she would understand. 

Tuesday: The Dunne's worked with us! It was funny explaining to people that we weren't actually related. Sister Castillo gave us a bunch more referrals, and they all seem really good. I'm excited to keep going back to them. The Dunne's are really awesome, and they speak Gaelic which is super cool. They told us a lot of the history of Ireland, and all the places they've been. It was a lot of fun to work with them.
The Gihuilngan sisters stayed the night for their exchanges, they are a lot of fun. 

I restarted the book of mormon, so I'm in 1st nephi again. Nephi is awesome! And he wrote a ton, and it's all good. I think 1nephi4:7 is one of my favorite verses of all time. "Nevertheless I went forth." 

We're gonna go forth! 

I love being a missionary!
Sister Katrina Dunn

San Carlos

Okay, I lied last week. My companion is Samoan. She lives in Australia though. Her name is Sister Tago (tong-o) and she's super cool. I think everyone would love her. 

Wednesday: I spent the day with Sister Rotamula and Sister Mower because Sister Quinney went to Cebu to pick up the new missionary. I had an early goodbye with Sibulan, I wanted to cry. Sister Mower is so cool, she's from Utah, she's brand new as well, and she is rockin the mission life. She's already fluent so watch out world. It was nice to just talk to someone who's new, and who has a fresh view of the mission. 

Thursday: I got up early, and the zone leaders took me to the Ceres Terminal and I got on a NON air con bus for 5 hours paingon sa San Carlos. That was definitely interesting. We drove straight into a storm complete with thunder and lightning. When we finally got to San Carlos we were taken to the Dunne's house and it's fiesta in San Carlos so their neighbors invited us over and we just ate their Lechon Pork and Black Sambo and it was delicious. We went straight out to work after that. 

Friday: Weekly planning. We went out to lunch with all the other missionaries to an american's restarant, he's from like San Diego. It was so delicious.
Okay honestly I'm out of time, but I'm meeting like lovely beautiful people here and I'm so excited to keep meeting them. 

Sunday: I bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting cause I'm new in the area. my 4th time around, I don't stay in my areas very long. It breaks my heart. 

Monday: District meeting. There's fire in the zone. We are going to find 5 new investigators every week. I'm excited for the challenge. 

Love you all, stay awesome
-Sister Katrina Dunn

The End of Dream Team: Queen & Doon

Hi family, i miss you. that's all. jokes, this week was good. I love Sibulan.
Wednesday: There was a wifi outage in dumaguete and it took us like 45 minutes of walking around to find a cafe with good enough internet access. Fernando informed us that evening as well that he appreciates that we understand him, and he said we have "old minds" like we think like old people do. it sounded better in visaya, i don't know how to explain it in english. 

Thursday: this man approached us and said "who is Moroni?" and we said "he's a prophet." and he said "he's a mormon god" and we were like "no." and he was like "oh... prophet?" "yes, brother." and he says to us "No i want you to speak in english". because we had been speaking in visaya to him. and then we walked away cause he was being kind of freaky. we had actually seen him a few weeks before and he has whispered "moroni" as he walked past us. I was confused.
one of our investigators pulled out and electric keyboard and sister quinney played it and it sounded like an 8 bit video game. 

Friday: Happy Birthday Landon! I hope your day was fabulous! We went to our less actives house and we were asking him about his feelings from before when he was going to church and he just says "my love life is personal" uh we weren't asking about your love life. it was sufficiently awkward.
The Bantigue's (whom I love) fed us lechon manok, my favorite. 

Saturday: Halloween and the day before fast sunday. Something about the philippines though, they celebrate halloween on November 1 and 2. think about that eh. right before we were about to go out to work a huge storm hit and a minor flood affected our apartment. We were stuffing sheets under the door to keep the water from coming in. after about 30 minutes it calmed down and we were able to leave the apartment unattended. Fernando came to witness the baptism of the elders, he wants a copy of gospel principles book so we are working on that. 

Sunday: We had 4 investigators at church! We were so excited. I had to play the piano in relief society, that was a doozy. I bore my testimony in fast and testimony meeting, all the missionaries did. It was a really sweet experience. 

Monday: we made our weekly stop at 7/11, there wasn't any chocolate ice cream, and the guy behind the counter was dressed as a vampire from twilight. so I bought french vanilla, which in america means like that nice rich vanilla right? WRONG. Here it means coffee. so I take a big bite out of my ice cream cone, and quickly discover that it's coffee flavor so I had to throw it out. #life...
Our RC broke my heart, she refuses to come to church or even pray about her decision. I just cried after the lesson, it was so hard. she wont even look at me. she knows what she is supposed to be doing.
one of our less actives had a dream that she needs to go to church. GANI! I wish they didnt need dreams to know these things. 

Tuesday: We had MCM and they bought us jollibee! It was very exciting. we spent the whole day dancing on ice about the topic of who is transferring. well. we had apartment checks by the new senior couple, and then transfer calls came. I'm transferring to San Carlos. I've never stayed in an area more than 2 transfers :( i'm really going to miss Sibulan, it's a beautiful area. it is full of the elect. I'm sad I wont get to see Fernando or Carl baptized. But I'm excited to go to San Carlos as well, I'm excited to see more miracles there as well. My new companion is Sister Tago, I've only met her once, she's really sweet. I think she's from Tonga, YAY another poly companion!! 

I spent all last night packing and then this morning the elder's came to pick up my bags. I travel tomorrow. I'm staying in Dumaguete tonight.
I love you all, I love being a missionary!
-Sister Katrina Dunn