Hello, Everyone!

It's been a good week! I've really enjoyed training for these last two weeks. That's probably because I have the best trainee ever! Sister Asug is already teaching in Waray Waray! She still uses Tagalog, but she's learned so much faster than I thought she would! It is pretty funny though how diverse my languages are. We were riding on a trike and I started talking to the driver. Turns out he worked in Cebu so he knows Cebuano! So I started talking to him in Cebuano, he answers in Waray, and my companion speaks to him in Tagalog. I just chuckled a bit to myself because it was just so weird that we were speaking 3 different languages but we could all understand. Gotta love the gift of tongues!

Anyway, this week, Sister Asug committed this sister, Sister Arlyn, to baptism this week! She was really nervous, especially since she committed her in Waray, but she did great, and she accepted! We're preparing her for baptism on October 11. = She's really good! She has a daughter who is active and she had already come a couple times before we were able to teach her! She came again this week. We actually had 3 investigators come this week. Training is funny because I was more excited to see Sister Asug's reaction than I was about them being there. (Not that I wasn't excited about them being there.) She just lit up! We also had one sister and her mom come back too.. She's been inactive since April. But she was there! Sister Asug was really excited because last week the attendance was 45 and this week it was 61. We just have to keep being diligent and obedient and I know we can make miracles happen here. This week we have members scheduled to work with us every day! (:

Mom! I forgot to tell you last week! I got your package! Thank you so so so much! It was perfect!! I am now very loved by those who live in my apartment. We made the Pasta Roni and it was perfect because this recent convert always brings us seafood (her husband's a fisherman) so we put fresh shrimp in it too! It was really good! Thank you! You're such a good package sender! 

Okay, I think that's all for this week! I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week!  

The whirlwind Week!

WOW. It's been a crazy one. this week went by so fast I can't even remember everything of what happened!

First things first, what you're all wondering, I did get to see Elder Simmons. He looks great! I almost didn't even recognize him, not that he looks any different, but because he just has a glow about him.  He was just beaming the whole time and gave the best testimony out of the lot of them. He's going to be a spiritual giant I can tell.

It was so funny because all of the new elders knew me. They were like, oh so you're the famous sister sprouse! (the shift bar on this computer doesn't work, i'm not even gonna try haha) they already knew me, and my companion already knew him. It's a pretty big deal when you have someone from your ward come to your mission. Also, and this is the coolest part, HE'S ASSIGNED IN ALBUERA! So I gave him a list of all the people he really needs to visit since I was literally the last missionary in that area. I'm so happy it's him there! He's going to love it. and they were smart to send the military man there haha (:.

My anak (child, or trainee) is Sister Asug. She's Philipina and she's the CUTEST thing ever. She speaks tagalog, so it's good that I know it. she has a really big desire to be obedient and diligent and share the gospel. I love her SO much! I wish I could send a picture but I don't have a card reader . anyway, just know she's the cutest little thing you've ever seen.

I'm now speaking waray waray h so it's been interesting. I've only ever spoken the s variety and it was different because of allen. But so far so good!
also, sister smith is also training in the same house and district as me. It's going to be the best two cycles of my life!

Okay, i have to go! Love you all so much!

Sister sprouse

 

Baybay, week 2

How are you all doing?! This week has been a busy one! Baybay is doing good! We've found a couple of investigators with good potential! Besides that, there's been a lot of walking around looking for people to teach, but where there's a will, there's a way! There's also a Sister who was almost baptized before but there were some problems, but we're pretty sure she can be baptized now, and she wants to be! So we'll definitely go back to her. Also, I am THE LUCKIEST girl in the world. I found the last October and May editions of the conference talks in my new apartment. They pretty much occupy any free time that I have! 

We had a sister's sleepover last night at the STL's apartment! It was super fun. I'm sending a picture. 

Well... Mom, I know you're going to kill me because this is all I wrote and I'm SORRY! 

Oh wait, I can tell you one more thing. We went on splits and we started teaching this boy who said he'd been taught by the missionaries when he was 16 (he's 22 now) but he hid from them because he didn't want to change religions. So we started teaching him, and he didn't want us to come back, but at the end of the lesson, I was getting ready to commit him for baptism, and he asked "can you come back here?" Then he said ÿou're different from the last missionaries. And he didn't say how in words, but he touched his heart. It was such a cool testament to me of how important the spirit is. He committed to baptism if he knew it was true, and reading the book of mormon to know if it's true. It was so cool! I love times like that! 

Okay that's all I love you so much! Sister Sprouse

Saying Baybay to Albuerra

Hello!

This last week has been crazy! There has been lots of crime in Albuerra, and it's not safe for sisters anymore, so we picked up our belongings, left our beautiful, progressing area, and left for Baybay, a city that's just about 45 minutes away. Elders will come in on September 11. 

BUT before that, great things happened! Brother Dino got his cenomar! Which you all don't know what that means, but it was the only thing that he needed to be able to be baptized, and is usually a HUGE obstacle for the baptismal candidates. He's hopefully going to be baptized Sept 6, and we get to come to the baptism!! Also, Nelson did a turn around! He's coming to seminary now too! 

Here in Baybay there is a Muslim church that has mass. Loudly. Every morning. At 4:30 a.m. I'm investing in ear plugs! Haha. This area is a little bit slow, but I'm excited to get working and change that. We're the 1st sisters to serve in Baybay since the storm! 

Also, one sister has a sister who is serving at Temple Square right now!! I want to visit her when I get home!! 

I'm sorry this is so short, but I've kind of run out of time! I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week! 

Love, Sister Sprouse

Nindot Kaayu .......

So I just glanced over at my companion's screen and she's writing the mission president. She wrote: How's mission life is threatening you?" I'm trying really hard not to laugh right now. I know I should probably tell her but it might be weird that I'm looking at her screen... Anyways. 

This week was AWESOME! Yesterday we had 11 investigators come to church! There's this family that is SO ridiculously golden but the wife had a c section, but she's finally better and she showed up with her family and their baby! So nindot. And this family that we barely contacted but hadn't even gotten to teach also came to church. The husband afterward was like "everything we talked about in church was so cool! Do you have any books I could have to read?"  It was a great day. Lloyd moved to Ormoc but he showed up at the Church there and he's in the STL's area, so they called and assured me that he was there (I was really sad because I thought he was lost in the wilderness) and that they'd teach the new member lessons to him.

We helped garden this week! It's a lot different than gardening here because we just go to the rain forest and chop things with machete's haha.

Besides that,there's not a whole lot that's new. Nelson doesn't want to be baptized anymore :( once Lloyd left he took a turn for the worse. Just praying for revelation on how to help him. But I trust Heavenly Father that if it's his time, he'll be baptized. And if not, it's better that he doesn't if he's not ready!

Love you all! If you know Sister Ruppe, email her and tell her Happy Birthday!

Sister Sprouse

The weeks go by faster and faster!

Hello everyone! I can't believe I'm already writing you again! Where is my life going?

This week has been kind of interesting. I've learned so much during my mission about how important keeping the mission rules is, ESPECIALLY the small ones like the morning schedule and waiting to write people until Pday. We had a problem with that in our companionship and I was shocked to see a lot of tolerance and even stubbornness in breaking the small rules, even after the rules were made known. It caused quite a problem but then I decided to pray to Heavenly Father for help in what I should say and do to help the problem. We opened our daily planning with a song and a prayer, and I found the words that I needed to say and the questions that I needed to ask being put into my mouth. It really built my testimony that if we rely in Heavenly Father, He will help us, even if it just means being tactful and solving a problem in an effective manner. Since then, obedience has really improved in our companionship, and we have better been able to accomplish the work.

We have two girls who have been going to church, and want to be baptized. The only problem is that their parents are inactive and have been for about 10 or so years. I want them to be able to be baptized, but I know that the bigger picture is that this gospel is for families. So we are praying for their parents hearts to be softened. The mother seems to be almost there, but the father has a long way to go. So everyone's prayers for the Mistola family would be much appreciated!!

I got to go on exchanges with Sister Vea from the MTC. You might remember that she's the Tongan who loved chocolate and hated exercise haha. I had so much fun! She's so cute! She still loves chocolate but she's changed a lot! It was really cool to see someone who began this journey with me and all the progress that she's made with the help of Heavenly Father.

Also, I still talk in my sleep in Visaya! I wonder if it will be like that for the rest of my life. My subconscious is a Philipina! Also, my companion hit her 1/2 way point this week! I remember when I did that! It feels like yesterday! My mission is going by in the blink of an eye!

Okay that's all I love you all so much!!

Love, Sister Sprouse

Oh, also, Lloyd blessed the sacrament yesterday. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard (:

Lloyd's Baptism

Lloyd got baptized this week!! It was SUCH a beautiful baptism! His family are all recent converts but they couldn't come.. Except for his little brother, who is the only one now of their family who is not baptized yet. He didn't get converted at the time of all of his family because he was really not on the right path, but now that Lloyd is home and became converted he has REALLY come around. It was so cute because when we ask him if he's going to church, he's like "if kuya (big brother) goes, I'll go." So he got to see all of it, especially when Lloyd bore his testimony! He talked about how he feels like a brand new person and he will continue in the church "hangtud sa hangtud" which basically means until forever ! It was so cool! 

After the baptism, all the members were so welcoming to Lloyd and they even gave him a polo and a tie! My heart was so warm and I felt so much happiness. And the next day, Lloyd got confirmed and sustained in church. He also got the priesthood! It was one of the happiest Sundays of my mission. He looked so good in his polo and tie and he told us how happy he was. He may be one of my favorite conversions of my whole mission. 

Sister Webber found out she's training this week! It was really weird because they told us like a week and a half before the transfer. But anyway, she's going to do really well and I'm super excited for her!! While she was gone to a training meeting in Tacloban, I got to have my first Philipina companion for a day! Her name is Sister Tierra and she is the sweetest, most humble person in the world. I love her so much! I want a Philipina companion. Haha. 

We stayed at the STL's house during this time. I actually slept really well, but I woke up with something literally right next to my face. It's in the photo I uploaded. Look at the corner of the bed. 95 percent sure it was climbing on me during the night. 

Okay that's all for this week! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Sister Sprouse