Going Places!

Bikes

this week was really good! we had a hard time at first teaching all of our investigators that we are trying to focus on because they all live so far apart and their schedules are never set. this week we decided to try to request for bikes.haha we texted our president and he didn't respond so we thought it wasn't going to happen but thursday night he called us and told us that they would bring the bikes around when they get time. turned out to be saturday afternoon! haha! we are officially BIKING MISSIONARIES!!!! haha! we used them that afternoon! It was soo much fun and we laughed the entire time because they are kinda girly bikes! haha a lot of people stared at us funny!haha we would just wave and ring the little bells on the handle bars!haha! It was also great we were able to get to far areas in just a couple min. our lessons have also increased a lot and we are now able to focus more on the investigators we want to progress!

School Break

Another great thing about this week is that one of our progressing investigators, Levi Rodriguez has Sem break(2weeks no school) she studdies super far away and is never home but she always comes to church and wants to be baptized! the only concern was that we could only teach her on saturday. now we will be able to go to her everyday with our assistant BML(also on Sem break) she will probably be baptized in 2 weeks! YES!!! haha! this area is really starting to progress! especially with the help of BIKES!!!!haha

District Leader

i am still learning how to be a district leader!hahah it is fun. this we will go on exchanges with the zone leaders and the other elders in our district. i am super excited i always learn a ton from exchanges. haha.

Leadership Brings Growth

Zone Training

this week went by super fast. it was probably the most stressful week since my training last year. haha on tuesday the zone leaders called and told me that all the missionaries in the zone were going to be attending my district meeting!!!!! because all the other district leaders are training new missionaries and wont be able to return in time for district meeting!!!!!! hahha i spent every moment i had on tues and wed  to prepare a training!haha wednesday night the zone leaders called again to tell me that the plans had changed and the other districts will just have their meeting a day later! haha! i felt super relieved and the thought of giving a training to just my district didn't stress me out as much as it would have had i not stressed about the whole zone. haha I guess as we are put in situations that cause us to stress and worry, we grow and smaller things stop causing us to stress or worry. the more stressful the situation the more we grow. i almost wish that the first plan could have continued. i know i would have been scared to death and probably not prepared but i know i would have grown so much as a individual. haha.

Best Companion Ever

this week was super fun! Elder Hontanosas is probably my favorite companion so far. He is in my batch, He is hardworking, happy always, funny, and very good at teaching simply. I often feel like he should be DL. haha. I definitly have a lot to learn from him.

we had a lot of interesting funny stories this week. we met a guy who took at least 10 sentences to explain then answer any of our questions. for example: "hello brother! what is your name?" 

"I can't answer your question directly because it is from america which mixed with spanish who cam to the philippines and then the chinese...." his name turned out to be Ferdinand. haha

General Conference

we also were able to watch general conference. it was super great!! I loved so many of the talks. I noticed how a big theme seemed to be on the prophet and gaining a testimony of the prophet. i also noticed how many talked about family preparation. I wonder what might happen to have inspired these talks. haha I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet. i know that he and his apostles have the power and authority to lead the church. i also know they recieve revelation for the children of our heavenly father.

Highlights from Elder Hickey

A Brave Example

our BML (branch mission leader) invited his whole barangay(usually 1-3 roads of houses) to come to church and 5 of his cousins/friends showed up! He is only 18, but he is so courageous and faithfull. I wish I was like him before my mission. He is super smart and reminds me of Johnny a bit. He is also one of the hardest workers I have ever met! Hopefully he will be called to Utah to serve a mission! haha!

No New Apartment

We were super close to moving into a nice house with tile,a couple bedrooms,shower,and air conditioning. Our president was adding 2 missionaries to our area in San Juan as well. BUT Sunday morning (2 days after the office elder talked with the owner)  The owner came to us and told us that he changed his mind and dosn't want to rent the house to us!! So now we get to enjoy the jungle suite for a bit longer and the 2 other missionaries will not be coming anymore !haha! This experience frustrated me a bit because 1. it was sunday morning 2.we were fasting 3. we were really looking forward to the new missionaries and the house.  It was not the best way to start a sunday!  When we got to church I was still a little bit irked so I prayed that I would feel the spirit and peace. It was almost instant I felt all the frustration dissapear! It was one of the best church services I have ever been to. (general conf. is next week! I'm sooo excited!)

Conquering Fears

I GOT OVER MY FEAR OF SPIDERS!!!!!!!!! well not completely, but this week I held/played with a spider in my hands for the first time in my life!! They have a certain kind of spider here that is very common. They are not poisonous and cannot bite. Their bodies are about the size of a small marble and they look really gross but children here catch them in thier hands and fight them on small sticks. I caught one this week and we played with it a little bit!haha I will send a picture!

Transfers and District Leader

Today we found out about transfers!!! Elder Pacala is transfering to my old area in Aparri with ELder Marsh! I will tell him all of the people he needs to follow up on!  I miss that area a lot!

My new companion is Elder Hontanosas. I don't know him but I think I have met him a couple times. Philippino I think. also............I am the new District Leader!!!!! WHAT!?!?! I have no idea what I need to do!!! or how to train or what to train on!!! AAAHHH!!! I saw a list of the elders and sisters in my district and they are all really good and expereienced missionaries!!!  I just hope I can help them somehow.

FHE with members

Hanging  bridge