Week #16 (Sept.8, 2013)

Dear Family,

This week was great. We are really working really effectively together and working really hard. Both of us are being obedient (yay!) and really finding and teaching a lot of new investigators. It’s weird to think that a change is coming as my training ends on Tuesday.  We still don’t know what will happen for sure, but a change is coming.  We always have a lot of investigators who say they are coming to church and then never show up, but this week they actually seemed really committed and determined to come. We were expecting somewhere around 8 investigators to come to church…. But only one came.  It’s so heart-wrenching when the people choose not to bless their lives.  But the one investigator who did come to church is very special to us.  Brother Jofrim (28 years old) is a cancer survivor and so kind and happy to everyone.  Everyone who lives around him knows who he is just because he has the type of personality that loves everybody and everybody loves him.  We are really excited for him because he takes everything so seriously. He is really reading the Book of Mormon and asks tons of questions and really wants to do what God wants for him.   We are excited for him to receive so many blessings from the Lord for his dedication.  Since we had stake conference last week, yesterday was fast and testimony meeting.  We were sitting next to Brother Christian (our recently baptized member who is 10 years old) and asked him if he wanted to bear his testimony.  He was a little nervous, but he has born his testimony to us a lot and is a very mature 10 year old.  Brother Jofrim was on the other side of him and heard us talking and asked us what it meant to “bear your testimony.” We explained and Jofrim said to Christian, “I’ll do it with you.” It was so cute, both of them went up to the front and Jofrim went first. He still doesn’t know if our church is true and this was only his second week at church, but he shared a testimony solely centered on Jesus Christ and His love. The pure honesty that came from his testimony touched all of the hearts in the room.  The humility of this ward is astounding anyway, but to have someone bear testimony like that was a huge spiritual filling and a sacrament meeting I won’t forget in a long time. Then, when brother Christian bore his testimony, he started tearing up as he felt the spirit too.  I know that even though we don’t have as many baptisms yet as the other wards in our mission, we are really changing lives wherever we are.   These wonderful souls we are able to teach are strengthening their roots as they become fully converted to the gospel. I ‘m excited to continue to help them be able to be taught by the spirit. (Hopefully I’m not the one to get transferred, but I know that’s a selfish wish because the Lord will give us what we need.) 

Also, another spiritual experience this week happened.  We have been looking for a referral for a couple weeks now, but we haven’t been able to find them until Thursday night. When we got there, it was a neat little family – just a husband, wife, and a little toddler. They instantly recognized us as “Mormons” and invited us in.  When we started talking to them, they told us they were taught by elders over two years ago, but the missionaries just stopped coming. (probably a transfer)  They continued to read the Book of Mormon anyway and have read it every night together since then.  I was seriously shocked. They don’t know a lot about the gospel and were only taught three times, but their testimony of the Book of Mormon is stronger than a lot of the active members I know today.  I am excited to continue teaching them and help them find all the answers to their questions and really help them fill what they have continued to search for. I never fully understood the phrase, “the Lord is preparing His people.” I thought I understood it, but the literal presentation of prepared people continues to surprise me and humble me. I am so grateful for this opportunity to become strengthened as I help others receive strength that I know this gospel brings. I love all of you and your letters. I know that a lot of faith building experiences are coming as I will be humbled again and again and learn to rely more fully on the Lord.  I know it will be hard, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow. I have already learned so much about myself, patience, love, true sacrifice, humility…. And so much more that I probably don’t even realize yet. But I can’t believe how lucky I am to continue to be refined by the Lord. I love you and will never be able to repay you for helping me have this opportunity to serve Heavenly Father’s Kingdom.

Palangga Ko kamo!!
Sister Smoot

BAPTISM! I love Sister Lea
(Notice Ashley's companion-Can you see her? Ash is 5"8-taller than the men)

Week #15 (Aug 26, 2013)

Dear Family, 

This week was really fun. Our zone had specialty training with
President Lopez where we learned that we are a Facebook mission. So
this week we created a Facebook account for our Magsungay Ward.  It’s
been a little weird to get used to. First of all, Facebook has changed
a little, and second of all, for the first few days I totally felt
like I was breaking some sort of rule.  Haha, but we have scheduled
Facebook proselyting time every day (except Sunday). Since we have two
companionships though, we alternate days. So three days a week Sister
Manosig and I do it, and the other three are for the other sisters.
Anyway, right now we are still figuring it out, so we have just been
trying to friend everyone in the ward and all of our investigators and
post stuff from the LDS website and so on.


This week I came to the realization that I am always wet. I am either
sweating or it’s raining, so I probably won’t be dry until I come
home, but all is well.  I have actually had moments where I have been
cold. Last night it was only 82 degrees and I had goosebumbs and I had
to pull out my blanket.  I know, it’s pathetic, but my body
temperature was weird ever since I got to the MTC. I was always
freezing even when everyone was hot. And I really have not been very
hot here even though everyone else is dying. 

I know for a fact that the Lord helps us with temporal things AND spiritual things. I know
that he has helped me adjust to the temperature and is also helping me
to stay regular healthwise so far. I know that it is a miracle that I
have not gotten sick, even when a lot of the natives are getting sick.
 August is the hardest month for the Philippines both with illness and
financially, but I have made it this far alive!  I know that the Lord
looks out for us as missionaries and rewards our diligence. I am so
grateful to have a personal protection as a servant of the Lord.


Sister Manosig and I have really gone through a lot together and even
though we have different backgrounds culturally, socially,
linguistically, and even in regards to the church, I have learned so
much from each other and are working together so well. It’s going to
be weird to leave her, but I know that’s just a part of missionary
work. There was this one family and they gave us the same excuse every
time for why they didn't come to church. Sister Manosig kept saying
they said they were too ashamed. So every lesson I slipped in things
about how we can become clean and the church is a place of healing
like a hospital and it’s for everyone. Finally, Sister Manosig used
“ashamed” while talking about herself. I asked her what she was
ashamed of and she got really confused. We then discovered that she
meant “shy.” So this whole time I thought this family was ashamed,
when really they were saying they were too shy to go by themselves. I
just had to laugh! We are now helping these longtime investigators with ward
members and friends to go with so it’s not so scary.  

There are a hundred little examples of miscommunication, trials, frustrations… but
there are billions of examples of how we have worked in unity, found
success, helped entire families, created spiritual atmospheres,
cheered each other up, learned from each other both spiritually and
otherwise, and grown close to the Lord as we grow close to each other.
Let’s just say, this is the best marriage preparation class I will
ever attend.
This week, Brother Lope (our recent convert) was able to baptize his
10 year old son. It was the first time he has used his priesthood and
he was a little nervous, but he did so well. We practiced with him
during one of our lessons and he felt better about it. (It’s hard
because the ordinance is in English). He also was excited to baptize
our other investigator, Sister Lea. I love Sister Lea!! She’s 20 and
we have been teaching her for 6 weeks. She has so much faith and
regularly bore her testimonies during our lessons and is so dedicated
to the Lord.  She is so cute and since we are the same age, we really
connected on a friendship level that has been a little harder for me
to do with other investigators. She’s teaching me how to better
express myself in Ilonggo.  I’m so sad she is moving next week to a
different Island, but she is moving with members of the church so she
will still have support in the gospel. 
She was even excited to tell me that their home was right next to a “Mormon church building.” The
baptism was so exciting and I’m learning more and more how much the
Lord’s hand is in everything.  I am not responsible for their success
in the gospel, I was just trying not to mess things up. I always
thought missionaries were just being falsely modest as they said they
didn’t do anything, it was the Lord. But now I understand what they
are talking about. Some people are just ready and willing and faithful
and so close to the Lord and I am just the mouth that is giving them
the missing pieces.  I know that some investigators are a little
trickier than others, but Sis. Lea and Brother Lope are two of the
most prepared people I have met, and I know the Lord is so excited to
have them in His fold and now can give them all these blessings that
He’s been waiting to give them!
        I know that this church is true and I’m so grateful for the
opportunity to share my testimony every day. I know that as I bare my
simple/broken-Ilonggo testimony, it is growing stronger and stronger.
I love seeing lives change while also witnessing the change in my own
life. I hope all is going well back home! I love you all!
Sister Smoot

An interesting fruit. It is really common here and not my favorite, but you eat the white stuff in the middle and suck on it until you reach the pit, and then spit out the pit.  It's kind of like sucking on balloon.  

 This is an investigator that is really special to me. Sister Lea will be baptized this Saturday.  This is in her house with her nieces and nephews. 

Laundry! It's so much fun and I actually prefer it to a laundry machine. My clothes get cleaner and the process is very cathartic and gives me time to think. Haha, it's really fun. We will have to have a teaching session when I get home and we can all try it together! 

This is the street I Iive on. We were on our way to the email shop!

Week # 14 (August 19, 2013)

Sorry last week was so short. I was in a weird mood and then my computer crashed right in the middle of my email and didn’t save anything. (maybe there was something blasphemous that I wasn't supposed to share haha). So needless to say, my email was short.  

So last Monday night, like I mentioned, I was in a weird mood. Our FHE family cancelled so we didn't have a lot of back-up plans. We decided to visit a family who has not been very interested in our message. They have a lot of different religions in their home which created a little bit of tension and they just viewed our teachings as a nice little bible study.  I was a little frustrated we were going to go to them again, because I haven’t felt like they get a lot out of our message.  But when we got there, I was definitely humbled.  They asked us why it had been so long since we last had visited (Our last lesson was a week before on the Book of Mormon PMG Lesson 1 Principals 7 & 8). The mother said that whenever we are in their home, they feel different, like the Lord is there with us. I was utterly shocked.  They had read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and wanted to know more. What was especially shocking, was that one of the sisters, who is Baptist and previously glared down her sister for accepting the commitment to read, was the one who read the most in the Book of Mormon and asked the most questions in theMonday night visit.  

I definitely know that as we teach true doctrine by the power of the spirit, the Lord and the Holy Ghost work together to teach the investigators.  I know their conversion process did not start because of the words we used or our “convincing power.” But their conversion started because the Lord was working on the hearts and softening them towards our message. I was humbled because it reminded me that we need to take advantage of every teaching opportunity. Even if I feel like they are not listening to us or that they are not interested, if they are letting us teach them, we need to continue to teach with the power and conviction of God.  

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be an instrument of God. Even if I don’t know what is going on a lot of the time, as long as I follow the spirit to know what to say, the people will hear and understand what they need.  I just need to continue to qualify for that guidance by being diligent in my studies and obedience.  Sorry that was so long and it probably seems so simple, but I guess I just need constant reminders of our power and calling as missionaries. When I start stressing out, it’s because I forgot who’s work I am doing. If I am prepared and diligent, I have peace and do not stress.

This week at church, we were greeting all of the members and at exactly 8:59, bishop came up so Sis. Manosig and I and told us he forgot to assign speakers so we would be speaking on missionary work for sacrament meeting. Also, the pianist didn’t show up so I would be playing all of the hymns.  I had a quick panic attack for a half of a second and then smiled and said, “okaylang Bishop, Salamat!”  I went to the piano and played the hymns, then during the sacrament looked up a scripture on missionary work, and since I was the first speaker I just walked right up to the pulpit and said a bunch of stuff in Ilonggo for 8 minutes. I’m not completely sure what I said, because without notes, it was kind of like a really long testimony with a scripture. You know when you go to bear your testimony and you don’t say what you were planning on? That is because the spirit knows what you need to say and is guiding you.  I was definitely guided by the spirit.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a vessel for the Lord. I’ve never been forced to rely on the spirit as much as I have here in Bacolod, but I will never be able to replace these experiences. These daily experiences are humbling me, teaching me, and pushing me farther than I ever thought possible.

Haha, then during the closing hymn, the fans had kicked on, so the fans were blowing on my hymn book, so every couple seconds I had to reach up and hold down the pages. Basically, it was really rough, but at least I was able to serve as best as I could!

Through all my experiences here I feel a little bipolar from time to time as I switch what seems like hourly from stressed to peaceful to overjoyed to discouraged, and to complete excitement. But I know that I am learning so much and I becoming more and more prepared for the rest of my life. Thank you for the guidance and support you continually give me. Even now as an adult and a missionary, I appreciate your help through your letters and your love and I know I am so lucky to have a family who loves me as much as you do! You are the best family in the whole world! 

 Kabalo ako nga palangga kita tanan sang Dios kag paagi sa iya, mangin pinaka-malipay kita sangsa mga pamilia. Palangga ko kamo!

Sister Ashley Smoot

Baptism of Sis. Milamar' 

Awkward picture of me on my bunkbed that is too short for me to sit up all the way. Also, my feet hang off the end... super fun. 

Our front door. Since it's august, it's the hardest month of the year in the Philippines because it rains all day every day.  There is not a lot of work for the people. 

"waiting shed" for all of the tricy-kads. (no, I do not know how to spell that) When it rains they cover everything in plastic. It's a little claustrophobic, but these and jeepney's we ride multiple times every day. 

Week # 13 (August 12, 2013)

Dear Family,

Ok so I can't really think of anything that happened this week, it was all a major blur. In my journal I've just been trying to write down miracles that happen everyday so that I don't forget the Lord's hand in my life.  

A couple of miracles this week. We have an investigator who we were working with majorly for a few weeks to get her ready for baptism. We had so many lessons and were really trying to help her be prepared. But to be honest, I felt like it was more of dragging her than helping her. Anyway, she didn't pass her baptismal interview and afterward, she was actually happy/relieved that she couldn't get baptized. Obviously there was some sort of disconnect in communication between us, the spirit and the sister. She asked us not to come by anymore and we have been really sad about it. Then, a week later, she randomly texted us with a "how are you sisters!" We were shocked and we kept texting each other throughout the day. She still won't have a lesson with her, but we were able to visit her a few times to say hello and she is starting to warm up to us again.  I don't know what will happen, but I DO know that the spirit works in unknown ways.  I don't know why she decided to start talking to us again, but I know it was because of God and the Holy Ghost and I know that anyone who comes in contact with the Holy Ghost or comes in contact with the truth, will eventually want it to stay in their lives because you cannot deny the power and peace that comes from God and His restored gospel on the Earth Today. 

As far as living goes, things are going great.  There are the few little bumps in the road, like I'm still learning how to not freak out when other missionaries touch a lot of raw meat and then splatter it across the counter and then touch everything and there is no disinfectant and they don't believe that raw meat can make you sick.... okay, so I'm freaking out a little. But I'm trying to be careful and I've pretty much become a person who does not eat meat. I just eat eggs and bread and yogurt and ramen and tuna (so it's like i'm in college again haha) 

I've been seeing more rats lately so that has been fun, but I know the Lord has blessed me with peace because I still haven't even squealed  As in, my heart rate doesn't even go up when I see them. It really is a miracle.  

There is so much work to be done here and I am so grateful for the fact that we are always so busy. It keeps the time going fast and keeps us on our toes. We always need to be in tune with the spirit.  One morning I woke up and I was seriously so sad. There was not any reason, I just sat there... sad. It was weird and hormonal.  I could have stayed in bed like everybody else, but I knew I had made a promise to myself and the Prophet and the Lord when I signed my acceptance to become a missionary that I would follow all of the rules. So I woke up and exercised and was still feeling kind of sad, but as soon as I started reading the Book of Mormon, my whole spirit changed.

I know that the Book of Mormon has the Power of God. I know that they are literally the words of God. It doesn't matter where you are reading or what you are reading or how you are feeling, the Book of Mormon will help you. I can't even tell you what chapter i read or what I learned from them that day. I can only tell you that I have a testimony of the Power of God. And when we are doing what we are supposed to do, God will bless us in every aspect of our lives. Reading the Book of Mormon everyday isn't a chore or something to check off of a To Do List, but it is a way that we receive personal revelation from God and become spiritually uplifted for our day.  

I just want you to know that I have a testimony of this Gospel and of the Book of Mormon and I know that we can do all things through God and following his commandments  Because they are there to help us, not to just give us a To Do list.  I love you all and I am so grateful for all of you and for all of your support!

Lots of Love,

Sister Smoot