Good morning everyone!!

 

This week has been so great! I feel like i have done more this week then i have in the last 2 years!! We are in class for about 8 hours a day and as terrible as that sounds...its actually pretty great! I love learning Tagalog and i love learning about the Philippines and the Gospel and how to teach it!

 

We finished teaching Rodrigo and he is "going back home to the Philippines" to talk to the missionaries there and to get baptized with his family! We now have 2 new "investigators"! Angelica who is 15 and Jesus who is married with 5 boys! we are teaching Angleica Monday and Wednesday and Jesus and his 5 boys on Tuesday and Wednesday! I am so excited to get to know them more and to understand their needs and desires! I already love them! I am so excited to teach angelica because of my LOVE for young women! I hope that i can really relate to her!

 

I have struggled with the concept of teaching. Elder Holland said that you have to be converted your self before you can convert others. So part of my teaching method has become figuring out what i know in order to teach my investigators! I want them to know what i know so bad so i am learning how to put everything into words! Sister Penjueli is really good and figuring out what i am trying to say and i am so grateful for that!

 

Tagalog is finally starting click for me! "PALA!!" I am still very terrible at speaking it but the structure is making since and what a relief that is! The lord has helped me so much along the way! It is very exhausting but i am getting used to "earning my pillow" at night and i really love the work! Missionary work is so much fun and so rewarding!

 

I have seen a lot of Elder Fackrell Lately! he told me yesterday that he is leaving on Monday for AZ! I am so excited for him! i know that he will be an incredible missionary! It is fun to see him and say hi to him! 

 

I also saw Elder Nielson!  I used to play basketball with his older sister sadie! she is on a mission right now too! he just got reassigned to Washington until his visa comes from Argentina!

 

We got our district leader this week! his name is Elder Smith! he reminds me so much of zach! he always laughs at me and he always has something to say about everything....hahaha he puts up a great argument as well! he also has such a kind heart and such a desire to be a missionary! I love that he reminds me of zach!

 

(sorry that this e-mail is kind of random...)

 

While we were at gym time the other day, I was working out with sister Hansen and we always like to go on the elliptical and listen to conference talks and Mormon messages! one of the Mormon messages was from President Monson! he said something that i really liked! You have probably heard it before! "dare to be Mormon, dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose firm, and dare to make it known!" I love that so much! So to everyone out there: Don't be afraid to testify of what you believe. You don't have to have a mission badge on! Please, bear your testimony as often as you can. Missionary work is about inviting others to come unto Christ. Why would we keep that from anyone! Be Christ like, Love your neighbor, love your enemy and pray for them. If your desires are righteous they will be answered if you pray. So what are you waiting for.

 

Thank you for your prayers and Love! I feel them everyday!

 

Mahal Kita!

Sister Sites

May 11, 2013

Mangandag Umaga Everyone! That means good morning!

 

So the first day at the MTC was sooo great! i think that the hardest part of the day was walking away from my family...i remember the look and tears on mom's face! there should be a better way...that was so sad! when i first got to class My teacher (Sister Watkins) only spoke Tagalog to us! and she still only speaks Tagalog to us! i was kind of expecting that so it wasn't overwhelming. Sister Watkins is so loving and kind and she has so much patience! she loves all of us and that means so much to me esspecially when she can tell that i am frustrated from not understanding something.

   I had no reason to be nervous though on the first day. My emotions have definitely been going up and down. mostly up! so that is so good! i am so grateful for the comfort the lord has given me! The food at the MTC is mostly great...i have figured out that it depends on what i eat...but there are a lot of options so its not bad at all! Zach told me to stay away from the orange juice? i haven't tried it yet! Haha i am too scared! I think that the salad wraps are my favorite!

   So about my district. We are District 16D! there are 6 sisters and 4 elders! All of the sisters are going to Baguio and the Elders are going to a different mission that i don't know how to spell...or say! haha my sisters names are Sister Hansen, she is from California, she is really sweet and sooo thoughtful! Sister Tongo is from California, she is so loud and so funny! Sister Miller From Pleasant Grove, she is so nice and always had good things to say, Sister Ve'haekiu (van-nay-oocoo) is from Tonga! she is sooo funny! all Tongans are so funny! she laughs A LOT and her laugh makes us all laugh harder! i am so grateful for that! My Kasama (companion) her name is Sister Penjueli! she is from FIJI! how cool is that?? she is a convert of 18 months and she is the only member and missionary in her whole family! she has so much faith. she has been a little bit  home sick and she is still getting used to the American "preservatives" so we have visited the health clinic  a lot... but that is okay! I hope that she gets feeling better soon!

   Our first "investigator" is named Rodrigo Olit! I love him so much! he is so nice! he is all the way from the Philippines and he is in the United States to get surgery for his Diebetes. The first lesson i was so nervous but my Kasama and I decided to pray for the spirit and for kalaskasam (strength) before the lesson. and once again, i was nervous for nothing. Rodrigo doesn't speak and english but he was so patient with us and so nice! we challenged him to read and pray about faith! our second lesson is on Monday so i hope that he reads and prays about faith! i find my self thinking about rodrigo a lot he is great motivation for me to study and do well!

Sometimes i get frustrated here but that is because i want to be perfect so i have to take a step back and realize that it only my 3rd day here! I feel like i have done more in these 3 days than i have in months!

I love the MTC so much! my sisters are amazing and I am surrounded by great and encouraging sisters! I am definitely in my element!

 

Love you so much! = Mahal Kita!

 

Thank you for your e-mails and prayers and thoughts! I love to hear from all of you!

 

Mahal Kita!

Sister Sites

 

Sister Watkins tells us this all the time: kayo Ninyo ito! it means you can do it! so remember that when life gets hard and you want to quit! :)

Sister Kathryn Sites went into the MTC at 1:30 today in Provo. She was so excited and it was a bitter sweet  moment for all of us. I'm Katie's sister Kristyn and I will be updating this blog on a weekly basis and putting her emails and any pictures on here for all of you to see! These next 18 months are going to be hard but full of blessings and tender mercies that come with having a missionary out in the field. Katie is going to be a great missionary and I'm so excited to see all the progress she makes and all the lives she touches in the Phillipines along with you guys!