Hellooo 2015

Happy New Year! It's a crazy place right now here in the Philippines. Last night the streets were packed with people. We could hardly get home. There are no small celebrations here. We had a curfew so we spent the night with hot McDonald's french fries and making homemade lumpia. There are no such things are "illegal fireworks" here so when the clock struck midnight, the entire place erupted in lights and booms. It was so loud the house shook. Air horns, vuvuzela, fireworks, crackers, and more. It went on for about two hours and then slowed down. It was awesome. 

I can hardly believe that this day, last year I stepped on an airplane headed to the Philippines. It's one of the best decisions I have ever made. Looking back on this year, I can see the Lord's hand in my life at nearly every moment. I definitely am not the same person that I was a year ago. I love my life as a missionary. I am so thankful to be here, serving the Lord. The work is hard, demanding, and exhausting in every way, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for 2015. No matter what things we have to face, easy or difficult, he will always be close by.

Love y'all!

Sister Cork

 

 

Maligayang Pasko

Merry Christmas!

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat! Christmas is in full swing over here in the Philippines. I went on exchanges this week in Marulas, Valenzuela and it was so great. The sisters I get to work with are such wonderful women. We had a Christmas party and every group danced and sang. It was fantastic; the Filipino people are so talented. We laughed and laughed. I love my new area. The ward is like my family. I am so thankful and happy to be here this Christmas season. The members here in Meycauayan are an answer to my prayers. I hope you'll each take the opportunity to remember the first Christmas to the world, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we let go of all the distractions of the world and allow each of ourselves come unto him this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Sister Cork

Hello Meycauayan

Hey y'all! Sorry no time for stories this week, we're short on time because of the storm coming in. But just know that I already love my new area. My first Sunday at church they welcomed me like an old friend coming home from a long vacation. I'm so excited to work with these great members. Our house is a little scary. You know that interstate bathroom in the middle of no-where that you stop at out of desperation? That's pretty close to my new house. But hey, I'm happy. This week I go on my first exchanges and I'm equally nervous and excited. I'll let you know how it goes.

Love y'all!

Sister Cork

Hello December, Hello Transfers

Hey y'all! Can you believe it's December? Where did this year go? 

Yesterday we have transfer announcements and I'm headed to Meycauan, Bulacan bright and early tomorrow morning. So far I've served my whole mission in the inner city, but Bulacan is the province. I'm equally excited and nervous for it all. With this new area I'll have the opportunity to go on exchanges with other sisters in areas around our mission. I'm super excited to get to know them and learn from them. Changes and moving and goodbyes are hard, but I know the Lord has work for me to do in this new area. I'm excited to grow and learn through this new assignment. I am sad to leave Sister McCarthy, she has become my best friend. She was the best trainee a missionary could ask for. She will accomplish so many great things on her mission. We had a great last week together. We ate cheese flavored ice cream, visited USA street, taught our last ASL class, and led the ward Primary program. It was a great close to a great companionship. 

Have a great week,

Sister Cork

 

 

A little bit of growing up.

Hey y'all.

This week was good despite being a little sick. I spoke in church yesterday and it was a great experience. I always learn a lot more than the people who hear me speak. I based my talk on the talk by Jeffrey R. Holland, "Remember Lot's Wife"; definitely one of my favorites. I spoke about how we have such a tendency to miss blessings right in front of us because we are stuck in the past. I see this in myself as the still-new missionary that moved into the struggling Deparo area. I was homesick not for home, but for my new found family in Fairview. I caught myself constantly "looking back" and not being able to focus on the work in front of me because of the things that I missed. Doing so made the adjustment difficult. But, I'm happy to report that I've come to love Deparo, and all its many hardships, dearly. As I sat in the front of the chapel I realized that not only have I come to love the people that I've been called to love, but they love me back. Although at times it wasn't as warm as I could have wished for, this ward welcomed in a pretty awkward, little American missionary and taught her a big lesson on patience, tough love, and not looking back. I love the quote by Francine Rivers that says, "Love God and He will enable you to love others, even when they disappoint you." I think this works both ways. Maybe in some ways I wasn't the fantastic, fluent, graceful missionary they were expecting. And this area and ward definitely took me for a surprise. But we've come to love each other and work together. I guess that's the beauty of the gospel; we all have room to change and the Lord is there to help.

Mahal,

Sister Cork