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

Pictures

It's Fall Y'all!

Hey y'all. Can you believe it, it's finally starting to cool down a little around here. The weather is absolutely beautiful. Sunny, windy, and about 27C (80F). It's fantastic. We don't even have to have our fans on and I've worn a sweater every day this week. I've truly become a Filipina.

This week Sister McCarthy has been pretty sick, so we didn't get a lot of work done proselyting-wise. But, we each started reading the Old Testament together and because of all the time we've had at home and about six hours of reading a day, we're more than halfway through. And yes, that's a lot of reading. 650 pages in three days. It's been such a neat,unifying experience to study and understand the words of the ancient prophets. It's the first time I've read the Old Testament front to back and I can hardly put it down. Our house has been so quiet besides for the occasional question and discussion. I am so thankful for Sister McCarthy and the deep, interesting conversations that have come from our studies together. It's been really incredible to learn and see things like temple worship, priesthood, and other foundational doctrines outlined and instituted in the Bible. The Book of Mormon and the Bible truly support each other in every way. What can I say? The Church is true. I am so thankful for the faithful servants of God who preserved scriptures that we may have the fullness of the truth here on the earth today. 

Have a great week! 

Sister Cork

Happy Nobyembre!

Hey y'all, can you believe it's November? How times flies. I finished 10 months today.

So on Wednesday morning I received a phone call telling me that I would be singing for the mission tour on Thursday. I chuckled a little, because I lack a lot of musical ability. But later President called to confirm that I would, indeed be singing for the conference. Because we practiced for several hours, all of the sisters involved slept over at the mission home, which is always a treat. I used a hairdryer for the first time in 10 months. It was awesome. We snacked on ice cream, took hot showers, and squished in bed together and just chatted. On my mission I have become so grateful for sisterhood. What a blessing it is to be a member of such a strong network of women, no matter where in the world you may go. On Thursday we had a fantastic mission tour with Shane Bowen and Lynn G. Robbins. They had wonderful counsel, helping us the improve and further reach our potential. 

In other news, the rats in our apartment have gotten really smart. We don't know how, but they have learned to eat around the food on the trap. This morning we woke up and the trap was snapped close, food gone, no rat. So yeah, that's our current adventure. I always wore a hole through two pairs of shoes this week. We're walking like nobody's business over here in Caloocan City. Life is good!

Sister Cork