Oh My Gulay!

This week was a FUN week! 

Mainly because Sis.Lange and I had all these things happen to us that were just.... funny haha except the gunshots that kept going off by our house, those weren't funny. But yeah all kind of interesting things are bound to happen when there's two Americans that spend their week tracting around our area. Like one thing for example - We were tracting and started talking to this 19 year-old girl whose hobby is to do nails. I could tell this girl was really into doing nails, so I was asking her alot of questions about cuticle care, ya know, building relationship and trust. And somehow she gets the idea to give me a manicure. I was so down for it! It seemed like a win-win to me. Except she pulls out this tool out of her manicure kit that look more like a mini knife. And then she proceeds to use this mini knife to clean under my nails, but just ends up gauging my nail beds. And then my nail beds start bleeding. But I didn't want to tell this kind girl that it was hurting like no other and  I didn't want to possibly weaken her confidence in her manicure abilities (because she had already told me that she had flunked beauty school). So I just sat there and silently cried. Haha okay no, I didn't actually cry, but I was on the verge of it. And then after she was finished with that, she puts this orange goo that was supposed to be an anti-septic, but just ended up staining my nails orange. Great, huh? But we ended up having a really good lesson with her and we're coming back to teach her next week! So that's how I sacrificed my nails to try and get an investigator (: So worth it!

In other news, Sis.Lange and I realized that we were both in the same Physical Science class at BYU! Crazy, huh???? Oh, and the people here are legit starting to believe that I'm Filipino!!!! I'm pretty excited about that! I know I totally look the part, but my Bisayan obviously has an American accent, so I think the people here a little deaf, but I'll take it haha I guess that magical powers of the Balut egg I ate a couple of month are finally starting to kick in.....

Oh, and one more slightly sad story. Sis.Lange and I were in a lesson with our investigators when their neighbors busts in the door, comes to Sis.Lange and I and just starts bawling and telling us how her husband is cheating on her, their family has absolutely no money, not even for rice (which means they're doing pretty bad, because most Filipinos will at least have money for rice), her son just got sent to prison, and she attempted to commit suicide last week, but her 7 year old stopped her and pulled the knife out of her hand before she could go through with it. Yeah. Sis. Lange and I were just stunned. And this lady had come to us for advice because she said that she saw Sis.Lange and I last week and said that our faces were shining and she felt light and happy and she knew that there was something different about us. So we did the best we could to give spiritual advice and teach about God's love and plan for her, so it hopefully it helped! Getting to serve in the Philippines has been a huge wake-up call for me to realize how truly blessed I have been. I have THE BEST family in the world, a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, super amazing friends, the opportunity to go to college, to have always food on the table, to have a car, to have money to do fun things and do hobbies, and even random amenities like air conditioning, carpet, and hot water (which I really really really miss  while I've been living here in the Philippines!). And the list goes on. Basically I've been given so much! Which is why I'm so happy to serve as a missionary and have the opportunity to help out people in the best way I know how - being happy and sharing the Gospel! (: Which is why I just love being a missionary! Life is great over here (: I vowed this week to never complain about anything ever again, when I get home haha hopefully it will happen! Love everyone oodles and oodles! Hope everyone's having a great time with summer winding and school starting back up again!

Gugma, kalinaw, Philippines!
Sister Lauck

P.S. I realized that I've been big time slacking on sending those scenic, "What does the Philippines look like" pictures, so hence, y'all get 2 today haha enjoy!

Danao!

Okay, clearly I've been slacking on the whole emailing thing! Needless to say it's been a couple of crazy weeks, but I'll do my best to try to get everyone up to date (:

So, I transferred! Finally! After spending 1/3 of my mission in Tag Bilaran, it was finally time for me to say bye. It was way harder than I initially thought it would be to say goodbye to my first area. I truly grew to love that place and of course the people! But most of all, I think I love Tag Bi because all of the experiences and trials and growth that took place there. So after packing my (heavy) bags [I may or may not have picked up a ton of souvenirs there haha] and saying goodbye to all my favorite investigators and members, I went to the ferry, caught a boat and went back to the main island of Cebu to go to my new area.... Danao!

But before I headed over to Danao, I had to stop at the mission office for transfers. That was a highlight for me because I finally got to see some of my favorite missionaries that I hadn't seen in FOREVER, including my trainer, Sis.T! We had a pretty sweet reunion (:

Then I headed out to Danao! Not going to lie, I know I've been in the Philippines for a while now, but I had totally culture shock when I arrived in Danao. I guess the best way to put it is that Bohol is like the tropical beauty, touristy vacation spot with happy little Boholians. And Danao definitely looks like it's been hit hard with poverty and pollution and drugs. It's known as the ghetto zone in our mission haha but it has it's hidden beauties and treasures too, and it's right along the ocean, so there's no complaining about that! And I love that Danao seems a little down in the dumps because as a missionary I have the perfect antidote for it - The Gospel of Jesus Christ (: I can't help but be happy to be a missionary, especially in this area, because I personally know the blessings of peace and guidance and hope readily available for those who will accept the Gospel in their lives. And even though I've only been here for about 10 days, it's already been great! My new companion, Sis.Lange, is awesome! She's from Temecula, CA and has been out on the mission for about a year. She's 20 and she went to BYU and we were both freshman up there at the same time, so that's pretty cool! We work great together and I love her! It's great because she's very calm and collected and I tend to be a little more energetic and enthusiastic, so we balance each other pretty well (: We had a baptism my 2nd day here and had some powerful lessons tracting and even had a drunk guy read 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 to us. Sister Lange and I got a pretty good kick out of that one! 

Haha but life is great I'm ready to work hard in Danao and spread some happiness and change some lives! I'm so grateful that I was assigned in the Philippines and that I get to serve as a full time representative of Jesus Christ! I have the best job in the world!!!!!!!!!!! (: Hope everyone is enjoying the end of their summer and loving life!!!!

Lots of love,
Sister Lauck (:


Our last picture of the 4 of us sisters together - Sis.Dala, me, and Sis.Johnson, and Sis.Hatch.

My trainer Sis.T & I!

One last picture with one of my favorite members, the Bete's!