So Monday after emailing I went home to pack. Lots of stuff hahah, but I did it. Beat my record for fastest packing! Then we did studies and for our last time teaching together, we went to Lovely, the one who I told you is getting baptized soon cause her mom left so now she is finally allowed to be baptized. Well yes, her. And she thought Sister Araja was the one leaving so she was so sad but then Sister Araja pointed to me and she just started bawling which got Sister Araja goin again and shoot! Such a tough lesson. These people are amazing, but it's not about the missionaries, it's about the gospel. So she is still so excited about the baptism and I even got a letter from her the other day! SO cute. After that we went and had dinner at Bishop's with the other missionaries. It was so good and I miss them all too. Then we went over to Nanay Redula's with the elders and bishop so they could give her a blessing and it was wonderful. Such a strong spirit in that room. Such faith.
Tuesday! Transfer day! They did the transfer day a little different this time so Sister Araja ended up staying in Daet with a temporary companion and then Sister Ril (My old comp in Camaligan) was my travel comp to Naga. It was fun to chat with her on the bus and I really have just been blessed with such good comps. So many strong friendships! I had so many bags and so did she and the 8 other missionaries we traveled with. Usually we have our comp to help carry but since they changed it so that only the missionaries transferring went to Naga, it was quite a struggle haha. Elders are really cool though so there was like a whole caravan of them carrying our stuff. Such a hilarious sight. We got to transfers and went to lunch with Sister Coons and her temporary, Sister McGrath. Fun times at the SM. Then back to the church for transfers.
My new companion is... drum roll please... SISTER SALIMA. I always get blessed with just the BEST companions. She is sooooo awesome. We will have so much fun this transfer. And! It's her last transfer in the mission! I get to kill her!!!! (This phrase means Jessica will be her last companion before this sister returns home from her mission.) I am so excited. She is from Samoa, 26 years old, and she's super talkative and we just chat all the time. The 2 sisters who used to live in the house with her last transfer were pulled out since the mission is getting so much smaller... meaning, it's just the 2 of us in this HUGE house. It's not really nice, but it's so big. Neither of us really know how to cook here, so we are surviving on watery rice and eggs haha. Kidding. We're fine. Our landlord is a member in the branch so that's fun as well. Their house is attached to ours!
Hmm what else. Oh yes! I am in Pamplona!!!!!! Sister Taylor died here and now I will too! SO fun! All the people we teach know her and it's so fun having so many connections to my Nanay! Pamplona is SMALL. haha remember when I thought Tigaon was a small town?! Ya... Pamplona doesn't even come close. There is only one store to get food and it's petty much just like a big tindihan. You have to tell them what you want and they go find it. There are no restaurants.. as in not one. But on P-day where we email there is a 7-11 so Hallelujah. Maybe my diet will stand a chance now.
Oh! Also, Sister Salima loves to run also so ever since our first day together we've been running at 6 every morning. Except Sunday of course. It's all rice fields here so just such a lovely run and ahhh, this is paradise.
At night we walk around this long, super straight part of the highway and the buses FLYYYYY. Like ahhh we have to hold our skirts down cause they go by so fast that it's like a gust of wind. Scary. But we are being protected and Sister Taylor made it out alive, so I have faith I will too!
They say the internet where we usually email is super slow, so if I don't reply to everyone these last few months, I am so sorry! But I read all the emails and am so grateful for all of your love and support! Today though we got to come to a little bigger of a town cause there's a brownout in Pamplona! Praying we have power when we get home! There was a typhoon yesterday. Not super bad, but kinda scary, super strong rain and winds. So when we woke up yesterday morning the power had already gone out and it still is now.... going on 36 hours. And here in Pamplona when the power goes out, so does the water. I sent some pics of our shower yesterday haha. We had to pump the water outside to wash our hair. It's more fun in the Philippines....
Oh! Like my second day here the members who we live with were getting ready for a huge party they threw the other day. Sooooo while trying to do language study we heard a pig squealing for its life. Went out to see what was going on and they had bought a pig. We got distracted and watched them kill, skin, chop, and cook the said pig. But we decided part of learning the language is learning the culture... and we had them tell us what all the body parts were called in Tagalog while they pulled them out of the pig. That poor pig put up a good fight, but she just couldn't keep up with the fountain of blood pouring out of it's neck. Kawawa talaga.
So yes, Yesterday church was cancelled cause of the typhoon, so I haven't met many people in the branch. We were stuck at home ALL DAY. But! Our district is fun. Me and Sister Salima are the only sisters AND the only foreigners haha. Us and the 6 Filipino elders. I am happy to be here and work my hardest. I was called as a Sister Training Leader, so that will also be such a neat experience to really dedicate myself not only to the work, but also to helping other sisters to reach their full potential as well. It's scary and we have a set of sisters coming to our area on Wednesday for exchanges so I have to know the area hahah but I don't. It is sooo huge. Always an adventure. There is also a new standard of excellence in the mission which I am very excited about! 50 OYM's (open your mouth) a week. Really gonna push us to talk to EVERYONE!!!! Cause let's be real... this gospel is for everyone in the world. I am so happy I have this time to share the good news of the gospel.
Oh!!!! Welcome home to my beautiful cousin Sister Madison Stolk who is finishing her mission in Brazil this week. You done good. "Proud of you!" She's been such a strength and example to me my whole mission. The time really flies.
Lots of Love,
Sister Richmond
Top 10
1. New comp... Sister Salima!
2. Sister Araja told me on my last night in Daet that our shower head works haha. Enjoyed a nice ice cold shower, no bucket needed!
3. Sister Salima loves to go jogging! 6 months to sexy may have been a flop, but cheers to 3 months to trim ;)
4. Get to serve the sisters in my zone! Excited to work with lots of different sisters. So much to learn from them!
5. Following my Nanay's footsteps dying in Pamplona... Sis T, you're still a legend here :)
6. The mission secretary went up to Daet for something and you pass through here on the way to Naga, so Sister Araja gave them real cheddar cheese from the SM to bring to me! Such an angel!
7. We are surviving even though neither of us cook
8. Yesterday the members who we live with invited us down for some Suman after being trapped in the house all day. I love Suman so much. Gotta find the recipe!
9. Out in the middle of nowhere. Adventure time!
10. Got a letter from Lovely in Daet!
Last night with lovely
Rada family
Stressin about transfers hahha
Amber
Dinner at bishop's the last night
My new comp!!! Sister Salima!
Sister Coons!
Dinner.... but really
Fountain of blood
Yummmm. They really don't waste any part
A member- Alona!
Doin that blood and intestines thing again!
The new district. All the elders are Filipino!
Splish splash, takin a bath
Sooo cold... Typhoon
Rooftop patio
Our house is surrounded by rice fields!
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