Dear Pamilya!!!!! Komusta Ka?
MAN, I LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE HERE :) and YES, we have heard talks from so many great people! We heard from Sister Bonnie Oscarson, the General Young Women's President, in Relief Society on Sunday. Wow, that was so neat to have her come and speak to us. Also we heard from Brother Heaton, the administrator of the MTC or something cool like that, and man, he was an excellent speaker. I learned a ton from him about the Spirit and always needing it when you teach as missionaries. And Tuesday night was the devotional where usually a general authority comes in to speak to us, insane right? I feel so lucky to be able to hear people while I'm here. That is why it's nice to be here 6 weeks because then I'll get to hear from wonderful speakers. But yeah, anyway we heard from Dallin H. Oaks!!!!!!!!!! What?! ISN'T THAT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SWEET! Him and his wife spoke and man I learned a ton. I took so many notes on all the speakers, but his talk I took the most notes on. I couldn't believe the spirit he brought, few, that was an experience I won't forget.
The food is great! We haven't had to eat anything weird yet. I would like them to have some beagle or something here from the Philippines to have us start getting used to it, but they just have normal american food. They feed us too much though. I need to be careful. Plus they always have desert, I am limiting myself, so I don't have something too sweet for all 3 meals in the day. And yeah, I am recovering great!! I can chew with my back teeth and my teeth are feeling fine, so thanks for the blessing dad. I really think it helped, when you said that I would heal faster than most people since I would be entering the MTC only a week after getting them out. But yeah i'm feeling great! My companion is so great! Her name is Sister Tune from Kiribati (Kiribas) and she is the sweetest. I love her dearly. She is fun to be with and laughs a ton. She always has a smile on her face and is super cute! Oh and I'm taller that her!!! YES, That makes one person in this universe. hehehehe, just kidding. She is kind of quiet and shy, and sometimes I feel a little awkward in silence, but I think she is fine not having to talk all the time. I just hope I don't get annoying to her since I might talk to much. We get along well and I'm getting to know more about her culture. I know 3 words in Kiribas now, soon i'll be fluent in English, Cebuano, and Kiribas! hahaha. There are 10 people in my district, and HOLY SMOKES, I love all of them. 4 of the sisters are from Utah-me, Sister Grigg, way close to Riggs right? kinda confusing, Sister Warner, and Sister Hamson. 2 from Kiribas-Sister Tune, my companion and Sister Ramai, an Elder from California named Elder Jacobs, Elder Archibald from Canada, but he doesn't know french, he isn't from Montreal, but that would have been cool. Elder Ellis from New Zealand, sweet huh? and Elder Lasalosi from Austraila :) Everyone in our district has such a strong testimony and has so many comments that really are inspired. and they all sing. oh man, what a tender mercy. Elder Lasalosi was Seaweed Hairspray, cool right? AH, i can't wait to send pictures, but I don't have time to attach any today I'm sorry.
The language is coming okay, the first day I thought oh yeah, I totally got this, because it has a lot of Spanish words, but now, it's getting harder. I wish we could have just started from the very beginning and learned vocab and then started putting words together to make sentences, but our teacher, Brother McBride just kind of throws sentences at us, which makes it a little bit confusing. We did go over sentence structure and that really helped, but it's going to be a little bit of a challenge. Oh and the 2nd day we had to teach our first investigator. AHHHHH! How are we supposed to teach someone in Cebuano, when we've only learned a little bit. SPIRIT! The first day we taught went okay. We said a lot in English because we didn't know how to translate anything. He just kept looking at us funny because he "didn't understand" even though he is a return missionary from CEBU. The 2nd time was so much better, we had our sentences all in Cebuano and even though we mostly read everything, we could feel the Spirit in there. And wow, he is willing to do everything we say. It's great, not all investigators will be like that though. This is probably just "level 1" or something. But I do know how to say a prayer in Cebuano now without looking at notes and bear my testimony. Sweet right?! Thank goodness we haven't had to just speak Cebuano in one day, that would be insane. We probably will later on.
This week has just been amazing! I can't believe how many people are here from all around the world. 601 people came to the MTC the same day I did, crazy right? And it feels so cool to know that all these people here have been through the temple and have such strong testimonies. I love it. We have been doing the same thing over and over, which can get tiring, but it's good. I just get restless. I feel like we just study and sit and eat. My favorite part about the day is gym time. I've been able to play basketball, volleyball, 4 square, run, and do AB workouts, it's great! And I don't think I've ever been so excited to do laundry. P-Days are so nice! I really do love personal study too though. I've been able to catch up in my journal and really study the scriptures. It's been great!
I wish I had more time, but I only got about 40 minutes to write because we are headed to the temple soon. Next time I'm going to write earlier in the day so I get my whole hour. There is so much more I want to say, sorry. I love you guys tons and hope all is doing well. I have seen so many people I know here too, it's weird. There are tons from AF and some from SUU and also from Chick-Fil-A. Who would have thought huh? It makes it feel more like home. It's nice. Little things remind me of you guys, like at dinner there was frog eye salad and people bring up something that reminds me of you, but I'm good. Ayaw Kabalaka! (Don't worry)
Here's my testimony in Cebuano:
Nasayud ko nga tunod ang simbahan. Sa napanalangin ko kinabuhi. Nasayud ko nga nagantus si JesuKristo, ko Manluluwas, para kanato. Si Tomas S Monson mao ang buhi nga propeta. Magtudlo siya gika Dios. Sa ngalan ni JesuKristo, Amen. (I know the church is true. It has blessed my life. I know that Christ, my Redemer atoned for my sins. And that Thomas S. Monson is the true and living prophet. he speaks from God. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen)
Love you all tons and will write more next week, sorry for not explaning a ton. I want to tell you so much more, but know I am in good hands and that I really am loving it here. People have told me that I am really adjusting well, that makes me feel sooooooooo good. It's great! You guys are great and really have made such an impact on me. I don't think I could be here without you, so thanks!!
I miss you like the dog misses his cherry :) hehehe
LOVE YA TONS!!!! Laurel (Sister Riggs)
Oh and i'll send pictures next week. I have been taking quite a few, better than I usually do, so that's great! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
