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So this week started off better than the last.. Even though we had appointments that feel through we still had 5 lessons and FHE by weds. More than we had last week. So we decided since our last appointment on Weds fell through and we hadn't had dinner yet we would treat ourselves to some ice-cream and fries. We went to bed and the next morning when we woke up both Sister and I weren't feeling too good. We had a lot of the same symptoms that all of our investigators have had for the last 3 weeks. Fever, headache, sinus infection, etc.. We didn't work Thrusday, friday we were both still sick so we got blessings. I started feeling better, sister was still pretty sick. I was going to go out and teach some of our appointments, but we couldn't find two women that could work with me and stay with sister so I stayed inside for another day.. Sunday we did go to church it was good to get out! But it wore sister out so we went home for the rest of the day... In the first two days I went through our stack of 75ish Liahonas/Ensigns/New Eras..Saturday I started over.. I wasn't bored at all!! I didn't get a lot of letters written though so that was fun.. As I was going through the New Eras it was fun because I came across a few issues that were about people that I know.. Small "mormon" world we live in.. even when you are on the other side of the world!!
Today, I woke up with a sore throat, I am kind of loosing my voice. And sister is slowly getting better. We are just hoping that the same thing that happened to most of our investigators doesn't happen to us.. They would get better for a day or two and then crash again.. We can't afford that, there are TOO many people to find and teach, and little time as it!! But your prayers must have worked because it never hit me as bad as it did my companion, which I am grateful for!!
Transfers are this thursday, I don't know what to expect. I very well could get transferred so sister can train again.. or she could leave and I could stay.. or we could get pulled. It will be interesting to see what happens!!
Sorry, the last few weeks haven't been exciting to write to about.. We have just been doing our best to laugh at everything, especially when we get discouraged, many times a week we find ourselves laying on our kitchen floor laughing either right before or right after we pray.. It's great.. there is a song that we have adopted as our theme song, "A Call I hear" it is on one of my EFY cd's. You should find it and listen to it.. it is my mission..so far..and I am pretty sure the rest will come with time!
Oh yeah, we were teaching a lesson earlier this week.. first of all this family that we are teaching has these cool wooden chairs but the one that my comp usually sits in has holes that mice like to go down. I have seen them go down in these holes during a few lessons there, but I don't tell sister until after we leave.. well on tuesday when we were teaching I saw it again, but I just sat quietly, laughing inside..then when I was teaching a principle, I trying to focus on my Tagalog and simplifying it so that the 8 year old and the mother as well as the other two kids would all understand me. All of a sudden my companion starts to squim.. I had forgotten about the mouse.. Then she starts to mumble something, I think that I had said something wrong.. Then she starts to get out of her chair and the kids start to laugh.. the mouse had crawled across her and landed in her bag for a few seconds... Yeah I totaly forgot what I was saying at that point in the lesson..
Then there was Sunday school.. Our branch mission leader was teaching, the Cauilan's were there as well as two recent converts.. anyway, the lesson was tithing.. this is what I learned from his lesson:
1. The prophet Elijah caused a drought for 3.5 years. After the 3.5 years the people still had plenty of food, but they didn't have water..so he built an alter to pray to god and if the people would all bring 5 tubs of water to pour over the alter their faith in god would stop the drought. But then there was a down pour and problems because there was too much water.
2. They were talking about rice and and ulams that Cain and Abel brought as sacrifices.. it was funny it was like a Filipino twist to the Bible..some how it got on the subject of how Abels father (not Cain's) was Jacob.. Yeah that was our Methodist investigator...
Have the time we weren't even on the subject of tithing.. Sunday school is always a suprise when brother Raffy teaches!!!
Well I better go! I love you all. Thank you for your prayers, the Lord really is looking out for me!!
Love,
Sister Eveland
Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership
There are some days where as a mother you my think to yourself "Do they even hear me?", "Am I only here to pick up, wipe bums, cook, and drive?" There are days I loose my patience, and others where I have probably lost my tongue. There are days where I just want to curl up or walk away. I know I am not the only one, but at times I can make myself believe that I am the only mother going through these types of days. I start to compare myself to the other moms around me. You know the ones. The one with a spotless house. The one that never raises her voice or looses her mind. The one that has a fresh plate of cookies waiting for her kids when they arrive from school. The one that makes play dresses and forts and acts like a pirate with her kids. The more I think that she exists the more I realize that I am that mom too. I may not be it ALL the time, but I do try to be. We can't be all those things at once. There are days when the house has to be left a mess in order to make cookies with the kids or go out and enjoy a day at the beach looking for a pirate treasure. We are all THAT mom. EVERY mom has her troubles and trials with her children. In fact the older my children get the more I have. I know that there will be lots of ups and downs. But isn't it the downs that make us really appreciate those ups?
Recently a really good friend sent me a video that reminded me of my work as a mother. There are times that I forget that I don't have to do it alone. And by all means I don't with a wonderful husband. However, even when you do have a great companion by your side you need MORE help. That help only can come from the partnership of the Lord. Our work as mothers is a sacred one. One that our Father in Heaven as intrusted us with. One that he promises to help us fullfill if we remember him and allow him to. Thank you April for reminding me this by sending me the video.
It doesn't take long to quickly spiral and think that our work is unappreciated or feel that we are invisible.
Just this morning I was given an email by a woman at church. I don't know how many people she sent it too. I don't know if she just clicked an email list and sent it out in mass form. But I do know that I needed to hear it. I don't know who else needs to hear it, but I do know that there is someone out there who feels the same way I do at times and so I am going to share the email with you. I have also included the video that was given to me by my dear friend.
I do know that my work is worth it as a mother. I can see that it is when I see the joy in my children's eyes. I feel it in thier hugs and their their tender kisses. There is no other calling in this world that can replace that of being a mother. I know that at times it is hard. I know that at times it is lonely. But those times of trials are what remind me to get on my knees and ask for help. Those times I feel closest to my Savior and my Father in Heaven.
Recently a really good friend sent me a video that reminded me of my work as a mother. There are times that I forget that I don't have to do it alone. And by all means I don't with a wonderful husband. However, even when you do have a great companion by your side you need MORE help. That help only can come from the partnership of the Lord. Our work as mothers is a sacred one. One that our Father in Heaven as intrusted us with. One that he promises to help us fullfill if we remember him and allow him to. Thank you April for reminding me this by sending me the video.
It doesn't take long to quickly spiral and think that our work is unappreciated or feel that we are invisible.
Just this morning I was given an email by a woman at church. I don't know how many people she sent it too. I don't know if she just clicked an email list and sent it out in mass form. But I do know that I needed to hear it. I don't know who else needs to hear it, but I do know that there is someone out there who feels the same way I do at times and so I am going to share the email with you. I have also included the video that was given to me by my dear friend.
I don't know how to upload the video onto blogger so just click on the above link and it will take you there.
The Invisible Mother.....
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, theway one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phoneand ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you seeI'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, orsweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, becauseno one can see me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days Iam only a pair of hands,nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tiehis? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm aclock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's myphone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and theeyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they haddisappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going,she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return ofa friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sittingthere, looking around at the others all put together so well.
It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feelingpretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrappedpackage, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the greatcathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read herinscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are buildingwhen no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I woulddiscover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, afterwhich I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the greatcathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gavetheir whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They madegreat sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of theirbuilding was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit thecathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving atiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam thatwill be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workmanreplied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It wasAlmost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see thesacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcakeyou've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too smallfor me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, butyou can't see right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. Asone of the people who show up at a job that they will never seefinished, to work on something that their name will never be on. Thewriter of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals couldever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing tosacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friendhe's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes aturkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' Thatwould mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want tocome home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend,he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen ifwe're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the worldwill marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that hasbeen added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.To all the wonderful mothers out there!!
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, orsweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, becauseno one can see me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days Iam only a pair of hands,nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tiehis? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm aclock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's myphone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and theeyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they haddisappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going,she's going, she's gone!?
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return ofa friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip,and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sittingthere, looking around at the others all put together so well.
It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feelingpretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrappedpackage, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the greatcathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read herinscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are buildingwhen no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I woulddiscover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, afterwhich I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the greatcathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gavetheir whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They madegreat sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of theirbuilding was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit thecathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving atiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam thatwill be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workmanreplied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It wasAlmost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see thesacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcakeyou've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too smallfor me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, butyou can't see right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. Asone of the people who show up at a job that they will never seefinished, to work on something that their name will never be on. Thewriter of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals couldever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing tosacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friendhe's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes aturkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' Thatwould mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want tocome home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend,he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen ifwe're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the worldwill marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that hasbeen added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.To all the wonderful mothers out there!!
May God give you...For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
I do know that my work is worth it as a mother. I can see that it is when I see the joy in my children's eyes. I feel it in thier hugs and their their tender kisses. There is no other calling in this world that can replace that of being a mother. I know that at times it is hard. I know that at times it is lonely. But those times of trials are what remind me to get on my knees and ask for help. Those times I feel closest to my Savior and my Father in Heaven.
Sister Eveland...Look at me I carry
by Patrick Appel
Kumusta po kayo?
Ayos lang dito.
This week was, well I am still here and working hard, that is all that matters right?
I don't really know what to say about this week so I will just share some of the things that my companion and I said..
"I wish we would be cute sister missionaries too, and not look like we have rubbed ourselves in butter all day"
-I said this to sister Resendes as we took a 10 min break in front of the fan with ice candy, having been out for two hours, having walked and walked and panted with no lessons. I had been looking at a picture that sister Babb had sent me from NY, they looked cute and here we were sitting our couch looking like we had literally rubbed butter on our faces..We looked greasy and were sweaty like non other..
-Me "Looking at my legs you would tink the hair would be a lot longer than it is seeing as I haven't shaved in 11 weeks"
-Sister (after looking at here legs) "you would think mine would be.."
-Me " Sister you just shaved two weeks ago.."
-Sister "yeah and give it another week and a half and my hair will out grow yours for the third time"
No joke, this all true....
"How hot does it have to be to have the things in your freezer start melting before you even really get them out?"
-Sister Resendes.. No one here ever knows how hot it is. But it has to be some what hot because if we wait more than 30 seconds to break our ice candy it's too late! So if you want to know what I could use, it would be a themometer!!! It has been SOOOOOO hot!!
No time but I loev you all. Thanks for everything!!
Love,
Sister Eveland
This girl cracks me up. No reserve does she. Maybe if she knew that I was posting her letters for the world to see she would choose otherwise. Maybe not cause she is just totally Bailey.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
When the Weather gives you Fog...Head to the Lake! Then make a trip to FORKS!
Yesterday some family that I haven't seen in probably 6 years came to visit. We decided what better place to take them than Salt Creek. We love Salt Creek. It was beautiful when we left home, but when we arrived at Salt Creek the fog had still not burned off and the wind was extremely breezy. We left hoping to have better luck up the road at the Lake. So after about a 15 min ride we arrived at Lake Cresent with the warm sun shining upon us. It was WARM and so was the water. The kids had a blast playing in the shallow end of the lake. Why haven't I taken them there before? Another reason I LOVE the place we live.
Aunt Mary and Doble
You can't come all the way up to the peninsula and not go to Forks if you are a Twilighter. I had so much fun going on a girls trip with two of my Aunts, and cousins. Thanks Betsy for coming up with the great idea to head to Forks and get all giddy over Twilight.
What happens in Forks stays in Forks.
Don't worry Aunt Mary I won't tell Uncle Bradd
Your secrets safe with me
This one is for you Stacy
Kalaloch 2010
KALALOCH 2010
On Sunday evening we returned from our yearly Kalaloch camping trip. This year the weather was better than it had ever been. We actually had to coat the sunblock on the kids everyday. Each day we spent time down on the beach and every day the kids were in swimming trunks. We had so much fun that I was willing to stay back with the kids alone a few more days if I would have had a site to stay on. Bear with all the picutres there were just so many to choose from.
Day 1 Kalaloch Beach
I was surprised the kids actually got into the ocean after Shark Week, but they each had fun in the waves. Doble loved running from the waves. Lil' E actually tried a boogie board and Razy loved getting dirty in the muddy sand. It took Razy a bit to let daddy take her into the waves.
Day 2 Beach 4
The illusive smelt wasn't so illusive this year. It has been about 3 or maybe even 4 years since we have gotten any smelt down at Beach 4. This year they were just pouring in with the massive waves. The kids weren't too excited about these waves. Doble even got knocked down and if it weren't for his cousin he may have even been swept away. He only suffered a minor face plant into the sand. JBody was out in the water up to his waste and even caught a smelt with his bare hands. Think that is cool? He actually caught 4 with his bare hands. Even cooler...I caught 5 with my bare hands. I thought that was impressive, but a nephew caught 22. It was alot of fun and well worth getting soaked.
Sunset at Kalaloch Beach
When you are down at the beach you have to enjoy atleast one sunset. Not a better night to do so. No wind, warmth, and a beautiful sunset. The kids played in the sand, while JBody and I chatted with family.
Day 3 Back to Kalaloch Beach
Every day when you go down the beach, things change. One day the tide is way up. Other days the tide is way out and there are little pools to play in. Today the kids had fun playing in the pools that the tide left behind. The kids pulled out the boogie boards again today and had a bunch of fun pulling eachother around and slippin across the water pools.
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