Are you my ex-boyfriend?

There are two companionships of sister missionaries in Aparri.  This week while the other sisters were working in their area, they met a young man who was about 20 years old.  As we often do as missionaries, they asked him if he had ever met any other missionaries.  He said, "Yes.  Do you know Sister Copeland?"  Of course, they replied in the positive.  Then he said, "Well, she's my ex."  To make it clear, missionaries do not date and do not have boyfriends or girlfriends.  We are very focused on our work.  I have yet to find who this mysterious ex-boyfriend of mine is, but until then, I will just have to wonder.


Speaking of the other sister missionaries,Sister Bagonbon and I have been very grateful for their help this week.  One night they related to us an experience they had earlier that day.  They were on the boundary of their area and a small girl walked up to them.  She knew they were missionaries and that missionaries shake hands, so she put out her hand to them.  The missionaries tried to ask her where she lived and where her family was, but the girl blankly stared.  After taking her by the hand and finding the closest adult, they soon were informed that she is deaf and mute.  As the sisters continued to share their story, they said that this girl was not just "special," but that she was an angel.  They found out that she lived near the beach in our area and they told us that we had to find her family.

The next day Sister Bagonbon and I began our search.  We did not know how we were going to find the girl; all we knew was that she lives near the beach.  We went to the shore and found a man and asked her where the deaf girl lives.  He said, "Turn around," and she was right there.  I took her hand, said a silent prayer that we could find her home, and she guided us right to her house.  She was moving so fast it was hard to keep up. She is an angel.  She listened intently both times that we have shared with her grandmother.  We will go back and share with her family this week.  I do not know why this girl desires for us to share with her family so much.  She cannot even communicate, but somehow she knows that we have a message that her family needs.  The two times we have shared with her grandmother, she has sat and "listened" intently.  She cannot hear, but she can feel.  She feels the love of our Father in Heaven in the message we bear.  

A lot of miracles happen in missionary work.  This week the Mabbun family is preparing for their baptism that is only 2 weeks away.  Sister Mabbun is sharing the gospel will her coworkers and students of her class at school.  Reymart, our new investigator, is reading at least 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon each day.  He cannot read the book fast enough.  And maybe the biggest miracle is that rainy season has begun and we are proselyting in the floods, lightning, and thunder; yet, we always have someone to share with and we are always safe.

P.S.  All that pink stuff is dried shrimp.  Delicious.