Week 4!

Hello, 

I'm sure you are wondering more about the storm. We haven't been able to do any service yet, but we found out this morning that we are getting missionaries sent to our mission because the Tacloban mission is closed. Isn't that so bad? their mission is closed, and a ton of our missionaries now have to go home early because we don't have enough room for everyone. President said we won't know how bad the damage is for a few weeks so maybe in a few weeks we will be able to help out. So depressing though, please keep the victims in your prayers. 

This week was great! On Tuesday I had my first exchange, and it was so fun! I was with Sister Palmer- she is from Utah and it was so fun. It seriously felt like a sleepover and I was back home with my friends :) I love exchanges. I actually didn't know that you spend the night in the apartment, I thought you just change companions for a day. That's why it feels like a sleepover, because it is! 

On Thursday we got to go to Urdaneta again for a sister zone study. I love being so close to Urdaneta because then I get to go there for studies and it's so fun! I love visiting the mission home. After our studies we went to lunch at Magic which is the mall.. and I tried Halo-Halo. Halo-Halo is a dessert with ice cream and coconut and a ton of other stuff that I'm not sure what it is exactly but it was good. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it has beans in it and Halo means to mix so your supposed to mix it all up and eat it and when you mix it up not going to lie it looks nasty. Next time I'm not going to mix it! I was good though! I will attach a picture. 

My favorite food so far is Pansit, it's this stir fry noodle dish with chicken or pork, carrots, cabbage, and noodles. So delicious! I had it with the HAlo-Halo, you can see it in the picture. 

Our teaching is going alright. Right now we only have one progressing investigator and he is 9. He lives with a part member family and they want us to teach him so he can be baptized. It's funny, every time we teach him, he brings more and more friends and yesterday we taught like 10 kids, and surprisingly they all listen to us and it's actually a good lesson. The kids are so cute and funny, I love them! We have had to drop a few of our investigators because they aren't progressing. If only they would just come to church.. ugh. But we are determined to find new investigators this week! 

The Tagalog is slowly coming, I learn new things everyday but It's still really hard to understand people. I just try to say what I can and usually it's not very much. 

Top 10 

1.) Halo-Hal0

2.) FHE

3.) Exchanges 

4.) sister studies 

5.) Church

6.) Lesson with Christopher 

7.) P-day!!

8.) PAnsit 

9.) Bus to Urdaneta 

10) ICe cream at 7=11!

Pictures- 

1.) Christopher and his friends. He is right behind me next to the girl in pink!

2.) Lunhc- Halo-Halo and Pansit

Mahal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor

I SURVIVED!

hello, 

I know you are all dying to know if I'm ok. Don't worry, we are all fine. It's funny because none of the missionaries in my area knew about the storm. We all had no idea and I found out from reading all my emails! I guess we got part of it because on Wednesday night it was raining so hard and the wind was blowing like crazy! It was so scary and the trees were blowing on our window in the middle of the night and I swear I thought it actually was a tsunami. But it wasn't and the next morning everything was fine :) 

This week has been great! I have been doing so much better, I have been loving it more and more everyday. It was sort of a slow week with our teaching because almost all of our appointments backed out on us and every time we do a preach by the way and ask if we can share a message they tell us to come back. So we come back and they say to come back again. It's frustrating- especially because I still don't know what's going on half the time. Also people just stare and stare and stare. It's kind of annoying, and the men always say "hello madam" or "hi Ma'm". I'm not sure if they are doing it to be funny or not but it's funny to me! I wish you could see it when I walk down the street, it's almost like i'm a celebrity or something. That's really how I feel sometimes! 

I haven't had to eat anything crazy yet thank goodness. We rarely have dinner appointments so I don't have to force anything down, except we have one this week so we will see what happens. 

Ok, funny story about one of our lessons this week. Chickens just run wild everywhere, especially around the houses. There are so many and a ton of cute baby chicks that run wild and free it's crazy. Anyways were teaching a lesson to our investigator and I look over and these two chickens are fighting. They are jsut pecking at each other and flapping their wings all crazy and it was so hilarious. The best part is that a group of kids were standing around them watching the chickens fight and they would pick up the chickens and make them get mad at each other. I wish you could have seen it. It took everything in me not to bust out laughing. I guess that's what they do for fun! Chicken fights! 

Friday was so great because we had new missionary training in Urdaneta. It was so good to see all of my MTC buddies! I really miss seeing them. I love President Monahan, he always gives the best insights. Everything that was said was exactly what I needed to hear. one thing he said that I loved was " If your not having trials, then your not an Urdaneta missionary". and he said " You can't be successful if you don't have trials". I know that that's true because I just experienced it the last 2 weeks, I have been on my kneels the last few weeks and I promise you that if you are having a trial that you will be able to be stronger from it. I promise, just trust the lord, he knows you better than you know yourself. Trust that he has a plan for you. 

Sorry I am out of time so no pictures or top 10! 

thanks for all the support and prayers. 

MAhal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor

Week 2!

Hello, 

I survived another week! I don't know how, but I did. I say that mainly because I am really struggling with the language. It's so hard, and when sister Gomez and I teach, I try to use Tagalog as best I can and every time the investigator says "It's ok sister, you use english I understand". So then I use english and it turns into taglish because I want to practice and they just laugh at me, it's so embarrassing. So I'm not really sure when I will get the language. I actually like using english because then I can get my message across clearly instead to extremely choppy Tagalog. 

This week was long. My area isn't that exciting, it's just a little city 30 mins from Urdaneta so we aren't by the ocean or anything. We just go out and find people to teach, it's hard work. Especially when you don't know what's going on. I swear some days I am doing so great and I actually know what my companion is saying in the lesson and others I have no clue what is going on or what anyone is saying. It's a disaster, but I am just trying to have the faith that the language will come eventually. 

On Wednesday we went to a birthday party for a little girl in our ward. It was so fun, they had a feast! Seriously, so much food! On birthdays, they always have spaghetti- the Fillipino spaghetti is like a sweet and spicy taste with hot dogs and bacon, sounds weird but it's delicious! They had chicken of course and a bunch of others things that I wasn't sure about. They also had music blasting.. it was so fun! They love to party! 

I am slowly adjusting, I  love my apartment because our neighbors like to blast music super loud almost every morning and they play good songs too. This week they played the Josh Groban Christmas CD.. I love that CD so much! It made my week.. but it also made me super homesick. :( We haven't had too many bug problems in our apartment yet, thank goodness. But if we do we have this bug spray-Permitox.. it kills anything! I love that stuff. I really only see big bugs and spiders when we are out teaching. I saw a spider the size of my hand as we were walking down the street. Scary. 

Friday and Saturday we had to be in by 6pm because it was "all souls day" which I guess  is like their Halloween. It was so fun, we got Jollibee which is like MCdonals, I swear they have on every corner, and we watched movies! Gospel movies of course! It was great, we live with 2 other sisters, sister Brown and sister Stokes, they are both from America and they both love Disney just as much as I do so we always talk about Disney. It's great! 

Not much else happened this week, I am still trying to adjust and get used to how things are here. I will try and send pictures too.. I don't know why but the computer won't read my card. Anyways I will try because I want you to see my beautiful apartment! 

TOP 10

1. MCdonalds last P-day!

2. Josh Groban music

3. Lumpia (my comp is a great cook!)

4. FHE

5. CUrfew!

6. Birthday party

7. Zone meeting

8.Ice cream from 7-11

9. Church 

10. P-DAy!!!

1. my apartment 

2. birthday party!

my shower!!!!

MAhal kita, 

sister Chancellor

Kumusta sa Pilippinas!!

Hello! 

Well, I made it.! What an adventurous week it has been. I love the Philippines, it's such a unique culture. I guess you could describe as an Asian Hawaii, sort of. The people are so nice and humble. Everyone drives like a madman, I can't understand anything and I've got rice coming out of my ears. Pretty much everything is out of my comfort zone, but I will get there. 

On Wednesday we landed in Manila around 10:30 pm, and we stayed the night at the airport hotel. The next morning we rode a bus to Urdaneta and President Monahan was there to greet us. We stayed at the mission home for 2 nights because transfers are on Friday's. It was fun, one night they had a few lady's from the ward cook for us and it was the most delicious food I've had. They made lumpia and it was to die for! Way better than American Lumpia. (sorry mom!) Oh man it was so good, of course we had rice, Pankain, some chicken dish, and rolls. For dessert we had Mango Graham. It's layers of graham crackers and sweet cream with mango on top. Deliciuous! 

Friday was transfer day and I met my companion, Sister Gomez! She is adorable and she's from the Philippines. When president announced sister Gomez and I, he said those two were a match made in heaven. It was so cool! We get along really well and she is such a great trainer. I'm sure I will soon find out what president meant when he said that. My first area is Sto. Thomas B, Rosales. It's a city close to Urdaneta and it's great, I love it so far. 

After transfers we went to our apartment and unpacked and then we went out for Pizza Hut, it was delicious! Our apartment is pretty small and when I first saw it, i'm not gonna lie I was freaked out, but I'm getting used to it. We shower with a bucket in this tiny bathroom with like 2 feet of space between you and the toilet. Our kitchen is tiny too, I will try to send pictures. Thank goodness I haven't had any problems with bugs yet... yet. I've only seen one cockroach so far and it was outside and I just about had a panic attack.Eww they are sooo nasty.. and huge. Ew EW Ew!

After we unpacked we had a teaching appointment, I was so nervous. It was going good, I wasn't talking much and then middle of the lesson a bat starts flying around. Scariest thing of my life. They only had one light bulb, and I swear I thought it was going to attack me. We have been teaching a lot of lessons and I've having a really hard time. It's true that once you get here you don't know a thing. I hate to say it but I feel like I didn't even go to the MTC because I don't remember squat. It's been really really hard to adjust to this culture and not knowing anything. President Monahan told us that in order to be successful, you have to go through the difficult times first. I just keep telling myself that. This is by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Many times I was doubting why I came and why I'm here, but I know the lord will help me and that if I can just get through the next few months then I will be ok. I know that great things await me. 

The kids are so cute and they love the missionaries, they see us and say "HI sister" and to me they say "what is your name?" "are you English?" it's pretty hilarious! Other than the fact that I don't know what's going on half the time, I am having the time of my life. It's so fun. I love the Philippines and the culture. 

Here is my address 

Sister Katie Chancellor

Philippines Urdaneta MIssion

P.O box 7 

Brgy. San Vicente East

Urdaneta City 

Pangasinan 2428

Philippines

TOP 10- Highlights of the week 

1. Landing in Manila!  

2. Lumpia at the mission home

3. meeting sister Gomez

4. My first ride in a trike

5. First lesson

6. PIzza Hut!

7. We gave out 3 book of Mormons this week

8.First Bucket shower

9. I tried a "hot dog"- Nasty..(it's not a hot dog! )

10. driving to Urdaneta

sorry this letter is really scattered but there is so much I want  to say but I am almost our of time and I haven't ready any of my other emails yet :(

also I can't figure out how to attach pictures:( I will try to manage my time better next week 

Mahal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor 

Goodbye America!

Goodbye America!

"GOD BLESS AMERICA"!

Just kidding, but seriously I am sort of freaking out here. I leave on Monday. Monday.. What the...

oh! My flight plans have changed. I am going to LA, then Tokyo, then Manila. No more 8 hour layover.. thank goodness. But there is a con, all of my connections are really close so I'm not sure if I will be able to call home :( But no need to worry, I will figure out a way to make it happen! 

It literally seems like my MTC time was like 2 weeks. Missionary time is so weird.

 My experience at the MTC has been really great though. Besides the fact that I've gained like 10 pounds, I have learned and grown so much. I remember how I felt when we pulled up to the curb. Holy crap my heart was beating so fast it was crazy.. I was a deer in headlights for sure. Haha I really wish I could see my face that first day.  I have grown so much in the last few weeks, it's incredible. I am so grateful for all of the people I've been able to meet, they have had a major impact on my stay at the MTC. My most memorable moment at the MTC would have to be General Conference. I will never forget how strong the spirit was throughout those days. There's nothing like being a missionary, it the greatest thing ever. I am going to miss the MTC so much. But, I am on to bigger, and better, and scarier things! 

On Tuesday we had Dallin H. Oaks of the twelve apostles come a speak to us! It was a great experience. We got so lucky, having him come right before we leave. The devotional was broadcast live to all the MTC's around the world! It was so cool. I love when he said this 

"Your time belongs to the Lord, don't waste it".

 That really stuck with me because it's so true. I mean 18 months really is like nothing. Some days I think 18 months is all I get? and other days I think 18 months is FOREVER! IN reality though, it's not long at all. I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the opportunity I have to be a missionary. So far, it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I know that it will only get better form here. I came across a scripture in 3 Nephi 5:13 it says

 "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life".

I'm going to be honest, I am scared out of my mind for the Philippines. But I have been called of God, and I know without a doubt that there are people in the Philippines waiting for ME to find them and share the gospel with them. I know that I have been called there for a reason and I am going to find those people. I need them and they need me. I cannot wait to share my love for the gospel with them and bring them the happiness that it brings me. 

We have been told that there was a major flood and earthquake in the Philippines, I'm not sure how bad it is but Brother Cohen got an email from his mission president and it said the they will be without power for 2 weeks. So I might be in that situation and I'm not sure if I will be able to email next week. Just know that I didn't die. I think... I hope. This is going to be the longest and hardest week of my life, guaranteed. But I know I can do it, and I know Heavenly Father will help me. I can do it because I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. It's also guaranteed that I will have to speak in church on Sunday. That's going to be hilarious.. I wish you all could be there to see me completely butcher it. 

Here is the mission home address: 

Sister Katie Chancellor

P.O Box 7

Brgy San Vicente East

Urdaneta City, Pangasinan

2428

Philippines

TOP 10

1.) Elder Oaks

2.) My new nickname is Sister Chancy 

3.) I met 2 Sisters from Urdaneta this week!

4.) I met a sister from Norway this week!

5.) I saw sister Laskie- an old roomie from fall semester!

6.) I got 2 packages :)) Thank you!!

7.) Pizza for dinner last night

8.) last temple day today 

9.) LAST WEEK HERE! 

10.) Last American anything!!

 

Mahal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor

Pictures- Our teachers 

1.) Brother Ward

2.) Brother Cohen- that's a sing in the PHilippines for handsome :) 

Kumusta and Happy One Month!!

Can you believe that I have been out for one month?! Seriously, where has the time gone?. 

Your not going to believe this but WE ARE MOVING BACK. Yep you heard me, We are moving back to Main Campus. The Lord is testing my patience. We are moving on Tuesday, so that will be all fun and games again! Yipee! 

Alright, on to better things.. It's true. Watching General conference in the MTC is AMAZING. Holy cow, it's just so great because all the missionaries gathered in 19M and it was so special because there was a distinct spirit there with us. Like I said, I've never watched all 4 sessions before but the second the first session started I could not contain myself. for some reason I was just crying. As president Monson entered the room, we all stood up and it became dead silent and the spirit hit me like a ton of bricks. I will never forget how strong the spirit was all through conference that weekend. President Monson is a man of God, he is a true prophet. I just love him so much! Also, if you didn't see Russell M Nelson's talk during the Sunday PM session go watch it. That was my favorite talk, it was so good! My favorite quote was from Elder Holland's talk when he said "If the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong". I love that. Elder Holland is one of my favorites. 

I was already having a marvelous weekend with conference and then Sunday night's devotional we had BYU VOCAL POINT come!! I just about died. Talk about distracting sister missionaries. Whew... They have voices of angles and they sang all of my favorite songs. It was the best moment in the MTC so far. If you haven't listened to Vocal Point then go find them. You won't regret it.  I promise. 

Yesterday I received my flight plans! I leave on October 21 and I fly to Los Angeles, I have an 8 hour layover there, and then we head straight to Manila from LA. I am soo excited! JUST 9 DAYS! It's getting down to the wire now. I thought that I would be freaking out about the language but I'm not. I actually feel pretty confident, I can understand more than I can speak which I don't know if that's a good or bad thing but I know that once I get there it will start to come faster because I will be immersed in the language. 

It has also been a great week in class. I have been learning so much and every time my companion and I teach we get so much better. It's amazing how much progress I can make just within a few days. The gift of tongues is so real.

Well, this week I am just going to study my heart out and try to reach my goals. My goal sbefore I leave the MTC are to memorize the first vision in Tagalog and be able to share a strong testimony in Tagalog. I think I can do it. Here is some of what I already have.. 

Alam ko po na Si Jesucristo ang ating Tagapagligtas at Si Jesucristo ang ating Manunubos. Alam ko po na Totoo ang ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo at Totoo ang Aklat ni Mormon. Alam ko po na Ang Aklat ni Mormon ay naglalamanng ng kabuuan ng ebanghelyo at Ang Aklat ni Mormon ay naglalaman ng salita ng Diyos. 

Also it would be so great if you  could start sending things to the mission home now so that I have it when I get there. It  takes about 2 weeks for letters to get to the Philippines. Sorry I don't have the address with me but it should be on my blog. 

And here is my new address for Main Campus

Sister Chancellor 

OCT 21 PHI-URD

2011 N. 900 E. Unit 235 

Provo, UT 84602

TOP 10 

1.) VOCAL POINT

2.) FLIGHT PLANS 

3.) General Conference

4.) I'm going to the temple today :) 

5.) I got to take a nap this week and it was GLORIOUS 

6.) Teaching our investigators 

7.) Only 17 months left! :) 

8.) Last night our teacher rapped for us in Tagalog- it was sick!

9.) I love gym time- I get to go running! 

10.) Class with brother Cohen is always so fun! 

Mahal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor 

Pictures- 

1.) Waiting for Vocal Point 

2.) Flight PLans- HOlla!!

 

Happy General Conference!

Hello, 

Happy General Conference! I am so excited for conference because I keep hearing that conference in the MTC is amazing! It better be because sitting all day in uncomfortable chairs does not sound appealing. But it will be better because SECRET CONFESSION- I have never watched all of the sessions of general conference before. Ever, which I do feel sort of guilty about but at least I watched some of them right?! I want to invite all of you to pray about general conference before watching it. Pray that you will be able to receive answers and revelation, ask what it is that you should know. I promise if you do, then conference will be a great experience for you! Also try to watch ALL of the sessions. Don't be a slacker like me :) 

Just another great week at the MTC! I'm sorry that my emails are so boring, but you know nothing too exciting happens here. We literally just have class all day and go to the cafeteria for meal times and then to bed and we start all over! Some days are most definitely harder than others but that's the whole experience of the MTC. It's sort of an emotional roller coaster.  

The Tagalog is coming along. Of course I am always frustrated with myself because I know what I want to say but I can't say it in Tagalog. It's so hard not to get down on yourself. One of the sisters in my district told us that all that matters is that you improve each day. As long as you know more than you did the day before you'll be fine. I have really been trying to focus on that this week. It's helped me a lot, I'm just trying to make the most of my time at the MTC because I know I will really miss it once I leave. By the way I get my flight plans next FRIDAY! Say what?!! yeah I'm freaking out and I haven't even got them yet. Leaving the MTC is going to be very bittersweet. But I don't need to worry about that yet. I still have 17 days left :) 

TOP 5 (only 5 because it was so boring! ) 

1.) I got so many dearelders. Thanks so much! It really makes my week :) 

2.) I got to eat at Great Harvest and it was SOBRA MASARRAP!

3.) Both of our investigators have committed to reading the BOM.!

4.) Mission Conference on Sunday was so uplifiting. 

5.) Feeling the spirit so strong everyday is such a blessing!

I really am sorry that this email stinks. I promise next wee will be better. Because it is so boring here are some lively pictures of myself and some sisters in my district! 

Mahal Kita, 

Sister Chancellor 

Pictures- Sister missionaries at your best :)