Update update update!

Mauri!!!

Mauri isnt Ilonggo though, I'm learning Kiribati language:)) 

Anyway. I had a fantastic week. I hit my 9 months! Whoop! And I still feel so new. Ay. I got to say farewell to my trainer. She went home last week:(( I miss her already!

We have an amazing senior couple in our area and they spoil us every once in a while with browines and mexican food;)) Seriously, we made flour tortillas!!! Ahhh! It was magical. We had green enchiladas, fajitas, frijoles charros and spanish rice. And they gave us leftovers and we made it last for a few days. Its all gone now so we need to visit again soon;)

We're having a ton of fun teaching the Torres family. Their 8 year old daughter is so excited to be baptized. She reads her Book of Mormon in between teaching appointments and offers to pray every visit;)) Her older brother Julie(Julie is a boy name here) is also really excited and we just love visiting and teaching them. The spirit is so great with them. We are in need of new investigators so we're having fun just talking to random people. I love my companions attitude. Even though she doesnt understand or speak the lanugage very well, she always shows her love to the people and she can make just about anyone laugh. Makes me feel ashamed of my discouragement and attitude when i was first trying to get it. I've been learning a ton about fishing from her cause in Kiribati all they do is fish and eat it. So Island life is interesting. I would like to try it;) I just hate the mosquitoes. I havent used bug spray since my first area and its been such a blessing that I haven't gotten dengue or something. 

Anyway, we're staying busy in this great work! I love it. I'm staying focused and just giving it my all every second that i'm out here. 

I love you all! 

Thanks for the love and support from friends and family:))

Tiabo!<3

Maayong udto!

Cge, nami gid ang semana ini. Good week this week. Sort of. I've had the flu all week but didnt really pay much attention till about Sunday when I actually had time to sit. We've been working so hard this week trying to find new people to teach and getting our investigators ready for baptism next month:)) We have 5 with a date and I'm so excited for them. I found out this week I'm in the hardest area in the mission with the hardest companion. It came as a huge suprise cause we get along soooo well and have been having so much fun. And the area ROCKS! I really loooove the people so much. I guess it just depends on the missionaries. You just need to get out there and work. Its been great seeing how really nothing can stop this work, not even my weaknesses. Last week I was soo worried about how I would lead this area and help it improve but this week, I've felt so inspired and motivated to really be a useful instrument to the Lord:)) I love this work! Its such a blessing to be here. We're also working with a few youth to prepare them for their missions so we always have people working with us! I love my mission:)) I'm pretty much fluent now. I've learned more this week than I have the past 6 months! Ahhh, exhausted and it feels so good. It was weird that P-Day came so quickly. 

Anyway, having a great time teaching and just dropping the spirit wherever we go. We got invited  by a minister to go to his church and discuss religion. He was really nice and its good to see others have the same desire to serve the Lord regardless of the religion. Should be a fun week!

Hurrah for Israel!

Palangga ko sa inyo tanan!

Okay, let's try again, here's a link to Kassi's phtobucket, let me know if this works!



http://s1152.beta.photobucket.com/user/cassandramartinez89/library/

UPDATE 1/20/13

Maayong aga sa tanan:)

I was feeling a little lazy today but I just have to send out an update to congratulate Claudia! YAy! I'm sooo excited that you are getting married. I'm sorry I won't be there (again). I think i've missed pretty much any important Duran function but I love you all. I am soOo happy! Please send me tons of pictures. Tia Delfina sent me a picture of your invitation and you WOULD do something funny like that. Congratulations! Also, to Lupe! yay! I'll have a cute new baby cousin to hold when I come home. I love and miss you all. I'm sorry I'm missing out but I know this work is important and requires sacrifice and that means missing out on a few things. But I know I will be blessed but mostly, my family because you are all supporting me and being so great about everything. Thank you so much for your love and support. I couldnt be out here without it. 

Crazy week. One of our companions got transferred last week but she'll be back tonight. My Pakistani companion is going home tomorrow morning and I helped her pack all night. I learned some Hindi! And we got to eat fresh, hot, soft tortillas and fajitas. ::sigh:: I miss mexican food. Eating Filipino food isnt the same anymore since that day haha. But I will survive. 

Love you alL!

Here's a link to see a TON of pictures of Kassi!
let me know if anyone has trouble viewing the links!

http://s1152.beta.photobucket.com/user/cassandramartinez89/library/


UPDATE 1/13/13

Maayong Hapon sa tanan!

I am terrible at updates;(

BUt here I go!

Great week. I have two new companions. One is from Pakistan and is going home in a week and the other is from the biggest country in the world, Kiribati! Joke, its really tiny. I cant find a map that shows the island. But anyway, we've been having a blast. I love my new area. I'm in the main City of Bacolod now in an area called Magsungay. Our ward is great. The missionaries have done a lot of work here which is nice. The leaders are really great and I'm excited to be working with them. We have one of the senior couples in our ward and they're so funny! Elder Sinema loves cooking mexican food and we have a dinner appointment on Tuesday so I am SOO EXCITED> I miss real food! hah. An tortillas! Yay! Their house is soo big and their backyard is the ocean. Its pretty awesome.

Anyway, about the memebers. Theyre a ton of fun. We will be eating a ton this week because of my companion that is going home. We have a ton of ward missionaries and its so great working with them. Some of them can teach better than i can! Our Ward missionary leader is soo super nice to us. Maybe cause we're gwapa:) Haha Joke. 

Its still hot, I dont think thats ever going to change. 

We're going to be having 26 new missionaries this next month! So crazy! I'm excited to see all the changes and the new areas opening up. Its so exciting to see so many new missionaries coming in. I finally feel comfortable speaking the lanugage. I even speak it with people who speak english. When I spoke to my family for Christmas, I kept switching to Ilonggo, especially when i was trying to speak to my dad in spanish. My spanish is terrible:(( It makes me sad. I wish I had brought my spanish Book of Mormon. 

Well, I'm excited to see what 2013 has to offer. I hope you are all well and are doing missionary work wherever you are. Its a great responsibility and so important. I love this gospel, its such a blessing. Thank you all for the wonderful encouragement in your emails and letters. Keep them coming:))

I'll continue to send updates whenever I have time! 

I love you all. 

Padayon maging bakod sa inyong pagtuo kay Jesucristo. Kabalo ko nga, buhi na siya kag kabalo ko nag palangga niya kita. 

Halong Kamo

So, I'm a terrible cousin and haven't updated in a while, but Kassi is doing great! I'm going to post her updates from the last few weeks, sorry it's so late!


12/23/12

UPdate

Merry Christmas!

I dont even know how to say that in Ilonggo. Everyone just says it in English.

Its finally cooling down here in  Bago. The wind is so strong sometimes, it freaks me out a little.

Doesnt feel like Christmas but its ok:) We're just going to do a lot of work. Maybe sing a Christmas song or two. 

I hope everyone has a really great Christmas. 

I'm excited for the new year. There will be a TON of missionaries coming in so i'll be suuuper busy. Can't wait!

I hope you all have a really great Christmas with your loved ones.

Love,

Sister Martinez

If anyone wants to send Kassi any Christmas letters or packages here's where to send them! Remember Christmas might be hard for her this year without her family and friends around, let's keep her involved! 

Sister Cassandra Martinez's mailing address:


Letters go to:

Philippines Bacolod Mission
Lacson & Galo Streets
PO BOX 660 Bacolod City
6100 Negros Occidental
Philippines

Packages go to:

Galo st Between Lacson & Mabini
BRGY. 22, Bacolod City
6100 Negros Occidental
Philippines

and you might need this phone number 63-34-433-3001

 

Thanks,

Cory