Maayo Kaayo!

Kumusta ang Pamilya! Kumusta Ka? Maayo? Maayo ako. Maayo Kaayo. Naghigugma ko sa MTC ug kada usa sa akong pamilya!

Another week has come and gone, what the?! Oh, it's so challenging to get on here and type all of the past week's events! All of the days just kind of mush together so I'll just do my best.

Dad, you are right. I must be living right! Last week we were just sitting in the audience and a volunteer approached us and asked if we would want to sit on the front row of the Devotional. Umm....YES! So yeah, I got to sit on the front row and we had a great speaker, Elder Clarke of the 70. You know, the MTC is not always easy, and that man must have known what I needed to hear right in that moment. Simply amazing.

Let's see. Lima (5) sisters came into our zone this past week, so I have been busy helping them get situated. 4 of them are going to West Virginia. They all came on Wednesday and so I have been busy helping them get acquainted....and answering a billion questions....haha. Then on Sunday we were in our room getting ready for bed when I hear "Is there a Sister Nicole Trayner here?" The front desk is able to page inside of the residency over the intercom....anyway, a new sister came in on Sunday night (to my surprise!). Her name is Sister Seru and she is from Fiji! So we ran down there and did our best to help her settle in. I often think of how grateful I am that I went to China because I know how it feels to be all alone in a completely different culture and how overwhelming it can be. So I have been staying pretty busy with my assignment as Coordinating Sister! It's fun! Anway, tomorrow 7 more Cebuano missionaries are coming! So in total, now 15 missionaries will be learning Cebuano! I know time is going to FLY by....I can hardly remember when the older Cebuano district was here.

My Cebuano is getting better. Which you know, is good and all. I have been reaching my vocabulary goals and I know that this is the time to prepare. I will have no idea what in the world is going on when I get to the Philippines, so I need to study as hard as I can while I have time. You know, I was talking with some Sister friends and they are going to Poland. They try to teach me how to speak Polish, but let me tell you what. I was NOT meant to speak that language, haha. I have a testimony that Cebuano is the language I was supposed to learn. The words felt weird at first, but now I can remember them and they sometimes just fall out of my mouth while I am teaching.I am SO excited to get out there and hit the ground running. I love this gospel so much and speaking Cebuano is actually becoming fun now!

Missionary life can be quite the adjustment but these past few days have been going great. I love both of my teachers so much and I feel that I have learned more here than I have ever learned in my whole life. Spending hours upon hours in a tiny classroom can make me so crazy but I know the Lord has blessed me with so much patience and love for people. I have learned to turn to my Patriarchal Blessing during my hard times here. Never before in my life have I received so much counsel from my Patriarchal Blessing.

Let's see...what else can I say? OH Josh and Britt, those babies are gettin' HUGE!!!!! Oh my chubby goodness. You know, if you get around to it, I would love some hard copies. Jaxson has so much hair. Can I just say how much I miss little kids? I used to play with little kids almost every day for a long time and I miss them. My teachers tell me that I will fall in love with the Filipino kids. So, I guess Josh and Britt are right. I will have the most kids- because I will want to adopt one from every single country. Philippines, Africa, China, Samoa, a Latin baby.....so cute. Also, send my apologies to Maddie and Mercedes. I have been an awful penpal as of late. I will be drawing them some pictures tonight. Promise!

Dad, I have met several missionaries going to McAllen. In fact, one of them stopped me in line! Oh, I am so jealous. Cebu may be the best mission in the world, but I know that Texas McAllen has the best mission president and companion...hands down :)

Okay so guess what??!?!?! Only 3 more emails from the MTC!!!!!!!!!! Please pray for my sanity.

Gipahiuli ni Joseph Smith ang tinuod nga ebanghelyo. Nasayud ko nga si Joseph Smith mao ang propeta ug tinuod ang Basahon ni Mormon. Nasayud ko nga kini ebanghelyo makadala sa kalipay ug sa kalinaw sa kanato. KINI ANG TINUOD EBANGHELYO!!! Nasayud ko nga ang Dios naghigugma kanato ug Gusto ang Dios kita sa pagkaplag sa kamatuoran para sa atong mga kinabuhi!

Love you all,

Sister Nicole Trayner