Pastilan!!

Family!!

Hello there! It's another wonderful Wednesday here at the computer (yes, it now kills my eyes to sit at a computer for 1 hour....not used to it anymore) and I am just so happy to be emailing all of you :) For the last half hour or so my companion and I read about all of the new 58 (YES FIFTY-EIGHT) missions being created. We also read Dad's name under Texas McAllen and I just felt so sad. I don't know why....I guess it's just hard to believe Mom and Dad's time is almost up (which in return means my time is almost up too). I can't believe how fast the work is hastening and I just feel the excitement....my goodness!! The excitement of all this missionary work is just pumping through my veins!!!

Anyway, we had a great week here in Dumaguete/Tanjay areas. We spent about 3 days in Tanjay working with the sisters there....we had only scheduled to be there for just 2 days or so but then one of the sisters had a dental problem so then we had to come back to Dumaguete and then rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Tanjay is soooo beautiful. I am excited to come back after the mish....I will just drive around here in Negros, it is so beautiful!! We worked with two sisters, Sister Delacruz and Sister Neri. It was fun but we are TIRED. Haha all of the work and travel is exhausting. But it is so fun.

Our area is doing great. For some reason like none of our Less-Actives came to church on Sunday which was really disappointing. They all had different reasons but it was kind of disappointing. We've hit kind of a hard spot in our area as far as teaching-wise and with our new responsibilities as "Coordinating Sisters" (We are SO official) we are so busy but with faith I know we will find those people who the Lord has prepared for us to teach. Tonight Sister Houston will travel to another area, Sibulan and I will stay here with a sister coming from Sibulan and we'll work in Dumaguete. We are excited.

The Senior Couple assigned here in Negros did a Home and Visiting Teaching workshop for our branch leaders which was great. It was in english and the next day at church the leaders came and told us they didn't really understand that much....so yeah....it was a great workshop but now they have asked us to do the workshop again for them in visaya. You know, just to add on to the work load....but that's okay! Then the Croppers (the senior couple) took us out to dinner to a REAL restaurant....yeah I felt like this uncivilized jungle lady walking back into civilization. It was a shock and the first time in over a year that I"ve eaten some true Italian food! LAMI!

I hope that all is well back at home. Each week is just flying by. I love my mission!!!! I am hoping to do a round #2....do you think President Monson would give the ok? Haha. But really I am so grateful for these experiences I am having on my mission and I am so thankful that the time has finally arrived that more young women will be able to serve full-time missionaries. Sister Houston and I were talking the other day and I just hope Nate and Josh know that I will literally BRAINWASH their daughters to go on missions. This is the best decision I have ever made and I know that this is what I needed in order to help me on my path to exaltation. Missions are great. The Lord watches over me each day and I feel His love and His care for me and for the people we teach. I never thought as a little girl I would serve a mission ("sister missionaries are weird and grungy looking" attitude), let alone serve a mission in the freaking JUNGLE of the Philippines with all the lizards and frogs and spiders! I often look at my surroundings and think, "how did I get myself here?" The truth is that the Lord put me here. And how grateful I am that I have been assigned to these places that I am serving. That attitude I once had is true--- I am now a weird sister missionary and grungy!! Haha! But I couldn't embrace it more. Being a sister missionary is the best! The Church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. We have a loving father in Heaven. There is a true and living prophet! These things have been engraved on my heart as a full-time missionary. If I had not served, I am not sure if those things would be engraved on my heart.

I love you family. I think of you often and I am so grateful for your love and support!! You are the best. Keep up the hard work Presidente y Hermana Trayner!! Ikaw pod Elder Trayner!!!
Good luck Rach with your interview. Love you Nate,Meg,Josh,Britt, Madeleine, Owen, Mercedes, Tyson, Jaxson!!!! You too Nana, Forrest, Grandma, Grandpa!!!!
Love
Nicole