Dear Family and Friends:

This week we were traveling to our stake center for our Zone Training Meeting and we passed by a fitness gym called "Christ Strength." I think I saw halos over all the people coming out of it...teehee. :)

Another funny thing this week as we were teaching one of our recent converts, Jedrick, who is 9 years old. He was our first baptism just a few weeks ago (after investigators are baptized we go back and reteach them all the lessons). So we finish with the lesson and at the end we asked him if he understood and if he had any questions. He sat and thought for a while. Then he reached over, poked my nose, and asked, "Why is her nose so big with that lump in the middle of it?" We just laughed so hard! My companion explained that Americans have a different bone structure as best as she could to a primary-aged kid. We really love this one. He is super sweet and always surprises us with his spirituality and obviously with his random questions too.

We have another baptism! Well, three actually. One we have to check on this week to make sure he is really converted (we are about 75% sure he is...his girlfriend is the member), but the other two are the sweetest couple! They have been together for 8 years and have 2 sweet little kids, a boy and girl. When we first started teaching them, they were just average Filipinos trying to survive like everyone else. But now they are so different! They are always saying their prayers and reading their scriptures. And I love that they are teaching their kids too. The mother yesterday at Church was telling us about how excited the father was to get the priesthood. He is almost giddy about it! 

Something else I have noticed about the Gospel is that it makes a man more of a gentleman. This isn't the first time I have seen wives more happy in their relationships because of the gospel. It's really neat.  

Anyways, they will be married Sunday, July 26th and then following that they will be baptized. My companion and I are helping out with the wedding and all the arrangements. This will be our last Sunday in the area, as we have transfers on Thursday that week. So we are so happy to be ending on this good note! And now I have even more reason to come back to the Philippines to witness their sealing:)

Other than that, everything is great. My companion and I are sad about transfers because we really love each other. But good thing we have things like email to keep in contact! 

Thank you!

~Sister Lefebvre

Dear Family and Friends:

There is this weird thing going on here in the Philippines. They are selling fake rice.
Basically someone found out how to make little grains of plastic rice and are selling that instead. It's fooled a lot of people I guess. Haha it makes me wonder...is it really easier to make a bunch of little plastic grains of rice than to just grow it in all the huge fields around here that are set up and growing already?

Maybe I don't understand it.

But for the next little bit we have been advised to check our rice to make sure it doesn't belong in a play kitchen first before cooking it. Not the kind of problem I expected to experience here. Maybe it's just some big prank...

Anyways, we found out that after this transfer everyone in our house is being pulled out and they are replacing the sisters with elders. It's weird knowing that I will be transferred again in a few weeks. It's always hard to adjust to a new area and a new companion. But at least we have more heads up this time instead of the typical 2-3 days notice. 

We have 2 couples that will hopefully be married by the end of the month. And that means they can be baptized! We are so excited! Of course it doesn't matter if we are here for their baptism, but it would be nice to get to see it since we found them. But I am more excited for next year when they will be able to go to the temple! That's the end goal, the ultimate covenant. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

~Sister Lefebvre


EXTRA ADVICE FOR MY SISTER LEXIE PREPARING FOR HER MISSION. . .

So I heard this cool metaphor and I thought it would be helpful going into your mission.

As missionaries we are rockets. Before we are launched up into space, we are preparing ourselves, fueling up, gathering all the necessities. And then once we are set apart, it's T-10 and we are off!

That launching symbolizes our commitments we make to be obedient, to follow the white handbook, to listen to our mission president and the promptings of the Spirit. We then are not in the world but we orbit around it. And the more obedient we are, the further we are launched outside the world and our orbit becomes even bigger and further from the world.

Does that make sense? Our goal is to be as far from the world as possible but still orbiting around it. Just be obedient. No matter what. You would be amazed at how much peer pressure there is to break the rules. And these are all people that have been set apart just like you have! Even members will tempt you too. Just remember it's only a year and a half.

Be the best rocket you can be. 

I love you Lexie!

Dear Family and friends:

This week we ran out of water. Like there was nothing. Our water is always weak, but for a few days we didn't have any. I thought that it was hard enough to transition from America to dirty, non-heated water. But when you don't even have any water at all? Wow. 

So we were using the water from our neighbor's front porch out of their spigot. We would fill up our buckets and big water bottles and lug them into the house for everything.

Shower. Drinking. Cooking. Washing dishes. It was messy and wet and inconvenient.

(By the way, I learned that back in the day, if a Filipino wanted to court a girl, he would tow her water in for her. It would have been nice to be allowed to be "courted" for a few days there. Just saying...)

Anyways, when our water was finally fixed I was so excited. I turned on that kitchen sink spigot and just felt so relieved. Take advantage of those little blessings...which aren't so little actually.

Other than that, everything is good as usual. We have about 5 people we are trying to have baptized by the end of this transfer (first week of August). The biggest problem is just that we need to get them married first. There are a lot of live-ins here because divorce actually isn't legal here. So there are people living in and leaving and everything is all mixed up. That makes it especially hard to try to preach the gospel.

There are so many couples that want to get baptized, but they can't afford to get married so they can live the law of chastity to qualify.

It's hard. But as a representative of the God of miracles, I know that if they are faithful, they will be taken care of. The time will come for everyone.

Thank you all!

~Sister Lefebvre

Dear Family and Friends:

So this week I saw my first rainbow parade...if you know what I mean. Thankfully it wasn't too bad. Just kinda silly looking. Rainbow people are actually really common here. Anyways...

Another weird thing that happened was that we experienced a night where I swear we had one of the old Bible Egyptian plagues. We came home and usually we leave the door open for a little bit before we go to bed so that we can cool the apartment out. So we came in, went to our bedroom and changed, and came back out and the apartment was FULL of these moth things. They were swarming around the lights and they were EVERYWHERE. We ran and turned all the lights off while trying not to swallow any extra protein so we can try to get them to leave. But of course they were everywhere still. 

Eventually, the other companionship came home and one of them decided to burn the moths. I was a little worried about it at first, but I guess she's a candle master because by the time we came back out of our room, she had them all gathered up in the corner on the floor, burned to death. And the next morning we went out and the streets were covered with dead moths. It hasn't happened since that one night.

Weird, right?

Other than that, buhay parin (still alive). I'm coming up on my 8 months. It's amazing how fast time moves. You just have to buckle down and do your best and pray that it's good enough. 

I love you all! Thank you!

~Sister Lefebvre

Dear Family and Friends:

My brain and body are so tired, but my heart is so full. I have experienced some of the worst and some of the best things of my life so far here on my mission. It's like I'm on a roller coaster, but blind-folded. That's a scary thing! But at least I'm riding:)
Something hit me yesterday that I hadn't thought of before. As missionaries, we are given a very small amount of money to live on each month. This money is the Lord's. And we are told that we are not to use this money for anything but our basic needs and rent.

But here in the Philippines, there are so many people that go without the basics.

Without a house. Without clothing. Without food.

And there have been a lot who are constantly asking missionaries for money to help them. Many investigators let missionaries in, especially foreigners, because they think we can help them financially and physically or because they heard somewhere that our church is well-off. And it is so hard to look into the eyes of someone you love, even though you don't really know them, and say, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that." They don't understand that is not why we are here.


It made me reflect on how the people back in the Bible times anticipated the coming of a Savior. They expected Him to come and deliver them from being helped captive by the Romans. They were looking to be set free by a great warrior. I wonder how many people turned away from the Savior when they found out He couldn't help them with their captivity. He came to free their souls instead. And that was hard for a lot of people to understand, especially when their physical burdens were clinging to their face.

I have come here with a message and an opportunity to save people in the place of our Savior. I cannot offer them money. I cannot offer them food. But I can offer hope. And as hard as that can be sometimes to turn hungry people away, I know that God can help ease their burdens. He can touch their hearts. He can give them eternal salvation. I just have to do my best to be an instrument for Him and spread his message.

Book of Mormon--Mosiah 24: 12-15

12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.


Thank you for all your prayers and support! This is amazing! I love you all!

~Sister Lefebvre

Dear Family and Friends:

Alright -- this is the week! Our first baptism!

Now let me be clear. The mission is not about baptisms. It's not about numbers or how pretty your planner looks. It's about the people. It's about embracing the opportunity to help your brothers and sisters to come closer to Christ and find JOY. But now this awesome kid is one step closer to Christ by making the choice to enter the waters of baptism. And I am so happy for him. :)
(By the way, sorry I didn't write last week. We got busy and the site wasn't working. Technology is fantastic and fickle.)

Other than that, the work is great. But more than the work, my companion Sister Mina is great. She has taught me so many things lately. She is such a strong person and has given me the chance to grow and stretch in ways I never thought I would experience. One thing I hear her telling me often is

"Being sad is a waste of time. Just be happy. Life is too short to be sad."

Now that's a tatoo-worthy motto isn't it?
(**Side Note** I DO NOT condone tatoos, but if I HAD to get one it would say something like that. I REPEAT, do not get a tattoo -- or draw on your arm with a permanent marker.)  Good mom? ;)

Just trust in God. Remember that He has a plan for everyone.

Every person in your life was put there for a reason, whether they are a good example or a bad one. 

Take advantage of the little things. 

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to express your love.

~Sister Lefebvre

Did not receive an email today. . . Allyson says it wasn't working. Sad!  :(

Thought I would post one of my favorite pictures of her. . .

Sassy pose, face full of attitude, and ready to verbally take on me and the world!

LOVE MY GIRL!!

Dear Family and Friends:

This past week has been full of awesome things. 

First off, summer is finally coming to an end.


FINALLY.


It rained so hard the other day, it was beautiful. When it rains here, not only do people get excited because they are no longer living in an oven, but it is also a free shower for them. Yes. Even the elderly people. They will go outside with their bar of soap and take a free shower. It's quite funny to watch (I promise they are properly clothed). 


Second, I finally get to experience my first baptism! The wait seems to have been an eternity, but it's so worth it. He is 9 years old and his name is Jedrick. He has such clean and pure eyes and a little lisp, and even though that's adorable, I have an even harder time understanding him. But it's okay because we are good friends.


Third, I love my companion, Sister Mina. It is such a blessing to have a companion that you get along with. And that doesn't mean you don't have problems sometimes. But the love just grows stronger every day.

Missions are awesome. Just a quick shout out to my sister Lexie for getting her mission call to Orlando, Florida! I am so happy for her. She will enter the MTC on August 12 (the exact day of my 1/2 mark). And even though I will be sad that I don't get to see her for longer, I am so excited that she gets to experience this life-changing awesomeness too.

Love you Lou!

Thank you for all your prayers and support:)

~Sister Lefebvre

Dear Family and Friends:

You know, lately I have been a little frustrated about living out of the country. Here's the thing. I thought when I came to a cool foreign country like this I would love the new culture. I would love adapting it and I thought I would even spend some of my life back in the country where I served my mission.

That's at least the impression I got from other missionaries that went foreign.

The thing is, I don't think I would ever live here--the humidity is killing me!

I used to be so ashamed to admit that, especially to other Filipinos. I couldn't lie when they asked me, right? Of course there are some things I do like and I think are cool or funny. But in general, I have a hard time with it. And I used to think there was something wrong with me or that maybe I just have a bad attitude.

I then had a little epiphany. I didn't come here to love the culture. I didn't come here to love the way things are done here or to adapt a different lifestyle (besides the missionary lifestyle, of course). I came here to share the gospel, a universal culture. I came here to share with my Filipino brothers and sisters the opportunity to all live together again with our Father. And that's all that matters.

Pray for me to work hard and to be obedient. This time of year the numbers in the Philippines tend to go down because it's so hot and hard to work. But the rain clouds are just around the corner.

We can do it.

Love you all!

~Sister Lefebvre