Hi! (From Grandma)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cris Rivera <ctrivera5@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 23, 2018 at 3:40 AM
Subject: Hi!
To: "smoot.megan@myldsmail.net" <smoot.megan@myldsmail.net>


Dear Megan,

How are you doing in Mindoro?  I haven't been there but I heard it's beautiful there.  I'm sure the traffic is better  than what you have in Quezon City, so that's a plus.  I enjoy reading your emails and glad you're able to practice your piano skills. 

I know it must be hard to be in a different country when everything seems different, the language, the people, the culture.  The food may not be a whole lot different since you have been exposed to my cooking before, but I'm sure mahirap pa rin.  I pray for you everyday that Heavenly Father will guide, protect, and give you strength as you go through and try to adapt to these changes.  When we first came to the United States, we had some adjustments to do also.  We had to stay as a family with one of your grandpa's brother's place and things were hard.  I had to learn how to drive and adjust to my new surroundings and people and we left behind family members and friends.  I had to work and go to school at the same time and your mom, as well as Cherry and Perry, had to go to a new school and learn the language.  Your grandpa left a good job with IBM in the Philippines and find a new job, support the family, etc.  Our church members were different but the gospel was and is the same everywhere.  We had adjusted and we were able to grow with the challenges with the help of God so I hope you will eventually be able to do the same.  You are there for a reason.  There are people there who will come to know The Lord through you and it may not be readily apparent right away, but you will find them.

At the temple today, when I was doing my initiatory assignment, one of the patrons talked to me after the ordinance and asked me if I was filipino.  She said she just came back from her mission in the  Philippines and she served in San Pablo City.  It is in Laguna province where I was from and we briefly talked in Tagalog.  She spoke it really well, like Dave Castleberry.  Makakapagsalita ka rin ng mahusay Basta mag-praktis ka lang.  Just keep talking in Tagalog even if it's not perfect yet.  That's how you learn.  Don't be embarrassed because the Filipinos will appreciate your efforts and will love you for trying to learn their language. 

I will ask my sister to send you some pesos.  I have a bank account there and I'll have her send it to you by one of the carriers like LBC, so I need your address there.  Buy something you need especially food.  So send me your address so I can give it to my sister.

Gotta go for now.  You take care always.  "Stand in holy places" and may The Lord bless you.

Love,

Grandma