She's Chillin' in da Philippines!

Well, Jessie made it to the Philippines safe and sound...

Here is her first email from there and some pics...enjoy!...


hey fam bam!!!

so i finally made it here, today is my first pday. They actually eased me into working very nicely. This was the perfect weekend to come here. We got into Manila wed. morning (we skipped all of tues in the air) and then me and Elder Alger took a four hour bus ride to Olongapo- it was so miserable, i was so tired. then we had a half hour ride to the mission home. they let us stay the night there, i stayed in their "general authority" room. vip treatment, with TP and everything!! then we spent most of thurs at the mission home, getting to know the three other filipino missionaries that came in with us, they were soo nice! we took pics, had orientation and a devotional and ate lots of good food.

then the AP's drove us to my first area- Balanga. I'm in the Apollo ward, I live in Maria Fe. It's busy here, more like a city, some parts are very rural, but were by a "highway" haha. the church is only a block away which is nice. My companion is Sister Boswell- an american! She's the only other one and she leaves in 6 weeks, so then I'll be the only american. but we live with two other filipinas, ones a branch missionary and the other is sister policarpio, i really like her, she is sassy and funny. I love our investigators. Especially one sister, adelfa, she's a member, but her husband read something in the BOM he didn't like and now will not let their family go to church. she wants to go so bad but he will leave her if she goes and there's really no such thing as divorce, so we visit with her to make her feel better and she's given us like 4 referrals for her area.

their homes are humble, not the size of a porta-potty- at least not here, but def dirt floors a few plastic chairs just out of cement blocks. but none of this bothers me. what has been bothering me is that there is so much i want to say to them and even tho most of them understand english, i know if i could just speak tagalog i would be able to relate to them so much more. i get self-conscious about speaking tagalog, i've been teaching in english, but its hard because i want to do it tagalog i just don't have the vocabulary.

we actually have a nice place! we have a shower with a head, i am so so grateful for that!! we had a tiny bit of tp left, my trainer still uses that thank goodness, but normally ill go to the bathroom and then shower after because you hardly use any tp.

supposedly this area is the hardest one in the mission, the people are a lot more stubborn and hard headed because its more of a city. so everything after this is going to seem like a piece of cake! i am so nervous here, just talking to people, i can start a conversation but i cant keep it going so i don't like starting one at all, but it'll come with time!

I've only rode one jeepney, but tons of trikes. they're more frequent but a little more expensive. i also have some pictures i want to try and send, so hopefully you get them! let me know i love you all and miss you all so much, but it was even harder to say goodbye to my mtc family.. they're so close and im always curious what they're doing!! let me know what's going on with all of you!

Philippines Olongapo Mission
KM 140 National Hwy Mangan-Vaca
2209 Subic Zambales
Philippines

that's my address.. just a little different, but pretty much the same
LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I'm a slacker...

Sorry - I'm already sucking at updating this blog...

Ok - so Jess is doing great in the MTC...still. She leaves for the Philippines on April 6th. Let's hope she can say enough words in Tagalog to at least get her to a restroom when she needs it (but it won't even have toilet paper, so not sure the point).

Anyway - here is a snippet from her latest letter this week...
WARNING: she's getting pretty righteous, so if you're anything like me, just stuff any feelings of guilt way, way down. Enjoy!

Kumusta ang pamilya ko!

What's goin on with all of you??

This week has been amazing. Last Tuesday, L. Tom Perry came and spoke to us for devotional. He talked about the importance of our companionships. I've never felt so much power before when someone has just walked into a room.. it was overwhelming. I was so grateful for prophets and men called of God, but especially after being in Elder Perry's presence. It was so sweet, during the closing prayer, him and sister perry were holding hands, it just touched me. As he left, we were all singing quietly, onward christian soldiers.. can i say wow???

Then Friday night at the end of class, we went outside to sing our closing hymn. the weather was so warm and beautiful and the sun was setting so the mountains were on fire. we sang how great thou art and i believe in god in tagalog.

Sunday:
Sis. Sorensen and I taught our district meeting and it was on learning/teaching by the holy ghost and the importance of testimony, it was nice. in sacrament i sang joseph smith's first prayer in tagalog with three other elders-- haha, me a singer? no, but whatever i was just going with the flow. it was good. our branch president was released on sunday, sad because he was so sweet, but i'm sure pres. brown will be just as amazing. later on sunday we got to watch the draper temple dedication. one of the most amazing things i've ever witnessed-- seeing 2000 white handkerchiefs and knowing that each one was a missionary was humbling. later that night we watched the new restoration movie... even tho i've already seen it a bunch of times, its amazing everytime. last night i got some good insights from it, mostly about what i can do to show my appreciation for the sacrifice of joseph smith and all the other saints. I want all of you to read D&C 128:22, it's a motivating scripture. We've been talking a lot lately about how this work will not fail, righteousness will prevail, it's just a matter of where and how tall we will stand-- just some thoughts during the movie.

I get my flight plans this thursday. I leave the MTC in exactly two weeks, cannot believe it's already here. I'm not sure how prepared I am about the language (i.e. not at all) but I am so ready to love the filipinos. I am so ready to let them know the joy that comes from this gospel- hopefully the Lord will be kind and not make me struggle withe the language for too long :)

But, I would just like to let you all know, I am currently wearing a muumuu in the laundry room right now.. you girls will be proud of me, thank you very much. The elders are lovin it tho- one elder from Tonga came in and said "Sister Cook, you lookin FOB today" lol.

LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH
like for real kine..

Joe and jeff, have so much fun in hawaii and make sure you hurry and send me lots of presents while i'm still here!!!

MAHAL KO KAYO!!
-Sis. Cook

Hijacked!

Halla...

This is Jessie's clazzy sister, Jenn. I've hijacked her blog. She'll be on a plane to the Philippines in 2 wks...so there's really nothing she or any of you can do about this act of sneakiness. So start loving it.

I considered putting personal ads for myself on here to see how many 21 yr old boys I could get dates with...but I prayed about it and decided my blogging skillz would be best served in updating the WWW on my favorite Tiny Girl.

I figure it's a shame to let all of Jess's adoring fans go hungry for 18 months, so I'll do my best to give you all your Jessie-Fix as much as possible.

Here are few gems Jess sent from the MTC...she's having a great time and all the kids are playing nice...Cousin Evan even snuck in to see her...good work, Evs!

Amanda and Lokahi also just happened to "bump into" Jessie when she was at the Provo temple with her district of missionaries last weekend...I was so jealous! Seriously. I've never wanted to live in Provo but maybe for 5 seconds I did when I saw that they got to see Jessie! Suckers. But at least they took her her-much-begged-for spam musabi...such good friends!

And this is what happens when poor young elders hang around Jessie too much...she really is doing good work there...



And...just so you don't forget the sweet sound of her voice, here's a video message she did for my parents of her and her new besties...enjoy!


I will also post Jess' address in the Philippines once we have it and share any emails she sends, too. Feel free to leave any special requests in the comments section of this blog...I'll do my best to respond. I'm not as righteous as Jessie, though...I'm just warning you...this blog might have just gone PG-13.

Da Pilapeens

Due to my pushy friend, COURTNEY... just kidding scourts.

I come bearing good news....

I opened my mission call Nov. 18 and have been called to the Philippines Olongapo mission!!! I go into the Provo MTC on Feb. 4.

I didn't post this earlier because I figured anyone that read my blog (approximately 2 people) already knew.

Sorry to whoever was physically or virtually present for the opening of my call-- thanks for waiting 24 hrs before I actually opened it... that was a little ridiculous.

Needless to say, I'm very excited/anxious/scared out of my mind, yet humbled, to be serving a full-time mission for my Savior. It's overwhelming to comprehend the amount of trust that has been placed in me and hopefully I do not fail him! :)


This is a map of my mission... as you can see I'm on the coast. I have to remember to take my bikini... jk mom! But I heard my area's kind of similar to Hawai'i, so I shouldn't complain.. I'll let you know how it REALLY is once I get there.



There's actually a place in my mission called Hundred Islands. It looks like this..

I'm convinced I will be serving close by this, but my dad and brother are pessimistic and keep telling me I will probably never get to see this. They're wrong. That water will be such a tease!!!! But I'm excited to stick out like a sore thumb and tower over every person in my sight.

I'm bringin in the seasons right...

I may be the gayest person for posting this, but it's mostly for my sister. Jenn... I know we don't do Christmas cards, but I'm reconsidering after finding these beauts. I'm slightly serious about this. I was going to surprise you and give it to you for Christmas, but I can't wait.



OK! YES! EVERYBODY! I'M OBSESSED!!

I've been obsessed with these wretched books, and now movie, since the second I held them in my fat hands.

I've seen the movie 4 times in one week.

When I'm not reading or watching, I'm listening to the soundtrack or thinking about going to see the movie again.

How does this happen? I can't explain it.

I will admit, watching 2 hours is definitely easier than reading for 24, but the book cannot be compared with the movie. Luckily, I haven't read the first book in awhile, so I was able to go in not remembering anything/with low expectations.
Rob Pattinson surprised me as Edward- I was pleased. Acting was cheesy, but I don't care. It's a sappy love story, of course it's going to be cheesy.

Seriously, I need to stop thinking about it. I have to forget about the twilight saga in order for the obsession to be dismissed.. until the future when it will be re-ignited. Thank goodness I will be in the Philippines when the second movie will come out and won't have to worry about this again for another 18 months.

I'm out of breath.

"Sister Cook"... Oh me?

Hey homies,

So, as most of you know, I've been planning on going on a mission. This is really out of character for me, considering I have an affinity for rap music and do not possess the natural "sweet spirit" of a sister missionary (I blame my siblings for the corruption). But, when you feel prompted to do something and get confirmation upon confirmation, you really have no choice, right?! :)

Well, my papers were sent in a week ago. It's official, people. I'm getting really excited because I think they might be here middle of next week. Everything is submitted electronically now, so it goes twice as fast. I have a friend who sent her papers in a week before mine and just got her call two nights ago... crazy. Anyway, we're taking guesses and there is a $20 prize to the winner! Seriously, we're not joking. Kaity Dayhuff won $20 when she guessed that Jeff was going to the Philippines.. I remember telling her that was the worst guess ever and look! she was right!

If you want, go ahead and give me one international and one domestic guess!

So far Jessica Shea has guessed Hong Kong or Hawai'i. Jenn's guess is Thailand or Tennessee. Lokahi's guess is Tonga or Chicago (Spanish speaking). Kaity Dayhuff also guessed Tonga (according to my mom). And again, the prize is real.. haha I don't know why my mom felt we needed incentives for this kind of stuff!!

But I'm soooo excited and can't wait to serve ANYWHERE! Love you all

Cuz I creep, yeaah...

I can honestly say I do not have any plans for tonight... I didn't even buy my costume, which is depressing because it was so good. But this week has really been crazy, trying to get everything done for school, finishing up mission paper stuff and working out insurance stuff, so I never had to time to gather my masterpiece together... maybe in two years :)

But, I did get to go to a haunted house (nightmare on 13th) on Wed. night in salt lake with some of my most favorite people. I was psyching myself up for it, preparing myself for the worst because I get scared so easily. Sometimes I have to wash my face with my eyes open. I even got scared in a dark chapel last night... I swear something was charging towards me in the dark! I ran for the door. Annnnyway, the haunted house was ok... granted I was legitimately scared inside, I walked out thinking.. that's it? There was no need for me to wear a diaper- I didn't but thought about it because I feared wetting my pants. We were over halfway through the house when I was like, we need to take pictures and then they psycho clown lady said I needed to put it away. I wish I had done video because Evan was killing me. Everyone got the most scared when Evan popped out from behind a door. But the best part was when him and "Rosalie" had a special moment staring each other down.. I'm hysterical now thinking about it. Or maybe when he pretended like the chainsaw guy really sawed his leg off... I wonder if the guy would've even felt bad.

This is for Courtney just because I love her and think she looks rather "ghouly" if you ask me...

And this is mostly for my sister because it seems like something she would stumble upon, or maybe even have on her car... haha!!!

but this is for real and it was an old woman driving the vehicle, and no she was not hispanic