Week 6

What a crazy week. I just am doing a quick update before I hit the field tomorrow and cant email until that next Pday

Friday: we had in field orientation, also chance the rapper dropped his new album so we were all singing Sunday Candy in the halls to celebrate

Saturday: the sisters serving in Sweden came and gave us some candy and we had a final little party before we left. It was really awesome.

Sunday: I received a blessing for the field and it made me so happy. I loved the MTC

Monday: I taught the Kiribatis some more English slang like "stop talking crap, and that tie sucks, and shut your freaking mouth." lol so funny.

Tuesday: I saw Gene, my best friend in the whole world leave to Armenia it was a struggle, I love that bro to death. we all dabbed as he drove away. I Know he will kick but in Armenia. Then we started packing and saw elder Runlun talk for devotional.


Wednesday: We finally left! HOLY CRAP!!! I dunno if it was because we have been away from society for so long but everything was so beautiful! also At the LA airport I ran into these two girls on their way to Fiji for a humanitarian thing, They were both thinking about missions, so I bore my testimony that I know the work we are doing is super important and that God should require all to serve him and bring the gospel to all. The 15 hour flight to Hong Kong was absolutely awful, I didn't sleep at all.

Friday: we made it to the MTC in manila! This place is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful. I cant send pics right now but I will. For lunch here we have had a full dead fried fish, pig bits soup, salmon head soup. and pork liver. its fantastic.

Saturday: I love it here! We played volleyball and met the Filipinos, they are so small, We are taller than our teachers, so we wreck them all lol but they are so funny and nice. and they are all impressed with our Tagalog which is good to hear. lolol We went proselyting in kausan city. and IT WAS AMAZING!!! I taught two lessons to two people. I never realized how good I have it though. These people have so little but just make do. Like, instead of computers in their houses, they only have 8 computers in this one neighborhood house. They all play counterstrike and league of legends. And they have a place just for basketball. I met a guy who made himself look like Lil Wayne and he looked at me and with a smile on his face and jokingly said something very inappropriate, sooooooooooooooooo funny I was dying. The kids and people treat us like celebrities because we are missionaries and white, lol. I am suffering from jet lag so please pray for me. Ill update more later! bye!

MTC life in videos

MTC life in pictures

MTC top ten

     

Since I am leaving the MTC finally I thought I should do a special list because It would help me remember the good times. 

so top 10 most pathetic things ive done to stay sane in the MTC

1. Sang the entire "chasing pavements" song from adele

2. had a rap battle with some elders from another country

3. played "dont step on the worms" when on our way to the temple and it rained

4. asked random super specific questions. like "favorite movie about saving Matt Damon from something."

5. Legitimately stared at a leaf on the ground for like 15 mins because it looked kind of cool

6. sneak salt into the glasses of anyone praying at any meal of any time

7. taught the kiribati english slang like "that tie sucks, and stop talking crap."

8. was timed to see how long it would take to grab a PMG from the room and return to class (we were sprinting)

9. switched name tags with other missionaries for a day

10. Drew a picture with these sisters going to Sweden that was made up at the top of my head. 

Letter from Mom

To my son,

Well, you have survived the last six weeks at the MTC. You have done so well, have learned so much, already grown in so many ways, and helped so many people while you were there. I could not be more proud of you. In the next couple of days as you now prepare yourself to head off to the other side of the world, there are just a few things I wanted to write to you.

Dropping you off at the MTC, hugging you goodbye, and watching you walk away was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. You will not understand the heartache that I felt until one day when you are a parent yourself. Why would a mother not only let, but encourage her son to do such a thing. Because I know it’s the best thing you can do for yourself, the church, and for the people of the Philippines. The next two years will transform you. You will learn lessons that will make you the person you want to be for the rest of your life. 

You were so blessed to be born into a happy, healthy, privileged and stable life. I think you will soon find that very few people in this world are so lucky, try to have patience with those people who have had a different life than you. Give yourself over to the work of the Lord, let go of your ego and insecurities and find the souls who are desperate, broken, hurting and searching for peace and happiness. The gift of the gospel is immeasurable. Think about how much joy it has brought to our lives! I'm sure there will be hard days, sad days, really exhausting days, difficult companion days, hot days, and wet days. But keep yourself focused on why you are there. Try your best to stay positive and focused on the blessing that you will be to others and your family and yourself. Depend and rely on the Lord in all you do. 

There are so many people here at home that are pulling and praying for you, pray for them too. Especially grandma Linda. She has some tough times ahead of her. Don’t be afraid to summon angels to help you through your own tough times, or just when you need things to go your way. There are many people already in heaven who love you are just hoping and waiting to be asked to help you be successful. You know Grandpa Ralph would move heaven and earth to help you out any way he can!

Also make sure to have fun! Missions don't always have to be so serious. Try your best be helpful and a joy to everyone you meet! Enjoy the culture, the environment, the people, the food, and all the things that will be unfamiliar to you. Soak it all in. I cant wait to hear about all of the adventures you will get to experience. If things aren't going the way you expected or planned, change your plan, be able to adapt! You will find more success if you are flexible. If you have a lazy, cranky, sad, homesick companion, be the one to encourage and cheer him up. If YOU are the lazy, cranky, sad, homesick companion, don't dwell in that mental space very long. You can have a bad day, or even week, but then snap out of it, find a way.

Eat healthy! yes that means vegetables! Make sure to find time to stay physically fit. Your body needs strength and nutrition to be able to toughen up your immune system and fight off infections as well as have a strong positive mental attitude. You aren't much use to the people of the Philippines if you are sick in bed all the time, so listen to your mother! Take care of yourself!

Most importantly, love and serve the people of the Philippines, make it your number one priority. 

I know we have been through this but please always make the time to write thoughtful letters to your mother. It is not easy to be a missionary mom and the letters make all the difference.
"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child."
-Elder Jeffrey Holland

Keep a journal, make it a habit, write down all your spiritual experiences and feelings and take lots and lots of pictures, not just of yourself and your companions, but beautiful and interesting ones, of everything you see and experience, you are so lucky to get to live in such a beautiful place and we want to see and be a part of your journey too! Take pictures even of all the things you might find boring or mundane, not just for us but you will be glad to have them when you get home too!

Your first priority should be to love and serve the people of the Philippines, Don’t get too caught up in numbers of baptisms. If you center your life around those you love, just think about how much more full your life will be as you are striving to constantly become better, standing for truth and everything good.

I bought this 801 t-shirt over 2 years ago, before I even knew for sure that you would be serving a mission, but hoping that you would. I have been saving it for this very day. It has an 801 on it because that is our area code and a beehive because that represents Utah. I want you to always remember where you came from, who you are and what you stand for. Wear it with pride and let it be a reminder to you that Utah is your home and it is full of those who love you. Be a good example to others and represent your home and the name Yarro to the best of your ability. 

I hope that you keep this letter close to you for the next two years and re-read it often. Don’t come home until you are done. You know I love you fiercely my boy,

Love Mom

Week 5

KAMUSTA! I am so excited to freaking get out of here, I hate this place (just kidding, not really)

I just wanna go help the people of the Philippines because I love them so much. 

Friday: we got our flight plans! finally, and we have a 3 hour layover in Hong Kong,  I'm so excited I can't sleep. That night we decided to do PCL (personal, companion, language) study outside because It was so beautiful. It was good and really spiritual and I know the lord is helping me become a good zone leader. 

Saturday:  at lunch I tried sliding down the rail and looking cool, and I did right until I fell off and landed straight on my booty.  Today it is still so sore, lol everyone was crying laughing. 

 

Doom came out this week! (just had to write about it, for those who don't know it is a video game) 

cant wait to play it in 2 years. 

Sunday: after the devotional there was a thunder storm, and I don't know if it was just a really pretty thunder storm or I'm so oppressed that I fell in love with it.  I sat in the rain watching it for 30 minutes. I love life!

Monday: at volleyball I spiked it and hit this kid right in his face. I have never seen karma work so fast because as I bent over to laugh at his inferior volleyball skills, the ball bounced and hit me right in my face..... lol the lord literally showed me whats up, I got roasted.

Tuesday: I have to say was when I got homesick the most since I've been here.  I started singing cocoa butter kisses at lunch and started missing everything, I miss that cocoa butter kisses song, I miss entering the cave with Isaac and Jr. and owning the borderlands with Isabelle. I miss my car, I miss my parents how ever funny they think they are. I miss my home ward, and my old life. I know what I'm doing is important though, and is worth all of this and more so. I am just thankful I can serve God.

Wednesday: that night all of the elders gathered around and we had a cypher about the gospel (freestyle rap session) it was hilarious, some of these kids are so funny. and I just love how comfortable we all are around each other. 

 

Tell Blake that I met the bishnu (meet the Mormons guy from India) his daughter is here I met her, shes super nice and he will probably meet him. so stoked! Also tell Shauna thank you for the packages I forgot to say that last time!

I leave in 6 days and am so excited to go hit the field and do work. 

Week 4

Friday: nothing really happened except one of the girls eyes from kiribati starting hurting really bad so we gave her a blessing before she went to her doctors appointment. She just needed glasses, but she said the blessing helped her a lot. I love blessings so much, being able to spread love and happiness with the priesthood authority is the best feeling ever. We ran into Andrew ( our real investigator) and shared a spiritual thought with him, he said he needed to hear exactly that to make his week and I feel like I see him progressing

Sunday: the kiribati wanted to see the Provo temple it was raining.....but we all went anyways.  I shared all my jackets and my one umbrella and got SOAKED! but It was worth it just to see the smile on their faces from the beauty that is the Lords house.

I just love the temple so much. When I get back I will go walk around and enjoy the temple on Sundays and see all the missionaries. Seriously the best.

This kid bore his testimony at the devotional that night and turns out he had been engaged for 6 months......lololol, I couldn't take him seriously. 

Monday: During study time we played honda kilos and sand apple bottom jeans (when we were done of course) I love just having fun and getting work done at the same time. 

Wednsday: The kiribati people thought that a bagel and peanut butter was a good mix for breakfast and got 3 of them. It was so gross to watch but they enjoyed.

and today got to take them through to get endowed, it was hard because we got up at 5:30 to go before anyone else but It was worth it! At the end I bore my testimony to them about how important temples and temple work in the world is, and they seemed inspired to do more and love the temple. That is pretty much all that happened this week!

 me pretending to be baptized at the temple. 

 

me pretending to drown my companion

 the kiribati girls who received their endowments today

me and Joey (cousin)

We get our flight plans tomorrow so I'm super pumped to get out of here. 

Tell grandma thank you for the letter, I really loved it, and Steph for the care package for the kiribati the sisters loved the makeup! they love you all and thank me everyday for all the stuff you sent!

Love Elder Yarro

Week 3

Okay so in order to maximize my emails I'm going to type a big message and go over my week, then at the end I will put specifics in it. 

 selfie at the temple, with my sister companion from SLC 

sister collins and sister irish from lehi who left last wednsday

Sunday. 

Elder Mereki came in my room just before I went to sleep and hugged me goodnight and said "mahal kita." (I love you) it literally made my week because he is such a loving guy, seriously like so great. All the kiribatis are very affectionate people.  They bear their testimonies and they are fantastic. Holy crap, they will be better missionaries than me because I think they love this gospel even more than I do (which is saying alot)

Monday

I asked elder Katutu to tell me some sentences in kiribati so I can say them to the new kids arriving on wednsday so he gave me a list. which was a lie, it was all insults....for example - ko bureti (good morning) but ko bureti actually means dog face..... lolol so freaking funny

Tuesday

nothing much just class and such. That night though we took all of our mattresses off our beds and put them on the floor had a slumber party in a room with our entire zone. I slept next to elder baabo and Katutu, Elder baabo took my blanket during the night so I couldn't sleep at all. and then both of them cuddled with me and it was soooo funny. I know that's probably not mission approved but....what can you do!

 

 

Wednesday 

Was a big day. We said goodbye our old zone, then said hello to the new one, I'm super excited to get to know the new guys but I'm also sad to see my friends go. This week was also my moms birthday, It made me kind of homesick because I remembered how much she loves me. like for her birthday one year she pulled me out of school so we could go see the premier of the first iron man together. I love my mom. 

 

Also here is a spiritual message.

The other day I read a paper from my stake president about the 4 different types of missionaries 

1st. Disobedient, this missionary ends up going home because he either gets sent home, or because he can't hack it and he is unfruitful. 

2. serves his full mission even though he is just as disobedient as the first

but he lies. ( I HATE LIARS) wastes his whole mission and effort, and the work he does goes undone. 

3. serves a full mission and is obedient but he hates his mission and cant wait for it to be over. the work he has done is good and fruitful,  he serves a full mission but wastes all that time being miserable because he hasn't changed at all as a person. 

4. the fourth missionary serves his full mission and gives his all to the lord. he gets the most out of it because he serves with purpose and love and it changes him and he is blessed. 

The fourth missionary is my goal!

I need your help with the new missionaries. they come from a place with little to no money and no communication from their family so I need your help to make them feel loved. I need you to send some letters or packages to them.

Sister Neeti

Sister tenneba

Sister ioteeba

Sister meritio

Elder terawa

Elder tumera

Elder bioti

just send their letters to my box, GET ANYONE YOU CAN TO DO IT SO THEY CAN FEEL THE LOVE! 

 

They also get cold at night, so if you can send them some blankets that would be great!  They will appreciate it so much!

 

I'm getting a little tired of the MTC I want to be done and get to the Philippines so bad, We get to go to the Manilla mtc and I am so stoked, We will also get to go through the Manilla temple.

 I saw joey he was telling me about everyone in the family, I couldn't host him because now I am the zone leader I was seeing the old zone off and welcoming the new zone, I was in charge of everyone. 

 

 I love you all. see you next week. Tell my sisters I love them and they are dope at soccer, also Happy birthday.