No Trast Talk

No Trast Talk!

Missionary Madi sent us pictures of her new apartment which she claimed in previous communication is "Off The Chain!" For those of you over the age of 30 that means really nice. Her living conditions get nicer with each transfer. She started out in Matalom with big spiders, snakes and bats, roofs that leaked and fell into her bed during rain storms to living in very nice and comfortable apartments in Ormoc, Tagbilaran and now Cebu East Lilo-an. I would have to say she is moving on up! Highlight Filipino Washer!

 Living Room

 Kitchen – Phili Washing Machine

Bunk Beds – Fun!

Sister Training Leader - STL

“Don’t be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. ‘Accentuate the positive.’ Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love Life.” 

–Gordon B. Hinkley

Missionary Madi seems to think she might have ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)! Seriously anyone who has ever known this girl since birth can tell you "No Doctor Note Needed" she for sure has a hyperactivity disorder of some type. 

Her and her compie enjoying a hubble hubble ride.

 Missionary Madi has this crazy desire to share with us every stray dog that she finds that she thinks is cute. She states that it was the cutest dirtiest puppy ever. I think she sends these puppy pictures just for Kenzie.

"I went on my first splits this week! With Sister Adasme actually, so it was the easiest thing ever and way normal but it was fun because my little anak is doing so good and she has learned so much :)"

"I've been wearing jackets and Sister Abubo saw goosebumps for the first time in her life! (haha). I am never coming home I will freeze to death. Maybe you all could move to Hawaii before July?? that would be cool!"

"Yesterday I went on splits too with Sister McCurdy she is a gymnast from.....somewhere besides Utah. Like the only person here. We had lots of fun. Turns out I kinda sorta like being an stl (sister training leader). I've learned out here that I am not much into routine (I know you are all so surprised) but I find it very boring and being an stl is far from boring. That is the only positive thing I've found about doing extra work (hahahah,I am the slacker). And in the words of BK it will help me if I lose myself in the service and I guess you cant struggle if you don't think about yourself! :) That's the plan people. I know Heavenly Father will bless me if i do my best for him everyday."

Merry Christmas Skyping.....

BEST PART OF CHRISTMAS FOR SURE! SKYPING!

Our Skyping experience with Missionary Madi was less than desirable. The connection was horrible. We could hardly hear each other. The missionaries were in a small room probably with generators and each had head phones on and a microphone that hung close to their mouths. You could hear all of the other peoples (
mostly missionaries I think) conversations and Missionary Madi had a difficult time hearing us. The picture was blurry and Missionary Madi had to hold as still as possible (which is super difficult for her). We also did a group Skype so all of her siblings could see and talk with her. Might have been a little overwhelming. Even with all of the TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES it was the best. To see her and hear her voice was definitely the highlight of our day! So much LOVE for Missionary Madi. Last Christmas apart.

Only one more Skype and she will be home. Count down to Mothers Day 2014.

Missionary Madi was so excited to see Delaney, Jarin and her favorite Baggett boys. Tiara & JaJa.

She has fans!

The Kramer's are super lucky because we were also able to go over to the Koelliker's and talk to Thee Elder Braden Clark Koelliker.

Kramer Koelliker Love All Day Long!

LOVE THEE ELDER! LUCKY TENNESSEE!

 

Tacloban Philippines Mission Families

Sister Kramer, Sister Bogenschutz and Sister Dumas (our daughters served with Sister Bogenschutz)

So I hope all of these awesome missionary parents do not mind that they have made it onto Missionary Madi's blog. Unlike most missionaries a lot of the parents of the missionaries of the Philippines Tacloban Mission have had the opportunity to communicate and reach out during and after the Typhoon which led to the closure of the Philippines Tacloban Mission and subsequent removal of all missionaries serving on the island of Leyte. Many of us were able to offer and receive love and support through a very difficult time. Each one of us parents understands the feelings of fear and helplessness that we experienced prior to being notified of the safety of our sisters and elders. Always attempting to maintain a positive attitude that all would be well but experiencing those very real human emotions of doubt and worry. The greatest thing for us going through this experience is the uniting of parents in love and support for each other. This love and support is on going.  It has been an amazing experience.

I personally want to say "THANK YOU" it has been a pleasure to stand beside each one of you.

So in this picture kneeling in the front is Sister Estes parents. Sister Smith's parents. Then Sister Lindsey's parents. Next is Sister Schaap's parents (Smith's, Lindsey's & Schaap's sister missionaries were all together during the storm in Tacloban - their story has been highly publicized). Then the Kramer's who LOVE Missionary Madi, Then Elder Lowe's parents (only Elder Represented). Then Sister Browns parents.

Sister Dumas parents and brother.

'

 The Kramer's look forward to the opportunity to meet many more of the missionary parents who have Elders and Sisters who served in the Philippines Tacloban Mission!

Cebu - Liloan

Missionary Madi has been transferred to a new area. She is now a Sister Training Leader and will be closer to the Mission President and have some help healing from all of the events the past two months have brought to her. Her letter was pretty real this week and she knows that she needs lots of prayers to overcome her trials. She understands she cannot do this alone.

".... I really want to stay here and I know I should, but I want to come home too. It's a lot of mixed emotions but I REALLY want to push through it and make it to the end. I am going too :) But please keep me in your prayers because I cannot do this by myself. I need you guys help and Heavenly Fathers. I have learned through this that we are all so dependent upon Him in everything. Maybe thats why I had to go through this....maybe I needed some humbling....prolly :)"

Her new companion is Sister Abubo and she is Filipino which Missionary Madi loves. They are in the city and she does not love that. However her new apartment is off the chain..... She has a couch. First time she has had one in a year. They were able to go to the temple. Temple time is good for this missionary's soul.

 

"...There are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve and when we may be tested to our limits. however such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were -- better than what we were, more understanding than what we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before."
-Thomas S. Monson October 2013

Doctrine & Covenants Section 121: 7-9 

 7 My son, ^apeace be unto thy soul; thine ^badversity and thine afflictions shall be but a ^csmall moment;

 8 And then, if thou ^aendure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy ^bfoes.

 9 Thy ^afriends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

KAMUSTA KAMO MGA GWAPA GAWAS KON KK

Translation: What's up homies?

Happy New Year!

Missionary Madi has been through a lot the past two months. After transferring out of the Philippines Tacloban Mission to the Cebu East Mission and being assigned to her new area. She and her companion have had some fun times together. Due to the fact that Missionary Madi in many ways feels like she is not being the Missionary she wants to be right now, she has been holding out on us when it comes to some of her pictures. So I asked Sister Clegg's mom to share with us all these super great pictures of them together. These pictures make me Super Happy! I hope you enjoy them too!

 She

MAKES THE DAY

BRIGHTER

SHE LEAVES A LITTLE

Sparkle

WHEREVER SHE GOES

 That is one crazy Santa!

Grazens

 

Missionary Madi regardless of her struggles remains a beautiful ray of light to all who see her. I told her this picture made me cry. She told me "It made you cry because of the big bags under my eyes." I think she is beautiful and I am so thankful for her willingness to continue serving. Her desire to work through the emotional hardships caused by the typhoon is humbling. She is amazing and such a great example to all of us!

Fasting & Prayers for the Tacloban Philippines Mission.

 

These Sister Missionaries are a Testament of the Inner Beauty that comes from living a Christ centered Life!

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE

We have in common the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we know it is our responsibility to share the truths of the gospel with others. One of the chief ways in which we can share the gospel is to be a righteous example, and it is about this that I wish to speak to you today. The Apostle Paul admonished, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”¹ He also wrote that the followers of Christ should be “as lights in the world.”²

This is what I would hope for each of us—that we might be a light to the world.
Thomas S. Monson BYU Devotional November 1, 2011 

Hastening the work

Missionary Madi has been incredibly blessed to witness many of the Filipino people entering the waters of baptism, and accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ. She has also been blessed to share her life with incredible companions who have taught her so much. She is thankful for Sister Clegg and her diligence and obedience which brings them countless BLESSINGS! They had baptisms the morning she left for Cebu.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Eleven Months

Missionary Madi has been serving for ELEVEN MONTHS! The last month and a half has been the longest. Serving a mission is difficult enough without any added drama like Natural Disasters. Earth Quakes and Typhoons that wipe out islands definitely add to the difficulty of serving a full time mission, in a foreign country, far away from family and friends.  

Prayers for the Philippines!

Merry Christmas!

 MERRY & BRIGHT

Filipino Christmas Cheer! Lights! Yard Decorations!

Missionary Madi is a crazy girl. She does not really love morning and it must have been very strange to wake up Christmas morning in the Philippines. For the first time in 20 years to find herself thousands of miles away from family and friends to celebrate one of her favorite holidays in the humblest of fashions. Every year for months before Christmas she would watch all of her favorite Christmas movies in anticipation of the Christmas season. Our Christmas wish for her would be that she was feeling like the Madi that we all love and enjoy. We are thankful that she was able to bless the lives of the Filipino people in Bohol. What an amazing young woman she is. 

Christmas Morning Young and Tired!

Missionary Madi was excited they put together treat bags and took them around to the kids who would have had nothing for Christmas. Fun for the sisters to give rather than receive. 
We are blessed with so much while others have so little.

They went to the White Peoples house for a real American Christmas dinner. Lots of treats like brownies and ice-cream. Missionary Madi was lucky to have her own personal stylist who loved to do her hair. So Missionary Madi had an extra special braid for the Christmas party.

ALL IS CALM.

 ALL IS BRIGHT!

So I know you are all prolly missing me soooo much this holiday time. Lets get real. I make Christmas. I am the only kid left in the house...I can't even imagine how low your yule tide spirit is right now. So......... in classic MK spirit...lets play name that movie

Holiday hubbity whaty?

You're not Santa. What song did I sing to you last year on your birthday?

Charlie, how could I have done this without you? You couldn't.

Not too hot. Not too cold. And shaken not stirred.

Hate hate hate double hate LOATHE ENTIRELY

Candy. Candy cane. Candy corn and syrup.

Ones mans stench is anothers mans popery. (I have no idea how to spell it)

Down a size and a half!! And this time I'll keep it up.

But what will I wear??

Julie your waiter gave you pajamas??

The first one to email me the answers gets a monkey.

Elder & Sister Caycayon made morning crapes for the Sister's to enjoy Christmas Morning!
Love them for spoiling our girls!

Missionary Madi was MISSING us and then............
Made Gingerbread Houses! Went to the beach. Beautiful! Hard to miss snowy Utah when you are walking in warm white sand on an incredibly beautiful beach in the Philippines. She will most likely never have another Christmas like this.

Traveling does not agree with this girl!