Love

So last saturday, my companion and I attended the baptismal service in the zone leaders ward. And it was a wonderful experience being able to witness many of His children got baptized. My favorite among them is the young woman who was the last to bear testimony. In her testimony, she said, "I believe Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet." Then she continued on by saying "I also believe Joseph Smith is our dead prophet."

So I do not know if that's funny, but that made my whole week.

On a more serious note, this morning I studied Elder Bednar's talk about why we have the older men serve in the senior leadership positions of this restored church. The spirit was so strong in teaching me that since we have limited time in this life (and in the mission), we need to focus our efforts on the things that matter most -- those that would help us and others return to Him,

Exchanges with Sister Wiri was great. Even though we went to areas that are far apart, we were still able to teach 8 lessons. We contacted every people we meet while walking to our next appointments. She's so humble, loving, and positive, and very diligent to learn tagalog.

Exchanges with Sister Sutherby was also amazing. We taught 9 lessons and contacted every people we meet. She has grown a lot since the last time I met her in her first area. I am so happy and so proud of her. Sister Sapinoso is also a great companion! I love them both.

And my love for Sister Albarico has gone deeper (In fact, we jogged together this morning!). I do not know why, but I feel like she's very special person to me. I do not know how would I describe this feeling, I just love her.

I think my favorite miracle of the week is Sister Anna and Sister Stephanie, new investigators, who came to church again yesterday. I sat beside Sister Stephanie during Gospel Essential Class, and before the class began, I showed a copy of a Liahona. When she saw a picture of the temple, she asked what it was. I told her it is the place where a man and a woman can marry for time and for all eternity. Curious, she asked me if she can ever still enter the temple someday despite of the transgressions she had made in the past. Testified of the Atonement, and its power to make scarlet sins be as white as snow.

I cannot stop thinking of the woman who annointed Jesus' feet in the 7th chapter of Luke, where Jesus told of a parable of two people who both owed money to the same man. Jesus told Simon, that the one whose "sins,... are many, are forgiven;for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little”. The comparison of their sins isn't the point to Him. It is, how MUCH do we LOVE Him.

I know I can never compensate the perfect love He has for me but I hope and pray that I am showing enough love to Him.

I love Him and this work. I love being a missionary!

My companion and I took Tatay Rola's sinampay so that he would have no excuse of not being able to give us at least 10 minutes to teach a lesson. Tatay is so funny. We love him so much.

@ Diffun.

In Alicia. The other sister is Sister Delinila. She's the girl in one of the LDS youth videos that made me cry while watching it while I was still in youth. We talked often because we have the same course in college. I keep on telling her that passing my board exam was just a miracle, and that she can do it too. She's very smart! Very very smart!

Wooonderful Weeek

What a wonderful week! My companion and I taught 3 zone meetings (Alicia, Santiago South, and North Zones), attended ward council (Oh, Bishop Acosta is amazing!), personal interview with President and Sister Rahlf (I love them with all my heart!), and I had companion exchanges with Sister Kibaimoa..

Exchanges with Sister Kibaimoa was great. She is a wonderful sister missionary who is sincere, loving, humble, and very willing to learn. In terms of her tagalog communication skills, she's great. Promise!

Sister Albarico is also doing great! She's a very humble, very talented, and loving person. Sister Victoria is lucky to have her as a trainer. She's hastening! I hope and pray that I am doing my best in showing my love and appreciation to them and to my companion.

I was the one being taught by the Spirit in teaching 3 zone meetings this week. I have learned that when I do not worry what to say next, the Spirit takes over the lesson. I learn from what I say when it's the Spirit who's teaching the lesson. After all, he's the true teacher.

Work has been great. The ward is so supportive. Bishop Acosta is a great leader I strive to be like. He's very effective and efficient. I think he's my uncle. Once, we were teaching an RC family ... and they told me that I teach and act like Bishop Acosta. It made me want to work harder for this people. Maybe, the people in Santiago are my distant relatives.

Personal interview with President and Sister Rahlf is the best. I hope it is not the last. It helped me reorganize my goals and prepare myself for Eternal Life. After all, that's the reason why I am here on earth. 

Sister Anna Patag, and Brother Viernes has been consistently coming to church but not yet solid in their decision to be baptized. I do not know how long will the nourishing be, but I am willing to obey His will no matter what it takes.

I love being a missionary!

Going to zone meeting with the Alicia Zone!

In Wisdom and Order

This has been a wonderful week. We had a crazy schedule or maybe, I'm the one who is getting crazy. I find it difficult to sleep these past few days. I wanted to sleep, but my mind couldn't sleep. I do not know why. I feel like there's a lot of things needed to be done, but so little time. I. can't. believe. this.

So lately, I have been thinking and studying (and hopefully applying) How to Use Time Wisely. I hope and pray that I am spending my time with the things that matter most. Because "matter occupies space, and we can only have space for what really matters."

I think my favorite miracle of the week is teaching John Paul's relatives. We were teaching Salvador family, when our phone rang. We didn't mind it because we were in a lesson. After that, we went "to and fro" teaching appointments only to find out that we were punted. We were punted many times until the "impatient" me wanted to teach Monica, an active member who lives just close by. Then all of the sudden, my companion remembered to check our phone. She said, "Ay may nagtext pala sa atin!" And so she checked, and we found out that Brother John Paul sent a text message telling us that he was on his way to church. He brought with him his siblings and cousin to be taught by us missionaries. And we had a very wonderful lesson about restoration. And they all accepted the invitation to be baptized. I am just grateful my companion is so receptive to the Spirit, she remembered to check our phone. The Spirit is the really the most important element in this work.

Sister Anna Patag also came to church yesterday. She's a referral from Tatay Lucas. We just met her last week, and in our second lesson to her yesterday, she shared how much she had been praying that she may be able to regain her faith and relationship with God. She has been really preoccupied with a lot of problems lately, that she forgot the things that really matter most. She told us that "maybe", we are the answer to her prayers. Oh, how I hope and pray that I will be worthy enough to be someone's answered prayer.

We had MLC last wednesday, and had specialized sister training with other STLs wednesday night. I am now the oldest STL and I feel like I am going to be released next cycle. :) I remember how much I cried during my first cycle in this calling because of the crazy schedule I am not used with. I thought that I already knew and that I am already an "expert" in juggling and managing time, but this week ... I came to realize that I am still learning. In my last personal interview with President Rahlf, he told me that I will be using all the skills I am learning now in the mission, in my future callings as hmmm, (should I dare say it?) homemaker, wife, and a mother -- who has many many many responsibilites. I still haven't found the magic formula for using time wisely, but I think this one really helped me:

1. Eat Right. ( 3 - 4 Liters of Water, 5 servings of fruits and veggies)

2. Exercise.
3. Enough rest. (8 - 9 hours of sleep)

and then add what my mission president told me:

Pray, Read the Scriptures, Set goals. Make plans, Budget money.

This coming thursday, we'll be having another personal interview with him and his wife. So I can't wait.

I love you all. And I love being a missionary!

Preparing object lesson for our zone meeting!

Specialized Sisters Training :)

Catching up with the beautiful Sister Mcbride :)

I am very beautiful here!

All things have become new: Happy New Year!

Happy new year! I spent new year's eve in my new area (Santiago 2nd Ward) with my new companion (Sister Fajardo), and with other sister missionaries of our zone. We watched a Inside-Out Disney Movie as we have been told by our mission president.

It was a great movie. It made me want to study psychology. I realized how powerful our minds can be. And as the new year begins, I hope and pray for strength so I can give every conscious thought and every drop of passion to this great and marvelous work. I do not want to think anything that is not inline with my purpose. I hope and pray for a consecrated mind in the remaining cycles that I have as a missionary. I will continue to dismiss the destructive and keep dismissing it and focus on my purpose until the beauty of Atonement of Christ has revealed to me the bright future God has prepared for me, and for the people in this wonderful area of Philippines Cauayan Mission!

So about the work, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING. A month ago, I have prayed and fasted so that the Lord would assign me here in Santiago. So this is an answered prayer. Working with Bishop Acosta is a miracle. I have such good feelings about this area and the people who live here -- I do not know what is this; I just can't explain it; I feel like I have known these people long before; love fills my heart. I feel like I am going to cry right now.

The day after transfers, my companion and I went tracting in one of the baranggays to find new investigators, and prepare this area for companion exchanges.

We found Sister Eva who was pumping water outside their house. We found out that their family had no electricity for months. We told her that we might not be able to provide her electricity, but we can help her find the light and the life of the world -- who is Christ. The Spirit was so strong that yesterday, she came to church, together with her children.

Brother John Paul (RC) brought her sister and cousins to church to be taught by us missionaries. The spirit filled the room as we testified how the gospel blesses families. My heart felt like it was going to burst.

Tatay Domeng, Tatay Rolo, and other wonderful people of Santiago. I feel like I have known them long before, and I want to give them my all.

This is a wonderful area filled with beautiful and humble people, just like my companion. Sister Fajardo is the epitome of someone described in D & C 12:8 : " And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love,... whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care. "

I love my companion so much. I am learning so much from her Christlike example. She's a person I strive to be like. I see a lot of potential in her and in the sisters of these 3 zones.

I am excited for everything that is going to happen this year.

Old things are done away, and all things have become new. 

I love being a missionary!

With Bishop Mallari and his wife. Bye just for now, Tuguegarao!

On our last day together. I woke up and was surprised with a breakfast prepared by Sister Mcbride. :) 

Hello, Santiago.

New Year's Eve with other sister missionaries of the zone!