You don't know who's ready

We had a great week! My hardworking companion and I find at least 16 new investigators and teach at least 50 lessons each week, with or without conducting companion exchanges. The more we find, the more lessons we teach. Just as what the PMG says. "nothing happens to missionary work until we find someone to teach"

Friday, I had the opportunity to be with Sister Arganosa, and we had a lot of spiritual fun! We taught 10 lessons and  found 3 new investigators. I love Sister Argonosa SOOOOOOO MUUUUCCCH. She is so good at teaching and she has this natural gift that she could connect to people so quick.

I think my favorite miracle of this week is Tatay Hipolito. We just met him through tracting in Rizal last week or so. I couldn't really remember when we met him; our first lesson with him was not that memorable. All throughout the lesson, he had his head bowed down that it seemed like he wasn't listening at all.  I thought we did a poor job in teaching him. Although my companion and I were grateful we met him and were able to teach him, we thought that we would NEVER come and teach him, again.

But that's what we just thought.

Saturday this week, we were punted for so many times that Heavenly Father brought us again to Rizal Street. While we were walking down the streets, we surprisingly saw Tatay Hipolito in front of their house (which rarely happens. He was sitting reading a pamphlet from another faith. I said "Hi Taataaaay!!!!!". He looked up and then we asked him how he was. He said he was fine. And I was so surprised with myself when I asked him, "Could we teach you right now?".. He agreed, and while he was getting some chairs for us to sit in I was asking myself why I asked him if we could teach him when in fact we already dropped him..

So we taught him........... 

AND........ IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RESTORATION LESSON I EVER HAD IN MY WHOLE MISSION. We found out he read the whole pamphlet including the list of definitions at the back and he understood everything. He understood who is Joseph Smith and what is his role in the restoration. He understood what is priesthood and ohhhhhhh myyyyy gooooooodnessss I want to cry right now.

I love Tatay Hipolito so much. He taught me a lot. I have learned that 1. I can never really judge who's ready or not. 2. The Spirit is the true teacher, not me. 3. The Lord will bring us in places where He needs us, we just need to be worthy and responsive to the Spirit... 

.....and the list goes on.

I really hope and pray that someday ... Tatay Hipolito, Tatay Carmona, Tatay Romeo will receive the gospel just like Tatay George. I do not know why, but my love for Tatay Investigators are different. Maybe because inside me I am also hoping and praying that my Tatay Acosta will receive the gospel as well. I know that as long as stay true and faithful, everything will take care of itself. I know He is in charge, And I know that He loves each of His child more than I do and I can comprehend.

I hope I could write more. But I think this would suffice.

My time is running out. My mission time is running out as well.

I hope and pray for an increased strength and faith to do all the He requires me to do.

I do not know why I feel like crying right now.. I'm just grateful..

I. Love. Being. A. Missionary.........

Some Balancing

This is such a wonderful area, filled with wonderful people.  The ward have become more supportive: We had 16 member present lessons this week. I just love this ward, so much... And it would be okay with me if I would end my mission in this area. (I am totally alright with 2 areas, I promise. I am totally fine here... Promise)

My BOM study with a question, "How Can I Become A Consecrated Missionary?"... has beeeeen soooo greaaaat. I have been studying King Benjamin's address of "do-things-in-wisdom-and-order".. I've learned, by experience, that the more I am balanced, the more resources I have to meet the demands of life. I have learned by experience that I have greater receptiveness to spiritual truths as I strive to keep things in wisdom and order. 

A balanced missionary, is a hastening missionary..

I love being a hastening missionary!!!!!!!!!

Zone Picture with Elder and Sister Schwitzer!

Mission Tour

This has been a wonderful week! Wednesday, my companion and I woke up very early that as I was trying to hit the alarm off at 2:45am, I fell from my bed and my face hit the floor. My mouth got a bruise, but the pain was tolerable! We were sooo sleepy that morning but we need to get up very early because we need to be in Cauayan at 7am to meet Elder and Sister Schwitzer -- a member of the Seventy! I will talk more of it in the later part of this letter. :)

My companion and I had a thought last night. Since we need to find 16 new investigators to get 1 baptism, we thought about finding 16 new investigators each week to get weekly baptisms. We are averaging 15 - 20 new investigators for the past weeks, so let us see! And to avoid being an "activity driven missionary", applying what we have learned in the mission tour would help us become more of a "purpose driven" one.

I really loved what Elder Schwitzer taught about asking people how they feel about a "question of a soul" instead of waiting for them to ask! In the past cycles of my mission, I have learned (by experience) how important questions are! Questions saved my soul! Without questions feels like going to a dinner appointment with a stomach full. You do not want to eat anything (no matter how delicious the food are), because you are already full.  So "creating curiosity" is one of the skills I'd like to develop for the rest of my life.

The work has been great. Angel (Investigator) came to church yesterday with her LA dad. Seeing them yesterday filled my heart with so much love and happiness. It made me miss my family, but I know the blessings of serving full-time mission will be consecrated to them. I am grateful for my companion. She's very hardworking! I am blessed by her example. I am beyond grateful.

I love being a missionary!

Apo Allen, Anak Maroket, and LOLA  ACOSTA-- where all good genes come from :) Haha!

1 year mark

This week has been great! The sisters of Tuguegarao Sister are doing great as well. We had the opportunity to learn from Sister Ragasa and Sister Stokes last Wednesday on our companion exchange Sister Ragasa is a wonderful sister missionary and a trainer.

I had also the opportunity to work with Sister Manosig. It was great! Sister Manosig is really a hardworking, straightforward, fearless missionary. She's doing great as a senior companion of Sister Clarin. And since most of the sisters are now reaching the standards of excellence, I set a goal for myself to become a "purpose driven missionary" instead of being an "activity driven" one -- being able to achieve the standards of excellence without losing my very purpose in inviting people to come to Christ.

And the PMG helped me a lot! PMG said a successful missionary "loves the people and desires their salvation". So I tried to set a goal last week to truly love the people and desire their salvation. I was amazed on what love can do. Whenever I started to love these people, whatis important to them becomes important to me as well. Their hopes, dreams, and plans, become a part of me.. Whenever I started to love them and desire their salvation, my thoughts and words and every fiber of me changes. What I say, I ask, I feel, will be tailored according to what they need and what they are experiencing. I just can't explain how it is possible to love someone you just met along the street or who sat beside you in a tricy, but it is truly possible. It's a gift from God that if we would ask and work on it, we will surely receive.

And I have never loved the Book of Mormon as much as I do now! Sure, I would read from it before my mission but I learn so much more now than I ever did before! It helps me in answering my question: "How Can I Become a Consecrated Missionary?".. I still have a lot of weaknesses to work on, but I feel that my faith in Him is growing immensely. And I am surprised how some of the sisters in our zones started reading new set of book of mormon as well with their own one question like: "How Can My Eyes Be Single to His Glory?".. Someday, we'll all have our own bookshelves filled with Book of Mormons used to answer our different questions of our souls.

The Baccay Family is now returned! They are fruit of working with the Relief Society's Activity: Rescue The One. Miracles really happen when we work alongside with the members.

I just celebrated my 1 year mark last Saturday. It was a good time taking stock of my mission life and see where am I going, measured against the backdrop of where I have been.

And I choose to carry on. Because yes, I love being a missionary!

From zone meeting in the south zone, to zone meeting in the north zone. Pero traffic :(

Lunch with Nanay Barreo. This happens every monday. ;)

Sister Stokes. She's half filipina. We were both surprised when we found out that her mom and I have the same first names and almost the same middle names. Her mom's name is "Mary Lou Guinto Hipolito" Sounds like "Mary Lou Quinto Acosta". But we were more surprised when we found out that her mom and I have the same birth dates too! Well of course, except the year of birth. I am still young.

Storm

Even though we were out of our area for 3 days, my companion and I were still able to teach 36 lessons and had 85 contacts! It is true that miracles happen. He prepares a way, if we will just "go and do". (1 Nephi 3:7)

On a different note, I was not able to sleep saturday till sunday morning because the storm was so strong that our apartment's door fell and got broken. I was so scared that I asked myself: "Am I now prepared to meet God? Have I done all that was required of me? Have I repented enough?"

Long story short. I prayed like Enos. Then, I slept like a baby. I felt the sweetest assurance that He won't take me yet because my ministry is not yet finished, until the people in Tuguegarao are keeping their commitments!

I love being a missionary!

MLC

General Conference!

I love the general conference so much! One of my favorite talks was that given by Elder Nelson where he shared, in the midst of his grief, he was asked lovingly by his wife: “Are you finished crying? Then get dressed. Go back to the lab. Go to work!"

It made my heart laugh so hard. Sister Nelson sounded like President Hinckley's father. "Forget yourself. Go to work!"

I also yearn to be the kind of woman Elder Nelson was referring to in his talk: "A woman who knows how to make important things happen by their faith; ... who knows how to receive personal revelation, understands the power and peace of the temple endowment; .. a woman who teaches fearlessly." And I think, ponderizing scripture verses would help me reach that goal. :)

I also loved how Elder Lawrence taught the process of receiving personal revelation. He taught it simply and clearly, that even a child could understand it.

It goes along with what I have learned from my last personal interview with President Rahlf, that I should Ask-Seek-Knock first, to get an answer. 

Reading the Lord's chastisement to Oliver Cowdery feels like He was talking to me directly:

"Do not murmur, [Sister Acosta] , 

for it is  wisdom in me that I have dealt 

with you after this manner. 

Behold, YOU HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD; 

you have supposed that I would give it unto you, 

when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

But, behold, I say unto you, 

that you must study it out in your mind; 

then you must ask me if it be right, 

and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; 

therefore, you shall feel that it is right." (D&C 9:7-8)

STUDY + ASK = Answer :)

That's how we get personal revelation!

I am already done with my book of mormon study of 2 Nephi. And now I am reading the book of mormon with a new question : How Can I Become A Consecrated Missionary?

Aah! I love the book of mormon so much and how it answers every question of my soul. To become a consecrated missionary, we should be "pure in heart".. (Jacob 3:2)..

What does "being pure in heart" really mean? It can mean "being without guile", "submitting all to the will of the Father",  and etc. Or it can mean "being like Sister McBride".

I love my new companion, so much. She is "pure in heart" that can do a lot of miracles.

The Baccay Family and the Ballad Family (both less-actives) came to church twice!!!!! Later, we will have a Ballad FHE, and hopefully ... this will help them feel the joy of having the restored gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives, again....

My ministry in Tuguegarao is not yet finished until these people are keeping their commitments, much more their covenants.

My love for the people in this area has gone deeper.

No words could properly describe how grateful I am to be a missionary.

I love you all.

And yes, I love being a missionary!

Atonement and Missionary Work

This has been a wonderful-harvest cycle -- all sisters in Tuguegarao North and South Zones had baptisms! But for now, we are thinking about how we can keep our teaching pools flowing

I've been thinking about the relationship of Atonement and Missionary Work lately.

Atonement being the Why of Missionary Work,
and Missionary Work being the How of Atonement.

In PMG, it says that "As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase." When a person understand and felt the importance of WHY, he or she will just do the HOW, intuitively and naturally!

The same with the investigators and less-actives and everyone we are teaching.. If they understood WHY reading the book of mormon, WHY praying, and WHY going to church is important... They will just do it! And you know what, you know what!! Sister Honey (the one we met during our tracting --- the one who asked us if she can be baptized?) went to church yesterday! Together with her children and cousins! And Jason went to church as well! And Jamaika!! I. AM. SO. HAPPY!!!!!!

And Nanay Josephine is now returned!!! This has been a beautiful and redeeming cycle for me. I am just so grateful God has given me Sister Hamblin as my companion -- though 6 weeks is really short for having a good companion as she is! She's a heaven sent! She will leave this area and me, better than she found it.

I have also learned this cycle that sometimes (or maybe most of the time) God gives commandments we do not understand the WHY. I have learned to just DO IT ... in due time, we will understand the WHY.

The Savior Himself said, "If any man will do his will , he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7:17)

Time's up! I love being a missionary!!!

Last day with my companion. I woke up and I was surprised she prepared for our breakfast.