1 Month Old

Time flies on wings of lightning!

Exactly one month ago, I entered the Missionary Training Center! And it feels like it was just yesterday! So lately, I have been thinking about what goals I have achieved after my first month of being a full-time missionary. And I want to openly admit that I could not think of any.

Then I realized that it was because I had no specific goals. Yes, I want to be the missionary the Lord wants me to be, but I had no specific goals and plans to make that happen.

My first month was almost all about adjustment. But at least, I can finally say, that after one month, I have already adjusted to missionary life and I know now what I want to achieve (do and be) as a missionary! I love being a missionary and I cherish every minute of it.
In Luke 2:52, “. . . Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”. So as His representative, I set specific goals and made plans in these four areas for me to be the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I read my patriarchal blessing this morning and it gave me hope (and much excitement) to reach these personal goals.

So about the work, only 3 investigators attended the church meetings yesterday. The Lord is easy to please, hard to satisfy. I know He is pleased with these 3 souls coming to church but I know we can do more to bring more of His children come back to Him (knowing that there were 6 investigators who came last Sunday).

Some of the investigators whom we are teaching are now hiding from us. Then yesterday, during our ward council meeting, I found out that some of the less-actives and investigators are hiding from the missionaries and home/visiting teachers because they are shy about not being able to read and write. I remember one investigator last Sunday in Gospel Essential class. She noticed that the teacher asks every one to read a paragraph/sentence in the manual during the lesson. Then suddenly she whispered to me “Sister, sana po wag akong pabasahin kasi di ako marunong magbasa” (Sister, please don’t ask me to read. I do not know how.) When I heard that, I was totally heartbroken.

Most of the people I have met and taught here had just rudimentary education. So this is what I am struggling with: to teach and explain the doctrine to them so that they may understand. Without them understanding the doctrine, they will never have that faith to ACT.

Mission is such a humbling experience. Humbling because it teaches me how the Lord has given me much so I too must give much—much patience, much diligence, much charity and love to those people whom the Lord has given me to teach.
In PMG Lesson 4, one of the commandments is to Study the Scriptures. So lately, I have been thinking about how they can study the scriptures. Sister Crystal told me that the ward missionaries can read the scriptures with them every day. But I have also been thinking about Sister Crystal and I teaching them how to read. Would that be fine???

I remember during my teenage years when I was so confused. I had so many questions about the truthfulness of the gospel. I could still vividly remember how my mother tried to answer all my questions and explain the doctrine to me simply and lovingly so I could understand. And I could still vividly remember how I wanted to cry because I still couldn’t understand. Then my mother said “It is because you are not reading your scriptures.” So that was the time I had the desire to search and study the scriptures and know things for myself.

I also want these people to enjoy the blessings I have received from feasting His words. Know what I have known. Taste what I have tasted. Experience what I have experienced.

With all my heart,
Sister Acosta

I hope you print them out and share it with our family! Wag sa facebook ah! Please lang. Hahaha.

​Ito yung picture nung maputi pa ako.

​Ito naman yung maitim na ako. Hahaha. The prophecies have been fulfilled! Maitim na nga talaga ako! Di na ako nakakapag sunblock simula nung andito na ako. Walang oras pero I will really find time next time. Hahaha.,

​Ito naman kaninang umaga lang. Isang bwan na ako sa mission! Ngayon ang monthsary ko! Haha. I am so happy! And I love being a missionary! Next month Christmas na! Kaya merry christmas!

(Makapal pulbos ko dito kasi maitim na ako) Hahaha. Pero ayos lang!

Wag mo upload safacebook ah. Hahaha

Please tell Aaron salamat sa pouch nya! I love the missionary wallet SOBRA! Sobrang nakatulong sa akin! Salamat Baligod!

I love you MAMA PAPA LOLA ELAINE AND MA'AM MARY FLOR!

Cleaning our CR.

Count your miracles, name them one by one!

The past week has been so wonderful. Elder Holland taught that when an investigator didn't keep his/her commitments, missionaries should be devastated (PMG, 8).

For some reason, Sister Evelyn -- the one who had a baptismal date on December 13, 2014 -- didn't go to church yesterday. I was devastated. Sister Crystal and I were so devastated. But we're not discouraged. All is not lost! Because yesterday, there were 2 less-actives and 6 investigators who went to church and attended all the meetings! One of the investigators was a former investigator. The rest of them we just met last week!! Aaah! Heavenly Father knew how happy we were when we saw each of them coming to the church.

When I saw the former investigator at the foyer, my heart suddenly shouted: "Miracle!". And then I saw Nanay Magdalena coming, and my heart shouted "Miracle!" again! And then investigators kept on coming so my heart kept on shouting "Miracle!". Basically, this week has tons of miracles! So my trainer and I started counting miracles and naming them one by one!

(1) Nanay Magdalena.

So last week, I had my first experience in tracting. During the first minutes of tracting, I was so excited. Like, I want to shake hands with everyone I meet along the streets and tell them I am Sister Acosta, missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . and I know that our message is true. But after being rejected many times (I mean ALL THE TIME!), I felt so sad. I felt very tired. To make it worse, we stopped at this particular house, and before we could introduce ourselves to them, the woman inside shouted "Pasensya! Busy!" (Sorry! Busy!)

So we continued to walk and walk and walk until we reached the dead end of the road. Then suddenly, Sister Crystal told me "Let's turn to the right. I heard something." I asked her "ARE YOU SURE YOU HEARD SOMETHING?" because I couldn't see a house on the right road except a house of a pig. So we turned to the right and after few more walks, we found Nanay Magdalena at the window of her small and dark house. She's in her 60s and she lives with her son. I want to tell the details about her son, but for now it is suffice to say that her son is chained in a small room in their house because he has mental problems.

We then introduced ourselves and the church to Nanay. When we asked her if she’s familiar with the Mormons, she excitedly told us that two of her children are Mormons!! Yes! Latter-day saints!! So she invited us to come inside her house and showed us HER COPY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON! And she has the oldest copy and edition of the most correct book upon the face of the earth! Aaah! I am so happy, especially when she went to church yesterday, and she found some of her old friends. For now, I am praying and hoping that we will be able to teach her just as how the Lord wants us to teach her, so she will understand and have the faith to embrace the truth.

(2)Tatay George Morales

We met Tatay George Morales after helping his wife bring 2 coconuts in their house. We had visited them for 5 times already, and every visit we had to this family, we learned and learned more about them. Tatay is a former seminarian of another faith. After being sick (seriously sick) because of vices, (he’s feeling better now!!), he wants to change for the better. He asked us if the Lord would still accept him after all the things he had done. So I bore my testimony that while it is true that blessings are reserved to those who keep His commandments, His love is EVER CONSTANT and EXTENDED TO ALL. The Lord is anxious to have every of His children come back to His fold. Aaah. I love this family so much! We also found in the area book that his family members (except him) had been taught by the missionaries last year. And then we found out that few years ago, Tatay attended the baptism of his friend in the church! He wasn’t able to go to church yesterday because he can’t stand or sit even for few minutes. He’s still recovering from sickness.

So yes! Many miracles to tell, so little time!

If you're asking me about my homemaking skills... I cooked dinner sa unang gabi ko dito sa Alinguigan.

Charan! Adobong atay with batikulen with boiled egg! Hahaha! Yung tatlong missionaries na nasa bahay eh gustung gusto nila! (Hindi ako nagbibiro!) In fact, pinaluto nila ako ulit ng ganito ... at dahil napressure ako sa expectations nila.. Hindi ko naluto ng mabuti yung atay.. Hahaha. Eew! Pero dahil ang sarap talaga ng luto ko nung una, pinaluto nila ako for the third time.. PERO PALPAK PADIN. So yes, chamba lang pala yung una. Hahaha.

Sabi ni Sister Davis (from Idaho) astig daw si Mamang Zorayda. She saw your recipe book and she wants a copy of it

Ganito po ang backride sa mission ko. Pero di ko pa nasusubukan. Sa kapitbahay namin ito na tricy. (Members din!)

​My mission parents! President and Sister Rahlf! I learned so much from them. Last week, I learned about setting goals! It motivated me to work harder to achieve my goals!

​Sister Crystal and I!

17 new missionaires' arrival at the Cauayan Airport!

Mission home!

MAHAL KO KAYO AT INGAT PARATI!

Sana sulat din si Elaine sa akin. Galit ba siya sa akin? Sana hindi! Hehehehe.

SISTER ACOSTA's FIRST PDAY

Kamusta na po kayong lahat? Ako ay ayos lang! Dito na po ako ngayon sa Cauayan! At ang first area ko po ay sa Alingigan Ward, Ilagan Stake. Ang Nanay/Trainer ko po ay si Sister Crystal from Utah. At uuwi na po siya after 12 weeks! So ako po yung only child nya! Hehe.

Masaya po ako dito at nasa mabuti akong kalagayan. Sana ay kayo din po.

Bago po ako pumasok sa mission, akala ko po hinding hinding hindi ako mahohomesick. Pero nung pagbaba ko po ng apartment, nahomesick na po ako agad. Namiss ko na po kayo. Sana po ay palagi kayong sumulat para lagi akong may balita kung ano na nang balita dyan sa bahay!

Bago po ako pumasok sa mission, akala ko din po na wala nang mas nakakapagod sa mga napagdaanan ko nung college. Pero akala ko lang din po yun. Mission is the most physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually demanding work I have ever done in my whole life! Minsan po gusto ko umiyak pero di pa naman po ako umiiyak. Bawal po muryot dito. Hahaha. (Pero umiyak po ako nung first night. At saka naiiyak nanaman po ako ngayon habang nagtatype)

Ang schedule po namin dito, 10pm, nagsisimula na po kaming magproselyte. Sumasakay pa po kami ng van mula sa apartment papunta sa area namin. Malayo po. Tapos po pagbaba ng van, sasakay kami ng tricycle (kung medyo malayo)... tapos aakyat na po kami ng bundok bundok. :) Tapos lakad sa mga palayan!

Masaya po ako! This may be the most demanding work I have ever done in my whole life, pero ito din po yung most rewarding work I have ever done in my whole life! Lalo na po kanina, first time ko pong mag extend ng baptismal invitation. And she accepted it! :) Dec 17 po ang goal date at I hope and I pray everything will fall into its proper place sa araw na yun.

Alam ko po na hindi aksidente na makilala po namin kanina si Sister Evelyn. 3 years na po ang nakalipas mula nung huling naturuan siya ng mga missionaries. Simula po nung lumipat sila ng bahay, nawalan na po sila ng contact sa simbahan. Kaya masaya po ako sa privilege na makilala siya kanina! Naramdaman ko po kung paano siya inihanda ng Diyos!

6 days na po ako nasa mission field and I have seen miracles already. Miracle sa buhay ng ibang tao. At miracle po sa buhay ko. Mas nagkaroon po ng meaning sa akin ngayon yung Hymn 219: Because I have been given much.

Hindi man tayo ang nag mamamay-ari ng pinakamaganda at pinakakomportableng bahay sa buong mundo, pero He gave us enough bed and house na maging tama-tama lang na komportable tayo. Hindi man tayo mayaman, pero yung linuluto ni Mamang na masusustansyang pagkain???sobra pa yun sa sapat. Pag butihin ang pag aaral kasi maraming hindi nakakapag aral.

10 minutes nalang po natitira. Kelangan ko na pong mag email sa mission president. Haha. Sige, mahal ko po kayo and I am always praying for you.

PICTURES SA BABA!

With all my heart,

SISTER ACOSTA

Bawi po ako sa pouch mail! Sulat ako mamayang gabi at susunod na gabi!

First Pday!

ALMA DISTRICT! The best district in the whole Kolob! Halo-halo po kaming lahi. Yung dalawang nakapikit po diyan na mukhang Filipino... ay Malaysians! Haha. Tapos 4 Indians (2 elders and 2 sisters) tapos 1 elder taiwanese. Tapos yung companion ko po si Sister Tsai, taiwanese din. Tapos may 4 Filipinos: 3 elders at ako! 

Kahit 12 days lang kami nagsama eh marami po akong natutunan sa bawat isa sa kanila. Kahit na lagi po silang umuutot (sa klase o sa temple) mahal ko na po sila!

Yung tatlong Filipinos na kasama ko, they are the FINEST 18 YEAR OLD MISSIONARIES I HAVE EVER KNOWN. Kasi po sila palang naman po yung 18 year old missionaries na nakilala ko. Hahaha. Pero seryoso po ako na they are the finest! The best! At proud ako sa kanila!

​Ito naman po si Sister Tsai. She's a taiwanese. Lumaki sa Australia. Called to serve

in Singapore. At syempre, she was trained in the Philippines! Sisters Training Leaders po kami sa batch. At sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako na siya naging companion ko kasi lagi niyang pinapalakas ang loob kapag kinakabahan ako sa pag gawa ng mga assignments namin sa MTC. 

Sige po! Mahal ko kayo lahat! Ay ayaten! Ket makidkidtot iti tatao didtoy no maamuwan da nga adda Ilokana idjay Mindanao! Hahahaha!

PS: Mang, sabi ni Sister Crystal pwede nyo daw po ipapouch mail yung ATM ko para walang gastos. Wag sa LBC kasi baka iconfiscate lang nila. Sige! Salamat!

PPS: Pasensya kung may mga sentences akong di masyadong malinaw. Di ko na irereview itong sulat dahil wala nang oras. 

PPPS: Labyu!

1ST Letter to the President

Dear President Rahlf,

Heavenly Father loves me so much He gave me Sister Crystal as my trainer. She's very hardworking. In fact, when we reached our apartment, we immediately knelt down to pray and straightway went to work.

My first teaching appointment is so memorable.
We taught Juan Carlos, a recent convert.
Our lesson's about ETERNAL MARRIAGE.
Yes, president. My first lesson as a sister missionary
was about ETERNAL MARRIAGE.
I am just so grateful, that somehow, I didn't feel trunky.

My first 6 days as a full-time missionary has been so hard for me. Before I went to mission, I thought to myself that I would never feel homesickness. But on the first night, I already missed my home and family.

Before I went to mission, I thought there could be no more demanding work than my life as a college student. Now, mission is the most demanding work I have ever done in my whole life -- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Nevertheless, I am loving it. I have seen miracles happen for the past 6 days which made me feel that this work is so rewarding! I have seen miracles happen to other people's lives, as well as mine.


Awhile ago, we met Sister Evelyn. I know it was not an accident to meet her. She had been taught by missionaries 3 years ago. But because she transferred residence, she was not able to see missionaries again. After 3 years, she's been taught by the missionaries again -- us! What a grand privilege it is to be full-time missionaries! It was my first time yo extend baptismal invitation and she accepted it! Goal date is December 17! I hope and pray that everything will fall into its proper place on that date! Aaaah! I know Heavenly Father has prepared Sister Evelyn, and so we have to prepare too and do all that we can for this.

This is His work. I am just an instrument. I need His help.

Sister Acosta


PICTURES:

First PDay!

ALMA DISTRICT (MTC)! The best district in the whole Kolob! Halo-halo po kaming lahi. Yung dalawang nakapikit po diyan na mukhang Filipino... ay Malaysians! Haha. Tapos 4 Indians (2 elders and 2 sisters) tapos 1 elder taiwanese. Tapos yung companion ko po si Sister Tsai, taiwanese din. Tapos may 4 Filipinos: 3 elders at ako! 

Kahit 12 days lang kami nagsama eh marami po akong natutunan sa bawat isa sa kanila. Kahit na lagi po silang umuutot (sa klase o sa temple) mahal ko na po sila!

Yung tatlong Filipinos na kasama ko, they are the FINEST 18 YEAR OLD MISSIONARIES I HAVE EVER KNOWN. Kasi po sila palang naman po yung 18 year old missionaries na nakilala ko. Hahaha. Pero seryoso po ako na they are the finest! The best! At proud ako sa kanila!

​MTC Companion. Ito naman po si Sister Tsai. She's a taiwanese. Lumaki sa Australia. Called to serve in Singapore. At syempre, she was trained in the Philippines! Sisters Training Leaders po kami sa batch. At sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako na siya naging companion ko kasi lagi niyang pinapalakas ang loob kapag kinakabahan ako sa pag gawa ng mga assignments namin sa MTC. 

Sige po! Mahal ko kayo lahat! Ay ayaten! Ket makidkidtot iti tatao didtoy no maamuwan da nga adda Ilokana idjay Mindanao! Hahahaha!

PPS: Pasensya kung may mga sentences akong di masyadong malinaw. Di ko na irereview itong sulat dahil wala nang oras. 

PPPS: Labyu!

HI!

Sorry, this should be quick. And I am sorry the keyboard of this computer is getting crazy. Maybe I'm just panicking because of the limited time...

Kamusta na kayong lahat? Ako ay ayos lang dito sa MTC. Life has been so great. And time flies in wings of lightning. Ang dami na nangyari na gusto kong ishare sainyo pero I only have 15 minutes left to write letter for all of you. So ishashare ko nalang mga bagay na natutunan ko.

My companion is Sister Tsai and she came from Australia. She's a Taiwanese and she's going to Singapore Mission. We're both assigned as Sisters Training Leaders for this batch and I am grateful for her great example to me.

Sorry talaga sa letter na ito. Pero I want you all to be healthy kasi dito I am healthy so don't worry about me. I hope you are all safe and healthy too.

I love you all.

Wo ai ni (Just like what Sister Tsai always tell me!)

Before wearing our nametags. 

Our District: 4 Filipinos (3 Elders and me). 4 Indians. 2 Taiwanese. 2 Malaysians.

I am so happy happy happy happy!!!

PHILIPPINES CAUAYAN MISSION! (OCTOBER 24, 2014)

This is a copy of my email to one of my best friends who is currently serving as a full-time missionary.


DEAR SISTER DELOS SANTOS,

Guess who's writing an e-mail using MYLDSMAIL.NET to the most beautiful missionary friend? 

ME! Sister Mary Lou "Marai" Acosta!!!

Guess where she will serve?????

PHILIPPINES CAUAYAN MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​ Where my beautiful missionary friend came from!!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!! I love my mission already!!!! And I love it even more because you were from that place!!!!!

I will be set apart on October 22, and I report to MTC on 24th!!

This is it!! We are now called! At kung nakalimutan mo, tinext mo sa akin dati na sana sainyo ako ma-assign. Eto na oh!

Hindi man natupad yung prayer mo na maging magcompanion tayo sa Butuan! Eh exchange naman tayo ng lugar!

YOU IN MINDANAO.

I in TUGEGARAO!

Yahooo! By the way.. I have been here in Metro Manila since September 15. At dahil idol kita, every week ako nasa temple! And guess who was endowed already? MEEEEEE!! Because you are there at Butuan, I went to the temple alone. Hahaha. 

Ito picture ko nung endowment ko. Kasama ko si Sister Cathy, from Nueva Viscaya! (Part of my mission hehehehe) 

She's endowed as a preparation for the everlasting covenant of marriage. LOL. Sa Salt Lake Temple siya ikakasal. And she's now in California.. And I hope and pray na we, too, shall experience the blessing of marrying in the temple after our missions. Hehehe. But for now, let's pour all our energies, heart, might, and strength in this 18 months!

​

I love the temple so much! It is really the house of the Lord. It is a house of revelation! Whenever I am inside, I can feel that the Lord is buhay na buhay! That He is not pipi or bingi! He hears and answers prayers!!!!

I remember going to the temple with you last year before we took the board exam. I opened the temple scriptures and there I have found the Lord's words . . .

D&C 98

1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

 2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

 3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.

After reading those verses, my heart shouted for joy. I felt so much comforted. I know that those were the words from the Lord. He wanted me to cast all my fears away, have the courage and take the board exam. He told me that He had heard my prayers---my 4 years and a half prayer. And He told me that all the things I had gone through from first year to that October 2013, shall work together for my good.. and to His name's glory.

And it did. It truly did.

I am grateful. Super grateful for His loving guidance throughout my life. 

You know Sister delos Santos. While I was waiting for my session in the temple last Sept 27, there was a woman, in her 50s, and she kept on smiling at me. She was beautiful. Her hair was brown and short. She had a fine skin. And what made her more beautiful was the smile on her face.

I was sitting in front of her when suddenly she asked me how old I was. She was surprised when I told her I was 21. She told me that she had noticed me kasi mukha pa daw akong bata to be endowed. I told her I am going on a mission, that's why I was endowed ng maaga. She asked me if I have already graduated. And I said "Opo". She asked me what course I took, and I said... (in the most humble way and tone that I knew) "Accountancy po."

Her eyes grew big and she said "Wow!!!!!!!!!!" Then she told me "So hindi ka muna mag boboard exam??" I told her, again, in the most humble way and tone that I knew "Tapos na po"

Her jaw dropped. She became excited. She went beside me and asked me if I passed. And I said "Opo" again. She then became more excited. She held my hands softly and congratulated me..Then she asked me kung mahirap ba daw..

I told her... "Naku po. Ang pagkapasa ko po ay isang miracle.."

Then I told her about our exam in TOA. I told her that the review center gave us THICK PILES of hand outs for TOA, for us to read in 1 WEEK. I told her that because of limited time, I randomly took ONE handout from that thick piles of handouts. And I told her "Alam nyo po sa isang hand out na yun, 10 questions ang lumabas sa sa subject ng board exam.. Sa ibang handouts walang lumabas. Alam ko po na hindi po aksidente yun. Alam ko po na ang Diyos mismo ang nag guide sa akin para mapag aralan yung hand out na yun."

And then I told her about our MS Subject. I told her that all those 85 questions in MS were all foreign to me. WALA AKONG NAINTINDIHAN. Of course I tried to understand the questions pero hindi ko yun napag aralan in college nor in review days. I told her I didn't know how I passed that subject. Pero dahil sobrang mabait ang Diyos, pinapasa Niya ako.

After I spoke, she cried. I was shocked. I put my arms around her and asked her why she was crying. Sabi ko sa sarli ko "Patay ako nito. Bakit umiiyak si Sister"...TO TELL YOU, I WAS SO TERRIFIED. She removed her eyeglasses, wiped her tears, held my hands, and told me "Ang lakas ng faith mo."

AND THEN I STARTED CRYING.

I asked her not to cry anymore. Then she told me of her daughter, na kasing edad ko.. and the problems they have right now.

AND I CRIED EVEN MORE. I could feel her love for her children. As well as the pain of a mother. I felt sorry for what I had heard. And I felt sorry for the times I have had misunderstanding with my mother. I WAS CRYING AND CRYING AND CRYING. I didn't know what to say. I just told her to keep on praying because there's always a miracle.

Then a temple attendant came in to tell her it was her turn for session. She stood and bid me good bye. I wasn't able to ask her name. AND I WAS LEFT ALONE TO CRY.

I am just grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and what it brought to my life. It has blessed me in all and every aspect of my life.

I am grateful for the atonement. I am grateful for its redeeming power; we are allowed to change for the better. I am grateful for its enabling power; we are given strength beyond our own natural ability to endure and accomplish things.

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of it, I never feel alone wherever I am in the world. As long as there are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints anywhere in the world, I find family. Because of the gospel, I found my best friend. I found you.

Okay. So this has been a long e-mail. I LOVE YOU SISTER DELOS SANTOS.

I hope everything is well with you there. I miss riding MRT with you but I know we have the rest of our life to do that after our missions. So give all that you've got there.

I LOVE YOU AGAIN. And I hope you are always safe.

With all my heart,

SISTER ACOSTA