Mabuhay!!!

A member in our ward has a Pizza business and named it
ZARAHEMLA

  
May 28,2012
So...another week gone by! Wow...this week is
Sis. Olila's Birthday...you better believe we're
gonna party it up...while we walk in the flaming
hot sun in the Philippines...preaching the Gospel. haha
That's about as much of a party as we get here :)
...and it's great!  haha :)
This week we had a service project called
"Brigada Eskwela" So every year before school
starts it's a "national holiday" and everyone in the
whole philippines goes to the schools and helps fix
up the schools and get them ready for a new school
year.  Now their summer is just beginning.  But here,
they're getting ready to go back to school...I think
this next week now!  Anyways the service project
was great- I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I
had memories growing up-  pulling the strawberry
plants all out because I thought they were weeds...
and let's just say...you guys not being too happy
about that.  hahaha Well...we pulled weeds...without
gloves- they don't use gloves here...just your hands.
I couldn't help but think of that "marks of a Savior"
story- well...my hands were pretty torn up afterwards...
but it's alright...a little dirty work never hurt anybody.
I must say I was a little disappointed in the Elders. As
I looked around...I saw the 4 sisters working...and all
of the Elders sitting...and joking around.  Icouldn't help
but think of what Pres Jensen always says "The harder
you work on your mission, the prettier your wife will be"
haha...well?  haha hopefully they learn.
We have brother ryan, our teenage investigator...he got
a hair cut with us...he looks soo different...and he's been
able to avoid alcohol and drastically cut down his
cigarette intake...now he is praying often and still reading
the scriptures.  He's going to church....it's fun to watch t
he changes in his life. His mom is being active now in
the church- we have a family home evening with them
later.   Should be great....the gospel really does change
peoples' lives.
Earlier I was reading over again about Joseph Smith-
and the story how he rejected brandy when he had his
operation. They wanted to tie him down- but he just told
them he'd be fine if his father could hold him.
How he was faced with such opposition and difficult
circumstances at such an early age- because he was
destined to do great things, in order for us to have the
restored gospel again on this earth.
"Love is the power. Obedience is the Price, The Spirit
is the Key, Love is the motive." - Pres Faust
To another week...sorry it's short- but I love you all
Talk to you next week!
xoxoxo
Love  


Me and cute Sister Alexa

  








School Service Project


 

This Weeks Adventures



YW in the ward...they are super cute!

 May 21, 2012
Hello Family!!! :) Wow I feel like I just wrote to
you guys yesterday!  :) This week was great
...of course! So the week started out kind of
rough- Sis. Olila did somthing to her foot-
I had no idea what she didto it- but she wasn't able
to walk on it- it was completely swolen I thought
maybe it was a bite or something- anyways so we
treated it,  elevated it and medicated her and now
she's back to work :) hahaha
Anyways it was weird not being able to really
work on Monday after Pday hours- we had to take
it easy, it affected our work a little bit, but its okay,
the important thing is that she's okay now and back
in business :) I didn't feel much like a missionary
monday though- I just updated the area books and
tried to keep busy doing extra things that needed to be
done for organizing the IOS and things like that...I
realized that it really makes a difference you can be
a missionary and not really BE a missionary- sometimes
you can just go along with the actions- just barely make
the goals that you have- or you can magnify
your calling....it felt weird to sit back and relax-
I decided I don't like it much haha :)
We had an investigator finally attend church! In my
first area it was normal for about 8-10 investigators
weekly to attend...here it is SO hard to just even get 1!
haha  But...we did it. Brother Ryan Marzan- we
have 2 progress. investigators right now- even
though they're not really our focus. Ryan came to
church- he's a 16 year old boy- and he acts like he's 24-
He's in this "barcada" or group of friends and
they're up to no good....he smokes, drinks, and does
whatever you could think of....the other missionaries
had been teaching him since december and he wasn't
progressing. I told Sis Olila we either need to drop him,
or he needs to progress...cuz its been a long time haha so
we had a "DTR" ....haha I had to explain what DTR was to
Sis. Olila "Determine the Relationship"...like they say when
you're dating in america...but here...it's determining our
relationship with them haha...kinda funny. Anyways, we
just said look, you have prayed andsaid you know this book
is true, why do you like the missionaries to teach you?
What are you expecting? And are you willing to give up your
lifestyle for a better one? Ok...maybe we said it a little more
eloquently than that...but pretty much that was our
conversation in a nutshell. Anyways, the spirit was actually
really strong, and he felt it....and ever since then he's been
reading the book of mormon every day- he has drunk only once-
and smoked only 2 cigarettes...which is really a lot of progress
for him. We're really excited. Later---he might meet us here at
SM mall...for us to treat him to a haircut...because its a little
pangit talaga how long his hair is haha. So...we'll see if he
shows up.   Speaking of which...I am getting my first hair
cut here in the pines right after this...it's about time...may
hair is getting soo long!
So, this week was also really happy because we had
a ward temple trip, and we had one family, the
Orenia Family- who just hit their recent convert 1 year
mark they entered the temple and were sealed....and
they were sooo ready, I just LOVE going to their family,
they are soo nice and happy all the time. They live the
gospel...every little principle, even though it requires
sacrifices and sometimes being "sheltered' since right
outside their door literally they have people gambling
every day- and drinking...but they're doing it. And they're
strong. They are soo happy it is soo great. Also we had
Sis Guib enter the temple. We taught her a few weeks
ago and we felt impressed to talk about tithing- I didn't
really know why, but as our conversation
went on she said that she hadn't been paying tithing
the last week because she was trying to save it so she
could enter the temple. Of course, we used the famous
3 Ne 24:10 and we told her that we knew if she paid an
honest tithe, the Lord would take care of her, and she
would be able to attend the temple tour. Of course, her
reason was"good" but there's good better best...right?! :)
Anyways, she wasn't clear on the principle, so we're
really glad we taught that to her.
Also....we have a new housemate, Sis. Manalogo-
shes from Austrailia, but she's samoan. Luckily she
knows english...but not tagalog yet hehe
It brings back memories, and I am soo glad I dont
have to go through that experience again. She doesn't
understand anything, and that's the worst feeling ever!!!
She is great though, she'll get it...just have to be patient...
and try! We also had a missionary farewell for 2
missionaries here in the ward, the left for the mtc this
week after the ward temple trip. Basically, it was a
great week That' s all for my email this week, until
next week ulit
Love you!
xoxoxo

Um.....Hi ulit!



Super HUGE snake...like the one outside my window!

 


 May 14, 2012
Okay...it was SO great to hear your voices. This
phone call home was so different from my first phone
call home. I miss you all, I am grateful I got to talk to
 you, and I"ll be talking to you soon again...
in 7 months hehe...mabilis talaga ang panahon
dito...parang...oo just  basta...the time will come soon.
Sorry for my poor English mom...haha I know, I can
tell it is slightly getting worse. Sister Olila asks me to
translate for her sometimes- and then she asks me to
say it in english, and I have a hard time hahaha le'ts
just say it will be interesting- cuz It's only been
8 months. haha
So this week was great,I know I mentioned it to
mom on the phone already, but ...they found a
HUGE snake outside of our aparment...like HUGE, the
kind that they had as a kid when they would bring
the huge snakes to the elementary school for a show
...that kind haha I am not an expert at the species
of snakes- but its huge- nakakatakot talaga haha
(for real- its scary!).
This week was great of course, we have transfers
this week now.   Transfer awareness is tomorrow,
and then wednesday is transfer day instead of friday
because Pres Jensen has a conference or somethin to
go to.   I found out yesterday that they're having a
special parang  "general conference" here June 15 & 16
yata. They said Pres Monson was speaking to the
whole Philipines. I'm not quite sure what that's about.
Maybe you know?!
This weeks work schedule was great- we had one day
where we went to a less active's house, and she had
all of her children there and they were having a big
karaokee party- that's a huge thing here in the pines,
they always sing.  Her son is active and he's the ward
pianist-  when I heard him singing a jack johnson song
I started singing too-  his voice was soo great- like
jack johnson! Ah I miss my music- just ask Sis. Olila- it's
the thing I struggle with- I always want to sing
along. Luckily I have a lot of church music here and so
I can listen to that! haha
So I realized a lot of things this week. First of all, we
have one family that is getting ready to send their son
off on a mission, and they have a lot of struggles
and problems. Occasionally Brother drinks- but of course
they struggle financially, like everyone here.
They also said their problems are also a little deeper.
Sis Olila said before I got here Brother was worried
that Sister had "another man" I'm not quite sure,
but I felt impressed to show that "together forever"
dvd to them. So, we watched that together, and then
talked about it. Tears filled my eyes as I watched the
families- and I just think about my past- and I think
about how precious the family is.
Families are not perfect, of course- if they were- there
would be no point to being here.
I have a friend that sent an email- about how sometimes
they wonder why certain things happen in their life-
especially when all they are trying to do is be faithful
and obedient- why is life so tough. I remember talking
with Kari & Michael before I left about how sometimes
even when we feel like we're living the gospel- life is
still tough-  we still have hard days and sometimes
wonder why. what am I doing wrong?   I have
pondered that over and over, and I know I have many
years ahead of me to learn the answer- but I feel like
that is a gift that the Lord has given me through the
mission. Sure, before the mission I went through some
...let's just say challenges- I have experienced challenges
in my life, as all of us have- and sure I tried to keep an
eternal perspective on it and endure. But is just now that
I am truly understanding. I think over and over again
about Joseph Smith- about D&C 135- about how he
gave his life- about the talk from Pres Holland
"safety for the soul" and about how they suffered
so much persecution- so much opposition, heart ache,
they were not rich, they had deaths in their family-
they had opposition- because...the Lord loved them.
We see all of their heartache & trials but at the same
time- they were soo blessed- and loved by our
Heavenly Father and the Lord. My favorite scripture
has and always will be D&C 121:7-9. It was
a prophecy written by Joseph Smith while he was
held as a prisoner in Liberty Jail. God has a plan for
all of us. We don't understand it because we can't
see the picture. For me, that drives me crazy because
I like to know everything...why things happen, when
they'll happen...but it's not like that. All we can do is
make sure that we are keeping the commandments, and
putting the Lord first, and the Lord will guide us on
whatever path we need to take, even if it may be different
from how we planned our life would be. For me...my path
has been VERY different from what I planned when I
was a little girl. I did not plan to experience the things
I have- but I know that it al l happened for a reason.
I know that Everything we are doing today, is
preparing us for something else. I have a sure testimony
now of that, as I have been blessed to work with the many
less actives here. I see it in their eyes- they feel lost- and
they lost faith when they experienced opposition- or
things didn't happen the way they thought it should-
they didn't understand why life was hard. And instead-
they fell away and their life is even harder.
I am so grateful for the gospel, it really does change peoples'
lives- if we live it- even if it may not be the most "popular'
thing to do- it is the right thing to do. Well, sorry this letter
may be "preachy" but hey...I'm a preacher...right?! hehe...
or missionary anyways.
 Love you all, and Mom & Gee & Kristine, Kenna, Kari,
& Kelly- you are GREAT moms- your children are blessed!
I hope you're mothers day was
fantastic, I will be there next year for it :)
xoxoxo
Love,

Diyos Di Agngina




Caribao swimming

  May 6, 2012

Well, I've now learned Tagalog, Pangasinan, and now
Ilocano! haha :)
"Diyos Di Agngina" is Ilocano- it means God bless you :)
This week was great- I can't believe we're now on week
5 of 6 weeks for this transfer- it is quickly coming to a
close- and it's been great. I truly have loved every
minute.  So...lots of really great funny experiences this
week...can't wait to share.
So...we had an activity this morning- 5:30am haha
because here at 5am it is soo hot already so we were
going to have a waterballoon activity with all of the
ward misisonaries "ward missionary bonding activity"
haha anyways the plans fell threw so we just played
other games, it was super fun. Sis. Olila & I wore our
matching basketball shorts that we had made for ourselves.
They say our name and Sto Tomas- It cost P180 that's
equivalent to ano...maybe 5 dollars in the US. haha soo
cheap and hand made for us haha So- I thought that'd
 be a cool gift to bring back for my pumunkin (nephews)
if they would like that...they're pretty sweet lookin.
Anyways- so this week...I broke my 2nd payong
(umbrella)...that's not a good sign- it's not even rainy
season yet hahaha So...we were teaching after our first
appointment- so it was only like 1:30 pm all of a sudden it
started pouring...like sooo hard. Bro. Joenice was working
with us and he forgot an umbrella so he pretty much just
took a shower as we walked to our other appointments-
so we were walking in this muddy, rocky area and all of a
sudden-bam-I fell and slid haha I was COVERED in mud...
hahaha and my payong broke :( hahaha Luckily I had a
rag with me so I just wiped myself off- and I had plenty
of water to wash the rag out with because it was raining so
hard- anyways so I was covered in mud the rest of the day-
luckily my skirt was grey and surprisingly it covered it up
pretty well. yeah, I looked a little dirty haha but what could I
do? oh well- it was really funny...that same day we taught
this brother that...let's just say ang puso niya ay parang bato.
(his heart is like a rock) haha He is soo impossible, but
we thought we'd give him another shot before we labeled
him "dead wood" haha So he was sitting at a waiting shed
parang...a bus station) and there were tons of noisy trucks
passing by- and he wouldn't move he insisted that we teach
him there- so we did haha And we sung our song like we
usually do and it was just hilarious the look on peoples
faces as they passed by...grabe it was hilarious- I was
trying soo hard not to start laughing.
We have a few new investigators who will be "completing
families" if they choose to be baptized. It is fun to see their
families participate in the lesson- they are soo anxious to
share the gospel with them. We have a new ward mission
leader, as our last ward mission leader here will be leaving
for his own mission May 19- malapit na! (close now) He was
working with us, his name is Bro. Joenice- he kept asking us
about how many baptisms we had and how many progressing
investigators we had- and I just kept trying to explain the
mission is different than it was for him. Our goal isn't
investigators- but reactivating all of the lost souls. He made
it seem like it wasn't as great as what he did, but I just kept
thinking, we all have a different purpose. I truly believe I am
here for a reason right now. I just love all of these lost souls,
and I so desperatly want to be an instrument in the Lords
hands to help them, because I know that the Gospel is true,
and I know that their life can be so much happier if they live
the gospel. Sometimes they don't see or get that- and that's
why I'm here- to help them understand that, and to help the
spirit testify of that to them.  I 100% believe that even though
after my mission I will return to the US, and hopefully visit
here again, and keep in contact with all of these sweet people,
that some day, in our next life I will see them, and if they
held to the truth I will be soo exceedingly happy. I know that,
to know that I could help even one person it is soo true:
"how great shall be your joy if you bring but one soul unto me."
Anyways, another week thats great :) I love you
xoxoxo
You're in my prayers always
Mahal ko kayo!