Well Hello There :)

June 18, 2012 
Well hello Family...I really don't even know where to
start with this week.
First of all that's cool that it's Cedar Hills Days
there....kind of ironic because here it is "Rosales
Days"...it lasts for like a few weeks, and its a BIG
deal here...they even have school off for 1 day
to celebrate haha. They also had fireworks...it was
fun to see!...but their fireworks were...like for
2 minutes, and it was sponsered by SM or the mall
here. :) We were in the middle of teaching a lesson-
outside of course and it was 9:00 and they went
off...it was beautiful! :) They also celebrated their
"Independence day" June 12th.
To answer your question, yes, they do have
father's day here, But we didn't really notice people
celebrating it because this weekend we had
our special conference for North Luzon Philippines,
 it was good! :)  This week seriously is a blur- all
I know is our work was pretty much down the drain
because of circumstances that happened to Sis.
Magalogo. She had mentioned to me before that
she was in a car accident. Her mother passed away,
and she lived, but years ago when she was 15 she
was in a coma for months. She is now totally recovered,
and here serving a mission. Anyways, because of it
sometimes she blacks out. We got a text from her comp,
sis. Mckinley one night and said to buy gatorade
for her that she wasn't feeling well, so we came
home with gatorade for her and....I found her on the
bed, shaking, and totally not communicating, her eyes
twitching. I opened them, used a light to check her
pupils, took her pulse, called her name, it was
crazy....she was sweating...anyways, we got her
taken care of. Had to put socks on her feet...nurse her
back to health pretty much. haha It was crazy.
Sis. Mckinley was just standing there because she
didn't know what to do. Luckily, we had come
home just in time. Sis. Mckinley just started freaking
out and crying. Sis. Magalogo said she couldn't
talk but she could just write....so she wrote to us her
problems. Her speech was completely
compromised. Anyways, Sis. Mckinley said that
Sis. Magalogo was afraid to go to bed because
she might not wake up. I just thought that was a
little ridiculous, she was fine. Honestly I sensed
that it was a little of her home sickness, plus she
had only drunk like 1 cup of water and eaten 2
pieces of toast that day...her body was just shutting
down. So I forced her to drink and eat. They
all laughed at me, and called me mom...and trust
me...i felt like a mom...but it worked and she
was ok. We called president, I talked with him and
President was more upset than antyhing because on
her medical history she hadn't mentioned anything
about it. It was new news to her. He siad he was
99.9% sure that she would be sent home. Anyways,
he told me it was up to me if it was life or death
I could make the call and take her to the hospital,
but he said quite honestly here the hospitlas do
some weird things, and they'll sabotage a patient
first to get more money out of them and then nurse
them back to health...anyways it's a little ridiculous.
So he told me that she was better off there in my
care with my medical background then going to
the hosptial. No pressure, right?! haha Anyways,
the next day she continued to get a little better.
She kept having relapses though like she thought
she was in a car crash then and there and would just
start yelling & crying...and then the thought came
to me maybe she suffers from PTSD (post traumatic
stress disorder or something- and maybe it's stres
induced from the mission...but I didn't know really) 
One night when she was freaking out I was sitting
there, stroking her head while Sis. Mckinley went to
finally take a shower...it was like 1:00 in the morning-
and she confided in me that her Father abuses her
he hits her and likes to hit her in the head- and she
has a lot of memory and brain problems because
of it. This story just gets more and more interesting,
right? haha crazy. Finally they went to Urdanetta
and met with President- and had an interview, and
she was sent to MRC in Manilla MRC is a
Medical/missionary recovery Center- I guess they
made it like a medical center for the missionaries
and they made it out of the old mtc building there
before they redid it. Anyways, she and Sis. Mckinley
are now there in Manilla and they said that she was
interviewed by a psych. They determined that
she was never in a car accident, she has some mental
something...I don't know ... we haven't heard
any news yet from Sis. Mckinley, they are stilll there. I
guess I"ll let you know next week. Anyways, its been
a crazy week!
Especially because now we have to cover their
schedule- because they have a bap interview...
and our schedule too...it's just crazy! ah! haha
Kind of ironic because I was just praying, asking
Heavenly Father to send my way something so that
I could continue to learn cuz I feel at a stop- like
I"m not spiritually progressing- it's easy...I don't want
it to be easy. I want to learn. Well....ask and ye
shall receive, right? Anyways, I learned a little
more about me as a result of this. I learned that
more than anything...I want to be a mom. And...I'm
very grateful for nursing, and the subject I've
chosen to study.
Oh...yesterday morning, we also had an Earthquake!!
No joke...our room shook a little bit...but no big deal...
hehe oh the fun adventures in the pines...gotta love it :)
Our work was kind of crazy this week....but we did
have some great experiences with fellowshipping the
less active members. Bro Adolfo, whom we've been
visiting for 2 months since I've been here finally
expressed the reason why he doesn't want to go to
church, and it was because of a fellowshipper that
we brought, he felt comfortalbe with him :) The ward
doesn't need us to fellowship...they just need the
members to step it up, and help each other. We
taught Bro. Ryan and I was surprised when we
were talking I asked him where he saw himself ending
up in 10 years and he said he didn't know, maybe he
wouldn't even be alive. I told him he's 16 years old....
he's still a kid...he will be alive haha Then we talked
about planning. The attitude of the typical Pinoy is
life for today...they get their support from work
daily so they can eat, food storage...whats that?
emergency fund?...that doesn't exist. They live for
today now. Anyways, we made him make alist of the
goals in his life. It's good to have goals. If you have
no goals, you have nothing to live up to. No reason
to live. That is why we all have the end goal to reuturn
to the presence of our loving Heavenly Father &
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Anyways...basta magulog ang buhay ko para sa
linggo na eto, pero ayos lang.
Love you all and pray for you always!
xoxoxo


Me at the pump or "bomba" here, this is actually in front  of a house
...this is where they shower :)  And...that's completely normal here :)



Expected Due Date: Mar 10?!

Sister Olila and I bought a cake for Elder Antonios Birthday

June 11, 2012
Well Hello there Family! :) Thank you for the emails,
Kari...I loved all the pictures! I hope everyone there
had a great birthday!!!
I don't know if I mentioned it in last week's email or
not, but last week we had a lot of rain...and we had
mga tulog or like leaks in our roof and some other
problems with our house. Something from the "CR"
or restroom upstairs was leaking...and we had like
this huge yellow puddle in our kitchen and by our shoes...
it was disgusting, it got to the bookcase too...we had
move it...it was just grose. At the same time we had
running down the inside part of our walls. We also
have several repairs that haven't been taken care of
at the apartment so...we did what anyone else would
do...we went "house hunting" haha  Elder Engles
(senior couple here) gave us permission haha we found
some really nice places too...one even had a shower...
and a flushing toilet...I about died I was really excited. haha
we got a knock on our door (yes our aprt has a real door,
which is rare here :)) haha anyways, it was our parang
"landlord" he said, hey rumor has it that you're moving out.
haha here it is like no big deal, no offense, and you can just
pick up and move because...well for our situation I guess
what happened is a few years ago, the other mission president
before Pres Jensen asked Bro. Duke (they're really active
members at church here) to give up his house for the
missionaries, so they'd have a safe and protected, pretty nice
place...he willingly did it- so they are houseless...they live
out of their car (parked in front of the picture) and the
other half of the house, which is theirs too but it's
really small and they have a lot of children. Anyways,
I was very much appreciative of him, but that is why he
really didn't care if we moved or didn't move. But, he
has a brother that was excommunicated long ago, and is
now recently returning, and he said he doesn't want us to
be far from him, he wants us to continue to be there for
him, so he said to list all of the repairs and things that
he needs to fix, and he'd have someone over the next
day to do it for us. Well...so we're staying in our apartment.
Good thing too...I really didn't want to move..I hate
moving hah :)
One thing that I realized this week...of course I've
realized it the whole time that I've lived in the Philippines,
but it is how grateful I am for America. I am soo grateful
for  my country. It was cute because Sis. Olila's goal is to
sing every song in the hymn book from cover to
cover, so we go in order when it's her turn to conduct
companionship study (we do this every morning) and
yesterday we sang "America, the Beautiful" and earlier
we sang "My Country tis of thee" and it brought
tears to my eyes, I am soo grateful for my country. I
don't know what I did to deserve to be born there,
why I was given as many blessings as I have, but I am soo
blessed. For everything...for a loving family, for my body
being healthy, to have a good education, to have...just
everything that there is in America. I am blessed...we
all really are.
Here in the Philippines they also celebrate July 4th...
because they love America. haha It's called "Friendship
day". haha :) I am praying that things are going alright
I am absent there...in the next 9 months, its kind of scary
 not being there for the elections, I don't really know
what's going on in politics or what has happened at all...
which is all right...eye needs to be "single to His glory"
right? haha but...I can't wait to catch up when I get home.
It's funny here, everyone wants Mitt Romney to win the
election.  They don't even  know anything about him, other
than he's "mormon" haha but they all love him. eheh...
This week we were blessed to have fellowshippers at our
lessons! What a huge difference. Our ward missionaries
before, were only 19 years old, and they left on their
missions last month...so we had no more ward missionaries,
so we decided we needed to ask the ward members,
even though they're not called as ward misisonaries, to
help us. Because the less active members are all older
anyways, they need someone there who can really relate
to them. We visited one couple, Isidio & Beatrize Martinez-
they're older now, like in their late 60's or 70's. (ok mom
and dad don't get offended by that...hhaa here if
you're 60 or 70 its like...you look and act old) haha
anyways Brother
is soo cute, he and sister argue sometimes...like bicker in
front of us because brother won't pray, he says it's the same
if sister just says the prayer for them...haha it's funny..also
she bought him expensive glasses and he never wears them
because he doesn't like them...but we asked him to put
them on for us and he did, he is soo cute...we just told
him how handsome he was. haha anyways, we asked
bro. Dulatre & bro almoite to work with us that day and
they said yes, so bro. dulatre is in his late 60's...but he is
really strong and capable of ...everything, he works at his
farm still and is goin strong. haha when we have service
projects, he still volunteers...oh he's just great :) anyways,
when sis olila and I arrived at the house of bro. martinez,
he was wearing his under shirt, and short boxer
shorts. haha we just laughed...orch. haha. Anyways...
when bro dulatre showed up in his
nice pants and white polo shirt bro martinez excused himself
and then came back with his church dress pants on (still just
wearing his under shirt) and his pants were clear up to
his chest I swear...they were soo high...and he has a
pot belly...it was just...really really cute. It seriously brought
tears to my eyes it was soo cute. Sis Olila and I just smiled
and started to giggle a little to ourselves. It just goes to
show you that all the less actives need, is an example. they
need a friend, and they too will want to become good,
become active in the church again. We also noticed the
huge difference when members are present because
yesterday, we asked Sis. Lazaro to come with us, we
went to eh Hilario family, we've tried for 2 months (since
I've been here) to teach them. 2 times we've taught brother,
but sister hilario would not sit down or listen to us. Anyways,
don't know what exactly her problem is.Anyways, Sis Lazaro
used to be good friends with her, it made a huge
difference, because Sis. Lazaro, they said they were
sleeping inside their house, but because Sis. Lazaro is
friends, she just walked right in their house, said hey, we're
here to teach, i dont care if you're napping, wake up. hahaha
and they weren't offended cuz she did it jokingly, of course...
they sat down for the first time, and sister cried, the spirit
was really strong as we talked about faith in Jesus Christ,
and then shared 3 Ne 13- seek ye first the kingdom of God-
and don't think about if you have food, or water, or clothes...
all things will be added unto you. Their problem was they
didn't go to church because of work. gradually their heart
has been more and more hardened until they had no desire,
but the spirit was really strong yesterday.
We're hoping they come to church next sunday.
Speaking of next sunday we're excited because it's a special
conference here...just for North Luzon so the northern part
of the Philippines. We're thinking it's probably to announce
the ground breaking of the Urdaneta Temple...we're hoping
at least that's why. :)
Also...we were told yesterday that in August we have
2 apostles coming here! We're excited about that too...
maybe for the ground breaking. We don't really know! :)
This last few weeks I have really been praying, asking
for Heavenly Father to help me notice more of the "tender
mercies" from the Lord. I have been blessed, that my eyes
have been opened. He is all around us and in everything we do,
there is almost always a tender mercy. I am so grateful for
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the short time I"ve
been given to be here in Sto Tomas.
I love you all & pray for you
lagi...
xoxoxo
Love,

Well Hello There...

Blowing out Sis. Olila's birthday cupcake!

  
June 3, 2012
Hello!!! What a great week, no?!
So this week I think we had like a major event almost
EVERY DAY!!! It was soo crazy...and wonderful! :)
It went by soo fast though! It was the week of
Sister Olila's Birthday!! Wednesday we had another
service project, it was a lot of fun...especially because
it was Sis. Olila's Birthday! :) Elder Antonio called me
the night before and we planned that he would buy a
cake and make a sign...of course I couldn't do it...cuz
I'm not allowed to go anywhere unless she's attached
to my hip :)  haha    Anyways...so he and Elder Lucillio
did that, and it was a nice surprise- she had no idea!
Thursday was a lot of fun too because we had cleaning
checks...we were the last apartment they checked though
...so we had to stay in our apartment till 6 that night...
because they didn't come till then. haha  its okay...we
got a lot of other work & planning done while we were
waiting. And...we passed...I think once again we got
the 500 pesos reward...yes! :)
Friday Sis Magalogo & Sis Mckinley weren't there...
so we went out to lunch...that was a fun treat...guess where
we went? Pizza Hut!!!   Civilization!! hehe...not rice!!! :)
Saturday- we had a baptism & wedding. It was really
great, the spirit was strong, and Me, Sis. Olila &
Sis McKinnley sung "Lord I would Follow Thee" in Tagalog-
and Sis. Magalogo played the piano. It was really pertty-
I thought of Daddy...cuz that's his favorite song! :)
Oh I almost forgot to mention S. Olila slipping in the
mud this week...finally it wasn't me this time, it was her.
She had a HUGE mud print on her backside...she just
reversed her skirt so it was on the side and we just kept
going. hahahahhaa we just laugh...no worries haha
I was surprised she laughed too...haha ah you have to
love the weather here in the philippines :)
Our lessons are going great, and we're starting to see
progress with some of the Less Actives. We also have 3
progressing investigators here now. I was worried,
this area is harder than Lingayen as far as the members go,
the organization is great, but the people are hard . IN
Lingayen it was the opposite. haha But, its okay,
they're really progressing. Brother Ryan used to smoke a pack
a day and drink and now he is down to half a cigarette every
other day. He has a sincere desire to be baptized.
Brother Aldyn is 17 years old, His father was less active
and is now returned, and his mother and sister are recent
converts- so if things go well with him, hopefully it will
complete their family. They are working towards a temple
sealing now, it would be great if Bro Aldyn could be there.
I have learned a lot this week, it is true that ' we see ourselves
in terms of yesterday and today, but our Father in Heaven see's
us in terms of forever". Sometimes things happen to us and
we're not sure why- I see it not only in my life, but in the lives
of the many people here in Carmen, they wonder why it
happens to them especially because they're a member.
But we're not exempt- things happen for a reason. If there
was no opposition, there would be no opportunity to grow
and become better; more like our Father in Heaven. After all,
that is what this life is all about. Like Kelly always used to say
to me growing up, as she would hit my forehead with her
hand "Life's tough, get a helmet" right?! haha ;)
Well, that was my week in a nutshell. This week was
great, I'm starting to realize even more that when I come
home things will be different, I want to stay here...just
import my family here, and It'd be complete...I'd have my
Filipino & American family :)

YUP!  They're everywhere!

Sis. Olila and I opening our birthday boxes!

Love you all &
take care!

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!