January 26th - I know that I can do whatever the Lord sets me to do, as long as I have faith in Him, and trust that He is the one that knows what’s best.

Hello everyone!

Life is great, and I am in a new area! I am in the Nabua area, which is by Iriga, about an hour from my last area. My companion is Sister Bersola, and I also have a new calling as the new Sister Training Leader. I am not going to lie, it was quite of a shock for me, but I know the Lord will help qualify me and help me do what He needs me to do.

As a Sister Training Leader we go on exchanges with Sisters in the mission.
We are assigned to 8 sets of Sisters, and go on transfers with them every transfer (every 6 weeks). Our first ones are tomorrow in Buhi, so wish me luck. I feel a little overwhelmed, and not ready for all this responsibility, but I know the Lord will help me, and I have felt Him very close to me this whole week.

I am really going to miss the people in Canaman. I met so many amazing people there, and have many good memories. It was really neat opening the Canaman area, and when we were going around and I was saying goodbye I realized how much the area has grown and progressed. There is so much more to go, but I am grateful for the opportunity to have been able to have served there and helped people there come unto Christ.

While there, we had an investigator Carmen accept the baptismal invitation. She has come to church twice and said she believes it is true. I love her! She seriously just knows, and feels in her heart the things we teach her are true! I love the Holy Ghost, and the power He has to testify to the souls of those we teach.

We had exchanges on Wednesday and I was with Sister Abarabar. We were in my area, and were able to go and teach many of our investigators and less active members.

One of the days we were able to teach Allyssa. She is only 14, but the smartest 14 year old I have ever met. She asks the most amazing questions about resurrection, and our life here on earth, and responds with the most amazing answers. I really love teaching her. When we went to say goodbyes, she made me a card, and gave me some things to remember her. Another investigator, Brother Lito, our Catholic next door neighbor that has been coming to church was so sad. He bought me a big bag of sugared peanuts as a goodbye gift, and helped me put my luggage on the tricee. He was waiting for us so he could help, and say goodbye again haha. I hope to see him join the church one day (: I know that the Lord places people in our paths as missionaries for specific reasons.

So I have only had a couple days in my new area, but I love it. It is quite different from the area that I have had, but so far so good. There is no ward, we are actually a group, and meet in the top level of a warehouse type place that was renovated by the church. I was not able to get pictures yesterday at church but I will next time. There were about 30 people at church, including the couple missionaries who are here, Elder and Sister Gardner, and 6 missionaries. There was a baptism in the Elders area on Saturday and we had it at the Bato Branch building (which is the branch we are under). The Brother, or newest convert of our group, is so sweet, and he had called out to the missionaries when they had walked by.

Since we are a group, we only have 2 hours of church, and guess who was the first speaker in church....me (: and then Sister Bersola. I talked about the Book of Mormon, and the power it has to change lives. Sister Gardner told me afterwards, that she didn't understand what I was saying, but she had this feeling that if my mom could see me now she would be so proud (:  That was something I really needed to hear. I know this is going to be one challenging area, but I have felt the Lord lifting me up, and blessing me tremendously. I know that the best things in life are sometimes the hardest, but they are the most worth it. I also know that the Book of Mormon is word of God, and we need to read this book to know what the Lord wants us to do to become more like Him.

One of the families we visited and read the Book of Mormon with is the Antonio family. The Tatay looks like a Filipino version of Grandpa Jack (My Dad’s Dad), and reminds me of him to (: I took a picture with him so mom, you will have to post it!

I know that I can do whatever the Lord sets me to do, as long as I have faith in Him, and trust that He is the one that knows what’s best. May this find all of you happy and well. xoxoxox
 Love always

Naga Farewells

Allyssa and Sis. Vanessa Webster

Filipino Grandpa Jack

January 19th, 2014 I love this work. I have learned many crazy things happen on the mission, and things you would least expect, but the work still moves forward and people still find the truth

This week has been a week for the books.
Sorry about the title of this post, but it will have clear explanations in the rest of the email.

For starters it has been the coldest week in the Philippines. I seriously have had to wear my cardigans everyday, and socks, and layers to bed since all I have is a little sheet haha. But I am not going to lie, despite being somewhat cold, and the ice bucket showers in the morning.. I love it (: I missed snow this winter and the fall type weather, so I was enjoying it. But as for now it is back to being sunny and hot again. I heard that there was some flooding, and bad weather in the Southern Philippines, so I hope they are all okay and that. It saddens my heart seeing all the calamities, and world wide catastrophes that have been happening all around the world. Signs of the times for sure! I consider this another signs of the time... I got head lice! Ahhh I was freaking out. My head was itching, so I had my companion check.. and she pulled one out! I feel very weird.. and we are buying some heavy duty lice- be gone stuff today. Anyways.........

This week was my little Sisters birthday week, and I want to shout out again... HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRA! Sending my love from the Philippines.

We had a really good Family Home Evening at an investigators home, and were able to have most of the family join us, next time.. the whole family! I seriously have realized more and more since I have been on my mission how important our families are. They are the central unit of the church, and we MUST build our families to be strong and make sure they stay standing when the fiery darts of the adversary come their way.

This week we were standing outside an investigators home, "tao po"ing (knocking here), and he neighbor came over to us telling us that no one was home there. She invited us into her home, and let me tell you, funniest, happiest couple. They are in their 60's, and the husband was an investigator in the 90's, and said he got scared when he saw the "swimming pool" aka the baptismal font. haha. He is a part of a band, and they are called "Los Pablos".. this is for you Kira. They sing Spanish love songs. He gave us a sample and man was it good. He also whipped out his singing, piano playing, harmonica skills, and plays "Piano Man".. made me think of Uncle Steve (: They fed us papaya and hopia, and we shared with them a little of the Restoration and they said we are always welcome to come back and share with them! We will this week! Potentials (:

While sitting in a lesson with one of our favorite Nanays (she is the very devout Catholic mother of a member in our Stake Presidency), the power may have gone out, we sat in candle light sharing the Restoration and in the middle of discussing Christ Ministry, this BIG RAT crawled across this part of the wall. I mean HUGE! I squealed and tried to stay calm haha and I was able to not think about it for the most part but I was so scared to sit in almost pitch black with this thing crawling around us. But needless to say the lesson was good still and we all felt the Spirit.

One really great experience we had was we have been teaching our neighbor who has been taught previously by the missionaries. He is a little confrontational at times, but nice about it. He came to church yesterday!  We have been teaching him, and he has so many questions, and has very Catholic beliefs but he texted us last night and said he felt at peace at church, he was really impressed, and that nothing could stop him from coming again next week. haha We were really excited! He still has many questions, but we know he felt the Spirit, and we look forward to the day he comes to know its all true (:

Another special experience was we were able to teach an investigator we haven't been able to teach since November. She was gone all of the holiday season and seemed to be ignoring us. We went there without texting her in advance this time, and she seemed hesitant to see us and let us in, but once we started teaching her and asked the right questions she opened up all the hard challenges they have been having in their family, and we were able to teach to her needs. It was an amazingly great experience, and we are so happy she is welcoming to us again and we can continue teaching her to help her through her trials.

On Saturday we were going to follow up with a former investigator we had re-contacted last week, and on the way there we were stopped by this little old lady with bright pink hair. She asked if we knew a sister. Turns out she had been an investigator for years and moved away. She had a baptismal date and was so close, but felt she shouldn't continue forth with it. So sad! The former investigator was not there, and we got to teach this little Nanay! Let me tell you, she is hilarious! So funny! People really find us (: It is awesome! Maybe now is her time (: Later that day we went to a Relief Society activity, and learned how to make salted eggs? I got the recipe, but it takes like 20 days to do, so I have a feeling I won't be trying that here haha.

The next day we were able to go to the Former Investigator we were originally going to try to go to, and that was a good lesson also. He is very family oriented, and really liked what we had to share. I felt prompted to ask some questions and share a scripture that I thought... "What? That is random." but it was perfect and it was what he needed. I can testify to you that this is not my work, or the work of me and my companion, this is the Lords, and he makes known what they people need.

We had a very inspiring, and spiritual broadcast from the Area Presidency here in the Philippines on Saturday night also and it was so good. They gave us four sections they want to focus on here in the Philippines, 1. Strengthening Families 2. Establish the Church 3. Saving the Rising Generation, and, 4. Save the One, and Share the Gospel. I look forward to seeing how they can apply it to the wards and how I can be a part of that. Sister Marzan had the idea of making a "Referral box" at church and we are going to get that started today for next Sunday!

I love this work. I have learned many crazy things happen on the mission, and things you would least expect, but the work still moves forward and people still find the truth. I love all of you and hope you feel somewhat inspired to try to make a difference where you live. xoxox

January 13th I love this work, and I love my Savior, big brother, and perfect example, Jesus Christ. May we do our best to show our appreciation to Him for His sacrifice.

Been feeling tons better and I seriously love that I was able to stay here in the Canaman area.
Yesterday we had two investigators at church, Carmen, and Mariss. They are both so awesome, and we found both of them through OYMing back when Sister Roderick and I were out tracting. It was a good Sunday and I turned quite pink in Gospel Principles as usual. There is this Tatay, Brother Abner, who comes to church every Sunday. He is not a member, but loves to ask deep deep questions, and challenge all of us missionaries. He lives far away but comes to our ward, because this is where he feels the most welcome. He is in is 70, maybe, and so funny! He calls me "Lovely", and has a different nickname for all the Sister missionaries. But he was asking in class if there was proof that Adam was baptized, and I gave him a triple, with Moses and Abraham a few weeks back, because he has read the Book of Mormon and said he wants all the evidence before he is converted. No one answered him, so I searched and found the account, and write it on a note and gave it to him when we ended class. Well of course the only sticky note I had was heart shaped ones, and he said "Lovely, is this a sign of your affection for me?" Bahahahahah I was laughing so hard, and he said it loud for all to hear! Then I forgot I was closing prayer so I stumbled to the front so pink in the cheeks. Gotta love Brother Abner. He will be baptized one day (: I know it!
Another funny experience this week was we were walking down the street and this man was cleaning out the canal... and let me tell you, it looks like black liquid tar in the canal, and his arm was down in it. We walked passed and the guy with his arm down in the canal looked over at me and called out, "Hey Ate (Sister), Its more fun in the Philippines". It's more fun in the Philippines is like the National slogan here, and its all over everything. I was laughing so hard! Then on the way back home they were cooking outside on the street, roasting hot dogs and said it again. Ah the things people say. They are quite witty here (:
This week we went looking for former investigators, and we had a lot of luck even when the maps on the back were very poorly drawn. I love that people usually know everyone in the Barangay, and people don't move around a ton, usually, so we were lucky and found several of them. Not sure if it is there time yet, but we are going to try out best and help re share what was once shared to them.
We also have been able to teach many of the people I haven't seen in a while due to different schedules and the holidays seasons, so it is refreshing for things to be some what back to normal. We have FHE at one of our less active members home later, and we have been teaching the daughter also. She came to church my second Sunday I was in Canaman. She asks the most amazing questions, and I love teaching her. She is only 16, but very interested in all we teach her. I love teaching teenagers, or "kabataan", because that really is time in our lives where we start to question things, and I know my testimony became what it is and so much stronger when I was in high school.
We also got to teach Alex, and we haven't been able to in forever! He is one who seriously gets my mind racing, and thinking of so many things I have never thought of before. I use to think I would feel intimidated by teaching people who ask a lot of deep question,s or know the Bible like the back of their hand, but I have realized, it doesn't matter how little I know, what matters is what I do know, and what I can testify of. The simple, basic doctrines are of the most importance, and we must have a testimony of those before we add, and dig deeper. It takes so much faith, and that is one thing he has been building as we have been teaching him. He doubts less and really tries to have faith. Like President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith".
One really spiritual lesson for me this week was when we were reviewing the Plan of Salvation, which really was more of a discussion, and testimony meeting. He has such a strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation and knows it so well. I was overwhelmed with the love of our Savior. In such few words, "Here I am: send me", he pre-offered himself in the Pre-Mortal life to do so much. He pre-offered to take all of our sins, and pains on Himself so that we could all return to our Father in Heaven. What true, unselfish love. I feel so blessed, and lucky to be serving the Lord, and wearing his name on my name tag. I love this work, and I love my Savior, big brother, and perfect example, Jesus Christ. May we do our best to show our appreciation to Him for His sacrifice, and love towards each one of us. I love you all so very much. Have a good week!

Happy Birthday Kira !!! Love you.

The Zone

Jan 6th, 2014 The Lord loves EVERY ONE! I want to try my best to do the same, and love with some of the capacity He loves. I know we can each try to be better at the every day.

I REALLY love all the amazingly sweet birthday emails! I seriously feel so overwhelmed and so loved! I know that I have a life back home but I have somewhat forgotten about it. Thanks for the kind words, and birthday wishes though! I love you all!

To tell you about my week, it has been somewhat of a blur. A good one, but kind of crazy..

On my birthday it was Transfer day, we went to lunch at my favorite restaurant, White Bean, Sister Roderick, Sister Sanft, and I... ate a lot (: and then headed to the Mission Office for transfers. Sister Roderick's new companion is Sister Andres, who is Sister Sanft's aki (child--- meaning her trainee). I think Sister Roderick and I had been holding it in but we both broke down crying! I seriously love that girl so much, and feel so blessed to have been her trainer, gotten so close, and I know we will have a lifetime friendship. I hope she enjoys this next phase of her mission and continues forward being the amazing missionary she is.

Then I was temporary companions with Sister Sanft, and Sister Abarabar (Sister Sanft's new STL companion, and the Sister I was temporary companions with in my area about 6 weeks ago). So we went to some people in the area, and we had curfew at 7pm, but went to Ivy Sto. Tomas's house for dinner and New Year’s before curfew. They may have bought a cake, and sang happy birthday to me... many times and we had loud horns, and firecrackers were going off everywhere, so it was kind of like my birthdays back home.... in a way. But I have one picture of it, but it is on Sister Sanft's camera.... she has ton of pics I need to get from her! And surprisingly I slept through the siren of "bombs" on New Years. In America its more, lets shoot some pretty fireworks, here it’s like... let’s try to make the loudest, bomb like sounding noises, over and over. Children use "paputok", which means firecrackers.. left and right! I worry for their poor little hands!

Then on Wednesday, we had Trainers Training, and I met my new companion.... Sister Marzan!
She is from San Fernando, Pampanga, which is about an hour from Manila. She is seriously the sweetest companion, and I can tell we are going to have so much success, and do so well together here in Canaman. She has such a strong desire to be exactly obedient, and work hard. We are going to find, teach, and baptize like nobody’s business!

Thursday, was her "first" full day, we had gone out the night before to one appointment, but her first full day was Thursday, and oh my… was it the funniest, most interesting first day for a new missionary. We were able to teach our neighbor who is always asking us questions. He is very nice, but VERY full of questions, and sometimes doesn't even wait for us to answer, but we are trying to figure out the best way to teach him. He is very Catholic, and makes the images all along the wall of the Cathedral Seminary building next to our house (oh yeah if you look up Porte Marie, or Penefrancia Cathedral in Naga... I live like a 1 minute walk from that), so we are going to keep teaching him, but that was a very difficult, challenging, and long lesson , Then... get this .. on the way to our next appointment we ran into a former investigator who is former for different reasons, but one being -  she also wouldn't listen to us, she would  raise her voice at us and get really close and intense, and yeah hard to explain it all.  I seriously as a missionary give everyone chances, and I have the hardest time dropping investigators, but I felt unsafe teaching her…. and she is the one who dropped us, we would stop by and she would avoid us.... basta... anyways.... but we saw her on the street and I went to shake her hand, and she pulled us in. Ahhh ..Mga 30 minutes yata (maybe for 30 minutes) we were caught there. She was venting, raising her voice, going off in Bicol, which neither of us understand...needless to say it was an interesting experience not only for me, but especially for Sister Marzan's first day.

The lesson to follow though, made it all worth it (:

We have been teaching some people in a family for that Sister Sands and I had OYMed (Opened our mouths to) and we went to teach Mariss, the 18 year old daughter for the second time. She is awesome, so nice, and had some Mormon friends before. The first time we taught her we asked, “ why we needed to be baptized,”  and is Jesus Christ was Mormon (: Good Questions!

This second time we taught her the Restoration and Sister Marzan committed her to be baptized. She accepted and said she would be baptized on February 8th! We were so excited and cannot wait to see her progression and her knowledge of the Gospel increase. It was a really neat lesson, especially after the somewhat interesting encounters earlier in the day. That's what I love about being a missionary. Every experience is a learning opportunity, and also a chance to grow.

Then we ended teaching at Ace's with Brother Franco... and this had to have been one of my favorite lessons, just because it even deepened my appreciation for the Gospel, and the truth of Eternal Families. We taught Ace about Eternal Marriage, and I realized more than ever that in order to obtain the highest glory of the Celestial Kingdom, and to be the happiest we can possibly be, we MUST be married for time and all eternity in the Lords house, the temple. I feel so blessed, and grateful my parents set that example for me, and I will set that example for my children. No one, nothing is worth not getting married, and sealed in the temple! We must set our eyes on the temple, and do everything we can to be worthy to go there. I love the temple, and especially my eternal family (:

Sorry this is a long letter, but I have had a lot of thinking to do, especially since I was bed ridden a lot of Friday, all of Saturday, and in the house and at church most of Sunday...

I started feeling really sick Friday, we had district meeting, and I could eat hardly anything at the District lunch.... I felt I was going to pass out. So we went home, I took a good hour nap, we studied, then went to a referral appointment we had.. which her name is Vanessa by the way (: I am excited to keep teaching her! But then we had Missionary Coordination Meeting so we went to that, and I had Elder Zou (the Chines Elder), and Elder Ligan give me a blessing! Oh and this same day Sister Sanft went to the hospital because she has been really sick.. they diagnosed her with Chickengonia (sp?)... it’s a form of dengue that is more severe and really affects your joints. You have severe pain with it! So yeah..... we both slept all day Saturday, and kept each other company while our companions worked together in our areas. I had a 103 temperature for most of Saturday, and took 2 cool bathes to try to cool off. I am finally feeling lots better today, and able to eat again! (:

Sunday, Ace passed the sacrament! And we now start church at 9am. We were able to finally do our Weekly Planning, and got to go teach Ariel! He is progressing and doing well. He seriously is like a Brother to me. All of the Carr brothers, and friends. I hope they will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives, change, follow the example of Jesus Christ, and find the happiness and joy the true church, and true doctrine of Christ brings into my life, and the lives of others.

I am sorry if this week seemed to have some negatives, but to me all the negatives, or what seem to be negatives, really always turn to positives... they are for my growth. As I am sick I try to think of the pain Christ felt for every single one of us... which is unimaginable. When challenges happen when teaching lessons I try to think, what can I learn not to do, or how can I learn to love this person. The Lord loves EVERY ONE! I want to try my best to do the same, and love with some of the capacity He loves. I know we can each try to be better at the every day.

Challenge for the week: Reach out and show someone new or someone you have never shown you love them in a simple way. It could even be a random stranger through some small act of service (: Have fun! Any stories you want to share, email me!

I love you all so much. Be safe, and Happy New Year (: