May 12th, 2104 Happy Mothers Day My life would not be the same without my mission.

New transfer, new companion..... aka Sister Alibogha!!!!
She is awesome and we have had a good week here in Nabua.
It was quite hard to say goodbye to Sister Pal. I love that girl!
She is home safe, and we are emailing right now!

Just wanted to shout out to all the mothers who are reading this and tell you I love you and thank you for your example for me and to so many others. Happy Mother’s day! (i loved skyping you mom, dad, and court... Kira in 3 months (: )

I worked in the Camaligan area with Sister Campbell and Sister Ril on Monday night, then we had transfer day on Tuesday. It was fun seeing some missionaries I haven't seen in some time.

Wednesday, we invited one of our new investigators to be baptized, and she accepted. She is seriously progressing lots and we just met her last week! The Lord really placed her in out path at the right time.

Thursday, we met a less active. Turns out she lives right by the church and we didn't know it! She was so happy to see us and said it has been about 10 years since she has seen missionaries. We shared with her that the Lord looks out for the one sheep, and she is important to Him. She has 9 children and we are hoping with the help of the group they can feel fellowshipped, and all come to church soon. We also had a recent convert Junabelle work with us. She is 15 and wants to serve a mission. She reminds me of Kira and Courtney combined. I wish you all could meet her! She is the only member in her family right now.

Friday, we had District Meeting and our new district leader is Elder Hodge. He is my batch and we were in the same zone in the MTC. Our new district is really hard working and I am excited to see the growth here in Nabua. We also had a lesson with our investigators about the Word of Wisdom... the father has some problems, but he said he would work on it. I have gained such a testimony of the Word of Wisdom and other commandments. It is pretty hard for someone who has addiction problems to focus on spiritual things, and the Lord knows we need to keep our bodies and selves physically clean and healthy in order for our spiritual selves to become spiritually fed and clean.

Sunday, we met a ton of new people, tracted in our far area, and found referrals we had received. One of them said he would come to church if it didn't rain.. it rained haha, but we are hoping for next week. It’s hard here when it rains because so many people just have motors or have to walk so when it rains it creates a problem for some to come. But there are always those who make the sacrifice even when it’s hot, or raining. I am blessed to have met so many dedicated saints here who will do everything they can to come to church. One really neat experience for me last night was we were at the Oliva family's home (active members in our area) for Mother’s Day dinner and we taught a short lesson on the blessings of mothers and read in Alma 56:47-48. There was a close friend of theirs there and we had her read, and join in, and I felt the need to talk to her at the end of the lesson and give her a Book of Mormon. She smiled and said she was thinking when she was reading earlier how she wanted to have one to read... (: We got her information and forwarded to the area in which she lives. I seriously am so grateful the Lord prompts us to do things helps us help others come unto Him.

I love being a missionary, and I am blessed for my mother, and my grandmother, and all the mothers who have helped me be here today. Thank you so much!

My life would not be the same without my mission.
Love you all so much! (:

May 4th 2014 - I realize, I feel the Lord guiding me everyday here

Well today we are headed to Naga at 5:30 and I will be saying goodbye to Sister Pal. Her 18 months is up, and he is headed back home to Tarlac, Philippines. I have been blessed to be her last companion. She is far from trunky, and I am so grateful for her example to me. Gonna miss her!

This week we have been blessed to meet so many new people, and find those the Lord has prepared. Tuesday morning we met Nanay Myrna. We were going to go teach her next door neighbor we met the other day, and she ended up walking up to us and said we could share with here right then and there. We felt to teach about Eternal Families, and temples, and the Spirit was so strong. She was tearing up and said she is excited to keep meeting with us to learn more. The second time we taught her about Prophets and Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet. She said she already believed he is, and she would come to church... and SHE DID (:

She came with her grandson and sad she loved it. I am excited to keep teaching her and so blessed we met her (:

This week we watched the Restoration twice with 2 families we have been teaching. Both times they didn't have remotes to switch it to Tagalog so we watched it in English, but they understood most of it, and more so felt its truth (: I seriously love this visual for people. It really helps them understand more who Joseph Smith is and how he became an instrument in the Lords hands. I feel its truth every time I watch the Restoration video. One of the times it was so fuzzy, static, and made it hard to watch for me, but they were glued to the screen and got so much from it (:

Wednesday we had exchanges with the Baao Sisters and I was paired with Sister Roderick aka my aki (daughter). We had so fun being companions again and working in her area. They really have seen the work grow so much there and had a baptism on Saturday for a family of four, the father, his wife, his brother, and their niece. It was so powerful. We took our investigator, Hermina to it, and it was just what she needed. She has been reading in 1 Nephi 14, and it mentions there about stumbling blocks in our paths, and there is only two churches, the Lords church and the church of the devil. At the baptism the speaker talked about rocks in our paths we need to move, and then the testimony of the father that was baptized was just what she needed to hear. She committed to a baptismal date and said she feels the Lord is answering her prayers! We are really excited for her. I have been teaching her since I first got here. For some it really does take time to understand the Gospel, and accept it fully to know it’s true. I have learned a lot of patience in this area (:

Yesterday we were trying to find a less active and it was in our furthest area. It was so hot, I got roasted haha. But when we were out looking for her we met these 2 women relaxing under their little bamboo covering attached to their house. Turns out on of them told us she went to our big church in Quezon City, and had to wear little foot socks... we showed her a picture of the Manila temple and she said that it was the one (: It was dedicated in 1984! She said she use to live there and went with a friend who was a member. What are the chances! We shared with them the Restoration, and they didn't seem super interested, but when we get back out there we will go to them again. It just amazes me how many people have had so many experiences with the church before. The Lord prepares them in a variety of ways.

This week has been such a good week. I realize I feel the Lord guiding me everyday here. I have gotten better at recognizing promptings. I am not the best at it, and I still feel I miss some of them when I should be paying more attention, but the Lord will never let us go astray. He will guide us to where He knows we need to go, IF we use our agency to follow where He tells us to go. I have gained such a testimony of aligning my will with Gods. There is no other way to find true happiness. We must be willing to humble ourselves and become submissive to Him, and overcome our natural man tendencies. (Mosiah 3:19). Don't give into the  ways of the world. They will not lead us to the path we need to be on. I love you all. I pray you will let the Lord guide your paths (: xoxoxox

(sorry no new pictures.. my SD card has some virus, and I gotta fix it).

April 27th The Lord knows us each so well, and will lead us down good paths

This week we had exchanges with the Iriga and Bato Sisters. I was blessed to get to work with Sister Coons, Sister Nadado, and Sister Beus.

Tuesday, Sister Coons and I worked in their area in Iriga. We had children throwing tantrums left and right at almost every lesson we taught, one was throwing dirt at us and his mom was just telling him not to.. He kept on doing it hahaha. I know I don't want to discipline my children like crazy, but it is needed lol. Can’t be throwing rocks, and dirt at the Sister missionaries. But we had good day in their area and ended up spoiling ourselves with Shakey's  pizza for dinner (: She is so fun. She and I talked a ton. She did EFY last summer, and we found we have a lot in common and had some good laughs.

Wednesday, Sister Nadado and I worked in our area in Nabua, I was so impressed with how she really listens to the investigators and asked the most inspired questions! It was so powerful and I really felt the Spirit so strongly when she testifies. She has been out for 5 months, but is one powerful missionary. We were led to so many new people that day. One of the Nanays we have been teaching read, and shared with us all the scriptures she loved! It was so good!

Thursday, Sister Pal and I were back to our area. We were able to teach a former investigator that had went to church before I got here, but moved to Manila. He is back now and we had a a great lesson with him. They have not electricity so we read the Book of Mormon with our cell phone lights. I seriously think there is just something to reading by dim light.. It magnifies what you are reading even more. But we are excited to get to teach him again. 

Friday, Sister Beus and I worked in their area in Bato. I was so impressed with her boldness. She is one strong missionary, she is batch with Sister Roderick and from Utah. We also have so much in common and had such good day. I really felt the Lord using me to testify to people of my own experience and how the Lord and the gospel has blessed my family. I really felt like an instrument in the Lords hands testifying of the truths I know. One of their investigators taught us the Law of Chastity haha. It was the first time teaching it but once he knew the topic he started telling us all the bad he has noticed in the world with chastity and virtue. He is 20 years old, and I think we all can tell the world has drifted far from virtue.

Saturday, we taught all new people and went tracting somewhere I had never been before. We tracted one house, and she was not very interested through the whole lesson, but referred us to another house, and cute little family, who were awesome. Sometimes the Lord leads us some people only to lead us someone else. I have learned we just have to keep talking to everyone in order to find who He wants us to find.

Last night was Nanay Antonio's birthday so we celebrated with cake and some of the members. They are seriously like family to me. Love them (:

I have been so blessed to see so many miracles this week. We had 32 OLT lessons this week in our area, and we were so shocked! I was in disbelief we were able to teach that many and still were punted a lot of the days. Nabua had proved to be one challenging area, and I have felt so challenged here, but we have been seeing some harvest. We now have 4 investigators with a baptismal date, when 2 weeks ago it was 0. We had a family... a family at church yesterday! I about cried when they walked in! They have 3 little girls ages, 5,2, and 2 months and all came, dressed nicely, and not super late. Also one of our investigators we have been teaching since I got her finally came! Let’s just say it was one good Sunday at church. The Nabua group is progressing and I feel so blessed to be serving here. The Lord is really helping this work move forward. And I am fine with this being my last area if it is.

I have learned a lot this transfer. We have had a lot of ups and downs but I am grateful for the refinement the Lord has been giving me. This is Sister Pals last week and we are going to make it the best. We had district activity this morning and had a water balloon fight, and it is fiesta all over Nabua... so wish us luck. Lots of food! Which I need to avoid haha the Philippines is fattening me up.

But I love you all so much. The Lord knows us each so well, and will lead us down good paths, IF we put our trust in Him, AND follow His commandments. xoxoxox

April 20th This has been a week of blessings and miracles

It has been one busy week. I feel I have done so much haha, but I also cannot believe I am here on the computer shop again typing a letter to all of you. It was also Holy Week... which means parades which symbolize Christ’s life, and a lot of traffic and people. But it was really cool to see how other faiths remember Christ’s sacrifice.

But, I love missionary work! This has been a week of blessings and miracles for sure (:

On Monday we had some good lessons, one where we waited for about 10 minutes for the Tatay to pray. Turns out he told us he doesn't fee worthy to speak with God because he hasn't gone to church in 15 years, but we helped him realize we are always worthy to talk to Him, and the times we feel we aren't are when we need to talk with Him the most. We headed to Baao that night, which is where Sister Roderick's area is, stayed there and had exchanges with them. I worked with her trainee (her aki, my apo- daughter, granddaughter haha) in Baao. It was a good day except the brown out all day long, that we had to go to Iriga City, and it had down poured all day haha. We were covered in mud, but it was fun! And we had some great lessons. The last one was with a family that will be baptized on May 3rd. They are AWESOME! They are all reading the Book of Mormon, and testified of how much they all have changed (: It was really neat to get to know them! (I will attach a picture of them)

Wednesday, we had Zone Conference and President and Sister Reeder were there. It was such a motivational day, and we focused a lot on finding answers to prayers and receiving personal revelation.

My companion also decided we wanted to fast, so we started a fast that day, and fasted to find people who will accept the invitation to be baptized (because we had 0 investigators with baptismal dates). We also fasted to find those who had been prepared and are ready to progress. We have a had a rough few weeks here.

That night we were blessed with two lessons. We were able to teach an investigator who we haven't in quite sometime. She used to be progressing, came to church, ad was reading, then all of a sudden disappeared. We found out why, and were able to help her with her doubts.

Then the next day we weekly planned, and the Gardner coupled worked with us in the afternoon. We went to the Tomotorgo family, and taught about the Book of Mormon. The mother had read, the Introduction, and understood it so well. The whole family was there, and we invite them to be baptized... 3 accepted (: we were so happy! They were excited and said they want to become like the Gardner couple are, married, and have the same beliefs. It was seriously such a good lesson, and I got to the car and just cried tears of joy. It is exactly what we had fasted for (:

Then it got better.. the next investigator we went to, we have been teaching her for quite some time now. She read the assignment we gave her, didn't know what we for sure were teaching her, but the Spirit was so strong, and we asked the right questions that allowed her to open up, and tell us her fears, and how we can help her come to know. The Lord really does give us miracles when we do our part and sacrifice.

Friday, we were in Buhi, and I worked with Sister Mauai from Samoa. She is a new missionary and struggling with the language. I could really relate (: It was a good day. One miracle for me that way was we went to go teach a less active, she was busy, so she said we could try teaching her daughter, but the missionaries never can, because she is so shy. Felt we should try, she was stubborn, ignored us at first, but we offered to wash dishes with her, then asked about her reading in the Book of Mormon, and if we could talk about it with here... with a little bit of time she warmed up and said we could. She'd been reading in 2 Nephi 2, so we started there, and at first I thought, okay we will talk about Adam and Eve in that chapter... then it was apparent we needed to read the verses about the Atonement. AS we read it, and as I talked I started crying, and she did too, and the Spirit was so overwhelming strong in the room. She opened up so much and smiled at the end (: I am so grateful for the power the Atonement has, and how it can heal hearts, break barriers, and help us feel of our Saviors love.

We had an early curfew due to Holy Week Friday-Sunday, so we did our studies mostly at night this weekend.

Saturday, Brother Lolie, one of the Elders investigators was baptized. He is a Tatay they met while walking one day, and he is so sweet. I spoke at his baptism about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It amazes me sometimes how I can get up in front of crowds and speak a foreign language sometimes.. hahaha

Sunday we had Bato Branch Conference, the branch we are under, so it was good. We had a recent convert come to church who hasn't been since I have been here! It was great and I forgot what Relief Society was like (we only have 2 hour church at our group meeting house). But I loved it. The Branch President was released, and a new one put in, so President and Sister Reeder were there also.

I really had such an amazing week and I testify to all of you, Christ lives. He has risen and through Him we all will be resurrected again one day. Prayer and fasting are two things we can do to know this church is true, and to see miracles happen in our lives. I know God loves and listens to every prayer. Keep being faithful to your covenants and know He is there to light our way (: