Hello Family!
Wow, I just love you all so much! Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. A lot happened this week. My companion and I were both really feeling Satan working on us individually and on our companionship--how annoying he can be! We talked it through, and talked through it again. We then got a text saying we had to go to a leadership training thursday and friday which meant leave wednesday afternoon. I'll be honest, it was an answer to my prayer. It was a weird couple days of knowing satan was trying to get me down, but then after praying for help/ change in our routine we got a text that we needed to go to the leadership training. So that was neat. And it was indeed...exactly what we needed. Haha, well first we got off the van waaay past where we were supposed to so we ended up walking for an hour at night, pitch black. It was hilarious. We felt like such missionaries singing hymns the whole way!
The leadership trainings were wonderful. There is such support when you see other missionaries and the spirit is so strong. We also got to be in small workshops and do role plays and work with president malit. It seriously was exactly what we needed. Heavenly Father is so aware of his missionaries; it amazes me every day.
Sister Dustin and I have been analyzing after each lesson trying to see if we are applying the trainings to its fullest. We are doing better and better. We're kind of experiencing a low with the progression of our investigators, so we keep having to ask ourselves if we are really applying alll the trainings. One thing Elder Teh asked us to do back in July is make sure that the Spirit is our senior companion. So sister dustin and I have literally tried to leave a space for the spirit while we teach--at least for a visual reminder--is that weird? haha.
Pedro, Conchetta, JR all came to church--and sister lemmon guess who else came?!?!?! RAYMOND'S MOM!!! Cecilia has been joining in on our lessons with pedro and conchetta these past few weeks and sister mollare has talked to her lots and she's been reading the pamphlets. It was incredible that she came to church. I am really excited for her. Raymond however, did not come...he worked up in the bukid.
I've realized a couple things this week:
We have to REMEMBER. We sin b/c we forget our savior. We have to Remember Him. Just like it says in the sacrament prayer and all throughout helaman. Remember, REmember.
Also, there are so many mysteries of God. So much for all of us to learn. But if we get frustrated or offended or scared or give up---we harden our hearts-- we will not receive all that he wants us to learn. Alma 12:10-11...... I want to receive the greater portion of the word! Don't we all?? If we harden our hearts we will only receive the lesser portion of the word.."until they know nothing concerning his mysteries!" Our purpose is to learn and grow here on earth and become like him...we can not harden our hearts.
This can be related to pride, selfishness, the natural man...
I'm learning so much and realizing how much i am the natural man and how much the natural man is an enemy to god! I don't want to be his enemy. I just want to be his instrument! Oh the things learned on the mission. :)
Anyways, I am doing well. My health is fine. I gained weight, bahah, but I am good. I am happy and I love my companion and I am excited b/c we get to watch conference this sunday! That will be amazing!
ALSO, I got my bday package at the leadership training!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW SALAMAT!!! NEw clothes! I love them all and especially the colors! Thank you so much. I sent you a letter today mom and dad--thank you! Loved it alll.
Biancs--got your letter! SAlamat! SO good to hear from you. Are you going to chicago next summer?
Happy Birthday to Maya on oct . 14! When are you getting baptized??
Life is good. Don't worry about me! Just keep praying praying praying..thats all i need! And you could send some pics of the family reunion if you wanted...
Love you all lots,
Sister B.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
10.4.10
Hello Family!
This week flew itself by! Tuesday was probably my highlight of the week. I have been praying for a way to discern the needs of the people and help them--especially since my actual speaking skills is not wonderful, i wanted to find ways to serve. WEll, tuesday we had an appointment with John Rey and Maricel. John Rey is very inactive and Maricel is his "wife" (not yet married) and has been an investigator for over a year. She can't get baptized until they get married....now she is pregnant and they are not really too focused on getting married anymore b/c they are worried about money for the baby..Anyways, we've been teaching them all about how they need to save up for their marriage, so she can get baptized , and then they can go to the temple. This has been our theme with them and we actually even made them an awesome "piggy bank" for this purpose and we decorated it and gave it to them last week. It was a fun lesson and we committed them to start saving. WEll, i've been praying specifically for them to follow this commitment ,etc as well as looking for ways to serve them. Tuesday came. WE had an appointment with them at 6 and walked over there and saw a huge pile of lumber blocking the path. John REy was hauling it with someone else and we asked him if we could help. He said "puede!" (you can!) Which was was awesome b/c they never let us realy do any physical labor here! SO, i began hauling lumber and it was dirty and rainy and AWESOME and I felt like i was actually doing something to help him. We hauled lumber for 30 minutes and everyone, everyone was commenting and watching, "Sister, it's dirty! you'll get dirty.! Sister its raining! you're getting wet! Sister its heavy!!! " etc. But it was awesome and I've really missed helping people with physical labor. I LOVED IT. (i'm sure urs and noel are thinking, umm what?? ...haha) Anyways, we went into their little house and john rey came right in and we had a great lesson. He really opened up and thanked us and went on and on about how much he appreciated our help and how because we helped him he was able to get it all done and he couldn't have done it without us. He then went on and on about his life and said that he promised that he would return to church in a few weeks when the church was done and that he was working hard to save so maricel could get baptized and they could get married and go to the temple! He said that! I checked the little piggy bank we made and it didn't have any money in it, but they said wait wait!! They had created another one out of bamboo with just one opening so they could only put the money in it and not be tempted to take it out! Haha. The one we gave them, the top you screwed off and on. I could not believe my eyes and ears. They are both progressing and praying and reading and they both have the same goal and i know that through that small act of service we truly gained his respect and he really is trying to be better and keep his promises he's made to us and maricel. IT was a great night!!!
Brother Pedro came to church--with his crutches!
Randy, rowena, ryan did not. :(
How was conference?!?! I really hope i get to watch it next week!
Life is wonderful here. Thank you for all of your prayers, i truly need it.
Also, I was able to give my mission president the names of Janiel, bill, and the triplets to put on the prayer roll of the Cebu/ Manila temples. It's good to hear janiel's progress. I've been praying for her and her family very specifically.
There was more i wanted to say, but i'm out of time, per usual.
I love you all so much and pray for you each individually. Happy birthday Jordan, on sunday!
Love, Sister B.
This week flew itself by! Tuesday was probably my highlight of the week. I have been praying for a way to discern the needs of the people and help them--especially since my actual speaking skills is not wonderful, i wanted to find ways to serve. WEll, tuesday we had an appointment with John Rey and Maricel. John Rey is very inactive and Maricel is his "wife" (not yet married) and has been an investigator for over a year. She can't get baptized until they get married....now she is pregnant and they are not really too focused on getting married anymore b/c they are worried about money for the baby..Anyways, we've been teaching them all about how they need to save up for their marriage, so she can get baptized , and then they can go to the temple. This has been our theme with them and we actually even made them an awesome "piggy bank" for this purpose and we decorated it and gave it to them last week. It was a fun lesson and we committed them to start saving. WEll, i've been praying specifically for them to follow this commitment ,etc as well as looking for ways to serve them. Tuesday came. WE had an appointment with them at 6 and walked over there and saw a huge pile of lumber blocking the path. John REy was hauling it with someone else and we asked him if we could help. He said "puede!" (you can!) Which was was awesome b/c they never let us realy do any physical labor here! SO, i began hauling lumber and it was dirty and rainy and AWESOME and I felt like i was actually doing something to help him. We hauled lumber for 30 minutes and everyone, everyone was commenting and watching, "Sister, it's dirty! you'll get dirty.! Sister its raining! you're getting wet! Sister its heavy!!! " etc. But it was awesome and I've really missed helping people with physical labor. I LOVED IT. (i'm sure urs and noel are thinking, umm what?? ...haha) Anyways, we went into their little house and john rey came right in and we had a great lesson. He really opened up and thanked us and went on and on about how much he appreciated our help and how because we helped him he was able to get it all done and he couldn't have done it without us. He then went on and on about his life and said that he promised that he would return to church in a few weeks when the church was done and that he was working hard to save so maricel could get baptized and they could get married and go to the temple! He said that! I checked the little piggy bank we made and it didn't have any money in it, but they said wait wait!! They had created another one out of bamboo with just one opening so they could only put the money in it and not be tempted to take it out! Haha. The one we gave them, the top you screwed off and on. I could not believe my eyes and ears. They are both progressing and praying and reading and they both have the same goal and i know that through that small act of service we truly gained his respect and he really is trying to be better and keep his promises he's made to us and maricel. IT was a great night!!!
Brother Pedro came to church--with his crutches!
Randy, rowena, ryan did not. :(
How was conference?!?! I really hope i get to watch it next week!
Life is wonderful here. Thank you for all of your prayers, i truly need it.
Also, I was able to give my mission president the names of Janiel, bill, and the triplets to put on the prayer roll of the Cebu/ Manila temples. It's good to hear janiel's progress. I've been praying for her and her family very specifically.
There was more i wanted to say, but i'm out of time, per usual.
I love you all so much and pray for you each individually. Happy birthday Jordan, on sunday!
Love, Sister B.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sept. 27th
Hi Family,
Well, last Saturday was the brown out and we found out that Renato (supposed to be prepping for his mission) drank and that our little investigators, 12 years old, also drank with him. WHAT. But we had to leave for Zone conference last Monday so we weren't able to talk to them. It was probably a good thing cause we just did not know what to say. Also, last Monday I saw Elder Tenney for the first time since we got here to the Philippines! He's my batch from the MTC! Wow, love that kid. We all went to the bbq-han and ate dinner. He told me some devastating news about an elder from our batch that went home. He served in Cebu and I had just sent him a letter last month and gotten a letter from him the month before. I was shocked. I did not sleep well that night. That was the first time I cried myself to sleep on the mission. I can't express how much I love that elder. I can't talk about it anymore....Please continue to pray for all the missionaries; health, strength, courage, never to give up, to be worthy, and exactly obediant, etc...and for the youth preparing to go on missions--that they will choose the right so that they will be worthy to serve!!!
Zone conference was wonderful, as always, Sister Dustin and I sang, I Need Thee Every Hour. It was good. I have not talked about Sister Dustin very much?! I LOVE HER SO MUCH AND WE HAVE A BLAST TOGETHER. Just in case I haven't said that before. I am learning so much from her, and a lot about me and how I can be better, just from being with her. She's an incredbile missionary.
Well, this week our appointments fell through which turned out perfect so we could go and talk to Renato. He has been lying to us for a long while now and it was time to be done with that. He can't pretend he is ready to serve a mission and then go drink/smoke...His life is rough; he's all alone supporting himself, etc...Anyways, it was quiet and no one disturbed the lesson--first time everrrrrr. We started it by Sister D and I singing, I Stand All Amazed. He just started crying. We prayed and let him talk--and he told us everything-- and we shared all about repentance and God's love, etc. The Spirit was really strong. He said he'd been fasting for two days and he just felt this horrible heavy burden and he had so many sins.... he has a long road ahead of him, but he can do it and we are here in Balaquid for him! During sacrament meeting yesterday he got up and left b/c he was crying...poor kid. But he is learning step by step about the Atonement. It's hard, but possible.
Our investigator, Ryan came to church for the first time!! And our new investigator Conchetta came again--we had crutches made for her husband, Pedro--he can not walk anymore--but he fell on the way to Church and was hurt so he could not come. He went back home and fixed what was wrong with the crutches so next time he could come. Randy and Rowena did not come b/c they were shy b/c they had no shoes for Church. We went to go share with them in the afternoon but they weren't there. :( They were so excited to go to Church, but I guess when they saw Brother Eugene all dressed up to walk to Church with them, they got really shy. :(
We taught Pedro and Conchetta about the Word of Wisdom yesterday. we were teaching Raymond and we saw her take a drink of tuba (alcohol) so we decided to teach that. They know its wrong and she said she was sorry she had had one glass...she didn' t realize that one glass was wrong. They are getting baptized Oct 23.
The Church building looks beautiful and we are supposed to have our cultural event October 8 and start going there for church 0ct 10, but we got word today they might need more time....ughhhh. haha.
Well, life is good. Ups and down, per usual, but we are happy and working hard.
Marilee--- we are praying for your family and especialy for Janiel and Tiffany. thank you for keeping me updated. I can't visit the other website so I appreciate all your updates. I also received the package from you!!!! That was a great surprise. Thanks so much.
Becca--I received your three letters!!!!!!!! I was so thrilled. thrilled.
Natalie--I got your letter!!! I have three letters for you but there are no stamps on this island!!!!
Nana--I got your letter and picture of you when you left on your mission. loved it! thank you!
OH I ALMOST FORGOT! On the way to zone conference we took a van and this tall black guy gets in....I immediately asked him where he was from--guess what--CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY. His name is Maurice Carney and I gave him your email address, Kiera!!! He lives south side of Chicago, 61st street but is a fireman in Lincoln Park. He is awesome. Seriously. He just got married to a Filipino. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and Message of Restoration on the 1.5 hour van ride to Zone Conference. We gave him pamphlets and a family proclamation. He is really open minded and curious. I hope he emails you! If not, you should see if he has a facebook. :)
Well love you all,
sister b.
Well, last Saturday was the brown out and we found out that Renato (supposed to be prepping for his mission) drank and that our little investigators, 12 years old, also drank with him. WHAT. But we had to leave for Zone conference last Monday so we weren't able to talk to them. It was probably a good thing cause we just did not know what to say. Also, last Monday I saw Elder Tenney for the first time since we got here to the Philippines! He's my batch from the MTC! Wow, love that kid. We all went to the bbq-han and ate dinner. He told me some devastating news about an elder from our batch that went home. He served in Cebu and I had just sent him a letter last month and gotten a letter from him the month before. I was shocked. I did not sleep well that night. That was the first time I cried myself to sleep on the mission. I can't express how much I love that elder. I can't talk about it anymore....Please continue to pray for all the missionaries; health, strength, courage, never to give up, to be worthy, and exactly obediant, etc...and for the youth preparing to go on missions--that they will choose the right so that they will be worthy to serve!!!
Zone conference was wonderful, as always, Sister Dustin and I sang, I Need Thee Every Hour. It was good. I have not talked about Sister Dustin very much?! I LOVE HER SO MUCH AND WE HAVE A BLAST TOGETHER. Just in case I haven't said that before. I am learning so much from her, and a lot about me and how I can be better, just from being with her. She's an incredbile missionary.
Well, this week our appointments fell through which turned out perfect so we could go and talk to Renato. He has been lying to us for a long while now and it was time to be done with that. He can't pretend he is ready to serve a mission and then go drink/smoke...His life is rough; he's all alone supporting himself, etc...Anyways, it was quiet and no one disturbed the lesson--first time everrrrrr. We started it by Sister D and I singing, I Stand All Amazed. He just started crying. We prayed and let him talk--and he told us everything-- and we shared all about repentance and God's love, etc. The Spirit was really strong. He said he'd been fasting for two days and he just felt this horrible heavy burden and he had so many sins.... he has a long road ahead of him, but he can do it and we are here in Balaquid for him! During sacrament meeting yesterday he got up and left b/c he was crying...poor kid. But he is learning step by step about the Atonement. It's hard, but possible.
Our investigator, Ryan came to church for the first time!! And our new investigator Conchetta came again--we had crutches made for her husband, Pedro--he can not walk anymore--but he fell on the way to Church and was hurt so he could not come. He went back home and fixed what was wrong with the crutches so next time he could come. Randy and Rowena did not come b/c they were shy b/c they had no shoes for Church. We went to go share with them in the afternoon but they weren't there. :( They were so excited to go to Church, but I guess when they saw Brother Eugene all dressed up to walk to Church with them, they got really shy. :(
We taught Pedro and Conchetta about the Word of Wisdom yesterday. we were teaching Raymond and we saw her take a drink of tuba (alcohol) so we decided to teach that. They know its wrong and she said she was sorry she had had one glass...she didn' t realize that one glass was wrong. They are getting baptized Oct 23.
The Church building looks beautiful and we are supposed to have our cultural event October 8 and start going there for church 0ct 10, but we got word today they might need more time....ughhhh. haha.
Well, life is good. Ups and down, per usual, but we are happy and working hard.
Marilee--- we are praying for your family and especialy for Janiel and Tiffany. thank you for keeping me updated. I can't visit the other website so I appreciate all your updates. I also received the package from you!!!! That was a great surprise. Thanks so much.
Becca--I received your three letters!!!!!!!! I was so thrilled. thrilled.
Natalie--I got your letter!!! I have three letters for you but there are no stamps on this island!!!!
Nana--I got your letter and picture of you when you left on your mission. loved it! thank you!
OH I ALMOST FORGOT! On the way to zone conference we took a van and this tall black guy gets in....I immediately asked him where he was from--guess what--CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO WAY. His name is Maurice Carney and I gave him your email address, Kiera!!! He lives south side of Chicago, 61st street but is a fireman in Lincoln Park. He is awesome. Seriously. He just got married to a Filipino. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and Message of Restoration on the 1.5 hour van ride to Zone Conference. We gave him pamphlets and a family proclamation. He is really open minded and curious. I hope he emails you! If not, you should see if he has a facebook. :)
Well love you all,
sister b.
September 20th
I'M STILL IN BALAQUID.
i did not get transferred! That will be a good 7 months here in this bukid, awesome place! That also means that i get to be here for the new chapel.........!!!!!!!!!!!! I get to go to church in a building and not a bamboo hut!!! I won't be dripping sweat and leaning my head to the side so it doesn't go in my eyeballs while i'm directing alll the music during church. AWESOME. I am so excited for these people.
This week was so stressful with transfers. Seriously. We were supposed to know tuesday . We didn't find out until wed afternoon. I literally wrote all my good bye letters. it was intense. BUT, i get to stay here with sister d until at least october 28th! So that is fun.
My comp from the mtc--sister jones is TRAINING! and sister farnworth got transferred to TAcloban, speaking waray, and elder webb my dl got transferred to talosa zone, as Zone leader. lots of changes.
WEll, zone conference is tomorrow and we are excited for that!
I reread the talk on patience by president uchtdorf. Love it so much.
I have never had to be patient like i have to be now so its been a great learning process for me.
WEll, this week was good. and hard. As most weeks go in the mission field. I'm actually very excited about some of our new investigators! BRother RAndy Abasas and his wife rowena and their little baby boy ramson--they are young couple and a referral from our Recent convert, brother eugene.
We are worried constantly about the youth in our area and the less actives. There was a brown out on saturday and it lasted a good part of the night. Everyone goes crazy here when the brown outs are like that. Our investigators and less actives were drinking right outside out house. ...and then none of them went to church. :(
OH, last week i forgot to mention about the monton family. they are a family we are really trying to focus on--three of their kids want to get baptized , but their parents won't let them. If you remember our investigators, mikel and david, mikel is their son. Anyways, they had a terrible huge inappropriate pic/calendar on their wall that was near pornographic and we could not stand it. we knew we had to do something. So last saturday we were teaching the kids and suggested they take it down and we would bring them a big picture of jesus christ. THEY TOOK IT DOWN RIGHT THEN, and we were a bit surprised and scared the parents would be mad.... BUt, the next day we came back with our big picture of jesus and put it up right then. Their parents weren't mad at all! And this past week we taught the mom and it was great to be in their home and see the big picture of christ. One step at a time with this family.......:)
well, my time is up.
i heard about janiel...any updates? my companion and i will keep her in our prayers.
Thank you for your love and support. I truly pray for each of you and i am so grateful for this time in my life to learn and grow from all of these experiences.
I know christ is my savior and he fulfilled his purpose on earth so that we could be happy in this life and return and live with him, forever.
I gave a talk in church yesterday on repentance. I have learned so much about daily repentance these past few months here in balaquid. Repentance is needed every single day. What a gift from our savior!
I love you all,
sister b.
i did not get transferred! That will be a good 7 months here in this bukid, awesome place! That also means that i get to be here for the new chapel.........!!!!!!!!!!!! I get to go to church in a building and not a bamboo hut!!! I won't be dripping sweat and leaning my head to the side so it doesn't go in my eyeballs while i'm directing alll the music during church. AWESOME. I am so excited for these people.
This week was so stressful with transfers. Seriously. We were supposed to know tuesday . We didn't find out until wed afternoon. I literally wrote all my good bye letters. it was intense. BUT, i get to stay here with sister d until at least october 28th! So that is fun.
My comp from the mtc--sister jones is TRAINING! and sister farnworth got transferred to TAcloban, speaking waray, and elder webb my dl got transferred to talosa zone, as Zone leader. lots of changes.
WEll, zone conference is tomorrow and we are excited for that!
I reread the talk on patience by president uchtdorf. Love it so much.
I have never had to be patient like i have to be now so its been a great learning process for me.
WEll, this week was good. and hard. As most weeks go in the mission field. I'm actually very excited about some of our new investigators! BRother RAndy Abasas and his wife rowena and their little baby boy ramson--they are young couple and a referral from our Recent convert, brother eugene.
We are worried constantly about the youth in our area and the less actives. There was a brown out on saturday and it lasted a good part of the night. Everyone goes crazy here when the brown outs are like that. Our investigators and less actives were drinking right outside out house. ...and then none of them went to church. :(
OH, last week i forgot to mention about the monton family. they are a family we are really trying to focus on--three of their kids want to get baptized , but their parents won't let them. If you remember our investigators, mikel and david, mikel is their son. Anyways, they had a terrible huge inappropriate pic/calendar on their wall that was near pornographic and we could not stand it. we knew we had to do something. So last saturday we were teaching the kids and suggested they take it down and we would bring them a big picture of jesus christ. THEY TOOK IT DOWN RIGHT THEN, and we were a bit surprised and scared the parents would be mad.... BUt, the next day we came back with our big picture of jesus and put it up right then. Their parents weren't mad at all! And this past week we taught the mom and it was great to be in their home and see the big picture of christ. One step at a time with this family.......:)
well, my time is up.
i heard about janiel...any updates? my companion and i will keep her in our prayers.
Thank you for your love and support. I truly pray for each of you and i am so grateful for this time in my life to learn and grow from all of these experiences.
I know christ is my savior and he fulfilled his purpose on earth so that we could be happy in this life and return and live with him, forever.
I gave a talk in church yesterday on repentance. I have learned so much about daily repentance these past few months here in balaquid. Repentance is needed every single day. What a gift from our savior!
I love you all,
sister b.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
September 13th
SO. We find out tomorrow if i get transferred. We know there are 3 new american sisters coming in so the chances of sister d training again is veryyyy high, which means i would be transferred. Its been driving us nuts that we don't know. So, stayed tuned for next week. . .
This past week were interviews with president. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! We laugh lots together but also can really talk about questions and concerns and the spirit is so strong. I feel his love and faith in my and it makes me want to be a better servant of the lord. Seriously, I walk into the room having concerns and i walk out with none, and knowing that i can do anything. Its an awesome feeling. He is truly inspired man. He told me to tell you, mom and dad, thanks for letting me come on a mission. :) I told him of my struggles with the language (again...) and he had lots of good things to say of course, but at the end he said,'' we will include you and your cebuano in our prayers." Which is incredible, because earlier that week, i had thought, "what if i asked president to pray for my cebuano? Could i ask him that? Is that weird...?" Anyways, i didn't ask him, but then at the end of the interview he said that...and then i told him that i had been thinking of asking him but had gotten shy or something and he said , i know, the spirit told me to tell you that. He then told me that a long time ago he asked for the gift of discernment and the lord blessed him with that. He said i can literally discern what people are thinking. HE's the best.
On the way to the interview i sat next to a girl on the bus and had this thought that i should talk to her. I was tired and just wanted to read my ensign. But then i remembered that all good thoughts are from god , and of course as his missionary i should talk to her. So i did. And it was so fun to talk in cebuano all by myself to her. Of course it was not perfect, and sometimes my cebuano was reallly bad, bahhaa, but it was so needed. I really needed that experience. I told president about that and how i felt like it was heavenly father's gift to me to show me that i could do this....president said of course! you had that experience because you have been praying. You have been praying for ways to improve your cebuano. Yes, indeed, i have. and i know all of you have too. so thank you.
Gihapon, we shared with sister jessa--finally, its been forever. And the lesson was amazing! She finally really opened up. And i was able to really share what i wanted to share and speak what i wanted to say. It was a good day for my language. I felt the prayers of my mission president and all of you.... and i so need them. So thank you!!!
WEll, time is up.
I love you all. i pray for you alll.
Life is beautiful and i love it. love my comp, love being a missionary, love the people.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!!
Happy birthday urs on sept 17!!!
i'll let you know if i get transferred or not! I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me!
love,
sister b.
This past week were interviews with president. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! We laugh lots together but also can really talk about questions and concerns and the spirit is so strong. I feel his love and faith in my and it makes me want to be a better servant of the lord. Seriously, I walk into the room having concerns and i walk out with none, and knowing that i can do anything. Its an awesome feeling. He is truly inspired man. He told me to tell you, mom and dad, thanks for letting me come on a mission. :) I told him of my struggles with the language (again...) and he had lots of good things to say of course, but at the end he said,'' we will include you and your cebuano in our prayers." Which is incredible, because earlier that week, i had thought, "what if i asked president to pray for my cebuano? Could i ask him that? Is that weird...?" Anyways, i didn't ask him, but then at the end of the interview he said that...and then i told him that i had been thinking of asking him but had gotten shy or something and he said , i know, the spirit told me to tell you that. He then told me that a long time ago he asked for the gift of discernment and the lord blessed him with that. He said i can literally discern what people are thinking. HE's the best.
On the way to the interview i sat next to a girl on the bus and had this thought that i should talk to her. I was tired and just wanted to read my ensign. But then i remembered that all good thoughts are from god , and of course as his missionary i should talk to her. So i did. And it was so fun to talk in cebuano all by myself to her. Of course it was not perfect, and sometimes my cebuano was reallly bad, bahhaa, but it was so needed. I really needed that experience. I told president about that and how i felt like it was heavenly father's gift to me to show me that i could do this....president said of course! you had that experience because you have been praying. You have been praying for ways to improve your cebuano. Yes, indeed, i have. and i know all of you have too. so thank you.
Gihapon, we shared with sister jessa--finally, its been forever. And the lesson was amazing! She finally really opened up. And i was able to really share what i wanted to share and speak what i wanted to say. It was a good day for my language. I felt the prayers of my mission president and all of you.... and i so need them. So thank you!!!
WEll, time is up.
I love you all. i pray for you alll.
Life is beautiful and i love it. love my comp, love being a missionary, love the people.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!!
Happy birthday urs on sept 17!!!
i'll let you know if i get transferred or not! I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me!
love,
sister b.
Monday, September 6, 2010
September 6, 2010
HI FAMILY!
This week was wonderful. Transfers are september 16 and we are not sure what is going to happen. we all have mixed feelings...i think there are some new american sisters coming in so they'll probably need sister d to train some of them...so i dunno! we have interviews tomorrow with president.
WEll, sister jenette and her daughter are getting baptized sept 25.
the new chapel should be done in a few weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been studying about overcoming the natural man through the spirit. something aaron emailed me about a while back. it led me to some neat scriptures: 1 nephi 21:16 and then zech 13:6. . . The savior's arms of mercy are always extended towards us. Alma 5:33! He always no matter what we've done or said or thought, wants us to come unto him. And he has not forgotten us--even if we have forgotten him. He will not let us down, even if we have let him down. We are literally engraven on the palms of his hands. very very literally. and those same palms are outstretched waiting for us to come unto him. it's an interesting visual--one i can't get out of my mind.
also, this thought process led me to matthew 26:40-41. He is talking to his disciples. He asked them could you not watch for one hour? (Could you not do the little things i've asked of you, while i was literally sweating drops of blood from every pore for your weaknesses, mistakes, and sins...) And then he says "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Sorry this is all paraphrased...i don't have my bible with me. But for me i realized Jesus Christ has asked us to do our part, because he did his, and because he wants us to return to him. But in verse 41, to me, he is saying i know you have good desires and you want to be better, but i understand that the natural man, we as humans, are weak.... In these two verses i see the justice and the mercy. both are prevelent, and thank goodness! So continue on with faith in our saviour. He understands completely!
WE watched the testaments last night for a fireside and even though i have seen that movie numerous times, last night heavenly father knew i needed to see it again. I was really touched by it , more than ever before. OUr heavenly father truly does know us and our saviour jesus christ has not forgotten us! One part at the end he comes and finds helam who is now blind...and he calls him by name and then heals him.
Just imagine our savior jesus christ coming to find just you and calling your first name so that he can heal you.
I promise in the name of jesus christ and as his missionary, he does, in fact do that for each of us. He knows you by name and his hands are outstretched to each of you so that he can heal you.
I challenge all of you and myself to get to know our savior better each day. To accept him and allow him to heal us. only he can.
i love you all.
i really do need your prayers and i am so grateful for them.
daghang salamat.
love,
sister b.
zach shrader--i got your wedding invitation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats bud! miss you.
benasi--i got your wedding invitation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow, congrats!!!!! miss you also.
melissa rehon--i got your wedding invitation!! wow congratsssssssssssss.
thanks so much for remembering me and letting me know about your lives!
lessie--got your letter! thanks for the update. congrats to ryree!! lessie, i'll write you soon. i love you!!
natalie gardner--i need your address! i have two letters for you! happy belated bday!
and happy 90th bday to my nana!
and happy birthday to my cousin lindz on sept 9th!!!!!!!!! i just sent you a letter.
miss you all and love you more!
Pictures
So, these are small, but they are pictures Tori sent about a month ago. I can't seem to separate them into individual picture, but we wanted to make sure they were posted anyways. If you click on them you can make them bigger. Enjoy!