team sicky

Ok, remember when I was bragging on skype about not getting sick at all on my mission thus far?  I jinxed myself completely.  Sister Hellewell is strugglin hard core, Sister Teaotai is bed ridden now.  Then I caught the 24 hour flu at the hospital and spread it to Sister Williams and our whole house was dying. Sister Peterson said that was the first time that has happened in the mission.  The irony of my life.
Christmas was nice.  We ate at Sister Mondano's after skype, then for dinner we went to the Evanghelista home.  Good times.  Then Sister Teaotai got really sick.  So on Friday we went to the hospital.  That place is kinda scary.  Definitely not like the hospitals in the states, in my opinion they look more like the insane asylums on deserted islands.  But the doctors are so good, just the facilities, not so nice.  We have an amazing member in our ward who is an OBGYN and is exactly what Sister Teaotai needs.  She does everything for free.  What a blessing from heaven.  She even came to our home and did some IV stuff and shots.  She is the best.  But yeah, so basically this week has been almost no work.  Kinda really sad.  I miss our investigators.  Like so much.  But they still came to church on Sunday, just proves how awesome they all are. 

I am better now, feelin healthy again.  I also go by Doktora Waldrom to Sister Teaotai.  haha awesome. 

Oh on Sunday!  Michael received the priesthood.  YAYAYAY!!!  So happy and excited for him.

We did manage to visit a family of investigators this week.  They are so ready to be baptized, but they just need to be married.  Hmmm... rough stuff.  Not sure what to do because Brother is supposed to be going abroad again to Vietnam.  Gahhhh.  Satan stinks. 

Well, thanks for everything everyone.  The Church is true.  This gospel is our way back home.  If we press forward in faith and endure to the end, we will be happy in the Kingdom of our Father.  So blessed with this lovely knowledge.  Mahal na mahal ko kayo and namimiss ko kayo!! 

Sister Waldrom

Mosiah 7:33

MALIGAYANG PASKO

Oh my goodness.  Seeing your faces was just the most glorious thing ever!!!  Gosh dang I miss you all.  That was just what I needed. I thankfully don't feel sad or anything, just so happy to have an amazing family like you.  You are all awesome and such examples to me.  I do wish I could be there with you at times- to be apart of your lives more, but I know that time will come.  I know that my amazing family is a blessing from God.  Thanks for everything.  I love you all so much.

Life has been like SUPER busy lately.  Monday we had the most wonderful Christmas zone conference.  I cant explain how much I love president Peterson and how much he reminds me of my father... When I gave him a hug after, I may or may not have had a hard time letting go because it seemed like I was hugging my dad.  haha But Not in a weird way. I just love the missionaries here and all my friends here.  They are so awesome and uplifting.

After the zone conference, Sister Hellewell, my housemate, got sick with some major chest pains and we had to go to the hospital.  We asked our neighbor and I straight up felt like I was in fast and furious.  He was zoomin so fast through the dark streets of the Philippines and I was loving every single second.  I was freakin out in the back seat because he was honking and had his emergency lights on and weaving the streets.  soooooo awesome.  Then we hung out at the hospital for what seemed like forever but I think she is ok now so that's what is important.

Saturday was such an amazing day.  Michael was baptized on Saturday!!!!  he bore the sweetest testimony after.  He has been through so much in this life and truly emulates the light the gospel has brought him into.  It was so sweet to see his friend in his quorum baptize him.  Then we had an awesome ward party.  It was so fun, the ward put so much effort into it.  There were so many performances and it was so fun!  We had investigators come too.  Then we sang the last song in the program, Angels we have heard on high in Tagalog.  Then the ward thought they were simply HILARIOUS and had a surprise for us after our performance.  They made us close our eyes and turn around.  Then when we opened our eyes there was Balut ready for us to eat.  That is the Filipino specialty here.  It is a fertilized duck egg that is kinda like a hard boiled egg but weirder.  I dare you to google it.  Then we had to all eat it in front of the whole ward.  it was actually medyo masarap!  (kinda delicious) but not really my fav.  There was so much food at the party, I just love eating here.  End of story.

Sunday was a lovely Christmas church attendance. Then after sacrament our investigator, Vina, who wasn't sure if her husband who is abroad would want her to be baptized now.  She said she would talk to him after an awesome lesson about the plan of salvation.  Then on Sunday, which was Vina's birthday too, she started crying when she told us this was the best birthday and Christmas present ever.  Her husband said she and her daughter can be baptized!  Yayayayay!  So happy for them!  She is so awesome and strong.

So let's end here with the Sasuya family.  They are perfect.  They are keeping the word of wisdom like its no big deal and coming to church like they have already been baptized.  GAHHHHH SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS IN ONE FAMILY.  We had family home evening with their family and basically the whole ward council.  It was awesome.  They loved it.  Everyone was crying.  We had so much fun.  There is a pic from it.  I just am so thankful for all our amazing investigators.

Well, this Christmas season is sure different than any one I have ever experienced.  I feel so much closer to my savior than ever before and I feel so much more grateful for the true meaning of Christmas.  I know that as a missionary I carry the best present for anyone to ever receive.  The message of the Restored Gospel.  I love this work.  I love this gospel.  And I am excited for next years Christmas to spend with my family again.  Mahal na mahal ko kayo
Love,

Sister Waldrom

Luke 2:10-14

 

Merry Christmas

Nakakaraos.

Well, my life is just glorious.  I get to skype the fam in a week.  We have a baptism this weekend.  And I am sharing the truth of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What more could I ask for?  Well, Mission life isn't perfect.  For example, we will start with the sad note first.  Our investigators Mark and Mary Jane.  We have had about 4 visits with them.  Super interested with a ton of questions.  We went to visit them on Thursday and Mary Jane and the kids weren't there... Then Mark went on to tell his story.  He said that a few days prior he got drunk because he doesn't have a job right now.  Mary Jane was angry because he was drunk again and they got in a fight... she even broke all their plates. Then there was a complaint sent on him so he was arrested.  When he arrived back at the house a few days later, the family was gone.  So, he planned his own death.  He didn't know what to do because he cant feed his family or provide as the father.  So he prepared a rope in the upper room of his small home.  Then he said he felt that he just could not do it.  He couldn't stop thinking about his family and how it was important for him to live no matter the trials.  Even though it was hard to keep up with his Tagalog, I felt the need to share 2 Nephi 32:3 about how the Book of Mormon will help him know what to do.  He kept saying he didn't know what to do.  We shared with him how he is just like our Father in Heaven.  He loves his family so much that he would do anything for us.  He is a good father.  He is a good man.  But the trials and circumstances in his life are hard.  He knows the gospel can help him and that's why we are not giving up on this family.  I sure hope his family returns back to him soon. I couldn't help but just cry and cry for the heart ache he felt.  His home felt a little haunting with the thought that he tried to take his own life there.  The happiness, peace, and love were gone.  I can only hope he sees the light of this gospel and finds his way home to our loving father. 

Our investigator Michael, 16 years old, is getting baptized this Saturday!  But get this, he wanted our help as missionaries.  He sees spirits in his home.  Which is not really in line with our beliefs in the church. He is a normal kid, but Filipinos are very superstitious.  And apparently his neighborhood is over an old cemetery soooo..... what.....  Yeah.  Weird.  But he is so ready, prepared and excited to be baptized on Saturday! 

The S family.  My heart fills with happiness when I just think of them.  I love them!  They committed to keep the word of wisdom without a problem.  Even though they love coffee and brother smokes.  GAH EVERYTHING IS JUST SO EASY AND PERFECT FOR THEM.  We taught a lesson on repentance with our bishop.  We focused on the nature of god and you could say we all walked out crying.  So excited for family home evening tonight with our bishopric and their family.  This ward is so awesome at fellowshipping.  I love it all. 

Also, I was just recalling on my favorite Christmas gift.  The only one I can really even remember that impressed me was the beautifully framed picture of the temple Mom and Dad gave me a few years ago.  I think that's the only time I have cried receiving a gift on Christmas.  It is still the best gift god could give us, this gospel.  Prophets, temples, missionaries. All to bring us closer to Him here on earth and to eternal life with him.

Well I wont be emailing next week, so I love you all!  Skype on Wednesday

!  Mahal kita and maligayang pasko!

Sister Waldrom

2 Nephi 32:3

Golden.

Well, I am just so grateful for Sister Teaotai.  She has taught me so much.  This week she got a UTI (urinary tract infection) and was in soooo much pain, but she just worked through it!  Champ.  Then today when we were discussing what we learned in our personal study, i told her about how i read mosiah 14:3-5.  They are some powerful verses on the atonement and then she started crying after reading them in her language!  She is so receptive to the spirit and desires to be a good missionary so much.  I feel so bad that she struggles so much to participate in our lessons because she cannot understand the people and she speaks little Tagalog, but when she smiles and laughs, the people who meet her just cannot get enough!  I cant either.  It is a blessing and a half to know her, let alone be her companion.  She also said this to me the other day, just so you can get a sense of her humor: "you are so white.  i dont want to take pictures with you.  I wanna ask president for a new companion.  I like the blacks, not the whites." hahahahahahaha

ok, so the Sasuya family.  THEY ARE LITERALLY GOLDEN INVESTIGATORS.  They have come to church for the past three sundays in a row and accepted baptism for the 21st!  Buuuut probably wont happen then cause they gotta do some other stuff first.  But the ward just loves them and they just love learning about the gospel and they just know it is right and i just want them to have an eternal family!!!!  Which they will.  Duh.  But they are a tender, oh so tender, mercy from the Lord. 

So yesterday I gave a surprise talk in Church on how Family Home Evening prepared me for my mission.  holllllaaaa it was mostly in Tagalog!  And it really made me appreciate my amazing family who had fhe every week.  Thanks ma and pa for being too good to me. 

On Saturday we held a family history fireside.  The member who led it was basically so impressed with my 9 generation genealogy chart that she even used my account for the fireside, so now the stake knows my whole name and all my ancestors.... kewl....

And yes this week was another lovely week of getting punted, aka no shows for appointments.  So this week we are going to be doing a lot of finding!  yayayayay. 

Well, family, I hope you know how stinkin much I am looking forward to skyping you.  I will be preparing questions for all of you and write yours down too so I can tell you everything.  I love you all so much and I love being a messenger of truth.  keep rockin yall. 

Mahal na mahal ko kayo,
Sister Waldrom
Mosiah 14:3-5



Morgan and her companion Sister Teaotai

Holiness in everyday

I sometimes can't comprehend the trust the Lord has in the missionaries to just roam around a foreign country, teach in random homes, live on our own, and expects us to teach the gospel.  Sometimes when I think of it I am like, whaaaaaaaa.  But it is so true that God prepares those He calls.  So this week has presented it's new set of challenges.  I love my companion.  But I am not sure I am figuring out quite what the Lord would have me do to serve and help her.  She received a blessing from President this week which was really good for her to learn how to trust in the Lord. 

Let's take a moment and let me just tell you how much my mission has taught me.  I have learned how I can use the strengthening and enabling power of the atonement.  I have seen myself progress, not because I have done anything on my part, but because of faith in Christ, He has enabled me to be an instrument in His hands.  For example, the Sasuya family.  They came to church again this week!!  And they accepted baptism!!!!  (Date to be determined because Lyn's sister wants to come from Canada) But really.  God has given me golden investigators here.  He has allowed me to follow His direction and help them understand the importance of the gospel in their lives.  They also have been blessed by the atonement to feel the spirit and understand the truth.  Ahhh God is so good and loves us soo much. 

Today we visited the largest Catholic church in all of Asia.  Yes, it was huge and yes this is basically the only christian country in Asia.  It was cool to say the least and made me reallllly want to go to Europe.  Well.  Life is always hard but always good. I love you all. 

Love,

Sister Waldrom

2 Corinthians 4:4

And then the sun comes out

(sorry for the delay in posting.  We have been out of town)
Well, it sure was a great first week in my second area!  Sister Teaotai is an awesome missionary.  She has a few struggles with the language and teaching.  We practice all the time and praying hard to see how I can exactly help her.  She has strong faith and I often times find her studying on her own or praying in our room.  She has taught me so much from her example. 

When I first got here I was a little nervous about our work.  The investigators in our area book seemed like they weren't progressing and I was stressin a bit.  But then on Tuesday night we went to the Priesthood Executive Meeting and I got to meet the bishopric.  They are awesome!  The bishop worked with us all day on our first two days out working... hello awesome bishop!  He is so great and the ward here is so strong.  

And actually get this, before our PEC meeting, there were these two women sitting inside the chapel.  I was new so I just thought they were members after I introduced myself to them.  Then a member mentioned to me they had just walked in a few minutes earlier because they wanted to check out the church.  So come to find out that Lyn Sasuya's friend is a member of the church and told her to go to the church.  She followed her friends counsel and brought her friend, Maryann with her.  We got their information and taught them two nights later.  When we taught our first lesson, Lyn's husband was there and her two children.  Her oldest daughter has Lymphoma Cancer and Maryann's daughter has Leukemia and that is how they met.  They are so receptive and awesome!  Then Lyn and her family came to church on Sunday too!  And they are already praying as a family and reading the scriptures!  Ahhhhh she loves it all.  They are an awesome family, hopefully we can prepare them for baptism soon!!

On Monday, we had a conference with the area president who is in the first quorum of the 70, Elder Brent Nielsen.  It was such an amazing conference.  I learned so much about the atonement and how to help establish the church here in San Pablo.  It was a great way to spend my last day as a teenager!  Sister Gaspar de Alba brought me presents and a huge cake from my last ward!  They are all so awesome, I miss them dearly!  I also got to open a couple packages for my birthday.  Maren sent me an AWESOME package with over 20 letters from my friends at home and serving missions too... When I saw the first couple I just could not stop crying.  All these people actually still care about me!  It was so sweet to read those notes from them all and hear from all my friends serving all over the world!  Maren is the sweetest friend to do that for me and it definitely made my birthday complete!  Crazy to think I am 20 now.  This is an important decade!  But my birthday was well spent by a day full of work.  Nothing will stop us!

So things are going well here in Batangas and I am just feeling the Lord's love and strength daily.  Thanks for all your birthday wishes! 

Mahal kita!
Sister Waldrom
Mosiah 3:19

So long Cabuyao

I got this email today from Jean Caunin who is a ward missionary.  Morgan loves her and all the members of the Cabuyao Ward.

Today at 6:07 PM

Good day to you nanay! Last Sunday Sis waldrom texted us and tell us that she is going to be transfered by monday,it was unexpected because we knew that their tranfer day in on next week, after knowing that she will,we meet her & her companion at the chapel that night, I saw some of the members tearing their eyes including me because we will miss her, of all the missionaries who were assigned here she's the only one who so closed to us because she is so kind and sweet missionaries we ever meet,her uniqueness is so different from the others.

we supposed to have a surprise activity today for her birthday,but now it was change,We decided to give her a gift and sent it to the mission.We will surely miss her,she's one of a kind & thoughtful sisters in the mission.We are so blessed that she came into our ward.

I read to her your mail and i gaved her a hug as what you had said.

a last lunch with some of the members

 

OK. What just happened....

Well hello.  I write to you in a very happy/tired/scared/excited/worried/weirded out state.  I was emergency transferred today.  To Batangas... Good news is I saw the ocean for the first time earlier! The coast is in my area!  (sorry mom, you just told me you wanted me to stay away from the ocean) But I have been given a special assignment to help my new companion, Sister T, from the Kirabati Islands.  We both got here in the mission at the same time 5 months ago.  A bunch of changes happened here today because we just inherited 15 new missionaries from the Tacloban mission.  So my child, Sister Gaspar de Alba, has a companion who just came from the traumatizing storm.  We got a text yesterday from President saying: "Sister Waldrom, give me a call when you have time", of course I thought worst case scenario.  Grandpa.  I was freaking out internally that something happened to Grandpa.  Then he called me and told me this: "Sister Waldrom, you are always asking me to see how you can help me.  I need your help now.  You have a special assignment.  You're being transferred to Batangas tomorrow to help a sister.  She struggles with English and Tagalog and obedience."  Well, then the tears started.  Sister Gaspar de Alba and I knew our amazing companionship was wayyyyy too good to be true.  It was ripped from us when we least expected it!!  We promptly went to visit Marivic, our progressing investigator. Little did we remember that it was the one year anniversary of her husband's death.  We remembered right as we walked into her house.  I just couldn't stop the tears just telling her how amazing I think she is and how I will miss her so much.  She was crying, her nanay was crying, and my comp was crying.  Just a big cry fest.  I couldnt even handle it.  Then we visited the Tajan family which was pretty happy. Then we went to the church where thankfully the ward members all met there from returning from a big devotional in san pablo.  I couldnt help but cry when I said bye to all of them too!  I will miss Cabuyao soooooo much!!! The people there are amazing.  Even some of the members cried.
Ahhhhh.  Then the bishop and his amazing wife dropped off pizza and cake.  And I ferociously packed my stuff last night.
This morning we headed to San Pablo.  We got to meet all the missionaries from Tacloban.  Sounded pretty crazy down there.  They experienced the huge storm, dead bodies, and loads of crazy stuff.  I cant believe the devastation down there.  My heart still goes out to them.  We had a mini transfer meeting (because real transfers were a couple weeks ago).  It was good.  I love my companion.  She is so sweet and funny!  I really do feel honored that president feels that he can trust me and give me a chance to learn and grow.  He talked to me about my new responsibility to help her be exactly obedient and really teach her about missionary work because her past companions were not the best.  I am really excited to help her progress and reach the growth that I know she can obtain.  Once I got to the area, the first thing I did was checked out the area book.  Ehhhhhh.  K.  A LOT of work ahead of us.  No addresses.  Not many investigators.  Great.  I love starting fresh again!  It seems like a great area full of lots of people who speak different Tagalog than I know.... So I am gonna have to figure that out too.  Also I live with my old companion from the MTC, Sister Hellewell.  This should be fun too.  I am really excited for this experience.  I am really sad to leave my first area and my first child, but I know this is an opportunity and a challenge from God to learn and really forget myself and help my new companion and my area.  President also told me before I walked out of his office, "Sister I know your mission is not going to be easy, but I know I can trust you and you can do it."  Sure love my president.  We shall see how this week goes.
Also went on exchanges this week with a sister training leader.  Learned so much.  She says I underestimate myself.  Whoops.  It was a way good experience to learn from her awesome example.  Also one of her investigators thinks he is a prophet and we met a guy who is from England and claimed the Beatles were his neighbors.  Whaaaaat
Also thought I would share how I am studying the different powers of the Atonement.  So far I have got redeeming, cleansing, enabling, strengthening, reconciling, and comforting.  I love the Atonement and am slowly but surely learning how to apply it in my life.
Well, I am feeling whooped from so much crying, traveling, and newness.  I am way blessed to be doing this and am happy as can be.  I love you all!  Change for the good.

Love,

Sister Waldrom

Helaman 5:30

Praying for the 'Pines

Ok, after reading all of your kind updates on this typhoon here.... WHAT.  Since I have no connection to any current news, thanks for the info.  I was obviously aware how serious it was because we weren't allowed to work on Thursday or Friday but it was just intense rain here.  I have
previously worked in the storms that we experienced here.  So, didn't seem too bad.  Wow.  My heart truly aches for the people who were affected.  I am so thankful that we were not harmed and our members and investigators are all ok.  Please keep these wonderful people in the Philippines in your prayers.  What kills me most is to imagine how many homes were washed away as well as all the deaths.  Counting my blessings for our safety. 

Well, with better news, Leiden and Irvine Tajan were baptized on Saturday!  So happy for their completed family!  It was a great service.  The water in the font was a lovely shade of dark brown, but it works.  The elders in the other ward also had two baptisms at the same time... awkward.  So we combined the baptisms and there were so many members there!  It was tender to see them bear their testimonies after.  Proud to see they truly do understand the Gospel.  Another awkward thing, Irvine didn't come to church on Sunday and so only Leiden was confirmed...  that will happen next week.... It was also the Primary program on Sunday and Leiden was in it.  I felt like her Mother because I just sat in the congregation so proud of her. Love them. 

This week was a little rough with no lessons because of the typhoon and baptisms.  But I think all of our investigators are doing ok.

I sure loved having extra study time.  Ohhhh yesssss.  Reading conference talks and the scriptures galore.  So much happiness.  Especially while listening to rain.  Mmmm. 

Also, thought I should inform you about all my other roommates.  I live with about 3 mice, 7 lizards, 30 cockroaches, 100 spiders, 800 worms, and 2000 ants.  Yes, I hate them all.  And Permatox (bug killer spray) is my best friend. 

Really other than that, I am pumped to be starting a new transfer and having a fresh start.  Still chugging along here.  Following the spirit.  Teaching the doctrine.  Loving life as a missionary.

Please keep the Philippines in your prayers.  Thank you again for all your concern and prayers in my behalf, but please direct those prayers to those who really need it down South.  Mahal ko kayo lahat at ingat kayo!  Gusto ko ang ebanhelyo at nagpapasalamat ako para sa lahat mga panalangin mula sa inyo.

Love,

Sister Waldrom
2 Nephi 29:8-10

Typhoon 11/8

We are anxiously waiting to hear from Morgan, hoping that they still have power and she will be able to communicate with us tomorrow night.  In the meantime, we are confident that she is safe and the Lord is protecting His missionaries.  Here is the email we received on Friday:

Dear Parent,

We wanted to let you know that as of Friday, November 8, 2013 6:30 PM Philippine time, your missionary is safe and accounted for.  We know you are concerned about the typhoon.  The eye of the storm is south of us but because it is so large, we are feeling the effects of heavy rains and strong winds.  All missionaries have been prepared with adequate food supplies, water, and candles to last through the storm.  They have likewise been instructed to remain in their apartments until the storm has passed.  We would welcome your prayers in behalf of all the missionaries in the Philippines.  We will update you in the morning.

Kindest regards,

Sister Hansen, Mission Secretary          Philippines San Pablo Mission      

Happy Camper

Maligayang Araw ng mga Patay!  (Happy All Souls Day) We had some early curfews this week because of this greatly celebrated holiday.  Kinda fun to have some extra study time!  They get pretty intense about celebrating here!  They all go to the cemetaries and celebrate the dead.  I think its a sweet holiday.

Today was Zone P-day.  So fun.  We went hiking to a mud spring.  It very well could have been the most I have ever sweat.  Yep.  And I am glad I wore my crocs cause the mud was cray cray.  But so rad to be in the beauty of the pines!  Wish you could all see this promised land.  I also love getting to talk with all the other missionaries and share experiences and life stories.  It's a good time. 

We had our first baptismal interview... and they are getting baptized this Saturday!  So happy and excited for Leiden and Irvine Tajan.  They are the greatest kiddos.  Their family will now be complete.  It is amazing to see people come back to their loving Heavenly Father as a complete family.  We teach them the doctrines really simply and this week we will really be focusing on how they can stay active.  I have faith in them!

Our strong investigator M is kinda struggling to follow what she knows is true.  She keeps coming back to her concerns of her family being Catholic and her being the only Mormon.  We are working to strengthen her testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith so she can be solid in that knowledge and desire to make those changes in her life to follow what God would have her do.

Ok I really want to talk about HOW MUCH I HAVE LEARNED.  I think my mind has expanded like 3847 times.  I just feel like I now understand the importance of an eternal perspective.  We have the Gospel in our lives to live it the way the Lord intends us to.  If we really do the simple sunday school answers (daily prayer, study the scriptures, and go to church every sunday) our lives will be more greatly filled with happiness and you will feel God's love more abundantly in your life!  It is so simple and clear to me now as I see people apply these things in their lives and those changes and blessings come to them. 

Mahal kita,
Sister Waldrom
Doctrine and Covenants 64:34

Where did October go?

Ahhhhh, this was a dec week. (Picked up dec from my comp. shortened version of decent.  I dig it.)  We got to teach M again!  She was the investigator who knew everything was true but wanted her fam to all be apart of it.  We got to meet her husband too and hope things will progress with them.  She is so awesome, she has so much faith.  We helped resolve her concerns and questions about the Restoration and read in 3 Nephi 11 and she loooooved it.  Oh and after our lesson, she walked us out to pick up a tricycle and we saw some people running and I could sense the vibes.  Not good.  Come to find out, there was a knife fight around the corner.  Yeah we booked it out of there, and we survived! 

Last week we had our family mission plan fireside.  Then Tuesday we went to the T family whose kids are being baptized next weekend, and the first thing the 13 year old son said to us was, "Meron ako isang referral para sa inyo!"  AH IRVINE. YOU ARE ADORABLE.  He gave us a referral of his 12 year old classmate who lives in the next city over so we cant teach her, but we sent it to the other missionaries.  So tender!!  So the point of it is, if HE can give missionaries a referral, YOU can too!!  Love those kids.  And so pumped for their baptism next weekend!  Love bringing people into this amazing gospel.

We also taught M this week.  Last week she brought up her concern of not knowing why she had to join a different church... we were like uhhhh, have you been listening to our lessons?  We returned with some plans to help her, but the lesson kinda went haywire.  That was the first time I walked out of a lesson kinda sad with the result.  We returned with the Bishop's wife because she is also a convert from the Catholic church. She helped her really understand the blessings of baptism and the gospel in her life.  Then we asked her at the end if she felt that baptism was the right thing to do (she had been praying about it for a few weeks...) and she said YES.  Oh, my heart almost exploded.  So she is pretty set in stone for baptism.  Bless that wonderful woman.  Just gotta help her be faithful to church attendance and she is set! 

I can't even explain how my LOVE for the scriptures has grown in the past 3 weeks!  Basically in my spare time, I read the bible dictionary... Have you ever done that?  It is literally fascinating!!!!  Take a moment, you might learn a thing or two.  The scriptures are so helpful, interesting, and a blessing for us sent straight from God.  Just finished 1 Nephi today searching for scriptures about faith.  Loved it.  There were so many, Nephi was so faithful to the Lord and such an example to me.

This week we also had new missionary check ups!  Sister Gaspar de Alba thanked me afterwards for being the trainer that I am. :') Tender moment.  She is the best trainee I could ask for.  We are literally always on the same page and our lessons just flow like crazy.  Good thing we should have another transfer together.  Love her.  She also likes to quote my "Waldrom One Liners" as she calls it. hahaha

Also, this week we went to the grocery store and I saw CRISPY M&M'S!!!!  Does anyone else remember those?!  I remember they made them when I was like 10 and then stopped and we loved them at our house!  Then I also remember signing a petition at BYU for this girl who wanted to bring them back. lol. I found them here and they were delish to the max.

 

Elections are going on right now.  And we were taking a tricycle to an appointment.  And then we straight up got stuck in a parade.  And then everyone was screaming and staring at us white people.  And it was really awkward.  I hate all the election trucks with the tremendously loud music that blows off my ears.

Also, the most Christ-like person I know, Sister Meti, came to our house for exchanges.  She is from India and is in my district and made us the most legit Chicken Curry.  Yes, it totally cleared my sinuses from the spices and I loved it. 

I miss you all so much and I am just pressing forward here in Cabuyao!  Mahal Kita,

Sister Waldrom

1 Nephi 22:30-31

My Companion has 31 mosquito bites

Ok, I am just sooooo tired.  The mission works you like no other, but I can also say, I am sooooooo happy.  This week I have been able to really take a step back and enjoy this all.  I love it here.  I love my savior, I love missionary life, I love the scriptures, I love my companion, I love the ward, I love my investigators, I love the culture, I love the food, I love the Philippines. 

This week we had some major spiritual experiences.  We had a lesson on Tuesday with the S. family and they didn't do their reading assignment in 3 Nephi 11 so we read with them the first 17 verses.  Also, they had said they hadn't received an answer to their prayers yet.  Then we read together and they felt the spirit and they committed to baptism.  It was the Book of Mormon and the spirit that converted them.  So excited for them.  We also taught them again on Friday the plan of salvation and their father died 5 years ago and oh man, we just followed the spirit, and you could say there were tears by the end of the lesson.  Amazing how this gospel answers everyone's questions.  That is one of my favorite things to witness here, seeing people understand and come to know the truth. 

So we went to M's house on Wednesday and then all these kids in her neighborhood wanted to listen... so her house is about 10x15 feet... and the total of people at one time was 23 children, one Lola (grandma), one member, Sister Marivic, and my companion and me.... Crazy!!!  Such a random experience.  We just taught the restoration and thankfully I had my picture book, but they all loved it and even 4 of them came to church with us yesterday!  We taught M. again on Friday and taught her about Eternal Marriage.  Next month is the one year mark of her husbands death.  So you could say that this topic was emotional.  It really comforted her, but it also brought out some of her concerns which we are happy to be able to resolve now. 

We also had another investigator come to know the truth of the Book of Mormon and the church.  She wasn't sure about baptism, but she committed to pray.  I am just so blessed to see all this progression.  Yesterday we had four investigators come to church.  That is the highest I have ever had.  M. and her neighborhood friends came.  Some members thought she was a member because she seemed like a member.  She even gave the closing prayer in Sunday School.  Amazing.  I really feel her strong spirit and testimony.  I know God loves her so much. 

Yesterday we also had the most amazing ward fireside after church.  We planned it to help the ward with their ward mission plan.  Each family is going to come up with their own family mission plan where they come up with 5 names of people they can share the gospel with and make goals on how to help them.  It was a big turn out and the ward really loved it.  We had the members practice with each other how they would approach each other and then the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric spoke on how the members can help hasten the work of salvation.  it was so great to see a member discuss this and not just a missionary.  It makes a huge difference and helps the members understand how simple it is!  It was so amazing to see the ward get excited to help us.

And finally, this week's icing on the cake was zone interviews.  I just can't explain the appreciation I have for my mission president.  That man is so inspired.  He just knows how to encourage me.  He told me that I am doing enough and am worthy to have the spirit.  I really pondered those things and I have already seen a greater influence of the Spirit in my life.  Bless President Peterson!  I don't know what I would do without him!

So all is well here, loving life.  I love you all and don't forget to keep me updated! 

Mahal kita,

Sister Waldrom

Alma 26:12