Typhoooon Lagooon

Hello crazy floods!  So I am not really sure if the typhoon hit or not, but we got some intense rain here!  And sadly a few areas in my area were greatly affected, and some other wards had even more damage.  So on Wednesday, we put together care packages for the families who were affected at the stake center.  It was amazing to see everyone come together and help the people whose homes were affected.  Apparently in our area the floods got to be waist high!  But where I live didn't have that damage.  Thankfully.

This week I went on exchanges with Sister Macariola!  I learned so much from her example.  It is so helpful to work with other missionaries to see how they do things and to listen to their advice.  This is her last transfer here and I just can't wait for the day that I am as talented as her! 

Also, we committed another sister to baptism!  She is so strong and is so far in the Book of Mormon.  It is just so hard to get people to attend church because travel is so far and can be expensive for families.  We are continuing to work with her and have members fellowship her.  She is doing really well. 

Also we taught Sister E and she basically invited the neighborhood into our lesson.  There were 8 little kids sitting on the floor just staring at me.  And I just know they were laughing at me inside because my Tagalog stinks.  hahah but it was neat to teach so many people at one time! 

Philippines fun fact: They love Karaoke here.  It is the strangest fascination I have ever seen.  Everyone does it at all hours of the day.

Also, happy 3 months to me!  Crazy how fast time has gone, and now at this point I hope it slows down a little!  I have reached the point where I feel like I have adjusted and I just loooooove being a missionary here!  I also find that I am not even close to perfect.  There is always something new to work on and improve on.  But I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.  I love this work.  I love these people.  I love this gospel and the way it changes people's lives.  So basically, everything is good and I am just loving life. 

Mahal kita!

Sister Waldrom

Alma 37:37

Best week yet!

Kumusta y'all?!  Mabuti naman.  Living and loving life here in Cabuyao.  Just doing my best to find people who are prepared for this amazing gospel that is just waiting on them to learn about it and accept it.  So yeah.  But this week I had some pretty amazing experiences. 

First, President Peterson visits sister missionary's companionship study sometimes.  So we invited him, but he felt inclined to tell us that he was on his way without a heads up.  So my companion kinda freaked out because she knew she was about to get a "nosebleed" from speaking so much English (a term that they use here when too much English hurts their head, lol).  So he came over with his assistants and practiced with us.  And oh man.  President Peterson is the most inspired man.  He just knows everything!  He taught me so many things I can improve on and do better with.  He helped me really understand the importance of asking inspired questions, being bold, and helping investigators gain the desire to read the Book of Mormon.  So shortly after his visit, we had an appointment with a new investigator who we have only taught once.  We felt that we should teach on the introduction to the Book of Mormon.  Thankfully, she and her son speak English, so I was very happy to participate more.  Then during our lesson, we applied the thing President taught us.  WE asked those questions that pierced their hearts, we helped them understand, and boldly asked them to be baptized.  And you know what, they said yes.  In just our second lesson.  And what surprised me most was that we invited them to church for the following day, and they came.  We actually helped them gain the desire to come!  I am so glad we are finally figuring this all out!  But something that really touched me, was at the end of the lesson, the sister said to me, "you know, the reason I really want to know if this is true is because I can the light in your eyes.  You know this is right.  I want that too."  Well, I don't say that to say Yay me!  But I mention that because when we live this Gospel, others can see it.  They can see the light of Christ within us.  We all need to have that light. 

So we visited Sister M's investigator because she was our companion this week since Sister S left.  We visited a sister who is just 20 years old, married, and has a two year old son with cerebral palsy.  This woman is simply amazing.  She comes to church every week 15 minutes early, even though everyone else is about 30 minutes late (it's the culture).  She cares for her son who is so sweet all by herself cause her husband works so much.  Oh man, she just breaks and warms my heart.  She doesn't have much money, but she has great great faith.  She said in the lesson that she knew God gave her her son because he knew she could do it.  Then she committed to baptism.  I just love her and thought I would share that there are outstanding people in this world.

Now for cool stuff.  I was asked to speak at a funeral.  What?  Yes.  It is true.  After being "panted", which means our investigator wasnt home, we were walking and bishop drove by and asked us to come to the funeral of a members aunt.  So we went and he asked me to give the spiritual thought.... I spoke Taglish and shared Alma 40:11-12.  Yep, it was in their house with the open casket right there. Loved it!  Strong family, no one even cried.....

I have officially survived my first transfer!  And now we have a new sister living with us, she is Filipina.  So, now I live with all Filipinas and yes they constantly laugh at me.

And a typhoon is coming?!  Cray!  The rain is POWERFUL.  Soaked. Everyday.  Love. It.  Good thing I am far from the coast, so we just feel the effects from the weather. 

Ok I just love you all!  Praying for your well beings and hope you are all happy.  Keep the faith!

Mahal kita,

Sister Waldrom

Acts 14:22

This is da life

 

Hello from Cabuyao!  Life is swell.  Missing laundry machines, music, and air conditioning more than ever, but you know, it's all good in the neighborhood!  We had the most powerful session of stake conference on sunday.  The Area President, Brent Nielson, came and spoke.  He gave a powerful talk on the atonement and how Christ is the healer of our hearts.  He performs any and every kind of miracle so never forget to trust in Him!  Also, President and Sister Peterson spoke on hastening the work of salvation.  Loved their talks.  His Counsel: pray for names to invite and do not judge them for what they may think or who they are.  Follow the spirit and He will follow through! 

We also went to ward FHE.  Ok these Filipinos know how to have fun!  The games are so wild and everyone gets into them!  I actually got a headache from laughing so much.  These people are the best.  I love this ward and will miss them. Thankfully I have another transfer here! 

I am almost done with my first transfer! Wow!  Word on the street is that I could potentially be training after my first 12 weeks... Kill. Me. Now.  I dont know this amazing language.  We all know how my brain works... not always the fastest learner.  I could train... but not teach!  Yikes! 

We got two new amazing investigators.  Sister Corales lives in a small home about the size of my bedroom at home with her Parents and three kids.  Her husband recently died from an accident at work where a building crushed him.  My heart just aches for her!  I am reallllly excited to teach her again tonight about the plan of salvation.  Don't worry, I will bring tissues.  She is really receptive and I told her last time how it was such a blessing to meet her and she looked at me confused.  But man, she is just an outstanding daughter of God!  God's love for her is infinite.  Amazing.  Also got another new investigator.  We picked her up from some sisters who taught her a few months ago and we finally found her after trying this whole transfer!  She is amazing!  She is already reading in Alma and I was so sad we didnt find her sooner!  She is a young mother and I am really excited to help her progress as well. 

Also attached is a pic of our awesome new companionship shirts from a member.  The guy is Ninoy Acquino.  The president of the Philippines father?  Dont ask me why he is famous, he just looks cool. 

Also, I finally got my fill of kittens at an investigators house.  Oh how I miss my kitty!  Love you Raja!  hahahaha

Ok, I just love you all.  The Church is the only true and living Church on the earth.  It is living because we receive revelation from the opened heavens through our prophet, Thomas S. Monson. 

 

PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST!
Sister Waldrom

John 6:35

 

First Baptismal Date!

Hello there!  So life is good here.  Real good.  I have found that my biggest de-stresser is when I sit on a tricycle (motorcycle with a sidecar) with the wind drying off my sweat and I get to stare at the beauty of green rice fields, palm trees, and colorful homes that are small and large.  Oh the peace that I feel to be in the wonderful land.  The Philippines has my heart. These people have it too.  The kids make me smile and the men and women are kind and generous.  I wish you could all just be here to see what I am experiencing.  I try my best to describe my amazing experiences here. 

This week we had the "New Missionary Check Up" with President.  It was amazing to see all my MTC friends and see how they have been going through all the same struggles.  One of friends has already lost 20 lbs here!  Nuts.  President gave us some amazing counsel.  My favorite thing he said was that we are here to bring people "unto", but the spirit brings them "into".  So powerful, right?  And then he gave us all this talk called, "The Fourth Missionary" by Lawrence Something... I cant remember.  How grateful I am to have read that at the beginning of my mission!  It taught me so much on how I need to let go of all these things I am holding onto.  I need to learn how to surrender my will.  I need to place my heart in the loving hands of the Savior, and then His Will will be done and miracles will happen.  That's my new process I am beginning.  It is honestly so much harder than it sounds.  I have found that there are memories, wants, and desires that I have, but I just need to let them go and surrender.  I need to lose this battle in order to "win".  Just thought I would share this new insight and process I have begun. 

This week we set our first baptismal date!  With Brother Bermudez, he is 10 and from a less active family.  We are trying to help his family come to church, but he has committed and I couldn't be more excited!  I included a picture of our Plan of Salvation visual aid for him.  It's hard for me to teach a kid when the way I learned Tagalog is in the formal way, but we are making it work!  He is really quiet and I hope he is truly gaining his own testimony, but I am just thankful for a fluent companion and ward members who are helping in his conversion. 

Also, we attended the baptism of two boys of a recent convert.  This was my first time attending a baptism here and oh what joy it brought my heart!  Those boys decided to follow their Saviors example and were washed perfectly clean.  Oh how amazing this work is.  It brought me a vision of what I can accomplish here through my own acceptance of the Savior in my life.  Because I made that choice, I want others to know that they can too.  In every first lesson, we tell the investigator that they can know if this church is true by doing one simple thing, asking God through prayer.  It breaks my heart when people don't do that simple commitment because that is all it takes. 

But this week we got a wonderful referral of the most amazing family.  They seemed so receptive and really participated in our lesson!  I hope they receive an answer for themselves because they are practically a golden investigator.  They already have a support system and they seem so prepared and ready for this in their young family's lives. 

Today we had Zone P-Day!  So fun!  We went to these botanical gardens and it was beautiful!  I included some pics!  It is so fun being with other missionaries.  It's kinda like normal life again... hahaha

Well,. I just want you all to know how I know this is the same church that Christ established on the Earth when he lived.  This church contains the fullness of the Gospel and has the same foundation through it's prophet, the priesthood, and revelation.  I am so grateful to be apart of this amazing work in finding those prepared people who are ready to accept it in their lives.  I love you all and hope all is well!

Mahal kita,

Sister Waldrom

Matthew 16:25-26

Pday break.  The Botanical Gardens