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