God is Good

What a SPLENDID week.  This week we found so much joy in the work. Like sooooo much.

First off, it is so hot here that we drag our foam mattresses into the living room and sleep in there cause it is cooler than our small, gross bedrooms.  And the other day we failed to take our trash out when it was super full.  So then the following morning there were maggots covering the floor we were sleeping on!!! SICK NASTY.  And our Samoan Sister sleeps on the actual ground so yes they were on her....
Life here.  It's nuts.

On Saturday we had the coolest service project ever at an elementary school prepping it for the upcoming school year.  It was with the ward so it was great to build friendships and wear the cool "Mormon Helping Hands" vests!  I was dripping in sweat but it was a super fun activity.

This week I got to go on exchanges with Sister Vaka, Sister Taufa, and Sister Mecham.  These sisters here are all so amazing!!!  I love them all.  Sister Vaka and Taufa are both still in their 12 week training, but it was so impressive to work them even as newbies and see all their skills.  I learned a lot from them this week.  I learned from these sisters how to teach with love, how to teach doctrine clearly, and how work with a companion well.  I enjoy working with these sisters as we make new friendships and dig into the work together.  It
has been a great help to have these sisters work in our area here because they are helping us rebuild.  This zone is awesome.

However, I have learned a lot about myself with this calling.  A lot of my weaknesses.  And they are so apparent.  It is hard for me to see them so clearly and then I feel inadequate to serve and be the example to these sisters.  I have been so humbled as I learn from them and apply their teachings to my own work. I have seen an increase in my other skills, such as teaching.  I have never been able to teach like this before.  But I know it is all straight from God.  I remember Elder Nielsen, the area 70 in the Philippines, he said that President Monson says to all the general authorities at conference time in the temple, "He whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies."  I have seen the
Lord carry me through this calling and I am so grateful for all your prayers because I know they are helping!!

Sister Tua'one and I were talking, and I said, "I feel so unqualified for this calling.  These sisters have so many different trials and most of them, I cannot even relate."  Then Sister Tua'one shared "You are an example because you are a fruit of what a good and successful family in the gospel should be raised like."  It hit me, even though these Sisters are experiencing completely different things than I have personally experienced, I am blessed to have had a family who received
the blessings of living the gospel.  So family, my love here for you all is only increasing even more, and I didn't even think that was possible at this point.  I love you all so much!

Well.  Officially one year.  Ayaw ko yun. I am loving this work. I love being a missionary.  The Philippines is a glorious country.  I am praying for you all!!

Sister Waldrom
Doctrine and Covenants 19:29

Isang Taon Na.

Hiiiiiii!  It is I, Sister Waldrom.  Who is reaching her one year

 mark.  WHAT WHERE HAS TIME GONE?!  Crazy how relative time is on the

 mish, because we are so close to heaven!!!  Love and hate it.  It sure

 is quick.

 Yoyoyo!!  Pamilya!  I have got an assignment for all yall!  Page 202

 of Preach My Gospel.  Second Bullet point.  What blessings have you

 received from your obedience?  I want your answers by next monday!  I

 think it will greatly help me teach investigators of blessings from

 their repentance.

 This week I saw the blessings of the priesthood.  I learned a lot this

 week of how men are not the priesthood, simply the holders of it.  The

 priesthood blesses all of God's children on earth.  For all you

 priesthood holders reading this, I have a question.  What does it feel

 like for you when you exercise the priesthood?  That is amazing stuff.

 This week Sister Tua'one was sick. :(  We stayed in from

 Monday-Thursday, therefore I read Our Search for Happiness in a 24

 hour period of time and also made a mission vision for myself (see

 attached photo).  It was some great study time on my part, but I felt

 bad for my compy.  She is doing better now.  But for realz, my vision.

  It was such a great realization for me of what else I need to and

 want to achieve on my mission.  I made so many spiritual goals and

 ideas.  I love being a missionary! I actually began some goals for my

 life after the mission.  I look forward to living the law of

 consecration as a member of the church.

 I went on exchanges with Sister Maagad, who is companions with my

 trainer on the mission.  She is so cool, from Visayas in the

 Philippines.  This was my FIRST time working with a filipina since my

 own trainer in the mission!  And I also realized that I haven't lived

 with a filipina since my first area, back in November.  So whatever,

 if my Tagalog really does suck, its not my fault, I have got no

 natives to teach me!!  But Sister Maagad helped me out.  She is one

 spunky and cool Filipina!  We had a great day of finding in the dead

 heat of this country.  Literally I am soaking wet everyday.  And that

 day was one of the worst.  But she helped me through!  I learn a lot

 of new ideas and approaches from these sisters.  I love this

 opportunity to work with them.

 I got to speak in church yesterday about missionary opportunities.

 Hoping that my talk got them excited to give us some referrals.  I

 just looooove the short notice the bishop always gives us when we

 speak in church...

 Well, this area is hanging in there and so am I.  I feel you prayers

 and thank you so much for them all. I remember in a priesthood

 blessing I received from President, he blessed me to feel the prayers

 of my family and receive those blessings.  So thank you because I know

 I am receiving everything you are praying for!  I love you all to

 Kolob and back!  Stay true to what you know! Oh!!!  Come to find out, our

 investigator, Cristina, back in Batangas was baptized!!!!  Holla!!! the church 

 is true!!!!!!

 Mahal kita,

 Sister Waldrom

 Alma 1:25

Finding

Well I feel like you all know everything considering I just skyped you

all.  It was so fun to see you!  I feel so blessed that you
are all doing ok, and are happy and healthy.  It eases my mind, while
I have seen so many other missionaries who struggle with the knowledge
of the well being of their family at home.  I am so blessed to have
the family that I have and most especially, the mother that I have!!!

This week we visited so many auxiliary leaders!  We ate at each of the
members of the stake presidency's house!  They are all in our ward, so
that shows you what kind of ward we have here.  They are all so great
and strong here.  We are just offering our service to them and not
begging for referrals at the moment, but I know those will come after
they trust us.

We had our first zone meeting for me as an STL this week.  It went
well thankfully.  I really wanted to help our zone gain more faith in
our savior Jesus Christ to be able to achieve their visions for their
areas.  That is what we could use more of.  But I know my faith is
increasing and I am getting really excited for Elder Craig Christensen
to visit out mission!

This week I got to go on exchanges with my first comp in the mission,
Sister Gaspar de Alba!  She is so stinkin awesome!  She is one rocking
powerhouse of a missionary.  She is a great teacher, Tagalog master,
and still the same old cool kid i love.  She inspired me to be a lot
better at Tagalog and to work hard, just like her. :)  We did a lot of
finding together and we have so hopeful potential!

Well this week I learned a lot about how you don't always know what
others are going through.  We need to have Christlike love and put
ourselves in their shoes.  Even cry with them.  I am thankful for my
calling to help the sisters here in San Pablo.  They help me so much
more than the ways that I try to help them.  I love being a missionary
and cannot believe I only have 6 months left!

Mahal ko kayo lahat,
Sister Waldrom
Alma 57:21

Losing myself

My goal.  Lose myself.  Working on it.

So on Monday.  Surprise rain storm.  Flooded our house.  One inch of
water covering everything.  Thankfully we were home and got our
suitcases and everything up.  We just mopped it out up
and pushed it out the front door.  You have got to be kidding me.
Life in the Philippines.

Sister Tua'one is the coolest companion evaaaaa.  She has a stinkin
afro.  I love her.  We are rocking things here.  Oh wait, besides the
fact that this area is super hard!  The people here are just a little
tougher.  But we are relying on the Lord to strengthen our faith to
help us achieve our goals, especially for finding our one completed
family.  The members are really nice and having us over this
week!!  We really are being tested here.  Sister Tua'one went on
exchanges here in our area and tracted all day but no one let them
in... zero lessons.  Just a taste of what we are workin with. ;)  We can do it!

 Just gotta be patient.

I got to go on exchanges this week with Sister Hopkins and Sister
Mann.  They are both awesome. Technically the point of exchanges is to
help them, but they are helping me!  I am learning so much from them
already.  Sister Mann is 29 and from Samoa and that sister is a power
house!  She talks to everyoneeee she sees.  It is so impressive!

We also got to help Sister Tuafa and Sister Hopkins out this week with
some health issues so we chilled at the hospital with them. The
responsibilities of this calling are different than I expected!

Last Monday we saw President and the AP's at McDonalds.  And who
bought us lunch?  President!!  Love that man.  Then on Friday we had
Missionary Leadership council.  That meeting was insane!  I learned so
much!  President is so receptive to revelation.  I seriously love that
man.  He is a clone of my own father.  Kid you not, Dad, he is you
brother from another mother!  I honestly think that is why I was sent
here.  To learn from him because he teaches me just like you do!  I am
excited for you to meet him.  And for Mom to meet your twin, Sister
Peterson.  Its scary how similar you all are.  What I learned at MLC
is that I am not doing enough.  As a missionary, or as a stinkin human
being!  I am going to be so much better when I am home.  I am making
goals now.

Like I said, Sister Tua'one and I am in the midst of losing ourselves.
Just diving into this work, burning our skin off, draining our
brains, and pouring our hearts to the Lord.  I can see that this area
is going to keep me on my knees a lot for the next few months as I
plead with the Lord for His divine guidance.  I ask you to keep us in
your prayers.  More specifically, I please ask you to help me and my
companion to keep our eyes open to find this prepared family.  We need
all the help we can get.

I love you all and wish all you mothers to have the best mothers day
ever!  Stay strong!

Sister Waldrom
The Words of Mormon 1:7