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

Press Onward

 

Well I will just say the highlights this week:

Zone interviews.  I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to have President Peterson as my mission president.  He is an incredible man.  I was really looking forward to going in and asking him what to do about my different concerns and such, but he already knew them all!  He just started giving me counsel and what I could do or change.  He told me how I need to listen and discern.  Asking inspired questions is critical!!!  I am so grateful for the counsel of president.  He is a wise and inspired man.  I truly felt his love and care for me and it is exactly what I needed when I feel like I have no one to listen to me... (besides the Lord haha)

A member said this to me, marveling at my white skin, "You need more sun, and I need more moon." hahaha I tell ya, everyone still stares and takes pictures.  It is flattering yet very awkward.

As for investigators, we extended the baptismal invitation to two people!  And both rejected!  We're working with them, they just don't feel ready.  I actually teach a lot more in English than you would think.  But I am working on my Tagalog.  I love it more and more here.  I hope life is treating you all well.  I miss you dearly and love you tons!  I heard about how Prince William named his son after George, wow, who would've thought that our family would be connected so closely with royalty!  Cool!  hahaha ok Ingat po kayo!

Mahal Kita!!!!!

Sister Waldrom

 

Doctrine and Covenants 112:10

I am learning so much

It is simply amazing how the Church is the same all over the world.  The church is amazing in that it has the same leaders, doctrines, and beliefs everywhere.  When I sit in church on Sundays, I almost feel like I am at home, then I look up and around at the people, and then I realize, psych!  You are in the Philippines!  Silly Sister Waldrom!  I just admire the LDS church.  It is so well established.  Oh yeah, and it is TRUE.  Oh how my testimony has grown here!  Basically because it is all that I can rely on... and the Lord through prayer.  I truly have learned so much.

I lovelovelove our investigators.  Seeing them understand and ask questions warms my heart. Something that has been hard on me is that we "reopened" this area so we had to find a whole new teaching pool.  I wish I was seeing more success sooner. I have to wait for the people we are teaching to accept.  We have already dropped a lot of people and they have dropped us.  That is always a sad moment.  It's ok because we always find new people to teach, but that just means that they just rejected their salvation.... (I just pulled out the big guns) But seriously!  How can you say no to this wonderful gospel?!  Are you afraid to read the word of God or pray?!  That is all it takes!! (Oh and keep all His commandments... that is actually really hard) But goodness, I just love the people too much to hear them say "Pasensiya, catolico ako.  Salamat."  (Sorry, I am catholic.  No thanks.)  We have some investigators who seems to be doing pretty well.  We taught a sister last night the second lesson on the plan of salvation.  This was our second lesson and we brought a couple from the ward that she said she already knew!  She already has a support system!!!  She seems to understand the doctrine, now it is a matter of praying about it and to know the truth for herself.  I am excited for her and I see a lot of potential!  We have many other investigators, but not much to report on yet.  We are teaching a part member family's son and he came to church on Sunday!  He could be our first baptism.  He is ten and sure is a cutie.  He is real quiet so we shall see!!!

The Philippines are truly a blessed country.  They live such simple and great lives here.  They see the importance of family and religion.  I love the culture and the traditions.  I can't wait till the day that I can speak fluently and learn all about everyone's lives. That has been really a struggle this week. Mostly because I have been here for about 3 weeks and I am simply not fluent yet!  (haha) It's a constant personal battle.  I don't complain much to my companion, but I wish I could understand what people say to me.  I wish I could communicate. I guess my best effort is my short sentences, smile, and my heart.... cheesy but true.  

I am loving it here.  I hope this week we can have some more stories of spiritual progression, but hey, those will come.  Also, it just started POURING out of nowhere.  So that's cool.  I LOVE the rain.  I need some more umbrellas.  I love my crocs.  I love the food.  I love the transportation.  I love the members.  I love the people.  I love you all!!!! Thank you SO MUCH for all your support and love.  Remember that you are a Child of God and He gives you trials to help you grow!  Be sure you handle every situation in a Christlike way because if you do, He will bless you beyond belief!! (Romans 8:18)  Keep the faith burning!!!!

Mahal kita,

Sister Waldrom 

Doctrine and Covenants 58:16

 

I LOVE it here!

 

 

Ok, so I love it here! The language is still rough.  I can understand a lot, but I don't know how to reply to a lot because I feel embarrassed about how I don't speak well.  Thankfully alot accept English, but I am trying!!!  I can receive dear elders, letters, and pouch so write me!  I got a letter from the US in 9 days!!!! Holla.  I love district meetings.  They are a highlight in the week!  So grateful for them.  I love having my friend Sister Smart from the MTC to help cope through all this change.  I only get 1 hour and 15 mins to email and also email my mission president.  This time is so stressful for me cause I had 28 emails in my inbox.  Oh how I love you all! 
 

I feel like I am on my favorite ride in Disneyland 24/7.  The jeepneys are so jerky and crazy and life here is just fast and wild! 

Even though I already said this, I LOVE the ward here!  They have come out with us so many times and when they join in on a lesson and add another witness, it makes such a difference.  Being in this City is an amazing blessing.  I love it here.  I could stay here for 18 months.  There is so much land to cover and so many things to do. 
 

Our lessons this week have been wonderful.  It is amazing to see where the spirit leads us and who He has us talk to.  I don't always know why He puts us in some people's pathways, but I know there is always a reason.  We were looking for a less active in the rain, but they weren't home. We had some time to spare, so we were walking, and I felt an inkling that we should stop at this house.  We said "Tao po" (person in tagalog, you don't knock, just holler for a person to come out) and this mother let us in and gladly accepted our message.  I really hope she prays and knows the truth for herself.  Pray always for our investigators.  I love them all so much.  Honestly, here are just some pics of what has been going on.  This week was a lot of first lessons.  I am sure next week after we follow up, we will have some more amazing stories.
 

To answer some questions, the food is so great!  I love Porksilog.  It is rice, a poached egg, and fried chicken. It costs about 43 cents in American money.  The bread here is to die for. And the Mangos are unreal.  I want to eat them all the time. The heat is bearable and I LOVE the rain. 

I have felt your prayers tremendously.  I was really struggling, but all those fears are gone now and I know that is the answer to your prayers.  Thank you for your prayers, love and support.  I miss you all so much and pray for you all!!

Love,

Sister Waldrom

Morgans BYU friend, Madeline who
will serve in Argentina this fall.