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

I love the Prophet

 

General conference.  The best.  Oh man, every single talk was spectacular.  It is true, conference in the field is a different kind of experience.  I have been looking forward to absorbing all that advice and encouragement for so long now.  I just felt so spiritually full afterwards.  Didn't you love President Monson, President Uchtdorf, Elder Maynes, Elder Scott, and Elder Soares talks?  So gooooood.  And President Peterson surprised us and showed up to our chapel for the Sunday sessions, love that man, it was a pleasure to see him.  I love how President and Sister Peterson openly say I love you to all the missionaries here, I know we all feel their love.  But what I really learned from conference is that God needs to be everyone's priority.  If he is not, life is going to be a lot harder for you.  I have learned that.  When you seek to draw closer to Him, there is a difference in your life.  I also wrote a post it and taped it on my desk and it is from President Uchtdorf's talk.  I wrote, "How is your walk with Christ today?"  Good daily reminder. 

So this week was great, but a little slower than last week.  We had Ward family home evening on Tuesday.  Oh my goodness, these Filipinos make me laugh so hard.  The games are SO fun with them.  (Side note: it literally just started pouring outside, I can't even hear the sounds of my keyboard... its intense... and I almost left the house without an umbrella cause it was sunny when I left... classic.)  But it was a good time with our amazing ward.  Love them all.

So we have two kids with a baptismal date.  Their parents were less active and are now returning.  But when we extended the baptismal invitation, Brother said he wasn't ready.  But he has been meeting with Bishop and is now preparing to baptize his children!  So excited for them!!  And then they will be a competed family.  Awwww, so precious. 

M is progressing really well, she is so strong and is gaining a testimony.  Little did we know that the baptismal date was the day before the one year anniversary of her husband's death.  I know that God literally does everything for a reason.  So excited for her. 

Typhoon season ova hereeeeee!  Lovin on the ulan (rain).  It is crazy nuts, but crazy awesome.  And really bipolar.  But my area doesnt really get affected too badly thankfully.  I just get the great overcast weather and rain, but no destruction or anything.  It is glorious. 

Ok funny story, as you can see in pictures, there was a HUGE spider on our ceiling.  Probably the size of a roll of bread.  Ew.  I hate spiders.  Us three Americans in the house freaked out, then Sister Asuncion, our only filipina said, "Sisters, it's ok, I used to play with these as a kid!"  EW HECK NO.  Get it outta here!  So she got the broom, then it fell and went running, and all the americans stood on chairs.  then she moved some furniture around and finally got it with the broom against the wall, but oh wait, it had a huge egg sack on it.  Then the egg sack got detached and cracked open and then all the little babies went running!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!  I was about to gag at this point.  Then we got the permatox, (bug poison) and destroyed all of their little new born lives.  But mama was still running around the hose, eventually we got it, but it was an overall very traumatic and disgustingly hilarious event. 

So overall, this was a good week.  We also went on exchanges where you always learn so much.  I love learning from the examples of the older missionaries.  I still feel so new, even though I am coming up on my 5 Month mark?!?!?!  I love my companion, we get along really great and are working really hard!  Loving life here.  I miss you all and don't forget to study the conference talks again, because President Monson was right, that was a very powerful conference.  I love you all and keep the faith!

Mahal Kita,

Sister Waldrom

Alma 18

 

Glory to God

 

I am jealous that you have already finished watching conference. I must wait another week to listen to the Prophet's voice and I cannot wait! 

This week could be considered the best week of my mission.  First of all, with two 19 year old American girls roaming around the Philippines, we have had a great increase of whistling, hellos, and creepy people taking pictures. 
This week I learned that prayers can be answered.  I have been really anxious for some progression in this area. It has been really slow since we opened here.  This week picked up like no other!  Monday started with a great lesson with M. She has rejected baptism twice already but we couldn't give up on her.  She is the investigator whose husband was killed in an accident at work with a building crushing him.  She lives in a home with her parents and three children.  On Monday, she told us she received an answer to her prayer and she knows that the Book of Mormon is true, that the Gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The spirit was so strong.  We taught her again on Wednesday on the Atonement and how the first step to applying the atonement in our lives is by taking the first step to following Him through Baptism.  She accepted!  So amazing.  We also invited her to the Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday and she was so excited to come, it was adorable.  She loved President Monson's talk and told us how she could feel something special about him.  Then we gave her a church tour.  She loved all the art in the hallways, it was a great experience for her.  Then she socialized with the members after, I think she had a really wonderful experience.  It is just so humbling to see people really come closer to Christ through the gospel. 

Then on Tuesday we went to a less active family's home and taught the two younger children who haven't been baptized and committed them to baptism!  The family has committed to return to church and we are going to work with the father to prepare to baptize his children.  So excited for them.

Ok lastly for our progressing investigators, on Friday we went to visit a referral that we have only taught once.  We have tried returning twice, but she wasn't home and it has been three weeks since we taught her.  We gave her a Book of Mormon on our first visit and assigned her to read the Pambungad (Introduction).  When we visited her on Friday, she just said she knows it is true.  These past few weeks have been a little hard, and she has just read the Book and prayed about it and she knows it is true!  Uhhhhh.... what?  We haven't even taught you about it and you already love it?!  M YOU ARE AN ANGEL STRAIGHT FROM HEAVEN.  This woman is amazing.  She knows the Church is true and wants to be baptized. We didnt commit her to a date because she wants to talk with her husband because she wants her whole family to be apart of the Gospel.  Ok M, we will gladly let you talk with your husband so you can all be together forever!  So happy for them.  She is literally amazing, humble, and wonderful. 

So obviously, things are getting better and I can't complain!  Our numbers are improving, my language is improving, and I just feel so much happier.  Honestly, the Gift of Tongues is amazing.  My ability to speak just comes so much more naturally and I can actually understand.  Just working everyday to improve my vocabulary.  So thankful. 

And lastly, being a trainer/nanay.  I love it.  I love my anak. She is great.  We are really getting to know each other and we get along great!  We are working hard together and she is doing great.  I attached how I am kinda a hardcore trainer.  Yep, I am just like my own mother.  With all your lists of rules and schedules around the house as I grew up, I am becoming my own mother. hahaha

So overall, a great week.  Really looking forward to conference, bummer I am on the other side of the world and have to wait a week.  But I love you all and stay strong.  God is proud of you when you keep the commandments!

Mahal kita,

Sister Waldrom

Alma 29:9

 

I am a mother (nanay)

 

I am training.  And I love it.  It is just what I needed.  Just who I needed.  It is simply great... so far.  So I went to transfer day in San Pablo to pick up my baby, and boy was I surprised when they said I was training Sister Gaspar de Alba.  She is from Texas and she is just great.  Positive, confident, hard working.  Everything we need to get some progression in our area.  I am pumped to get some baptisms now!  So far we are working great together.  She is pretty much experiencing all the same crazy emotions when I first got here too.  Which is probably comforting to her that I can literally relate with everything.  The greatest blessing I have seen is the gift of tongues this week.  I cannot believe my ability to understand and communicate with the people here now!  I know this is an answer to my pleading with the Lord and all the prayers coming from you all.  I truly thank you for your love, support, and prayers.  I know that this is the answer and result of coming to the Lord humbly.  I have just seen a greater understanding and ability to reply with the vocabulary I already know more quickly.  Also, on Saturday we were able to teach 4 lessons which was rare before.  There are already improvements going on here.  So happy now.
My trainer was transferred to the little island, Marinduque.  Pretty exciting. 
Oh and on our first real day out to work together, we totally got into a little bit of a bible bash.  Oh man.  That was my first experience and thankfully he knew English.  It is amazing how people can completely misinterpret the Bible.  He straight up said he doesn't believe in our religion.  That the Book of Mormon isn't true.  And that he hates religion.  So, in other words, he just isn't prepared to hear our message yet, so we will just leave it at that.  But I do not that the only way we will be saved is if we have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, are baptized by the proper authority, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. 

So this week I also walked through knee high floods.  Wish I would've had my camera.  Literally disgusting.  The water was covering all the rice fields and overflowed out of the canals and was still knee high water that was just straight brown.  I couldn't even see my calves.  And the member we were with said there was probably snakes.  I seriously booked it outta there.  Sick.  And also, I finally tried Balut.  Not too bad.  That is the Filipino specialty.  It's like a hard boiled fertilized duck egg.  I will send pics. 

This week was a littler slower with all the changes, but I am sure excited to teach this week!  Things are going well here, and I can tell you that my testimony is stronger than ever before.  I am learning how to truly trust in God because I know that is going to be the only way that these two new American missionaries are ever going to help these amazing people here.  I love the mish, for all the ups and downs it has.  I love you all!!!!!

Sister Waldrom

James 1:22-25

 

Move Forward with Faith

 

I spoke at my first Zone Conference!  Surprisingly not that scary.  My topic was effectively using the Book of Mormon (thanks for the quotes Dad).  When I started brainstorming, I wrote down the original ideas, like liken the scriptures to the investigators, read with them, etc.  When preparing a little bit more everyday, I saw that I received more revelation on what I should talk about.  So I kinda took a different route and talked about how we need to help our investigators to understand what the Book of Mormon is.  I have already seen on my mission that they can get really hung up on the idea of the BoM and are easily confused and have questions.  But if we explain to them what it is, where it came from, and why they should want to read it, their faith with grow on a more firm foundation with a great desire and interest to read it for themselves.  It was a great experience for me to see how the Lord inspires us to say what He wants us to say.  I sure love the spirit.

Zone Conference was a blast.  Spiritually rejuvenating and fun to see my friends and meet new missionaries.  I got to drive back with President and Sister Peterson, so hello to two hours in the car with them!  I loved it.  I love them.  I asked President what scriptures have helped him in his mission.  He told me he really likes Alma 38.  And now I do too.  I have learned how to apply that chapter in my missionary work now.  I need to continue in faith and trust and need to definitely be more humble.  After coming back from conference, I kinda got really down.  I saw the sisters from my batch and heard about all their successes... I have been here for three months and we struggle with having our investigators progress.  It's really hard not to blame yourself in these kinds of situations.  I won't lie.  It is really hard.  Obviously when you are having investigators keeping their commitments and baptisms, you're one happy missionary!  But when that is not necessarily happening, you can't help but wonder, what is wrong?  It is a constant reevaluation of yourself, your work, and your prayers/faith/trust.  This has been a great experience to build my faith, rely on the Lord, and moving forward with Faith.  I have more faith now than I have ever in my life.  That is sure what I love about the mission, it has taught me how to learn, grow, and change.  Ahhhh, but I still am craving that success.... I have faith that my new trainee and I can do it (she comes on Thursday)!!  Even though neither of us speak Tagalog, we will sure be relying on the Spirit!  

We had like a super sad experience where the family of three with baptismal dates dropped us.  Yeah, I was crushed.  There is no way to describe the feeling of when an investigator who knows the gospel rejects it.  It really breaks your heart for them and their salvation.  But I have come to learn that everyone has their agency and that we just having to keep working to find those prepared souls.  

So I am a graduate of my 12 week training!  I am a real missionary!  And my anak comes this week!  Craziness! I am excited!!!!

This morning we went to Family week for the Ward and it is an awesome thing that the church does with the government and they have a medical mission and do family history!  AMAZING.  And I got a cool free shirt!  Sweet.

This week was another emotional roller coaster, but I can promise you that I love my mission.  I love it here, the people, the work, the spirit.  The Gospel is true.  

MAHAL KO KAYO LAHAT!

Sister Waldrom 

Mosiah 4:2

 

Pray Hard

 

 

The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I have seen how he has put us in the right place at the right time.  A few weeks ago we met a woman as we were standing on the sidewalk waiting for a member.  She stopped and asked us if we were Mormon, and she said she was baptized in 1981.  We got her name and address but hadn't found the time to visit her yet.  Then she walked in to church yesterday!  Hello less active!  We went and visited her last night, and she said she went to a few other churches and has been less active for over 20 years!  But somehow she found the confidence to walk in yesterday in her street clothes just wanting to come back.  I don't know why, but I know that Heavenly Father wanted her to come back to Him.  And last night when we went to her house, her landlord was there who is also a less active member!  It has also been a long time since she has returned. It is just amazing that we were able to meet these amazing women and help them find the path again!  The landlord has a hard time coming to church because she has a 28 year old son with some kind of disability.  He was lying on a mattress on the floor and every time I looked at him, his eyes would squint and he would give me the biggest smile!  Oh how my heart was warmed!  She doesn't know what his condition is, but it seemed like cerebral palsy to me.  It made me miss my special needs friends from high school and reminded me how I cant wait to go back to school to help amazing people like him!  At the end of the lesson, when the closing prayer was being said, I looked up at him and saw him rolled over on his side, holding his hands and his eyes were closed.  What joy warmed my heart and tears lined my eyes.  I know that son is close to God.  I know he has heavenly help and support in His life.  I know that he is an amazing child of god and probably has the constant companion of the Holy Ghost in his life more than I will ever know.  Oh, those tender moments just make this mission even more amazing. 

Also, another cool less active story!  We were on a tricycle just talking to the driver about the church.  When we got off, a girl who got off too asked, "Mormons po ba kayo?"  Yes we are Mormon!  And she said that she was baptized a few years ago but moved to this area a year ago.  Come to find out her mom is also a member but was offended because of the way she speaks.  With a couple of visits, they came to our group FHE and then came to church yesterday too!  Wow, the spirit is working strong with these less actives and is bringing them back no matter their fears!

We are also teaching an amazing investigator.  She is progressing, her faith is growing, and she is keeping commitments!  This week we extended baptism to her again, and she again said she is devoted to being catholic!  Oh man.  We will try to resolve her concern. It just kills me to see how she understands this amazing gospel, but won't accept it.  Praying for her.

This week we held a group family home evening, and was it successful?  YES.  3 active families, 2 less active families, and a family of investigators came!  It was amazing!  It was so fun and there was so much fellowship!  I made some yummy graham cake that I can't wait to make for everyone at home.  It's all the rage here in the Philippines.  But it was a beautiful experience and I will attach some photos from it. 

And finally, training.  So this week is my last week of training for me.  Then next week, I will begin training a brand new missionary.  Word on the street is that there are 19 sisters coming, and only 1 is Filipina.  So........ yes, I am wondering how this is all going to work out.  But this week, we headed to San Pablo for a training meeting with President.  And I learned so much, it was really comforting.  I need to learn how to develop power through the atonement.  That is the only way I am going to be able to become the trainer that God believes that I can become.  I am not sure if you all understand this task, I don't know this language.  I don't know this country.  I am not even a great teacher yet.  But now I have a big responsibility to teach, help, and protect a new missionary.  Pressssssure.  But I have already found this to be a very humbling experience.  I know that if I reallllllly learn how to trust in the Lord, he will help lift me up and help me to fulfill this new calling.  Wow.  I am blessed that He has this faith in me. 

Fun story: we were at a members house and the Brother was watching NCAA basketball here.  I asked if he liked the American NBA (thinking we could have a good conversation with my decent knowledge on the subject) and then he blew me away with listing every NBA team in ABC order!  What?!  It was amazing.  There are 31 teams if you didn't already know.  And also, everyone here loves Basketball.  And they love the Miami Heat.  Why you might ask?  Because the head coach is Filipino!  And he is from San Pablo!  Awesome!!! 

So, yes, I am doing a lot better.  Finding the joy in the mission and helping anyone I can.  I know this that through this gospel, we know the way of how to return to our Father in Heaven.  I love you all and wish you the best!

Love,
Sister Waldrom

Jacob 4:8