May 27, 2013

Kumusta,

wow...everything that happened last week is a little hazy...it was a challenging week, because since we are a new area, we are struggling to find new investigators... so we spent part of the week tracting and doing all that we could to find new people to teach. talk about being exhausted...but there are many other blessings to be found. We had many opportunities this week to go out and serve those around us...such a great way to feel the love of Heavenly Father. We also had a baptismal date set for one of our investigators. We are really excited,but it is a double effort, because his father is a less active. My companion and I are doing well...I am trying to get through everything and trying to figure out how to help the people...and my companion is thinking about transfer day. It started about....what....three weeks ago. So nothing new, but makes it hard sometimes to work, when they are worrying about what is on the other side of the rainbow and not what you have on the side you are on...but you know....sometimes it happens. So transfer announcements are this saturday...so Monday I will let you know if I am being transferred or not.

The pictures are from out activity today as a district....I am eating a coconut...sobra masarap! it was fun, but hot!

I am sorry that this email is going to be short...I am trying really hard to think of what to share with you...there is so much,but so little time.

I will have to write more next week...but thank you so much for everything and I hope you know that I love you all so very much and I always have you in my prayers.

Ingat lagi,

Sister Pace

May 19, 2013

A day after I spoke to you, I received your package. Thank you so very much for everything! I was so happy to receive it :) And thank you so much for everything inside...perfect!

This week has been a lot of learning. We had Zone Conference...so I got to meet a large amount of the American sister in the mission. It was a great opportunity to learn about being obedient and striving to help those that we are teaching, through the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.I am so very grateful to have the opportunity to be a missionary. We have come to the point where there are no longer any investigators that will listen to our message....so this next week is focused on finding new people to teach.

Everyone here is getting excited because Transfers are coming in two weeks...but as my companion says...birthday mo muna! Birthdays are celebrated so differently here...the birthday person pays for everyone's meal if they go out to eat. So we will see what I will be paying for...;)

We had a one day mission with the branch....it was a great opportunity for the members to find those that have been lost along the way...I hope to play a big role in missionary work, even after the mission.

I am sorry that I don't have much to write about this week...maybe I will have more next week,with some pictures.

One last thing...a scripture: Mosiah 4:6-12. It talks about our salvation through Jesus Christ. We have no other way that we are able to enter into the kingdom of God. We must have trust in God that He has given a way for us to receive eternal life, and that Jesus Christ has suffered for us. "...if ye shall do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins: and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." I know that as we strive to live the gospel and put our trust in God and His Son, we shall find the way to gain greater knowledge and become even as He is.

I hope that you all have a great week and I will try to have more next week.

Mahal na mahal kita!

Sister Pace

May 6, 2013

What a crazy week again. I am really learning a lot from this calling as a trainer. And the hard part is feeling so tired from constantly doing something...even on p-day. It was nice this morning to go jogging....but it was a slow jog, because the sisters couldn't keep up with me. My companion is great. She is a wonderful teacher and really great with the people. She is helping me to learn Tagalog, but there always seems to be little time to study.We are working with a lot of the members here. Our difficulty right now is the less actives. We are having the hardest time getting some of them to come back to church. But i have really come to see the sorrow that Heavenly Father has for His children, when they choose not to follow the path that He has given them. We have many less actives that have told us that they do not want us to return...but how great has been the power of he Spirit as we have shared with these LAs the importance of the gospel in their lives...the Spirit works so greatly in our responsibilities as missionaries. I know that the Book of Mormon is a Another Testament of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that the gospel has once more been established on the earth, through Joseph Smith. I have had the opportunity to share with the people here, and I have gained a greater knowledge and understanding of the importance of the gospel in our lives. As we work with some of our investigators, it is great to see their desire and hope in the gospel. And to know that we are able to give them the happiness that they have always wanted. I thank you so much for the statement that you sent to me weeks ago, when I first arrived in Iriga..."I think you were placed in Iriga to plant a seed into the hearts of those who are ready to hear the gospel, but don't be discouraged if they are not being receptive. Things will happen in the Lord's timeline, not our timeline...we are so anxious to have those fantastic moments, but it's those small moments that add up to become that fantastic moment. We just need to be the Lord's instrument & trust in him to do his work for our fellow brothers & sisters. You are right where you need to be, to be teaching those who may or may not be ready to take that step towards a better life. None of us are perfect & if we were, we wouldn't have need for this gospel...simple & true! We work on our shortcomings every hour, every day, every week, etc...just remember that we are here to help others realize their potential."

 

There is a reason to why I am here in Iriga...and I realize it little by little each day. I try not to think about the little amount of time that I have in this opportunity...but it is crazy to see the time go by so fast. I am listening to the CES fireside and I love how Elder Walker states about President Thomas S. Monson that He gave himself to everything that the Lord called him to. Not because he was concerned of other's thoughts, but because He knew it was the Lord's way. The Lord truly does call and qualify those that work in His kingdom.

 

Mahal na Mahal kita!!!

Ingat palagi,

Sister Pace