August 12, 2013

This week was a really great week of learning. We had some really great lessons with our investigators. The progress is slow with them, but there is progress still. We had a larger focus on our less actives this week and we had some really good reactions from the members, so we are hoping to have some action take place in the lives of these less actives. We had some really great OYM (open your mouth) and I was really excited to return back to these people. I am understanding so much more about the importance of God's children and the role that I play as a missionary. And I am so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel...without it, I would not feel that I knew where I was going and what my purpose is on earth. I am trying so much harder to give all that I can to these people...because my time is coming to a close quicker than I thought. I try harder and harder everyday to speak to as many people as I can...or think that I can. I have to think again sometimes, because I don't know the Bicol here...but I am slowly making progress. We have some great potential this next week and I know that there are people being prepared for us. I am sorry that this weeks update is a little short and not full of too much. But I want to leave this with a thought. The Lord gives us challenges for a reason. We may not always understand or know why the Lord has chosen us. But I have come to a great understanding of why. I was thinking that there is not going to be much of me left after some of these experiences, because I am trying to give myself as much as possible. But I realized that that is exactly what the Lord is expecting of us. He doesn't want  us...He wants to change us to be like Him (Alma 5:19). I thought of that before...but how do we do that? We have to turn ourselves over to Him (Mosiah 3:19; Ether 12:27). There are many days that will turn us into  weak and unable....but that is when the Lord is able to make us into the strongest (D&C 24:12). I know that there is a great deal to be done in this life and through the love of God, all is possible :)

---Sister Pace---

Philippines Legazpi Mission

August 5, 2013

Hello!

Well....there is so much that I could or should write about this week, but I will save that for a day when we go back through my journals someday.

This week was a really great week of observing the hand of the Lord in my life and striving to understand what I need to do, in order to be the Lord's missionary. I will tell you that I have learned a great deal. 

My first great lesson is about the love, mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. I came to a greater knowledge about the love of the Lord for each of us. And how we are not all perfect...we are human beings with frail bodies, frail characters and frail personalities. We are far from the glory of God. But we all have a similar goal in mind. We are all striving to reach for our potential--to be like our Heavenly Father and to receive all that He has. But because of the frailties of our life, we are all capable of sinning....this sinning can affect us and the ones around us. But the role of the gospel at this point is to forgive and forget. It sounds like a really hard task....it depends on how willing (or humble) we are to let the Lord shape us. We can forgive and forget the wrong that has been done to us...because that is what the Savior overcame death for. And that is the role of mercy in our life....we receive mercy because the Lord loves us and wants us to return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father...we should have the same desire for others (for are we not all brothers and sisters with the same need, from the same Being? Mosiah 4:19-21). In order to receive mercy we have to be willing to give mercy....if we will not give mercy....we shall not receive the mercy that will be sufficient enough to let us enter back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. From my experience....it is a hard task to ask...but it is so very crucial and necessary in order to be ready to receive the blessings and gifts the Lord seeks to bestow upon us (D&C 88:33). I hope to carry this gift or knowledge with me forever...a lesson to be learned and a blessing to receive and bestow upon another.

We had some really great lessons with less actives and investigators. I have really felt the love of the Lord for each of them and the power of the Spirit in the opportunity to share with them about their purpose here on earth. I love missionary work! I love helping people to understand, what the adversary had been so good at destroying....the truth. I know of nothing else in this life that can bring greater joy and satisfaction, than the truth of the gospel and a heart willing to listen.

I want to share with you a really cool insight... I was talking to one of the new American Sisters from New York. She is Sister Andrada's companion--Sister Ianuzi. She is trying so hard to get the language and Sister Andrada finally came to me to ask for help on how she could teach her companion the language. It is not an easy task for the Philippinos...but they try. And so I spent some time to understand the feelings that Sister Ianuzi was having....yup....the same as me. I totally understood what she was saying and I felt like I could try to give feedback. (and just as a side note....this doesn't just apply to having to learn a new language and talking to people....it applies to many aspects in our lives) I started to share with her that it all comes with time....just as any blessing that we seek from the Lord. We must wait. Like life here in earth....some of us are granted the knowledge, through the gospel to know where we will go after this life and what awaits us. But we must live here on earth in order to receive that gift of eternal life. With that we must never give up. We cannot give up on the fact that we cannot see ourselves progressing. Because most of the time we are progressing.....but it is little by little. I shared with Sister Ianuzi that the language did not come upon me in one night....it came over a period of time. Along with a promise to the Lord that I would read the entire Book of Mormon in Tagalog, if He would help me in Tagalog. Granted it took me 9 months to read the Book of Mormon....I have looked back and seen Him help me every step of the way--line upon line and precept upon precept. I shared with her that as long as she was continuing to do all she could the spirit would carry her words to the hearts of the people that she is talking to....but you have to talk...you have to try your hardest. And I told her that according to the will of the Lord, He will grant her that gift of tongues (or in the case of life....He will grant us those blessings that we so much desire in this life...). But after the language barrier, there are other trails and speed bumps to overcome....just as in life....you overcome one mountain and then you have another one before. It isn't because you are good enough, but it is because the Lord loves you and is in the process of refining you and making you into the person He knows you to be.

I was striving to find a way to be a better missionary...this is a continual process....so I don't have a good discourse to give on it yet....maybe after :)

I will tell you that I have come to the part in my mission that I don't ever want to leave...I love the people too much. I love talking with them (even though I don't understand all the people and what they are saying) and sharing with them the wonderful words of the gospel. *sigh* the good part is that it is not over until the coming of the Lord. So I have the rest of my life to give to this....maybe not in Tagalog.....but definitely in the language of the Spirit. I am so grateful for these experiences here and the blessings given to me!

I know that the Lord lives. I know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ and that through His Atonement, we are able to return back to the presence of the Lord. I know that the Lord has a plan for each of us, as His beloved Sons and Daughters. We must share this plan with all....even if they will not listen to us. We have to make it known. For if their spirits are ready, they will know the truth of the things we share.

Carry forth the words of the Lord and hell shall not prevail against us!

God speed the right!!!!

Sister Pace

July 29, 2013

Hello po!

Well...what a week! A week filled with ups and downs. We had a great opportunity to go into our area and explore places we hadn't been yet and talk to the people. We did a lot of "open your mouth"....that has been an interesting experience, especially with two foreigners and only one being able to talk well enough to communicate. What a great week for learning about our purpose as missionaries and how to be humble and relying on the Lord.  This week was a lot of lessons of learning to stand for the right and be true to what you have been entrusted with. The week has been great to see the Lord's hand in the work. I know that He cares and loves each of us...despite what we have done. He desires for all to return back to Him, to be worthy to receive all that He has. It is a long, hard process....but the blessings in the end are all so worth it. 

I learned a great lesson about "the worth of souls is great in the sight of the Lord" (D&C 18:10). Just like any human being, I am not perfect, but as a missionary I have higher responsibilities, especially with the work that I am doing, to harvest the souls of men. I realized more that I cannot just do the work, because it is the numbers that we have written down in our planner. It is putting names to the numbers, faces with the names and having a love for them. I cannot just go mindlessly into the work, without thinking about the love that our Heavenly Father has for each person. I am merely a human being, but I can try to be an instrument in His hands. It is going to take a lot of refining, but I know that with time the sanctification will come and I will be able to bring the souls of God's children unto Him. The mission has been a great learning ground for learning what the Lord would have me to become. I know that there are people that the Lord is preparing for me. I may not be ready, but I know that as I try my hardest to talk with people and try to bring them unto Him....I will be strengthened through the Lord. I know that this gospel is true. I know that we are Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father. I know that through the Book of Mormon, there is a fullness of the gospel, that will enable us to find our way back to the presence of our Loving Father I know that through our efforts to become better every day and fulfill our responsibilities as members, we will find a great understanding and knowledge of our purpose here on earth. There is no great work here on earth, than this one now. I know that Jesus Christ lives today and that He directs and guides His church through the living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and His apostles. I love this work and I am so grateful for the trust of the Lord.

---Sister Pace---

Philippines Legazpi Mission

July 22, 2013

Kumusta po sa lahat kayo!

What a week it has been! We went to trainers training on Tuesday through Wednesday. We met our companions on Wednesday morning and left in the afternoon of Wednesday to our areas. Attached is a picture of Sister Andrada and I with our new companions. Sister Hafoka is my new companion. She is from Tonga. She is 20 years old. She is half Tongan and half German. She is a really great sister. She is really quiet so we are working to find a way to help her adjust to everything. It has definitely been an interesting week...just between training and adjusting to the change in our area...we have been trying our best. We had some really great lessons this week with our less actives and it was such a blessing to be able to introduce them first to my new companion and help her to adjust to the members in the area. I am hoping that this next week we will be able to find more people to teach to adjust for the boundary changes and find a way to work better with the members in the branch. I am sorry that I don't have much for pictures or reporting to you....there is a lot of change that is occurring within our branch, mission and companionships and we are trying to find a way to adjust and change to work best as servants of the Lord. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that the Lord restored His gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Lord is behind each of us to help guide and strengthen us as we do His will. I have felt His strength and guidance as I have been entrusted to train Sister Hafoka. I never thought that I would be able to do it at this time...but who the Lord calls...He qualifies.

I have to say that it has been weird to think that I am half way through my mission...10 more months. But I how I wish that I could tell you what great growth moments I have experienced....but they have each happened gradually. Just as we learn the gospel line upon line and precept upon precept, we learn about our purpose and the will of the Lord, line upon line and precept upon precept. I have learned more about my part in the plan of our Loving Heavenly Father. I have gained a greater knowledge and testimony of what the Lord desires for us to become. And I have seen more than ever the importance of each of God's children. Although some can be really difficult....I know that the Lord loves them anyways and cares for their salvation....and so should I. This is something that Henry B. Eyring said, "You didn't come for the weeds. You came for the Savior." we didn't come to this earth to deal with the 'weeds' that are in our life, our work, etc...we came for the Savior..."I came into the world, to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me" (3 Nephi 27:13). The Lord sent me here to do His will. I am still learning what that entirely requires of me...but how I have felt the love of the Lord as I have struggled to understand His will for me in His vineyard. Dad, I can't say that I have met any heavenly messengers....or at least I have not had an eye keen enough to recognize them as one. There are many things that you could suspect or generalize about heavenly messengers. But I feel that the people you have in your presence are heavenly messengers in their own ways. Their purpose, is to help you to find your way.

I am so very grateful for this opportunity to serve in the Philippines and in the vineyard of the Lord. I am surprised each day, by the joy that Heavenly Father gives to me and the opportunity to be His servant. I know that this is the Lord's work and there is to come, greater and more glorious miracles in the world.

Ingat po kayo palagi!

Sister Pace

 

new companions

 

July 15, 2013

The update this week is short....we had a lot of work. We worked a lot with our investigators and had some really great lessons. I felt the Spirit very strongly as we shared with one sister about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are teaching her about the right authority...there is something difficult in people understanding that you need the right authority in all things. But I know that there may not be fruit from our efforts with her, now...but there will be later down the road. I am understanding so much more about people and their agency and the reality that it plays into all that we are doing as missionaries. I wish some days to really help people use their agency to choose the right...always. But Heavenly Father loves them all to much to force them...and so I shall continue forward in faith...in the will of the Lord, knowing that as long as I give the effort to share with all....there will be a time and place for all of them. We had a really great lesson with an investigator, who we contacted on the street. She is interested in learning more about Jesus Christ (our perfect opportunity to jump in!) and so we have shared with her about the Restoration....she was like a sponge....and she had questions for us...and it was just so much fun teaching her :P some days... I think I enjoy this missionary work too much (Alma 26:35).

We are hoping to find a way to work more with the members, especially now that we have 8 missionaries called to one branch. We have a lot of work to do and I know that there is a reason for all things. I am hoping with my new trainee that we will be able to find those that the Lord has prepared for us. I am still learning everyday how to become a better missionary....and I hope to accomplish that someday...siguro yung last day ko sa mission. But I have learned so much from the opportunity to train Sister Andrada....there is so much to say about a companionship...everything that we do as a missionary, begins with the person that you are around 24/7....what a blessing it is if you lean upon the Lord and seek to learn from the person He has chosen for you to serve with. I hope that this next trainee will be ready for one of the best transfers :) Hope you all have a great week :)

Mahal na mahal kita!!

Sister Pace

July 7, 2013

This week was a good and rough week.  In fact, I can't think of a week that wasn't good and rough....because you really can't have one without the other. We had a lot of lessons with our less actives and investigators....but it is funny how sometimes we feel like we are working so hard....and there is little to show for what you felt you did. But this is a part of missionary work. Some days you wish you could just force the people to listen to your message and follow your commitments....but that isn't possible....because that would be contrary to the plan of Heavenly Father and He wants all His children to choose for themselves the gospel and act in faith. I have learned so much more about the plan of salvation and our purpose here...I know that the Lord loves us all. I know that He wants us to use our agency in the best way possible. 

As a companionship we are learning how to become better everyday and how to help the people here. It takes time and we are already close to the next transfer....so next Monday I will tell you what is happening.

We met our new mission president....It was a really great opportunity and we all felt really inspired by his love and conversion to the gospel. We are all excited to serve with him and hope to improve the Legazpi Mission. They shared with us this video called Origin, under Mormon Messages.It was a really inspiring message :)

I have been sick this week, due to my sinuses and a cough...so the work has been a little difficult some days, because I have been left voiceless at times.But I know that the Lord answers  prayers....On fast Sunday, I prayed that the Lord would bless me with health to have the strength to preach His gospel and teach....and He made it all happen :) And then it (all the sickness) came back when we finished our planning for the end of the day. Simple things like that help me know that the Lord loves us and watches over us.

I am sorry that this email is short....I am glad to hear that there are individuals that are enjoying my blog and I hope that you get a chance to learn more about this marvelous work among the children of God, here in the Philippines Legazpi Mission!

Ingat lagi!

Sister Pace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 1, 2013

Kumusta!

This week was really good. We were trying really hard this week to find more investigators and try to help the less actives in our area. Sometimes a little hard because there seems to be a never ending supply of less actives, but the investigators only trickle in after a little while. We had some really great lessons with our investigators this week:

Sister Briagas- she is searching for the truth and in the process of finding the way that the Lord wants her to live. She is very much into listening to our message and believes us to be missionaries of the Lord. She loves to learn about the plan of salvation and how she can receive the reward of exaltation. We have invited her to be baptized, but she is not too sure, that she would have the right heart for it right now. We are trying to answer all her questions and help her to find the truth for herself, through prayer and diligent searching. We are really excited when we get the chance to share with her, because we know that the Spirit is making an impact on her heart and helping her to find the right path.

Sister Nevares- She is a 20 yrs old mother. She is really sweet and just really quirky and funny. We contacted her on the street and she has been so willing to listen to our lessons and even share with her family and friends. We love talking with her, because she is so kind and willing to pray and find for herself the blessings that are promised to her and her family through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Boridor children- These three sisters are really great. Their mother and father are less active. We are in the process of helping their mother to become active again in the church...but they have made some really great progress since I have started sharing with them. We have a scheduled baptism for them and we striving to help them to prepare for the covenants that they will make with our Heavenly Father. The oldest reminds me of myself...she is really searching and studying the scriptures and loves to learn about the gospel and its role.

Buenconsejo Family- This one is a touching story for me. We were walking home from an appointment in the morning and there are many stores that line the street. We walked past one store and we had someone call out and say "Hello!" It was a shock, because here there are not many people that will say hello to a foreigner and to a Philippina together. So with the shock we went up to his store and started to talk with him. He asked us who we were and what we were doing. We explained to him and shared with him a pass along card, with a brief description of the Church. He shared with us some of his beliefs and the desire he had to know the truth. We shared with him that we believed that we had the truth for him and asked for a return appointment on Sunday. So on Sunday we went to his house and shared part of the Restoration with him and his family. It was so beautiful and you could see that the brother had questions he needed answered and sister wanted to know a way to properly raise her children. I feel that we have found our golden family! We taught them and they weren't like all the other investigators....they just listen. They were asking questions and interacting with us and we were finding ways to share with them the joy that we have through the gospel. I am so excited to continue to teach this family and help them find the way in this life and in the life to come. 

This week has been full of learning experiences and knowledge from on high. I have studied about the plan of salvation and the role we plan into it. I felt that I have a stronger idea and belief of where my part in the plan of salvation is....I just have to hold firmly to that eternal perspective. How grateful I am to the kindness of the Lord to help me to understand His will and desire for His children here on earth. I also studied more about self-mastery and ended up in conversion. It was a great adventure to the role of our desire and our works here on earth and how we must use the two (our desire and our works) to make an impact on the outcome of our self-mastery/conversion/salvation.

We had a nice tropical storm move through on saturday, so we weren't able to work as much as we wanted to. But there was definitely lots of rain and wind...

We will be meeting the new mission president this week and so I will tell you about it next week. I got the chance to watch The Work of Salvation....I love it! It is so wonderful and I am so excited for all the things that are possible to happen in the work of the Lord. I desire so much not to lose sight of this once I leave my mission, because whether set apart as a full time missionary or as a member of the church....we each have a role and a responsibility to help the Lord in sharing the blessings of His plan with all His children. Kaya natin iyan! With the help of the Lord all is possible!