March 17, 2014

Kumusta!

This week was a good and busy week. We had a Leadership Council about the ways to become master gospel teachers. It was a really great training about the way that the Lord taught. It was a really great time to use our time here in the mission to be effective and efficient in His vineyard. We had  great time teaching the other missionaries and inspiring them to reach for the standard of the mission. We were able to share some really great time with some of our investigators and members and began to see the miracles that the Lord wanted us to see. We had one case where we were teaching a less active and investigator. They live in a very sketchy area--smoking, drinking, and just about every crude thing you could think of. But we were there to teach a lesson about the plan of salvation. And it was so ironic to see things come about. Their father (a less active) was drinking in the house with all his friends...so that meant we would need to find another place to share. And at that point there was no where else--except outside....right next to the rail road. So there we were sharing with our investigators amid all the crude actions of these 13 and 14 year olds smoking and dressed unfortunately like the world....and we felt that we were in our own world...to help these investigators (14 and 15 year old) feel the purpose to why they are here. I have never felt so much love from Heavenly Father. He wants each of us to return back to Him...but some of us have forgotten what we are sent here to do. And it is so hard to watch all these people struggle to know what to do, in order to help them. We have seen so many people open up as we strive to share His love with them. We have had drunks, lesbians and everything in between, come with open hearts to us...in order to feel the joy of our Heavenly Father. I know that there is so much that can be found in our message as members, that we should share with others. We are working so hard to do what we can to bless the people here and strengthen them. We of course didn't feel that we had enough time to do everything. But the Lord always bears forth His arm and blesses us to know what miracles He wants to bring forth.  I know that the Lord lives and that He will show forth His power if we are so very willing to act in faith and give Him all that we can. I know that we can firmly give a proclamation to all about His glory...at it begins today.

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31

 

March 10, 2014

Kumusta!

Haha...you learn a lot in one week when you realized that you have written none of it in your journal. It is so important to write down your thoughts and inspiration on paper....because it will not always stay in your mind.

But despite my lack of preparation...I know one thing for sure. The Lord lives and He knows each and everyone of us. He loves each of us...and He will show us miracles, if we have our eyes and hearts open to receive them.

This week has been a week of many trials and difficulties, but also a week of miracles and blessings, through the name of our Lord and Savior. We had a week with exchanges and of course there is always so much to learn from all the other sisters. We had a repeat in one of the companionships in order to help them find their attitude, that would be fit for a missionary. And it really was a miracle to see the blessings of it, as they worked together to reach the standard of the mission. It has been such a blessing to see the opportunity for them to see the importance of the work. I saw the miracles...especially when we worked as hard as we could. And the Lord blessed us yesterday in church, as we had a long time less-active become worthy to pass the sacrament, to see investigators that we tracted a week before come to church, and to see the power of the gospel in your life. There are so many days that we feel so tired and just wondered if we were going to be able to find the people we needed to. But as we act in faith and remain worthy, the Lord will provide. And if you pray hard enough the Lord will place the people you need to meet in your path.  Sometimes we may not be perfect or necessarily in the right place to receive these blessings...but as I have seen that as we do all that we can....we are blessed with the tender mercies. The things that will help us to change our behavior, according to the things that the Lord desires for us to accomplish. We are placed here to impact others...but it all depends on our actions.  I love the scripture from 2 Nephi 2:14...it has come to me with more meaning this week as I have experienced different things.

And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning ; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

We must learn that the Lord has created all things...including you and me...but with that, He has given a wonderful gift to us....the gift to act and to be acted upon. It is so important that we understand this and what it requires of us, with the gift of agency. It applies to so many aspects of our lives...we must learn how to use it. And as we do so, the Lord will enable us to be more useful in His hands. I am in the search to become better at using my agency...to be more effective and efficient in the hands of the Lord.

 

Sister Pace
Philippines Legazpi Mission

 

 

March 3, 2014

Kumusta sa lahat!

You never know how fast the week goes until you are already through it. I feel like we have just started this transfer and now we are already half way through it. But how fruitful and wonderful it has been. We have really seen the power of God in His work as we have worked through the "thick" and "thin" of things...and what is even more great is that the Lord answers prayers, of two simple missionaries. We made the goal to continue to work towards the standard of the mission again this week...and the first week, the Lord showed unto us that it was possible...but the second time, He gave us some challenges. We had a full week of leadership training and mission tour, which took a lot of our time to travel rather than to spend with the people in our area. But despite our challenges, we still made the effort to do all we could. Everyday we made the effort to find people that the Lord had prepared for us...and He did provide. We gave a lot of time to tracting houses this week...and I have never felt like I have walked so much. But there were always people there. Like last night...we were both praying that the  Lord would help us to find the ones that He has been preparing. And He did...we found a husband and wife that just were so kind and so warmly welcomed us into their home. And in the end of it all, we found out that the mother of the husband, had been a member. But we were also able to touch his heart with the knowledge that God had a plan for him.  And when we had mission tour, it took most of our day. We were almost uncertain that we were going to be able to reach our goal of 6 lessons for the day, because we only had 3 planned lessons....but I know that if we act in faith and trust in the Lord and give all our effort, until we are exhausted....we will find them. I was really grateful to see the power of this work. As much as I have felt that others are judgmental about what we can reach...I feel that the Lord feels the same. If we can not see with the eye of faith and the eternal perspective that we need...we may never reach the sight of the Lord. I am seeing that the Lord has a larger plan, that we must be willing to see...because if not, it will continue to move forward without us. It is like being on a game board that we don't see where the end is...but we must continue to travel through our "turns" and make the best move we can. It may not work out the way we want it to, but we still moved somewhere. Sometimes it is better to continue to move, rather than fear or doubt that if you make a move, there will be bad consequences always. And when you feel that you are doing the same thing over and over again...you never know what those will provide. My companion had a stretch of feeling like she was of no use here...but I tried to help her to understand that her work to plant is one of the most important works. It doesn't matter how many baptisms you have in the end of your mission. You may move from place to place and just feel like you are planting seeds...in the hot sun. And you never really get the chance to see them grow into the beautiful plants that they have a potential to be. But you left your finger print on them...nothing will ever remove that. I may not have 20+ baptisms in the entire time of my mission...but I know that I have left something behind in the hearts of the people here. I could not ask for a better job than to be a planter :) And I am seeing that this is my job here in Daraga. I may not reap the souls of the people that are here...but I know that  I have done my part and I have fulfilled my part in the Lord's work. This week was a great week to see the worth of souls in the sight of God. No matter if they come in half drunk and unable to speak clearly to you...they are still children of God and they have a part in God's plan. And we have no right to ever doubt that they don't want to know about the gospel. It is sometimes those that are wearing the cigarette designed t-shirt or the ones that smell intoxicated that are waiting to find something that can take all the hurt and pain away. I know that the Lord lives and that He loves each and everyone of us. We just must be willing to see His love for us too.

--

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31

February 24, 2014

Attitude...it's what's for dinner...

What a week!!  There was so much that I learned about...well...you know...EVERYTHING! We had a really great week set ahead for us as we planned for exchanges and also for a goal to reach the mission standard. And it went really good for us....but I realized so much more, how hard it is to accomplish the work of the Lord, in His way. We started acting in faith to find people, after our day of preparation. Tracting at night is not the easiest to do when no one can see you...or they are too busy to answer the door. But we put ourselves out there...and you know....two white sisters can really stick out in the dark. But we found ourselves finding tender mercies along the way and we continued to do all we could. We started with exchanges with the Sisters in our apartment. In the end it was a lesson of attitude. I have learned so much about attitude this week and the power that it has on all you do...not just the thoughts you have, but on your actions and your beliefs. I know that as we have a good attitude about the things that the Lord commands, we will have a better understanding of ourselves, as children of God. My companion and I had made the goal to reach the standard of excellence for the mission, but if neither of us had the right attitude to reach it, it would have been a difficult thing for us to accomplish. We had many of the other missionaries in our district mock us...but I realized that I wanted to prove them wrong....not to receive the praise of them...but to receive the praise of the Lord, for accomplishing His work, through His way. It was amazing to see how the Lord worked beside us in so many instances and gave us the knowledge, the strength and understanding to find, teach and strengthen those He placed in our path. Our motive became two sayings--" kaya mo iyan!" ( You can do it!) and "I can feel it in my bones"...and in the end...we had miracles and tender mercies in our work everyday. and we reached beyond our standard of excellence. I know that there is so much that be accomplished in this world, only if we will rely on the Lord and turn our heart and might to Him. I am learning so much about the gospel and our reliance on it....it is the blood that runs through us and keeps us alive. And I am realizing more and more that it becomes hard to write things down in words...for it is much more on feelings. I know with all my heart that this church is true. I know that as we build our attitude on the knowledge that we are children of our Heavenly Father, nothing else will be able to fight against us... I know this because I have felt the redeeming power of the Lord in my life. And I know that the Lord lives, because I have felt His presence at my side as I have turned to Him at all moments and come unto Him as a little child. I hope that we can each develop an "kaya mo iyan" attitude....because that's what's for dinner :)

--

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31

February 17, 2014

Kumusta!

This transfer has started out new. I have a new companion...Sister Lang. She is from California. And we are really excited to work together this transfer.

Our week was filled with going to appointments the entire day....I almost thought that I killed my companion, because she was so worn out. But she is still adjusting from living the island life. We had a a wonderful baptism on Saturday for Romalyn and Mark. They are such strong spirits and I am so very grateful for their examples to me :)

I hope that everyone had a great Valentine's Day...here the work was the same...but wow! there were a lot of lonely men out. We had some really great experiences of men following us around and little boys chasing after us with roses...hahaha....you've got to feel the love ;P 

But throughout this week I have learned a great deal about the gospel and the power that it has in our lives. I have been studying a lot about self mastery and how to accomplish things through the Lord and His Atonement. I know that there are greater things that the Lord has in store for us...if only we could see our potential. I know that the Lord is there to help refine us, only if we are willing to. Matthew 16:24-26...

"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it. and this is virtue, uprightness,faithfulness, and holiness and keeping all the commandments of God." Joseph Smith

I was really grateful that on Sunday I had the opportunity to see the members from Tabaco. A group of them came to visit and it was a sweet reunion. It was awesome to see one of the long time investigators become members after 2 years of attending church faithfully. And to see others become temple recommend holders. I am so grateful for the gospel and the opportunity to serve here in the vineyard of the Lord.

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31

 

 

February 10, 2014

Kumusta,

This week was a really great week filled with opportunities to learn about the people and what the gospel does to change a person. We have a good turn out with our investigators last week and extending baptismal dates to them...however time must take it toll and you may not see them for a week. It is hard sometimes when you are trying your best and things just don't seen to work out...but I am understanding the role of these things in our experiences in this life. It is so important for us to use the time here to use these experiences for our benefit. 

We have two investigators that will be baptized this Saturday and we are all so very excited....especially the investigators. I am hoping that we can continue to help them and strengthen them in their efforts to follow the Savior. The work as a missionary always opens doors for you and tends to open your eyes to the things that can overcome a family or an individual and cause some to loose faith in the things that you are teaching them. I hope that I will continue to be an effective tool to bless the lives of those here. 

We had a lesson with one of our investigators, who is a lesbian. She is such a wonderful person and we have enjoyed sharing the gospel with her. She loves to hear about the things that the Lord has planned for her and how she can reach it. We have enjoyed sharing lessons with her, but as we shared about the plan of salvation, we found that it is hard to change a person. She may still like females, but she knows what is wrong and right. She wants to change her life, but knows that she can not do it all at once. When we were teaching this lesson I really was able to see that she is a daughter of our Heavenly Father and she will be able to stand before the Lord...hopefully one day to be worthy to enter back into His presence. I love the knowledge that we have through this gospel.

We had a wonderful FHE with a member family, whose father is not a member. It has been many years that he has attended church, but has not really desired to join the church himself. We shared a beautiful lesson about family unity...and the spirit was so strong. I was so grateful that we had the chance to go there and share with them, because through the miracles of the Lord...maybe he will become a member someday. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families and the principles that can bring us together to overcome our differences and share mutual love and understanding in all that we encounter in this life. The family was so great and participated so well in all that we shared...we are excited to see what is going to happen in the next chapter :)

Sunday started out as a good day...well...because Sister Pace got locked inside the bathroom for 15 minutes. Despite the fact that I removed the door handle and everything else I could possibly remove without breaking the door....no hope....but the other sisters finally got the owner and they broke the door. Just another adventure to add to the week ;) 

This week will be a great one as we start another transfer here in Daraga with a new companion. I am excited and I know that the Lord has great plans in store.

Hope that you all have a great week and seek to do good to those around you :)

--

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31

 

 

February 3, 2014

Kumusta!

I have learned so much in this last week. A week full of faith, love, hope, and determination to serve the Lord. I am so grateful for the experiences that I have had this week and the blessings that the Lord has placed in my life. 

It is always a learning experience to learn about how to become more like our Heavenly Father. This week was a week of dedicating my life, my love and my hard work to all of the work and glory of the Lord.  Dedication is not just about working hard, but it is also about working effectively and efficiently. You can only give so much of yourself as you are willing to give...and it is required of us to give all of ourselves. You learn about the fear and trials that you have are only but a "blimp" in the scene of this life and we must press forward with a strong determination to give all we can...not through our own efforts, but through the power and guidance of our Heavenly Father. We had a wonderful meeting with all the leaders in the mission and we talked a lot about the power that we need to be relying on. We learned a lot about our responsibilities to stand as a witness to all and to become a strong witness of the truth...but to be humble enough to rely on the Lord and always give space for the Lord. I have learned that it is important to step up to our responsibilities and fulfill the things of the Lord...not for our own benefit, but for the blessings that will be poured upon our fellow brothers and sisters. And to see the fruits of all the hard work that you give...turning into miracles. We have a young man who we have been teaching and it has been a long course of trying to get him to attend church and read the Book of Mormon...but in our experiences yesterday, we have seen his heart change and his desire has become centered on the Lord. He wrote us a wonderful text about the inspiration we have been in his life along with the things that he has been reading in the  Book of Mormon. The Lord does hear and answer prayers and he softens the hearts of those that you love and cherish. And to then have a investigator work with you, in order to "share" the gospel and it's blessings, builds your testimony when you see her determination to carry on through the end. And then to speak to a new investigator who understands your message and feels the Spirit strong enough to accept a baptismal date. I have been inspired to become better because of the people that I serve here and the love that they have for me and the Lord. I have become determined and inspired to become what the Lord expects me to be because of the inspiration and miracles that He so graciously gives to me everyday.

But just as there is time for work there is enough time to take a picture of what it looks like when you are working in the vineyard of the Lord...your feet become something that would call "burnt". But it is all worth it :) 

I know that this is the work of the Lord and there are great blessings that are awaiting us, if only we will seek to learn what it is that the Lord is expecting of us and what our potential is. I know that the Lord has the power to change us through our faith, desire and diligence to become a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. This is my greatest joy to be able to share this wonderful news with my fellow brothers and sisters. My work has inspired me to change, as I strive to help others to change. And I pray that my life may be filled with this desire until I shall be perfected in the presence of my Lord (sun burned feet and all).

Sister Pace

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Alma 42: 31