Rhea in Baguio : If you thought it was always hot in the Philippines...

Highlights:

-Baptism!! The last of the Pascua family (their two sons) that are old enough, were baptized this Saturday!! It was again so incredible to see that change and light inside them even though they are only 11 and 9! They were so so happy on the day of their baptism and excited to receive a new "friend", the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. Now we are all just praying their father comes home from Manila soon so we can teach him as well! The change he will see in his family is absolutely incredible.

JP and JR Pascua!

-We were able to start teaching another amazing family named the Cases! They love the lessons and always schedule us so all four of them (Mom, dad, boy and girl) can be there. Scheduling is not like most Filipinos so that's pretty awesome haha. Our lessons have been so full of the spirit with them as we have members coming with us to testify of how the gospel is really the foundation of their family. We already see the hope building in them that an eternal family is truly possible through this gospel.

-Rain, Rain, Rain, and more Rain! I thought it was only hot in the Philippines but...it's actually pretty freezing cause you're walking around in a skirt in the rain haha but hey missionary work is still so worth it! I just drink a lot of hot water and some spicy tuna.

-We have a new Mission President!! He is so funny and awesome and really wants to focus on charity and love, and the changes within us and our investigators. We got to have another Zone Conference which meant...good food :)

Missionaries Can Laugh Too...

So Sunday was a pretty awesome day...we walked 45 minutes in the windy cold rain to pick up an investigator for church and the sweet mom...wasn't there. Hahaha so we ended up getting lost on the other side of town to church and it was just a lovely morning but you know what my companion and I do in those situations? YOU JUST LAUGH. Honestly, God knows we are trying our best and I'm sure he laughed too at dripping faces when we realized Sister Martinez was not going to be coming to church with us after all hahaha :)

You Know You're in the Philippines When...

Raising your eyebrows is not creepy but a way of answering yes to a question, gesturing to someone, or actually a lot of little meanings, so don't think they are just trying to hit on you in a weird way.

Tagalog Word of the Day:

kawawa- pitiful (like our dripping clothes and hair every night :) )

Spiritual Thought:

As our new president has been focusing on Charity and Love I have been learning so much about how important it really is. Napakahalaga pala siya. (It's actually the most important) Even missionaries that are expert in doctrine, know the mysteries of God, have enough faith to move mountains, or can speak with the tongue of angels, they are not useful to God if they lack Charity. Just like Moroni describes charity as "kind and envieth not, long-suffering and never faileth" it is not just an attribute but a person we must become. Charity is our motivation for every action we do and the thought that precedes it. Our savior is the perfect example of this because he never turned inwards towards himself, no matter how severe his tribulations were. He didn't teach to show his knowledge but to enlighten the minds of others and bring them close to Heavenly Father as he was. This world encourages us to think first for our own welfare but I promise you brothers and sisters as we constantly focus our efforts and love towards our other siblings in Christ, HE will take care of us better than we can. Moroni 7:48 instructs us to pray to the father with all the energy of our hearts and ask him to fill us with the Charity and pure love of Christ. I challenge all of you to literally ask your father for this gift and then ACT on impressions to serve others. You will notice a change in our heart as you feel God's purest love for them because I know I am experiencing it every day.

Mahal Kita!

Sister Walters