Merry Christmas from Bacnotan 2016

Highlights:

- We had an awesome ward Christmas party (filipino time so it was from 1 until 7:30) on the 22nd and four of our investigators came and three members brought referrals!! Also for the "missionary" performance we did the "haka" (a Polynesian dance) under the direction of our district leader and we WON!! 

- Sister Julia is a 15 year old girl we have been teaching and it part of a part-member family. They say she used to hide from the missionaries and never come to church but we feel so grateful that now is the right time because we have gotten pretty close with her, she enjoys church, and has accepted a baptismal date in January!! Please keep her in your prayers :)

 

- We actually had a change of plans and Sister Aurelio was transferred to Baguio and a brand-new missionary from there was transferred to be my companion! So now I will be continuing the training of Sister Swainston from Idaho. She is SO sweet and we have already clicked and I am really excited to spend the next couple months with her. Yes it means I will be in my second area for a total of 6 months but hey I love Bacnotan so it's okay :) 

- Christmas Eve and Christmas day were full of singing Christmas songs, sharing Nephi's vision of the birth of Christ from the Book of Mormon, and eating. Lots of eating spaghetti, fried chicken, and macaroni fruit salad. 

-Talking to my amazing sweet family that put up with my technical difficulties. They are all still so the same and I am so grateful for their strength in the gospel and their examples for me to stay strong on my mission. 

Nakakatawa (funny)

- Sister Swainstons cute face when she bravely tried "balut" for the first time. (an 11 day old chick still in egg form but you eat it like a boiled egg) Man that sister is great. We had extended some baptismal dates that day so we celebrated. 

Tagalog / English

- Kain ka pa (you eat more - as a command haha) 

You Know You're in the Philippines When

- Christmas is when it starts to get even hotter so when you come in the apartment and bow the pray with your companion your knees slip around because of the sweat hahaha 

Spiritual:

I just wanted to say that Christmas is an incredible time to remember the savior but we are missing out on a lot of joy in life if that is the only day we give Him the attention he deserves. I know He came to this earth as humbly as he could and grew up and lived just like any other person would- but had the strength to overcome every temptation and lived a perfect example for us to follow. I know He is the way the truth and the light for any trial we experience in this life. I know his birth into this world was the biggest way our Heavenly Father showed his love for us because He know the life of his beloved son would not be easy. Let us keep the spirit of Christ in our hearts every day through our diligent study of scriptures and fervent daily prayer. He never gives up on us so we must never forget Him. 

Thank you all for your sweet Christmas emails and prayers, they are felt here in the Philippines and I appreciate them so so much, Love you all!!! 

The Lord Answers Prayers.

The Lord answers prayers. 

Sometimes He makes us wait a little and sometimes He makes us wait a while and really tests us BUT

He. Always. Answers. Them. 

This week the answers to my prayers were found in a trip to Manila Philippines. I can't say all the details but I can say I saw the Lord place all the right people in mine and mine companion's path this past week for us to get exactly what we needed to continue fulfilling our purpose as missionaries. 

One opportunity was serving at a place called Mabuhay. They do free surgeries for cleft feet and lips. I was able to sing there and translate in Tagalog for all the other white people (side note seeing so many white people again really through me for a loop and I even struggled sometimes speaking in English). Those Filipinos there brightened my whole week with their hope and smiles. 

Another opportunity came to us not once in our week there but seven times. Yes ladies and gentleman I was able to do 7 sessions at the Manila Temple (and one baptism, one confirmation, and one initiatory.)

My companion actually did 9- we took advantage of it because she lives so far from the Temple. One really cool experience was I helped her get all the ordinances done for her mom and her grandma. Then we did the same for another Kirabeti sister who did the ordinances for her mom. 

This last one was....I GOT TO EXPERIENCE TEACHING WITH MY BEST FRIEND!

I sat by Sister Zarbock's side as we taught a new investigator from Gana africa a 1st lesson and committed him to be baptized on the 29th of January. That was so SO cool to testify of what "sister zarbock" taught and then add my own- all through the Holy Ghost. That really is the true teacher anywhere you go!! 

Long story short we attented a christmas program where the Manila Missionaries were singing as a choir and lo and behold I see some long hair and white skin and ask the woman next to me "is there anyway that's sister Zarbock?" She just said wait here and led her to me- yup it was like a movie with running, spinning, hugging, crying, all that drama. My companion said she had never seen that in real life hahaha 

Anyways my spiritual thought this week is about grace. I was able to watch Brad Wilcox's talk on "His Grace is Sufficient" and something I loved was that we don't "earn heaven" we "LEARN heaven". Grace is not the "finishing touch" but the "finisher's touch". We all have times were me make so many mistakes or the same mistake so many times you think you are now unworthy of the Lord's help. We are shy to ask and we quit or hide, or we get discouraged thinking we have to do our best "THEN he will do the rest" and we think we just can't even do our best well enough. We don't understand grace if we think that. The Lord ALREADY paid and he is there every. step. of. the. way. begging us to constantly use him for support and never give up. I have experienced the light and life and love and hope that the atonement of Jesus Christ gives and I can never deny that I know my savior knows me and loves me. This life is tough but we agreed to it right? Nothing easy ever brings much satisfaction, result, or lasting change, This is the time for us to be molded and Heavenly Father and His Son want to help us do it. 

John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." 

Mahal ko kayo! 

Sister Walters 

---

Cinderella Goes to the Ball

Cinderella Goes to the Ball

HELLO DEAREST FAMILY AND FRIENDS- 

This week was...drum roll please....yes another roller coaster. But you know how you can't really enjoy the ride if you're always freaking out waiting for the next drop and holding on for your life? Then the moment comes where you just let go, lift up your head, eyes, and hands and take in the thrill of the unexpected? I've decided Satan can throw whatever punches he wants and I am still going to be obedient, hard working, and happy. That's my choice. I've decided to do just do my best and let God do the rest or in other words letting go and just enjoying the ride. HAPPINESS IS ALWAYS A CHOICE. And those who keep their eye single to God will not fear. 

Highlights

This week we didn't get as much proselyting time which was kind of tough because I was really excited to reach some of our progressing investigators BUT this week we had cleaning day and Christmas conference! Hence the topic of my email because on Thursday we spent the WHOLE day deep cleaning every inch of the apartment. Then Friday was an entire mission conference for Christmas so...yeah all the sisters spent actual time on their hair and stuff haha me and my comp were laughing at how much we felt like Cinderella working our tails off one day and then preparing as if we were going to the prom. 

#Funny Moment

when Sister Walters still hasn't fixed her punctuality problem and runs up onto the podium (late) for a solo in the middle of her zone presentation. Nice. 

Spiritual thought

The Conference was really fun to laugh and get together with other missionaries but to also remember how lucky we are to be missionaries at this holiday season. I am so grateful to be able to a representative of Jesus Christ at this time that we remember his birth and his life. 

We had exchanges this week and had two lessons with some GOLDEN people who were so ready fro the message of the restoration. My companions on that day were excited but a little discouraged because they said there is no one like that in their area. I just expressed there are people the Lord prepares everywhere, we just have to find them!! Finding takes faith and sometimes it's hard to leave non progressing investigators but I know prayerfully searching each day in new areas we will find "scattered Israel" 

I know on every exchange I have a lot to learn from the other sisters as well so I like to have them share with me their talents or teach me something. Sister Matenga taught me some Polynesian dancing and Sister Brown taught me a new way of exercising with kick boxing using our mattress. hahaha they are so awesome!! 

Just wanted to say I love you all and am so SO grateful for all your prayers and emails. I pray for you individually and I know the Lord is aware of you always- he never forgets his children. 

Sister Walters