Speechless

I don't even know how to describe this week actually. So many things change every day. Being the STL right by the mission home with  the AP's and stuff is really fun to help out and learn from a lot of missionaries but you just know everything about the mission and I kind of like just only knowing what I need to haha BUT inspite of lots of crazy things happening....This trio (otherwise known as Destiny's Child hahaha) worked SO hard this week and we've seen more success in a single week than I almost have my whole mission.

Abat Family- Eternal Investigators before but we are determined to help them be baptized. The mom, and two kids accepted and the dad didn't want to be baptized cause he already got baptized in the Catholic church. We explained baptism and I asked him if he wanted to ask anything- he comes out with the perfect question. "Do the priests have priesthood? Like in the Catholic church?" I go, "Thanks for your question, let me tell you the history of the priesthood and something called the Restoration and then you can answer your own question."

I don't even know how to describe this week actually. So many things change every day. Being the STL right by the mission home with  the AP's and stuff is really fun to help out and learn from a lot of missionaries but you just know everything about the mission and I kind of like just only knowing what I need to haha BUT inspite of lots of crazy things happening....This trio (otherwise known as Destiny's Child hahaha) worked SO hard this week and we've seen more success in a single week than I almost have my whole mission.

Abat Family- Eternal Investigators before but we are determined to help them be baptized. The mom, and two kids accepted and the dad didn't want to be baptized cause he already got baptized in the Catholic church. We explained baptism and I asked him if he wanted to ask anything- he comes out with the perfect question. "Do the priests have priesthood? Like in the Catholic church?" I go, "Thanks for your question, let me tell you the history of the priesthood and something called the Restoration and then you can answer your own question."
By the end he said he would tell his old priest he was bad and had no priesthood. Hahaha we all laughed and I encouraged him not to do that because we still respect all other religions.

Found another whole family! The Tan family. Just one of those simple missionary moments where you pass a gate and the spirit burns your conscience every further step you take so you go back and it turns out to be an incredible family that never entertains any missionaries until we came. We are excited for their progression.

Casugay couple...has been kind of discouraging. The husband was hiding he still has a word of wisdom problem so we don't just need to get them married but also help him resist cigaretts and drinking. But we aren't losing faith!!! They still really want to be baptized.

Funny Moment:

Actually with this trio every moment was hilarious..I asked my girls what was funny this week and they said "what wasn't" We had a good time preaching the gospel to Lingsat area.

Philippines Moment:

Most meals are finished with a banana and glass of water.

Tagalog:

Banana- Saging
Mango- Mangga
Coconut- Buko
Together make THE most amazing shake. We buy it in liters.

Spiritual Moment:

I had the wonderful opportunity to go on splits for a couple days as we housed a sweet Kiribeti sister who was on her way home due to physical illnesses. Learning Kiribeti to Tagalog is so difficult because they are learning at the same time. But this sister testified so boldly. simply, and genuinely in every single lesson and had me crying in almost all of them. No companion has had that effect on me in a lesson so far.

What really touched me was how she spoke of love. Love for her heavenly father is what drove her to change and convert to this gospel. Love for her family is what helps her stay strong to one day persuade them to join the true church. and Love for all of us is why she served her mission "to find her other brothers and sisters."

I know we are all here because of love. Because of the love of our Father in Heaven he developed a plan and because we love him we chose to follow it and come here. He loves us so he sent his only begotten son- who in turn loves us enough to live perfectly, die painfully, and rise gloriously, so we all can live again, physically, and spiritually if we choose to. We will follow his commandments if we love him. And as we do, he pours out his love even MORE on us. Love is an amazing thing.

Just want to shout out how much I love my family and my friends. Their examples and support for me I can never repay or fully express my gratitude for.

The Church is TRUE everyone!

Sister Walters

No Such Thing as a Normal Week in Lingsat District

Seriously goodbye to regular schedule this week. When you are in Lingsat district right by the mission home, changes come up almost every day and you just learn to go with the flow! 

Monday we helped missionaries leave the mission 

"Family Council" meeting with the District and Zone leaders for San Fernando! 

Wednesday we helped new missionaries come into the mission

Thursday we helped the other leaders come down for a massive MLC with president 

(PS it's a fun night when 10 sisters in one house and the power goes out) 

Friday 9 sisters get Emergency Transferred so we work that out while planning a...BAPTISM! (go back to that later) 

Saturday we became a threesome!! Two Polynesians and one..me hahaha

Sunday was a huge suprise- Aliyn Bautista - the single adult we baptized in Baguio- came and sat down right next to me in church with this huge bouquet of roses. She surprise visited me!!!! So crazy. She is doing amazing, and is a primary teacher now in Pangasinan!  

So the work is still flowing great. We are working hard. Iyan lang :) 

Missionaries Can Laugh Too:

Our new comp is amazing and talks to EVERYONE. Give her two second and she has already told the person next to her that she is 1) not a filipno 2) a missionary for this church and 3) her testimony of Jesus Christ. It's actually cool and spiritual, not funny, but the first time we just saw her burst into conversation with the worker at the food place, and the face of the worker with all that information in such a short amount of time and such a little person...it was pretty funny. I like her :) 

Weekly couch pictures with the beloved comp. Can't forget those. 

You Know You're in the Philippines When:

You low key, take showers in your pajamas before you sleep cause it's 93 degrees in your room. Anything to cool you down. 

Tagalog- "napaka" is what you put in front of adjectives to say it's "really" something. Halimbawa- mainit = hot, napakainit=REALLY hot. If I said it was mainit before....now its napakainit.

Spiritual Thought:

The ward really came together for nanay Nida's baptism- it was so beautiful. We were able to teach her daughter and her husband the night before and they came to the baptism! President and Sister Bangal spoke, Sister Ormsby and I sang, the baptizer helped carry her into the water, she testified after, and her daughter just cried at how special her mother was treated and the spirit felt at the baptism. 

Baptism pictures! She is getting so much stronger from her stroke 

Those members don't know they could have just been the way for her family to join her in the church because of the support they saw. 

MEMBERS PLEASE SUPPORT THE MISSIONARIES. When investigators see that unity and love, it really strikes them. 

Moses 7:18 (I think) And the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteouness, and there were no poor among them. 

Mahal ko kayo! 

Sister Walters 

I Love You Geraldine

Blessings:

This week helped me again realize that the Lord has his own perfect time table-that not always is in line with ours.

Say hello to the mission office crew :) 

Nanay Nida's baptism being moved was at first a heart breaker and now is a wonderful opportunity for her to bring her children to come watch this Saturday.

Edwin Casugay (the husband of the family we are teaching) had consistently let us down by not showing up to church, but then was shaved and crisply dressed with a nice new hair cut to come to watch Conference. He said it felt so amazing he will always come to church. 

The last one is also a blessing but a much harder one to swallow. 

The first session of Saturday General Conference was ALL about the Plan of Salvation and I felt a weird twinge inside when one spoke of being a mission president and comforting a missionary that had a member pass away. Right then our President had sent a message to call him as soon as I could. He gave me the news that my sweet and beloved grandma Geraldine Walters had passed away. 

Geraldine Litster Walters April 28, 1928-April 7, 2017

This has been so so hard on me but I know my grandma would not want me to waste any time on the mission grieving. I feel her with me as we teach others about the Plan of Salvation. I know she is strong now and with my Grandfather. And with full confidence in the Plan of Happiness of our Heavenly Father, and the power over death that our Savior holds, that I will see her again. I need to work my best and remain worthy of my covenants so I can be with that exemplary and inspiring woman in the Celestial Kingdom. Walters family- make sure no one gets left behind!!! 

The women in Bacnotan saw me at Conference and ran up yelling "dito ang mga nanay mo!" (here are your moms!) 

Spiritual Thought:

Just a short one- conference was wonderful and we all felt it. It brings a renewed light into our lives, inspiration, and motivation to be better, and ultimately more like our Savior Jesus Christ. 

With this knowledge and blessing let us remember D&C 82:3 which my dear Sister Zarbock told me to focus on this week. 

"For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sings against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation."

God has answered our questions through his servants, true prophets seers and revelations. He has given us light, knowledge, and personal revelation. He hopes that we will follow this. Let us not let the spirit of conference pass away as a good memory. Study the talks, review your notes, be "all in" and most importantly ask for help from your Heavenly Father to LIVE it. 

His promises are sure that through incremental improvements, daily repenting, and keeping our covenants, we will "know the true and living God" , even Jesus Christ, and obtain eternal life. In the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, amen. 

Zone volleyball and family shirts with President and Sister Bangal 

Sister Walters 

please excuse my dead tired face- that's called trying to kill house rats instead of sleeping. Any suggestions are welcome. 

It. is. so. hot. You wake up sweating and go to bed like it too. Sorry for the bad imagery.

First Full Week in Lingsat

This area is awesome, the past missionaries here have a lot of potentials!! We met four that all said they really want to be baptized- that is the BEST feeling as a missionary! Once they have the desire, the missionary just has to be obedient and hardworking enough to be in tune with the spirit and teach effectively. 

When your companion gets a box this big sent to her full of cleaning supplies 

Here are two of them: 

Nanay Nida- is a a woman that had a stroke but limps to church every week. She wanted to study more and know everything about the church first but we read her the verses in Mosiah 18 about only needing the desire, willingness to serve others and follow the commandments, and being a witness of Christ to be baptized. On our next visit, she said she read in the Book of Mormon about not procrastinating and said she is so eager to be baptized as soon as possible. YES!! 

Edwin and Joy Casugay- the cutest couple on the earth. Both are excited to be baptized but, story of a missionary's life...they need to be married first. The ward is super willing to help them get married though so keep them in your prayers! Joy always chastises her husband not reading the scriptures enough or she ends up sharing to him in the lesson and it's just adorable. 

My companion is so adorable and has loved working so hard. I apologized for having such a fast pace but she said it's been the best week of her mission! 

It’s definitely summer now...hottest I've ever experienced. Also, the power turns off (brown out) every other day so now we have to store buckets of water in the house so we can still shower without the power. 

Preparations for the music devotional are going good. Blasting out duets with President poundin out the piano was fun this morning :) 

Low Key we celebrated my 1 year of living in the Philippines. I tell everyone I am Fil-Am. Filipino American. 

Running on the beach then realized my cute comp wrote in the sand for me :)

You Know You're in the Philippines When:

greeting another woman, you go from a hand shake to a side hug with your cheek next to their’s and make a kissing noise. sounds weird. Even weirder when you just have greeted a lot of women and then accidently do it to the stake patriarch. Go sister Walters. (There's the funny moment for the week) 

Spiritual Thought:

At General Women's Conference, I love how President Eyering said "Those who don't see their weaknesses don't progress" I have been studying a lot about humility and am honestly so grateful for weaknesses. That is how the Lord not only reminds us we can do nothing without Him but also shows us His power and love by turning those very weaknesses into strengths if we but be humble and let Him change us. 

I have seen so many weaknesses in myself on my mission and know even when I get home I will still have many more. There is no such thing as a perfect RM. But what the Lord is showing me is how to recognize those, repent, turn to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, and letting him reshape me. 

That is because of the cleansing power of the Atonement and the sanctifying spirit of the Holy Ghost, as we remain worthy of its guidance. 

Love you all!!

Sister Walters 

ET- means Endless Tears.

Just kidding it means Emergency Transfer. Those things are one of the hardest days I've experienced on my mission. I was in Bacnotan for 7 months and my whole heart was there, for the investigators we were preparing for baptism, my best friend companion, and that whole ward was my family, so the call on tuesday telling me to pack my bags because I would be leaving the next day..yeah it cut to the center. 

BUUTTT missions aren't about you right? The Lord humbled me with the reminder that those families were not my baptisms and it's not about if I get to see them, but they are the Lord's children. I am just an instrument. And now He needs me in Lingsat, San Fernando! 

I am training Sister Ormsby from Australia and she is adorable. Such a genuine and humble missionary. Being the Sister Training Leader here is busy but fun cause it's right with the mission president and his Assistants so we help new missionaries coming in, and anyone actually coming down stays in our house. 

It's weird t come from farmland, rice fields, to a city. Our house even has flushing toilets (well some of them) and a microwave! And get this, a washing machine!! I felt so out of place though at the nice houses just thinking of my old investigators probably hungry at the moment just cooking rice in their stick and shack homes. I think I am more comfortable there! 

The Ward is incredible though and so kind. I know I will learn a lot from them and grow in this last area! 

HIGHLIGHT:

-Sister Bleak and I were Sister AP's for a week and traveled to all the zone conferences around the mission to sing and start teaching the musical devotional Jesus the Christ- Come Unto Him 

-HAZEL WAS BAPTIZED!! President let me go back to watch. She was so so filled with the spirit- she reached out to grab my hand while she was in the font and said a quick prayer to calm herself down. Then...well I'll tell you in the next part. But who knew that would happen when I just felt to talk to her while running on the beach?? 

Missionaries Can Laugh:

Hazel gets up to bear her testimony and she said she just starts with "I can't explain my feelings right now, so let us pray first." We all were a little shocked and almost chuckled but she gave the most heartfelt praise to her god over the pulpit. then proceeded to bear an incredible testimony of the change she has seen in her life because of this gospel. 

Philippines Culture:

Clothes aren't really a big deal...so many men just don't wear shirts and we even saw one at the store across the street buying groceries in his underwear. Oh man. We do have a specific rule though we can't teach a guy unless he has a shirt on. So that's kinda funny. 

Tagalog-

Magpabinyag vs Magbinyag (To cause someone to baptize you vs To baptize someone) 

Spiritual Thought:

I love what my mom reminded my about how we need to Trust in God and "lean not unto thine own understanding" in Proverbs. I am constantly reminded on my mission that we need to be centered on Christ and His will. That is the only way we will overcome our trials and reach the potential the Lord has in store for us. 

Iyan lang :) 

they best kayong lahattt!!!

Sister Walters 

Obedience brings Miracles

Ahh too many amazing things happened this week but I don't have much time on the computer so I'll just sum it up 

-Lots and lots of more walking and battle wounds. I got burnt, and my companion got scratched by metal from walking home through a construction sight. Cool scars though. 

-Didn't pass out during fasting!! WOOT! AND Sunday was a day of miracles. We had 11 Investigators in our gospel doctrines class!! 

       -Hazel came with all her kids. She is still amazing. 

       - Sharie came in her cute new skirt and heels and wants to be baptized SO bad. She teaches US in the lesson. 

Exchanges with sister Hinautan! 

       - The new family we found Magbatoc showed up late but ALL of them and we about cried of joy. 

- This is how that happened, we focused on SERVICE this week. We fetched all Sister Hazel's water for her from this massive well and we got so dirty and wet and lots of people just stared as us Americans trying to juggle heavy buckets of water but Hazel is worth it. 

    - For Magbatoc we left a bag of "survival kit" things for him to follow Word of Wisdom, and we even left an alarm clock set for 7:00 am to make sure they wouldn't sleep in hahaha it worked!! 

This is the catch we think- DISTRICT PRAYER! We all wanted to be more obedient so now we have a district prayer over the phone at exactly 6:30 AM, we meet where our houses cross at 1:00 pm to make sure we are proselyting on time, and pray again at 10:30. Then on Sunday every single companionship had investigators at church and extended baptismal dates. 

You Know You're in the Philippines When:

You have to climb down a super safe ladder like this to walk to one of your areas. (picture below) 

Missionaries Can Laugh too:

We stopped for a second outside of our Italian investigator's house cause he was singing / moaning/ chanting really loud to himself and we were just listening- then maybe God reminded us to not waste time because a dog came up and peed on my leg. That got us moving. 

 

They have signs like this in the bathroom hahaha 

Tagalog:

Masunurin- obedient (most adjectives start with "ma" so that gets confusing) 

Spiritual Thought:

God has been teaching me a lot about humility this week. It seems like everywhere I read, Book of Mormon or Jesus the Christ or anything, that's what sticks out. 

Christ teaches the parable of the dinner table and says guests should put themselves at the lowest set and then the master might move them higher, rather than them placing themselves at the head and having the master bring them down. 

He also mentions a king in the Bible that started to boast of the great blessings he had and "while the word was in his mouth" the Lord took it all. 

We need to constantly remember to Be humble. We see in the Book of Mormon that the recurring pride cycle starts with them being blessed and getting too prideful and forgetting the Lord their god. 

Humility is not disbelieving in ourselves or treating ourselves with disrespect or in an unloving way. But it is attributing all success and blessing to our Lord and Savior, knowing that without Him we are nothing, but WITH him we can do all things. And that confidence gives us courage, and that courage drives us to do what is right. 

It all comes from Him. 

Mahal ko kayooooo (mas lalo ang nanay ko) I love you all! Especially my mom* 

Sister Walters 

Falling asleep on Jeepney rides 

 

My companion sleeping...again :) We work hard I guess haha sleep is precious! 

There's a First for Everything

Man this week was crazy.

 We worked our little hineys off not gonna lie and we saw lots of miracles and we saw lots of...other exciting experiences.

1- We walk and walk and WALK cause we are saving money so we can pay two people for our laundry cause they really need it. But my feet were getting SO hot and sore, then I realized my rubber shoes on the bottom were worn down to like socks haha oops. 

So tired you fall asleep during prayers. Go sister Dennis ;) 

2- Found 19 new investigators this week! Just from teaching in open groups and simple "Sali kayo!" (come join) to everyone that walked by. One of them was a couple that went and found their Book of Mormon from past lessons, remembered and believed everything, and accepted a IBD! (Baptismal Date) 

We got new name tags that have our mission on them 

3- Hazel is doing incredible. Her trials are just doubling and tripling but she is so. faithful. Finances are incredibly difficult and she cried being so touched about the promise of tithing. She needs a lot of prayers though for her baptism to continue this month. 

3- Shari came to church! The young women did and INCREDIBLE job offellowshippingg and she is so excited to learn. 

This cute sister is 16 but really excited to serve a mission and just got called as a primary teacher! 

On the other hand....

-My sweet companion got sick one night and was such a trooper cause still walked all the way home and I dutifully held her hair back if she had to throw up on the side of the road. 

-THEN my sweet companion again helped me when I passed out at the church. DON'T FREAK OUT MOM. We were fasting again cause our investigators need it, but with the heat and all the walking I think it got to me. I wanted to finish our fast so bad without drinking water cause we were so close but I got so flushed and hot and dizzy all the sudden and I went to the bathroom before leading the music, and luckily a member was behind me and caught me with I fell. I think I freaked my companion out and all our investigators cause she said my eyes like rolled back before I went limp then just ran into the room and said "Sister Walters Passed Out!" SO all the elders ran in and they made me go home and rest. But I didn't want to take time off so we taught Hazel at the church right after, and then went to an appointment with a new family that night (shh) 

Crazy! I've never passed out before! You experience a lot on the mission. 

*PS SHOUT OUT to Bacnotan ward for truly being a family. The sister that caught me set me up a bed of chairs and hymn book pillows and just stroked my hair like I was her own kid (she has a kid on a mission too) Then when we taught Hazel one by one the relief society sisters came in to comfort her and give her strength. SO amazing. 

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

Instead of getting annoyed at another group of people asking to take picture with you, you just make a bargain and say only if you can give them a pass along card ;) Go being white sisters. 

Missionaries Can Laugh Too...

Hazel is THE funniest person I know. She was worried about us walking home in the dark (I'll attach a picture of how dark our walk home is)

so she got up and taught us Karate. (picture attached and video as well)

Tagalog....

Mag-ayuno = To Fast 

This fruit is called Gayubano and is SO good

Spiritual Thought...

This week I have been reading about Korihor and Alma and can I just say Alma is a straight up stud? He is so firm in his testimony and declares his witness of Christ so boldly that you know Heavenly Father is with Him. I also have been studying about dedication to Christ by reading Jesus the Christ. People asked to follow him and Christ denied none but expressed the requirements saying "Any man who puts his shoulder to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God" or something like that ( I don't have it memorized sorry). Man that will get you. Whenever we have the chance to testify of Him I love how everything gets quieter, no matter where we are, and those investigators eyes are locked on ours hanging on every word as the Spirit guides us. Here on the mission I can honestly say I know my Savior Jesus Christ lives. I know he is the Messiah and even Jehova, predestined to come and be our older brother, exemplar, and redeemer. I know He defied the grave and was resurrected so that we ALL will be taken up to the judgement seat of God. I bear witness of the truthfulness and fullness of the gospel that as we exercise faith unto repentance, be baptized by proper authority of God, receive and remain worthy of the Holy Ghost, and never deny this while enduring to the end...we can see Him again, embrace Him, and ultimately live and reign with Him. Even in eternal families. 

Write down your testimony of the Savior. Pray for opportunities to defend it, share it, live it. It is the most important thing we can do in this life. I say these things in His sacred name, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Sister Walters