Earthquake, but all is well!

Well, it seems like many were nervous about the earthquake and I appreciate all the concern and prayers! I wish I had a cool story to tell about it, but we were actually asleep when it hit.  It did hit Escalante, but it affected other areas more.  We woke up to a text in the morning from our Zone Leaders that informed us about the earthquake and needed to know if we were ok asap- our response was "There was an earthquake?" So, no need to worry, all is well in Escalante!

This week was crazy as we worked very little.  We had FHE with Bayadog Family who has become family away from home to me! We thought that one of us were going to be transferred so we did our last one with them, but we have at least 6 more weeks with them! We were in Bacolod for checkups on Tuesday and we're thinking I have a worm because the medication isn't working, but we will be going to get an ultrasound this week or next Monday.  Wed we had District meeting for and met our new district/zone because we're so small. There's only 8 missionaries! And the fun part is, I knew all of them from before or from being in the district last district, so we've all grown to really close friends! We are excited to see what this transfer brings.  Friday we were busy packing up our house for the move the next day and on Saturday we were asked to give a presentation at the Primary Anniversay celebration for the District!  That was a lot of fun and we wrote letters to missionaries and a few wrote to me and it totally made my day!  After that, the couples and the office elders traveled from Bacolod to here to move us and that was absolutely exhausting, but when it was over, we were satisfied and happy! We finally don't have any worries and can kick our work back up to where it was.  We got the approval and our investigator Jeah passed her interview and will be baptized on Saturday.  During weekly planning, I told Sis. Boncales that I wanted our recent convert Erwin to baptize her because he got the priesthood last Sunday and when I asked him, he was so excited!! Sunday we saw blessings from our fast!  We have been working with Sis. Pugales.  Her son, Amile was the one who we had to postpone his date, but little by little we got her to attend the interview.  Then, she attended the following Sunday for his confirmation, and then two weeks ago she didn't attend.  But, this week we visited them and she said she had work to do on Sunday.  I offered to help her Sat. to finish it so she wouldn't have any on Sunday and she declined with a laugh, but ended up coming to church when we weren't expecting it!  The ward took her in, she went to all classes (Relief Society included) and really enjoyed it.  They are finally on their way to returning to active and now we will be working on Brother Pugales.  We also had a family who was a RC, but LA attend church for the second week and they wanted their baby blessed and even brought a referral for us!  We have identified the recent converts/less actives who have returned that haven't been able to exercise their priesthood or who haven't received it that we are focusing on because with a strong priesthood holder in every home makes the home a heaven on earth.  Even though we had little hours/numbers compared to normal, we are ready to hit the ground running this week! I wish I had more to tell, but that was all that really happened this week! The pictures here were of me with a chicken foot that they wear for necklaces, a pic with our investigator Jeah who will be baptized Saturday, a picture with our branch missionaries who are awesome, and FHE last Monday with the Bayadog Family!

 Tell everyone hi for me, and that I miss you all!  Yesterday was Sis. Boncales bday and the office threeway'd her and her family sang happy birthday! Made me miss you all tons! But, I am so happy here.. the longer I'm here, the more I love it.  The members and family have become family to me and am so grateful for the friendships I've made.  Thank you for all the support! I know the gospel is true and I have been called to the work for a reason: "To rescue the one!"

My thoughts and prayers are with you! xoxo
Sister Arnold

Transfer Announcement- STAY!

Maayong Buntag Pamilya og (and)  Amigos/Amigas:

This week was a tender mercy in itself! Also, my language just BLOOMED this week and I finally feel comfortable in understanding the people and speaking to them! Tons of the people here have said how bonzai or "great" I am at the language and it was such a confidence booster! FINALLY! haha

Monday we got out house approved FINALLY after weeks and weeks of searching.  Our time here in Escalante will continue and all was finally approved! We move in Saturday and attached are pictures of our new house.
Tuesday we had our last district meeting and our zone leaders took us out to lunch (us sisters).  It was time to say goodbye, but it was great being in this zone!  We taught Sis. Tarugo again and Sis. Boncales and I were both bold with her because she wasn't progressing. Her kasingkasing (heart) was extremely closed and we decided we needed to filter her and it wasn't her time right now.  There are other "low hanging mangos" out there ready to return.  We also continued our teaching to our two investigators Mark and Marilyn who are so excited for their baptism.  We also committed our other investigator Jay-Uh to baptism Sept. 8th! She is awesome, has come to church, and would've been baptized Saturday, too, but her mom passed away and her dad works in Bacolod..Yes, it's typical here for the kids to live by themselves while their parents are elsewhere working. They do everything for themselves and she's 11 and is in charge of her 8 year old brother. But, she's as solid as they come! Awesome girl!
Wed- Today was a long day for us because we went out for 6 hours and only taught 2 lessons.  It was a day to test our patience as the heat was excruciating, we were dripping in sweat, ran out of water early, etc and only had two lessons to show for it.  But, we were satisfied at the end of the day as we contacted ten new less actives and have more people to teach now.  So it was a blessing in disguise! :) That night, Pres. Lopez came and did apt. checks for us and had interviews with us at our house.  Words can't describe how inspired he is, and everything he said and the advice he gave to me with the things on my mind was ON KEY.  I have a vision for my time here in the mission and he helped me get that much closer to it! I love and have so much respect for him as a mission president and am so glad to be serving under him right now!
Thursday and Friday we continued our teaching and committed yet another investigator to be baptized! We are working on another one ( our 4th investigator), but right now he has a serious crime that he committed that is delaying the process.  But, he will be baptized on his time, when he's ready and when he's fully exercised the Atonement in his life and I'm excited to be one of the missionaries helping him through it!
Saturday we worked and worked and then had our baptism.  We had a lot of support there and I loved watching them progress into the waters of baptism. I love teaching the little children here because they have become like brothers and sisters to me and my love for them as they enter into the waters of baptism and realize that their life is just beginning and they have all the time to prepare and become strong in the gospel..priceless!
Sunday we have gotten our recent convert attendance up to 20/26 when, when I first got here they had 9/24 and are seeing the fruits of our labor! Our recent convert just was ordained a priest and received the priesthood and is excited to exercise it and we're working on him for a potential missionary!

We also received transfer announcements just now and I will be staying companions with Sis. Boncales for only one more transfer.  He told Sis. Boncales in her interview the other night that we would only be together one more transfer but because of our work, he wanted us to stay together for one more transfer.  I am excited to stay here in Escalante and continue the progress here that is ready for us!

I love being a missionary and seeing the smiles and happiness in their lives as we help those apply the gospel in their lives and start fresh!
Ihabalo ko ang ebanghelyo tinuod.  Nakita ko ang mga melagrado diri sa Escalante Branch og ihabalo ko dili perpekto kita, pero paagi and pagpa-ula ni JesuCristo maging limpyo!

Stay strong, positive, and faithful!

I love you all!! Umping po!
xo
Sister Arnold

Successful Baptisms of 3!

What a week and I can hardly believe that it's Monday again..where does time go?!

This week we had a crazy week.  Well, as I was so happy to announce that we had a house, we got a call the day before we were supposed to move in and it wasn't approved with the Manila office because it was so expensive.   We questioned why this was happening, but Pres. called us and told us to continue the search. Every house we saw wasn't to mission standards, so we are going to keep trying, the couples are coming Wednesday to help us drive around because we can only walk so far and cover so much ground! Then, Thursday night President will be in Esclante to do interviews, etc. and finalize our housing situation. If we don't have anything by then, we will be pulled out.  I reflected on my time here as a missionary and whether it will end next Tuesday, I am happy with how I served the people of Escalante here! I have learned so much and have made friendships that I will take with me forever. I may not always be here, but the experiences and people will be with me forever! So, you will know next email if I will be transferred or not because will get them through emails Mondays now. 

But, we also had our baptism Sat and so this week was full of preparations with them! They progressed so fast that we had to teach all the lessons in a short time. But, their faith has grown so much!  They were so excited for their baptism and that made it all worth it! We went to Lupa, Sat morning and celebrated Erwin's birthday with him before the baptism and then we all headed over to the chapel together! It was 5pm and Amiel was no where to be found...so Sis. Boncales and I paused and told the baptism to wait and we went to his house to get him because I felt so strongly that he needed to be baptized. We got there and his mom wasn't home but his dad was. We asked the dad if we could take him and he said he would head over with their mom when she got home. We got there and we saw his mom on the way and long story short-they all attended the  baptism! Amiel's testimony for being 10 was incredible and we were so grateful for a successful baptism.  Then, on Sunday all three were set apart! Amiel's mom even attended that as well! We thought she would leave after sacrament, but she stayed all three hours and went to the classes. She had a smile on her face, was singing hymns, etc. I have a testimony on acting on the promptings you receive. Her  heart has been softened, she is attending church and she is on her way to activation and an eternal family! Now, we are working on getting Erwin the priesthood which he is so excited about and focusing on getting our next two investigators Mark and Marilyn ready for baptism this Saturday. They had their interviews Sunday and are ready! I am grateful to have been apart of their conversion and know I had a purpose here, even if it was only one transfer.  Souls were rescued and members returned! Sunday night we went to the chapel to watch the Broadcast of President Monson's birthday and I too am grateful for a living prophet, that through him we can know all things that we need to do to prepare! I know that he was called of God for our time and if we heed the promptings of the Spirit and listen to a prophet's counsel, we'll be on our way to returning to live with our Heavenly Father!

How great is my calling! I love you all and thank you for all the love and support! Everyone asks to see my family picture and I get that I look like both and how happy and great week look! :)

Tell Tyler happy Birthday and I will send him a video next week! I can't believe he's 16! Love you TyTy!

Sister Arnold

Amazing Week

This week was amazing! The Lord blessed us in so many areas of our work from finding a house, to three of our investigators passing their interview, etc!

To start off, last Monday was so busy with looking for houses and ..nothing! That we had only enough time to go to the market, etc..no free time.

Tuesday was District meeting and I got tons of letters..thank you so much for everyone who is writing me and I found a post office sign pointing to a little hole in the market, so I am going to check it out and see if I can send some letters, but if not transfers are in two weeks and I'll send some then! Please don't think I forgot about you all! I love reading what is going on in everyone's life--and it seems like the common news I've been getting lately from everyone is "so and so...is getting married!" Congrats to all the love birds and I hope I receive some pictures! After we went out and worked and had a lesson with a less active who is having problems in her family.  We taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she asked us so many questions. She thought Jesus Christ was Joseph Smith, Mormon was our religion and didn't understand that the Book of Mormon was about Jesus Christ...just another missionary convert.  We have tons of those here which is why only 1/6 of the Philippine members are active.  We are treating her like an investigator and trying to strengthen her because when I asked her how important her family was she couldn't respond and looked embarrassed because they weren't to her--mind you she had her kids all surrounding her in the lesson.  I asked that question assuming her answer would be IMPORTANT and I could feed off of her answer, but my heart broke when I found out otherwise and that the kids heard her reply as well.  I give all the kids here candy and crackers in every lesson.  I gave a piece of candy to the daughter that I could see and she took one little bite and then secretly passed it behind a wall, where the other daughter was.  The feeling I get is heartbreaking as I see the conditions here in some of the families. I just want to give them everything I have for them to be happy so every time I go there, our goal is to get them to smile and little by little they smile more and more with us. A smile is worth a million words and the feeling is incredible.  We also taught another Less active Bro. and Sister Sebua who listen to us but never act.  Our goal was to get them to act. Brother was drunk when we came to visit him last time, so we felt the need to teach Word of Wisdom.  He accepted the commitment and the next time we came he was so excited to tell us he hadn't broken the word of wisdom and continues in all our lessons. He reads his assignments we give him and everything and we committed him to go to church...and to our biggest shock, he was there Sunday all dressed up and even an hour early. Blessings!
Wednesday. Thursday, and Friday we continued the teaching as our investigators were all doing really well.  We have been sad that our investigator Amile has had to be postponed for baptism for a while now because each week sister never comes to church.  Every night I pray for something, some insight on how to help them and one night in my prayers, I felt the need to ask sister if she will just come at 11am for Amile's interview.  We feel that Amile will influence his mom after he is baptized and be the source that they return.  She agreed after she hesitated for a while and we asked Amile if he was excited and he said "Dili, dugay dugay".  Which means: "No, because it's been so long"...another moment when your heart wrenches as a missionary.  We kept our fingers crossed that this would get her to church. Friday, President invited Sister Boncales and I to dinner with the Assistants to the President because it was late and he didn't have time to check our appt and do interviews with us, but we always love the time we have with President and Sister!
Saturday we went to Lupa and finished preparing our two investigators for their baptismal interviews Sunday and they are so awesome! Erwin will be 18 on Sat...the day of his baptism and May Ann is 17.  They didn't really talk to each other before they found out they were both investigating and now I think they are really hitting it off! ha ha
Sunday Sister Boncales and I were asked to speak in church.  What an amazing day! We both had been praying to know what to talk on and we both received revelation and our talks couldn't have supported each other better! Her's was on Testimony and mine was on "Never Leave Him" a talk in the 2010 conference by ..my mind just went blank, but it's about not becoming offended and ashamed and leaving the church.  It's exactly what they needed to hear because here 80% of the members who are less active are all offended by the members.  Even as a missionary, I have been offended by a husband and wife twice, but if you have a testimony of the gospel, if you know why you're here at church, then you simply forgive, forget and in return you feel the Saviors love more abundantly! We both got tons of compliments and said it was what they needed to hear, etc.  We walked away satisfied with our talks.  We also had one of our less actives that Sis. Lopez helped us with, Sis. Empase return this Sunday.  Lots of less actives are coming back little by little and we had three investigators pass their interviews for their baptism Saturday: Erwin, May Ann, and yes...AMILE! Sister came and when she came in, she listened to the gospel principles class until Amile's interview started and was talking with the members.  I am hoping that her heart continues to soften and little by little she will make it back to the church as an active member.

The Lord is blessing this area so much and I didn't feel like it was time for the missionaries to be pulled out..and I was correct.  The Lord blessed us with a HUGE house that President approved the price, and the couples approved the house this morning.  The Escalante sisters will remain in Escalante and hopefully Sis. Boncales will be together next transfer!

I love you all and I know that if we have true, sincere hearts, according to our faith the Lord will bless us! This week strengthened my testimony so much and am grateful to be a missionary, watching these hearts change!  Stay faithful and you will receive blessings that "there won't be room enough to receive them!"

Have a great week!
Sister Arnold

Escalante

What a week I tell ya! Good and bad news! Our house is in a big mess with the contract and we have to be out at the end of the month! We found one, but the kitchen was not considered clean.  The cleanliness to me was disgusting in the kitchen, but here I have learned to just adapt because Sis. Boncales thought it was ok.  I do come from a different culture and fear being considered high maintenance.  But, we have American couples that came and checked our apartment and have the same standards as I and denied it.  So, if we don't find another house within the next week and a half, we will be pulled out of Escalante.  We didn't work as much this week because of our focus on the house because President wants to make that a high priority, but we tried to balance as much as possible. Sis. Boncales and I really don't want to be transferred because our love for the people here and the work is going like crazy!  Our progressing investigators, we have six. They are all progressing really well and excited about their baptisms. Erwin and May-Ann will be baptized on Aug. 18th. That is Erwin's birthday and he is so excited. May-Ann is 17 and Erwin will be turning 18. They keep their commitments, read the pamphlets we given them in preparation and they always are actively engaged in the lesson, and keeping their commitments. Amile is 9 and we've had to postpone his baptism for three weeks now because his mom won't go to church for him to have an interview. We still visit and support them, but right now we're focusing on the family because his mom needs to be strengthened for Amile to be baptized. They have trials in their life, but last night we taught them about Mos 23:21-22. Mark is 9 as well and loves church. His family is extremely poor, but they always send him to church so he can prepare for baptism even if his family doesn't join them. Marilyn has come to church three weeks in a row even though her family doesn't and always tells the little children that stand in the door of the house to be quiet because she loves listening to the lessons. They all are scheduled for April 18th and April 25th and we're excited because we received a lot of referrals this week as well!

Tuesday we had an awesome district meeting where the zone leaders taught us what President trained them on to pass down.  Mostly about new rules and how obedience and if we're all aligned in the mission, we'll see miracles.  There was one rule that was hard for a lot of us to accept that is NO RINGS..no matter boys or girls.  But, we accepted it and knew it was for a reason and like he said: If we obey, we'll see miracles!

Sister Boncales and I have been very grateful this week for our personalities because we have been able to get close to lots of the less actives who even though they aren't going to church and were extremely reserved at first, we have been able to get their trust little by little and have been invited to dinner at their houses, etc. 

Man, I love the work here! We have a few people that will be returning next week who are doing great! Little by little they realize what they have been missing.  My companion and I are still so close..no contention, etc! Our unity continues to show in our work and our determination to just go out and work is aligned.  There are so many people waiting to hear the gospel and it's up to us.  The Lord has entrusted us in this area now and I know that we need to act our part! Sister Boncales and I also celebrated her 6 months..not much of a celebration-we cooked pasta and went to get our avocado shakes that we're addicted to! But, yes mom, you mentioned that soon will be my 6 months! Time has flown by and in bed last night Sis. Boncales and I realized that there are only 2 transfers before Christmas and by then, I will only have 6 months left! It's because of how fast time flies that I know that every minute counts.  Everyday the sun rises and falls, and how did I perform at the end of the night to Heavenly Father?  I am grateful to be here in the Philippines! And, I miss all of you! 

Stay positive! Times are hard and here as missionaries my motto is: Expect the unexpected, but I know that the Lord provides in all things if we but have faith and continue in the gospel! I know this church is true and the only true church on the Earth today! I testify of it everyday and the blessings and miracles I see each day, both in my work, and in my family! I am grateful for those tough times in life because that's when the Lord refines me to the person I need to be and we just continue growing and progressing! Smile-we have tons to be grateful for! Count your many blessings!

Palanga ta ka!

Sister Arnold