Maayong Buntag Family and Friends,
This week was amazing and so much happened! I grew spiritually, ug TANAN! (everything!)
Monday- We were busy at the Doctors for the Ultrasound. Nothing suspicious from the Radiologist but yet the pain still exists. I have the official followup check up on Monday when we go to Bacolod for Sisters Conference. Sorry, I know you were expecting news, but still nothing. Oklang! (That's ok!) We continue..nonetheless! That night we had an FHE with the Nemenzo Family and what a powerful lesson. I was put in charge of the lesson and as I taught "Things that Matter Most" the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf, through inspired questions we were able to hear what their true, real concern is why they're inactive now. Bro. got into drug dealing, etc. and his family suffered so much. Yet, as he cried and thanked us as missionaries for softening his heart to change and repent, the Spirit was so strong! It's incredible how the Spirit works. It wasn't us as instruments, as we're just that. It was the Spirit working through us that we can help others change their lives for the better! They'll be on their way to returning members of the church!
Tuesday-Wednesday We worked because we didn't have District Meeting. It was steady work and we were able to continue teaching our investigator Jay, who will be baptized on Saturday!
Thursday- We had studies and weekly planning so we only had time to work for a few hours before we had to go to the chapel and help our zone leaders set up for zone conference. We then agreed to cook them dinner at our house after we were done. Little did we know 4 more elders showed up! haha But, we had so much fun and there's a picture of us attached that was after we ate. We got to know the elders that were from the different zone and the elders in our mission are great!
Friday- We had zone conference. It was so fun to see the people from past zones, new sister missionaries because I don't know but a few of them because our district/zones, my companion and I are always the only sisters and we're so layo (far)! The zone conference was truly one that will help our mission DRAMATICALLY! They've emphasized finding in our mission because, of course, we were strictly a FINDING/LESS ACTIVE mission, but as missionaries, we didn't know how to go the hundredth mile. So President Lopez gave us ideas on how to increase our lessons, how to use techniques for finding new less actives and how to OYM effectively. This week was so much fun as we were allowed to OYM and we have been giving pamphlets out to everyone. I know other missionaries read my letter so here are a few ideas that they can apply in their missions and the council given to us:
1. Door lessons- This is a short, NO MORE THAN 5 minute lesson given only when it is not appropriate to give a full lesson inside the house. For example, if there is only a laki (boy) in the house, which for Sister Boncales and I we have tons of those. As long as you give a closing prayer, we're allowed to count it for a lesson.
We had an amazing experience with Bro. Pedro with this as him and his son were the only ones home and this is our FARTHEST area that is super expensive to travel to. We gave a door lesson to them and at the end he was so excited to tell us that he would see us at church. We replied "TINUOD?!" (really?! but, with enthusiasm) and sure enough, even though it was a sacrifice he made, he was at church on Sunday! We also had another one where the previous missionaries reactivated the father of our recent convert Mark (10) but he is slipping into inactivity..we shared a door lesson with him and he also was at church on Sunday! The fruits of this activity helped us SO MUCH this week and it's so fun!
2. Finding through prayer- When we are asking where a less active family is, we can use those we meet and ask in this exercise. We can kneel with the family inside the house, offer a prayer to specifically bless them with specific intent, names, etc. (whether it be the wife is sick, or they have a test, etc.) They then will see the fruits of the prayer and it will plant a seed that we can harvest.
3. Working with members- We are counseled to NOT ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM THE MEMBERS! If the members trust us and our skills, they'll give us the referrals, but when we ask, it's proven we won't get any. So we are counseled to "give them referrals" instead by suggesting them to fellowship certain families. They will develop a renewed enthusiasm in missionary work.
4. Inviting the "rich and the learned"- We were given council on the rich who we always overlook because as missionaries, the first impression to the natural man is that they are stuck in their ways and not interested. But, our challenge to us to not miss a "rich" house. We've been overlooking them and ultimately they will be the strongest members of the church. We aren't allowed to teach them in our Dialect either because to them that is an insult. We have to teach them in English.
We have loved applying what we learned and already we have new investigators, returning members, and so much excitement in our work! On Sunday, we were so excited to see those we've been working with at church and exercising their faith and sacrifice. I have learned so much from these people here in the Philippines and everyday they give me strength to keep going as I see the changes in their life. Our investigator Jay, told us that he was so excited to be baptized as he has given up so much to enter into the waters of baptism on Saturday! I am grateful to be with them every step of the way and as they change their lives, they change mine!
The pictures- of Zone Conference, my relationship with some of the members/kids, there's one with me and the little girl pushing our noses because she told me my nose was long and imitated my nose, so I imitated hers which is FLAT! ha and me shredding coconut!
Matt- Happy Birthday on the 27th! I will celebrate here for you and look out for the mail. I sent you a letter a week and a half ago or so! Love you! xo
Thank you for all the love and support! This church is true and if we will just plant the seed in our hearts, we'll recognize that it's "good" and it will start to grow inside us. There are so many people that are around us ready to accept the gospel, we just have to have the courage to be the instruments. As we do, we learn charity-the pure love of Christ and realize how important our purpose on earth is. Every member is a missionary!
Amping kanunay,
Sister Lauren Arnold
This week was amazing and so much happened! I grew spiritually, ug TANAN! (everything!)
Monday- We were busy at the Doctors for the Ultrasound. Nothing suspicious from the Radiologist but yet the pain still exists. I have the official followup check up on Monday when we go to Bacolod for Sisters Conference. Sorry, I know you were expecting news, but still nothing. Oklang! (That's ok!) We continue..nonetheless! That night we had an FHE with the Nemenzo Family and what a powerful lesson. I was put in charge of the lesson and as I taught "Things that Matter Most" the talk by Pres. Uchtdorf, through inspired questions we were able to hear what their true, real concern is why they're inactive now. Bro. got into drug dealing, etc. and his family suffered so much. Yet, as he cried and thanked us as missionaries for softening his heart to change and repent, the Spirit was so strong! It's incredible how the Spirit works. It wasn't us as instruments, as we're just that. It was the Spirit working through us that we can help others change their lives for the better! They'll be on their way to returning members of the church!
Tuesday-Wednesday We worked because we didn't have District Meeting. It was steady work and we were able to continue teaching our investigator Jay, who will be baptized on Saturday!
Thursday- We had studies and weekly planning so we only had time to work for a few hours before we had to go to the chapel and help our zone leaders set up for zone conference. We then agreed to cook them dinner at our house after we were done. Little did we know 4 more elders showed up! haha But, we had so much fun and there's a picture of us attached that was after we ate. We got to know the elders that were from the different zone and the elders in our mission are great!
Friday- We had zone conference. It was so fun to see the people from past zones, new sister missionaries because I don't know but a few of them because our district/zones, my companion and I are always the only sisters and we're so layo (far)! The zone conference was truly one that will help our mission DRAMATICALLY! They've emphasized finding in our mission because, of course, we were strictly a FINDING/LESS ACTIVE mission, but as missionaries, we didn't know how to go the hundredth mile. So President Lopez gave us ideas on how to increase our lessons, how to use techniques for finding new less actives and how to OYM effectively. This week was so much fun as we were allowed to OYM and we have been giving pamphlets out to everyone. I know other missionaries read my letter so here are a few ideas that they can apply in their missions and the council given to us:
1. Door lessons- This is a short, NO MORE THAN 5 minute lesson given only when it is not appropriate to give a full lesson inside the house. For example, if there is only a laki (boy) in the house, which for Sister Boncales and I we have tons of those. As long as you give a closing prayer, we're allowed to count it for a lesson.
We had an amazing experience with Bro. Pedro with this as him and his son were the only ones home and this is our FARTHEST area that is super expensive to travel to. We gave a door lesson to them and at the end he was so excited to tell us that he would see us at church. We replied "TINUOD?!" (really?! but, with enthusiasm) and sure enough, even though it was a sacrifice he made, he was at church on Sunday! We also had another one where the previous missionaries reactivated the father of our recent convert Mark (10) but he is slipping into inactivity..we shared a door lesson with him and he also was at church on Sunday! The fruits of this activity helped us SO MUCH this week and it's so fun!
2. Finding through prayer- When we are asking where a less active family is, we can use those we meet and ask in this exercise. We can kneel with the family inside the house, offer a prayer to specifically bless them with specific intent, names, etc. (whether it be the wife is sick, or they have a test, etc.) They then will see the fruits of the prayer and it will plant a seed that we can harvest.
3. Working with members- We are counseled to NOT ASK FOR REFERRALS FROM THE MEMBERS! If the members trust us and our skills, they'll give us the referrals, but when we ask, it's proven we won't get any. So we are counseled to "give them referrals" instead by suggesting them to fellowship certain families. They will develop a renewed enthusiasm in missionary work.
4. Inviting the "rich and the learned"- We were given council on the rich who we always overlook because as missionaries, the first impression to the natural man is that they are stuck in their ways and not interested. But, our challenge to us to not miss a "rich" house. We've been overlooking them and ultimately they will be the strongest members of the church. We aren't allowed to teach them in our Dialect either because to them that is an insult. We have to teach them in English.
We have loved applying what we learned and already we have new investigators, returning members, and so much excitement in our work! On Sunday, we were so excited to see those we've been working with at church and exercising their faith and sacrifice. I have learned so much from these people here in the Philippines and everyday they give me strength to keep going as I see the changes in their life. Our investigator Jay, told us that he was so excited to be baptized as he has given up so much to enter into the waters of baptism on Saturday! I am grateful to be with them every step of the way and as they change their lives, they change mine!
The pictures- of Zone Conference, my relationship with some of the members/kids, there's one with me and the little girl pushing our noses because she told me my nose was long and imitated my nose, so I imitated hers which is FLAT! ha and me shredding coconut!
Matt- Happy Birthday on the 27th! I will celebrate here for you and look out for the mail. I sent you a letter a week and a half ago or so! Love you! xo
Thank you for all the love and support! This church is true and if we will just plant the seed in our hearts, we'll recognize that it's "good" and it will start to grow inside us. There are so many people that are around us ready to accept the gospel, we just have to have the courage to be the instruments. As we do, we learn charity-the pure love of Christ and realize how important our purpose on earth is. Every member is a missionary!
Amping kanunay,
Sister Lauren Arnold
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