Missing my Father on Father's Day

Thanks for the tears, speechless!

 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO A ONE AND ONLY GEM! Dad, I wish I was there with you to wish you a real happy fathers day with a "great big KISS"(primary hymn) "a hug around the neck"! It was a different feeling for all of us sisters in the mission, esp. living with two sisters whose fathers have already passed on. It made me and Sis. Polatis THAT MUCH MORE grateful for our fathers. I have a winner and because of you dad and your example, i've become the young lady I have, and become like you in more ways that one! But, who wouldn't love that!? I DO! I hope you enjoy it and just know, next Fathers Day will be a winner! :)

This week was a great week as we were so blessed in our work. The past few weeks were a rough one because we thought we were going to have our baptisms and one moved away and the other just isn't ready.

Monday we had a Family Home evening with our recent convert, R. It had to be one of my most enjoyable/fun FHE's here in the mission. There were tons of people and everyone just had a blast. We even got a few investigators from it and we're excited to work with them. Bro. R is a solid convert. I say it every week. But, really. He just blossoms more and more each week!

Tuesday marked my 3 months left. Bitter sweet as most would imagine. It gave me a chance to reflect on my mission: how far i've come, what i've learned, the young lady that i've grown into and what I wan to do in my last three months. I just can't even believe that time will fly like it has been and with only two transfers, we'll find out tomorrow what the Lord has in store for me!

This week we worked with a lot of our investigators and we have seen so much progress! There is great potential in Bacolod 5th. Sometime we have to sink lower to get higher. That's how I have to keep looking at this time where we continue to work to make sure that our investigators are ready before they get baptized. I know that when the time comes in the next two weeks, we'll have built them all up again so that they can all enter into the waters of baptism!

This sunday was a great start!! Amazing! So many investigators were there (11), 15/23 of our recent converts attended and over 10 less actives again, newly returning little by little! This week was a tender mercy and I'm so excited!

This week I also had an opportunity to do an exchange in 6th ward...I went back to my roots!!!!! It was so fun to see everyone again and we went out with Sis. Gay and one other ward missionary who I could actually talk to decently this time haha because my language wasn't as fluent back then in training. It was great to see most of the members are continuing, less actives have returned, and I was saddened when I found out one went less active again. She committed to get back into it because she compared her life to back when i was there and she was attending everything..there were greater blessings back then, and less this time! I just loved it, but it reaffirmed why I am in 5th ward: we can't help everyone. Everyone is waiting for us and there are those right now waiting for me still!

The work continues growing and growing. There are over 100 baptisms in our misison each week and we're working on having 300! We got this, but we've come so far already because a few months ago there were only 50/month roughly.....Pres. Lopez is inspired and called of God and he means business because this time is so short that we have to be 'Sister Arnold'. I love my mission and the great love of our Savior I feel each day. I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who gave me this opportunity and who has always been there for us, no matter the trials we're in, etc. Take advantage of him. He's always there!!

Have a great week and Happy Fathers Day again to all the great dads out there, but ESPECIALLY BIG PAPA! Love you all and pray for you daily!

6/9/13 - Baptism of Bro. R

Happy Monday everyone! Today is June 10 and the temperature it overcast and humid! ..Time has been flying!

This week was great with so many highlights. In our ward here we have 3 american couples like i mentioned before and we had fhe with one of them this week on monday to help reactivate a few of his family and we got a new investigator out of it named S...Her husband while talking to him I found out his desire was to have his wife be baptized because she's Iglesia ni Cristo but because in their church you have to baptize within your religion or you're basically kicked out. But, she accepted a return appointment and we went back on Wednesday! It was a great lesson, she has TONS of questions, but as a missionary, the more questions THE BETTER! We're excited and she was out of town this Sunday but will attend this upcoming Sunday as a whole family!

 

We spent this week also preparing Sister AR to be baptized and we are setting it up so that N can use his priesthood and baptize her! He is excited and asked me, "well sister, sure but who does this (and puts his hands out like he's giving a blessing...meaning giving the holy ghost"?  He's so excited and he reads everyday and always is exited to tell me about nephi and laban/lemuel, etc. He loves it and is preparing now to go on a mission.

Brother J has committed to serve a mission, still super shy, but I was too. Who isn't, at first? But, it sure comes with time and now I lost all shyness in me. He'll be great and I love that I've baptized so many with that desire to serve a mission beause of us missionaries helping them receive the gospel..what greater joy than that?
 

Well, Brother R was also baptized. That was one chaotic baptism. I was bummed that his program wasn't everything I had envisioned it, but I walked away grateful beause it wasn't the decorations/ talks although those are great, but above all its the Spirit that he felt and that he simply put entered into the waters of baptism. He was confirmed that next day in church and is already interview for the priesthood. He's solid. I know that he will go far, get sealed in the temple because once he sets his mind on something , he gives it 100%! He will be a future leader of the church who will help to establish this church and help others receive the gospel that he did! :)

Well, many are confused if I transferred..nope. we have transfers next week and we're sure one of us will transfer, but not sure who. We're sad but I've just been on a lot of exchanges with the new responsibility I was given! I love this work and am excited for my last week with Sis. POlatis. We're going out with a bang. I love this work! This work is real and progressing and we can't do it without the help of the members! :)

Until next week,

6/2/13 Finally settling down again

Maayong hapon family!!

Wow, it seems like it was just as crazy of a week there as it was for us! This week just flew like no tomorrow..I can't believe and am so thankful that I was able to at least share the moment for Jen and Shawn through pictures!! She was one beautiful bride and one handsome groom! I am so happy for you two!! Can't wait to see you both when I get home!

As for me this week, it was full of transfers once again. This time I headed to Cadiz City and it was so fun for me because I was able to see other parts of the mission because I have only had three areas to this day! I met some really great people and it was funny as the members said for me to stay there and were bummed it was only a one night exchange, as I was too! But, I also got that I was a BOLD missionary, but it was a good bold, they knew what they needed to do and they committed to do it. They appreciated the visit and were excited to attend church! We had some powerful lessons and between the two nights in Cadiz and two companionships I worked with, I followed up on them and they attended church. We had one powerful lesson that they were all in tears and they all attended church for the first time because they were less actives. Blessings!

This week we moved houses once again. Sister Polatis and I have moved into three homes now in this area...we're exhausted and once we get settled in, we have to move again..we have house mates now and so we're getting adjusted to having them there. We decided we're not a fan as our second night there was yesterday, we came home and the landlord told us not to lock the bottom knob because it was a different key and he hadn't given it to us yet, well the other sisters locked it and we ALL were locked out. We had to wait over an hour and a half, so we're learning a few things...we're learning that there's more of us and if someone makes a mistake like that, we all get hit with it. But, the landlord finally came in and let us in!

This week we had our baptism of J. He is awesome and we're encouraging him to serve a mission. He says he's shy, but we see the "unshy" side of him and we're so ready to get him preparing and serving! He has so much potential, and is so sharp! We also had our interview for Brother R who will be baptized Saturday and the elders said that he was our most prepared investigator. He is awesome and instead of just answering questions, he bears testimony of everything! That's why you know they are truly converted.

This week was tiring, fast, but rewarding! We're ready for our last week together before transfers..bitter sweet. There is so much to do until we separate as a companionship! :)
Love you all and am happy for you all!

5/26/13 Happy Memorial Day

Well, for some reason, Sis. Polatis and I BOTH forgot about memorial day! I wish holidays like that registered in our heads better, but wow! It sounds like everyone had a great experience with the wedding..it sounded like it was amazing! Congrats Zac and Julie! :)

This week was a great week as we had FHE with the D's on Monday. This will be the second in about a month and a half and we had so many people there! We did a lesson with them where you have two cotton balls, and one you pour alcohol all over and the other you leave dry. You light them on fire and we taught the importance of having the Spirit in our lives using 2 Nephi 26:11,13. It was fun because more of the members at the home were boys and they liked the fire. You'll observe that the one with alcohol is protected and didn't burn, but the other one just burned to pieces. I was nervous to do the object lesson because I didn't try before I got in there and feared something would go wrong, and possibly start a fire, but it was awesome!

We even got a few more referrals from them and 5 others this week from other missionaries that have those who are extremely interested that we're excited to contact and teach! The work is just on FIRE here!

This week we had exchanges again! The first was Sis. E wow! It was so much fun! She is just loving her mission and now we can tell our families that we were companions one day because we're not sure if it'll happen again! I also had companion exchanges with another sister, Sis. R and that night we committed 4 more people to baptism! Both Sis. E and Sis. R left Bacolod 5th ward telling me, "Wow, you have such great investigators!!" I feel blessed to be here working with these people and letting other sisters have a part in their progression! It's been fun also seeing and hearing about the other sisters applying what we're doing in our area to theirs to get their investigators up and progressing and how to find them, etc. so that they can have those weekly baptisms! I hope all works out in the other areas!

Many of you are wondering, but Sis. Polatis and I have not been a fan of being apart, but it's been good for her to realize that most likely we'll be seperated next transfer, I'm 98% sure I'll be left here in Bacolod 5th ward which puts me here for my last two transfers..side note, if i'm left here until I go home, I'll have been in this area almost 11 months...and I LOVE IT! But, we'll just wait and see what my last two transfers have to offer in a few weeks!

On Saturday, it was a good day, even though our baptism fell through because our investigator had to go to Cadiz last minute and it was too late to try and move someone up. But, he passed his interview and will just be baptized on Saturday! We also have one investigator, great and I have loved teaching him. He's been one that the sisters who go on exchanges on me brag about and just loved teaching him. At first, we gave him the date of June 22nd, but he's just progressed soooo much. SO, I moved him up to June 8 so he can progress in the gospel sooner! I can't wait for him to get the Priesthood and he's going to be a future leader, etc!!

To end the night, we went and I suprised Sis. Polatis and Sis. May with a slurpee at the new 7-11! First in Bacolod and it's in our area..just explains how great my ward is with everything in it!! A mall, etc. We felt a little American in there! yum...we'll be back a lot!!!

Sunday was so fun as I've become the Gospel Principles class teacher and how the spirit works. It has been so fun as I found my comfort zone in teaching the gospel and I just love having fun with it and having everyone excited for it. President Lopez has told us that if we're the teachers, to have the best class where everyone wants to attend...well every week the attendance has gotten larger and larger and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Man, I just love being a missionary! Time is just flying right now and I'm just trying to give this everything I have and to end on the best note! My mission has been such a blessing and I'm so excited that so many people are serving missions right now! I love the people of the Philippines and am grateful to be in this service. I know this is the only true church and that agency is such a large part of who we are! I know that we have a right, a responsibility, and a result to our agency, so use it wisely!

I love and pray for you all!! xo

5/19/13 You're Blossoming

This week was indescribable as I just was influenced so much that it is hard to describe in words. Sometimes in our lives we look at ourselves and ask 'Why?', 'Why am I going through this', 'Why was I given a calling like this', 'What do I have to offer'? But, this week was such a testimony builder as I learned a little more about myself, my work here, and my purpose. My eyes were opened more to WHY I am here until September and not July, why I am serving in the Philippines and 5th ward at this moment, what I was supposed to learn, and what I have to offer. I was told by a member, Sister M, "you're blossoming." I asked what she meant by that and all I got as a response was "just that. you're blossoming". I know the Lord has his timing for everything. We look at things with our wrist watch and see 24 hours, but on the Lord's clock-is for eternity. We look and ask all the 'Why''s, instead of asking 'Why not?'. The Lord prepares us for things we are to go through, things we are to learn and ultimately the refining experiences as we become the people we are to become FULLY! Each day we will continue to blossom and I am grateful that it's a process that we constantly have to work at! My testimony grew so much this week as I was able to help my fellow sisters in the Bacolod Mission. President Lopez has a vision consisting of 3 things:

-Exact obedience
-Becoming Preach my Gospel scholars
-Weekly baptisms

I was grateful to have gone on exchanges twice this week with sisters in the mission and help them see the HOW to accomplish Pres. Lopez's vision as he testified that as we have exact obedience and become PMG scholars, the promised blessing is in weekly baptisms.

This week we were able to have yet another baptism of Bro. N.  Along with N, we were able to commit a few more investigators to be baptized and are seeing the work progress. I am grateful for this opportunity to be in Bacolod 5th ward. I know that I am here for a reason. Another huge testimony builder that I had this week was yesterday at church. As Sister Polatis and I greet all the members as they get into church, we had discussed the problem with the Primary here in the ward because all the kids are out running around in the halls, going in and out or Relief Society all the time, so Sis. Polatis said "We should just go teach their class." We looked at each other and I suggested we take them into the chapel where there's a piano and sing the Primary songs with them. Sister Polatis played the first half, and I the second half with all the kids gathered around her at the piano singing songs they knew and shouting out more songs that they knew. We taught them the actions to "The wise Men"and "Book of Mormon stories" because they don't know those here and they just loved it. I told Sis. Polatis after church, that as she was sitting down with all the children singing around her, I got teary eyes as I just pictured how special each and every child is to our Heavenly Father. I was reminded or Christ's love for all the children as they gathered around his side and my heart was full. Sis. Polatis after telling her my experience shared her similar experience as she looked back at me with all the kids by my side and just treasuring the experience. It was a memory I will not forget and reminds me of Christ's love for each and every one of us. Just as we didn't want any kids sitting a few rows away, the same with our Savior. He wants each and everyone of close to Him, at arms length ready to pick us up, comfort us, and tell us he loves us. My testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ was greatly strengthened and I know the he Lives! I know that as we follow the commandments, whether big or small, asking 'Why not' instead of 'Why', he'll bless us! I testify of it, because he blesses me each and every day, whether big or small.

May we all remember our Savior Jesus Christ; let him be reflected in our countenance each and every day!

I love you all and pray for you more than once a day! I was grateful to have seen and talked with each and every one of you last Monday and good luck with all the wedding craziness! :) xo

5/12/13 I loved talking to you!! Until next week! :)

Enough said!

5/5 Another Baptism

Well, this week was great as we're getting sad that transfer day is this week. We both are having bitter sweet feelings, me more so. I've been in this area for 4.5 transfers now and I would love to go more!  The members are great, the relationships I have with the people are unforgettable and the work is progressing so fast! WE have baptisms set up through July! But, we 'll see. I think it'll be a great opportunity for Sister Polatis to take what she's learned and apply it! She's ready!

This week Sis. K was baptized and I was so excited to watch her in the process of her getting ready to make that covenant with her Heavenly Father. She has a great support system, great friends, etc. all in the ward and I know she'll be a great member of the ward!

We continued teaching F this week and my oh my, he has a million questions! He even tried inviting us to his church to "continue searching" beacause he doesn't believe he has a religion that he needs, but a relationship with God. I loved answering all his questions and thanks dad for the help with my other questions! Yet, he has started reading the Book of Mormon! He asked us if there was money he needed to give and I jokingly said it was 50pesos/night he read it and he was serious and wanted to buy it! 'Why' I asked him? His response: Because it flows like water! IT'll take time but in time I KNOW he'll come to know the truth whether or not I will harvest the seed or just plant it in his heart!

This week, we also had our recent convert, M who is 10 years old want to go with us and do missionary work! He worked with us, shared scriptures, even if it seemed like it had little relevance, he loved it! He shared his testimony, read the scriptures for us, and prayed at every lesson! He wanted to work with us on Tuesday because he loved it ! I loved having a part in his conversion and helping him have the desire to serve a mission! He's a strong boy!

Sorry this is so short this week! But, the work is progressing! No matter where we are in the world, it'll always be progressing! I love this gospel and know that no matter how many questions we have about the world and about our lives, we can always find answers in the gospel and Book of Mormon! I know it with all my heart and am grateful to be able to share what I DO know for myself everyday!

Until next week!!!! I can't wait to skype with you!

4/28/13 A different week but glad to be of help!

Maayong udto FAMILY!

This was such a different week as you can probably tell by the pictures..most of them we're not in proselyting clothes-but, man, I secretly missed the hard, manual labor..us sisters have it here with community service, I beg, but no one lets me and thinks things are too hard. Have they seen who they're talking to? Sister. Arnold. I know! Well, this week was a little disastrous in one of the "purok"s that they are called..It's like a "Subdivision" There was a crazy man, come to find out that he was on drugs, etc. (I don't really know) and he stood on his roof and said "Imperiano na ta!" (English translation: We're all going to hell) and threw fire. It caught this whole area on fire with over 200+ homes and needless to say...there wasn't much left as you can see from the pictures.

I immediately told Sis. Polatis we need to go visit them because LOTS of our members live over there-more inactive than active, but regardless, as a missionary, they became family to me. We went and I told Sis. Polatis that I observed whose homes got burnt down and whose didn't.

The next day, Wednesday we went and helped all the members, mostly inactive help go through the remains to gather scraps! It was hard work, with heat blistering over us, but I LOVED IT! That Saturday we as a ward had National Community Service Day in the Philippines was spent over there! The members are getting help from the ward, etc.and the church attendance on Sunday was incredible as all the inactives were humbled back to church and the members who were saved continued as they gave thanks! It was great to hear their testimonies in our Gospel Principles class as we talked about Our Heavenly Father. We had a group of investigators, 3 men that we met at dinner on Saturday and while Sis. Polatis was getting the food,I went to sit down. The one in black that I sent you a pic home approached me and asked me from what country I was from and asked more about us, why we're here and we, of course as missionaries I JUMPED on the opportunity to give him a Book of Mormon. HE said that he was seeking answers and it was a good long hour of answering his questiions and sharing our testimony of the Book of Mormon. He asked questions like :

-Is God fair?

-If God is fair, why does he let the starving people in Africa live like that while other like Americans have it so easy?

-Was Jesus Christ happy in his life? etc.

I sit back and am SO grateful for my knowledge on those topics. We had a great discussion while our ice cream melted and our food was cold, but after we sat back and just thought WOW! What a powerful discussion! I know the Lord placed us in his path as missionaries to share what we know with him. We got his number, and invited him to church! and...low and behold, THEY CAME! He, Fred, in the black asked so many of the same questions in Gospel PRinciples and brought up Africa and the inactive members whose homes were gone were in attendance to that class and I felt the need to ask them how they felt..did they feel that God didn't love them because He let their homes burn down and they all agreed that it was just a trial to try their faith and it was a humbling experience for them to realize what was important and even though the people in Africa have that title, they were literally left with nothing as welll and where were they? The church. Why? Because they knew that that was most important!

Well, he texted us more questions and I realized that all in all, he has no faith. He asked why those with Downs Syndrome have to suffer the way they do, etc. It was perfect that he chose that disability of all as I responded my opinion, how they're perfect and especially with Tyler being my brother and having that as a struggle in his life...good thing they're perfect and we're not.  Man, it was a testimony builder for me and I gave him a reading assignment in Ether 12 and he texted back thanking me as he finally took the step to read it! I was so grateful for my testimony of this gospel! I know that God is our Heavenly Father, knows and loves each and every one of us! He gives us trials to make us more refined and perfect as isn't that our purpose of this life? I am grateful to continue to share what I know and how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can bless all who are going through any discomfort or pain."As we struggle, we should consider ourselves honored to suffer with Christ."This gospel is the only true church! I know that anyone who takes the time and exercises their faith to read the Book of Mormon will feel of it's truthfulness and reality! That is what Sis. F did as she prepared to enter into the waters of baptism last Sunday! She had lots of member support and on Sunday came up to us and expressed her feelings on how great she felt! Who wouldn't want that in their lives?

I love my calling here as a missionary and will continue the work yet another week! Know I love and pray for you just as much as I do the people here,whether you're next to me or thousands of miles away! :)

4/21/13 "Dumber and Dumber-Sister Arnold and Sister Polatis"

"Dumber and Dumber-Sister Arnold and Sister Polatis" at it for another week..yep, that's right! This week was so much fun! And the title will be explained as the letter continues! Well, we started off on Monday and we were super excited when our FHE came with the D Family and with all our recent converts that came from that family and our investigators that live near by! Bro. D came into town and we had our lesson about being united in the gospel and that our families will always be fine! It was a super fun time and we had some great food: our favorite and yours too-PANCIT! (the noodles we had at the filipino restaurant before I left!)

Tuesday we had so much fun and we were feeling a little, well...spontaneous! Dumber and Dumber Exhibit 1: So, I was a little over the fire red because my hair was looking super fried/damaged and the sun was turning my hair all kinds of colors..I had an urge to get back to a decent dark brown color. I told Sis. Polatis my plan and she was like "YEAH! ME TOO!"...the rest was history! But, that day we went and followed up with our investigator who is super sweet and it's the mother of one of our recent converts! She expressed her desire for her whole family to investigate an listen and so little by little they are..

 

Wed: Dumb and Dumber Exhibit 2: Well, it was overcast and we thought maybe the weather would clear up and it usually happens that when we take our umbrellas it never rains and when we do, it doesn't..so I said, "Lets just take one umbrella and if it rains...it'll be fun! Well, we wanted a funny story to tell....worst idea ever! We got poured on!!!!!! We were house hopping to the appointments to try and stay dry with one umbrella, but it did just that! It was fun and we had a funny story to tell!

Her and I have the "bopsy twins" as dad told me companionship, but it's been fun getting to know who really is Sister Polatis and viceversa in this great work!

Friday I really enjoyed as before general conference, I encouraged the Young Women to write down questions they want answered in their lives like I have done since I've been in the mission and it always works for me! I encouraged them to do it, so they can get more out of general conference and they came up to me and thanked me for the suggestion and HOW MUCH they really learned about themselves, etc. I was touched that it worked so well for them! That day we also went and visited our investigator who is 16 and a girlfriend of a member who we've been teaching..we committed her to baptism and she was super excited but didn't think her mom would let her. Her mom would always get mad at her for doing bible study elsewhere, but we felt impressed to respect her mom enough to go visit her, build that relationship, and ask for permission. She at the end of our visit, her heart was softened and she gave her permission because she's seen the great changes in her as a daughter-not as rebellious etc.

Saturday-Baptism! It was time for her to be baptized as she prepared this week! We had complications with the font not filling because it was a brown out (black out for us) and the water wasn't filling. We finally got power and started the baptism at 7:30 that night when it was supposed to be 6. Her testimony was powerful and we had a great time seeing the progression in her life!

Sunday was a crazy day! We had a brown out all at church and were all dying of heat!! We then got called on to be speakers 2 seconds before they started! It was a crazy day and we ended it with 9 investigators progressing! We have baptisms every week continued and ready to enter the waters of baptism! We are excited for another week next week and one more baptism!

Thank you for all the support you've given me. I know this Church is true. The Lord has a plan for each and every one of us if we jut cater our will to His. I love you and pray for you all!