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!

Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER!!! (that we had no idea was going on!) This week was holy week where they do a reinactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with volunteers who feel that that's the way to get forgiven of their sins..we heard it was in our area but it ended up being in a different area. Needless to say, the roads were EMPTY those two days and it was nice being able to enjoy the quietness of the city!

 

We had our baptisms this week and President Lopez attended as he played such a huge part in JB and H's life as he interviewed them for baptism! That was a crazy day as we ran out of baptismal clothes because there were 4 being baptized.  Those being baptized and the baptizers all needed clothes etc.  But, it was a remarkable time and it was a baptism I won't forget because they both grew so much along with MM the third that was baptized and when they entered into the waters of baptism, they cried as they shared their testimonies, even I had tears. They have great testimonies and will grow to be great leaders in the church!

 

On Sunday, we sure were tested as every little thing was going wrong as we were preparing for the confirmations of those that were baptized.  We were also preparing for our musical "Restoration Sunday" where we performed the restoration through songs in Sacrament Meeting and Sister Polatis and I played the piano for them all and I have been so impressed on my piano skills here in the mission as I played for the last big group number "As sisters in zion/we'll bring the world his truth" for the end! It was a test of faith for me to try to play the piano but I was blessed as I was able to get through it! It was so fun!

 

Funny story, we were singing "Lead kindly light", as our part with Sister P with no piano and I was singing the 1st verse, her the second and us two the third combined. While she was singing she pronounced one of the words so FILIPINA and I started to chuckle, but it wasn't that obvious and I pulled myself together. But, I guess me laughing made her start to laugh and so she hurried singing the 2nd verse and we both at this point had just lost it while still trying to present this musical number. We couldn't stop laughing and with one of us stopping laughing, the other would start again and it was one big cycle! The congregation at the point was laughing and so we just smiled and sat down! HAHA. We were a little embarrassed that that happened as we put together this fireside and needless to say the ward hasn't let us live it down!  But, it all was a success and we were happy with it. All the members said how much they loved it and want more, so we're going to make this a tradition in this ward, involving the members more next time and doing it on different topics so that the ward is familiar with the gospel in a creative way and enjoyable to all who participate! I was thankful for all that participated and sacrificed their time like we did to make it all possible!

This week I truly felt the love of my Savior as I watched so many enter and follow his example. We celebrated the life of our Savior as it was Easter and how grateful I am for his sacrifice and love for me individually! I know that He lives and wants all to follow His example, no matter how small of big! I know that there are so many people waiting to enter and hear the gospel, if we remember to help others by being a missionary because we are His missionaries to bring the world His truth! I know this gospel is true! I know that the gospel was restored through a prophet Joseph Smith and becuase of the sacrifice of so many, we have this wonderful gospel restored back on earth today!

 

I love you all and pray for you always! Thank you for the prayers in my behalf, as we're seeing the blessing come in abundance! This week we'll be preparing for S's baptism on Saturday!

 

xo

Sister Arnold

Another Week of Baptisms (3/24)

Maayong Udto!!

What a great week this was as we witnessed two of our members be baptized into this true church! I was so honored as I witnessed them from the beginning to the end. They have such a strong testimony of the gospel and know that they will grow strong in this gospel. J gave up his position in the Iglesia ni Cristo church that is equivelant to Stake President with a large pay. It just shows the sacrifice that people in this day and age are willing to give up for the true church! Then we had JM baptized after Bro. D  was reactivated to an active member of the church again! It was a great stretch and took time, but they are such a blessing to have witnessed them come back! They went to church as a family for a month now and watching Bro. D take that opportunity to baptize JM reminded me of how I felt about dad baptizing me! I wouldn't have had it any other way!!

I really enjoyed the Zone conference this week as I realized how to better help our work! We were able to find even more investigators and Sis. P and I are really focusing on the vision of the mission and baptizing every week! We have so many investigators ready to enter into the waters of baptism and we are working on our goals one day at a time and ready to give it even more this week! Right now we have baptisms every week from last week until April 13th!

President came and interviewed JB and H and after he expressed to us how strong their testimonies were of this gospel! But, only two were baptized on Saturday!
Sister H is in such a great position right now where she sees where her life needs to go! She is being abused that we found out by the LA that referred us to her who is her "Live in" partner right now. She cried to us about her problems and expressed that she wants to be baptized so that she can leave him and she can continue going to church when she goes home. She will be baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. I"ve grown so close to her as she's confided in me. She's opened up to me about her plans and how she is ready to be happy happy. She expressed her thanks to me and told me she'll be forever grateful for the role I played in her life and she'll never forget me. I sit back and reflect on those saying each day and realize just HOW truly grateful I am for this opportunity to be here. The journey of being a missionary wasn't easy by any means, but it's when you love the people and forget yourself and your worries/problems that you feel TRULY happy!
I love this wonderful work! The work is going like crazy here in the Philippines. WIth the 4 additional missions, we won't be getting a huge increase in missionaries just yet because all those missionaries that would've been added to our missions are being sent to the new 4 missions! So, for right now as far as my release date, I asked President about it if it'd be earlier release like other missions regardless, but right now we'll just plan on it being the same :)
Sister P. is so great! We're hoping for three transfers together and then you'll all be able to meet her on Skype :) Then, after our three companionships, it'll be just two transfers left. weird. But, still going strong! You only have 18 months to be on a mission and the rest of my life to look back on it! I love you all and have a great week!

Mid March (3/17)

Well, we're super stoked for it being mid march because our fruits are finally being harvested! We have baptisms the next four weeks!!!!!! And more than one candidate almost every week!

This week was super crazy as we have 3 candidates being baptized this weekend and having to make sure they were ready for their interviews, etc.. Well, the sad news was that our 3 candidates went to 2 candidates.  I am glad you all are as happy for Sister H as we are! President is interviewing her tomorrow and we will see how it goes and give her a date!!

Brother J is super excited about his baptism and he passed his interview! He asked one of the members of the bishopric to baptize his and he was super honored!  The D family, this was hard as they opened up to me about ALL their problems and having to see the trials they were going through in their life, but brother will be baptizing JM Saturday at their baptism. It's great to see the work we have put in, pay off and see true changes! We're excited to see them progress!! :)

As for our other investigators, they are all progressing nd we have 13 with a date right now to be baptized in the following weeks!

Things are going great with my companion. Her language is improving, she's not shy anymore to talk to the members and we see the relationships she has developed with them! We are continuing to receive referrals and we are just having such a blast together! We're hoping to be together for three transfers so that she'll be my companion when I call home and you can meet her! She is great and we have been very successful as a companionship!

There was a broadcast that was shown from Utah that was our "stake conference" in the Philippines where Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David F. Evans, and Mary Cook? spoke! I loved Elder Holland's talk where he talked about the trials and tribulations that the people in the Philippines go through and how the Lord comforted Joseph Smith in his hardest of trials in Liberty Jail that is found in DC 121, 122, 123. He challenged us to study it and compare the Liberty Jail to a temple and even in our darkest of times, we can seek and receive revelation for our lives like Joseph smith received in the Jail. Then, he said one thing that stuck out to me was "Do everything you can and enjoy it!".

Go forth with faith in all that we do, enjoy what we do, and we'll be blessed in all things! The Lord never leaves our side and will be there for us even in the darkest of times! I am grateful for my testimony of this gospel that I have been able to share with all those around my in the Philippines! I have felt his love for me on numerous of occasions and know there will be more in the future! :)

Blessings Continue 3/10

YES!! We are so excited here in 5th ward!!

Monday we had PDAY and went bowling with the Ward Missionaries and had lunch with the Elders in our District at Pizza Hut..Sister P and I are pretty much ....addicted! But, it was so much fun! The bowling here is ridiculously..fun? I'm horrible here.. You get three tries, the balls are half the size of american balls and it's manual/dark and random men just hanging out there. But, nonetheless, super fun! That night, we had FHE with a referral from a member and we were able to contact him with one of our great ward missionaries!  We did FHE first so that he could get comfortable with us, etc. before we began his teachings, etc. success. EXCEPT, we were offered water and we saw the jug for purified so we thought it was purified...jokelang! ha Sis. P and I looked at each other as we drank it at the same time...yeah, it wasn't filtered. My stomach is adjusted to the culture, but hers was upset all that night. poor thing!

 

Tuesday we had District meeting and we contacted another referral of ours! She is so elect. She is a girlfriend of another less active, but comes and is so strong even without her boyfriend. She took notes and everything when we gave her the Book of Mormon as a study journal, had so many questions and will be baptized March 30th! We also got a call from President because I had told him about my experience with H continuing in the gospel and he asked why she wasn't baptized. I told him that with President T, it had to be ten years that they were separated with no contact. But, he said that he should be making that decision.  He asked me a few questions about her and her background, if they were faithful, does the less active husband support her, etc. Well, he made the decision that SISTER H WILL BE BAPTIZED! Tender mercies and my heart was full..i may have danced around the house when I found out it was possible and I cant' wait to tell her! :) She'll be baptized March 30th as well!!!!

 

Wednesday we had companion exchanges so Sis. P stayed and led the area here and I went to Silay with Sister B who will be going home soon! I learned so much from her example and it was so fun to go see another area! Sister P was freaking about leading the area, but I helped her have a plan and scheduled the ward missionaries to work with her and she did AWESOME! I was so proud of her and we were ready to come back with new ideas, progression, etc.

 

Thursday we switched back and went to work! We committed brother J to baptism which he had some problems, for the past two years, but we helped him over come them. He is no longer living with a woman because they didnt get along very well and he too was married previously! He has a baptism date for March 23rd and he is super stoked! I am too! He says he's scared of me because I called him out on him drinking coffee way back before we saw him as potential again in a joke, but I really was serious! haha But, we all have the best relationships and joke around but he is super ready like Bro. C. He's been investigating the church for two years and now is his time!!

 

Friday-Saturday we worked like crazy teaching all our investigators/Less actives/Recent converts, etc! Friday we did Cleaning with the Missionaries and had such a great turn out! Saturday, we had a meeting with our ward missionaries, bishopric, etc and coordinated our efforts because we are having trouble balancing our work now because of all the appointments we have and with training we have 4 hours of studies everyday! But, they did great and we've been giving them daily assignments , working side by side with us making sure that we are all taken care of! I am so excited!

 

Sunday! WE HAD YET ANOTHER AMAZING SUNDAY!! WE had 13 investigators at church today and 9 have dates and the others will have dates this week! We are stoked to see the work flouristhing here! I am so excited to see the harvest of our efforts! Even the D family came and brother will return next Sunday and will baptize his son on the 23rd after years and years of this boy going to church, but not being baptized becase his family was inactive! I am so grateful for all the love the Lord has for his servants and we're seeing these people's lives change! I know many have mentioned my excitement for this work and I truly DO LOVE THIS WORK! Time is flying and i'm ready to give it what my all until the end! Many have asked about my relationship with Sis. P. in one word: perfect. I KNOW that is why we are seeing the success we are, BECAUSE the unity isn't there just 60% or 65%, but 100%%%%%!!!! I love her and she is so great, with ideas, her purpose, relationships with the ward members, etc! ...phew. I love it. Thank you for the prayers, I really appreciate them and know that I'm praying for you all! You are all my examples and I love you all!!!! :) The church is true!

Most Amazing Sunday Yet

Happy MONDAY!! IT's MARCH ALREADY!! (March 3)

 

I know that as a missionary, we think that all our experiences and challenges are the best because we think our mission is the best mission in the world! Well, I just had one of the MOST AMAZING WEEKS!!! This week was hard as we filtered our investigators because of everything that was going on, some not progressing and as a trainer, I felt the pressure of seeing our numbers go down so low and wondering how to lead the area in finding new investigators, etc. It wasn't until Friday that we were just feeling overwhelmed with the one question in our mind: "How are we going to do this". I had another idea with it being March to do a Missionary March to get the members excited and involved. We planned cleaning the chapel with the missionaries to help the memebrs see our example because Bishop keeps pusHing them get helping clean the chapel because we don't have maintenance people here-it's the members job. So many people already are excited to join! We challenged the ward this March to hand out one Book of Mormon, one Family Proc to the World and one RESTORATION, PLAN OF SALVATION, and GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST pamphlet out to different people and if they had referrals who wanted to learn more, we were happy to schedule and teach them! We spent lots of visits with the members this week continuing to work with them and trying to get their trust. We encouraged the less actives to do it as well! We had Missionary Coordination Meeting with the Ward missionaries and they are all super excited to help us! We got to church, bishop announced our plans as well as having all musical numbers and topics missionary related every week and doing a one day mission! It was testimony meeting and it was such a touching experience. The referrals that had been given to us ALL went to church! The ones we had been working with like JB, is progressing so much and we had such a powerful lesson with them about repentance! The D's we kind of weren't able to visit as much this week and feared if they wouldn't attend church without us being there, but THEY WERE THERE! Our investigator H was there even though she can't be baptized because she had a former husband and here it's impossible or expensive to get divorced so the rule is 10 years being separated but for her, it had only been 2. It was a hard lesson to tell her she couldn't be baptized for a while, but as she walked out she said "Sister Arnold, even though I can't be baptized, I am still going to continue reading, going to church, etc. because I know it's true!" That hit me so hard and was such a testimony builder to me..how many people continue even though they are told they may not be baptized right away? I was grateful to have helped her become TRULY converted. I don't need a baptism to show for her conversion, but what she said was worth any of that and I can't wait to find out later in life that she was baptized! Her boyfriend now is a Less Active and accompanied her to church! His father bore testimony and the congregation was in tears! Bro. B gave us 2 referrals that were there and as he bore testimony about our help and seeing the change, the congregation was in tears! It was a missionary focused testimony meeting as we've worked hard to help those active members have a testimony about missionary work as we've helped them with their dear referrals. I felt the need to bear my testimony as my heart was full that the Lord blessed us with 11 investigators at church, 18 less actives when last week we had 2 and who are really progressing and not waiting on marriage, but will have a baptism date within the next week as we follow up! My heart was full and as they shared their testimonies about us helping us, I expressed my love for them for their examples to me! As I watch them, I become the better and stronger missionary that I need to be! The Lord gives us periods of "depression" in our work, where our numbers decline, but it's to see if we continue with faith! We moved and hit the ground running and the Lord blessed us! I know my companion was called of God to be here for a reason at this time! There are people waiting for us as a "companionship" and what we have to offer. We got out of church and received 4 referrals right away of more people who are wanting to share the gospel and want US as a companionship to teach them! I love this work! I know missionary work is so important and how we as members are the key to the success and growth in the church! I know that there are so many people waiting to be taught the gospel, even in our personal relationships, if we'd just have the courage to say something. I know before the mission, I was one of the "shy"est people to share the gospel before my mission, but it's just become apart of me and we truly feel the happiness and our testimony grow as we help others we're close to accept the gospel!! I love you all! I challenge you this march to give out one Book of Mormon to your family/friends and help them receive the blessings in their life that we're so lucky to enjoy! I pray for you all the time and thank your all for the prayers! Your prayers AND MINE are being answered!! :)