6/30/13 - Awesome Week

Man, I know this is not something you'll be too happy to hear, but this new computer shop doesn't let me attach photos...go figure, so until I figure something out, there aren't any photos! BUT! I have stories instead!

This week was a testimony builder to me where I learned to have promptings of the Spirit and acted on them! This week I let the area as Sis. Portugal traveled for exchanges. I had the pressure of having to find new investigators because we didn't have any when we got her. I felt like I needed to take my first Sister exchanges, Sis. I from New Zealand, to the richest area in our ward where I can find the rich and learned. I can testify that the two first people, I felt OYM'd to, now have baptismal dates and will be baptized in August 10 and 17! I continued up the road to another where they even gave us referrals, had already been reading the Book of Mormon but was too shy to say anything to us for us to teach her! She now has a baptismal date. That day was just a day full of tender mercies where I continued the next day with another sister, Sis. B. We went to contact one of our further areas where we were just walking and we made conversation with her.  I felt prompted to give her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet with the first page being a picture of a newly born baby and its parents. She is giving birth this month and asked her if we could come back. She said yes!!! We went back on Saturday and come to find out, we were answers to her prayers, she's been wanting to hear our message and we will be returning this week and committing her to baptism!  We have 16 new investigators, 8 already with dates and more to commit! The Lord is working wonders. This area is the first area where we have an effective leadership in the ward and the Bishop is awesome! I am so glad to end on such a happy, busy note where time just flies because you're having fun in the work of the Lord! Sis. Portugal, I truly am grateful for her and her hard work.  She has brought the spirit instantly! We're serious, but can joke and it's been the perfectly balanced companionship in our work! I am so excited to continue with another week and can't wait for the other opportunities we'll be given as companionships. I am grateful for the hand of the Lord in our work  because without Him, we as missionaries are nothing!  Remember the Work of Salvation, include the ideas because it was an AWESOME fireside! I am excited to apply it here in Paglaum Ward! I know this is the work of the Lord and the work is progressing. A missionary can stop progressing, but the area doesn't.  It's up to us to be worthy of those experiences because the "field is white already to harvest!" I love and pray for you all! Happy 4th celebrating without me, but Happy Birthday Grandma Valerie!!! ..one year younger and wiser too! Happy Birthday! TO YOU! (When I get home, I will show you the Filipino style of a birthday! )

halong kamo pirme!

xo.

Sister Arnold

6/23/13 - Here's to another week!

Well, the Lord is trying me to see how well I'm going to keep going. I officially got my 'trunky letter' as they call it here in the mission meaning you're in the next two transfers going home. I was glad that it focused on giving it all until the finish line or the end. I sat and reflected on this and you'll see why.

Transfers were coming up and Sis. Polatis and I knew we were going to get separated. I thought for sure I was ending my time with 5th ward, but I am supposed to be else where. Funny thing is..my new area is Paglaum.. Paglaum in Illongo means Hope. haha Well, Tuesday night I went around saying my good byes to all the members and it was a rough experience. I grew so close to the members there and I saw so many miracles and blessings happen when I was companions with Sister Polatis. I know that mom and dad found out that she is now training. You can imagine how I feel as her trainer, watching her grow in the language, teaching, and missionary life. The Lord qualifies those whom he calls and He sure qualified Sis. Polatis. She had doubts at first, but seeing her take a leap of faith and give it her all is great! I just saw our house mates this morning and they said that she is just doing great!!! Her companion loves her, and who wouldn't? :)  What a great opportunity I had to serve, learn and grow with her!

 

Us Sister Training Leaders were moved into companionships like Zone leaders. I'm am now with Sis. Portugal and we are going to do work! We are looking for investigator and to put this week simply in one word: BUSY!  It will be work but fun.

 

We have exchanges starting tomorrow and she just got called as STL so I will be helping her get trained in her new role and on what her calling truly consists of.  I know that again, the Lord qualifies whom he calls. I know that even with a lot on our plate, it'll be for the best. There is still something I am supposed to learn and grow from this last transfer and a half! So, here's to another week! I love you all and am thankful for all the love and support you've given me. Don't forget to listen to those promptings of the Spirit. They'll guide you in all aspects of your life, for the BETTER! You'll never regret choosing the right! This week I gained another witness of the truthfulness of that statement. No matter how hard things are, you'll always have the guidance of the Spirit. Just be worthy of it! 

 

Love you,

Sis. Arnold

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