Hello Family!!
Oh how excited I am to tell you all about our baptism this weekend!! We also
were able to watch General Conference this weekend which made this weekend
better than CHRISTMAS! :) Sister Arcinas, Me, and even the Branch that we are
serving in broke a record this weekend holding a baptism of 8!!! (10 in total
for the branch counting the Elder’s baptisms) :)
Let me tell you about EACH of them because they all mean so much to me!
Villanueva Family: Brother “Bong”,
Sister RubyAnn and Brother Jason. Sister Arcinas and I found them because they
sell bbq in our area and we would walk by them at least 3 times every day and
we noticed that they would always call out to us “Maayong Hapon! Tinapay day! (pronounced
die)” But we would smile or politely decline their offer to give us their food
they’re selling and then one day we stopped to fill up our water bottles in the
peso jug next to their INASAL and we started making small talk with Sister
RubyAnn, we gave her a pamphlet and invited her to hear our message and she
gladly accepted. The next day we walked by them we followed up on their reading
and Brother Bong was now there so we were able to meet him as well. The first
thing he did was ask us for another pamphlet to read because he and his wife
couldn’t read the one that we gave them at the same time. (He was even kind of
upset). We handed him a couple pamphlets, so surprised that he was so excited
and worked up about reading the message that we had to share! So we set an apt
to teach them and taught them at their home. Well it turns out that after we
taught at their home that one day it caused a huge conflict between RubyAnn and
her mom. Her mom is devote Catholic and would not allow us to come back to
their home. It was disappointing because RubyAnn’s father and her younger
sister were also very receptive and accepted the invitation to be baptized but
we aren’t able to continue teaching them. I’m sure there will come a time
though that they will meet missionaries again. We started RubyAnn and Bong at
their INASAL (as people buy and pass by and stare at us like we’re aliens hehe)
and at the church before it started. After a couple weeks they opened up that
not only did they change their “day off” for bbq from Monday to Sunday, but
they wake up at 4am on Sunday to be at the church by 7am (after they cook their
breakfast and lunch for after church and walk to church) and are there about 3
hours early literally THE ONLY ONES THERE that early other than the person that
opens the church. And SOMETIMES THEY GET THERE BEFORE THE KEY PERSON!! Haha It
worked out perfectly that their son Jason turned 8 4 days before their baptism
so he was baptized with his parents :) Despite how hard it has been with Sister
RubyAnn’s family, they have stayed so strong in their desire to follow what
they FEEL is right as we have taught them about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Brother Bong has really come a long way in his life and has been so prepared!
He has come from his past of drugs, rehab, prison and much more- and now… the
change is immeasurable and remarkable!
Sister RheaMae and RhomelaMae: We
met them because we found out that their grandparents are long time less
actives. Oh how special it has been to see a their family change! The grandparents
went from hiding from us and always drunk to now Brother Autencio gave up
alcohol again, they are coming to church again and want the rest of their (I
don’t even KNOW how many.. a lot) other grandchildren to be taught and
baptized! Sister RheaMae is the oldest of 5 and last year their mom passed
away.. their mom was a member of the church and it was so sweet to hear sister
RheaMae’s testimony at her baptism of how she knows her mom is happy for their
decision and how she will continue to strive to be a good example for her other
siblings. Their grandparents take care of them now and they just mean so so
much to us!! (16 and 15 years old)
Brother Kinneth: I’ve taught Brother
Kinneth for a really long time now. He’s 15 years old. He’s been taught by
missionaries for a really long time now. It’s so special to me that I was still
here when he was baptized! He was a referral from his best friend Brother
Justine who is a recent convert. They are so humble and are 2 of the 3 or 4
students that attend seminary! So strong!! He shared with us that he’s on a
quest to really change and has made up his mind that he WILL serve a mission
one day!!
Sister Princess: She was a referral
from the Relief Society President (who also served a mission). She is Sister
Mercy (the RS president’s) niece! Her parents are not members but she has off
and on been coming to church since she was young. She is so close with so many
of the Young Women in the branch (they’ve known each other since they were
young) and her mom attended her baptism! It took Sister Arcinas giving away one
of her favorite dresses… but we were so happy
that she came to support her daughter and someday I know that she will follow.
She also used to be taught by missionaries when she was Sister Princess’ age.
Sister Princess is 12 going on 18.. haha she’s a crack up!
Brother Jun-Jun: He was ALSO a
referral- from a member who just left on his mission! His cousin Junggar was
just baptized last week and in he shared with us that he is so grateful that
Heavenly Father has given him the chance to change. He says before meeting the missionaries
he didn’t know where his life was going he would just work and drink and was so
unhappy but he said he has felt real peace and happiness in his life as he is
reading the scriptures and learning about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!
He is 22 years old and is hoping to have the church help in enroll in high school
and finish his schooling. He also wants us to meet his family and start
teaching them too!!
Sorry this is so long! But I just want you all to know all about these people
and how much they truly mean to me! I would never change this opportunity to
teach these people and get to know them for anything in the world! That’s how I
feel about ALL of the people that I teach on this beautiful island..
I love being a missionary so much!
Since I’ve shared the most important things I will just add one of my favorite
quotes from conference! “He is no stranger to his servants.” –President Boyd K.
Packer
He will “strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand” (hymn #85). This was an answer to some of my questions
that I pondered before General Conference and I was so grateful to be reminded
how much The Savior loves each and every one of us and is patiently waiting for
us to DO OUR PART to come unto Him and feel His love, support and help in our
lives! He literally will LIFT US UP spiritually, emotionally and even
physically (Gwen, get lots of rest before you enter the MTC because being a
missionary is really tiring!) :)
Good luck Storm on the mission!! I look forward to writing you when I get
home!! You will be such a great missionary!!
For all those who missed conference, make it a priority to watch, listen and
read the talks on the internet. Even those who are not “mormon”.. the opportunity
to listen to the living prophet’s voice and His apostles is one of the greatest
blessings that we have!
I love you all so SOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!
Sister Judd!
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