Hello Family!! Wow what a week. It has been a challenging one to say the least but that's what life is no? Full of challenges. We just have to put our faith to the test and overcome! I'm trying to realize what lessons Heavenly Father is trying to teach me.
Let me tell you about our baptism yesterday! We had 3 candidates that we baptized! Sister Josephine, Sister Shelynjoy and Brother Juli. Sister Josephine and Shelynjoy are best friends and are from our "far area" (Cabunbunan). They are so shy but are just two sweet 15 year olds. Brother Juli is 24 years old and is deaf. I tried my best to translate his testimony at his baptism from broken american sign language to Hiligaynon and it wasn't easy but Sister Rey are trying our best to learn sign language and are picking up on it okay! Brother Juli is also learning at the same time and takes a lot of "charades" but he is the happiest most smiley and joking person in the world! Oh how we always have good laughs with him. He (despite the discrimination from his family) chose to be baptized and has been working with the elders in the ward (our zone leaders) and everyone seriously just LOVES Brother Juli!! It is a challenge for Sister Josephine and Sister Shelynjoy to get to church because of how far they live but they have really proved their sincere desire through working odd jobs (on top of the responsibilities that they already have) and saving the little money that they receive each day to eat in order to go to church on Sunday. They have shared that their new favorite day is Sunday :) There are many young women in the ward- it is the most active auxiliary here so it's a relief and a joy to see them making this transition smoothly. Brother Juli- through him a less active member who is also deaf has now returned to activity. Her name is Sister Lorena and she went through therapy and school and can kind of talk and can slightly hear so she is a GINORMOUS help to us! And she works with us often :) Brother Juli rides his bike to church and also comes from very humble circumstances. He hopes to start school again next year and nearly every time we go to teach him, he's not at his house and we just check behind his house which turns into the beach and he is in the middle of the ocean fishing. He runs to the shore excited to see what he's fished out to eat that day. Every day it's something different and it's not much but that's how they eat each day! Brother Juli is CONSTANTLY joking and laughing and one of the most recent jokes that he finds all too amusing is to laugh at me every time I itch my nose. That's something that I learned is weird to the people here. They think there must be something wrong with my nose because it's about 5x bigger than the normal size nose here (but that I guess is more favorable here?) and I guess their noses don't itch. Well there are stray cats every where around his house so yes, every time we teach my "hanky" is in my hand and when I'm not signing to him (trying) (or even in the middle of signing sometimes.. haha) I'm itching my nose and I guess he can't take my seriously when I do that. haha So I have to be more aware in itching my nose in public here..
Oh how funny one of the recent convert's prayer was the other day. She is just a tiny little thing and I think she's about 10 years old. It's not "favorable" to be as skinny as her I guess so she always prays that she will get fat (nga magtambok siya) and I joked after her prayer that she could add asking if I could lose some weight (nga magniwang ako) and she was like "If you really want me to I will pray for you Sister Judd!" so every since then she adds that to all her prayers! Maybe I should be a little bit more diligent in working out in the mornings so that if I start to lose weight she will see how Heavenly Father truly answers prayers :) Let me just clarify that yes, I am fat here in the Philippines. But no, I am not fat. I am normal and I know that- I just enjoy the normal conversation from the people every day that I am "tambok". It's good for the self-esteem :) But that's normal here!
So this week Sister Rey and I have felt incredibly "worn down" from the problems of the people that we are teaching. I don't have the time to explain some of the problems... nor is it appropriate... but let me explain something that I have learned through this. FAITH. As disciples of Jesus Christ we need to be "filling our cup" each and every day through diligent scripture study, sincere prayer, and uplifting and faith-building activities that will leave "our cup" each day filled enough to "pour out to others". With out this daily preparation- sharing this "living water" is just simply not possible. As a missionary we give hope and build the faith of others so that they can overcome the challenges and trials of all kinds that they are facing in their lives. Well let me tell you all that it takes A LOT OF FAITH AND HOPE for me personally to testify and have the personal faith that these people can truly overcome these trials.. but I NEED that faith for myself in order to give it to other! Without that faith for myself it would be just an empty promise or dream that these people can receive the strength and see miracles through their faith and keeping the commandments of God. So for me, my faith is also tested each day when these people that I love and care for so much are having their faith tested to degrees in which I never thought I could fathom. It's a learning process for me to in that time that they open up and share their financial, health, and family problems and challenges with us, to turn to the scriptures, bear personal testimony and use the Savior's powerful words to promise them that His promises are true if we just continue in our faith. I never realized how much faith I would need to make that promise to others but I KNOW that ALL things are possible through Christ and that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. Christ knows what we are going through in our lives because he suffered and died for us and only in and through Him can we someday rest from ALL our troubles and cares. I love you all and I feel and am often quietly reminded that there are countless people at home (you all) that are praying for me and I receive true strength from that! Thank you again! LOVE YOU ALL!
Sister Judd
Friday, November 28, 2014
Nov.16 Chicken Feet, Pig Poop and Power of the Scriptures
Hello Family! So I emailed pictures before writing because last week I
had no time. Well this week now I have no time to write. I just want to quick
tell you all the highlights! We had mission tour!! Elder Arden of the Seventy came and I learned SO
MUCH!!!! It was a great experience. Some highlights- "Obedience opens
opportunities. Obedience invites blessings." This is something that we can
ALL apply to our lives not just as missionaries! Through obedience we receive
blessings. Through disobedience we miss out on blessings. I know that "the
higher law" and through obedience we will see the most happiness in our
lives! When it's not easy to be obedient is the most important time to CHOOSE
to be obedient no matter what it takes :)
I ate chicken feet this week! I was too shy to snap a picture because their was so much attention on me.. but it was good. Tasted like chicken. There's not really meet so you just eat the skin and there's still toenails and everything. My companion was much better at eating it (it was her first time too and she's from the Philippines). She was sucking on the toes and all! hahaha I was laughing so hard eating it haha. Oh and it's even the same color! If you look at chicken feet you you'll notice that it's like a gray color.. well that's what I ate and it's a delicacy here! Sister Rey and I got the only.. 2 feet. :) I felt bad eating it because I knew others would enjoy it much more but I still enjoyed trying something new!
We taught at a funeral about the Plan of Salvation. It was a very spiritual experience. We were invited by the member of the bishopric because it was his niece that passed away from cancer. We were the only "members" there but it was inspiring to share about the Resurrection to a family that was hurting so bad from the loss of the 16 year old girl. The knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation should never be taken for granted! Since then I've been studying more in depth about the Plan of Salvation in the Book of Mormon and have received so many wonderful insights!
I stepped in the biggest pile of pig poop this week. I wanted to try and sneak a touch of one of the newborn piglets while the HUGE mamma's back was turned to me and of course was watching her not where I was stepping and yuuup up to my ankle in poop!! I smelt so bad the rest of the day! My companion and the member with us laughed for a good hour at me about that. Good thing I thought it was hilarious too :)
I GOT MY PACKAGE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT CONTRIBUTED! The fancy new toothbrush is rad. My companion said that I must be really rich.. hahaha and the nuts make me feel like the holiday season! The granola bars are awesome and the gospel art book... how did you know that I wanted this?! I can't wait to use it today! And the makeup is PERFECT mom! You rock! The nut clusters from costco were gone in one day... they are so yummy!!! THANK YOU AGAIN!! My companion said "it's too early for Christmas!" I will be so shy to get yet another package for Christmas.. You all are so generous!! But don't worry she's also enjoying the goodies I received :)
This week my testimony was strengthened about reading the scriptures with your investigators. That's what we do when they don't read the assignment in the Book of Mormon that you left with them.. before you teach you read with them. This week we visited Sister Corazon. She is such a sweet lady that has SUCH a strong desire to be baptized and come to church she just doesn't have the financial means to get to the church because she lives SO FAR! As we read in 1 Nephi about the trials of Lehi's family in the wilderness but through Lehi's example and Nephi's faith they saw miracles and the hand of the Lord she immediately broke down and shared that the short and very few chapters that she had read from the Book of Mormon has really touched her life and come to her with power. They have many challenges that they are facing as a family but her faith has been strengthened through the example of Nephi. We ended up not even teaching the lesson that we had prepared to teach her because the spirit was so strong and we knew that the verses that we read and the things that we were being taught from the scriptures was all that we needed. I was uplifted and Sister Corazon was so grateful for our visit. She wished we could visit every day but because of how far the area is we aren't able to go there every day. I have faith that there will come a time and she will someday be given a way to come to church and be baptized. I know that the scriptures are true and as a missionary I am so grateful for the scriptures in which I can add my testimony instead of the scriptures added to my testimony. They are such a powerful teaching tool and the Book of Mormon is the evidence of God's love for us and that this is His true and restored church! At the beginning of my mission I had a hard time studying for a full hour every morning... now an hour just is not enough! I want 2! Or 3! I'm excited to come home and have more time to study the scriptures as long as I want. There are so many treasures to be found and personal revelation to receive to guide our life through the scriptures.
I hope you all know how much I love you! This work is the work of the Lord and what a wonderful opportunity it is to be a part of it!
I heard Thanksgiving is this week? Eat some turkey and garlic mashed potatoes for me! And don't forget to take some time to remember and list what you are grateful for in your life. We all have much much MUCH more than we may realize at times. I know this church is true and for that I am SO SO VERY GRATEFUL!
Until next week!
Sister Judd
I ate chicken feet this week! I was too shy to snap a picture because their was so much attention on me.. but it was good. Tasted like chicken. There's not really meet so you just eat the skin and there's still toenails and everything. My companion was much better at eating it (it was her first time too and she's from the Philippines). She was sucking on the toes and all! hahaha I was laughing so hard eating it haha. Oh and it's even the same color! If you look at chicken feet you you'll notice that it's like a gray color.. well that's what I ate and it's a delicacy here! Sister Rey and I got the only.. 2 feet. :) I felt bad eating it because I knew others would enjoy it much more but I still enjoyed trying something new!
We taught at a funeral about the Plan of Salvation. It was a very spiritual experience. We were invited by the member of the bishopric because it was his niece that passed away from cancer. We were the only "members" there but it was inspiring to share about the Resurrection to a family that was hurting so bad from the loss of the 16 year old girl. The knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation should never be taken for granted! Since then I've been studying more in depth about the Plan of Salvation in the Book of Mormon and have received so many wonderful insights!
I stepped in the biggest pile of pig poop this week. I wanted to try and sneak a touch of one of the newborn piglets while the HUGE mamma's back was turned to me and of course was watching her not where I was stepping and yuuup up to my ankle in poop!! I smelt so bad the rest of the day! My companion and the member with us laughed for a good hour at me about that. Good thing I thought it was hilarious too :)
I GOT MY PACKAGE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT CONTRIBUTED! The fancy new toothbrush is rad. My companion said that I must be really rich.. hahaha and the nuts make me feel like the holiday season! The granola bars are awesome and the gospel art book... how did you know that I wanted this?! I can't wait to use it today! And the makeup is PERFECT mom! You rock! The nut clusters from costco were gone in one day... they are so yummy!!! THANK YOU AGAIN!! My companion said "it's too early for Christmas!" I will be so shy to get yet another package for Christmas.. You all are so generous!! But don't worry she's also enjoying the goodies I received :)
This week my testimony was strengthened about reading the scriptures with your investigators. That's what we do when they don't read the assignment in the Book of Mormon that you left with them.. before you teach you read with them. This week we visited Sister Corazon. She is such a sweet lady that has SUCH a strong desire to be baptized and come to church she just doesn't have the financial means to get to the church because she lives SO FAR! As we read in 1 Nephi about the trials of Lehi's family in the wilderness but through Lehi's example and Nephi's faith they saw miracles and the hand of the Lord she immediately broke down and shared that the short and very few chapters that she had read from the Book of Mormon has really touched her life and come to her with power. They have many challenges that they are facing as a family but her faith has been strengthened through the example of Nephi. We ended up not even teaching the lesson that we had prepared to teach her because the spirit was so strong and we knew that the verses that we read and the things that we were being taught from the scriptures was all that we needed. I was uplifted and Sister Corazon was so grateful for our visit. She wished we could visit every day but because of how far the area is we aren't able to go there every day. I have faith that there will come a time and she will someday be given a way to come to church and be baptized. I know that the scriptures are true and as a missionary I am so grateful for the scriptures in which I can add my testimony instead of the scriptures added to my testimony. They are such a powerful teaching tool and the Book of Mormon is the evidence of God's love for us and that this is His true and restored church! At the beginning of my mission I had a hard time studying for a full hour every morning... now an hour just is not enough! I want 2! Or 3! I'm excited to come home and have more time to study the scriptures as long as I want. There are so many treasures to be found and personal revelation to receive to guide our life through the scriptures.
I hope you all know how much I love you! This work is the work of the Lord and what a wonderful opportunity it is to be a part of it!
I heard Thanksgiving is this week? Eat some turkey and garlic mashed potatoes for me! And don't forget to take some time to remember and list what you are grateful for in your life. We all have much much MUCH more than we may realize at times. I know this church is true and for that I am SO SO VERY GRATEFUL!
Until next week!
Sister Judd
Nov. 9 Calumangan, I am an aswang I guess...
Hello Family!! What a great week! I'm exhausted- and that's a good thing- missionaries should be SO WORN OUT! Let me tell you all about my new area! CALUMANGAN! It is half city and half bukid (the opposite of city in every way). It's actually surprisingly more bukid than our area in Cadiz! I was really surprised because I though I was going back to the city but not so! We are surrounded by rice fields and lots of sugar cane fields (just like in Cadiz). And we have the ocean still! It's really suuuch a beautiful area!! I have so many pictures I want to send:) As for the work it is really great! I have already grown to love these people here that the missionaries have been teaching sooo much!! One of them is Brother Julie. He is just AH I can't put into words! He is amazing. He is deaf- he cannot hear, he cannot speak (obviously), he cannot read very well, he only understands very little english and doesn't undestand Ilonggo at all. So what are we doing? We're learning American sign language and teaching it to him as well! But basically we just play sharades all day with him! He is the most smiley, joking, happy person I have ever met. We are alllwaaaays having a good time when we're around Brother Julie! He is 22 years old and has come a long way with missionaries in stopping smoking and drinking. I will luckily be here when he is finally baptized! He is so awesome and even though his family is really against him being baptized he is old enough to choose for himself and has finally committed for a day to be baptized!
So the ward here is just a baby. There are a lot of members around 500 I think but only about 60 members on average at sacrament meeting every week. There is no elders quorem and a very very small amount priesthood holders. I was so surprised to come from a branch where the attendance is 150 to a ward only 1/3 of the size. Let me just say that we have A LOT OF WORK to do here in Calumangan!! That's is our purpose though- to help build and strengthen the wards and branches that we are assigned to. The members are really great though. They have a lot of love for the missionaries and I've actually met the bishop and his entire family before when I was in 5th ward! Because one of my recent converts Sister Erika is the daughter-in-law of the Bishop here in Calumangan :) It's really great and I'm really really looking forward to seeing the growth in this area!
OH! And I'm in the same zone as SISTER SNOW!!! YAYYY!!!!!!!! It's the special to see her after so long! We will be able to see each other at least once a month here and I'm just such a happy camper! I've missed her sweet face so much! (companion in the MTC).
Many funny moments this week... the one that sticks out most in my mind is when a little girl asked me "Aswang ka kon gab-i???" ("Are you a witch/devil when it's night-time???) uhhhhhhhhh ouch! hahaha We have an area here where I am the first American that they have ever met. It's really new that missionaries have gone so far into that area (they are really really far away) and the people are awesome. They are so far but they still come to church! They are so receptive and I just love them! The children are scared of me though... (hence the reason why that little girl asked me that...) she was genuinely serious!! I actually have to explain to the people that Americans are also people and that we are the same as them just born somewhere else. It's weird to have a conversation like that yes... I just can't fully explain how weird it is to be an American here... (Sister Manwaring.. Megs.. you understand). But despite the weird attention and awkwardness the work is amazing and the people here are so humble!!
I was so sad to miss the baptism of the 3 young men that Sister Arcinas and I found in Cadiz. The two of them are twins and then their friend was also baptized with them. I will send a picture that I took with them before I was transferred.
Sister Rey is so awesome!! She is so so kind and she has a really good relationship with the members and there are a lot of Single Adults and Youth that love working with us! It's so great! I'm really enjoying this area!
Thank you all for your support and love! I can't believe how close the end of the year is.. Gwen will leave on her mission before we know it. I am so grateful that I have this gospel in my life! I am eternally grateful to have been raised a member of this church and that I am here serving a mission. It's the best decision that I have ever made and I am so looking forward for Gwen to serve and for the 3 boys to follow in the future! Missionary work is amazing and life changing... and tiring.. and life changing! Love you all so much and I hope you don't get sick of me saying these things over and over again every week.. because we still have another 7 months :)
Have an amazing week everyone! And don't forget to read the scriptures!
All my love,
Sister Judd
So the ward here is just a baby. There are a lot of members around 500 I think but only about 60 members on average at sacrament meeting every week. There is no elders quorem and a very very small amount priesthood holders. I was so surprised to come from a branch where the attendance is 150 to a ward only 1/3 of the size. Let me just say that we have A LOT OF WORK to do here in Calumangan!! That's is our purpose though- to help build and strengthen the wards and branches that we are assigned to. The members are really great though. They have a lot of love for the missionaries and I've actually met the bishop and his entire family before when I was in 5th ward! Because one of my recent converts Sister Erika is the daughter-in-law of the Bishop here in Calumangan :) It's really great and I'm really really looking forward to seeing the growth in this area!
OH! And I'm in the same zone as SISTER SNOW!!! YAYYY!!!!!!!! It's the special to see her after so long! We will be able to see each other at least once a month here and I'm just such a happy camper! I've missed her sweet face so much! (companion in the MTC).
Many funny moments this week... the one that sticks out most in my mind is when a little girl asked me "Aswang ka kon gab-i???" ("Are you a witch/devil when it's night-time???) uhhhhhhhhh ouch! hahaha We have an area here where I am the first American that they have ever met. It's really new that missionaries have gone so far into that area (they are really really far away) and the people are awesome. They are so far but they still come to church! They are so receptive and I just love them! The children are scared of me though... (hence the reason why that little girl asked me that...) she was genuinely serious!! I actually have to explain to the people that Americans are also people and that we are the same as them just born somewhere else. It's weird to have a conversation like that yes... I just can't fully explain how weird it is to be an American here... (Sister Manwaring.. Megs.. you understand). But despite the weird attention and awkwardness the work is amazing and the people here are so humble!!
I was so sad to miss the baptism of the 3 young men that Sister Arcinas and I found in Cadiz. The two of them are twins and then their friend was also baptized with them. I will send a picture that I took with them before I was transferred.
Sister Rey is so awesome!! She is so so kind and she has a really good relationship with the members and there are a lot of Single Adults and Youth that love working with us! It's so great! I'm really enjoying this area!
Thank you all for your support and love! I can't believe how close the end of the year is.. Gwen will leave on her mission before we know it. I am so grateful that I have this gospel in my life! I am eternally grateful to have been raised a member of this church and that I am here serving a mission. It's the best decision that I have ever made and I am so looking forward for Gwen to serve and for the 3 boys to follow in the future! Missionary work is amazing and life changing... and tiring.. and life changing! Love you all so much and I hope you don't get sick of me saying these things over and over again every week.. because we still have another 7 months :)
Have an amazing week everyone! And don't forget to read the scriptures!
All my love,
Sister Judd
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Nov. 2nd Transferssssss & All Saints Day
Hello
Family! So Sister Arcinas transferred! (She is Sister Training Leader STL now)
Man I will miss her she’s just the sweetest companion we just CLICKED! I just
love her! My new companion for 5 days was Sister Piula. She is from Samoa and
is so funny! She will train a new missionary in Cadiz because I am now
transferred! I know nothing about the area I’m transferring to because I found
out about an hour ago.. but it’s in Bago Zone. None of you know what that means
:)… except for Dallas and Megs. So next week I will have a lot to update you
all on about my new companion and the new area. I am Senior companion for the
first time! It’s basically the same thing though. My companion in Sister Rey.
She is Filipina and is just so sweet! I’m looking forward to see what this area
has in store for me!
So this week has been way weird! But we had a baptism! Sister Edel Esclares- she is the mother of one of our recent converts Brother Eulysis Esclares. It was so sad at her baptism she was just crying the whole time because she missed Sister Arcinas so much. She is the sweetest thing ever! So Saturday is a holiday here in the Philippines and it’s called “All Saints Day”- where everyone goes to the cemeteries and lights candles at the grave sight of their loved ones. It’s a catholic holiday and people even cook food and spend all day at the cemetery eating and it’s soooo popular! Well President Lopez had us proselyte in the cemetery and we were able to visit one of our recent convert’s wife’s grave site. He was SO happy that we were there and it was a good experience. The cemeteries here are ABOVE ground. So you literally just climb over all the coffins and it’s kind of chaos but it was an adventure :) So man I will miss Cadiz end Branch SO MUCH!!!! I don’t know if I will be able to have a better area… we’ll see :) The members, the recent converts, the people… it has been amazing!! I was really sad to leave.. and I’m still sad. But I’m ready to press forward and see more of this island! Well I really just CANNOT think right now! I will have to make up for this email next week by sending a better email. Hope all is going well and people start saving your money because one day I WILL return back to the Philippines and whoever wants to come with me is welcome :) I promised these people and I will find a way to make it happen :)
So this week has been way weird! But we had a baptism! Sister Edel Esclares- she is the mother of one of our recent converts Brother Eulysis Esclares. It was so sad at her baptism she was just crying the whole time because she missed Sister Arcinas so much. She is the sweetest thing ever! So Saturday is a holiday here in the Philippines and it’s called “All Saints Day”- where everyone goes to the cemeteries and lights candles at the grave sight of their loved ones. It’s a catholic holiday and people even cook food and spend all day at the cemetery eating and it’s soooo popular! Well President Lopez had us proselyte in the cemetery and we were able to visit one of our recent convert’s wife’s grave site. He was SO happy that we were there and it was a good experience. The cemeteries here are ABOVE ground. So you literally just climb over all the coffins and it’s kind of chaos but it was an adventure :) So man I will miss Cadiz end Branch SO MUCH!!!! I don’t know if I will be able to have a better area… we’ll see :) The members, the recent converts, the people… it has been amazing!! I was really sad to leave.. and I’m still sad. But I’m ready to press forward and see more of this island! Well I really just CANNOT think right now! I will have to make up for this email next week by sending a better email. Hope all is going well and people start saving your money because one day I WILL return back to the Philippines and whoever wants to come with me is welcome :) I promised these people and I will find a way to make it happen :)
Oct. 26 Oh How I Love Them!, Judgement Day: Sunday, Bulong or Pulong?
Greetings Family!! What a great week! Again! (Do I start all my emails this way??). Let me just tell you all how weird time is as a missionary. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. So much so that people email and say "it's been so long since I've written I'm so sorry!" and I'm just thinking "wait... I feel like you emailed me last week..." hehe I can't keep track of time! We memorize the dates of the Saturdays in the month to extend baptismal dates to investigators and it's really weird to be planning for around Christmas time.. I just know it will come so fast!!
So let me tell you about our baptism this week!! Sister Alexis and Brother RJ John.. I can't explain how much I love these kiddos!!!!!! A close comparison is the Hooper girls :) Seriously Sister Alexis is just the sweetest little thing with a huuuuge desire to learn about the gospel!! She is 11 years old. And I love her story! Her mom is a very very long time less active. I met her a long time ago and we visited her once but not regularly. Then one time we were visiting an elderly woman in the same neighborhood and she told us that Sister Zaragosa (Alexis' mom) told her that she wants the missionaries to teach her family. So we followed up and when we went to Sister Zaragosa's house she was really busy and we couldn't teach, but all she said was she would go to church the next Sunday, promise. So we left (not thinking much about it because of how many times missioanaries get told that by less active members) and loe and behold the next Sunday she was waiting at the entrance for Sister Arcinas and I with her daughter and 2 granddaughters who are all not members but were excited to go to church!! We were so happy! Sister Zaragosa is so strong. Her husband is not a member and they don't have the means for her (let alone with her daughter and granddaughters as well) to sakay sa tricycle (ride a tricycle) to church so they usually walk. Sister Zaragosa was so determined to return to church she has sacrificed a lot this last month that we have visited their family almost every day. We've also met other people through them and it's really such a tender mercy to see Sister Zaragosa back at church with her youngest daughter as a new member. :)
Then Brother RJ John!! He is a member of the Mukarram family. OHHHHHHH how I love them! They are the family with 8 kids and Erlinda is the oldest. Sister Erlinda was one of my first baptisms in this area and I've taught RJ John since the day I got here! He is so so sweet and I am determined to take a picture of his cheesy smile that he always gives me when we come to his house. AH! He's just the sweetest. He's 10 years old and his mom is also a Less Active member. She works every day allllll day long to feed all her children (and yessss I always bring too many crackers in my bag to give them at the end of the day).. but oh how I love this family! Okay okay, that's the last time I will say that :) I JUST WISH YOU COULD ALL MEET THESE PEOPLE!!! Why does coming to the Philippines have to be so expensiiiiiive????!
Okay well back to the baptism. We had it after Stake Conference so that's why it was getting dark outside in the pictures (not very good quality- sorry!). Their cute little testimonies just melted my heart! Of course the first thing they said was how cold the water was...and RJ John giggled through his entire testimony. haha But the spirit was strong and it was a good experience :) Baptisms are the best!!
So Sunday is like "judgement day" as a missionary for everyone that you've taught throughout the entire week. The people that come to church or the ones that we try to focus on the next week because they are really showing their faith and desire to find the truth through coming to church. Some of these people- at church is the first time we meet them! That's my favorite! It's like Christmas every Sunday that this happens :) Yesterday we had 3 Christmas present from our recent converts that brought their friends to church! The best thing is they are not overly shy to come with their "on fire" recent convert friend and it makes me SO excited the start of the week to teach these prepared, new, fresh investigators!! I am so excited to follow up with them, extend them baptismal date on the first visit, answer their questions, and find out why and where their desire came from to come to church. It's so great!! These people (from what I've seen) progress about 10x faster (or more) than an ordinary person that we would meet and invite to church. It just goes to show how important members are in this work!!!
I will put the bloopers and funnies for this week in the middle kay sayang and pagpamatuod ko sa katapusan.. haha
~ I broke my first chair this week!! Yeeeee... it happens to almost all Foreign missionaries that serve here. How many stories have I heard.. and YES it's embarrassing!! Thankfully in the same night the host of the house ALSO broke one of her chairs too.... so I didn't feel near as bad once that happened. I guess we both have a couple pounds to lose. haha
~ We had such a funny conversation with this old man that we passed by that we tried to start teaching... we started talking to him and when we introduced ourselves he asked if we could help him by giving him money or something and Sister Arcinas confidently replied how we help people through the message that we have to share instead of by giving temporal things... and he got so excited because what HE heard was BULONG (meaning "medicine") but what Sister Arcinas said was PULONG (meaning "words"... like pulong sang dios: "words of God"). Well it was really really rough to come back from that and he was listing off all the medicines that he needs and all his symptoms of old age and wouldn't let neither Sister Arcinas or I talk to clarify that he heard her wrong. hahahaha thankfully he didn't look like he was in critical condition for anything and don't worry he had a nice house of his own that he was sitting outside of... it just was his so funny because I guess one of his symptoms is also hard of hearing!!
~ When I asked someone about committing crimes I wasn't really sure what the word for "crime" was so I took my best guess (and that's where I should've asked my companion instead) because what I really said was CREAM (like what they put in their coffee..). Me: "Have you ever committed a serious cream?"... Nanay: "I haven't done anything with cream since I stopped drinking coffee.." hahahaha oops.
So transfers are coming up and I'm really hoping I stay in this area another transfer because it's really amazing!! This WORK (not matter where you are) is amazing!! Thinking about how many baptisms we had for October... my mind is still blown.. how in the WORLD did this happen?! It's a whole lot of tender mercies and miracles from the Lord. I know and can testify that miracles come through obedience. I am so grateful to be serving a mission and love the Bacolod Philippines Mission!! With Gwen continuing to prepare for her mission, I am more excited than ever for her to experience this unreal joy that comes from helping other come closer to Jesus Christ through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. The promise is the same for us ALL! To return to live with our Heavenly Father again. :) He loves us so much and I LOVE HIM TOO!!
I thank Him every day for giving me the best family in the world:)
I love you all!!!!!!!!
Sister Judd
So let me tell you about our baptism this week!! Sister Alexis and Brother RJ John.. I can't explain how much I love these kiddos!!!!!! A close comparison is the Hooper girls :) Seriously Sister Alexis is just the sweetest little thing with a huuuuge desire to learn about the gospel!! She is 11 years old. And I love her story! Her mom is a very very long time less active. I met her a long time ago and we visited her once but not regularly. Then one time we were visiting an elderly woman in the same neighborhood and she told us that Sister Zaragosa (Alexis' mom) told her that she wants the missionaries to teach her family. So we followed up and when we went to Sister Zaragosa's house she was really busy and we couldn't teach, but all she said was she would go to church the next Sunday, promise. So we left (not thinking much about it because of how many times missioanaries get told that by less active members) and loe and behold the next Sunday she was waiting at the entrance for Sister Arcinas and I with her daughter and 2 granddaughters who are all not members but were excited to go to church!! We were so happy! Sister Zaragosa is so strong. Her husband is not a member and they don't have the means for her (let alone with her daughter and granddaughters as well) to sakay sa tricycle (ride a tricycle) to church so they usually walk. Sister Zaragosa was so determined to return to church she has sacrificed a lot this last month that we have visited their family almost every day. We've also met other people through them and it's really such a tender mercy to see Sister Zaragosa back at church with her youngest daughter as a new member. :)
Then Brother RJ John!! He is a member of the Mukarram family. OHHHHHHH how I love them! They are the family with 8 kids and Erlinda is the oldest. Sister Erlinda was one of my first baptisms in this area and I've taught RJ John since the day I got here! He is so so sweet and I am determined to take a picture of his cheesy smile that he always gives me when we come to his house. AH! He's just the sweetest. He's 10 years old and his mom is also a Less Active member. She works every day allllll day long to feed all her children (and yessss I always bring too many crackers in my bag to give them at the end of the day).. but oh how I love this family! Okay okay, that's the last time I will say that :) I JUST WISH YOU COULD ALL MEET THESE PEOPLE!!! Why does coming to the Philippines have to be so expensiiiiiive????!
Okay well back to the baptism. We had it after Stake Conference so that's why it was getting dark outside in the pictures (not very good quality- sorry!). Their cute little testimonies just melted my heart! Of course the first thing they said was how cold the water was...and RJ John giggled through his entire testimony. haha But the spirit was strong and it was a good experience :) Baptisms are the best!!
So Sunday is like "judgement day" as a missionary for everyone that you've taught throughout the entire week. The people that come to church or the ones that we try to focus on the next week because they are really showing their faith and desire to find the truth through coming to church. Some of these people- at church is the first time we meet them! That's my favorite! It's like Christmas every Sunday that this happens :) Yesterday we had 3 Christmas present from our recent converts that brought their friends to church! The best thing is they are not overly shy to come with their "on fire" recent convert friend and it makes me SO excited the start of the week to teach these prepared, new, fresh investigators!! I am so excited to follow up with them, extend them baptismal date on the first visit, answer their questions, and find out why and where their desire came from to come to church. It's so great!! These people (from what I've seen) progress about 10x faster (or more) than an ordinary person that we would meet and invite to church. It just goes to show how important members are in this work!!!
I will put the bloopers and funnies for this week in the middle kay sayang and pagpamatuod ko sa katapusan.. haha
~ I broke my first chair this week!! Yeeeee... it happens to almost all Foreign missionaries that serve here. How many stories have I heard.. and YES it's embarrassing!! Thankfully in the same night the host of the house ALSO broke one of her chairs too.... so I didn't feel near as bad once that happened. I guess we both have a couple pounds to lose. haha
~ We had such a funny conversation with this old man that we passed by that we tried to start teaching... we started talking to him and when we introduced ourselves he asked if we could help him by giving him money or something and Sister Arcinas confidently replied how we help people through the message that we have to share instead of by giving temporal things... and he got so excited because what HE heard was BULONG (meaning "medicine") but what Sister Arcinas said was PULONG (meaning "words"... like pulong sang dios: "words of God"). Well it was really really rough to come back from that and he was listing off all the medicines that he needs and all his symptoms of old age and wouldn't let neither Sister Arcinas or I talk to clarify that he heard her wrong. hahahaha thankfully he didn't look like he was in critical condition for anything and don't worry he had a nice house of his own that he was sitting outside of... it just was his so funny because I guess one of his symptoms is also hard of hearing!!
~ When I asked someone about committing crimes I wasn't really sure what the word for "crime" was so I took my best guess (and that's where I should've asked my companion instead) because what I really said was CREAM (like what they put in their coffee..). Me: "Have you ever committed a serious cream?"... Nanay: "I haven't done anything with cream since I stopped drinking coffee.." hahahaha oops.
So transfers are coming up and I'm really hoping I stay in this area another transfer because it's really amazing!! This WORK (not matter where you are) is amazing!! Thinking about how many baptisms we had for October... my mind is still blown.. how in the WORLD did this happen?! It's a whole lot of tender mercies and miracles from the Lord. I know and can testify that miracles come through obedience. I am so grateful to be serving a mission and love the Bacolod Philippines Mission!! With Gwen continuing to prepare for her mission, I am more excited than ever for her to experience this unreal joy that comes from helping other come closer to Jesus Christ through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. The promise is the same for us ALL! To return to live with our Heavenly Father again. :) He loves us so much and I LOVE HIM TOO!!
I thank Him every day for giving me the best family in the world:)
I love you all!!!!!!!!
Sister Judd
Oct 19 Baptism Sa Bay2x, Clapping Ears and Smiling Hearts
Hello Family! What a week we've had! Let me once again start with the most important news... the baptism! Sister Maria Alexandra was baptized this Saturday :) And this will truly be a baptism that can never be forgotten.. because it was IN THE OCEAN! (sa baybay) (pronounced byebye). Yup! TRUE! The baptismal font at the church here broke and canceling a baptism is just not an option. So we found a good spot on the beach in our area where there was little to no people and it was a success! The Elders also had a baptism and it was such a great experience- one that I will always treasure. The spirit was felt so strong and Sister Arcinas' and my prayers were answered that the remembrance of the sacredness of the ordinance of baptism was not forgotten and all went well. I will send pictures when I'm done writing!! Sister Maria Alexandra is so cute! She is a 11 year old little girl. She is next door neighbor and family to our recent converts Jun Jun and Jungarr and also best friends with another recent convert little Sister Zyrell. She would join all the lessons and Sister Arcinas and honestly didn't notice her or focus on her until one time we extended the invitation for them all to keep the Word of Wisdom and she also chanted "YES!" with all the other people and then when we came back she ran up to us and was so excited to tell us that she quite drinking coffee and has been reading the book of mormon and her grandma agreed to give her money to go to church. WOW! So she started coming to church and is just a spitfire little girl!! Her ancient grandma has raised her since birth. She's never met her mother or father. They live a very very very x10000 humble life and it is so sweet to show up to their home (after crossing this crazy bridge) and grandma and Sister Maria Alex is laying out reading the Book of Mormon together. My heart just melts I want to stop time and take a picture every time :)
Let me also tell you all how mind blowingly awesome this mission is. Bacolod Philippines Mission baptized 590 converts in the month of September. That number is unreal and as far as anyone knows here is the highest ever recorded. Ever. I can't explain how amazing this work is! THE WORK OF SALVATION! The Lord is truly hastening His work and I feel like we as missionaries are an a treadmill that keeps increasing in speed and somehow we're just trying to keep up!! This is HIS work and the miracles are from His hand in this work :) I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!
Some heartwarming highlights from this week is one of Sister Lilibeth's sister (Sister NoAnn) is visiting from Manila and she received the Book of Mormon that I sent her through one of her other sisters (I've met Sister NoAnn before but she only stays for a short time when she visits). She bore her testimony as we taught their family and has felt a big difference in her life as she has read the Book of Mormon and is already almost half way done with it! She added even though she has a lot of questions she has the desire to be baptized because of the way she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. And she came to church for the first time this Sunday!!! I testify of the power of the Book of Mormon!! It is the most powerful tool to missionary work and is the keystone of our religion! If one wants to find our if this church is true, and if Joseph Smith is a true prophet called of God in this dispensation, he/she just needs to read the Book of Mormon, ponder and pray about the things that they have read with real intent to receive an answer from God. This promise is so true! I love the Book of Mormon so much and have felt it's power in my life.
Cadiz 2nd Branch has my heart! :) I love this area so so much!!! The members are soooo sweet!! They really have adopted us and our ears clap and our hearts smile as they express their love and appreciate for all the missionaries and then specifically and genuinely for us as missionaries serving in this branch. It feels so great to feel this love and support from members and when the time comes, I will truly miss Cadiz so much!! I don't have time nor the energy to list the many many ways that these generous people show their love to us. Hard work in each area you serve really pays off!! It means so much to us and all I can say is... work with the missionaries in your wards! Get to know them! Like really get to know them. Grow to love them! And help them! Because this work is nothing except frustration without members! With members it is so sweet and special! It works!
My heart is so happy (and yes I realize how extremely cheesy all my emails sound but I can't help it!!!!!!!) to hear how great everything is going at home!!!! I love my Father in Heaven and feel the Savior's love so strong in my life. I know that He is blessing us and that He loves us all so much!!!
Randoms to add:
* PLEAAASEEEE don't be offended if from this week on I can't reply to your personal emails. I will still send a letter each week and it will be put on my blog and the pictures probably will be reposted on facebook (thank you again Kort!!), but we have a strict amount of time that we are able to email and President Lopez is continually reminding us of this rule. I FEEL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT WHEN YOU EMAIL ME! This is not by any means a request for the emails to stop... I just can't reply. But I love you all so much!!
* There were 12 confirmations in sacrament meeting yesterday. That was exciting for us as missionaries but I think slightly difficult for the members to sit through.
* I surprised myself this week when a member fed us this new type of dried fish and Sister Arcinas mentioned "ehhh I don't want to eat the heaaad" and I took it out of her hand and plopped the dried, fried, fish head in my mouth. AND enjoyed it. WHO AM I?? ;)
* I AM DREAMING IN ILONGGO! I've been waiting for this moment in my mission! I wake up and try and remember if my dream was English or Ilonggo and I just can't remember.. all I remember is understanding whatever was being said or that I was saying... but now I'm sure. It's Ilonggo now! For those of you that have served missions in another language you understand the excitement this brings :)
* But don't get too excited I'm still learning this language!! This week I mixed up the words "fly" (lupad) and "translate" (lubad) as I was explaining about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon. Always lots of laughs :)
Love you all TONS AND TONS TIMES A BILLION JILLION! :)
Sister Judd
Let me also tell you all how mind blowingly awesome this mission is. Bacolod Philippines Mission baptized 590 converts in the month of September. That number is unreal and as far as anyone knows here is the highest ever recorded. Ever. I can't explain how amazing this work is! THE WORK OF SALVATION! The Lord is truly hastening His work and I feel like we as missionaries are an a treadmill that keeps increasing in speed and somehow we're just trying to keep up!! This is HIS work and the miracles are from His hand in this work :) I am so grateful to be a missionary!!!
Some heartwarming highlights from this week is one of Sister Lilibeth's sister (Sister NoAnn) is visiting from Manila and she received the Book of Mormon that I sent her through one of her other sisters (I've met Sister NoAnn before but she only stays for a short time when she visits). She bore her testimony as we taught their family and has felt a big difference in her life as she has read the Book of Mormon and is already almost half way done with it! She added even though she has a lot of questions she has the desire to be baptized because of the way she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. And she came to church for the first time this Sunday!!! I testify of the power of the Book of Mormon!! It is the most powerful tool to missionary work and is the keystone of our religion! If one wants to find our if this church is true, and if Joseph Smith is a true prophet called of God in this dispensation, he/she just needs to read the Book of Mormon, ponder and pray about the things that they have read with real intent to receive an answer from God. This promise is so true! I love the Book of Mormon so much and have felt it's power in my life.
Cadiz 2nd Branch has my heart! :) I love this area so so much!!! The members are soooo sweet!! They really have adopted us and our ears clap and our hearts smile as they express their love and appreciate for all the missionaries and then specifically and genuinely for us as missionaries serving in this branch. It feels so great to feel this love and support from members and when the time comes, I will truly miss Cadiz so much!! I don't have time nor the energy to list the many many ways that these generous people show their love to us. Hard work in each area you serve really pays off!! It means so much to us and all I can say is... work with the missionaries in your wards! Get to know them! Like really get to know them. Grow to love them! And help them! Because this work is nothing except frustration without members! With members it is so sweet and special! It works!
My heart is so happy (and yes I realize how extremely cheesy all my emails sound but I can't help it!!!!!!!) to hear how great everything is going at home!!!! I love my Father in Heaven and feel the Savior's love so strong in my life. I know that He is blessing us and that He loves us all so much!!!
Randoms to add:
* PLEAAASEEEE don't be offended if from this week on I can't reply to your personal emails. I will still send a letter each week and it will be put on my blog and the pictures probably will be reposted on facebook (thank you again Kort!!), but we have a strict amount of time that we are able to email and President Lopez is continually reminding us of this rule. I FEEL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT WHEN YOU EMAIL ME! This is not by any means a request for the emails to stop... I just can't reply. But I love you all so much!!
* There were 12 confirmations in sacrament meeting yesterday. That was exciting for us as missionaries but I think slightly difficult for the members to sit through.
* I surprised myself this week when a member fed us this new type of dried fish and Sister Arcinas mentioned "ehhh I don't want to eat the heaaad" and I took it out of her hand and plopped the dried, fried, fish head in my mouth. AND enjoyed it. WHO AM I?? ;)
* I AM DREAMING IN ILONGGO! I've been waiting for this moment in my mission! I wake up and try and remember if my dream was English or Ilonggo and I just can't remember.. all I remember is understanding whatever was being said or that I was saying... but now I'm sure. It's Ilonggo now! For those of you that have served missions in another language you understand the excitement this brings :)
* But don't get too excited I'm still learning this language!! This week I mixed up the words "fly" (lupad) and "translate" (lubad) as I was explaining about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon. Always lots of laughs :)
Love you all TONS AND TONS TIMES A BILLION JILLION! :)
Sister Judd