Fwd: Sister Home Evening

Fwd: Zone Pictures

Fwd: Random Photos :)

Katotohanan

It's already p day again? Time goes by too fast.

Anyways this week was FULL of greatness. As they all are. On Wednesday I went on my first echanges with Sister Tavita. She's from this little Island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean that I cant remember the name. But I seriously learned so much. We were in my area, SOO that meant I had to lead the area. If anything I realized that I know more than I give myself credit for. About the people, the language, my area, how to teach, etc. You're usually better than you think you are.

On Saturday we had Zone Conference in Sorsogon. It was seriously exactly what I needed. President and Sister Guanzon both spoke about things that were exactly what I needed. Have I mentioned that God's timing is perfect? also GOOD NEWS! One of our investigators, Nenita, has been investigating the church for over a year but hasn't been baptized because she's not married to her asawa and she doesn't have a birth certificate or money to apply for a marriage license. BUT at zone conference, we found out that under Filipino law, if they've been living together for five years, they don't need a marriage license to be married. Which meanssss Nenita is getting married and will be baptized soon! I'm seriously beyond happy for her!! I can now see that she's the reason they gave us that second area.

Today we had a zone activity (which is why I'm emailing so much later than usual). We went to this lake and basically had FHE. It was so much fun! Bulan Zone is the best zone. The lake was beyond beautiful and we just sat in this little wooden building thing floating on the water. Yeah, I'm a master at describing things. But yeah.

Life is good! Magandang Buhay! Our Father in Heaven is so perfectly aware of each of His children. I love you all! Ingat!

Sister Wilkins

Fwd: Zone Training / Zone Conference

Keep On Keeping On

HEYOOO! Another busy week gone. Time won't slow down, man.

On Wednesday we went to Legazpi for our Trainer's/Trainee's Training (lots of training went down..) We rode a bus for 4 hours and made it to the chapel. It was a long day and I was so tired. The office Elders had to drive down to Bulan so we got a ride back with them. Before we left for Bulan, they had to go to the Mission Home so we got to sit and talk with President and Sister Guanzon for like 30 minutes in the mission home. I've said it like ten times, but President is a Filipino version of dad. It's hilarious really.

Another cool thing from this week: we were tracting (we hardly do that here because there are so many referrals and investigators) and we walked past this old lady. She started saying something in Bicol about us, thinking that we wouldn't be able to understand her. But, luckily we've got Sister Tarantan. Basically, she was impressed that she knew Bicol and we then proceeded to her house to teach her. We started the lesson and then my kasama asked if she had a bible. She gets up to go get it and comes back with a Book of Mormon. It was yellow and torn and dusty and had two elders names written in it and a date from 1999. She thought those missionaries were from another religion and she kept telling us that the Book of Mormon was the bible. It was the weirdest experience, but it was so cool that she had that book. She said she couldn't understand it when she reads it. It ended up being a really good lesson and she's willing to hear more. We invited her to try the book one more time. It's just cool how the Lord prepares people!

We had a relief society activity and I taught some kids how to play a song on the piano. The kids love me. The adults are nice but the language barrier is more real with them. With kids we can just play and it doesn't matter what language we're speaking. plus they have school english and they teach me words so that's nice. Rhealyn, July, and April are all cousins. Rhealyn and July are less active, but they've started coming since we have been teaching them and April has a baptism date next month. I love these kids!

On Sunday we had a multi-stake conference that aired from SLC. Elder Brent H. Nielsen, Elder Ian S. Ardern, Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Elder Craig C. Christensen, and Neil L. Anderson all spoke. It was aired throughout all of the Philippines, for the Philippines. Basically it was amazing and I cried several times. It was all in English, so count me grateful. It was exactly what I needed to here. There's an English phrase that everyone says here, "I will be the one", and that was discussed. It's basically the Filipino way to give service and to put other people before yourself. I love it here and I love these people. They are seriously such special people. After that, we got to watch Meet the Mormons! So it was a good day.

Welp, that's about it. I love my life! The Lord is so mindful of us! I love you all! Ingat po!

Sister Wilkins

2 Months already whaaa??

Greetings.

Today is my two month mark. Where has the time gone?? what the even heck? Is this real life?

Soooo let me tell y'all a little story! So on Thursday we had planned to go to our area that we've been opening. We are supposed to have members (at least one priesthood holder) with us when we go there because people get drunk and since I'm white I stand out so I'm an easy target. So, the members had to cancel last minute so instead we met with our branch president. I was feeling useless because I was the reason we couldn't go teach there and hindi ko alam Tagalog. Then president starts talking about the branch's efforts in family history. I told him I was a consultant back home for a few years so I could help if he wanted. He lit up and told me how he got the chills when I told him that and how I'm an answer to prayers. Basically, people, I've said it a million times, but GOD'S PLAN IS PERFECT! You are exactly where you need to be. Anyone who knows me very well knows I have a huge love for family history. Plus my Patriarchal Blessing says it's my responsibility to help in this work and I was blessed with skills to do so. THIS IS WHY IM HERE. I'm so grateful that I get to help people with something that I love! Hurrah for Israel!

In other news I extended so many baptismal dates this week... wait for it... in Tagalog! WAHOO! We got 9 investigators to commit to baptism this week. One of which is Brother Justine and boy has this guy been prepared by the Spirit. We found him while we were tracting in our farthest area and he was super interested. By our next visit, he came over to the house of his neighbor who we were teaching just to sit in. We then committed him to baptism. Basically I love my life.

My kasama has scoliosis and it's been getting worse. At some point soon they're going to send her to the Missionary Recovery Center in Manila. We don't really know what's gonna happen. I might go with her. I might stay here and get a new trainer, which would mean I would have to lead the area. But it's okay because whatever happens, I know I can do it because it'll be what the Lord wants me to do!

P.S. My hair is starting to be curly. I just thought you might want to know. Like Annie curly. But you can't really tell because I always put it up. Basically all of my wildest dreams are coming true.

Anyways, that's all folks.

I love you all so much and I love hearing from you! Never forget that you are a child of God and that He loves you!!

Sister Wilkins