OYM lang

HELLOOOO! Another fantastic week here in Bulan!

We were challenged this week to reach 100 OYMs (or Open Your Mouth for you non-missionary folk) where we just pretty much talk to everyone and bear testimony. Sister Routhier and I completed the challenge as well as our whole district. It was such an awesome experience and it was definitely inspired.

One night we were just walking around doing street contacting because all of our lessons fell through and everyone goes to bed at like 7 here. The struggle is real. But anyways, we just go to this Tindahan (store - like a little stand that someone has on the street outside their house) and start talking to the lady and the man there. Emy and Reny. Turns out he knows a lot about Joseph Smith and he has a Book of Mormon in Manila but he's never been taught by missionaries. We talked for a long time then we came back the next night to teach them. They have so many questions and are really receptive. When we first met them, brother Reny asked me if I was a Filipino... haha. He said my Tagalog is really good. Basically I wanted to cry because we all know that that has been my number one struggle out here. The Lord blesses us, man.

On Saturday night we were walking home from the church after a baptism and were OYMing the whole way home. We randomly decided to go down this street that we've never been down before. We start talking to some people over there and I notice this man like listening in. So when we finish, we walk over to him and start talking to him. He said his name was Arturo and we're welcome to visit him anytime and to teach him. We got his information and invited him to church as an afterthought.

I was sitting in sacrament meeting on Sunday pretty upset actually because all of the people we had planned to pick up either were sick or backed out last minute. We had no one there. I was kind of steeming and just asking myself what I'm doing wrong and praying, asking our Father in Heaven to help me to be better. I turned around after the sacrament was over to start our Less-Active count and as I was looking around, I saw the smiling face of Arturo in the back. He attended all three hours of church and asked lots of questions and made comments in our Gospel Principles class.I can't even explain the joy. This just testifies to me once again that God has an absolutely perfect plan. He places people in our paths that we can help, we just have to OPEN OUR MOUTHS. Had we not gone down that street or had we not opened our mouths, he would've been passed by. I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has perfect timing and who loves us perfectly.

Lots of incredible things happened this week with the progression of our long-term investigators. New baptismal dates, teaching their whole families now, and them telling us they know this is true. I've learned and grown so much this week and I'm so so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful to be a part of this great work. This transfer ends tomorrow, and I've got one left in the beautiful San Vicente branch. I'm so grateful for all I've learned here and for the people I've met. The next six weeks are going to be full of miracles.

I love you all, have a great week!

Sister Wilkins

Week 23: Prayers, polaroids, and pants

Hello hello hello! This week was SO busy. but absolutely amazing. Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! Tomorrow for you, but I'm celebrating it now. I love you!

On Wednesday we went to Legazpi for our Trainer's Training meeting. We had to ride the bus and I was slightly freaking out because I've never been the one in charge before when riding the buses here. It's different than America. We got off the bus and got on a Tricie to head to the chapel and I was just praying that it was the right one and that we'd be able to get there safe and then we found out we were in Daraga and not Legazpi. They're right next to each other, but you have to ride a jeepney to get there and I don't know how those work yet because we don't have them in Bulan. The Daraga chapel happens to be the mission office as well so I thought we'll just try it, and low and behold, the AP's were leaving just then and they got to give us a ride. I am a baby and was pretty scared, but I love how Heavenly Father answers our prayers even in the littlest ways and even if it's something not too significant. Trainer's training was the funnest thing. I love all of the missionaries in my mission. They're so fun to be around. I learned so many things from the counsel of president and it was just an incredible day. Plus we got to go to Pacific Mall in Legazpi after and I bought a polaroid camera. Yeah. A Polaroid. I'm one happy girl. I've been wanting one forever, but they're so expensive in America. Hooray for the Philippines Piso! I love life.

On Friday we had Zone Training. My zone is the best zone. For reals. Today we had our Zone Activity and I basically just love these guys. I've never been so happy. My district got changed up a little. Elder Lance had to be emergency transferred so now we have Elder Kinikini from Fiji and he's absolutely hilarious. I'm excited! the Zone activity was in Matnog (the drive there is GORGEOUS) and it was the first time I've worn jeans in 5 months so that was strange. haah. I love my zone.

So of course, on Saturday, we had Rosalio's baptism! It was absolutely incredible. I cried. When he was confirmed on Sunday, in the blessing it said that he will become a missionary. Basically I can't handle it. haha. Being able to bring people to the gospel and then realizing that one day they'll do the same for others just kills me. This is God's work and I'm so incredibly lucky to be a part of it. THIS IS THE WAY TO PURE JOY. And there is no other way. It's through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only through Him can we be truly happy. I love in the scriptures when it talks about the Sons of Mosiah and how when they were missioanries they experienced many trials and hard times, but nothing that wasn't swallowed up in the joy of Christ. That's how I feel. Life as a missionary and life in general certainly isn't easy, but they bad times and hard things are ALL swallowed up in the joy of Christ. We just have to let Him in.

Sunday, we finally got the Molina Family to come back to church! They've been struggling a lot financially and have been needing to work on Sunday. We're starting to do service projects at their home and that's definitely a sure way to soften people's hearts.

We've got one week left in the transfer. This one flew by. I plan to spend the rest of my time with Sister Routhier to its fullest. We're going to see miracles in the next 7 weeks :)

I love you all so much! Thank you for your support and love! I challenge you to share the gospel in some way this week. Open your mouth and help someone understand how much the gospel can help them. I LOVE YOU!

Kita kits!

Sister Wilkins

Re: Pictures Week 23

1. I love Sister Hunt

2. On the Tricie back to Bulan

5 Months tomorrow...

Hello my lovely friends and family! What a week it has been! Lots of good news and lots of blessings! Tomorrow is my 5 month mark and I absolutely can't believe it's been that long. What the even heck.

So Rosalio's baptism is back on! This Saturday! I'm so excited for him! He's so excited! He passed his interview on Saturday and we're off! :D

On Tuesday we went on exchanges with our Sister Training Leaders and I went with Sister Lapuz in our area. It was so much fun and I learned SO much!

Thursday we had Zone Conference in Sorsogon with Elder Haynie of the Quorum of the Seventy. It was an incredible meeting. We learned a lot about prayer and about Enoch (whom I love) and about our purpose to find those who have been prepared. The Spirit was so strong! Elder Haynie kept calling on me to answer questions and to read scriptures and stuff and it was just such a cool experience to be edified by the Spirit like that. You learn so much more when you're involved and ask and answer questions.

We have the BEST investigators right now. Erwin is my favorite (am i allowed to have a favorite?) and he's so sweet and so genuine. We tracted him and he's one of those people that were just completely prepared by God. He reads the Book of Mormon and asks questions and is just a golden investigator, talaga. i'm so blessed to be here. I really hope I get to see him be baptized.

A cool thing that happened yesterday: So after church we get on a Padjack to head back home, I tell the driver "project" because that's where we live. so he goes the wrong way and I'm like "where is this dude going?" and we're right by one of our investigators houses. Sister Routhier is like "let's just go visit the Molina Family because we're right here anyway" I was hungry and wanted to just go home, but I decided to listen to her.  So we get there and it's just Sister Molina. We teach her a really great lesson and she's so happy we came. I just all of a sudden get a prompting to ask her if there is anything we can do to help her. She hasn't been able to come to church because she's needed to work. There family is struggling a lot right now financially. So we just offered to help with laundry or anything. I could tell she didn't want to say yes because she's a very independent woman, but she accepted and I'm super excited to be able to help her! Hopefully we'll ease her work load so she can come to church. I love her a lot.

So yes. It's been a great week and I'm excited for the upcoming week! I love being a missionary! I love you all so much! have a great week!

Sister Wilkins

Re: Week 21 Pictures

1. We had Ice cream last night. It melted in like two seconds.

2. I seriously love these sisters so much.

Week 21

Hello all! I can't believe it's already Monday. Time is just going faster and faster. I can't even handle it.

So at the beginning of this week, we found out that our Baptism couldn't happen. Rosalio's mother who is a less active member in Irosin decided she didn't want him to be baptized. So that happened. My heart is broken. But we've been praying that she'll soften her heart. Next fast sunday man...

So that happened and we were rather discouraged. We technically don't have to tract because we have so many investigators, but we decided that we need to get some new investigators and tract. We found Erwin last week and he's crazy progressing! I'm so excited for him! When he prays it's so meaningful and sincere. We found CJ this last Saturday and he's so interested. The Lord definitely blesses you and makes up for any losses. Plus it was really hard for me at first to tract because I've never had to lead before, but I've got it down man! We've been talking to everyone! It's the spirit of missionary work and I can't get enough of it! People reject us and some let us in, but whatever the result, I love sharing the Gospel and I love opening my mouth and just telling people how it's blessed my life!

We had lots of crazy Spiritual experiences with teaching members and less actives this week. The Spirit is so strong in every lesson. That's been a goal of Sister Routhier and I, to not focus on the numbers or how many lessons we teach, but to focus on the quality. I've found deeper meaning in my purpose and a greater love for the work because of this. I finally feel like I'm doing what would please my Father in Heaven and that's all I really want anyway. I love being a missionary!

Today we had a choir practice because my zone will be singing at our Mission Tour Zone Conference on Thursday. Elder Haynie of the 70 will be there. I'm so excited! We're singing I Need Thee Every Hour/ Kailangan Ko Kayo meaning that it's mixed English and Tagalog. So pretty. I love my zone! I love my life.

So basically that's it. It's been a super busy week full of blessings! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Ingat!

Sister Wilkins

Week 21 Pictures

1. We broke that. They make furniture for tiny Filipinos... haha

2. Buong Bulan Zone Sisters!