Re: Pictures Week 25

1. These young women though... I love them so much

Magaling

HELLOOOOOOOOO!

What a great week. Talaga. Two Family Home Evenings, lots of less active work (they came to church!!), and a service project, and working with the young women.

We had a great experience where we tried to visit Arturo but the lady at his house (I don't know if it was his wife or what) was not very happy that we were there. He wasn't there, so the lady starts telling us this story and is rambling for like three minutes straight and I'm only picking up bits and pieces of what she's saying because she's speaking Bicol and not Tagalog. I understood that she thought he was crazy because he's looking for truth. So we didn't get to teach him this week, but he came to church again! So basically we just need to bring members with us that can actually understand what the heck is going on. I'm really excited for him! He's SO receptive. He was asking and answering questions again in Gospel Principles on Sunday. Talk about golden.

Saturday we did a service project with the branch at a school. We cleaned up and made it quite beautiful. I used my weeding skills that mum taught me. And I got to fulfill my lifelong dream of wearing a Mormon helping hands vest! It was a good day!

Yesterday we spoke in sacrament meeting. My talk was all in Tagalog. I got many compliments after about my language skills. One of the brothers in our District Presidency told me I'm a Filipina now! haha. But for serious. I have struggled SO much with the language and seeing the progress just makes me so grateful to my Father in Heaven. I don't deserve all that He gives me. The Gift of Tongues is real, people. That evening we got to do some less active work with three of the young women who are prospective missionaries. All three lessons with them were incredibly spiritual. The young women here are absolutely incredible. I wish I was like them at their age. They're pretty much all Annie.

The weeks go by so fast. I can't believe it's almost October. We are behind a week on the whole SLC broadcasts because of the time difference, so this Saturday we get to watch the Women's Broadcast, and then next week will be General Conference. I am so incredibly excited! I've been waiting FOREVER for general conference. You luckies get it this weekend.

Welp. I love you all! Have a great week!

Mahal,

Sister Wilkins

Re: Week 24 Pictures

1. I love my kasama

Re: Week 24 Pictures

above...

1. Dugo (blood) and Chicken intestines... yeah I ate that.

2. It was our district leader Elder Nagutom's birthday. District meeting was fun.

3. Bulan is the Best!

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