Monday, September 24, 2012

WHAT A WEEK for us ALL!


WOW! Dedicated na siya! :) MASAYA! Thanks for all the good news! I hope i get to read mom's email before leaving the computer shop today. still got 45 minutes ... :) i hope the dedication was SUPER cool. it sounds like it was! i'm looking forward to conference in a BIG way! i have an assignment for you ALL: right after general conference, email me about your favorite talks/experiences/insights so i can look for them the following weekend when i view the rebroadcast! SALAMAT!

CONGRATS on the job, dad! does that mean you'll be programming.. like at a computer? not so much hands-on? so you've got school and hopefully 40 hrs at that job and what's the other one? where's the programming job? sorry! i just wanna know where you work! hehee. are you still sunday school presidency? how about mom, is she still stake relief society? how's the teaching going?

Is Rae okay? how's she feeling now? she sure is such a trooper! i hope all is well and she can get right back in the game :) she always uses her head, huh? :) Oy! I'm so glad she's okay! what a cool experience with her coach! wow what blessings we are receiving... she is so valiant and i'm so proud of her!

I'M IN CAVITE!!!!!! and i LOVE it here! I'm in the area of Noveleta, the Noveleta ward. we're the only missionaries in this ward. my companion is one of sis ronquillo's former companions, Sister Stromberg! and guess what?? she ROCKS!!!!!! like i love her soooooooooooo much! and she's from --go figure-- LOGAN, UT! YEAH! so we get to be buds and do stuffs after our missions, too! she is such a good missionary and a fantastic person. I honestly am the happiest person alive. I love this area. I have so much to learn... we have SO MANY people to teach! And so many yet to find! Our ward is super magaling at giving us referrals. such a blessing! and our ward mission leader is so masipag! I'm having such spiritual experiences! it's a beautiful feeling :) and i know that Sis. Ronquillo and her anak (another Americana lol who is super sweet) are taking great care of the people in Makati 3rd. i know they need to be there and i need to be here. it's such a great feeling.

the province is GORGEOUS! i mean, it's still medyo city because there are still some small businesses close by and a branch of Jollibee and a Mercury Drug... there are still tricycles and buses. but there is more open space and the houses are different here. they're SO COLORFUL! and the greenery makes my heart happy :) i love looking at the houses and even at the cows that are our down-the-street neighbors. they're kinda skinny brown guys, but they sure seem nice. and at least they put up that barbed wire last-to-last transfer so they can't pollute the road anymore. that's pretty nice, too.
at first when we were driving in, i was thinking... "but the roads are still paved... but there are still stores that aren't just little tindahans... there are still cars here... this can't be the province. it has to be further than this." but you know what? it's okay! i'm super happy here. and our area is really big! as in probably several times my old/last/first area, which was incredibly small.
i saw a family of goats! one of our awesome investigators was taking them on a little sunday walk yesterday :) pretty cute. brown dad, tan mom, and a white baby. he wasn't in his little rope because he's so darn attached to mom still. so he didn't even need a rope.

i got Angus's letter! THANK YOU! i'll get "write" back to you--asap! :D I was SO EXCITED to get his letter!

alyssa... WOW. i can't explain the beauty of the feelings i had reading your email JUST NOW that i just BARELY GOT. perfect. you are so right. the Spirit connects us so much. what an amazing spirit you have! and experience! what an experience! that will always be sacred to you, and it is as well to me because you shared it. thank you, dear sister. thank you for your deep and growing love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel. thank you. i felt such a strong love and peace reading your letter. what a joy my family is to me! and the temple because it brings our family close together; whether on the other side of the world, or the veil, we are united because of what Christ did for us.

Mom, you can mail the package to the one i keep sending on letters, which is the current one. the paper must have the old office address aaron's been using. our new office is pretty recent. it'll make it either way, but it has to be forwarded if you use the old address. is this package gonna be pretty expensive? i'm going to try later today to withdraw at a different place bc last time i tried in makati, it didn't work... wierd. i want to replace a couple of my tops and my shoes are probably going to wear out sometime soon, so i wanted some more personal money. but i don't know if that's safe to send, is it?
if there's one thing that i would LOVE to get, it would be a few pictures--of our family, and of aaron. i love the ones on the computer, but if you have a chance to print one or 2 good ones, that'd rock! anyone you feel like sending :) i'd love something great to look at on my desk instead of my toiletry bag lol.

that's so cool about the convert baptism, the Yates family! and E. T! what a superb opportunity! i'm so glad he invited you and the 3 of you got to attend saturday. what a neat thing! :)

i'm so glad to hear about our Wyatt family. i love them so much and pray for them often.

i'm late and gotta sign off! thank aaron for the letter and addy and i'll have to print it to read it :) i'll send pics when i dare, but i gotta send that memory card to aaron first. i love you! i'll take plenty of pics, don't worry!

love, your sis r

Monday, September 17, 2012

HOW DID TIME GO SO FAST??

Goodness, dear loved ones! It's another monday and this week seriously flew by! actually, this whole transfer went by really fast for the two of us... i can't believe it's transfer day again thursday. holy biscuit! that's just nuts. not to mention... HAHA!!! SIS RONQUILLO'S EXPECTING!!!! LOL she meets her new anak on transfer day! it'll be her first time training. and she really didn't want to... hehe! she was in denial at first. but i know she's going to do so well! she's not really worried about it. just would like to be a junior for a transfer or two, i think. anyhow, she rocks and i'm excited for her! but i'm super gonna miss her. i can't even tell you. i miss sister gupta too. what great companions i've had! worlds difference, but both incredibly good people--and missionaries.

aaron sent me the news and sis R and i got through other ward missionaries :) the sister aaron served with in his mission who is in our ward is OFFICIALLY ENGAGED! congrats, jael! i love her lots and i'm excited for them! haha even though we all knew they had a specific date and everything :)

so yes, i know i'm for sure transferring bc President Stucki told sis ronquillo she'll be training here in makati 3rd. i can't tell you how much i'm going to miss these people. it hurts to think about it. but i trust the Lord and i trust Sis Ronquillo. i know He'll work thru her and they'll take care of the people here in this area. i feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders as i know i will now be caring for the work someone else is leaving behind. i'm just being requested in another part of the vineyard and i hope to do far better work there than i've done yet--but i know the Lord knows i'm doing my best. i have no idea where i'll be or who i'll be with. the feelings i had before are... well, i have no idea now, to be honest. i thought i felt i'd go somewhere specific, but i've not a clue. at least i know it's where i need to be. of course, i've been hoping for a chance to work in and experience the province. but i know the Lord knows best.

dad, that's so exciting about the job! where is vulcraft? that's familiar.. i'll keep praying for you and that all will go well! HAHA that is HILARIOUS! jackson is so stinkin cute! and what's the other one? cakemix, right? :) lol i hope the skunk's gone by this time next year lol i don't want him around. dang, that's funny. i'm still working on studying ammon, dad, but i'll report on what i learn :) i got started in the beginning of his story as a rebel. now he's converted! boy, that was fast.... haha don't we wish our hearts would change that drastically sometimes. but he had a big change to make. sometimes ours are small, but just as significant. boy, i love you, daddy!

gosh, mom. how right you are... again! surprise! lol. i mean about the being super blessed part. i am also not anything spectacular of my own fat self. ( ooh quick pause on that! EVERYONE has been telling me lately that i lost weight and need to eat more... i think they're crazy and i'm just the same. i haven't noticed any difference. but seriously i was told that about 7 times and each time, the people present all affirmed i got skinnier. talk about moody! one sec i'm fat and the next i'm underweight... golly. well don't you worry! i don't think i've changed a bit! except my hair's longer :) ) anywho, it's so true that the Lord makes us His instruments and guides our actions if we are smart enough, at least :) , to recognize that we're nothing without Him-- that we need His help. and He sure loves to help us! what a spiritual experience it is to read all of your letters! i learned from the counsel you gave to Maree, too. what a blessing my parents are!

i just want to cry for all the wonderful experiences you're having--both the challenging and the joyful--because they are all taking such a strong spiritual shape in your lives, because you're choosing to be shaped by them. THANK YOU!!! thank you for sharing with me all that you're loving, living, and learning. it truly lifts my spirits in a way i can't describe. i feel so light and happy and excited to do all He asks.

CONGRATULATIONS! to Hailey! and to Jory, in case he didn't get my congrats the first time! YAY! so cool! and happy birthday to our dear HEIDI! love her!!!

You know what, mom? Father in Heaven, We Do Believe is the song Sis Ronquillo chose to play at the baptism in our ward saturday. (he was an investigator the elders taught, which is why you didn't hear about it before. we didn't teach him.) and yes, she plays piano! what a gal! anyho, that's such a good hymn. thank you, mom. and the second is one the primary was working on learning while i was a teacher :) happy days!

okay, ako naman... ano ang pipiliin ko?

Hymn number 96. We sang it in comp study and then it was one of the hymns in sacrament meeting yesterday...

Dearest children, God is near you, Watching o'er you day and night, And delights to own and bless you, If you strive to do what's right. He will bless you, He will bless you, if you put your trust in Him. Dearest children, holy angels Watch your actions night and day, And they keep a faithful record of the good and bad you say. Cherish virtue! Cherish virtue! God will bless the pure in heart. Children, God delights to teach you By his Holy Spirit's voice. Quickly heed its holy promptings, Day by day you'll then rejoice. Oh, prove faithful, Oh, prove faithful To your God and Zion's cause.

might i just add my testimony to how true this is! He is ever aware and ever ready to bless!

we have an awesome fhe event planned later! TONS of investigators and a few less-active members should be able to come! it's at the home of one of our ward missionaries, Ruby (also Jael's house). she is SUPER AWESOME and works with us tons! i'm so thankful and i know it'll be a blast! there's a really big family that we are expecting to come. they are so dear to our hearts. i hope the only problem is everyone finding a place to sit! :) it's gonna be great. i'm the spiritual thought giver, so i hope to find something simple to relate to everyone, including the little kids so they're at least quiet. here goes!

i think i have to go now... but i want you to know i love you loads!

please may i request addresses of sarah roring and aaron ellis? :) i'd love to send them letters, ya know...

love, sis r! ( your fave sis mish)

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Ooops! Love you!

HELLO!!!! HOW ARE YOU???? I ASKED YOU FIRST!!!!

hehe joke lang. I got Monica (Nanay) Gupta's email! salamat, sis! i'll get you a letter right quick! what's your address in india? why'd they change your sis's mission? i'm sure that it will be super awesome anyway. i sure hope i get to meet her while she's in the MTC! that'd be so cool! congrats on the job, love! and i'm sure you're fulfilling your callings- as you do -so well. what's your address??? :) love ya, ma!

GOSH, DAD! you clack me up, too! the secret to answering you all i've discovered is to compose my response while i go along. much more effective and actually prob time-saving so i don't reread the same parts over and over like i tend to do. haha! i love you, dad! i'm glad you liked the card, sorry it was so wimpy and lame. i wanted to include this awesome pic i have of you on my camera, but my memory card got a virus. you can thank aaron bc he'll be the one fixing that so i can print and give you that picture. it'll complete your card :) promise. lol it's pretty fantastic! yeah, the storms have been okay in our area. just some hard rain every once in a while. i'm so impressed with the doings of my family! you are all accomplishing amazing things! hehee you should send me some of boo's jokes :) i'd like that. she's a doll.

Rae, what a letter! i'm sure mom and dad will agree with me when i say: PRAYERS ANSWERED. And in such a beautiful way! i'm so glad that not only do you love it, but that you're growing and learning in all the ways you love and expected and hoped for. i couldn't ask for better for you. I know our Heavenly Father is taking care of you in all the things that you're doing--in ever way that you're being exhausted, He is there to support and bless you as you give your all. i wish you could see you the way we do and even more the way He does. you are so precious and special and full of eternal potential. i just love ya, girl! you have it all in you and around you! keep grabbing the opportunity to learn and you'll keep learning! actually, that's been about the highlight of my insights this week, in all my experiences. if you want to be humble and learn from your experiences, YOU CAN! there is something to be learned ALL THE TIME. i just need to be grateful for those learning and growing opportunities, because they often come in rough and humbling packages and bring about the greatest blessings one could imagine.

Mom, you're so right. there is such peace in knowing you're where the Lord wants you. it spins my head round when i think of where i am and what i'm doing. it was never in my plans for me. and i can't believe it. but i can, because i just feel like i'd be lost doing anything else. and i mean my life would still be all about me and i'd take forever to learn all the things i need to. sometimes the crash course is painful. sometimes it's lots of crashing. but i know that our Father in Heaven is making of me something i could never make of myself. i'd never be anything if it were up to me. thank goodness i can leave that up to Him. and i know i'll truly be found in losing myself in His work. that's where the future me will be brought to the surface. that's where His mold will begin to take shape. but only if i choose to give it ALL to Him. He still gave me the choice.

i'm so excited about the temple, too! what great news about President Packer presiding! we're so blessed. so blessed. I'll be praying for him and for this dedication. what a blessed event. and what inspiration he received! i feel like that will touch most of those girls deep inside and what they feel there will remain in their hearts all their lives if they let it. wow. wow.

i'm so glad you're loving your job, mom! you are such a great person. i'd trust you with any child, any day. you have a gift. many, of course. and one is an inspired way of nurture. thank you for your example of inspired nurture focused on the gospel of Jesus Christ. i hope to apply all that i've learned and keep learning from yours and dad's parenting in my own future.

Ang ganda ganda ng sulat ni Alyssa! wow, thank you, lou! what a cool part you have in the bringing forth of the Lord's temple and, of course, the building of Zion! how blessed we are. what a sweet and sensitive girl you are! I know Heavenly Father will continue to bless you in your righteous desires and works. keep putting Him first and you'll have all the peace and direction you need! you are such a good young woman! tell joj and boo that i am super safe. i'm about the safest i'll ever be in my life, no matter how bad the storms get because Heavenly Father is using me as His instrument here (or at least that's the goal) :D

so... this part i am starting and wrapping up on sept 11, 2012 because i didn't send this email yesterday... and Sis. Dietrich in the office is SUPER nice and is letting me use an office computer to send it so you can hear from me, the sillyhead. can't believe i didn't send it! sorry! i love you!

just a couple things: aaron, what's your addy at school? what's sarah roring's addy so i can mail her? hi to grandma r, i got your letter and wrote you back! thank you! and i got brad's email, but can't email back. thank him! he'll get the letter soon!

love you all!!!! just so you know the work is great! zone meeting was great! i'll update you more next week!

sis r

Monday, September 3, 2012

To the ones i hold dear...

What great emails I've received from you all! i am overfilled with joy that you are doing so well! i want always to hear more and more! your victories are my victories, your struggles my struggles, your tears and laughs are mine as well, and i love sharing in your joy most of all! thank you thank you thank you for your messages of love and comfort and just plain old awesomeness! (for which there is no charge ;D)

gosh, i love you!

i got priscila's address! thanks! love you too, dear!

joseph, i am THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED!!! and that's an understatement. HOLY AMAZING! that's SOOOOO COOOOL! i'm sending a super-smacking, face-thwacking, double-dacking high five your way!!! hehee and your email was so funny and fun to read, broseph! you are PHENOMENAL.

lou, i have every confidence that you will be successful in your goals as long as you're willing to do what it takes to get there. makes sense, doesn't it? you know, love, you're very right about that connection with the gospel and running. you and mom have had lots of spiritual experiences running and you've inspired me in so many ways. that's just what i need to do when it comes to the work--push through and give it my all, trusting that my efforts in His time will yield the fruits He has promised. goodness, what a blessing it is to have you as a younger sister! you know, i know you sit just where you are in our family on purpose, too. and i wouldn't switch ya 'cause i need you there, too. thank you for doing what you do and for being you! i learn so much from you!

dad, thank you for your advice and experience. thank you for your insight and for the service you gave and continue to give. i really do need to seek to serve more in the every day opportunities that come along. there are surely an abundance of those that i haven't noticed before that i will begin to notice now as i live a little more outside myself. thank you! and i'm definitely going to do some studying on ammon, that great missionary. there is so much that i am learning that i didn't know i knew, but even more that i'm learning that i thought i knew, but didn't. haha! funny how that works. it's supposed to be humbling, so i sure hope it does its job on me.

mom, thank you for the song and for the awesome news about our family and relaying everyone's love. i have prayed and thought about them so much. it's miraculous to see prayers answered and know that hearts are being softened and comforted. oh, how i ache for them. but i know the Savior knows them and understands exactly how they feel and He can heal what I cannot.

how are the new jobs coming along, parents of mine?

aaron, the song was brilliant!!! like... wow. wow. you both sounded sooo good. i'm so proud of you! way to go! i think i might listen to it every week! but i feel like that's bawal since we're not supposed to use headphones that isolate us from our companions... shoot a mile. i think i just broke a rule. kinda, bc there is no other way i could listen to it here in an internet cafe. so i guess i shouldn't have. but DANG it was GREAT! Again, WAY TO GO!

oh! i wanted to quick say that i totally smelled Uncle Chewie this week on a jeepney! some guy was wearing his cologne that he used to wear when i was a kid and would go to their house a lot! and i loved it! it was just like being a kid again, eating pickles in their kitchen with hannah and going to breakfast at the diner on main st. good times.

everyone keeps acting like im going to palawan next transfer. that's an interesting thought. actually, it's not a new thought at all. sister gupta's been prophesying since i first got here and sister ronquillo feels like it's true. all of her american companions have gone there. goodness! you should look up palawan on the internet. there are GORGEOUS tourist spots! i saw pictures when sister g was choosing one to print on a shirt for her brother/friend. anyway, we'll see. it's only halfway thru the transfer. but the truth is, i'm probably not staying here. who knows? anything could happen. at least if i go to palawan, it will force me to learn better tagalog :) actually, it's getting easier all the time. i understand lots better. speaking is still difficult sometimes and easier other times. but i'll get there. i just need to work harder.

kevin was confirmed sunday! official na siya. sweet! and he bore his testimony in gospel principles--how he gained a testimony of the restoration and it was beautiful. he just said he pretty much was like joseph--searching for the truth. and then when he read and prayed about the book of mormon and everything, he just felt it was right. cool guy.

and leah!!!! she's soooo gonna be ready for baptism. she's the smartest person holy cow. and she's really feeling like she's found the truth she's been looking for. she just gets everything we teach her. i just want it to begin to take deeper root in her as she repents and changes to become one of His fold. her baptism should be september 29 if we can get her prepared by then. she's awesome. she was referred by an rm intern at her company who was only here for a few months. she speaks super super english and attended the foreigner branch at first and the elders were her first missionaries, but she's in our area, so we have taken over :) lucky us.

anyway, we also had lots of LA members come to church!!! love that. our work was super this week and i loved it. it's evidence that as i am beginning to actually give my heart to the Lord and WANT to do His work and His will, that He is blessing us. the blessings were sure instantaneous! and i'm beginning to feel joy that was missing in my work before. I want not just to do His will, but to unite my will with His. that's when change comes.

i gotta go! i love you! i hope i didn't forget anything! you're the best!

all my love, sis r

Sunday, September 2, 2012

August 26th


Sis Gupta! (i guess i can use your first name now, right? Monica! ...wow that felt weird.) thanks for your prayers! I'm so glad you're feeling better. i'll keep praying for you. i'll pass the word along to Amie and Kevin and the Rebosuras. you are missed here, love. i miss you and they miss you!
Sis. Ronquillo and i are still in Makati 3rd, dear. nothing too new :) hehee who knows if i'll be here another transfer. elder gagnon is STILL HERE! lol! his 5th transfer in this area. and elder kunzler is our other ZL. they're a great pair. still no zone activity, though... sad day. but we'll do all we can to get one this transfer!
about the pics... aaron will tell you about their progress when i send my memory card to him. because there's a virus on my memory card right now and i'm kinda clueless when it comes to stuff like that.

Dad, you sure are one of a kind! i love it! thank you for your awesome attitude and all your hard work and example! i'm still waiting on that fatherly missionary advice :) it sounds like your work is good! i'm so proud of you! i feel where you're coming from with the SO MUCH TO LEARN, but i know you'll do it! He's here to help you. let's learn together, shall we?

joseph, you keep workin hard and you'll see the reward for your dedication! becca, you keep everyone smiling, okay? when does the girl come to stay? who all did sheep? how'd that go? lou, i was thinking yesterday about how much i miss playing just a few songs that i adore on the piano and how much more you'd miss it if our roles were reversed. keep finding joy in developing your talents! there is a need for good piano players in this world. i am really wishing right now that i had applied myself more in lessons. shhh don't tell Mom lol! rae, i got to talk to you for a sec and that was great. do email me, hah? good girl. i hear your game is GOOD, doll! so GOOD GAME from me ;) i didn't know colton was such a big to-do! what a guy! that's sweet.

how was fair time? did you eat a super yummy burger for me? gosh, i'm gonna take advantage of that when i'm home :) hehee.

this is mom's reminder to say the things next week she didn't get to say this time. more about brad's timely talk and about your job.

aaron, that would be GREAT! Like super duper great. I have another one right now. i'm just not sure how to send the diseased one. what's the best way? i have a little protective case i could prob send it in inside of an envelope. i just hope it's safe that way. any suggestions? if you let me know, i'll try and send it next week according to your suggestions. it's the one that has the baby one that fits inside it. so i'm sure it has files from more than just my camera--it has pics that are saved to my laptop, too. and gosh, there are some dang cool and very important pictures on there! it would be more than a super bummer to lose them.
i'm glad you sang well! i didn't get the sound file, unfortunately :( who recorded you?? lol in sacrament meeting?? how's your new phone?  do you have that yet?

well, family, it's been  week. honestly, it's been an interesting one. but it's been good :) we had a HUGE group go with us to the temple saturday! we have temple tours every month and it was our month to bring people, not to teach at the tours. teaching always makes me nervous--you know how i love crowds--so i was glad to be on the other end. it was a big, happy group. and then one of the investigators--who randomly decided to go with us at the last minute on saturday ( we actually didn't invite her bc she's a former investigator and claims she's muslim and had told sister gupta and i she wasn't interested in changing religions, though she does believe in Jesus Christ)--showed up to church yesterday, too! crazy. didn't expect that AT ALL. but it was good :) she had a good experience. and she referred to herself as an investigator when she introduced herself... pretty sweet.
also, kevin's baptism was saturday! what a guy! he was so ready. he's super strong. but he got a super high fever and couldn't come be confirmed yesterday. crazy, i know. but he'll be there next week! don't you fret. he's a stallion.

i was so excited to hear from sarah about her cute baby and ashlynn about her cute baby and trip and everything! i'm so excited for them! they rock! I'm still not sure how to send responses to daniel, priscilla, megan bird, or.... maybe the list is even longer than that. but there's a start lol. but i sure hope they know i love, appreciate, and care about them.

i want to tell you that i know that i'm where i need to be. i know that this is the greatest work--the only work there is to do. we are so blessed to be invited to be part of Heavenly Father's work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. and boy does life feel so much better when i'm reminded of this eternal principle and i'm granted a portion of that eternal perspective. otherwise, the things we are called upon to do and experience would be overwhelming. sometimes life gets that way. but i know that if we remember that this moment is not forever, that there is joy to be had and peace to be obtained through Jesus Christ, that our burdens won't be too heavy to bear.
I was pondering on this the other day. How is it possible that the One who bore all things could say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? How could that be true? And yet, He would not lie. I don't know how it works, honestly. All I know is that it does. All I know is that if we yoke ourselves with Him, suddenly our burdens are not too heavy to bear. Suddenly we are filled with peace and assurance that all things will work together for our good. And in that moment, we also become more like Him. We become more childlike.

Anyway, i just know that the Church is true. And I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul, including the questions in our hearts and minds right now. I know I have much to do to become what He wants me to become, but I also trust that as I simply do all I can, He will take care of everything.

Mom, I'm out of time and can't type the lyrics, but today I choose I Know that My Redeemer Lives.

love, sister r