LAST DAY SA MANILA!

The MTC here in Manila is absolutely incredible. The garden outside is breathe taking and we have a gorgeous view of the Temple and city. I especially love president Trask so much. He is an amazing president and genuinely loves everyone dito sa MTC.We're all doing just fine with adjusting to the culture, weather, food, and new schedules. We got all of our finger print/ immigration things done, went to the Manila Temple, adjusted to cold showers,  learned heeps about filipino culture from filipino leaders, improving our tagalog, learning more about the gospel, and striving to adjust to the time change! I can honestly say being driven around Manila has been the scariest thing life has offered me. Did I mention that already? Bucas (Wednesday)  we will wake up around 5:25 and be driven to the Manila airpot and arrive there at 6:25 where me, Elder Madsen, and Sister Snyder will be flying to Legazpi at around 10 AM where we will meet President Guazon. 
Sisters, you'll be fine dont worry about a thing! 


Some fun facts:
I convinced our driver to take us to 7 eleven on the way back to the MTC from the airport.
I shared the gospel to a nun at customs.
It is a glorious day to be alive. 
President Trask will hug you so just embrace life.
The Philippines is my happy place . :)

ARRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES

SISTER CRUZ, SISTER MUMU, SISTER SOLETA AND ME

THERE'S SO MUCH TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT.
OUR VIEW FROM THE ROOM.

MANILA TEMPLE

MANILA TEMPLE

DID THEY REALLY MEAN IT WHEN THEY SAID TO LEAVE
YOUR HEART AT HOME COS...
THESE KIDS ARE TOO DANG CUTE!!!

AND YEAH, THAT WAS MY FIRST MOSQUITO BITE :-))))))))))))

I AM HERE!

Kumusta Fam and President Howard,

I have about 5 minutes right now to email but I wanted to let you know I'm here at the Manila MTC safe! It is insanely beautiful and sobra mainit! So hot. I love President and Sister Trask, they are taking such great care of us here. The plane ride was just great. I'm so grateful to be here in the Philippines. I already have so many photos I'd like to share, so expect them on Monday! I love the Philippines already and am so ready to dive in to everything. Our schedule is to go to the temple on Tuesday and go to the famous cemetery on Monday and do much more. Our immigration papers are being processed right now and we will leave the MTC in 5 days. I love love love love it here!! Sobra masaya ako. Our drive from the airport to the MTC was the scariest thing of my life dahil marami mga crazy drivers!!! It takes a lot to scare me when driving so, you can only imagine. Lots of people staring at us missionaries at the airport, good opportunity to introduce ourselves :).  Still not sure if we're driving or flying to Legazpi so I'm just going with the flow and I will let you know! We already met some of the Filipino little kids from the primary and they were SOSOSO cute grabe talaga. ALso, later we're proselyting later from 1- 6 pm today sa Quenzon City North... AHHHHH! Stig. Excited ako. SO pumped. Lets do it! Masigla!

I'm so grateful I had the chance to talk to you all on the phone at the airport. Lol I got a kick out of trying to call from Tokyo.... all I can say is that it was mahirap!! haha pero im glad I was able to hear your voices. Until Mother's day. 

I love it here so much and all of you

Ingat po

Sister Delgado

Ingat MTC!‏!!

Kumusta Everyone! 

The MTC is giving us the chance to do once last load of laundry and email our families so that's why I'm emailing on Wednesday and not Saturday. TOMORROW at 3:30 AM my district and I leave for the Philippines!! CRAZY! I'm so grateful for the MTC and for it has done to help me prepare for the Filipinos I'll be serving. 

My last couple of days here have been quite memorable. Every Sunday the Branch Leaders pick Elders and Sisters to speak during sacrament and give like 5 minute talks. The catch is, they never tell you who they're going to pick.  My favorite branch leaders Brother and Sister Donohoo were conducting. As I was preparing the hymns for the sacrament, a couple of elders came up to me and asked if I was ready to give my talk. I looked at them and said they were crazy and that someone else from the new districts were going to speak. Normally each Sunday I at least prepare a scripture or thought just in case I'm called on, but I was so certain I wasn't going to get called on I didn't even prepare a thought let alone a scripture. And of course, the joke was on me. As soon as Brother Donohoo called my name to be the sister speaker,  the word, "WHAT!" definitely left my mouth without my permission. It was a lot louder than I thought when I heard everyone laugh. I died a little. But it was too funny. The Lord has a sense of humor. Luckily the topic was on the Book of Mormon and I have had plenty of time here at the MTC to strengthen my testimony of it's truthfulness and bear witness at any given moment that it is the word of God. And that if we abide by the teachings it gives and live the commandments, we will come closer to Christ and our Heavenly Father. 

Yesterday's devotional was of course wonderful as usual. The talk was given by Elder and Sister Johnson from the quorum of the 70. They really emphasized how we as missionaries must proclaim the reality of our God and how He truly and literally is our Father in Heaven. It was essential for Joseph Smith to have the first vision and see that the Father is of flesh and bone, a separate being from Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and is very much involved with the work of our salvation. It's so important for everyone, not just investigators, but everyone to have a relationship with our father in heaven so that we may be able to return to His presence. I know God loves us and I know that He is not just a spirit who is "sometimes there". No. He is always there and always willing to help us. WE need to make the effort to reach out to Him and humble ourselves enough to change our ways if it'd be His will. As I read the Book of Mormon with more sincereity and love those around me, I'm slowly able to see the face of God. There is no doubt in my mind that He exists and this is His work and glory. (Moses 1:39) We also discussed how the conversion process must happen to me before it can happen to anyone I teach. The direct words Elder Johnson said was "Dont you dare invite someone else to do something your're not willing to do." Yeah, they're pretty blunt dito sa MTC. But it's so true. I'm so grateful that the invitations we give to investigators are not only for them but for the missionaries as well. I think of it as a way to keep us in check. 

In the book of Alma Chapter 26 we read:

 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

The Lord is my strength. For the rest of my life, I will defend is name and live up to the covenants I've made with Him.

While in the Philippines I will give the Lord all of me and Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I'm so ready to embrace everything sa Philippines and serve with all my heart. 

Ingat Kayo 

Mahal Kita

Sister Delgado

Legaspi City Airport in the Philippines
Famous Mayan Volcano

The day is almost here!

Kumusta Mga Tao!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST PAPA MINSON!! AND HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY TO THE KAMBAL JACEIL AND JASMINE! I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating. Sending you all love dito sa MTC. 

5 days my district and I are off to the Philippines! Ahh! President Howard said that after we stay at the Manila MTC for 5 days, Sister Snyder (kasama ko), Elder Madsen, and I will be driving from Manila to Legazpi. Ay Nako grabe.......... hahaha SO please pray Sister Delgado will survive that long car ride :-) Pero ok lang. I'm so excited and wouldnt want to do or be anywhere else. 

A lot of great things happened this week. My district and I got to do skype TRC, which is where we get to teach members of the church from the Philippines over skype. Sister Synder and I got to teach a lady named Blossom. Hahaha she's so funny. We were laughing and talking so much. We shared with her a message about enduring to the end, and she was very spiritually receptive. Mahal ko siya! She said she would come see us when we go to the Manila Temple.. Fingers crossed! 

I love finding the native filipinos here at the MTC and just talk to them in tagalog. It's really good practice and super fun.

Yesterday was in field orientation. Lots of information thrown at us, but definitely a great learning experience. It was cool because the main speaker served in Olongapo, Philippines and so our district found his stories from his mission extra interesting. He asked us if any of us were afraid to approach strangers to share the gospel. My Sister Snyder, Elder Madsen and I look at each other and shook our heads no........pero sa tagalog YES. Hahaha. At the end of that day my district and I felt super weird because no one was speaking to us in tagalog expect for ourselves. Our ears were yearning for tagalog... too much english! 

My favorite scripture from my personal studies this week was in Mosiah 4 in the Book of Mormon. Super powerful chapter about so many topics that will help us become better disciples of Christ, forgiveness, humility, and more that I want you all to find for yourself! 

My favorite scriputres are

     Mosiah 4:6  I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life.

     Mosiah 4:9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

This chapter in Mosiah was such a tender mercy for me because I was feeling particularly tired, and it's amazing how much strength I gained from the Book of Mormon. The best part was that I just flipped to a random page, and i found this one. The Lord truly is our strength. Though he asks us to have patience and long suffering towards our afflictions, the Lord does the same for us and always has. As we leave our trials on His alter and submit ourselves to be His disiples, he will bless us. Something I've felt here at the MTC is that we shouldn't do things with the intention of expecting something in return all the time. Especially with following the Lord. We shouldn't follow his commandments simply for blessings, but rather because we love Him and would do anything for him. Blessings come due to the natural order of life and consequence. But if we serve others and follow the Lord with intention of pure love, then will we know what true happiness is. I know this to be true. 

I'm so grateful for everything I've learned at the MTC and am so excited for the new adventure i'll embark upon in 5 days. Thank you for all the prayers. I love the Lord and am so grateful for my Savior. 

God is good. 

Mahal kita

Sister Delgado

I sure love these Sisters

Labing dalawa days until the Philippines??! Ano Bayan???

Kumusta Fam!!!

AHG! All the photos of the grandkids are so cute! Please tell Branson and Kyra happy birthday for me! Also, please give all my cousins aggressive hugs and kisses for me.Tell London, Aaron, and Isaac that I'm waiting for their letters! They're getting so big and so cute! Jude's long hair will forever make me melt. I cant wait to see McKenna Junior!! Mom, you are looking so good it's not fair! I love all the photos you send me. You are all such attractive people. Especially Gma ;) Thank you for sharing.

Last night my district and I received our travel plans and we all screamed with excitement! Our hearts were exceedingly glad!! I love my district so much it's going to be sad to leave them. Luckily three out of the 6 will be going to Legazpi. The flight plans say that we fly from Salt Lake to Tokyo, Japan, then to Manila on the 19th! WOWOWOW. It's gonna be a long flight but I'm excited for the adventure.

This week has been fantastic. We learn about the gospel everyday and it never gets old. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh how grateful I am to be the Lord's servant and learn more and more about His doctrine everyday. Our devotional this past Tuesday was about keeping the commandments and being converted to the Lord. During our district discussion we started talking about what it means to be truly converted. Being converted unto Christ includes obeying the commandments and keeping your covenants. We learn as missionaries that we actually deprive investigators the opportunity of being convert when we don't invite or commit them to do something. I never thought of it that way...But it's so true!! Because Christ's restored gospel is true, investigators dont need to take my word for it. If they seek to know if something is true with diligence and sincerity, God promises that He will reveal the truth unto those who ask in prayer. Alam ko po na totoo! 

Another great experience I had was when we were in class and we got to dissect the 50th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. I love how it emphasized over and over again that we are to teach with the Spirit. We are not asking investigators to join the church for us, but for our Heavenly Father. Part of our purpose includes bringing God's children unto Him and helping others become closer to Him that they may feel of His love and find purpose in this life. Bearing our testimonies of what we know to be true to investigators will never be enough because they must learn of the truth for themselves. That's another thing I love and appreciate about this gospel. It's not on me or anyone to literally convert people. No one can do that except it be through the Holy Ghost and the Savior. My first couple of weeks I sort of struggled because I felt like it was on me to ensure that people are converted unto the gospel. I was secretly outcome orientated and it drove me nuts. I'm so grateful the MTC is teaching me how to teach with spirit and rely upon God more than I ever have before in my life. God is truly the at the head of this work. Alam ko po na God will bless my investigators and our lessons as I'm obedient to the commandments and missionary rules, have harmony with my kasama, study diligently and hard in both tagalog and in the gospel, and try my best every single day. I'm glad to say that no matter the outcome on my day, I gave the Lord my all and I will continue to do so for the next 17 months. 

I would invited you all to study the doctrine and gospel of Christ found in 2 Nephi 31 and Moroni 6. But this time, dont just read it. Ponder upon its teachings and read slowly. I especially love these chapters because  our heavenly father's plan for us is so simple and so plain, yet immensely powerful. I'm so grateful Christ atoned for our sins and God loves us enough to send us our Savior. 

I love my Savior so much and I feel His hand in my life everyday. I think one thing that's super hard is that sometimes we forget about Him and mistake our lack of remembrance to be his absence. He is and never will be absent from our lives because He loves so much! He died for us and literally felt every single pain in the world. He and the Father are the only ones who truly knows us and will help us when no one else can. If ever you feel alone, please don't deprive yourself. Turn to the Savior. He is your advocate to the Father and loves you unconditionally. 

Sometimes when we feel life is so hard, it's good to take yourself to Gethsemane and Calvary. Take yourself back to where the Savior suffered and bled for you. I promise you will come back feeling different. 

This week has been wonderful. Everyday is hard, but i love it. Weird huh? Haha. 

MahalMahalMahal Kita!!

Sister Delgado 

Getting our travel plans felt like getting a mission call all over again. SO MASIGLA

So another thing I did this week that I didn't mention in my last letter is that I was able to host new missionaries coming to the MTC. So that meant I had to watch parents say goodbye to their missionaries and take them to their new place to get settle. Took me back to literally a month ago when I first came here to the MTC. I'VE BEEN ON MY MISSION FOR A MONTH OMG! Haha so I was crying a lot that day too. 

Something funny I wanted to share was that my tagalog teacher sat me and kasama and our elder down to evaluate us on our tagalog. He asked us to say a couple of things in tag and ask us to share an experience to the best of our ability. So we all shared. Then after my teacher said that I was the best one at sharing experiences in tagalog because "she just goes for it and filipinos will at least be able to understand that" I thought that was super funny because I definitely wouldn't have thought that, but it makes me happy that I'm at least understandable. So thank you for your prayers for me in learning the language. It's coming and I'm so happy. Since it's my last week here I'm do my best to learn as much as possible AHG! I definitely have a long ways to go but I love it all. 

Thank you so much grandpa for the email about prayer. I love that scripture in Alma and have it marked in my scriptures. Indeed prayer is the key to heaven! You are amazing. I'm so grateful I have such a righteous family who loves me and keeps their commitments to God and keeps the commandments. I love you all so much and miss California. My feet hurt already and my skin is dry. But no worries because the Philippines will change all of that. I'll constantly be wet and my feet will have lost feeling. haha. 

Mahal Kita

Sister Delgado 

GRABE I MET ANOTHER SISTER DELGADO FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!
 She's legit. Obvi bc she's a Delgado. I dont think we're related. But WOW!

Oh how I love these sisters!

Best zone ever!