Surprise Surprise!‏

Kumusta Lahat!

Aye Nako, what a beautiful, glorious week. Madaming mga bagay nangyari sa lingo ito! SO many things happened this week.

Well, Sister Padre and I started off our Tuesday with a good long jog. Then as I was in the shower I hear Sister Padre let someone in the apartment….. I was like WHAT, WHO, WHY??? Haha. Then I look out and it was the STLs (Sister Training Leaders) Sister Amparo and Sister Buban!! They said at our last zone training that we would have surprise exchanges, so when I saw them, I was definitely surprised, and scared! So Sister Padre packed her things and went out with Sister Bubam to the STL’s area in Bacon and Sister Amparo stayed with me in Gubat. Omg lahat. I was so nervous because I was the one to lead the area!! I really didn’t know if I could do it talaga. But the day was glorious. I leaded everything that day. The lessons, where we would go, what to do, who to see, what to share…lahat! Everything that Sister Padre does normally as my trainer, I did for Sister Amparo. The purpose of these exchanges is to point out strengths and improve upon weaknesses. And I’m truly so thankful for Sister Amparo! She’s this cute little Filipino who can speak tagalog super fast and teach with such power and conviction. I really needed this exchange. This exchange was wonderful opportunity for me to learn that whatever the Lord calls His servants to do, with His help they can do it! Everything went just fine. I remembered where everyone lived, who they were, somehow felt an extra amount of love for them, and of course spoke tagalog the entire day. Haha, I don’t really give much thought to my tagalog skill, but Sister Amparo was so impressed with how quickly I learned the language and how I was able to teach. I told her it was all because of my wonderful trainer Sister Padre constantly teaching me!  Sister Amparo was such a great addition to our busy day. We ended up teaching 6 lessons that day, which is pretty good considering the hours of study and evaluation we had to have that day. That day, I was so grateful for all the things Sister Padre taught me as her trainer.. Everything I did that day, I referred to the things Sister Padre taught. Sister Amparo told Sister Padre that she would recommend me to President Guanzon as a trainer and Sister Padre as an STL. Lol. Me and SIster Padre were like,”What?? ??” But, whatever happens, happens! I’ll be happy with whatever happens:)

I REALLY LOVE MY MISSION. I REALLY LOVE MY STLS AND COMPANION!

The highlight of this was BIANCA. 

Bianca is the daughter of our Relief Society President in our branch. She moved back from Manila with her two little kids. Her boyfriend is working abroad and so she is staying with her mom for now. The way we met her was sorta funny. Sister Padre and I were just tracting and passed by the RS president’s house. Then we saw Bianca outside the house doing some yard work. Sister Padre and I offered to help them and so we started shoveling dirt from their front yard into bags. Then after we were done, Bianca said “Sisters, I was being taught by missionaries in Manila, do you think you could teach me now?” Then Sister Padre and I were like, “UHM YEAH!!!” Lol then she gave her teaching record! This was a Friday since this happened. We then taught her on Saturday and Sunday and plan to teach her tonight! 

Bianca is such a receptive soul. She truly has a desire the example of Jesus Christ by receiving His restored gospel and being baptized. She has been actively going to church while living in Manila and plans to do so here as well. The only thing holding her back from being baptized is that her and her boyfriend need to married since they’ve been together for 8 years with two kids. Kind of sad she has wait, but she doesn’t let the wait stop her from continuing her journey in coming unto Christ. 

Last night our lesson was on the atonement of Jesus Christ  and how everyone can receive exaltation and forgiveness because of His sacrifice. Sister Bianca started to cry because she really felt the depth of the Savior’s love for all of us. She said she was so grateful for the Savior and His restored gospel and that even though she has to wait for baptism when the time is right, she’s so grateful for the missionaries teaching her how she come closer to Christ. Goodness I adore Bianca. I know she will make it to baptism, and even enter the temple one day.

What a tender mercy to have met her! So the moral of the story here is by doing service for others, miracles happen. Big or small. I definitely consider Bianca’s beautiful soul to be a huge miracle. 

With the Surprise visits of the STLS and revision of our mission rules and reviewing the mission direction, sister Padre and I are much more focused.

This week we were even able to achieve the Standard of Excellence by teaching 35 lessons!! Whahooo! 

This just means that we tried our best to teach as many people as we can at every opportunity. I love the Philippines and love the Lord and love where I am!

Ingat Palagi.

Mahal kita

Sister Delgado 

STL exchanges with Sister Amparo!
nakakaloca siya talaga.lol
mahal ko siya

Deliverance

Kumusta Family and friends! 

So this week was a bit chaotic. Sister Padre and I were traveling back in forth trying to find medicines, random sickness episodes, and all sorts of craziness! Gubat is about 3 hours from Legazpi so that’s why it’s a bit cray, but its all part of the adventure. 

The highlight of this week was teaching Mary Joy and Enriquo.

They are an unmarried couple with a son with a desire to be baptized in the church. As the requirement for baptism is marriage, we taught them about the Law of Chastity and the blessings they will receive if they are married and sealed as a family. They were very receptive and understood the importance of following God’s plan. It was such a blessing to be able to teach about this subject to them because we didn’t know if they’d be in the position to do so, or be offended.

But as God’s servants on His errand, I really felt God’s support and His love for them through the powerful spirit that we felt while teaching them. In the Philippines, it’s financially hard to get married, but Mary Rose and Enriquo accepted the challenge of living the law of chastity by endeavoring to get married. Once they are married, they will reap the blessings of being an official family ordained of God, and will reap the blessings of baptism as well. Normally I don’t take photos during lessons, but with the Brown out and their tenderness while reading the scriptures, I snapped a quick photo. Of course they didn’t notice because Sister Delgado is way too sneaky. ;) Though their process of entering baptism will take a while, I know their desire to please God will never decimate and will continue to grow as they learn more about the Lord’s restored Gospel.  

Well, time is limited and I wish I had more of it. Next week I’ll share more awesome stories. Neverthe less I've learned a ton this week, most I can not share, but I can share this:

God is real. He is our loving Heavenly father. 

As we seek Him in all things, he will provide us delieverance. 

I was feeling sort of down and impatient with some of the health problems I've been having, and Sister Padre shared this scripture with me. 

Mosiah 7:33  But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

This scripture means so much to me, especially as a missionary. Serving and turning to the Lord is the only way to find true and everlasting deliverance. True happiness comes from serving others and letting them know how much they are loved by our Heavenly Father. We live in a generation where happiness is found in worldly possessions and things that aren’t important. With my mission combined with the Philippines living, true happiness comes through going out and helping others. Helping others with glad heart serves ultimately our God and His son Jesus Christ. As we obey, we experience the natural cause of happiness and receive extra blessings from them as well. This beautiful gospel is true worth it. 

God will deliever us...

These Filipinos are worth it and I love them so much.

Mahal kita,

Sister Delgado

Beloved Trycees. SO grateful for these things! 

Tracting!

Mary Joy and Enriquo reading the Book of Mormon during a 
brown out! (same as black out).

Nanay Joven, a recent convert. I love teaching her because

  she reminds me of my sweet grandma Dorie back home. 

She's such a gem!

And she's steady - Volcano in Legaspi

Behind the scenes of a trycee ride

Nanay Erhina. She is the sweetest!
So grateful for her love for misisonaries. 
Of course im her favorite putit sister ;)

Beautiful Sunset

Philippino Sunset

Me and Sister Padre's favorite house in Gubat:)

A Solid Week

Kumusta Magandang Tao! 

So this week was interesting and great and crazy. Sister Padre and were able to extend more baptismal dates to our investigators and set goals on how to help them prepare for that special day of coming closer to their savior. 

One of these investigators was the Fajardo Family. I realize that I talk about them a lot, but I can't help it! The Fajardo family is the family where the tatay works for the Catholic church and cleans every Sunday. Sister Padre and I are praying for a way for them to be able to make it church. What really makes sister Padre and I have such a desire to not give up on them is because of their progression of the Book of Mormon. When we re extended baptism to them on Thursday, the both testified that the Book of Mormon is true. They’re so diligent in reading the Book of Mormon together and committed to live the word of wisdom- in other words for them- give up coffee. After our last follow up with them and they said that they haven’t been drinking coffee and are continuing in their reading assignments, my heart was happy. I know it’s a big sacrifice for them to live the word of wisdom, and I know in my heart that as they continue to study the Book of Mormon, live God’s commandments, He will truly provide a way for them. This family means so much to me and Sister Padre, and no matter when their baptism date may be, we’ll never stop trying. They at first had some doubts about the Book of Mormon because it was translated by Joseph Smith. But as they read the Book of Mormon and prayed, there was no denying that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that theres no way a man of 3rd grade schooling could of possibly written it by himself alone.  

I'm so grateful for the chance I had to listen to general conference…

I really can't pick a favorite talk because all were so great and exactly what I needed to hear. I really like President Uchtdorf’s talk about the grace of God.  My favorite is when he said:

Trying to understand God’s gift of grace with all our heart and mind gives us all the more reasons to love and obey our Heavenly Father with meekness and gratitude. As we walk the path of discipleship, it refines us, it improves us, it helps us to become more like Him, and it leads us back to His presence. “The Spirit of the Lord [our God]” brings about such “a mighty change in us, … that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”

Therefore, our obedience to God’s commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God. This form of genuine love and gratitude will miraculously merge our works with God’s grace. Virtue will garnish our thoughts unceasingly, and our confidence will wax strong in the presence of God.

I really believe this principle is true and have seen it slowly but surely; little by little in investigators, recent converts, and less active members. 

That's all for this week folks. More to come I'm sure. Filipinos are .... filipinos. haha of course sweet and hilarious as always. Im so hot and sweaty, but loving it all. I refer to my training period as my trip and fall period. haha. I'm so grateful for my companion and the many things i learn from here. She's a gem and means so much to me.. I know that us being companions wasnt a coincidence. I am so blessed!

mahal kita

Sister Delgado

Tricey Rides

Language Study Haha

Being on the Lord's errand is the best; at the internet Cafe!

Baptisms, Typhoons, and 3 months of my mission gone???‏

Hello Everyone!

This week was pretty great... Sister Padre and I had our first baptism! Tatay Enrique Joven. 
OPh, btw I've been calling the people here in the Philippines nanay and tatay because nanay means "mom" and tatay means "dad" and so we just call them either of those names along with their last name here. lol goood stuff. 

So tatay comes from a part member family, which means his family is a member, just not him. We've been teaching tatay since the first day I got here in Gubat. I'm so grateful he understands the importance of baptism as he strives to come closer to the Savior and our Heavenly Father. It was a great experience. Our progressing investigators Brother and Sister Fajardo came to the event and to Sacrament the next day. Lots of great things happening here in Gubat. :)

Well, I survived my first transfer here in the Philippines!! Meaning I've been here on the field for 6 weeks and have finished 3 out of the 18 months here on my mission... Like where did time go?! haha

Everything is just fine here, the typhoon didnt effect me or the other sisters in the Sorsogon zone. Sister Padre and I just had to evacuate from our place and went to go to Sorsogon to stay with the other sisters. Thank you so much for all your love and concern. 

But during those days we spent in Sorsogon, we didnt really work that much. We had lots of time to do our studies however and study the scriptures. We also had the chance to go to the chapel in Sorsogon to watch the young women's General Conference... and oh my it was so amazing. It was so relevant to today's world issues and focused on the importance of families.. I laughed pretty hard at the part when the Filipino lady didnt want to accept the calling of becoming a primary teacher because she didnt have any kids and doesnt have patience with anyone else's. Definitely laughed out loud.

Every week when I recieve emails of encouragement and strength, I print them out and read them whenever I need comfort. So this week I read my papa Minson's email on the gift of the Holy Ghost, as we was referring to President Eyring's talk at the General Young Women's broadcast. 

The role of the Holy Ghost is so important in our lives, especially in times of crisis. God loves us so much that he gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost after we are baptized. Of course anyone can feel the warmth and truth of the Holy Ghost, but once we are baptized with the proper priesthood authority, we recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost; meaning that no mater what the circumstance may be, we can call upon this precious gift to comfort us, receive revelation, and feel of the love Heavenly Father And Jesus Christ has for us. 

Henry B Erying quoted:

 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I may not know what it means to live in crisis the way these Filipinos do, but I sure know what it means to be brought to your knees through the experiences here on the mission. These last three months and first 6 weeks here on my mission have been so fulfilling and I'm so grateful to be on the Lord's errand. I'm so grateful for the power of prayer and the gift of the Holy Ghost to comfort and help me every day so that I can do the Lord's work. How blessed and loved we are that we have the ability to find true happiness through the gospel and the ability to feel of God's love anytime we need. Every day im realizing how blessed I am to be on this mission and how much I took everything for granted back home... Namely plumbing serves and toilet paper. lol 

As sister Padre and I teach our investigators and less actives and recent converts of the church, we will challenge them to listen to the words of the Prophet by attending the General Conference sessions and applying the words of the Prophet in their lives. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God. I know that God is the source of all truth and desires for His children to know of this truth and live happy, righteous lives. How privileged we are to have the fullness of the gospel and all the tools we need to feel of God's hand in our lives and recieve a remission of our sins through our savior Jesus Christ. The more I ponder upon the things I've known to be true my whole life, the more gratitude I feel for all I've been given and am thus a much happier missionary. :) Thank you so much for all the good you do in the world, and I can promise you that your efforts are not unnoticed or appreciated.

I  can't believe I only have 15 months left on my mission... I'm running out of time! Sister Padre and I just dumbfounded at how fast time goes, and we've rededicated ourselves to live life more fully as missionaries and to work harder everyday. Please continue to pray for us as we pray for you. :) 

Hope you all watch and enjoy conference.. im so excited to watch it this weekend! :)

Mahal kita

Sister Delgado

At the General Women's Broadcast.  Such a Wonderful Session :)

Tatay Joven's baptism:)

Tracting with Kim, a member of the Gubat Branch:)

We sure love beach trips!

We will miss Elder Peregrine because he's being transferred!!

Saw this and thought it was pretty hilarious. 

Tracking near the Sacred Grove. lol

Gubat Sorsogon