The Australian

Kumusta Fam!

So this week was Sister Dehoyos’ 11^th week of training and she did so well! This week is our last week together and its just crazy how time flies so fast. I'm going to really miss her. I’ve learned so much from her. 

This week’s highlight was when a high councilman from Adelaide, Austalia came to visit Legazpi area because he taught many of the members who were baptized into Legazpi ward 38 years ago. It was so cool to be able to hear all the many miracles that happened because of this man’s service. We had a family home evening together with him and the members last night and each of the members that were taught by Brother Peter said how much the gospel has changed their lives for the better.  It amazed both sister DeHoyos and that 38 years after this man’s service in Legazpi grew so much, and now he is able to see the fruits of his labors. What a blessing!

I love the Lord and am so grateful to be a missionary! 

Love, Sister Delgado

(Fun Fact: McKenna's grandpa Minson served part of his mission in Adelaide, Australia 42 years ago. It's a small world.)

Family home evening with the Austrailians! 

 

"Legazpi District is the best district!" -Sister Guanzon

Elder Raven, Elder Francisco, Sister de Hoyos, Sister Genegaling, Sister Infante, and ako! :)

Pictures from Zone activity at Embarcadero! Such a beautiful toursit spot in Legazpi :)

Sister Delgado and Sister de Hoyos

Better Days

Kumusta Fam and Friends!

What a week it’s been in the Great Legazpi.

So last Tuesday, Rowena decided that she wanted to  stop investigating the church and that she would like to revisit the church at a later time in her life. Super sad. But It’s all alright. I know a seed was planted in her heart. Before we left her place, Sister Dehoyos just told her how much we loved her and her mom said that they would never forget us and all we’ve shared for them. Sister DeHoyos says, “Yeah If I were her I don’t think I'd be able to remember these two crazy Americans either.” Haha.

This week was awonderful week full of finding and teaching. Teaching when we find, and finding when we teach. We walked everwhere and talked with everyone. It feels so great to be tracting in Legazpi because miracles happen everytime! Especially when you do it prayerfully, you don’t ever feel lost going door to door. We made about 20 new investigators this week and we feel pretty great about all of them. A family that we found that really stook out to me was the Demdam family.

They just recently moved in from Daraga and own a photobooth company and were literally in the middle of unpacking as we first met them. We offered to help them but they wouldn’t let us lol. But we shared about how the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. Sister Demdam said that she has a lot of faith in Christ, she just doesn’t really know how or where to show it to God and that she’s kind of been searching for a way to do it. Sister DeHoyos and I were very happy to hear this and at the end of our message, we extended a baptismal date for sometime in December, but she said she would prefer December 24^th. Which I thought was pretty odd because no other investigator had tailored their BD like that during the  very first lesson. I asked why such a specific date? And she said she wants it December 24^th because that’s when her oldest little boy turns 8 years old….

I was like what??? How did you know he needs to turn 8 before he can be baptized?? And she was like oh I didn’t! I just thought it would be a great birthday  if he got baptized on his birthday! Haha it was cute and Sister DeHoyos and I pray that this family will continue to grow in the gospel and listen to promptings of the spirit.

An update on the Gonzales family: Very active!! I can't really explain the feeling of seeing recent converts you found and went through so much with before your baptism, and then to see them so active in the church and being so heavily involved in the community of the church. Last General conference I forgot to mention what a tender moment it was to see them all come to the stake center to watch conference and seeing them all pull out their journals and pens and take notes… SO SWEET! And Denise has been proselyting with us and bearing her testimony to so many of our investigators … it’s the sweetest experience to witness them continue to progress and grow in the gospel. Denise keeps telling us how excited she is to go on a mission and go to them temple. I know for a fact that I knew the Gonzales family before this life and promised them I’d do all I could to find them. I love this family so dearly!!!  They are so genuine and are not afraid to come closer to Christ and learn more at every opportunity. 

Such a great week! Well I hope all of you have another great week and remember how much the Savior loves each of us individually. 

Love, 

Sister Delgado

About to go out and conquor the massive wind and rain!!

This cute little girl is a Delgado and she wanted to take a pic. So sweet! 

Week Full of Experiences

Hello my dearest family and friends,

Well, this week was a week full of experiences, trial, and much pleading to our Father in Heaven. Friday night, the night before Rowena’s baptism, she ended up changing her mind yet again at the last second. She said that she appreciates all the effort we put towards her and the love she has shown, but her final decision to not be baptized will not change. 

It was very tragic for both Sister DeHoyos and I as well as some ward members. We’ve done everything we can for her. A lot of speculation was formed about us missionaries, Rowena, our teachings to her, and much I won't go into detail about, but frankly, I learned more about our Father in Heaven and His reality through these challenges that break my heart and bring me to my knees. 

I was so confused.  Why did this have to happen?

We did everything in our power to help bring the spirit to this beloved investigator and invited her day in and day out to just trust God through following the example of His beloved son.

Where did I go wrong? Yeah. For all those who know me well know that this was more than just a disappointment and sorrow. 

Thoughts had developed in my mind that I’ve never experienced thinking about before in my almost 10 months of being on my mission. With the little baptisms and progression that have been happening in my mission. The amount of iniquity consuming the world.  My inadequacy as a missionary. It was all coming down on me hard. In those moments of my despair, I wanted to come home. I wanted to leave my mission.  I felt that if my honest efforts weren’t enough, why even keep going for another 8 months.  Im just wasting time if nothing is being accomplished, right? Why. Why. Why. 

But I was missing something. 

In the moments of my despair, and after much prayer, I was able to talk to my mission president, remembered the wise words of my mama and papa minson, and was nourished by the talk given by Jeffrey R Holland this past conference. 

I was directed back to the 121 and 122 section of the Doctrine and Convenants with my mission president. We referred back to the life Joseph Smith had and what he had endured. My mission president told me that this is the Lord’s work. And that if we try to make it our own, we will spend the rest of our services to Him extremely frustrated, tired, inadequate, and every negative thing we could possibly think about ourselves and our efforts.  President Guanzon quoted DC 122:7-9:

 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

 9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”

After pondering about these words our Father in Heaven gave to the prophet Joseph Smith and softening my heart, I realized a lot. Especially about myself.

This is the lord’s work.

He knows exactly whats going on and what His disciples are going through, yet He allows us to endure our own little garden of Gethsemane and our personal worse nightmares to give us experience! Because it will be for our own good! Because our Father in Heaven loves us more than our own mothers (and grandmothers) because He knows that we cannot inherit all the He has and enjoy all He has to offer, save it be that we endure this life well. Not just endure, but find joy in the journey and do it well. The “do it well” is the challenging part, but with prayer, and asking the Father for a heart full of love and understanding with real intent and a contrite heart, it is not just fulfilling, but possible. 

Don’t worry, I'm staying. 

And I have no shame in what I felt during my darkest times, because the Lord saved me. Saved my mission, and taught me more about myself in way that nothing else could have. And for that, im eternally indebted to Him in infinite ways. 

I testify to you all that every single detail and chapter in our lives is all part of God’s plan. God didn’t just throw us on the earth and said, “now walk and find food.” I know with all my heart He doesn’t work that way. The Lord knows exactly what we can and can't take and what will actually stretch us to be stronger and become more like Him. 

Brothers and Sisters, I know that I am nothing without my God. I boast not in my own strength, but I boast in the strength of my God. For He has made known unto me my weaknesses and what I need to fix within myself. For I know that through Christ, all things are possible. In His way. In His timing. I am not loosing hope.  Thank you so much for all the love and support you give me. Thank you for all your prayers and counsel. Im truly blessed. Legazpi will forever have a special place in my heart because of the experiences the Lord is giving me. I cannot wait to learn more from my Almighty Father in Heaven. 

I love this work, and I love the chastisement the Lord brings upon His children. I know the Lord will bring forth many miracles when He decides to do so. No one is ever forgotten in the eyes of our almighty creator. I know this to be true, in the name of Jesus Christ. 

I love my family so much 

PS! Special shoutout to all!! 

Love always,

Sister Delgado

Caught this discusting spider after screaming my head off.
It wasn't fun for me.
Everyone will forever know me as the sister who hates spiders and bugs!! haha

The Power of the Atonement

Hello Fam and Friends.

So this week was eventful! haha. Rowena was seeking to receive answers to her prayers about her baptism and how to resolve the concerns she has.  We went to her place every single night this week to help her recognize how the spirit answers our prayers.  One night after many attempts of asking and praying for Heavenly father to answer her prayers, I had a strong impression to ask the Bishop of Legazpi ward to give her a priesthood blessing. It was powerful. It was beautiful. Even though Bishop didn't know her that well, the Love of Christ was felt very strongly.  The next morning after that blessing, suddenly the doorbell rings. It's 7am and we're all soo confused as to who's at our apartment this early!

Low and behold it's Sister Guanzon, the mission president's wife.

She walks in and says that our mission hasn't had many baptisms within the past year and that its crashing down, so she will work with the sister missionaries every day until she leaves the mission. I have to say that her energy was refreshing, but that morning when she came had to be the most hilarious thing in the world. SO we did personal and companion study with Sister Guanzon and she came with us to Rowena. Sister Guanzon bore powerful testimony to Rowena and she helped her with any doubts she was feeling. 

The next appointment we had with Rowena, she said she still couldnt figure God's answer for her.....

This is where is was lost and didnt really know what to do or share with her because we had literally shared with her everything we could in trying to help her recognize her answers to her prayers.

After reading a talk by Elder Holland about the atonement, I felt prompted to share with Rowena about the Atonement that Jesus Christ did for us and the love He has for all His children. We read Mosiah chapter 14 in the Book of Mormon. It was deep. It was powerful. The spirit was so strong. After reading the chapter with us and asking her inspired questions from Heaven, she softened her heart and committed to be baptized this saturday. It was....... another miracle. We'll see what actually ends up happening this Saturday, but I can honestly say that in that moment, while discussing the atonement and how Christ can heal everyone, it was even a huge testimony builder for me about the depth of the atonement and how powerful it is. As I try to dissect why the atonement is so powerful, I've come to the conclusion that it's all because of love.

Love is the single most powerful motivating factor for anything and everything in this life. But more specifically, Christ's love can change hearts and heal anyone's doubt or disbelief. 

I love my mission so much.

I love Legazpi city and Legazpi ward more than anything in the world.

I really dont know what I'm going to do if I'm transferred from this magnificent place. 

God has shown me so much about Himself and myself and how to help these filipinos more than in any other place or time in my entire life. 

I love this work so much and the people of Legazpi just as much.

Mahal kita!

Sister Delgado

<3  Best city in the Philippines <3 

Prayers for Rowena‏

Hello Fam and Friends!

This week was eventful, as sister deHoyos had an infected toe and could barely walk. Poor thing. But the time we did get to work, we were able to teach Rowena and committed her to bapstism and confirmation.

She's still praying to know if this is the path for her to go and if this Saturday is her destined date. So, we are all praying for her and doing all we can to help her.

I know this gospel is true and am so grateful to be on the Lord's errand.

I love and miss you all tons! 

-Sister Delgado