Divine Intervention‏

HELLO ALL!

So this week was grand, as all the rest are.

There has been a brown out like everyday and the wind and rain has been very heavy. Like everytime sis Wilks and I are like "Woah, are we going make it back home from these crazy storms?" and of course we always do. haha.

One time we went out to dinner and the storm was so powerful and strong and the power went out. Quite chaotic. lol. So our Zone Leaders told us to just stay inside wherever we were until its safe to come outside again. That happend like 3 times this week.  Good way to open our mouths to those within our reach.

The highlights of this week was when the Legazpi saints put on a relief society activity where we'd go out to fellowship the less actives and recent converts of the ward. 

Sister Wilkins and I went on splits, and I went with Sister Go the relief society president to a bunch of less actives I didnt know where in my area and to some I did know.

We shared about charity being the pure love of Christ, and how the love of Christ is what motivates us all to go about and doing good for others.

 

Sister Go didn't know one of the less actives I brought her to, Sister Pou Botero who is 12 years old. They live in a terrible conditions bamboo and wooden home with tarp as their walls. When it rains, the water leaks right through inside, thus making their home flood quite frequently. It was apparent to Sister Go that Pou didn't have much support financially or emotionally in her endeavors to come to church of grow spiritually. Sister Go, however, was so touched at Pou's kindness and willingness to participate in the message we gave to her and felt the savior's love for this little girl, she started to cry in the middle of her testimony and felt the spirit so strongly. Being with the relief society and seeing their willingness to fellowship others was exceedingly touching to me. 

Also, Sister Wilkins almost died this week. haha not really, but really.

We hiked up Gilbert and Betty (investigators since June) and their hill is massive, steep, and about 30 feet long. President told us to only go there when its light, which we did. The lesson just ended up being very long, and it so happened to rain. So the hike back down was dark, wet, and full of heavy rain. For those who know me, you already know the walk down was very difficult, and at my expense extremely humorous. Poor Sister Wilkins was so close to the finish line, but as she lost her balance, she grabbed on to a tree branch to catch her balance... and lets just say she took the tree branch with her.

I was so frighted that she was going to roll down all the way to he bottom of the hill.  But because of some sort of divine intervention, she lived! She just lost one of her crocs and a bit of her Utah hiking dignity. haha.

Letsss see what else.

I really enjoyed reading in the doctrine and covenants this week about the Lord's council to the early saints of the chruch and that with diligence in the work, the building of Zion will be established. That principle is still the same today and I'm so grateful for the Lord's tender mercies upon me and my companion every day.

Love you all!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, I'll be thinking of you all.

Sister Delgado

bein goofs with Wilkz

Making the best of what we've got.. which is a ton. :)

Pou and Sister Go... love them to pieces!!

Such a cute relief society president. 

Sister Wilkins is alive!! haha 

Sudden brown outs hahahahah 

Hellooo

Kumusta Family and Friends! 

This week was wonderful! 

Sister Wilkins and I did really well this week and she's learning the area super quickly. We went on splits with the members of our ward so that we could reach more appointments at a time. It was a great way for Sister Wilkins to become more familiar with the area without the comfort of me telling her where everything is all the time. 

So we spent a lot of our time tracting and finding, but didn’t have too much success with finding new people, however, we gave quality time to the investigators and less actives in our area.

Denise, our recent convert worked with us last night and it was possibly my favourite night that we worked with her. She has progressed so much in the gospel within the short amount of time that she became a member and she has a powerful testimony that she is willing to share. Last night something she said about prayer was interesting. She said that she's found that prayer doesn’t necessarily change our situation completely. It changes us, and how we deal with our challenges and situations. So true. 

Hahaha.

Well, people.

The Lord is changing me. I'm realizing things the way they really are. 

It's difficult being chastened by the Lord, but the Lord loves his children enough to show unto men their weaknesses. Just remember that when things feel difficult, more than they really should be, a lot of the times the Lord is showing us something that we need to fix within ourselves. Then once we realize things about ourselves, I guess things aren’t as hard as we really thought they were. Hahah. 

Remember the Lord loves us all so much, and as we seek him, He will lift us.

The Gospel works wonderfully!

Love,

Sister Delgado

lately :)

Sister Wilkins and I have a thing for cool doors and big houses
 so tracting is fun when no one answers. We just stand and admire. 

funny story: 

I went out on splits with Sister Atun (70 year old super strong lady) and hiked up this mountain

and slipped and fell in mud. A man who belonged to home we were visiting literally got out a 

bucket and soap and started washing my feet. These filipinos are the most caring people. 

I told him he didn't have to keep washing my feet but he insisted and called me Filipino Princess.

 I might have cried. I love the people of Legazpi!!

Admiring cool things.

Transfers

Kumusta fam and friends!

Sorry I couldn’t email last week. 

Transfers and such. 

But I have the best news.

I’m staying in Legazpi city, and my new companion is Sister Caroline Wilkins!!!

Our reaction at transfer point was priceless and very loud. We’re known as the loud americans now lol.

And yes, Sister Wilkins is from Mapleton, Utah and did a semester at Utah State. I'm so excited to have my second American companion here in the field. She's been out for about seven months so she's fluent in Tagalog and is the biggest help. We both just got done training Americas, Sister Routhier and Sister DeHoyos (those two were companions in the MTC in Provo so double haha) and we both feel like President is giving us a nice break from training. This is the first time (with the exception of two weeks) that I’ve had companion study for only 1 hour! Being a reg mish is the boommmmb.

If I could describe Sister Wilkins in one word, I’d choose …………….. Inspiring. 

She is so beautiful on the inside and out, and has such a love for the Lord. 

The work went so smoothly this week and feel immensely blessed beyond description. We told each other how much we wanted to be companions a couple transfers ago and what a blessing! We love teaching, walking, sweating, and LEGAZPI! Haha. We have some big plans for this transfer. 

Lol I lost my voice after my 5 day fever last week (yeah I get sick way too much haha) and it kind of forced Sister Wilkins to go out of her comfort zone and lead most of the lessons to investigators and less actives and recent converts that she didn’t know. Haha. It was a good week.

One of our investigators, Henry and his daughter Hazel (siyempre I instantly think of cute baby Hazel) came to church yesterday and stayed for gospel essentials. It was lovely. They enjoyed it! Even though Henry admitted the only reason he let me and sister DeHoyos in for a while because he thought we were pretty little sisters, he said he felt the spirit of God at church. Henry’s wife died two years ago and his daughter Hazel got depression from it and she refuses to ever speak. It's interesting, but Sister Wilkins and I are helping them the best we can! 

This week focused more so on helping less actives and recent converts become more strengthened spiritually, and it was great to see 13 out of the 15 less actives come to church. A lot of “first times” happened this week with Sister Wilkins so we’re excited for this transfer! 

A phrase that really stuck out to me during my personal study was "Mercy claims the Penitent" as I studied in Alma 12: 32-35. 

My uncle Jeremy wrote an amazing talk about the principle of justice and mercy and the demands it claims. 

That phrase was so precious to me as I was trying to search for scriptures to share to others about repentance and how powerful the atonement of Jesus Christ is in our lives.

The atonement is real and it has the capacity to reach every human heart no matter how dark the night may seem. 

There have been so many challenges that I've faced here on my mission, just as throughout life we have challenges that per say "shake our faith". 

My papa Minson is such an example of what it means to stay faithful even when its the hardest and rely on the atonement with all aspects of life.

Whenver I feel like gets too hard, I can just hear his voice telling me that I need to spend more time on my knees and learning more about the Savior and who He is for me. 

And as I've exercised faith in Christ and giving Him all I am, I never NOT feel His presence. It's always gentle and exactly what I need. Which is absolutely indescribable.  

His strength is suffient for me to overcome hard things, and I know it is enough for all of you.

I'm so grateful for the mission.

Im so grateful for God's countless mighty mercies upon me and my idiosyncrasies.

As we give Heavenly Father a willing heart, I testify to you all that He will make us stronger. God's grace IS enough. 

I have seen it when I feel broken and when I feel complete. 

God can restore us and shape us into who we are destined to be as we trust him and give Him our hearts.

Have an inspiring week, all.

My companion is inspiring, so im looking forward to an inspired transfer with her. 

Love always,

Sister Delgado

They call us:

The Legazpi Invaders

The Loud Americans

The white Sisters

Life is too funny. 

We are quite baliw and happy. 

Loving our area never gets old.

She cracks me up.... on the way to our apartment!
Traveling after transfer point is fun. 

Quote of the week. Love it. 

Done by yours truly Sister Wilkins <3 

Saying good bye to my mother and daughter on the mission.
Sister Dehoyos and Padre will forever be in my heart!