December 7, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

We had a fun service opportunity last week. A member was preparing her bbq to sell, so we helped her take the skin off of chicken feet and the feathers out of the nostrils of the chicken head. It was fun. It's kind of gross to think about- I would never have done anything like this before the mission-but it was so fun to help! It's actually fun to take skin off chicken feet. 

We also had a great Sunday and Elmer and Lynn came to church for their second Sunday!

It's been a great week. Our investigator family came to church and they are really preparing for the baptism on Jan 3, 2015. Elmer and Lynn were prepared by angels, and I can't deny that fact every time we teach them. They accept everything, understand it, and know it's true. What a tender mercy and miracle. 

Our work was full of tender mercies this past week. We continue to see the Lord's hand as we are patient and submit to His will and His plan. 

One night we were riding in the tricycle of a member, and it was 8pm so we decided we would go to one more appointment, when the tire blew and we were stuck on the highway. I felt the Spirit and I said to my companion, "There is a reason this happened. In the next 45 mins we will meet someone that we really need to meet." And it happened. We pushed the flat-tired vehicle to a shop and that owner of the shop we talked to and found out he's a member and he's been less active since he was baptized at 12 years old. He has a family and 3 young boys. What a miracle. I am so excited to go back and teach them. 

I love you all. Heavenly Father is guiding this work and we are His instruments. Let us all remember our duty to God. 

Merry Christmas!

Sister Santa Claus

November 16, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

I am doing well and happy. We had an absolutely wonderful week! We have been so busy and we are seeing so many miracles all around! 

Like I said, we are opening an area and we are the first sisters in 28 years. We just finished our first week of finding and teaching. So many days we experienced being led to those who really needed divine guidance in their lives. It's like that moment when we decide to go to a certain member. or family, and as we teach we are guided by the Spirit and several times we were able to resolve some concerns they were having. One example was on Saturday. We were trying to find a referral, Alex, and we were directed to a certain street and house. The man we ended up meeting was Alex, but it was the wrong last name. Anyway, we introduced ourselves and offered to share a message. As we were teaching him, we found out that his wife has passed away and his kids all live in different places now. He's only about 50 years old and he's really searching for the truth. He was asking if he could still be saved and forgiven because he was a retired soldier and he's killed people before. He is a smoker and he owns hundreds of cocks and fights them and gambles as his living. But I had a moment where I saw him in his ragged appearance, that I saw him as Heavenly Father sees him. I saw him dressed in white and about to be baptized. I can't wait for us to go back and teach him again. 

Heavenly Father truly prepares people and puts them in our path. He will guide us to them or them to us. Keep inviting your friends and remember always what President Monson has said to see others as they may become. You will find more people to teach or refer to the missionaries if you apply this principle of love. 

Asingan (my 5th area) is doing great. I am with Sister Ritati (my 10th companion) and she is from Kiribati. 

Love you all, 

Sister Santa

November 23, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

I am so happy and I want to let you all know of the wonderful miracles we have seen in our area this past week. There are too many that I don't even have the time to begin to share all of the amazing miracles, blessings, and answered prayers. 

Last Saturday, our ward planned a fireside to invite investigators to tour the church building and learn more about the auxiliary organizations. It was so sad when it was an hour after it should have started and we didn't have any investigators arrive yet. We were disappointed and then we had a great idea. In the front of the church were about 30 men playing basketball. We jokingly said we should invite them instead and close the gates so they can't leave. 

The Elders and Bishop were joking that they could use us to invite the men to come into the church for the fireside. I suggested we say a prayer first. So we prayed and then went out to the basketball court and we were surprised they accepted our invitation. Sweaty, wearing basketball shorts and tank tops, and most without shoes, they entered the chapel. We had a fireside and most were very interested. It was a good experience and a complete miracle to be honest. 

I felt the Spirit, and asked myself, did that really just happen? The last people we were going to invite ended up being the people that Heavenly Father had planned all along. Heavenly Father guides us and humbles us at times when we may be choosy about who we think needs the Gospel in their lives. 

There are countless other miracles. 

I love you all. The work is doing great. The time goes so fast. Thank you for all the prayers and keep the letters coming. I really appreciate them even if I can't always reply right away. Thank you Sister Leete for the cute halloween card and thank you Sister Bair and Carpenter for the visiting teaching. I appreciate it so much and it is always uplifting. Thank you Sister Young for the letter. I think of you all, always. 

With love, 

Sister Santa

11/08/2014

Dear Everyone, 

I am doing well and happy. I was just transferred last Friday to Asingan area and my new companion is Sister Ritati, from Kirabatiti island (small island close to Tonga and Samoa). We are opening an area, which means we are the first sisters this area has had in 28 years. We are very excited and feel so privileged that we are chosen to be the first sisters. It's like being in my first area in San Fabian again. 

We share a ward with two other Elders. So it will be interesting to experience working together, something I've never done so far in my mission. 

This area is really big and spread out, so the members are helping us find all of the investigators. 

I just wanted to share some wonderful news. My previous area, Manaoag, when we left Manaoag we had 12 individuals preparing for baptism. Last transfer, 8 of them were baptized. Even though I wasn't there, it's all the same work and I am so overjoyed for them and the conversion I have seen in each of them as well. 

Love you all, 

Sister Santa

November 30, 2014

Dear Everyone, 

We are doing well and happy. I am really happy because last weekend Brother Ariel from Binalonan was baptized. He was the investigator that we talked to as he drove us to Sunday morning General Conference last month, and we invited and he stayed for the morning session. He was so prepared. He accepted the Gospel in his life and even though I couldn't be there for the baptism on Saturday, my joy was full. I really felt my favorite scripture (Alma 29:9-10) fulfilled. My joy was full because he was penitently coming unto Christ. 

I love this work. I love being a missionary. I love that Heavenly Father trusts us, each of us, to help with His glorious plan. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and I know that revelation is loving direction from a loving Heavenly Father to His children. 

Merry Chistmas!

Sister Santa

This older couple is so cute. They are members in the ward and we visited this past week and Brother will be turning 91, and his wife is 79. They are just so cute and whenever they tell stories about their life and the trials they're facing, it just makes us cry. I love them so much!

11/3/2014

Dear Everyone, 

Well it's transfer week and I know that we will be transferring. I was only one transfer here in Binalonan. But there are a lot of elders that are arriving in the mission so we will be moved to another area. 

I just wanted to share one experience from this week. We were walking on the road and we still had an hour before our next appointment, because one of our appointments cancelled, so we were walking. My companion stopped and said "Let's go here" and we went to the gate of a house and knocked. An older woman opened the gate and smiled. She let us in and when we sat down she told us she had been longing for the missionaries to come visit. She is less active because she has Parkinson's disease and can't walk very well. When she said that she had been waiting for the missionaries, it's like my mind was expanded, and the heavens opened, and I knew again that Heavenly Father is acutely aware of His children. 

I testify that our Heavenly Father loves us and will always lead us to those that need our help. 

I love you all, 

Sister Santa

10/26/2014

Dear Everyone, 

We had a great week. We worked really hard and we were so blessed. The area is starting to really catch some fire and the work is improving in all aspects. We are finding a lot of new investigators and we have been surprised as several have readily accepted the invitation to be baptized. 

We had a baptism on Saturday and Cipriano is really happy. His two sons and wife will hopefully follow him and be baptized as well. I know Heavenly Father has a plan for that family. Cipriano received the gift of the Holy Ghost and the priesthood as well yesterday. He wants to be the one to baptize his family. 

I wish I had time to tell of all of the wonderful stories. The mission is going so fast. I am trying to make the most of each day. 

Thanks for the continual support and prayers. 

Love you all, 

Sister Santa