Really, miracles are happening.

Maligayang Pasko! 

This week has really been amazing. I am so happy and we are finding and teaching a lot of people. We try to talk to everyone that we can and then ask for their friends too. For this week, I want to testify that like the Parable of the Olive Tree in Jacob 5, this is the Lord's vineyard and we are just workers. The key to being an effective worker is turning your heart, might and mind to Him and doing what He asks. So how can we do this? Study the scriptures and words of the living prophets and I know you'll find an answer. 

My favorite part of this week was teaching a family on Saturday night and we just met them and then after our lesson we invited them to church and they all came. What a testament that angels are preparing the hearts of the people (Alma 13:24). Really, this is the Lord's work and we are just a part of it. 

Take care and be a missionary. Help your ward and support the missionaries, they can't do anything without the members. 

Love, 

Sister Santa

Our Zone nativity scene! We acted it out and everything, in Tagalog. Haha.

This Christmas card is huge!

I love my Christmas trees 

Zone Conference was catered. And we watched "The Ultimate Gift".

Between studying! 

I'm a missionary!

I still have to look down at my nametag sometimes because I can't believe that this is my mission. The time is now. So this week was really wonderful. My companion, Sister Dela Cruz, and I really worked .We found 19 new investigators and we were teaching so many lessons. If I could say one thing to sum up this week: there are miracles happening all around us. This is the Lord's work and the Lord's plan that we are here on this Earth. As we stop and be grateful for what we have been given, our eyes will be opened to see through God's eyes.

I'm loving General Conference so much. I read Elder Bednar's talk the other night about the simple and subtle blessings from tithing. Simple and subtle blessings can be applied with every commandment from God. This week during my study time I listed all of the promised blessings from each commandment and it was a really neat experience. 

I encourage everyone to grab a Preach my Gospel and go to chapter 5 and then identify the promised blessings from the scriptures and section for each commandment. 

The work is amazing. Christmas is near even though it doesn't feel like Christmas because it's super hot. 

Sister Santa,

Loves you!

my favorite bread. super cheap and it has sweet like cream cheese inside and it's so good. 

holding babies! haha...I find ways around the rules! ;)

Mango float=happiness

seeing miracles

Everyday is wonderful and I;m trying to enjoy every part of my mission. The weeks are flying and at this rate I'll be home before I even know it. I love being a missionary. I love everyday of it. I love the growth and the struggles and the privilege. I know that our Heavenly Father is deeply aware of us. I know that our life on earth is an important time of preparation. 

Everything we do here is preparing us for the next life, or at least, I would hope so. Too many time we waste our time doing the unimportant things in life. But really I know there are blessings in doing the inconvenient things. By reading and praying everyday, going out of our way to do our visiting teaching, by taking a few minutes to read the scriptures or the Friend with our child, these are the things that matter. I love the church resources. I just got my hands on the conference liahona today and I am in heaven. This is my testimony. 

Thank you for the support and love. Thank you for the letters and the prayers. Send me pictures of Oregon, because the Filipinos want to see!

Love always, 

Sister Santa

The work is working

This was my favorite part about this week. We actually found an opportunity to serve and it was my favorite. We helped sack rice and I was so happy. That day was amazing. We worked so hard and we were so tired. I love our work even though everyday is hard but I've seen that when I forget about myself and just try to do everything the Lord's way, and talk to everyone, and listen to everyone even when I'm hungry and tired and kids are running around in the lessons, it's a good day.

My thought for this week is that everyone should study Preach my Gospel. It is a divinely inspired manual of our gospel principles and I guarantee that if you use it to study, you will learn more. There are so many good things in there, especially chapter 6, Christlike Attributes. Use it and pray and you will find missionary opportunities. After all, we are all member missionaries, right?

Love you all! Take care. 

         earlier today. We had a zone activity and hiked a mountain and look at the ocean!

 

                              This is how we eat. Everyone use your hands!

It's been a hard week.

Serving a mission, being in the Lord's service is the best thing you could do in this life. Every member is a missionary and I know that when we fill our lives with what really matters, the things that matter for eternity, we are actually happy. We have so little time in this life, so why would you ever want to waste it? I just want to be a missionary forever. 

The work is going, and I have lots of struggles and things that tear me down but I pick myself up and stay happy. Remember the important things. Pray, scriptures, church, family history, the temple, missionary work, and you can't go wrong!

this is a really rich house and it reminds me of America cuz it's the only house with Christmas lights. It's the owner of our apartments and so we see it every night as we walk home

   

So this is a bike and it really meant a lot to me yesterday. None of our investigators came to church and it was really sad because that means we have no progressing investigators right now. But this is the bike of a member and he biked for almost an hour to the church each way to come to church. He is really poor but he wore his best clothes and his son sat on the board on the frame of the bike. His dedication meant so much to me, and I wish there were more members like him. I was so touched and this alone made everything else okay. 

this is a tricycle, we ride these everyday between areas. 

This is a jeepney. we ride in these a couple times a week. So many people get in them. people will hang off the back and squish 20 people inside.

Wow! An amazing week!

I had a wonderful week and I've seen so much growth in myself as I've confronted my weaknesses. I'm beginning to understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance, and the power and love I can feel each day from my Savior. I am so happy now. So I've learned a lot about myself and what faith means and how I need stronger faith. I've experienced an incredible conversion this week and many miracles have followed. Last week we had a really slow week and the work was hard and we're still recovering from that, and having to drop all of our investigators that weren't progressing, and start again. I realized that my faith was lacking because we would make our schedules to go visit people and then no one would be home and I started thinking, why even make these plans because no one is ever home and then we don't know who to go teach. But with many sincere prayers, and an attitude change, the work picked up a bit. 

My Tagalog has rapidly improved as I've stopped comparing myself to others and just try my best each day. I am so much happier, I am experiencing the gift of tongues. Many times members will be talking and then afterwards I'll ask myself, "Was that English or Tagalog?" because it all sounds the same to me now. I can understand English and Tagalog and it's so natural for me. It's also a comfort that I'm at the point where it's easier for me to talk with my companion and express myself in Tagalog than English. I mean that sometimes she doesn't understand my English, and so I feel magaling in Tagalog because now I'm at that point that it's faster for us in Tagalog. I have been so blessed with the gift of tongues as I have worked for it. I can teach in Tagalog with few mistakes and I can talk with the members. I've really been pushing myself to work and study more diligently because if the Lord needs me to train at the end of my 12 weeks, I need to be ready.

I love being a missionary and I know that this is where I belong. Everything feels so right and I've received so much revelation for myself and with my personal life as I've been here. 

Yesterday we had a wonderful time contacting referrals and our lessons were really quality lessons. The Spirit was really strong in both lessons and we know that these people have been prepared for our message and so I'm excited to see how it all ends up. I can't even put into words everything that happened. I feel so close to the Spirit and that is what I pray for each day. 

Everything is getting a lot better. Sincere prayer really changes everything. I know that we can all be very close to our Heavenly Father through sincere prayer. I also encourage everyone to read Moroni 7:45-48 because I know that charity is the most precious and difficult attribute to develop. When we stop worrying about ourselves and start taking care of other people is when Heavenly Father will teach us the most through His Spirit. I testify of that. 

Mango float is my favorite dessert here. Graham crackers layered with condensed milk, and fresh mango sliced and then mango on top. 5 layers and then refridgerate over night and it's delicious. My very favorite.

So many funny stories but I am sorry that I'm out of time. 

Love, 
Sister Santa

Week 2 in the Philippines

I had a really hard week and I'm discovering all of my weaknesses. I'm realizing how awful I am, which is a good thing, but it's really painful. We had a good week, except that nothing went as planned. Our investigators aren't keeping their commitments or coming to church, and it hurts. But I have to remember that other people's agency shouldn't affect my happiness. 

The food is really good, but super weird. Filipinos pretty much fry everything. Tang is considered juice here and we eat rice and fish for breakfast. So different so I have to stop comparing everything to America and just have joy. For the most part the people are really loving. Sometimes the men are too loving, haha, I don't need to elaborate on that one. I'm safe though. 

I'm glad everyone is doing alright. Enjoy Christmas! 

The Filipino kids are the best because they run around us and want to carry my stuff and hold my arm. It's so great! But there are so many fat babies around and I want to hold them, haha, but it's against the rules. The kids are really fun though. Sorry if I never want to come home, but it's really fun here. 

Love, 

Sister Santa

first week in the Philippines

This week has been wonderful. We've seen a lot of miracles. We are teaching a lot and referrals keep coming and we can't even keep up with them. We are teaching a lot and staying busy. The hardest thing for me is to be patient with myself. 

I want to tell everyone all that I have learned but I could never have enough time. I guess I feel like Nephi because He only wrote the things that were most important because it was so hard to engrave on the plates, so imagine I'm Nephi. 

I have learned this week that faith is a deep belief that I'm being taken care of. The language is coming but I am frustrated and hard on myself because I'm not fluent yet. If you know me, you know that I'm an over achiever so I want to be fluent now. But I have learned that I have to be patient with everything and myself. I will learn here a little and there a little.

It always feels good when we are in the right place at the right time. I know we are being guided. My testimony is being strengthened and I know that I can become what Heavenly Father wants me to be if I turn my heart over to Him. That has been my focus the last few days. I can control that and ultimately I need to be converted to the Lord. 

I love being a missionary. I love teaching even though it's hard because the greatest miracles that have come have come as were teaching and my language is amazing and we feel guided and people's hearts are softened. I love the food (mostly), it's kinda weird. I love serving. I love being busy and tired. I love that it's just me and the Lord because I hardly have time to think about anyone back home.

Love always,
Sister Santa

Me and two sisters that are wonderful. Their family are converts and they help the most with missionary work. They always go with us and teach. The mom on the left does my laundry twice a week. She is so sweet. She cleaned my shoes when we were out contacting and I stepped in dog poop. She is 42 and the daughter is 17. 

Our first baptism was this past Saturday! She is 18 years old and her husband is a member. 

Welcome to the Philippines!

Hi everyone!

First few days in the Philippines has been pretty crazy.It's amazing but it's really really hard. I'm not sure if I can do it. I guess that's what I am supposed to learn. That I can't do it and I need my Savior to help me. I need a lot of help. My language feels like I'm really struggling and being a missionary is the hardest thing I've ever done. Opposition in all things but I have my testimony that I'm doing the right thing. 

I am happy. The people are amazing and fun. The food is weird but I'm getting used to it. I've already lost some weight and it's so hot. I'm constantly wet and sweating. But it's not about me and I have to remind myself that all the time. It's not about me at all. This work is true. The Spirit is with me always and He helps me during the lessons.I am so grateful for help. 

Love Sister Santa

•For another peek at Sister Santa's happenings, check out their mission blog:http://urdanetanet.blogspot.com/2013/10/october-2013-transfer-day.html?m=1

Philippines bound

So I leave on Monday morning at 4:30 am and I am so excited. Before I say anything else, I want everyone to know that there is actually a storm in the Philippines right now. My teacher told me about it and there is an earthquake and tropical storm that has killed several dozens of people. Don't worry about me. I know that the Lord will always protect me because I am a missionary. I am actually really excited to go and serve the people with disaster clean-up. The reason I say this though is because you can probably search some information on the internet or news about it. So we've been warned that we won't have electricity or water for probably 2 weeks at least. This means no showers, and no emailing. Sorry everyone, but don't be worried when you don't hear from me for a couple weeks. But please send your prayers, because I'm worried about not showering for two weeks. I guess if I can handle this, I can pretty much handle anything else during the mission, right? :) I'm hoping to find a head lamp in one of the airports or once I get into the Philippines. 

I'm starting to feel a little nervous about the unknown, but super excited to use my Tagalog I've learned. I'm also really excited to find all of the deaf and people with learning disabilities in the Philippines so I can love them! 

I've really realized how the Lord is taking care of me. I know that He is looking out for all of us. He has nothing better to do than to take care of His children. Missionary work is also super amazing and so important. I wish I could be a missionary for the rest of my life because it is probably the closest that I will ever be to my Savior. I already don't want to give up being a missionary. 

As I prepare to leave in two days, I want to share my testimony with anyone that this blog may find. I know that this Gospel is true. There is no doubt in my mind. Why would so many young people give 18 months or two years of their life, pay $10,000, leave the family, go across the world to strange places that are uncomfortable, feel alone in a new place where you don't speak the language, if this Church weren't true. I know that it's the actual, living Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth. But just knowing that isn't enough. We all need to act on our faith by doing what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ ask of us. It's really that simple. Just do it. Just live how you know that you should. Remember to serve others and do what is needed! Just invite your friend to church and share the Gospel with everyone by how you live. I would never want to stand in front of my friend in heaven and try to explain why I didn't share the Gospel with them. Even more, I wouldn't want to try to explain to God why I was ashamed of the truth. 

I know that I am going to the Philippines for a reason that only God knows. I am so happy and so joyous. 1 Nephi 4:6

Pray for me and I'll pray for you. Take care everyone! 

Love always, 

Sister Santa

prepare for take off!

Hello Everyone!

Only one more week in the MTC and then I board a plane on Monday morning, OCT 21 and begin my 30 hours of travel time to the Philippines. I'm so excited and so ready. Each day I realize just how ready I am. I have been so incredibly blessed with the language that I understand and speak so well, I can't even imagine how quickly I'll be fluent once I'm in the Philippines. 

I read a talk this week that my best friend, Elder Snelgrove sent me in a package. "The Miracle of a Mission" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. It's so amazing and stirring and it's changed my life and attitude about a mission. Sure, missionary work is hard, that's how it's supposed to be. "Nothing worth doing, was ever done without effort" (Elder Snelgrove). I would encourage everyone to find this talk on google or lds.org and read it! 

This week I learned a lot about repentance. I love repentance because it's not a bad thing. It is coming closer to Jesus Christ and trying every day to be more like Him and give up our natural man attributes. I have also been studying charity and my mind is blown with how important is it to have charity. Charity is the single most important virtue a person could ever develop. 

So I have so much I want to say but I can't even think of everything because my time is almost up. But I know that being a missionary is the most important work since the existence of man. Wow. I know that this Church and Gospel blesses families. I know that I am the Lord's servant and I am excited to share what I know with the Filipinos. 

On another note, I saw a tender mercy of the Lord this week. I found someone in the MTC who is from my mission. He is Filipino and he's learning English and he's going to Toronto, Canada. But anyway, we were talking and what not and we decided that our meeting wasn't by chance. He gave me his information and told me to go back and find his family. He wants me to teach his family and baptize his mom and reactive his father and brothers. He is also giving me letters and a few things to take to them because he misses them and he hasn't heard from them. I'm so excited for this miracle and service opportunity. I know it wasn't by chance and I am so humble and grateful. I can't wait to find his family!

My time is up and I hope I have inspired you. Remember that God is acutely aware of our lives and every detail. He loves you. 

Love always, mahal kita, 

Sister Santa

only two weeks left in the mtc!

Hello Everyone! 

I have learned so much this week about humility and relying on the Lord to guide me. Being in the MTC is such a blessing but missionary work is really exhausting. I wonder if it will ever be less tiring! I really am thankful for all that I have learned. Teaching investigators in the MTC is also a blessing and it's an incredible experience. Just thinking that I've been learning this language for 4 weeks, but I've been teaching actual lessons with investigators since day 4 is a miracle.

When we come closer to the Savior we realize how many weaknesses we have, and then we are to learn to rely on our Savior. Ether 12:27 I finally understand what this means. I finally understand what it means to have weaknesses to make us strong and to keep us humble. Being a missionary is the hardest thing I have ever done, or may do in my entire life. Self-discipline, obedience, humility, love, service, and working hard is a challenge but I know that God makes it possible for us to do all that He asks of us.

Taking the last 15 minutes of my day to inventory my soul in prayer and humility asking for help and telling my Heavenly Father what I've been doing has been a huge blessings. Sometimes I do that multiple times a day because I need it. I would encourage everyone reading this blog to make a 15 minute appointment with Heavenly Father and just talk and listen to Him and you will receive greater understanding and love. I know it keeps me sane and that's how we can progress as humans.

Last night my companion and I broke down into tears after our lesson. We were teaching and it was 8-9 so right at the end of our day and we were exhausted and emotional but we had the hardest lesson we've ever had. For me I couldn't understand how I had prepared so much and then I go into the lesson and I can't remember or say anything that I've studied. I didn't feel like I could feel the Spirit and I felt so lost and stupid because I couldn't say anything in Tagalog. We are preparing an investigator for baptism and we were going to teach the Restoration of the Gospel and I couldn't understand why God wouldn't want us to be able to teach this. I was flustered during the lesson with broken Tagalog and I just wanted it to end. After my companion and I were talking about it and I started crying and explaining what happened and she started crying too. This is what she told me: "I have never been more in tune with the Spirit, or have felt so much love for our investigator than I did in that lesson." I was shocked. Were we in the same lesson? Afterwards the investigator told us that he felt an incredible Spirit even though he couldn't understand us at all. 

I had to be humbled and I poured myself out to the Lord. I don't really know what happened or why, but I refocused myself and I'm trying to have more faith.

Work like everything depends on you, pray like everything depends on the Lord. 

Those are the words that I have lived by and even though things don't always work out like I would expect, I know that if we are doing our very best, things will always work out in God's hands.

I love you all. I wish I could tell you everything that I have learned. 

I bear testimony that this Gospel blesses families and everyone needs it.

Excuse my English, I don't write a whole lot in English so I've noticed that my Tagalog has been messing up my grammar. :)

Sister Santa

Sister Santa in the choir at the General Relief Society Broadcast.

the Church is true :)

I had a wonderful week and I just want to be able to say everything. Well let me start off by saying, thank you everyone for the Dear Elders. I love getting mail, so please write me! My new address for the rest of the time I'm in the MTC: 

Sister Rebecca Andrea Santa

OCT 21 PHI-URD Unit 927

2023 N 900 E

Provo, UT 84606

My favorite thing is teaching lessons. I love teaching lessons to our investigators. We are currently teaching two progressing investigators and one has just accepted an invitation to be baptized. Man, I cannot even describe how I feel. Our investigators are fake, but my companion and I receive real revelation for them and during the lesson of what to say. Our lessons are always lead by the Spirit. Everyone says that I'm really in tune with the Spirit, and I think I can agree with that. Our lessons are amazing. I love teaching. We're constantly testifying of everything from Joseph Smith, to the Atonement. I really have to figure out for myself if I really believe that we can have strength in the Atonement, because that's what I'm telling other people all the time. 

This Church is true, and I know it's true. I really want everyone to join the Church because I know the Gospel blesses families. Why are we always so afraid to share the truth, and something that makes us eternally happy? Satan wants us to keep our mouths shut. 

"Who's on the Lord's side, who? Now is the time to choose." (Hymn I just thought of)

My Heavenly Father has been so good to me. I had a rough couple of days this week and my companion and I shed a few tears. But last night I received a priesthood blessing and everything turned around. My Heavenly Father believes in me and I know he's proud of me. He knows I'm trying my best, and because I am, I have qualified for the gift of tongues. I have seen so many miracles and tender mercies of the Lord as I speak and understand and the language comes so natural for me. 

I am excited to get to the Philippines and love the people because it has been revealed to me that my compassion and service will touch the lives of thousands. I'm not saying this to brag or anything, I just think it's amazing that the Lord has chosen me and He trusts me. It's a huge honor. 

I want everyone to be a part of my mission. I want to include everyone as I study and learn and increase my faith. I have accepted an invitation to only write hone about spiritual things, so that is what I am going to go.

Last night I was studying Ether 6 with the Jaredites and I learned that the furious winds were blowing them toward the promised land. Their trials were making them who they needed to be. Then two verses later, verse 7 says that no matter what trials they had, they always prayed and thanked God and they were tight like unto a dish. It's amazing to me. That is some incredible faith. 

I know that we all face some hard trials in our lives. We can learn so much from the scriptures if we can read and liken them to ourselves.1 Nephi 19:23

I know that Heavenly Father is proud of us, and I know that we were chosen to come to the earth at this time because we were special and we have amazing potential. I think we forget just how glorious we are. My perspective has changed and I want to always focus on my purpose in life and giving everything I have to know God and help others know God and build His Kingdom. 

Family, Friends, please remember your purpose. Please remember the promises you made. 

I love you all and I hope that you will read and study Ether 6 and write me a letter and tell me what you thought as you read. Please teach me! Also, how can I explain repentance to an investigator. Send me your thoughts!

The missionaries going to my mission. Haha only 2 Elders

All the sisters going to my mission. We far outnumber the Elders.

My district. (some are going to a different mission)

Hey Friends and Family!

So things have been great this week and time always flys. It's crazy to think that I've been in the MTC for 11 days now. I'm learning a lot and the Tagalog is coming really easy for me. I'm learning a lot faster that anyone else and I try to keep myself humble by praying and thanking God. I've never had more sincere prayers in all my life. I am constantly changing and trying to become better. I now understand what repentance is and how it works in my life. Our fake investigator we've taught 4 times accepted the invitation to be baptized. My companion and I are doing amazingly with our lessons and studying and I'm so thankful for Sister Lau. 

So next Saturday I will be singing at the Conference Center for the Relief Society Broadcast and I'm so excited! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity so tell everyone and look out for me in blue. We'll be singing the entire program which is such a privilege. This also means that my P-day will be on Friday so make sure to email me before Friday. 

I am happy and tired all the time. So tired. I have to try to keep myself awake during class and switch things up. 

I love you all. I'll attach some photos. 

This is what it means to be a set-apart missionary. For 18 months I am set-apart from the world: John 15:18-19

Sister Santa

a plug for dear elder

a plug for letters:

In an effort to make sure that Sister Santa gets as much love as humanly possible while on her mission, we wanted to make sure that you are aware of dear elder.  On this site, you can e-mail Sister Santa letters that they print out every day.  If you message her before 10 am, she will get the message in her mailbox on the same day.  Basically, she can check her email on p-day but she can get dear elder messages from you any day.  :)

ALSO, dear elder offers a free service for missions that offer pouch mail that allows you to continue to send free messages to Sister Santa throughout her mission.  Once Sister Santa is in the Philippines, you will be able to send her messages that they will print out, include in the pouch from SLC and Sister Santa will receive an actual paper message from you.

My first week in the MTC

Hello everyone! I am just finishing my first week in the MTC. Well it's really only been 4 days but it counts as a week so I'm only 5 weeks away from being sent to the Philippines. We have a new departure date which is OCT 21 instead of the 23rd. This means that my MTC address is changed with that correction and (drum roll please) I am actually moving to West Campus. My district has been chosen to go to West Campus for the final 4 weeks of the MTC so this means I'll be sending a new address once I find out. It's really exciting and I'll be living in Wyview and apparently the food is a lot better on that campus so I'm excited. I don't really like the food here. It's all super processed and reheated stuff. I just eat it and deal, better than my companion who complains that she's bloated. But that's a different story. I like the MTC and I like that you're constantly drenched in the Spirit. Wow there is so much to tell you but so little time. Like I said, everything is crazy which means that we have no time to do anything. Everything we do is hurried. Showering, eating, walking, writing in my journal. The days are long but the weeks are short. I finally understand that. 

My kasama (companion) is Sister Lau and she's from Provo, Utah. She's 19 years old and she has no clue what she's doing, haha, in a good way. She is so soft spoken and she's like, should we be overbearing and have a prayer for the lesson with the investigator? And I'm like, "yes! we need to be bold with the Spirit. That's the only way they will feel it." So I'm patient with her and I learn a lot of things from her and I already know that we're together for a reason. Our district has 4 Elders and 8 Sisters. This is pretty similar with all the Districts going to the Philippines. So many sisters that we far outnumber the Elders! It's kinda awesome. Our District has goals to speak the language and say the words that we know but it's hard because it's so easy to just speak English and say everything that you want to say. We also have a goal to be exactly obedient and I'm already reaping the blessings of this. Our district is so fun and we just laugh and get along very well. It's hard to study in the same room because we start talking.  

It's been good in the MTC so far. By the way, my P day is Saturday so make sure to email me before then. It still doesn't seem real that I'm going to the Philippines. I heard a rumor that our flight plans had us going to Hong Kong so that's pretty cool! 

Bad news, I can't send pictures because apparently you have to use a card reader to do that and I have to buy it in the bookstore. Fail. No one told me. So, I'll send pictures next week!

Being a missionary is the hardest thing I've ever done. Our time is stretched thin and this language is a challenge and it's so easy to not use our study time and just talk or nap. I haven't been disobedient but I've already seen a lot of missionaries breaking the rules and I just have to remember that I only govern myself. I am grateful for a companion that strives to be obedient and live our life to the fullest while we are here. I have learned a lot, and I"m studying a lot and I'm beginning to learn this language. Sometimes when I'm in class I wonder: when is the gift of tongues going to step in?? I have had this promise and I just remind myself that it's all according to what I do. Work like everything depends on you; pray like everything depends on the Lord. That is the motto for my kasama and I. 

Last night we taught our first lesson in Tagalog with an investigator and we can't use notes or anything and we taught for like 10 minutes and it wasn't so bad. Well, it was bad but apparently we did a lot better than the other companionships. Haha. This language is fun but the words all sound the same and so I have to say them over and over again so I can hear them. I know that the Lord doesn't cal the qualified, He qualifies the called. And so, I keep going and keep trying and I don't let myself be negative at all because that means I'm doubting the power of God. 

I don't really know what else to say not. I still have another half hour for email, haha. I was trying to type really fast. I know that I know so much in Tagalog already because of the Spirit. It is not possible to already know how to pray, testify and teach, even though the messages are simple, unless it were through the power of God. 

Keep praying for me and I pray for you. I guess until next week. I have to go do laundry after this and then we're going to the temple for a session in Tagalog! Booyah! I wish I could send pictures but it's okay. I've only been gone 4 days, so ya'll can wait another week. I say ya'll now because we can't say guys or dude, which is still hard and we all have to correct ourselves all the time. 

I wake up at 6 am and workout and then shower at 6:30, class at 7 to meet and pray with the District, breakfast at 7:30. class from 8-11. Study time from 11-12:10. 

Lunch 12:10-12:55

1-4 we have class and more study time. 

4-5 more study (language study)

5-6 dinner

6-9 Class

9-9:30 Planning the next day and reviewing goals. 

Quiet time and settling down

sleep 10:30

It makes for long days but we sure get a lot done!

Alright, now that I've written a book. It's time for me to go. 

Love you all!

My time has come

OK, I think I'm ready. My suitcases are packed, I've said goodbye to mostly everyone, and I don't have much time left so I better be ready. I have butterflies in my stomach as I think about entering the MTC tomorrow morning because I know that means it'll be a test of endurance for the next 18 months and I'm just beginning the race tonight. I'll try to remember all of the wise words that have been shared with me, and I'll think of home often.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I know that I am doing the best thing for my life right now and I can't wait to discover the Philippines and determine if what people have said is correct. But, anyway, this is goodbye, but not really because you should write me because I love mail! Use my MTC address and DearElder.com and write me for the next 6 weeks until I"m in the field! Do it.

I love you all. 

Kapatid na babae Santa
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I wanted to add my two-cents for this book that I just finished reading. It's amazing! It has changed the way I think of missionary work. I hope it will inspire everyone just as it has inspired and helped me. I read it and began putting it to use and I have been so blessed to really have a good gospel conversation with a coworker. I know that the power of missionary work lies within our everyday. Take it for what it's worth. Enjoy :)

Am I ready to serve?

Well...in case anyone was counting, I'm only 17 days away from entering the MTC--don't tell my mom, she doesn't want me to tell her the countdown anymore. The fact that I'm leaving for 18 months to be a missionary still doesn't feel real yet, and I'm not sure that it will until I'm getting on the plane heading to the Missionary Training Center. So this is my question: Am I ready to be a missionary? I feel ready spiritually; I am ready for the challenge and to share the testimony that my Heavenly Father has shared with me. The lack of items in my suitcase and the list of things I still need to buy, and do, tells me that I am far from ready; here's to hoping everything gets done!
I am giving my farewell talk in Church today and I am excited and praying that what I share will be the will of God.
Oh, I just watched a video last night of a cultural celebration in the Philippines this summer. The Filipino members were celebrating 50 years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Philippines. It was so cool! The Filipino people are very humble, gracious, faithful and awesome! Can't wait to meet them!
"Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men." (D&C 4:1)
Kapatid un babae Santa (Sister Santa)

Time is flying by...

It's great being home but the time is really going fast as I am preparing for the mission. I am working, which I love, and spending lots of time with family, and just trying to be a better person and focus my energies into being a ward missionary. My friends are all heading out on their missions and I am seeing them go and wondering when my time will come. I"m just about the last one to head out from the summer! I love that I am serving a mission and every time I think about it, it feels right; I know that I am doing the right thing for me.
I have been watching episodes of The District as part of my pre-missionary training and I have been really touched and affected by the different stories of the missionaries and investigators. I'll be sitting and watching and then I start crying when an investigator is baptized and I say to myself "I want that. I want to see people so happy and joining the Church and to feel a difference in their lives." It's an incredible change when someone is taking the missionary lessons and they begin to feel the Spirit and realize that what they are being taught is right. As I have been watching these episodes I am trying to picture myself in the Philippines doing the same thing and it feels nice. But right now I'm just excited to get to the MTC and begin studying and really learning the language! I love languages, so I refer to myself as a linguist of sorts because I can actually learn languages pretty fast and Tagalog just seems thrilling to me.
Wow, my birthday is tomorrow and I'll be 19! I will try to post some pictures. Well, you've probably had enough of my soap box for today. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to post, and the experiences that I've had that I could share. Please comment and tell me what you want to hear, any questions that you may have!
Thank you everyone for your support. I report in 36 days!

We are in business!

I am excited to welcome everyone to my mission blog! This moment officially welcomes me into the blogging world, so, hello out there!

I wanted to make this blog while I still have some time before I am set apart as a missionary. My name is Rebecca Santa, and in 6 weeks I will be Sister Santa. I have been called to serve in the Philippines Urdaneta Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on September 11, 2013. I will be preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Tagalog Language.
I have seen a great deal of opposition in my life. I know that my Heavenly Father wants me in the mission field representing Him every day for 18 months; I know this without any doubt in my mind. Opposition testifies to me that the work I am preparing for is a true work--the work of God.
I have always wanted to serve a mission since I was 14 years old, and I am happy that the time has come for me to be a missionary, called to serve. My favorite LDS Hymn is "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" because I will truly say and act as my Heavenly Father would want me to, where He would want me to, which apparently is in the Philippines.
I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ; I know that they know me personally. I love being a member of this wonderful Church on the Earth. Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. Alam ko na totoo ang simbahan ni Jesu Cristo (I know this is Christ's Church). And this is my joy... to be an instrument in His hands to bring people to Christ. :)