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!