9 Months in the Mission

Wow everyone, time really does fly as a missionary. I can't believe that this last Wednesday, June 11, I reached my half way. It was a great week. We saw so many miracles. One of our investigators that had a date to be baptized texted us and told us that she didn't want to continue, then I prayed for days and she texted us again and says after praying and reading The Book of Mormon, she knows it's true. She is progressing amazingly now. I know that The Book of Mormon is the power to be converted. I cried when she texted us because I was so happy that my prayers were answered. Like I said, we really saw miracles. 

As sort of a tribute to a milestone on my mission, I want to say that I have changed so much. I testify that Heavenly Father is hastening His work because the Plan of Salvation is important and the Second Coming is soon. We are living in an amazing time in the history of the world that prophets have prophesied since the beginning of time. 

We all have work to do, and we don't have much time to do it. As we seek earnestly to be diligent and faithful, we will accomplish many good things.

Love you all, 

Sister Santa

I cut my companion's hair! I gave her bangs and layers. That was a fun learning experience.

6/8/14

Dear Everyone, 

I hope everyone is doing well. I've been loving the work this week even though it's been really, really hard. I've learned that even though we may have really righteous desires, there will always be opposition, especially as we are doing a really important and eternal work. Along with the trials of this week, I've been studying revelation. As we seek humbly and with real intent, guidance from our Heavenly Father, He will show us what we should do. I know that Heavenly Father is always blessing us in ways that we are not always aware of. 

Right now Sister Gallego and I have only a few investigators, no one came to church, and no one has accepted the invitation to be baptized. But it was also a really good week because we are constantly converting ourselves in the work. 

Missionary work is amazing and the work keeps moving forward. 

I really hope that you are all doing well!

Sister Santa

6/1/14

Dear Everyone, 

This week I prayed more that I have ever prayed before. I testify that we have trials because we have a loving Heavenly Father who sees our potential. This week I really changed my attitude in the face of the trials once I realized what Heavenly Father was trying to do. I know that as we humbly and prayerfully speak with Him, we will change our attitudes and understand why things are a certain way. I also testify that we receive blessings after our trials. This past week I prayed and fasted for increased faith, and then I experienced the two hardest days of my entire mission where we couldn't find anyone to teach and everyone was rejecting us. After praying again, I realized this trial was the answer for my prayer of increased faith. Interesting, right? It reminds me of the talk by Elder Bednar, "The Windows of Heaven" where we learn that our wise Heavenly Father often blesses us in the ways we weren't expecting.

Love you all, keep the faith!

Sister Santa

We walked along this path by the river. It was really steep.

5/19/14

Dear Everyone, 

I am so excited to tell you a story from just yesterday. We taught the relatives of a member, don't mind that they're 3rd cousins. Here in the Philippines all the family live together really close even 3rd or 2nd cousins. Anyway, so through this member we met these two ladies who are from Oregon and so we had to teach in English! They're actually from Hillsboro not very far from us. One is a nurse at Tuality Health Center. So anyway. They were so prepared. Because this member gave them the Ensign to read, they felt the Spirit and they want to be Mormons now, is what they said. How amazing. They want to learn more. I will refer them back to the missionaries in Oregon, and maybe some of you back home could help them too.

I testify that church magazines are a great way to share the Gospel. Our church is amazing. Give someone a link to mormon.orgor lds.org and see if they don't become interested in the church. We have these great resources; let's use them! Bear your testimony of the church magazines and how we are a living church with living a living prophet and apostle. That's what we did yesterday and the Spirit guided us and it was so powerful.  

I love you all. You can do it!

Sister Santa