Week 62

Week 62

This was another killer week in Rosario. Our investigators are doing awesome and progressing towards baptism. We got a late start with the storm and were sad to not be able to reach some of our goals. But we are re-committing to OYM's this week. And also, we are basically out of pamasahe so we walk everywhere. Travel is expensive here. It is getting cold(er) here! Last night everyone was in sweaters at the Christmas Devotional at the stake center. It was fun to see old friends and chat but even better was to really feel the Spirit of Christ as we heard the talks and the music. It finally feels like Christmas. 

This week we had a tough lesson with an investigator who is preparing for baptism in August of next year. His repentance process is a little longer due to some past things that have happened in his life. His wife and daughter are very active members. Anyway we have been teaching him for 3 weeks now and I want to cry every time I think about Him. He has hardened his heart because of how long he feels he needs to wait to be baptized. The last lesson, Alma 41:9 kept running through my mind. I felt like that, like I was just pleading tear-eyed for him to accept Christ, let him in, to let the power of the Atonement work in his life and to feel hope and peace. It's really sad sometimes as a missionary to be repeatedly disappointed when the people you love won't make the right choice. But I haven't lost hope. ANYONE can change. And everyone should. I want to help this man and his family so much! I pray for him a lot and for guidance with what we can do. 

This past week I finished the book of Matthew and have noticed how humble Christ is when He teaches but bold at the same time. I realized that His boldness came from a place of humility, because he was on his father's errand he completely trusted and relied on Him. How incredible that even the Savior of the world humbled himself to the Father. It made me want to humble myself in more ways that I know I have been avoiding. These are the very depths of my natural man- so it will be hard. But through Christ, I know I can change. 

 I feel like the 12 weeks training was made for re-opening! Every week it's perfect for what our goals are. Sister Viloria is doing well. We are very open with each other in finding ways we can improve and how we want to change. I love her, she is such a great blessing in my life. She is so happy all of the time and just a lifter. It has helped me feel less stressed about things. 

Have a good week!

Love

District Mtg

These two were so happy to get Christmas presents from my parents. The BEST parts of getting packages are giving your companion american candy and watching the faces she makes!

after service at a member's house

Yay Merry Christmas!

Best Christmas Present Ever- a letter from my little brother.

Sister Gaspar de Alba

Week 61

Week 61

This week was Miracle week/ typhoon week. Pretty crazy. We had a really amazing week last week. Then President wanted us to leave Rosario before the storm hit so we came to Lipa to stay with the STL's. Got here on Sunday and will hopefully be able to leave later in the afternoon back to our area. Thank you so much for the prayers and thoughts. We are all safe and accounted for. I just want to go check on our members and investigators already!

A few miracles in finding this week: 2 Part member families we met want to be taught and the husbands want to be baptized. Also, one of the OYM's we went to follow up with was very receptive and desperately needed the plan of salvation to be made known to her. She felt such a new sense of hope for her daughter who died last year. Turns out, her niece was taught a few months ago and she also accepted baptism. Also, A family of 9 (grown) children that we are teaching is super interested. We started teaching one, and now we are teaching 3 of the siblings who are all receiving a witness of the truth. They all came to our Ward Fmaily Home Evening and loved it. Then they came to church on Sunday. When we went to do a follow up lesson with them, they accepted the Restoration expressed to us how they are excited to be baptized in January. They were taught a long time ago in Lopez and have been praying and waiting for missionaries ever since. Also a random member from another stake drove up to us while we were walking alongside the high way coming from an appointment and told us that he works in Rosario and has been looking for the missionaries because he has lots of referrals. I am just so full of tears of gratitude every time I reflect on the past week. Heavenly Father is really hastening His work in Rosario. Sister Viloria and I are continuing to strive for perfect diligence and obedience to be worthy of the blessings that this ward needs. 

I have been reading in the New Testament in the book of Matthew alongside Jesus the Christ. Just this morning I was so amazed as I was reading about Christ being tempted while He was fasting. Even though he experienced temptations that strong, he overcame them. What faith. I love learning more about His life. What a special time of the year it is to look back and reflect on the life of our Savior. As I've been thinking about what I can give to Him in return, repentance comes to mind. As I continue to repent and sty to be more like him, I will be giving more and more of myself to Him and his work. 

For the first time in my life I bought a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, my mom's fav. I actually liked it.

friday- day one of pre-storm

this is sister Jovie. She is so great! We went to house for lunch on her birthday. She has helped a bunch in finding our investigators houses.

On our way to one of our investigators houses. I don't know how I am so blessed to have 3 areas in a row that are so beautiful!

just feeding a baby goat

My favorite tongan, sister Taufa! We stayed 2 nights with the sisters in Lipa city when we evacuated Rosario.

I heard a pop last night and smelt burning wires in the middle of the storm.  So I go downstairs at 5 am to sniff it out and found this.

Week 60

Week 60

Okay so first of all- I would just like to acknowledge the fact publicly that I officially have 10 weeks left on my mission. In hopes that doing so, will help me accept it in my own head. I am working on my goals still from my year mark and really trying to reach them! But mostly, I'm just working harder than ever, trying to enjoy every second and just focus. This week was pretty eventful. We officially found all of the investigators from our area book, got dropped by almost all of the ones with baptismal goal dates, had 2 random sisters show up at church asking us when they could be taught (!!!) then have been running around contacting referrals from the office. 

I loved last week, I laughed SO much. It was such a special privilege to work with Sister Pajo and see how much she has grown. She has continued to improve and is becoming such a leader. Monday was literally the happiest day ever, as we got to work together. Sister Viloria is doing great and learning so quickly. She had a hard time on Thursday after 3 appointments that were pretty tough. We felt the Spirit really working through us as we pled with these investigators to follow the promptings they have been receiving. But all 3 of them dropped us and completely rejected the gospel that we have been teaching them. She cried on the way home. I felt so sad really mostly because of how sad i knew my companion was. She asked me, "sister, why do they reject the thing that will make them the happiest and trade it for things of lesser importance and value?" her question made me think. It's like every time we make a bad decision or waste the agency we have been given. Why do we continually choose wrong when we know clearly what's right? I think our Heavenly Father feels much that way. But I told her that we do our part, we are sad about their decision, but we are never discouraged. 

I wish all of you could meet the hilarious members in the Rosario ward. I LOVE this ward. I loved them immediately. It is full of old nanays who just make everyone laugh all day. I will tell more funny stories to follow...when I figure out how to relay the things they said in english and for it still to be funny. 

I am continuing to work on patience and we are looking and praying and talking to everyone to find the people the Lord is preparing for us to share the gospel with. 

Have a good week, everyone! You all should go watch the share the gift video it is SO good, the one that the church just put out. I wish i could share it. But for all of you reading this that can, I would encourage you to take this opportunity to share it with friends and family and use it to share your testimony of our Savior and how living his teachings has helped you draw nearer to him. 

Love to all!

Sister Gaspar de Alba

this is my only picture for the week! I got to work with these two great sisters on Monday. I was having a little emotional fest with my 2 kids!

Week 59

Week 59

Well this week was packed full of new adventures, for sure. First of all- I said goodbye to everyone I love in Tayabas! It's always harder than i plan for to leave an area behind, and a companion. Then we went to the mission home on Thursday and I met my new companion Sister Viloria! My 3rd companion that's visaya. I am destined to learn cebuano. Anyway- then I was totally shocked when they announced we would be going to Rosario, Lipa. That's where Sister Pajo is! Needless to say, she was so excited to see me at the bus stop. We have had a great few days. My companion is super cute, and really funny! We are just trying to contact our investigators right now in this HUGE area and finding our way around without a phone! Pretty crazy. But it's been fun and really great to meet the ward members a little bit. We had stake conference yesterday and was reminded how old I really am in the mission. I got to see some old friends which is always fun!

This week I have just been trying to find some emotional stability, honestly. I knew I would be re-opening and I had a feeling it would be like last time. But I tried to prepare myself and it's been really good so far. Every time I get anxious or begin to feel overwhelmed, I just turn out. I ask my companion about how we can help the area, or I spend more time getting to know her. It has been such a blessing to just completely focus on her and her progression and adjustment as a missionary. She is wonderful and is teaching me so much. Today in personal study I was thinking about Alma and how much he grew from all of his experiences as a missionary. How with each new challenge, he was more and more prepared to face them with greater faith. I felt like that this week. I've honestly kind of surprised myself with how calm I've been walking the streets of the biggest city in our mission without a phone and having no idea where we are. I just do the best I can, stay safe and trust the Lord. For example: We went to Lipa on saturday for stake conference and I had no idea where to go. So we hopped on a jeepney marked "lipa" and took off. Then i asked around if anyone knew where the big church was there. NO one knew! Not even the jeepney driver. Then at the last minute, right before we were about to get off and find help, I see a man dressed in a white shirt and tie. I knew he was the answer to my prayers. As soon as he got on, he asked us if we were going to the stake center. He helped us find it. Miracles! The Lord loves his missionaries!

Anyway- I love every second of this crazy situation the Lord has put me in. I've heard that the end is the hardest part. I haven't really felt like it has made a difference until I came here. It seems like random challenges and tests are coming from every angle. But in a blessing I had yesterday, I was told that Heavenly Father is proud that I have been diligent thus far in my mission and counseled to "continue in diligence and finish strong." So, Amen. I'll do it.

Have a good week everyone!

Love

Sister Gaspar de Alba

This is an investigator who I will dearly miss! She is getting baptized next month.

Saying goodbye to Members in Tayabas! This is the Limyoco family.

Patriarch Palad and his wife, they are such a good example to me.

I love the lado family! They are returning to activity and working towards a temple date.

This is our neighbor, Sabina. Despite what the picture shows she really loves me. She would wait for us to come home sometimes- she is SO precious!

I love this family!

This crazy Elder is really funny. This was taken right after I met my new companion.

YAY! Me and Sister Viloria

I met Quin's last companion at Stake Conference! He just got home 2 weeks ago. Super fun to swap Elder Volpe stories.