Something About Sunshine...
Sister Alyssa Stettler: Called To Serve in Naga Philippines
Monday, March 24, 2014
Week 24
Nothing really happened this week so I'm not really sure what to say. We
had transfer announcements, but Sister Tumagoy and I are staying
together. I guess President Reeder only separates a companionship if
they aren't getting along and/or the area isn't progressing. She's been
so encouraging in helping me learn the language and it's really coming
along now. And we have fun together and work really hard. So I'm so
grateful for that. I'm so grateful for Christ's example and the
opportunity to really work on developing Christlike attributes. This
week's sacrament meeting was more reverent. My companion had the idea
that we do a one day mission with the youth and YSA next. She is just so
in-tune with the spirit and I wonder how she receives all this amazing
revelation. Haha I hope I can become as experienced and humble as she
is. She just hit her year mark! Anyways, so we will need to get
permission to do the one day mission and then we will go on splits.
Which I'm kind of scared for because it means that I will be taking one
of the sisters from the ward and I'll be the senior companion for the
day!!! Ah!!! My Tagalog isn't fluent yet... But I've become less worried
about it because I've been doing my best to rely on the Lord for help in
all aspects of the work. Mom and dad, I am SO GRATEFUL for the Lord's
hand in my life. I would not be able to do this great work without His
help. My heart just overfills every time I think of the blessings I've
received from Heavenly Father. Also, it's been hard to get our
investigators to come to church... but we're working hard. We're going
to really focus on the Book of Mormon this week.
Week 23
This weeks email is going to be short because I honestly don't have much to share. This week was kind of a blur anyways.
Us
missionaries in the Mercedes ward talked with the youth about reverence
in sacrament meeting. We've really been struggling with that in the
ward and I really pray that they understand the importance of inviting
the spirit during church. We focused on the Atonement and yeah... The
youth are wonderful and I've really enjoyed building relationships with
them.I really am enjoying my time here in the Philippines. :) I know this church is true!
Sister Stettler
Week 22
Hello everyone!!!
Another week just flew by. I
can't believe it. Sometimes the days are SO long and then before I know
it, I'm emailing home again. Except I'm probably one of the only
missionaries who DOESN'T look forward to P-day because it takes me so
long to do my laundry and then we are so busy for the rest of the day!
As a side note, it used to take me 5 hours to do my laundry and now it
only takes me 2 and a half. I think I'm finally starting to become a
Filipina! ;)Anyways, first of all, who is excited for General Conference?? Because I'm stoked! :D I'm just bummed I don't get to watch it until a week after. Buuuut that's ok because the prophet's words aren't going to change, right? ;) haha Conference has just been on my mind lately. I can't believe I left right after last conference. Our lives just kind of fly by. I'm just doing my best to make the most of the time I have now. Especially because it's not my time, it's the Lord's.
We had our missionary workshop this week which went over
really well. When we told them we have another one planned for next
week, they were really excited. It really surprised me actually. We
taught the youth and YSA how they can share the Book of Mormon with
their friends/relatives, etc. Some of those kids who did practice
teaching with me are wonderful little missionaries! When I did my part
of the workshop I asked who wanted to serve a mission and almost all the
hands went up. So awesome!
Ano pa? (What else)...... we have a few new
investigators! It's sometimes so hard to teach in some places though
because all they care about is that I'm white. My last area wasn't like
this so it's been taking some getting used to. So I've started to do
what the Elders in my district do. Whenever they say "Amerikano!" I'm
like, "Saan?! (Where?)" hahaha Um ya. That's actually pretty hilarious.
And one time I told some kids that I was convinced that I'm a Filipina.
But in reality? All I want is people to focus on Christ's name that's on
my name tag. I was even discussing the importance of Jesus Christ's
name on our name tags and how our message is centered around Christ with
some investigators. Then after that, it leads to our purpose, which is
to invite others come unto Christ. Remember Domingo? Well, we were
asking him what service project we could do for him after the lesson,
and I think that really changed his perspective about the missionaries
and about Mormons. During the lesson, Sister Tumagoy asked him why he
thinks we are there and he said because we want him to get baptized. I
was thinking..... oops. Yes of course we want him to be baptized, but
not for our sake! So we did some of our how to begin teaching bullet
points (ummm... those basically set our expectations and help us know
the investigators expectations as well), and I think he finally realizes
that we are here on errand of the Lord and we are here to HELP him come
closer to His Savior. Not make him join our church. It was a good
learning experience for me.
If there's still snow, please send me some. IT IS SO HOT
HERE!!! Sometimes I get done taking a cold shower and then I want to
take one all over again. But that's life. And I'm actually loving it. :)
And that's really all.
The church is true!!! I'm probably going to continue to
end all my emails with that..... because my testimony of the
truthfulness of the gospel is NEVER going to change. I love my Savior
and I know He atoned for each one of us. We never have to be alone
because He is there for us. He sees every tear and knows every fear we
face and he is there to lift us up and make us stronger. I know that my
redeemer lives!!!
I love you all so much!
Love,
Sister Stettler :)
Love,
Sister Stettler :)
Week 21
Kumusta ka??
So this week was
kind of crazy but great! I finally found one of those white sand
beaches! We had our community service project on an island and cleaned
up the area there. Sister Tumagoy and I also had our first workshop too.
It was a musical workshop and we taught the youth and YSA how to lead
the hymns. Believe it or not, it wasn't my idea. They all loved it so
much that we're going to do it again one Sunday. Then we focused on
missionary work and sang "Called To Serve." The only other time I've
heard the youth sing that song with power was in the MTC. It was so
awesome! I'm so excited for the youth in the ward who are looking
forward to serving missions.Week 20
I'm beginning to believe that the tower of Babel was built in
the Philippines. hahaha There are SO MANY dialects here, it's crazy! At
least they really speak more Tagalog than Bikol (hey look, I finally
know the correct spelling) in my new area so it's making learning the
language easier.
What a week! Sister Tumagoy and I have been planning some
workshops lately and we're both really excited for those. We're hoping
to get the ward more involved in missionary work. I'll let you all know
more about those later as they come up. We also had to postpone our
baptism...... again. You know, I'm starting to wonder if I'm just a bad
luck charm or if Satan and agency is really a real thing..... But I have
to say that I'm so grateful for prayer as I've been able to turn to my
Heavenly Father through these discouraging moments. And He makes up the
difference because He is blessing me so much!!! On the bright side, we
have some new investigators who are really starting to progress! It was
just up and down all week with those we're teaching keeping their
commitments. Especially church attendance. It was pouring yesterday and
people don't really like to go anywhere when it's raining, so the chapel
was pretty bare. I almost don't blame them because by the time we got
to sacrament meeting, we were soaked. And the church is so small, we
have our gospel principles in the clerk's office. Which means Air
Conditioning! And one very cold Sister Stettler. I never like to be in
AC rooms anyways, raining or not, because whenever we go back outside, I
die of heat. But that's the way it goes. haha I laugh at myself because
I can't believe I think 75 degrees is cold, and I grew up in Utah.
Anyways...
Not much else to share. We worked really hard this week
and then we got to go on a little vacation! Okay, not really, we're
missionaries. But we celebrated Elder Lapana's birthday and I have never
been so excited in my life to buy a birthday cake for someone. Funny
how I've been learning how to really enjoy the little, little things. We
went to Catherine's after our district meeting, which is a beautiful
resort here in our zone. Beach and mango shakes? Yeah, I'll take that
any day. I think Elder Lapana really enjoyed his birthday though. We
wrapped all his presents in Christmas wrapping paper because that's all I
had. Mmm... Missionary life. It's great. Work hard, play hard. :) Yup.
Naga mission is the best mission! ;) The church is true!!!!!!!!!! I love
this gospel. I love the Lord's work. I love my Savior and I'm grateful
He's my best friend. I love you all!
Love,
Sister Stettler
Love,
Sister Stettler
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