Monday, December 15, 2014~Week 70

Cainta; 4:01 PM Mon (PH); 1:01 AM Mon (US)

Hey family!!!!!!!!  So this has been a pretty good week I'd say!!

TODAY

  

I never get tired of waking up to this.

I curled Sister Garcia's hair for the
first time in her life. #supmodel

First of all, Sister Sauni and I had an interesting experience on Wednesday. Wednesday was our finding day and in our finding, we found an Italian! His name is Mario and he doesn't speak a lick of Tagalog. He only knows how to say, "Kaunti lang" when people ask him if he can speak Tagalog. And as for English, yeah he doesn't speak that either. He can kind of understand what we're saying but he can't respond. He would respond to me in Italian and I would be like..... "Ummmm I have no idea what to say to you..." But somehow, by some miracle, we were able to communicate to him that we were missionaries for Jesus Christ and then he was like "Wife! Come!" And then he beckoned us to follow him and so we followed him to his little home where his wife and his little 8 month old baby were. Now his wife was Filipina and so I was able to speak to her in Tagalog and that was the biggest relief of my life. And then we asked her if we could share to them and they agreed. So this is basically how the lesson went the whole time: "Tayo ay mga anak ng Diyos -- We are all children of God -- At na mahal na mahal Niya tayo -- And he loves us all so much. -- At dahil mahal na mahal Niya tayo, ibinigay Niya sa atin isang napakagandang plano -- And because He loves us so much, He gave us a beautiful plan." And that's what it was like the whole lesson. Every single sentence going back and forth between Tagalog and English and speaking as if we were talking to little children. But here's the thing, even though he didn't really know and understand all the words we were saying to him, I know that he could understand us. Because the spirit was there. And the spirit was taking everything that we were saying and translating it into the language of the heart. And he felt it. I could see it in his face. And we asked if we could come back and they both said yes! It was crazy! They're going to be moving to Italy soon so we're going to get their information and give it to the missionaries there. Wouldn't it be so cool if he accepted the gospel after the missionaries there teach him and he gets baptized?? And to think that it actually would have started in the Philippines. God works in mysterious ways. Soooo we'll have to see how that goes!!

Other big news! Ariel was baptized! Finally!!

He made it!
Ariel finally made it to the waters of baptism!

I can't tell you how hard we worked for this guy to be baptized. And how hard he has worked too. He's had to make a lot of changes but I'm so grateful that I was blessed to witness it because he really has changed. His countenance is so different from when I first started teaching him. He was so excited to be baptized. He was SO late to his baptism though. SO late. But it's okay. At least he was baptized right?? He said that as he was going into the water he asked himself the question, "What brought me here? Why am I here?" and as he came up he thought to himself, "Because this is true. And because of Jesus Christ."

He said he felt like a Kung Fu master. Oh Ariel. 

It was the best! I know that Satan was working so hard on him and Satan will continue to work on him because I know that Ariel will be an amazing instrument in God's hands as he continues to live the gospel and do what he knows is right. He's going to help so many people. I feel so blessed to have been part of helping him become converted to the Lord. He has quite the story but it turned out to be a happy ending anyway so all is well!! It was just a good day!! :)

We worked reallyyyyyyyyyyy hard to get this kid here. 

And then! Sunday!! Sunday was the best!! Because we had TEN investigators at church and TWELVE less actives! It was a miracle! I was praying and fasting so hard that people would come and they came! Five of those investigators at church were brand new investigators that we've never taught before that members invited! It was amazing! Four of those new investigators all have families that we can teach and baptize! I'm telling you, it was a straight up miracle! And then the less actives! Four of those less actives came for the first time since I've been here in this area. One of them is 18 years old and we talked to him on Sunday night after Ariel's baptism because he was there playing basketball and invited him to come back and then he came! We're gonna help him go on a mission because I could see in his countenance how great he would be! Another one is soooooooooooooooooo old and can barely walk and we've visited her a few times and then she just showed up! That cute little old woman and her walker took like three trikes to get to the chapel. I love her! My heart was just so full on Sunday. I can't even explain it. Heavenly Father is truly so merciful and kind and lets us know, in the most remarkable ways, that He IS there and He DOES hear our prayers and He will take care of everything for us. I felt so humbled and blessed on Sunday. It was truly a Christmas miracle. :)

This is the puffed up version of Dora.
Hahaha Olan!! I love her!!! 

Look at this beautiful woman! 

 That's Dave. He's hard to describe. Just call him "kulit." 

Olan was putting cute little flowers in our hair.

Ryan Marantal. He's a frog. 

The Christmas devotional was b e a u t i f u l. I loved all the talks but I especially loved the one from Elder D. Todd Christofferson. I loved the story that he told. It made me cry because I just think about all the good people in the world that just do such good things. And it's all because of the light of Christ that they have within them. That's another Christmas miracle right there. And I was SO touched by the music. I shed a few tears when the choir sang, "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Good heavens it was so powerful! Like, there wasn't enough room in my body to hold all the feelings inside my Spirit! I am so grateful for music. Especially Christmas music. It really does bring the Spirit into our lives.

This is my friend Chuck!
That's actually not his name but that's what I call him.
His name is Kenneth. He's from the other ward but he's the BEST! 
He's 16 years old and he wants to be baptized but his parents won't let him. 
So he's waiting until he turns 18. But he's literally just the best ever! 
He's there every Sunday and he's at every activity and he just 
fits right in and he always says, "Just two more years. 
Then I can go on a mission." This kid is my hero!!

Advent from mom. Each day has a scripture
about Gifts we receive because of Jesus Christ.
#HeIsTheGift #ShareTheGift

Well, I'll just say that after our zone training today, I can really feel that the Lord is hastening His work. There is no doubt about it. This mission is really stepping up this next year and I'm excited for it. I'm bummed that I'll be here for the beginning of it all but I'll for sure keep myself posted. I know that this next year is going to be a year of pure miracles. And just to give you an idea of how the Lord is hastening His work and getting His missionaries more focused, effective February 1, 2014, emailing time is only ONE hour instead of two AND you are no longer allowed to chat back and forth with your mom or anyone else in the family. Haha Heavenly Father knew that's a little difficult for me and mom so that's why he told President Revillo to wait until February 1, 2014! Because that means I only have one p-day where that rule applies to me. Phew! Close call!! Any way, I love you all and can't wait to see you NEXT WEEK!!!! Merry Christmas! LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!!

Love, Sister Andersen