Sunday, January 24, 2016

Hi Mama!

This week has been such a busy one...but ohhhhh so successful. Sis. Mendez and I get along so well. She truly is an answered prayer for me. Mom, I loved the part of your email where you said that I need to be patient. That is what I have been working on this week. For some reason Satan has been testing my patience a lot lately. Not too sure why but, whatever. I have been praying extra hard this week so things should be okay.

You are right about my birthday. We spent it at the Mentoy family house. It was by far the best birthday I have ever had. After dinner and birthday cake we had Family Home Evening. I love the Mentoy family so much. I am so glad that I was able to spend my birthday with them. I would not have wanted it any other way. I was thinking the other night about how if I never came on my mission, I would have never met them. And, it is crazy to think that Heavenly Father knew, before my mission, that I would eventually meet them. And, all the time before my mission, he was preparing me for them and them for me. Crazy huh?

I love you so much Mama and I miss you every day. I hope that you have a great week.  Muuuuaaahhh!!

Sis. Leausa

"I woke up to decorations on the wall and a cupcake on my desk."

Sister Mendez and Sister Leausa

Sister Betham, from Samoa and Sister Nielsen from West Jordan

"Dinner on the 19th at my favorite "fast food" restaurant in the Philippines: Mang Inasal. "

"My birthday cake. It tasted so good!"

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Hi Mama!

Ay naku! This week has been so busy and productive. My new companion, Sister Mendez is so stinking cute. I am so blessed to have her as my trainee. She really is an answer to my prayer. She is also from the city of  Isabela, just like Sister Bergonia. Sister Mendez and Sister Bergonia do not know each other so it will be fun to introduce them when we are all together next month. I will definitely have to come back to my mission and visit the city of Isabela now that I know more than one person from here.

Sister Mendez celebrated her 21st birthday on the 15th and we had dinner at the Mentoy family's home. They bought her a cake and a card and it was really sweet. We will be returning for my birthday on the 20th by their request so that should be wonderful as well. Sister Mendez has finished college and has her bachelor's degree in legal management. She is the youngest of seven children and so full of energy. I LOVE IT! She brings such a strong spirit to our work and the way she makes connections with people and the gospel is amazing. She for sure makes my job as a trainer and senior companion fun and exciting.

I am still loving the work and every day I witness the Lord's hands in my life . I love every minute of being a missionary! I finished the BOM again last night. I totally took for granted the gospel before my mission.I always heard people say that the BOM has the power to change lives. I did not really get it.  Now that I am totally lost in the Lord's work, I understand. It is by far the best feeling I have ever felt in my life. I have never felt so close to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I am not the same person as I once was. The desires of my heart have changed, my mind set has changed. The way I look at life is totally different and it is all because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. He has healed the scars of my past and filled my heart with love, forgiveness and hope. I am forever in dept to my Heavenly Father for saving ME.

I love you mom and I pray for your health and well being every night. I hope that you have a great week and don't forget to start that food storage.  Oh....and please feed the missionaries.

Love,

Sis. Leausa

Sister Leausa and Sister Mendez

Mentoy Family

Monday, January 11, 2016

Oh man, oh man, oh man!

Where do I even begin?  This last week has been a roller coaster of emotions and things to get done; busy, busy busy! I am happy to report that Sis. Alma Espiridion was baptized this last Saturday. :) Woohoo! She gave such a beautiful testimony after her baptism about the power of prayer and faith and how it has really helped her get to where she is in her life right now. It was great. Now that 4 of the 9 members of the Espiridion family are baptized, we will focus on Bro. Randall and their eldest son, Roswald, who is 18.

President Revillo has asked all missionaries to really focus on families, complete families. The message of the restored gospel is special, no doubt. But it is even more special when we are able to share it with families. I testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ was made for families. When I first met the Espiridion family, their family relationship wasn't the best, and neither was their home situation. After accepting the gospel and the blessings that come from being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, this family is like ....totally brand new. They are so much happier and there is so much more love within their family. I just love the little miracles that our Heavenly Father continues to work here in the Philippines. I love being a missionary.

So, some exciting/scary news. President Revillo called me yesterday morning that I have been called to be a trainer...WHAT?!  Of course, I was cool, calm and collected while I was on the phone with him. But, once I hung up...I had no clue what I had just said, "yes" to. Haha! There were , and still are, so many thing running through my head. Like, how the heck am I supposed to help a new missionary become a "great" missionary when I am still learning how to be one myself? What if she is a foreigner and I have to help her learn Tagalog? I barely know the language myself.  There are just so many thing running through my mind.

One thing I do know, though, is that my Heavenly Father loves me. And, even though I am scared out of my mind, I know that He is counting on me to take care of my sister. I know He knows that we need each other and that through faith and hard work, we will be able to work miracles here in Taytay. This also means that I will not be transferring this week which is a-ok with me because I love my area and I love my ward.

Even though I am scared for this transfer, I am oh, so very excited. (Ether 12:27). Here goes the best learning experience of my life.  Pray for me!  Haha!

Mahal ko kayong lahat! Sana magkaroon kayo ng magandang lingo :)

Sis. Leausa

"This is a member, Sis. Rabulan,  who makes all my cases for my planners.  I love her."

Sister Leausa and Sister Bergonia

Sister Leausa and Sister Lonitenisi (from Tonga). 

The Espiridion Family

Sister Leausa and Sister Swanson

"Mom, this was so expensive but I had to buy it.
Chips and salsa have been my dinner for the past three nights."

Sister Bergonia and Sister Leausa 

"We had to build our own closets this week." 

Elder Barreno, Elder Satur
"These two elders are hilarious. They make the mission so much fun."

"This is a jeepny. All of the designs are different on each one.
This is how we get around town."

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Hi Everyone!

Sorry its kind of been a long time since I have given an update. I hope that you all had a great Christmas and exciting New Year. Sooo crazy that it is 2016! Where has the time gone? Christmas was super special here in the Philippines. I was able to skype with my family, which of course, made me cry. Haha! and then of course for new years...oh my! Most annoying thing EVER! I thought it was loud and crazy at home? SYYYKE! There were so many fireworks here and so many horns and everyone was blasting their music and screaming until about 3:00am. It was a rough night for Sis. Bergonia and me.

I wanted to share an experience we had this week with the Espiridion family. This family has been our main focus for the past month. They are so special to me. Let me give you a little background on Bro. Randall. He is the husband of Sis. Alma. Sis. Alma is the mam of the Espiridion kids, in case you have forgotten. Long story short, Bro. Randall, I was not fond of that man, I had no desire to teach him. I did not even want to be in the same room with him. Because of an incident Sis. Bergonia and I had with him about three weeks ago.

I just didn't like him. I will be honest. Since the incident Sis. Bergonia and I had not seen Bro. Randall and I was totally okay with that. Last Monday night we went to the Espiridion family's house and Bro. Randall was there. And, for some reason, I did not have attitude towards him. Like, I was okay with the fact that he was there. After saying hi and everything, before anyone else even said anything, Bro. Randall asked if Sis. Bergonia and I would be willing to share the lessons with him. We were shocked! This man, when his kids were baptized recently had absolutely no desire to be apart of anything. Whenever we came to the house to share, he would leave and then all of a sudden HE asks us to share? like what?!?  Needless to say we were so excited.

Bro. Randall is now one of our progressing investigators and has a baptism date of January 23! He is so active in the lessons and really enjoys them. Bro. Randall is my living testimony that our Heavenly Father does prepare the hearts of those who are ready for his gospel. Not only did he prepare Bro. Randall's heart, but he definitely prepared mine too. I do not have an explanation for why I had no attitude towards him that day.  All I  know is that my heart was softened and so ready and willing to testify. Heavenly Father never fails to amaze me! His gospel was made for everyone. There is nothing on this earth that makes me more happy than sharing his good word.The gospel of Jesus Christ is PERFECT  and was made for EVERYONE.

I love you all and I hope that you have an amazing week.

Sis. Leausa

"I always wanted a dress like Grandma Ulaula had, her mumu'u. I found two this week and bought them."

Puppy Love!