WEEK 70: ONE VERY MALIGAYANG PASKO!

Well, it was a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Can I just spend this email sharing all the things I love?? Okay I'm just gonna go for it.

> I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME. I am just so overwhelmed with love this week. I just love this time of the year. I loved being a missionary this Christmas as it really brought a different perspective to me.
> I just love the Philippines. I learn so much from these great humble people here each and every day.

> Have I ever told you guys I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY? Well, I LOVE IT.

> I love being able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Guys everyone needs this gospel, and I love having the opportunity to show people just how desperately they need Christ in their lives.

> I love that here in the Philippines, we are still singing Christmas music in church.

>This week we tracted and ran into a lady. As soon as she saw that we were missionaries, she hurried and shut her door. She looked so depressed and sad. She told us to leave because they were a different religion. I said to her, "Sister, we just want to wish you a Merry Christmas!" And her face lit up! We were then given a chance to testify of Christ and how much He loves her. She lit up. Even though she still didn't let us teach her, I LOVED THAT MOMENT.

> I loved teaching a part member family this week who are so eager to learn of the gospel. The wife is a member but has been inactive for years. Ar the beginning of the lesson, I felt the need to ask how their family prayer has been, which was kind of weird seeing as we haven't taught the family before. But, I did, and it was the coolest thing. This lady who has been inactive for so long, bore the most sincere testimony of prayer I've heard in a while. She shared that her daughter was really sick and was just getting worse. It had been a week and they had no money to go to the doctor. So, she prayed. She prayed so hard. And the next morning when she woke up, her daughter started getting a little better. She cried as she tesfitied that we do have a loving Heavenly Father that loves us and that listens to our prayers. We taught the lesson and at the end, we invited her husband to say the prayer. OKAY, this man is usually SO extremely shy and never wants anything to do with us. BUT HE TOTALLY PRAYED! It brought us to tears as he thanked his Heavenly Father for healing his daughter. Such a tender moment.

> I LOVE BUKO. Or fresh coconut. After that appointment, (which is at the top of this crazy mountain) the father climbed their coconut trees and got a bunch for us! See pictures attached. hehe

> I LOVED THE BRANCH CHRISTMAS PARTY. Not so much our chance to perform but yeah it just goes with it.

> I loved getting to share messages about Christ ALL week.

> I LOVED SKYPING WITH MY FAMILY!

> I love Tatay Lindo. {see pic} This week we visited him twice. #1....His knees were really hurting him. Well we shook hands with him and with the hands that we shook, he pulled them away really fast and rubbed them on his knee and told us we have healling powers. HAHAHA. #2 he was killing his huge pig (remember the pictures from around a month ago? Yeah that one. He gave us 4 kilos of the meat. Haha we then went to like all the members in our area and shared with them all. Totally normal over here to prostlyte with half of a dead pig in your hands.

> I love that 2 of our investigator families totally came to the Christmas party!!!!

> I love Melfa. She is our recent convert who has been a member for about a month now. She is the greatest. She worked with us again this week and we got to teach her whole village. She is the one that still leads all the lessons. I love that girl so much! She has such a strong testimony even though a lot of her friends are saying things that aren't so nice to her since she joined the church. She strengthens me.

> I loved our cool CSP this week on the mountain of one of our members. We gardened. We had to pass through this huge lake thing.

> I love that it's completely normal to see a man in the river skinning a goat 

> I also (kind of) loved holding this DEAD GOATS HEAD. Like of course I asked him if I could hold it.Don't worry... see pictures attached for proof.

> I loved climbing up on a coconut tree until I fell ALL THE WAY DOWN. Like slid. And by all the way down I mean like a foot down.....hahaha because thats as far up as I got....but don't worry I have a scrape all the way down my arm. Hahahahaha

> I love my district. I love the missionaries here and spending time with them. We planned on having a Family History party but since it was last minute planned....it didn't really work out haha so we ate instead because we had a curfew anyways so no work. So we played some games at the church and the punishment was baby powder on the face......wahoo.

> I love the chance I get to come closer to Christ. I am grateful that I have strengthened my relationship with Him through my mission.

> I love our awesome investigators that gave us some guava because they knew that it's my new favorite fruit.

> I love Sister Larit. She is facing some trials in her life and has been inactive for awhile. She supports her 4 kids by herself. Her house is falling apart. The floor is made of bamboo and is about to fall right under them. She also has some problems with Law of Chastity but has such a strong desire to be obedient. Despite all her trails, and even despite some members judging her and persecuting her for things she's done in her past, she came to church. And also brought her neighbors who aren't members. I love her and have so much respect for this strong woman.

> I love our random investigator. Do you remember the people that would call to me and sing Cecilia? Hahaha well we hadn't seen them in around 2 weeks but this week...one was riding on his motorcycle and we were walking with a huge group of members, and the man called out to me and said "Cecilia! Beautiful! I love you!" Hahaha so now all the members call me Cecilia. So like that's cool.

> I love the Jeramos family. They totes taught me how to cut into a coconut. S/O to them.

> I also love my awesome mommy. S/O to her. Because she is like Filipina, she sent me pictures of Christ that say in Tagalog "You are never alone." Totally gave them out on Christmas and the people loved them. THANKS MOMMY!!!

> I love the Ramirez family. They gave me the coolest Philippines mug. 

> I love the Relief Society sisters here! They strengthen me and are such strong people. 

> I love reading the scriptures. Especially in the Gospel's this week about Christ. He was really THE MAN. The way He taught and the way He loved is so inspiring to me. 

> I love hearing little kids pray. It's really like they are talking to their Father in Heaven. So simple and so sweet.

> I LOVE THIS WORK. I LOVE the people here. I love and am grateful for this Christmas season. 

> I love you all and am SO grateful for every single one of you. You all strengthen me!!!

I wish I could go on and on, but my time is up. Just know that you are all so special to me and ESPECIALLY special to our Heavenly Father. 

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

Tatay Lindo. Coolest Recent Convert ever.

our investigators!!!!

MELFA!

#onChristmasWeWearRed

#CSP

more on #CSP

#manskinninggoatCAPTURED

comp love

IT'S A GOAT HEAD.

MMMM MASARAP

KOMPLETO.

i was laughing so hard i could barely take the picture hahaha

BUKO SUCCESS

the mug

#thedistict

relief society!

more #BUKO

Christmas Skyping with Sister Reategui!!

Sister Reategui looked amazing, and it was so much fun to chat with her on Christmas Eve (for her it was Christmas Day). We had a little over an hour to skype, and we loved every minute. We are pretty excited that she will be coming home in just 2 short months...:)

WEEK 69:MALIGAYANG PASKO!

HELLO EVERYONE! It's been quite a week. Tiring, happy, and busy but loving it STILL.

Well, how does time go so fast? Can you guys believe there's three days until CHRISTMAS? It's still hotter than ever and raining like crazy over here in the Philippines.

5 second rundown of the week: Tuesday morning, left on the roro in the morning around 10, got to main land (Legazpi) around 7 PM, the next day we had Christmas Conference, that afternoon went to BULAN (another 4 hours), got there at 9, slept, attended family history training with other mission leaders, then visited the members there, Thursday afternoon went back to Legazpi (3 hours to the pier), waited for the roro until 11 pm, and rode the roro until we got to Masbate (while it stormed so we got here around 5 am on Friday) Then, we worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

SO needless to say, it's been one extremely great week this week. Let me explain further....

--SO we have traveled the whole mission this week (not a joke).

--I GOT TO GO BACK TO MY FIRST AREA, BULAN!!!!! (not a joke) All the STL's and Zone Leaders in the South Side of our mission got to go for a special Family History Training. Let's just say dream come true. I thought I would never get to go back because American Sisters are now forbidden over there because of what happened when I got emergency transferred way back when.

--Our super progressing investigator family CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!!!! (not a joke guys)

--FOUR (4!!!!!!) of our super inactive families that we have been working with came to church this week!!!!!! THEIR WHOLE FAMILIES!!!!!! (not a joke either guys...best day ever)

--Our Zone performance at the mission Christmas party won first place. (wait this one is the joke because ours was the worst. we tried to put the cup song to "joy to the world" which totally worked....but the Elders just couldn't get it HAHAHA)

--We made Zone Training this transfer with a theme of "amazing race" Yeah our Zone is blessed to have awesome Leaders.(not a joke) It was so fun.

It's been a good week! Although our time was limited with our work in our area, we have seen some pretty awesome miracles happen.

This is such a special time of the year! I just love Christmas time. I am grateful to be here in the Philippines yet again to experience another Christmas with these humble people. They have taught me some incredible things. I have learned here, while celebrating with them, it's really not about how much money you can spend on decorations, on clothes, on big meals or presents, but Christmas is about being with those you love, and giving thanks to our Father in Heaven for everything He has given us.

This year at Christmas Conference (which was awesome by the way, it was the whole mission so like super happy!!!) we were all asked to prepare to speak on two topics, either "Christ's Gift to Missionaries" or "A Missionaries Gift to Christ." So these topics really got me thinking. So to start, I made a list of the gifts that Christ has given to me, as a missionary. So I'll just type out the list right here for you all, in hopes that you can see some of the gifts Christ has given to you all as well...

>>LOVE. A chance to feel of His love for me. A chance to feel of His love for others. And a chance to share it.

>>A chance to share His gospel, His hope, with others.

>>The chance to try my best to represent Him.

>>The special chance I have on my mission to become more like Him, to learn of Him and draw closer to Him.

>>His Atonement, for me.

>>He doesn't just make up our shortcomings, He makes up ALL the difference. He paid for it all.

>>His grace, because I have learned out here on my mission that it IS sufficient. I know that it's true in Jacob 4:7, "The Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace , and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things." I am grateful for His strength that He has given me to do His work. (S/O to Elder Moncur for the good scripture)

>>The power He has given me to change, to become a better person everyday.

>> I think the greatest gift of all that He has given me is the chance to serve Him. The chance to serve a full time mission and to come closer to Him. To be able to look people in the eyes and tell them just how loved they are of their Savior. To see the gospel working through others. To convert myself to His great gospel.

I really could go on and on with my list of gifts Christ has given me, as a missionary, but I will stop there for now. I challenge you all to make a list of gifts that Christ has given you this Christmas season. He is the reason of the season. He is our Savior and He loves us so much.

This Christmas time is a time for us to turn outwards, just as our Savior did and as He continues to do with us each and every day. It's a time to serve others and a time to discover the true gift of Christmas, which is Him.

Have you guys ever heard of the scripture John 3:16?? Hahaha...

For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

#HEISTHEGIFT  http://www.mormon.org/christmas WATCH IT.

I love you all. I am grateful for this short, and freakishly fast time I have had to serve a mission. This Christmas marks my two month left mark and I plan on making it the best two months of my entire mission. This Christmas time is time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to obedience to our Heavenly Father's commandments so that we may fulfill His promise of eternal life.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas spending it with those you love doing good for others. I know I will!

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

#missionpic. who made front row? yeah that's me.

on the roro going to christmas con. masaya aka happy because our whole zone is like bffs and we all got to travel together on the 5 hour roro.

ELDER NIELSEN!

#matchingskirts

From Elder Moncur: Sister Reategui told me the other day that she had never had a Reeses before because she used to dislike peanut butter, which wasnt ok with me cause Reeses are like my favorite, so earlier I made her eat her first Reeses, and she admitted it was delicious haha!

Elders Moncur and Haymond

Elders Moncur and Nielson

batch pic...

my trainer, me, my trainee, and her trainee! hahaha

#bestofthebest #derzzzz

 

 
 BULANNNNN!
the perez family in bulan!

look at the mans arm on me....HAHAHA

wahooo for bulan!

WEEK 68: MAG - #CSP 4 LYFE

CSP = Community Service Project

Well let me just say I am now a pro at hand washing clothes. Haha it's been one interesting week here in Masbate.

As I said last week, the typhoon didn't hit us as hard as it was expected here in Masbate City. But, it did rain and storm for 3 days straight, and left a lot of houses either flooded or completely wet inside and out. So, this week we had lots of opportunities to wash clothes! It was fun to get to serve these people that I have grown to love so much in such a short amount of time. I feel so blessed to serve in a country that has people SO EASY to love. I am just so obsessed with it here.

So that was about the whole week, surprise service projects everywhere we went because if we don't surprise the people, they won't let us do service for them. They are so hard working here and love doing everything for themselves. One lady that is in our area, we went to her house to wash clothes. The day before we told her we would come back in the morning to help her because we were going to wash at the village well. Well guys we go there in the morning around 7 and she had already finished it all because she didn't want "the american sister to have to wash her families dirty clothes." Haha so we went to her neighbors to wash their clothes and we went back to surprise the other sister to fold all the clothes she washed. Oh the great times of being a sister missionary! I just love it.

Well guys my time is up yet again. I don't have much time today but I hope you all know how much I love you all and how much I absolutely love this work with all my heart. 

I love you all and hope you all are well!

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

#crabselfie

SHOUT OUT TO MY MOM FOR THE COOLEST SHIRT EVER. I AM REPRESENTIN' PVCC ALL THE WAY OUT HERE!

Letter From Mission President Regarding Typhoon Ruby

"To the families or leaders of our missionaries”

We are pleased to inform you that super typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) has simmered down to a regular typhoon by the time its influence was over our area and continued to weaken until exiting out of the country today.  We feel that it is through your prayers, fasting and the tender mercies of the Lord that spared us from a much undesirable outcome.  All our missionaries are safe and accounted for and have starting yesterday returned to their proselyting areas. 

We also appreciate the early warning that our local Church and civil authorities have disseminated so emphatically, and to the overall obedience of our missionaries for heeding the call to evacuate to designated safe places, including Church buildings and mission apartments that are a safe distance from seashores and  waterways.  

Thank you for your support and for patiently bearing with us during the course of this episode.  We have allowed our missionaries to contact their families by phone or email, as soon as communication facilities are back in working order.  Overall, there was so much to learn and be thankful for, and makes us realize even more of the presence of God's Hand in this sacred work.

We pray that all fears pertaining to Typhoon Ruby have been allayed.

Sincerely,

President Jovencio A. Guanzon

Philippines Legazpi Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

WEEK 67: POST RUBY.

Mga minamahal kong kapatid!!!!!!!!! I am alive and have survived typhoon #3 of my mission. Just call me survivor.

Well first of all, I want to thank you all for your prayers and concerns for us over here in the Philippines. I love you all and I felt of your comfort.

Well all is well over here. The typhoon came here to Masbate on Saturday and stayed until earlier in the afternoon. It was strong for a few days but didn't do much damage. We evacuated to the chapel on Friday and we were able to leave earlier and went back home. We surprisingly have electricity and water and everything so we are #feelingblessed. Hahaha. But it sure has been one crazy week! Here are some of the high lights:

>>Saturday night we started a huge game of "Big Booty" with a bunch of people. Hahaha have any of you ever played that game?? Oh man try playing with a bunch of Filipinos. It was SO fun and we were just laughing so hard. Just look at the pictures, there were so many of us and it was so great. And for the record, I totally won as Big Booty. Aka I was the one that got to put lipstick on everyone's faces when they got out. Hahaha I love the Philippines because whenever someone gets out in a game, you get like lipstick or charcoal on your face. So be expecting me to also do that when I get home in all our Family Home Evening games. Family, watch out. Hahaha Also for the record, I did get lots of lipstick on my face before I was big booty. (see pictures attached)

>>We had Special Sacrament on Sunday afternoon in the middle of the typhoon. Well of course we were inside in the chapel but the typhoon was going on outside. Haha it was crazy and there were SO many people there. Members, less actives, nonmembers there evacuating, oh it was the greatest. The chapel was filled with people and you could feel of their trust in the Lord through such a scary thing. PS: we were all dressed in the same clothes we wore the entire week, shorts and t-shirts, but that didn't even matter because we got to partake of the Sacrament and that was the important part. We all listened to the testimonies of the Branch Presidencies and District Presidencies. One totally took the spotlight and announced that the typhoon had hit a city about an hour away from us, Cataingan, and we were all going to be okay in Masbate City. OH MAN you could just feel the tension in the room just leave. It must have been such a huge burden taken off of those people that heard that news! The typhoon was expected to hit Masbate City really hard but it just kind of went through us and left a little scared, but nothing too bad. So it was a fun sacrament meeting and a lot of our less actives and a few investigators were able to attend because they had evacuated as well to the chapel.

>>Our stay at the chapel....hahaha it was fun. It was fun to be surrounded by members and these sweet people. It was fun because we were blessed with many opportunities to serve and help others, in simple ways or bigger ways.

>>S/O to Sister Erickson...we saw a man that was cleaning the front of the chapel by himself in the rain so we went out to help him....and then it started POURING RAIN. Then we went back inside and found out it was still a signal 3 typhoon. 

Things that I've learned this week:

>The importance of not stressing out in moments that you don't fully have control over. 

>Just loving the moment. So cliche to say but guys it's true. Enjoy every second of this great life that our Heavenly Father has given us!

>And not only enjoy, but be happy at the same time! Life is good.

>How great the Filipino people are and how much I love them. (guys I already knew this one but still.)

>SERVE. You can serve others in so many different ways.

>LOVE. Love for my Heavenly Father and love for His children.

>LOVE & SERVE. Those things should always go hand in hand.

>The importance of heeding to the council of others that know better than you do.

>Luke 1:37 - "For with God, nothing shall be impossible."

>Lean on Him. Trust in Him. Love HIM! Because He loves us.

There's so much more I wish I could share, but know that I am safe. I love you all and I love this gospel. 

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

playing games during the bagyo!!!!

#thecoolkidz

sister erickson aka like one of my favorite sisters ever

our filipino siblings

#tulogtime 

the lyfe sleeping in the bishops office for 3 days