WEEK 74: [[still]] HAPPY ARE WE!

WE ARE ALL ENLISTED TIL THE CONFLICT IS O'ER. HAPPY ARE WE!!!! HAPPY ARE WE!

Ah. I just love missionary work.

This week we went to Legazpi for Missionary Leadership Counsel. The opening hymn was "We are All Enlisted." You can't not be happy and sing that song. Love it.

[[S/O to the chorister @ MLC who was my awesome trainee Sister Leonardo. Obviously she inherited my calling because I'm always chorister at MLC haha. It was a bittersweet day to see her and know that I probably wouldn't see her again before I go home. She was just called as a Sister Training Leader as well so at least we got to spend one MLC together. Love you Sister Leonardo!]]

This week was a little hectic because of the traveling since we are way out here on the island. And for the record, we go back to Legazpi tomorrow morning for fingerprinting. So that's the life of an islander. It's usually a 6 or 7 hour trip one way. YAY.

So the work continues to go. I am continually learning A LOT. 

Things that I learned this week:

>>The importance of member missionary work!!! This is something we have been struggling with. But this week, we had an awesome member work with us. We got to visit lots of the less actives in our area and she was so good at fellowshipping -- oh man. One of the families wasn't there, so she totally went back [on her own] the next day and visited them!!!! This family hasn't come to church in forevs and guess what??? THEY TOTALLY CAME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY. MIRACLE??? That is the power of member visits. So guys, fellowship! It brings miracles in the lives of others.
Read a really cool scripture this morning in my personal study. Helaman 6:3: "Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another,and did have great joy."

When the Lamanites were converted, which was a miracle in itself, what did they do?? THEY FELLOWSHIPPED AND REJOICED WITH EACH OTHER!!! And it brought them joy! I know it will bring us joy as members of the church if we fellowship those that are in need of a little extra love. Who doesn't want a little extra love??

>>Being grateful makes a difference. We have this awesome family we are working with. They have been really struggling these past few months. We have watched as both the mom and dad have worked crazy hours just to put some rice on their table for their kids that night. They had no power and no lights in their house because they simply could not afford it anymore. They were about to be kicked out of their home and forced to live on the streets. Well this week, the father was offered a job..to renovate a little house for a family that is moving in close to theirs. You would have thought it was Christmas in their house! We went there. They were so happy. They were like different people! They bought some noodles and made us food to say thank you for the prayers that we have offered for them and for never giving up on them. Ah. Words cannot explain how cool it was too see them just so grateful for him getting a little job like that. The next day we went there to help them renovate the house. OKAY they were so grateful. We painted and painted and painted. SO FUN. We then were able to share with them the next day and gave them a picture of Christ to display in their house. [[S/O to my mom for the awesome pictures she sent me. they are a hit over here!!!! #igotitfrommymomma]] OKAY. The mom cried and cried when she opened it up. She was so grateful for the simple picture. She said "He will always be a part of our family because of what you Sisters have taught us." AH. It was such a good moment. She then insisted on offering a prayer to thank us. She was just so full of gratitude. It was a good reminder to me to ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL!

>>Talking with everyone. We had an awesome MLC about how to become professional at finding new investigators. It's easy: open your mouth and it will be filled! We have seen countless miracles because of this in the work this week!

>>Following up. One of the most important parts of missionary work! This week we had a cool experience. We started the lesson and followed up right away and found out that our investigator had totes read ALL of first Nephi!!! Like the whole book in just a few days. Can you say progressing???

>>Simpleness of the gospel. We have been challenged in our mission while we are OYM'ing or contacting, to start right away testifying of the restoration in the first 2 minutes. SO COOL. It invites the Spirit right away!!!!

>>"Nothing happens in missionary work until we find people to teach." Like the truest thing evsss.

>>THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN THIS GREAT WORK. Something that President Guanzon said that I loved was "have overflowing love." It's simple. Love and show it!
D&C 12:8 -- "And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and FULL OF LOVE, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."

HAVE OVERFLOWING LOVE! For everything and everyone. Life is happier that way!

>>"The Lord allows His work to happen as we let Him use us as His servants." - President Guanzon. Trust in Him. Let Him mold YOU.

>>Power of reading the scriptures. We had a family home evening. We planned a lesson on repentance. We followed up with the mom of the family about her reading. She shared what she read and it was a better fitting scripture than we picked about....REPENTANCE. So cool. Her husband has become less active because of some weaknesses he's working on over coming.....so it was so perfect. She cried as she testified how great the church is (they were just baptized a few months ago) and how much the gospel has helped her overcome her weaknesses and come closer to Christ. SUCH A TENDER EXPERIENCE. There is power in the scriptures! The Spirit was so strong in that room. Oh man.

>> Finding joy in the Journey. A talk by President Monson. Read it. It's life changing. "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

>>I am learning more and more about what's really important, and what brings TRUE everlasting happiness. 

Life is good. I am as happy as ever. Learning more than ever. I love being a missionary. Time is going fast but I will make this the best last month ever!

Love you all. I am so so grateful to you all and your support and prayers. I really do feel it all the way out here!

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

sErViCe

all the leaders of the mission going home this transfer!!! so many!!!!!

WEEK 73:DIVA POSITIVA!

WARNING: THIS EMAIL WILL BE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Survived bagyo #4 and a bad case of the Measles this week. What did you guys do??
"...Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still..." 

- D&C 123:17

[[PS shout out to my dad. He's my inspiration for the email heading.]]

Well this week was quite a unique one. It seems like the theme of the week was for sure POSITIVITY. Even if everything's not going the way it's planned. So since it's my last transfer, I decided to start writing down every day one important thing I learned. So we will go from there....

[[PSS S/O to the great Sister Gracie Platt for this awesome idea. She inspired me with her cool email of a list of things she's learned. That's soon to come. KEEP SERVING YOUR HEART OUT OVER THERE IN BAMA SISTER PLATT!!!!!]]

MONDAY: Went to the doctor. They took my blood and then said that measles wouldn't even show up in the blood test anyways. #COOL. Good thing I got to exercise my patience right off the bat. So with measles, it's super contagious so we were stuck in for the rest of the day. I learned: PATIENCE.

TUESDAY: So we weren't able to leave the house for. the. whole. day. Yeah thank you measles! But I got some good reading in. The Book of Mormon is just so powerful. I am grateful for my mission because I have really learned the power in the scriptures. The Book of Mormon has a special power inside. We can find answers to our questions of the soul in this book!!! So I read this day in Alma. Chapters 40-42 really stood out to me. The Plan of Salvation is just so amazing. I am so grateful to a Heavenly Father who is all knowing. He really knows everything! Today I learned the importance of the Great Plan that Heavenly Father has for us. If you are unfamiliar with His plan, read the Book of Mormon!!! It will answer all of your questions you didn't even know you had.

Wednesday: The measles are gone! Today we worked and worked like crazy...but everyone was gone or busy. But that's okay. We went to every house we could think of, we tracted and tracted and OYM'd, and we were able to teach a few people. We ended up teaching a less active in our area. For a while she hasn't come to church, and we weren't able to get down to her real concern. Well today, we were able to share with her the verse in Ether 12:27 which aka is one of my favorite verses EVER, it says: "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." OKAY. The Spirit was SO STRONG. She just broke down and told us her concern. I was so grateful to the Spirit, for us knowing what we needed to share with her in a time she needed it most. We were able to powerfully bear testimony of the Atonement and that He can heal us. I walked away from that lesson, grateful for the knowledge of my loving Savoir, and grateful for the chance I had to share that with someone that needed it SO badly. The Savior can really heal us. Do we realize that? He has felt what we have felt. He is there every step of the way! Today I learned that the Atonement is for everyone, and He is the ultimate Healer.

Thursday: So we walk and walk and walk and no one is available! But it's okay because....DIVA POSITIVA! We just stay positive no matter what and it makes the work fun even though it's a bit challenging at times. We have really tracted every house in our area...but are still somehow finding ways to meet more people. We are blessed to say the least! Today we taught a few lessons and felt the need to teach about the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost! It is so powerful and it is the way to know all truth. We taught one of our most progressing investigator families, we tracted them a few weeks ago. Well last time we taught them the Book of Mormon. This week we followed up and found out that the father is reading the Book of Mormon to his whole family every night!!!!! TALK ABOUT GOLDEN. We totes didn't even commit them to read it as a family and bam he's totally doing it. He said, "I just feel that it's true when I read it." I learned today that the Holy Ghost is real!!!! SO REAL.

Friday: Missionary sisters sing as they walk and walk and walk,....and walk! Name that song. Hahaha thats us! But we tracted up a mountain, and found a really receptive family!!! The sister prayed right away. It was awesome and she said the coolest prayer. She said "Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your servants here to our house. We liked their message and hope they come back tomorrow." Hahahahaha awesome. Today I learned even more the importance of positivity. And smiling no matter what!

Saturday: Another typhoon came and went. We are #SURVIVORS. Haha it wasn't even bad here, just strong winds and RAIN like crazy. But all is good in the hood of Masbate. We worked the whole day and just laughed as we tracted and as everyone was laughing at us for coming to their house in the middle of the typhoon. We were able to teach lots of lessons though because everyone was at home since the storm was crazy! We had a curfew and came home early. I learned how studly the Strippling Warriors were and how important EXACT OBEDIENCE is. (Alma 57:21. read it.)

Sunday: We went to church. There weren't many people because of the storm still going on. We had a family home evening with some of our recent converts which was really awesome. One of the families has become a little less active because the father always has work. But he gave the closing prayer and totes made me cry. He is usually too shy to pray because of some weaknesses he is trying to overcome, but he prayed. And in his prayer he cried and he thanked Heavenly Father for sending us sisters to his house and for us never giving up on their family. Then, he went on for a few solid minutes praying for us and how grateful he was for the gospel in his life. he even mentioned that he was grateful for us (like for the third time) for coming to his house even though there was a bad storm. It was such a tender moment. Today I learned in a special way just how sacred and special my time is as a missionary. I love it.

Well everyone, I have SO much more I want to share with you all but no worries, I'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT MONTH! 

Just know I love you all and you are always in my prayers.

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

WEEK 72: LAST TRANSFER!

6 weeks to go and I've got measles! WAHOO.

Well this week a lady told me "You remind me of Santa because you have a sweet face." So it's been a super great week to say the least.

This week I've learned this...

"Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." - Ether 12:6

I am grateful that things haven't come very easily in my mission. I am grateful for the Lord teaching me how to rely on Him. I am grateful for Him teaching me just how badly I must trust in Him and His plan for me.

We've been blessed to see the area progress this week. Not even in any big huge way, but in little ways that really add up and become the great things. The work is working. It's not easy, but it's SO WORTH IT.

This week we were able to set a baptismal goal date with one of our golden families that were becoming "eternal investigators." They've been taught for almost a year now, but haven't accepted a baptismal goal date until now. We have been focusing on this family, and have seen their progression as they've really committed to give up all their vices and to simply trust in the Lord. This is a family that is struggling to provide food for their family every day and have struggled to really trust in the Lord because of their situation. But it just finally clicked for them. And oh, how happy of a moment it was! They are scheduled to be baptized on Feb 14th, Valentines Day!

This week we were also able to go on exchanges again. My companion was Sister Felipe who is a short term missionary here in Masbate. She is pretty shy, so I let her lead the area and wanted to show her that she could actually do it. She was so nervous but guess what? She totally could! She did such a great job and actually cried in our evaluation because she finally saw her progression as a missionary. It was such a happy moment and I was grateful to be able to work with her.

That day we were able to share again to Nanay Reynita, the one I told you all about on our last exchanges in their area. The lady that asked me about how to repent. Well we taught her, and she had totally given up all her vices and her desire to come back to church is so strong. It was such a happy moment to really see her progress. So like Alma says, "I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren."

Guys. I love missionary work. This week I was reading in Alma 24-30 and Alma is totally a stud. So is Ammon. I just love reading how much they joy in the Lord's work because that's totally how I feel all the time.

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." Alma 29:9

I love this work. I love these great people. I am so grateful for this short time that has been given me to give my all to this work. Life is good.

Nagmamahal,

Sister Reategui

pictures:

exchanges!

one of my favorite nanay's ever, nanay reynita

baptism!

#thedistrict

FHE!

WEEK 71: "BAGONG TAON, BAGONG BUHAY, BAGONG ASAWA!"

HELLO!!! I HAVEN'T EMAILED YOU ALL SINCE LAST YEAR!!! IT'S BEEN SO LONG!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA

I love New Year because I love all the jokes that you can make. I've been saying all these New Year's jokes to the Filipinos and they just laugh and laugh because people don't joke like that over here. Hahaha love it.

"NEW YEAR. NEW LIFE. NEW WIFE." - Said by our Recent Convert that is like 60 years old and on his 3rd wife. His name is Lindo. This is the man that had the sore knee last week that I was talking about. Hahahahaha yeah we laughed SO HARD. Then he told me since I'm going home soon, 2015 will be my year to get married. Hahaha oh man. Good times. 

Well this week was good as always. Full of lots of food, exchanges, some family history, lots of jumping pictures, and sharing the Good Word of course. I just love my life. 

On New Year's, we had a breakfast appointment, two lunch appointments, and two dinner appointments. Filipino's are extremely hospitable and really love feeding people. Works out great because I love eating the awesome food they prepare so basically its a match made in heaven.

This week we also had the opportunity to attend a really cool family home evening with a really awesome and strong family in the branch that I admire so much. They are all members, and their father is still pretty young, but his body is suddenly getting really really weak and he was really close to losing his life this week. Well, one of his requests was to have a family home evening with all the missionaries in the branch. So we got permission from our Mission President, and were able to all attend. The Spirit was so strong in there. They are a type of family that just by being around them, you are just strengthened. They bore strong testimony of the Plan of Salvation, about the great plan that Heavenly Father has for each and every one of us. That there is hope for eternal life. As I listened to then, I tried to put myself in their shoes and I honestly really felt like I couldn't do it. See someone that I loved so much go through so much pain and getting closer and closer to passing away, and through this families tears, they all bore such powerful testimony of the gospel. I am grateful to them for giving me a "big picture" perspective and helping me see how much we can really trust in the plan of our loving Heavenly Father.

#NEWYEAR
"Old things are done away, and all things have become new. Therefore I would that ye should be perfect  even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." 3 Nephi 12:47-48

Christ is perfect. Our Heavenly Father is perfect. The gospel is perfect.  Every day is a New Year if we are living the gospel. "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behaviors." Let the gospel change us! 

This week we had a really cool experience with our investigators. We taught them about the Restoration and asked them at the end to pray about it to know. She said yes, then she said, in the sweetest voice, "Sister, I know it's true. I just feel it. It's true. All you are saying is true." 

Everyone, life is so good. The gospel is what we all need, whether we realize it or not. Let us apply it every day of our lives!

I love you all. I love this work. Let us make 2015 the best year yet!!!

Nagmamahal,

Sister Ray-ah-two-gee

(they just really can't say my last name here hahahaha)

pictures:

Tatay Lindo.

#exchanges. LOVE SISTER ERICKSON.

also love this family. The Jeramos family!

#jumpshot

#familyhistorynight with Melfa!

the awesome youth and single adults of Masbate!

my #twin

the members are AWESOME here and always work with us.

tracting in the jungle. normal day in the PINES.

district activity at the prettiest beach evaaaa