Philippines for Eighteen : April 2015

Sister Krisubanu, Sister Maagad & Me

Hello my beautiful family!!! How are all of you? I can't wait to see you on Mother's day!!!

A lot of miracles happened this week. Sta. Cruz truly is the promised land.

Ding Barcenas, Regine & Willy

Earlier this week, we were a little bit nervous about Willy and Regine getting interviewed, because they just haven't had a great education and often times forget the things that we teach them. But when we did the pre-interview, we could tell that although they don't understand everything, they truly feel it. Sister Regine shared such a short but powerful testimony about how she has been changed by the gospel. How she had many vices before and she was disobedient to her parents, but now she has changed and been made clean. Willy also bore a similar, short, and powerful testimony. They simply apply the principles of the gospel and because of that, and through the atonement, they are different. They are true disciples of Christ. Their baptism was really simple and the spirit was strong. Haha last minute we decided to sing with the other two sisters in the apartment and Sister Maagad played on the recorder. We didn't practice at all and in the middle Sister Maagad hit a really high note and I was singing the wrong lyrics. I couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was really bad. Hahaha but it lightened up the mood.. afterwards Sister Maagad and I gave a short workshop that helped to bring back the spirit. But I am so happy for Regine and Willy. Ding Barcenas went early to the church, cleaned the font, and baptized them. He is so awesome!! I hope he receives the Melchizedek priesthood soon.

I had one OYM (Open Your Mouth) on a jeepnee a few weeks ago that has never left my mind. Jellie Rubia. One day when we were in her area we finally decided to find and teach her. We kept talking to people along the way as we were asking around but I just kept thinking, even if they agreed to let us teach them we should just keep going and go teach sister Jellie. We magically went directly to her house and the last old woman that we asked laughed and said, "Haha, Jellie keeps asking if there have been any missionaries looking for her." We went and taught her a quick lesson and I can tell she is really interested. The spirit really does just work through those small feelings and impressions. Nothing big. Just little thoughts, and as you follow, you will receive more.

I don't really have anything else to share. It has been a busy week and the Gatdula family will be getting baptized on May 2. Sister Emy, Charles, and Paul. They are so darling and so prepared.

The amount of sisters here in the mission is shrinking so we are only over 6 sisters (2 in my ward, and 4 in the other)

But I do want to share a talk with you that was so powerful to me. By President Hugh B. Brown (one of my all-time favorites). https://www.lds.org/liahona/2006/06/the-profile-of-a-prophet?lang=eng

I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. I know that no one could have accomplished the translation (or the false writing of) the Book of Mormon without the help and power of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true because it is full of light and truth and every time I read it I want to be better. I hope all of us will give importance to the Book of Mormon and find time to read it every day. Many people died for the cause of the Book of Mormon... just so we could so easily access it now, at the tip of our fingers.

I love all of you so much!!! You are in my prayers.

Love Sister Rasmussen

Sister Galabay, Sister Maagad, Me, Sister Nercell Cortez & Sister Japus

Front: Sister Cortez, Sister Nercell Cortez
Back: Sister Maagad, Me, Sister Galabay, Sister Morales,
Sister Japus, Sister Donna Espiritu, Sister, & Sister Pamilacan

Grandpa Rasmussen would say "one girl is a whole girl, two girls is 1/2 girl and 3 girls is no girls at all :D"

Lunch for the Crew! Our Water!

Music

The Cortez Family who I love!

Sister Japus, Sister, Sister Maagad, Sister Krisubanu,
Sister Galabay, Sister, & Me

Sister Maagad, Sister Krisubanu & Me

Hello po!!!

One of my favorite pictures of Sister Maagad and I.
I love her so much!!!

How are all of you? The time is flying. Going home never seems like a real thing and sometimes I feel like all of you just live in an imaginary world. Every night I have dreams about going home, which is weird because during the day I never think about it! Really. It's the worst. One of my dreams, all I could speak was Tagalog and none of you understood and I started crying haha. But, I am just going to keep pressing forward as if everything is normal.

Bishop Paloma, Sister Japus, Sister Galabay, Sister Maagad, Me

I don't know if you remember Gilbert Salvador. We are sad because their family is struggling a little bit. Gilbert started smoking again (after he had already quit after baptism and prepared himself to go do baptisms in the temple). Obviously it's pretty normal for recent converts to experience this but we are trying to help him overcome as soon as possible because it is keeping his kids from getting baptized. We were also sad when we dropped by yesterday on Sunday and their store was open. We also saw another active member selling from their house as well with tons of customers. It is only on my mission that I really understand how important it is to keep the Sabbath Day holy. I know that it can be tempting to work on Sunday when you are really poor, but I have seen miracles over and over in the lives of members and investigators who will take big risks to keep the Sabbath day holy. And of course God keeps his promises. As they exercise their faith, somehow their needs are taken care of.

It is so important to keep these recent converts active and retain the fruits. Haha sometimes it is stressful worrying about taking care of all these RC's and worrying about all the baptisms coming up. But I guess the stress could be worse and we could have nothing to do. Like I said. Sta. Cruz is the promise land.

Brother Willy and Sister Regine Fontalba will be getting baptized this Saturday. They are referrals from the Barcenas family and Brother Ding will be the one baptizing. They are all soooo excited. It has been cool to see how although they haven't had the advantage of a great education and don't understand everything, they are really converted. They have been changed by their reading the Book of Mormon and accepting the gospel in their lives.

The Gatdula Family

The Gatdula family will be getting baptized the following Saturday and Sister Charmaine the Saturday after that. We are crazy busy and all of these people are changing my life too. I can't wait for you to meet them.

Monday, Sis. Maagad and I borrowed bikes from the Stake President and rode all over town. It was the best feeling. I have missed biking so much! That night it was really hot, so all four of us filled giant bins of water in the back and showered with our clothes on. Soooo nice. Haha the hot season is coming back... I forgot about it. But I love it!! (despite you all saying that I would complain about the heat... I haven't yet. soaking it up).

This Monday morning, we had the opportunity to wake up early and go do laundry for the Fontalba's. Hahahaha I am still not good at hand washing laundry but I do my best. They all make fun of me and my awkward, American attempt. BUT I have improved a lot since I got here. They were so grateful though. It was fun because we just used a bucket to fetch water out of the well by their house in order to do it. Such a simple but beautiful life.

I am most excited to tell you the story about Sister Reyna. This is a true missionary story and evidence that Heavenly Father guides and directs His work through the power of the Holy Ghost. Last Friday I was doing exchanges with Sister Japus and we went to Lynville, an area that we haven't been to in a really long time but have wanted to go back to find some new investigators. While walking there, I suddenly had the distinct impression to go and visit Sister Reyna (the girl that Sister K and I randomly met a long time ago who came with us to the birthday of Tatay Vitaliz). To be honest, she hadn't really crossed my mind since then. She is 17 and is the only member in her family. But I really felt that we needed to visit her. I couldn't remember exactly where she lives and right at the moment I saw Tatay Vitaliz and I asked him to take us to her house. We go there and she seemed really shocked to see us. She was a little bit flustered and sort of stuttering. We finally got her settled down and taught her. It became immediately obvious how much she needed us there. We asked her how she was and she asked, "You want the truth?" She stumbled over her words and just explained how she is having such a hard time. How before, she used to always work with the missionaries and wanted to serve herself. How they looked up to her so much and she was so sure. But now, because of school she wasn't able to attend church and slowly overtime her faith was replaced with doubts. Because of all of the philosophy and different things taught in school she started to question things that she once believed in. She also feels so alone because her parents are separated and she is obviously not close to them. She shared a lot more but I felt so grateful that I received and followed the impression to see her. We focused on Jesus Christ and showed her the "Because He Lives" video. The spirit was so strong. One of the coolest lessons on my mission. Two days later she came to church. She was crying during sacrament but I was so grateful when afterwards all of the YSA rushed to her and welcomed her back. At the end of church she had such a big smile on her face. We are going to keep strengthening her but I know she will come back and become a strong instrument in the hand of the Lord.

Anyway.... that's it. I love you so much!!! I thank Heavenly Father every day for my family. I love all of you so much and I realize now just how lucky I am to have the family I do. No family is perfect.. and as cheesy as it is... I wouldn't choose anyone other than you. Love you!!!

Love, Sister Rasmussen

Sister Pamilacan as a blond :D