July 14, 2014

Family!!!

Thank you so much for your letters and pictures! Once again it sounds like you are all doing well, enjoying life, and staying safe and happy! Happy birthday to Linc this week!!!!! What!? He's one year old now, crazy! Welcome to the family Linc, we're happy to have you. Have fun on your cruise Dad and Darla! Hope you enjoy your time and stay safe and we hope that you start saving up so we can go with you on your next cruise or come visit the Philippines! ;) 

This week was fantastic. Wow I LOVE every single minute of every single day here. What a blessing it is to be a full time servant of the Lord! This week was great for so many reasons! And I can't even begin to tell you all the great things so I'll just tell you the biggest highlight.

This past week Brother Joshua was baptized! What a good kid Joshua is! He is 14 years old who has a rough background with his family, and yet he has such a humble, and submissive heart. Brother Joshua is a good kid who simply wants to choose the right. He has been coming to church with his friend for the past few months. He consistently reads the Book of Mormon reading assignments we give him and he consistently prays and seeks to communicate with His Heavenly Father. It is very touching to hear him pray. His family background is rough, not one that I wish for anyone; and to hear his humble prayers-not only asking for blessings for himself but asking blessings for his family and for those around him, is very inspiring. Joshua was baptized this past Saturday and was very excited. The branch has been very kind to Joshua this whole time and the friendships he is developing with the youth is very good. Joshua is a good example to the members of what it means to continue on despite trials and bumps in the road. I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to be part of Joshua's life in teaching him and helping him prepare for his baptismal covenant. 

I have a firm testimony that Jesus Christ teaches us the way to live a happy life. When we follow the Savior, and do it His way-everything always works out better. It is easy to see in the eyes of those we are around if they are truly happy, or simply living day to day without any real direction in their lives. I hope to always strive to be one with a vision, direction, and purpose in my life as my life centers on Jesus Christ our Savior. 

I sure do love each of you. Simply, I just love you all so much. Thank you for your examples to me, thank you for your love and your prayers, and your constant support. I love each of you. I love our Savior Jesus Christ.

Mahal ko kayo! 

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. We had a fun and simple FHE with the Talaberine family! This little kid is so cute and just laughs and laughs and laughs at the funniest things, I love it!

2. My umbrella broke and Sister Caoile was an expert in trying to fix it while on the side of the road ha ha

3. hard at work

4. and then me pretending like i knew how to fix my own umbrella... ha ha joke I am useless when it comes to fixing things and good thing basically all Filipinos are so smart at using the resources around them to fix anything and everything!

5. Sister Elizabeth Sabado! We had a CSP at her house just doing her laundry. Even though you can't tell, she is pregnant and has the worst morning sickness I've ever heard of! We were happy to help her simply by doing her laundry. CSPs are always super fun and it was just a fun chance to help her out. 

1. Sister Caoile hard at work!

2. Don't worry I was also hard at work. The bomba-the thing that you get the water out of-can be used in various teaching situations about the technique to get water out and how it relates to life and the gospel-cool stuff!

3.  Nanay working with us! She is 73 years old and lives close to one of our investigators Sister Irene so we asked her to come along with us and she did! What a hard worker and a cute little lady!

4. Some of the Relief Society getting together to sew things together. They were at the church when we got there so we enjoyed watching their skills.

5. Brother Joshua!

1. Brother Joshua!!!!

2. Some of the branch members who attended his baptism!! ah I love these people!

3.Brother Joshua and President Fabros and Brother Hubert and Brother Howard 

4. We got a quick picture with Sister Irene after church yesterday! She attended Joshua's baptism and loved it! She just loves the feelings she feels when she comes to the church. Her neighbors and family keep asking her if she's sure that she's going to be a Mormon now and she keeps telling them yes. Sister Irene is so cute and simply just loves the feelings she keeps getting as she reads, prays, and comes to Church. She is such an inspiration and I love her!!!

5. Some of the branch members ha ha while at President Fabros' house! Love them! 

That's all folks! I sure do love you and I hope and pray you are doing well and loving life. I hope you are continuing to stay close to doing what you know to be right. I hope that when we are able to see the blessings that come from following the Savior and His perfect example. When we follow Him, when we do as He would do... we are happy, He is happy.

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

July 7, 2014

Family!

Thank you so much for all your emails and pictures! Looks like you had a great 4th of July and that Independence Day celebrations continue on strong whether in small town Beaver or Notre Dame! Fun stuff! Happy 4th!

This week was amazing as every week here in the mission is amazing. We met Sister Irene last Saturday while walking and she was rushing off somewhere but she quickly told us hello and to come to her house cause she's there all the time. She told us where she lived and we told her we would come back. When we went to follow up and find where she lived we found her and she was so welcoming to us in her home. She completely stopped everything she was doing and was so excited for us to teach her. She explained to us how it had been such a long time since she had gone to church, she had tried different churches, but just gotten busy and hadn't gone back. She's seen a lot of missionaries before in different places and was happy when she saw us and told us to come over, and then she was so happy when we actually showed up! She told us she would come to church with her grandsons and was excited for us to return. The second time we went over she was again very grateful that we showed up and was excited to hear what we were going to share with her. We invited her during the lesson to be baptized in which she said no thanks, she wants to learn more but she'll still come to church. The third time we came we talked about more specifically about what Jesus Christ specifically did here on earth and especially how He was the perfect example for us to follow in being baptized. As we asked her about how she was feeling, she herself told us how she thinks she needs to be baptized. She said she's not ready yet, but she will continue to learn and she will work towards the date we told her in August. What? So exciting! Then yesterday at Church, church started and she wasn't yet there. Then before Sacrament started she showed up with her grandsons and with another active family who turns out to be her neighbors! We were so excited! During church she was just chit chatting like none other with all the other Nanays and she was participating and everybody kept asking her if she's a member. It was hilarious and so exciting. Nanay Irene reminds me of Sister Jacquilene in my first area in Tarlac where she simply is ready to join the Church. Sister Caoile and I are so excited and we are excited to continue to teach her and her family so that she can come closer to Christ. Ah man I am so excited for Nanay Irene and I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. 

We had lots of other great things happen this week and we are still working through the trials and the Red Seas that make us stronger. I love every single minute of the Master's work and I am so grateful that He allows us, imperfect people, to share His great message of eternal joy and happiness. I love it! 

Thank you family for all your love, support, and prayers. Not only your prayers for me, but also for prayers for those we are teaching. I can see how much it is helping them through their struggles. 

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. Our route to get to one of our investigators got flooded out. We were literally like 3 yards away, but because of the flooded water ha ha had to turn around. 

2. Nanay Solinda! With Brother Herbert and Sister MaryAnn. Nanay Solinda is less active member who I remember teaching before, and now she has returned back to full activity! She is so funny and just loves to laugh and laugh and laugh about the silliest things. I love it. 

3. Sister Alexis, and Nathalia, and the bunso Del Rosario. They were baptized last year and they are so cute! Especially Nathalia. Sister Alexis has grown up so much since the last time I saw her! 

4. This is Hyrum, Sister Herlen's litttle brother who I just think is sooo cute! he has gown so much taller since the last time I came here as well! he's 7 years old now and ha ha has just as much energy as he did last year.

5. President and Sister Clark! our new Mission president and his wife! They are from IL but grew up in Utah and they are very excited about being here! They are so cute to watch becasue they have an enthusiasm and newness to them that they are excited to be here. I love them so much already and am excited to be with them!

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!

2. Sister Anderson and I dressed up! Sister Anderson is my house mate and she reminds me of Maki soo much! Ha ha it is hilarious. 

3. Sister Caoile and I with Sister Ferline and Sister Herlene. Last year when we were on this same path next to the river where we walk to get to some appointments just on that little path you see behind us, there was a funny incident last year with Sister Herlene ha ha so we took a picture in rememberance. 

4. Elder and Sister Weber!! We are SO blessed to live next door to the couple missionaries. They are still new here in the mission and they are so cute and so kind! We wanted to celeberate 4th of July with them so they invited us over after work and we had a 4th of July amazing dinner!!!

5. It was a very American meal that they were sooo kind to provide. Mmm... Sister Anderson and I ate so much it was so good.  

 and our filipina companions were amazed at how much American's eat ha ha

2. and of COURSE we had to teach them how to make SMORES. I LOVE teaching Filipinos how to make American smores! It's so fun and so easy and they love it!

3. Sister Caoile's first smore!

4. Eating SMORES with Sister Weber!

5. Group shot-love these amazing missionaries!

1. service project with the zone cleaning a school!

2. I was lucky enough to clean the CR. but it was great b/c it was brand new CR so i was just cleaning all the dust from the construction!

3. Camiling Zone!

4. Kabahay pic!

5. RAINY season is here! When it rains, it pours!!!!! as in! 

1. Lots and lots and lots of Rain!

2. the kind people who let us in and teach them while we were stranded b/c of the rain.

3. Tatay Warlito! He is amazing and I'm so glad he has been baptized even though I wasn't there to see it. He was out of town and thinking about moving b/c of work, but then he couldn't find any churches out there to go to; so after praying about it he decided to come back and to stay here so that he could come to church. It took him all night to get back home so he could come to church. he was sooo tired, but he came and stayed all 3 hours. he is attending the temple prep class so he can go to the temple next year. I love Tatay Warlito!

That's all folks. I sure do love and appreciate all you do for us! I know that this is the work of the Lord and I know that we are simply instruments in His hands for His marvelous work to move forward! 

mahal ko kayo! Mahal kayo ng Diyos!

-Sister Davidson :) 

June 30, 2014

Family!

Thank you so much for all the emails!! LOVE hearing from you and I LOVE seeing pictures and videos! Sounds like you are all doing great and staying alive! Good work! Blessing! :)

This week President and Sister Martino went home and we have a new mission president! The 3 years of service President and Sister Martino served here in the Philippines Angeles Mission... wow what a difference they have made in so many lives. I know my life has been and ever will be influenced by the things that my mission parents have taught me. I will miss them, but I have no doubts we'll stay in touch so like actually I'm not worried at all. Ah man I love them so much and want to follow their examples of life long service to the Lord. I don't know if I ever mentioned, but from the first time I met President Martino and every time I met, worked, or talked with him, it was like talking with Grandpa Heywood. Seriously, I can see so many of Grandpa's characteristics in President Martino; it was super weird at first actually cause it was like talking to Grandpa. But then it made me realize how blessed I am to have such noble parents, grandparents, and an amazing heritage. Thank you to all who have influenced my life for good!

This week I continued to add to my knowledge about the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is amazing and what a privilege it is to have Him with us always if we keep all our covenants that we’ve made! When He speaks to us and then when we listen and obey, it is indescribable. I continue to learn that when we plead for the gift and power of the Holy Ghost in the behalf of our brothers and sisters, the Lord will give it to us. President Monson said, “Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.” I know that to be true. I do not believe the word “failure” exists in the Lord’s vocabulary. I love to remember that we are simply the servants to carry out the Master’s plan. What a humbling, and such a sacred calling that we have; to help carry out the Master’s plan. I love the Lord. I love His work. During the week Sister Caoile and I would pray for specific ways in how to help our branch out. It has been amazing how unified her and I are, as well as when we started talking to the leaders about what we can do to help, they are also on the same page as us. The Lord's work truly is His work. These truly are His children that He is taking care of and He uses us His servants to move it forward.

I love you all! Thank you for your continual examples of faith and dedication to the Lord. I have a firm testimony that when we put the Lord as our number 1 priority in life, everything works out the way it needs to. His plan is much better than ours. :) Don't forget to fulfill your callings and to always seek for opportunities to serve others. At the end of the day can we ask ourselves "have I done any good in the world today?" and be satisfied that the Lord is satisfied with our answer? I sure hope so :)

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. We had a fun FHE at Sister Dinaa's home with a great object lesson about working with unity in the work of the Lord. I love our Branch!!! 

2. The group! I love all these people!

3. Last picture with President and Sister Martino!! Love love love them! What an example of lifelong service they are! Oh my goodness, the things they have taught me.... the things the Lord has taught me through them... amazing. I am forever grateful for their service. 

4. FHE with the Candelero Family! This is a part member family where all the members are not yet members. Brother Ronnie and Sister Tess are such a great example of giving selfless service in giving of their time to church. They don't have much to give, but they do give their time all the time which is such a great example.

1. Sister MaryAnn and Brother Ronel-a family that is so kind and so cute! They have 7 kids and all the kids are so incredibly kind and polite. This family is investigators and they are so willing to listen to the gospel and we pray their faith will be strengthened in order to act so they might come closer to the Lord.

2. Sister Caoile wanted to stop here and take pictures b/c we are in SUCH a beautiful area! I love Camiling!

3. The Pascual family!!! And us. ha ha they were taking family pictures after church, and we joined in because we love their family! Brother Herbert is leaving for his mission this Friday! He is going to the Cavitie mission and will be absoultely amazing. As in, absoluetly amazing. Then Brother Hubert leaves for his mission in Tacloban in August! The Pascual family.. is sooo great! And we love them. 

4. ah I love Sister Maria and Sister Herlene! Sister Herlene works with us like 4x a week. it's amazing.

5. I love our Branch and it's members!!! This is Sister Mary Ann, Sister Herlene, and Sister Ferlene and Brother Hubert behind. 

That's all folks! Sure do love each and every one of you! I love the work of the Lord. I love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope and pray we are each doing all we need to do to grow closer to Him. 

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

June 23, 2014

Hey Family!

Thank you so much for your emails and your pictures! Linc is getting super cute and I love his smile! But it sounds like you are all alive, and doing well so that is always good to hear!

This week… was hilarious in SO many ways ha ha just thinking about how great it was I am laughing to myself. So fun stuff happened. Wednesday was transfer announcement;  I have been released as a Sister Training Leader, Sister Bongolto and I are now separated (only for a short time) as it was announced that I will be transferring… back to Camiling Branch One! My exact same area as I was in before! As in, the exact same area! After my first area in Tarlac, I was transferred to Camiling Branch One last September and half of October. And now I am back! I am leaving Tarlac (again) and going back to the same area in Camiling (again.) I love it. Like literally I am in the exact same house, the exact same desk, the exact same shelves, everything is the same ha ha and I love it. My new companion is Sister Caoile from Pangasinan and she is awesome! We actually went on exchanges when I was back in Cabanatuan and I was her first Sister Training Leader! What a cool experience no? She is awesome and so humble. I love being with her and I already know this transfer is going to be great.

This week I learned a lot about the scripture in 3 Nephi  14. “Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” I have a testimony that Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves. I have a testimony that He does give, the best gifts, to His children when they ask. When the transfer announcement was made that I would be returning back to Camiling as my last and final area in the mission, I was completely at peace and so excited. I was here such a short time before and I had always felt that I could have done more. The opportunity to go back and finish my mission here with the Saints in Camiling… what more could I ask for? When I arrived back here in Camiling, it was an overwhelming feeling of joy and peace that this is exactly where the Lord needs me to be and this is exactly where I want to be right now. I am humbly grateful. It is interesting to me how familiar coming back here was and yet how much I have learned and changed since the last time I left Tarlac for Camiling. I am thankful for the knowledge that I have learned, and I am thankful for the changes I’ve seen in myself as I have grown closer to Jesus Christ in just the past year.

This is officially my last area and Sister Caoile will be my last companion which is weird to think about. As such though, we have some great goals we’re hoping to accomplish with the Lord’s help. We’re really wanting to find a family that we can teach, a family that is ready to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. A family that is ready to be baptized, and ready to accept a temple sealing goal date. We are happy with this opportunity we have to exercise our faith and to humbly ask the Lord to give us what we hope is part of His vision for Camiling Branch One.

I love you all soo much! I know that the Lord loves us. I know that this is His church. He is the Head, He is the director of His work. I love our Savior Jesus Christ. He is everything. I have drawn closer to Him each and every day as His representative, and I am humbly grateful. He knows me; He knows how to help me better than I know how to help myself. He knows how to help all of His brothers’ and sisters’. How humbled I am that He has given me the opportunity to be His hands to help our siblings come closer to Him.

Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures!

1. I love the Philippines! This was just a big sign in the SM mall that we saw so we hurry and took a picture. :)

2. Sister Bongolto and I!!! Love her! 

3. Us with the departing missionaries! We will miss these Sisters! Sisters Fabros! Sister Bernarte! and Sister Fabillion! 

4. Last time with Sister Lawrence, Brother Lorenzo, and Brother Khyle! Brother Lorenzo is continuing on the path for baptism! And when he gets baptized and Sister Bongolto sends me the picture, I'll send it to you! Thank you for your prayers for him! I love these people so much and am so impressed with their dedicated faith. 

5. Last kabahay picture before I get transferred to Camiling and Sister Penales gets transferred to Baler!

1. Familiar no? Sister Bongolto sending me off to Camiling Branch One again. 

2. Our family generation! I trained Sister Bongolto, she trained Sister Daly, and now she is training Sister Talento! Cute no?

3. Welcome back to Camiling!!!!

4. LOVE it here!

5. More so I LOVE the members here!

1. This is Tatay Warlito. Such a cool experience with him. When I was here the first time, we received Tay Warlito as a referral from a member, his next door neighbor. Tatay Warlito was receptive enough and he had a TON of questions. I remember for Tatay we worked really hard to try to teach him. He had a busy schedule and so teaching him at a time that worked for us and worked for him as well as his neighbor was hard, but when we taught him it was good. I only taught him a few times before I got transferred. But when I came back to Camiling, I was told he was baptized this past March! When he saw each other again we remembered each other and he pulled out his old phamplets and there was my name that I had written along with Sister Merwal. It was awesome! Even though I was unable to be a witness to his progress and his baptism, it was a good feeling that the referral that Sister Merwal and I worked to get, turned out to go through. Tatay Warlito is now a strong, active member who REALLY understands the meaning of the Sacrament. It was cool to teach him, and now we are the ones to teach him until he will enter into the temple next year. What a blessing!

2. Cute kids right? They had made this game just from digging holes into the ground and using little stones. I don't remember what this game is actually called, but I know I've played it before! I was so impressed with their creativity and they were so cute, so obviously I took a picture. :)

3.They're adorable right? :)

 

4. With Sister Herlene again!!

5. Sister Caoile and I at our zone activity earlier today!

That's all folks! I am so happy where I am and I love every minute of everyday! Thank you for your love and support and your continual prayers in my behalf as well as in behalf of those we are teaching. Please continue praying for them. 

I love you! Mahal ko kayo!

-Sister Davidson :)