September 7, 2014

Family,

First of all, congratulations to Maddy and Garrett. I truly am so excited for the both of you and will be counting the days for you until December 30! 

Second, Merry Christmas! It's now the "ber" months here, so technically it's officially Christmas season! Although it' weird to think I'll be home when Christmas actually rolls around. And even more exciting to think that Maddy will be married a week later too :)

Anyways, it's been a pretty good week here in the field. We've still been doing a lot of finding, trying to really focus on the members, because referrals really are so much more successful than personal contacting. This past weekend we had stake conference, and President and Sister Lopez attended and spoke. It was so good, and I really think it inspired the members. They mentioned how the Lord is hastening his work, and how we as members need to be moving at the same speed he is. They mentioned how the Lord might be hastening is work, but that means that Satan is hastening his as well, and we need to do all that we can to help in this battle. Sister Lopez mentioned about not being afraid to open our mouths to invite our friends and neighbors to hear about the gospel, invite to church, etc.  She mentioned that fear we have to share the gospel needs to be replaced with faith. And then President Lopez is always so inspiring when he speaks. Listening to the two of them, you can't help but catch the missionary spirit. I truly feel so lucky to have them as my mission president. We visited some members last night and I hope that missionary excitement will stay with the members and we continue to see some progress and positive results from it.

We're continue to find and to teach, and to find joy in missionary life. The members have been really willing to come and work with us this past week, and that's always a blessing. We've also found some promising potential investigators, so hopefully we'll continue to see some progress this week. But it's always hard at this point because all of them are still so new and you can't really predict who will progress and who won't but we're keeping the faith that all will work!

The men of the L family though are slowly softening their hearts which has been such a miracle! Last week E came to church with N and now they all come out to listen whenever we come so it's a slow process, but I hope things continue to go well with them because it would so amazing beyond words if the men joined their wives in the gospel and church. We'll keep working on them :) Last week we had FHE with them and it was really fun and they enjoyed it!

Anyways, there's other miracle stories but they'll have to wait until next week because we're now the last missionaries in the computer shop and we still haven't written president.

love you!

xxxx

Sister Fitzgerald and her companion at Stake Conference

August 31, 2014

Mayung aga!

It's been an interesting week, but a good week. It's rained all week which makes proselyting really hard. It started last Monday. All day during preparation day it was fine. We wash our garments in the afternoon and I told sister maybe it'll rain so we'll hang them up inside to dry so they don't get wet. Then five minutes later, it starts to barely sprinkle. And then we leave a little before six, just barely sprinkling. We get on the tryke to take us to the highway to catch a jeep to our area, and then it starts down pouring. As in, downpouring. So then we get off the tryke half-way soaked already and run to hide under the waiting shed. The thundering is so loud, and then you can see the lightning bolts strike. It was Sister Vaitohi's first real rainstorm. But since then, it's rained the whole week. Which sometimes makes it hard to proselyte, at least to find. But we're trying. We just baptized the last of our progressing investigators, so I think the next month is going to be a little rough because we kind of need to start over with the whole finding process, but I think we'll be okay. But speaking of baptism, it was J and V's baptism this past weekend. It was so great even though it was kind of small event. It's kind of fun being with a new missionary, because I notice things that she points out that I feel like are just so common now. I've forgotten what's normal and what's different here in the Philippines. But they shared their testimonies and of course I teared up. It's always such a humbling experience being a missionary, and teaching the gospel.

Anways, it really has been an okay week. Yesterday we had our combined third hour in church, and it was on temples and family history. They had a couple of LDS videos and Mormon messages we watched, and I was crying through it. The blessings of the temple truly are worth all the trials we go through in life.

Also yesterday at church, Elder and Sister Mower came. Elder Mower told us that he went up to Brother V and said sorry that they couldn't make his baptism a couple of weeks ago, but then Brother V said "It's okay, you can just come to our sealing next year." They're seriously the best family ever. Brother V already is in Moses, he already finished the D & C and the Book of Mormon.

I love you all!

Sister Fitzgerald

August 24, 2014

Mayung aga!

 

Can I just say that it's so weird that summer’s over and fall semester is starting next week... also another missionary just pointed out to me that I only  have 16 more weeks, or four more fast Sundays if you want to count that way. say what?!

Our missionary work is going okay. We have J and V's baptism this weekend  which is really exciting! They're so prepared! They're two amazing YSA-aged, future missionary elders! So precious and so funny. When we taught V about the law of chastity, he was wearing an earring and then R (our recent convert) was explaining how we shouldn't have tattoos, only one piercing for sisters, and none for boys. and then immediately, V was like, oh! and he took out his earring and was like "well, I guess I'll just throw this" and was going to throw it into the bushes. They're the best.

 

Also exciting news, V blessed the sacrament this past week! and he's already half way through the Doctrine and Covenants! He's one of the dads we baptized a couple of weeks ago... totally the next bishop.

 

We spent this past week finding.... which is always depressing and hard. But we're doing okay. We finally rearranged our areas within the ward so we have a new area to explore. But yesterday two mothers with their kids finally came to church for the first time! They've been taught for so long, and are so receptive, but have never really committed to church, but we're starting to finally see some progress with them which is always exciting. We almost were about to give up on them. Hopefully we'll continue to see some progress in them this week.

 

Tomorrow we have exchanges with the STL's and Sister Vaitohi is a little nervous because she's staying in the area, but I think she's going to do great! I will be going to the sa magsungay ward and their area :)

 

We're both doing well. we're both happy, and working on our area. It's been pretty hot the past couple of days but we're both healthy... considering. my hair is falling out. You know how it's always falling, but it's ten times worse. like a wad of hair every morning when I comb my hair. I know of other missionaries that's having the same problems..

I  miss you all! I have to go but I'll talk next week!

Love,

 Sister Fitzgerald