November 15, 2014

Familyyyyyyy!

It's been such a busy, yet spiritually filling week. It included MLC (missionary leadership council) and mission tour with Elder and Sister Ardern, L's baptism, and celebrating Sister Oquias's birthday yesterday.

I now have officially a month left in the mission and this past week I was starting to feel it. When I was sitting in the mission home during our MLC, all I wanted to do was cry because I realized that I don't have too many more chances to hear the trainings of President Lopez. He truly is an amazing man and I'm so grateful to have him as my mission president. His love for us is so evident and you can feel it every time he speaks. One thing that he mentioned this past week was that he was called here as the president to love us and that we were called here as missionaries to love the people. He said that throughout the past two years, he's been trying to show and give that love to us, so that we may have enough love to give and show to those here in Bacolod. One thing that I've definitely learned on my mission is that love is required for those we serve and charity is one of those Chris-like attributes I've been trying to develop for the past year.

One thing that Elder Ardern mentioned was that some day each of us will have to get an accounting of our stewardship here on earth. He said that this chapter in our life will be glowing from our mission and how our goal is now to help make each chapter after this glow as well. He also mentioned how our first responsibility as a teacher of the gospel is to prepare spiritually. I'll be forever grateful for the testimony I have gained and things that I have learned and experienced here on the mission. This past week I was reading in Mosiah and I came across Mosiah 5:2: "And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent,which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." I feel like I have experienced that mighty change in my heart. I have seen in myself, members, and in my recent converts the process of conversion. I've learned that true conversions is more than just a knowledge of the gospel principles and it implies more than just a testimony. It means to live and act upon what we believe. And through doing that, we create a firmly rooted testimony and conviction of the church and gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday, Sister Oquias and I both gave talks in sacrament meeting. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on my mission and on myself as well. I'm grateful for the gospel in my life and the comfort and hope that knowledge gives to me. 

On Saturday we had the baptism of L. She's 14 and her mother passed away last February. She's the oldest of five kids and basically takes care of them all. She's so strong and her baptism was so beautiful. She came out of the water crying. I hope she remembers what she felt on that day and I hope that joy and peace will help carry her through her future. The youth are so strong in this ward. This week in their seminary class it is  missionary week. They have to live like a missionary and wear a "future missionary badge" all day, even in school. They were all so excited to put it on yesterday at church. They're all going to be amazing missionaries someday!

I love you all! Tomorrow my batch is flying to Manila for our exit clearance fingerprinting. They said we'll probably be able to go through a temple session before flying home that night... I hope so!

Love,

Sister Fitzgerald

Zone Training Meeting last week!

Celebrating the 21st birthday of Sister Oquias yesterday! It was extra special because some of her family lives here in Pulupandan. Her dad grew up here, so some of her aunts and uncles live here and even her grandma.

Last last week it was all soul's day when we proselyted in the cemetery. We were able to visit the grave of Sister Oquias's grandpa and relative.

Sister Char, Sister Oquias, and myself.

Pulupandan (Her area)

 One of my last days in Santa Fe with the Salmorin and Suriaga families! 

Celebrating one of their sons birthdays

 

FHE with the Flores family... they have ten kids

Bishop and Sister Ollier at dinner last night. They have their house decorated for Christmas and it felt like home.

November 8, 2014

Good morning!

My first full week in Pulupandan has come and gone! I feel like the week has gone by fast, but at the same time, has dragged on. We've been working hard but it's getting harder, my body wants to give up on me some days. I think there's a reason sisters only serve 18 months rather than two years... I don't know if my body could take it. 

Last week started with MLC last Monday afternoon. It was nice being back at the mission home again, it's such a loving and homey environment. I always leave there spiritually and physically rejuvenated and excited. President let us watch the message the church came out with regarding our temple garments and clothing. It was so good. Have you seen it? I feel like they presented and explained it so well, and they're basically just asking for respect and reverence concerning our sacred practices and ordinances. ( Next week my batch will be heading to manila for our visa exit-clearance and hopefully we'll be able to do a temple session while we're there for the day... i'm so excited!) But, our MLC was basically a mini-rehearsal for our MLC this week with Elder Ardern. This week will be busy but it should be exciting. Wednesday we'll have MLC again at the mission home and then mission tour on Friday! 

This past Friday we had our zone training meeting and Sister Oquias and I gave training to our zone! It was actually kind of fun. The other days, we've been working hard. It's kind of sad right now in our area because almost all of our recent converts became less actives shortly after there baptism and have been hiding from the missionaries for the past couple of months. It's almost heart breaking because you know that at one point, they were so strong in their testimony of the gospel and then you see how fast one will be to forget the Lord. But for three different recent converts, I guess they've been hiding from the missionaries for the past four weeks. On Saturday night, we were finally able to visit and teach them. It's confusing because as we teach, they're so receptive. They share their personal experiences, talk about  how the Lord has blessed them, and truly commit to go to church the next morning. But then Sunday arrives, and they're no where to be found. It's been hard, and a test of our patience. We don't want to give up on them because they've already made that covenant, it's not like they're investigators where you can just move on to someone else, but we'll keep trying.

This week we have the baptism of L. She's only 14, but she's so strong. Her mother passed away when she was younger, and she's the oldest of five children. She basically takes care of all of them yet still finds time to read every day. She's precious. We've been teaching a couple of other investigators that have baptismal dates for November and December so hopefully they continue to progress and prepare. 

The past couple of weeks, I've just been filled with an overwhelming appreciation for both you and dad. Last week at the area broadcast, one of them talked about how the gospel needs to be taught in the home and the importance of families. They mentioned the responsibilities of the parents to teach their children, and I truly am just so grateful for the way you raised us. I've had so many experiences here on the mission where that aspect of the gospel is completely non-existent. The role of the father and mother truly is so important and I'm so grateful to be blessed with the two of you.

Christmas music is playing in the background right now as I write... Merry Christmas and see you soon!

xxx

Sister Fitz

November 1, 2014

Mayung Aga!

It's been a pretty eventful week! Last Thursday I got transferred to my new and last area in Pulupundan 2nd Ward. I'm now officially out of the city after eight months! My new companion is Sister Oquias, probably one of the prettiest Philippinos in the mission. But our area is fun, it's right by the ocean! Our house is huge, but it's good. It's just the two of us, but it's pretty much ordinary for missionary housing. I'm back to bucket showers, but that's not unusual.  Our ward is definitely smaller than Santa Fe, but the members are strong and our bishopric is really supportive. The past couple of days, all of the young women have been working with us because it's been their semester break, and they're all so precious. Half of them are recent converts, but they are so strong already. The ward is heading off to the temple this week, so I can't help but be jealous of them.

But exciting news is that I can now view my mission as "complete" because I got food poisoning for the first time. I've been here so long without an issue. I came to the conclusion that my body is immune to the food here in the Philippines but then inevitable it happened this past week, especially considering we were fed nine days in a row by members. Thursday morning I woke up throwing up, and it lasted all day, but by Friday I was fine. And now, I'm healthy as ever... well as healthy as you can be after living in a foreign country for over a year :)

I loved the package! Thanks so much!  Sister Vaitohi and I downed the peanut m&ms.... we opened one and finished it  and then a couple of days later we told ourselves we wouldn't open the second one and we would just give it away.... by the end of the night they were open and by the afternoon of the next day, it was gone too haha. but luckily, we were able to give away a couple of other things so we wouldn't get too fat from all of it. 

Last night we were able to watch the Philippines Special Broadcast. Elder Ardern and Elder Oaks spoke and they mentioned about what is needed to help the church be truly established in the Philippines. But something they mentioned is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children in the home. And the importance of the father to exercise his priesthood within the family. And then even in our ward fast and testimony meeting as well, there were several members that mentioned that they went on missions because they want their kids to go on missions. Basically, all day yesterday I was just filled with so much gratitude because of how you raised us in the gospel. You not only taught us, but you showed us how to live the gospel and because of that, I am forever grateful. 

Next week we have mission tour with Elder Ardern!

Love,

Sister Fitzgerald