August 17, 2014

Family,

This week has been pretty crazy and different, but it's been good. Here's a quick review:

Monday: My last day with Sister Canimo. We emailed, went shopping, packed, and prepared her to head home. We had our last family home evening with the S families and then came home and packed. It was pretty depressing but I guess there comes a time for everyone. She really is an amazing missionary and has a special gift. I was talking to another missionary that was companions with her at one point, and we were commenting about how she truly is just amazing. She has this unique gift, and miracles just follow wherever she goes. Her faith and testimony is so strong. She has a promising future ahead of her.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Transfers! I dropped off Sister Canimo at the mission office. We said our goodbyes which wasn't as depressing as I thought it would be. Then I waited around until everyone showed up for transfers. Because the new arrivals don't show up until Thursday, all the trainers were paired up for the next two days. I ended up being in a trisome with Sister Batalero and Dixon working in Talisay Ward. It was so fun. We were together Tuesday and Wednesday. We called it our little "retreat" before our trainees showed up. 

Thursday: Thursday morning we had our trainer's training meeting at the mission home. All the trainers meet together before the arrivals come and we receive a little training from the assistants and from President Lopez. There's no one else from my batch training... :( but all is well. Almost all the trainers are going home either in two or three transfers. So for most of us, this will be our last companion and area because President wants to keep us together for all 12 weeks of training. But since some of us still have three, I'm not sure if he'll transfer us for the last transfer or keep us here.  Anyways, we had our training, and then all the arrivals came and we met our companions! My new trainee is Sister Vaitohi. She's from Utah and went to BYU for the past two years and was on the track team. She's beautiful and is so kind. I think we'll have fun together.

Friday-Sunday: Our first weekend together! It's been good, completely exhausting, but good. I forgot what it's like to first arrive in the Philippines so I'm trying to remember to help comfort and help Sister Vaitohi in the adjustment. All the members were really nice to her so I think that helped. We're back to the very, very beginning with the language which has been kind of a weird adjustment but things are going well. The work is going okay. I have members set up to work with us for the week which will be a huge blessing so I won't be the only one doing all the talking in our lessons. The youth in the wards here are amazing. They're all so prepared for their missions and are always so willing to go work with the missionaries as long as there is no school. But this past weekend we've been doing a lot of finding because we have a lot of hours to fill during the day and because Sister Canimo and I just baptized all of our investigators. We're kind of back to the beginning stages again but I'm confident that in time, we'll see those weekly baptisms again. I'm trusting in the Lord that we'll be lead us to those who are prepared to receive us. One of my favorite scriptures is Alma 13:24. Angels truly are preparing the hearts of many to receive the gospel in their lives. We just need to do our part to find them :)

I love you all! My favorite moment from this past week is when we go the S's house and V (one of the fathers we baptized last week) was sitting at the table studying, with a notebook, scriptures, and pamphlets just scattered all over. He's already finished reading True to the Faith! He's so great and his testimony is so strong. 

 

Love,

Sister Fitzgerald

 

Cami's New Companion, Sister Vaitohi

President and Sister Lopez Visiting Cami's Apartment

Cami Meeting Her New Companion

Cami Playing the Piano At Missionary Orientation Meeting

 

August 10, 2014

Family:

This past week has been so amazing. We had the most amazing baptism this past Sunday of the S brothers. Seriously the most spiritual, rewarding experience on the mission- completing families. V's family is the pregnant mother and daughter that we baptized last week. He's seriously the next bishop. Truly, and I'm not just biased because he's our convert. His testimony and conversion that he shares every night when we visit is so powerful. They're already preparing for the temple to be sealed next year! That's when we get to come back to the Philippines :) And then Brother J is from a part-member family. Since J started coming to church, all of his sons have returned. They have three potential missionaries and now they're all starting to prepare! They truly are two amazing families. When we come each night, their two families along with a neighboring family all gather together for our lesson. We sit in this big circle and all we need is a fire in the middle and you call it a bonfire haha. 

But this week has been so fun! On Tuesday we had our last MLC at the mission home, Wednesday was zone training meeting, on Thursday President came and interviewed the brothers for their baptism, Friday we celebrated J's birthday. He's the little son of Brother V and the cutest little thing. Then Saturday was the baptism and we had a ward family home evening, and last night was Sister Canimo's last night of proselyting. We've been busy but it's been so fun being companions with Sister Canimo. She's an amazing missionary. Truly amazing. Her spirit and testimony are the strongest I've ever seen, and she truly knows how to love and serve our ward and investigators. I'll definitely miss her but I know that she has an exciting road ahead of her.

I don't know what else to share but with Sister Canimo leaving, I'll be staying in our area and training a new missionary. All trainers and trainees will meet each other on Thursday morning and then we have three months to look forward to together :) 

I love you! Thank you for all your prayers, you are always in mine :)

xxx,

Sister Fitzgerald

August 3, 2014

Family!

I can't believe it's already August! Sister Canimo goes home next week! Last night President texted us saying he doesn't want us in the office this week so the Elders find out what they don't know and  they can learn before Sister Canimo leaves. So as of today, technically I'm out of the office! The elders are freaking out because we were supposed to have another week to train them in everything... but now they just get to call haha. We were in the office all morning trying to teach them as much has possible. But we have unlimited call so I think they'll do okay this week. We still get to attend MLC tomorrow though :) But this week we'll be full-time proselyting in our area!

It's been such a great week. You know how at the end of a school year or semester, the last couple weeks are so fun and perfect, and it's almost like you don't want them to end, you just want to extend another week or so? That's how it is for Sister Canimo and I, except she's the only one going home and I still have four more month. But our area is doing amazing, our investigators are progressing, and this past weekend we had our baptism of M, R, M, and V. They all are so precious I just want to smile all the time. 

M is a referral from one of our members in our ward. The member referred us to his family but they didn't really want anything to do with us from the start. But M, who is only nine, was so interested and precious. He comes every Sunday by himself and he's always the first one there! We teach him every Sunday morning at the chapel before Sacrament starts. We never thought his parents would let him be baptized because they won't even really let us teach them at their house, just come to church but after a miracle, his mom signed the baptismal form and he was confirmed yesterday in Sacrament Meeting!

Another miracle is the S family that I've been mentioning the past couple of weeks. Seriously the most prepared family I've met on my mission. M (the 8 month pregnant mother) and V were baptized this past weekend and it was so beautiful. I cried through M's entire testimony afterwards. There's really just nothing more rewarding than missionary work. I've just felt so much joy and love this past week that's really just undescribable. But a miracle happened last night! We've been working with the father, and he's been so receptive but hasn't committed to his baptismal date on August ninth. He just kept saying that he hasn't decided yet, that he still has a lot of questions, things to learn, etc. But, last night we asked how his prayer went, and he said that he's ready to be baptized! So he, along with his brother (who's married to the less-active returned member who referred the S family in the first place) will be baptized this Saturday! 

It's been a good week and hopefully it continues. I feel like on the mission you have a really good week, and then a bad one, and then a good one, etc. and we've had two good ones in a row so I'm a little scared, but I think everything will be okay :)

MLC is tomorrow, and it might be my last one now that I'm out of the office but I'm excited. It's always fun to see everyone, but it's always just so spiritual and uplifting.

Send everyone my love!

 

xxx,

Cami

Missionary Leadership Council

 

 

July 27, 2014

Maayong hapon!

It's been such a good week. Maybe even the best one yet. I've truly just felt so much love and joy this past week and I've seen so many miracles and blessings. We had M's wedding, followed by her baptism on Saturday which was everything that I hoped it to be. She was sharing her testimony afterwards and I was just crying. Our Relief Society president let her borrow her wedding dress, another member did her makeup, we bought her shoes, and I curled her hair with the curling iron I haven't used since the MTC. Almost all of their family was there to witness it as well. President and Sister Lopez came too! Then after the wedding, she changed her into her baptismal clothes, was baptized, and then we had dinner. It was an amazing experience, and I am so happy for her. After a couple months of praying and fasting, she was finally able to. 

But this week was also great because of the S and S Families. I mentioned them this past week, but another family where I just smile thinking about them. In the S family, the whole family are members except the dad. They were baptized a couple years ago, but they've become less active since then. But, she's been returning and a couple weeks ago she gave us a referral to her sister-in-law and her family, the S family.All of them have been coming to church the past couple of weeks but we've haven't been able to teach the fathers. BUT, this past week we finally have been able to teach them. The S Family reminds me of Robyn and Trevor, but Philippino version. They have three precious little kids the same age as them, with one baby on the way. The dad is so receptive. He's hasn't committed to a baptismal date with his family yet, but his prayers each night when we kneel down are so sincere. They're such a golden family. And then the S family is another miracle as well. They have four ysa/youth aged children who are all members but the father has never been interested in the church. But this past week, he joined us for our lessons and was saying how he's just sick of it all and is ready to join his family. The most beautiful thing though that happened this past week is that both of their families came to church. All of them! They took up three rows! They've just been such a blessing.  We had FHE at their home last night, and it actually felt like "home'" if that makes sense. We're afraid that Sister S is going to have her baby any day now because she looks like she's going to pop so we might try to move their baptism to this Saturday rather than next... but we'll see.

I love that there' so much missionary excitement in your ward! Looking back, one of my biggest regrets is not being as involved in missionary work as I should have been. I didn't even know who the missionaries were! No wonder they always said that Gig Harbor was the place that no missionary wanted to be assigned to! Here, missionary work is the essence of the ward. Granted, it has a lot to do because 90% or more of the members are converts from one time or another, so they're very aware and involved. But I look back and just see my lack of sharing the gospel to my friends. I completely failed at doing my part at just fulfilling my calling as a member of the church. But I'll try to make up for it.

Sister Canimo is leaving in two weeks so we're trying to baptize everyone before she leaves.... just kidding, but seriously. We're afraid I might be transferred out too since we've both been there for so long, but I don't know if president would white-wash the area by pulling both of us out but I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.

I love you all! Stay safe! Rest, and enjoy the summer because it always goes by fast.

xxx,
sister Fitz

July 20, 2014

Family!

It's been such a good week, as is in so good! Miracles are just happening all over the place, and I just feel so blessed to be able to witness them. The most exciting news that we have is that we are planning a wedding! M is getting married this Saturday and then will be baptized right after. I'm so excited and happy for her. She's been waiting for so long and now she'll finally be able to be baptized. We finished her marriage papers earlier this morning and got them notarized so everything is set for Saturday... all we need now is a wedding dress :) We've been asking around the ward and found clothes for M that he can wear, the members and Relief Society are going to help out with some refreshments afterwards, and even President and Sister Lopez are going to attend! They're the family that we visited when Sister Lopez came and worked with us, and then she even joined in our fast a couple of weeks ago to help M agree to be married and let M be baptized. And now, our prayers have been answered and the time has finally come. We're seeing so much progress and blessings in our area, which is exciting so we can baptize all of our investigators before Sister Canimo goes home :) I don't know if next transfer President will have me stay in our area or transfer me out.... I guess we'll find out haha, he's very unpredictable.

We're also teaching this other family who is so prepared to receive the gospel. She's the sister-in-law to a less active family is returning. A couple weeks ago I think I sent a picture of our FHE with them but I don't really remember. They're the S Family. The mom is pregnant (due on September 1) and has four precious little kids. The mom and daughter are preparing for their baptism on the 3rd of August! The daughter has been coming to church this past month but this past week was the mom's first time and it was like she was already a member! She offered a beautiful prayer in our Sunday school class, was fellowshipping all of our other investigators and members, and just looked so happy there. Seriously an amazing family. The past week it's been really rainy and windy (I think there might be some kind of storm) and we visited them on Saturday, and they said that rain or shine, they'll be there at church :) We haven't been able to teach the husband yet because he's always been away at work but he's supportive of them and she said that he likes the idea of raising them in the church :)

That's the most exciting news lately. We've been really busy, especially today because we only have 45 minutes to email before we have to head to the mission home. We've been running errands all day today and just came back from the airport... so much for a p-day but I only have three more weeks of this so I can't complain!

I love that you get to spend so much time at the temple. One of my goals when I get home is to try to attend the temple weekly while at school, considering the temples are so close there. When does the other Provo temple open? and I hope everyone has fun on trek. Also, Mattie sent me pictures of their new house! It looks so nice! I can't wait to visit them in Arizona! Tell them I'll reply next week to their email and that I love them! I can't think of anything I need right now to include in the package :)  Also tell Taylor congrats for me on her upcoming wedding

palangga ko kamo!

Sister Fitzgerald

July 13, 2014

Mayung gabe!

There were emergency transfers today, so we're emailing at night since we have to head to the mission home at nine to help drive missionaries home after their appointments.

But our exciting news, we're planning a wedding! Just kidding, but seriously :) M's husband has finally agreed to be married, and they picked the date of July 26! So we're planning a simple, simple wedding, followed by M's baptism! I'm so excited for her! She's been wanting this for so long, and now we'll be able to make it happen. We have the paperwork for her to get married, we just need to fill it out, and have everything notarized, and it should all be set!

We're running out of time to email, but I sent a couple of pictures that basically summarizes my week! We had FHE with a less active family, and the neighboring family who's our investigators (they came to church yesterday!).  We had our ward fireside on Saturday which was a success (!), and it rained a lot.

I love hearing updates about everyone's lives! Tell everyone that I love and miss them!

 I love the mission! Heavenly Father truly knows the desires of our hearts. Stay faithful and he will lead you to what he has planned for each and everyone of us.

I'll write more next week!

xxx,

Sister Fitzgerald

Rain and traffic. Classic Bacolod.

 

We had halo-halo to celebrate Sister Canimo's last transfer!

We had FHE at the S family this past week! Behind us with all of the food, this is what you call a tychangge. Tychangges are little stores that are a part of people's homes, where neighbors will come to buy snacks, food, basic needs, etc. They are all over the place, every couple of houses there's a tychangge.

Driving to the airport!

July 6, 2014

Maayong aga!

It's been a very long and busy week but I think those are always the most exciting! Except I think we might have worn ourselves out a little bit because we've both been a little sick this past weekend with colds, but all is well! The work continues :) This past week the old batch of missionaries left, new ones came in, and everyone else was transferred all over the place. It was a little hectic but somehow we managed to make it all happen and work out. President seems to be reducing the number of missionaries in the city and opening up new areas farther out which just comes to show how the work is definitely hastening. The church is definitely growing here in Bacolod - just last week our mission had over 100 baptisms and confirmations! 

Today and tomorrow we have our MLC again at the mission home! I'm excited because it's the first time sisters from my batch were made sister training leaders so I will actually get to see them! On Saturday we've planned a ward musical fireside as well, centering on the Restoration so we're excited. Hopefully it will be successful! 

Yesterday, A was baptized :) She's one of the funniest investigators we have. The first time she came to church with the Lopez family, I thought she was a young women haha! Turns out she's 30, is married and has two kids who are 9 and 4. At first when we starting teaching their family, she didn't seem too interested personally, would come in and out of the room when teaching, and was kind of loud and making jokes, but every week she would tag along with them to church. And then after V and T were baptized, they were like, A's next! and all of a sudden, she was the one answering all the questions and encouraging everyone else to read, pray, go to church, etc. She's the best and she has the cutest little girl, who reminds me a little bit of Lizzie and Maddy because even though she's sometimes sassy, she's the best at showing endearment and is so smart. She's only four, but already memorized I'm a Child of God and gives a hug and kiss before we leave every day from teaching. We're still working on M's wedding. We haven't been able to really focus on it this past week, but we'll have time this week. We're meeting with our stake president who's a lawyer and will be able to help us in the process and then M will be baptized. She's the one holding the little girl in the photo I sent earlier.

I'm glad that everyone had so much fun this past week in Utah! We celebrated the Fourth of July by waking up early to call global services before they closed in Utah and for lunch we celebrated by going to this restaurant we found that actually makes real Mexican burritos. But even though we had Mexican food, it reminded me of America. I love the Philippines... but I miss the states. This past week it's been rainy and overcast which has been nice because it's cooler, even if we do get a little wet from the rain :)

Tell everyone I love them!

xxx,

Sister Fitzgerald