Pagtambayayong

My "ponderize" scripture for the week is Mosiah 4:9:

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth;believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

Bisaya word of the week for you: pagtambayayong. It's fun to say and it means....unity or "togetherness".

Our two IBD's both came to church this week! They want to be baptized so much and they wanted to see the baptismal font! They're scheduled for December 26th, so that means that if I transfer next transfer I won't get to see it, but that's okay, as long as they are receiving the Gospel, I'm happy! 

To be honest, we've been having much more success in working with the less-active members in our area. Reactivating members has become the main focus of my time here in Bogo, and we've been having a lot of success. The branch president actually high-fived Sister Dayhop and I yesterday in MCM because apparently some of the members we brought to church, (mostly batanong mga lalaki (teenage boys) haven't been there in YEARS. We're trying to strengthen the priesthood and the youth, especially with the recent realignment that just happened.

I like the word "pagtambayayong" this week because it's true that missionary work is a group effort. Without full-time missionaries, it's difficult for a branch or ward to grow (and therefore the Church). But without the members, local leaders, and kuyogs it's difficult for the full-time missionaries to do their job successfully. Thus, we need to work together!

And of course, we all need our Heavenly Father because this is His work and He knows best how to conduct it! (D&C 101:63-65) 

Yesterday during my personal study hour I studying what it means to keep the Sabbath day holy (balaan sa adlaw sa igpapahulay) from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and recent talks from the apostles. I realized that before my mission, I didn't always fully keep the Sabbath day, not like I do now as a missionary. A "day of rest" doesn't mean you just go to church and then spend the rest of the day sleeping and doing homework, it means setting it aside from the week as a day to worship, study the scriptures, serve others, visit others, spend time with family, or anything else that directs you to the Savior. That describes everyday as a missionary, haha, but I really want to keep the habit of Sabbath day observance after my mission (layo pa). 

Also, I'd like to invite you all the read "Lasting Happiness" by Craig P. Wilson (https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/04/young-adults/lasting-happiness?lang=eng)

Because of course we all want to be happy, and there is literally a way for us to achieve lasting happiness!

Later today we are doing a district activity for P-Day but our district leader won't tell us what we're doing, he just said to bring 10 pesos and extra clothes because basin mahugawan ta....haha. There will also be balut because the new American elder in our district hasn't eaten it yet. That used to be me haha.

Amping mo!

Sister Bertoldo

Kinsa si Jesukristo?

There's nothing like being a missionary, in the Philippines, during Christmastime. There's no snow, just tropical heat, palm trees, flowers! Maybe slightly more wind because it's the rainy season haha. There are star lanterns everywhere.

But you mostly feel really- happy. Like you've never understood so well what Christmas means. A question I ask frequently as a missionary is "Kinsa si Jesukristo sa imo? Who is Jesus Christ to you?

The greatest thing about being a missionary is learning the answer to that question for myself while simultaneously helping others to realize it. I am learning that we can literally "cast our burdens" on the Lord and continue in faith even DURING difficulty, discomfort, and trial. I'm learning that through Christ, I can actually feel....happy....during trial, something I don't think I fully knew before.

Our Zone got to watch the new 2015 Christmas Initiative, before it's been released to the rest of the world, it's released to the missionaries! It was so wonderful- they're launching a new Christmas video, website, and pass-along cards. I can't WAIT to use it to tract, teach lessons, and bring people to baptism! That's the only kind of "white" Christmas I need!

I only get one Christmas here in the Philippines as a missionary, so I am REALLY excited :)

We went on splits with the STL's so I got to go back to San Rem for a day. I helped them find a former investigator that they hadn't been able to find (she lives in a tiny bamboo balay tucked away in the vasts expanses of a sugar cane field) and she was like, "Why haven't you visited me?" and she had written in the back of the Basahon ni Mormon we gave her tons of questions she had about God, the Godhead, life after death, baptism! It felt good to help them find a person so prepared to learn the gospel. And to see the work we started be resumed.

We just went through realignment so our area will probably be combined with the other sisters' area next transfer. For now, we are just TALKING TO EVERYONE and trying to strengthen less active members while adding new investigators to our teaching pool every week.

Just this morning I dropped off my sheets and bedding at a labhanon (place where women handwash laundry as their job) and the woman was so excited that I could speak Bisaya so we talked bout that for awhile. She said "you must be so smart, foreigners NEVER learn Bisaya!" and I told her that it is only possible to learn a language fast if you have good motivation to do it....namely, the Gospel. Then she opened up to me that her brother-in-law used to have a terrible drinking problem. Then he joined the LDS church and now it's gone! She said she is so grateful for our church. We got her address we're going to visit her and start teaching her! I can't wait to introduce her to the Gospel of Change, the Gospel of Christ. Because it is only through the merits and mercy of Christ that we can truly become our best selves. 

We also had a "miracle lesson" last night. We've been working with a less-active member, a 17-year old lalaki, Paul, whose mom is preparing to go to the temple and whose sister is newly returned from a mission. But all of our carefully chosen scriptures and testimonies of family members failed to bring him back to activity in the church. Then last night we bumped into one of the active young men of the branch. We felt prompted to ask him to kuyog with us, and even though it wasn't in our plans, we felt prompted to visit Paul. It was a miracle lesson. He had been childhood friends with him sa una. He had missed him. He opened up to us about why he hasn't been to church. He opened up to us that he had a desire to return. He finally promised he would come. The Spirit filled that room.

It is so important for the members to reach out to other members. It is SO much more effective than missionaries alone. Every member IS a missionary.

I hope you all have a great week. I know the Gospel is true. I know Christ is our Savior. I know that kon iapply nato ang iyang mga pantulun-an sa atong matag kinabuhi, makabaton ta og hingpit nga kalipay, bisan unsa ka dako ang mga pagsulay.

Love you all, labi na my Filipino brothers and sisters :)

Amping kanunay!

sister bertoldo 

Wala'y Tubig

The plumbing in our CR (bathroom) is broken, so the landlord shut off our water until they fix it. So, for the past 24 hours there hasn't been any water in our balay....it's tough to shower, cook, brush your teeth, and wash your face, etc. with no water.... 

we had to ask our neighbors, who have a hose, to fill up basins and trashcans with water. Then we used a ladle flush the toilets and to "shower". 

Sometimes at night as I'm hanging my laundry (hay-hay) out on a line, still in my dress, out on the terrace under the palm trees, and then dump the extra water out over the side of the terrace, and then go down to iron (plantsa) my other dresses, I feel like I'm living in the 50's or something. It's kind of cozy, but mostly it's a huge hassle haha. And I'm not very good at it- I have a burn on my hand from the iron- now a permanent scar.

I have a year left of my mission! haha. It's interesting to be a foreigner and speak a different language. I'm now the only American living in our house, so I spend most of my time trying to understand and join in. Sometimes I'm successful! and sometimes I'm not haha. Because the language uses different ways of saying things and has different "sayings", you kind of have a different personality if you learn a different language. It's weird to think that there now exists a side of me that my family might never really know or understand. 

It's the same for Jared, he will come home being an expert in Italian and in the cultural ins and outs of Italy. I understand now why RM's either always want to talk about their missions, or never want to talk about it. 

The Philippines has a thrift store kind of thing, called an ukay-ukay, and it is quickly becoming a huge weakness of mine! :) it's just tons of clothes piled in a tent and they're all really cheap. Every month my companion and I stop in and buy a new skirt or a new blouse. Then we have to hand wash it (because who knows where it's been!) and line dry it, iron it, and spray it with a little fabric softener and there's a new outfit! Sister missionary weakness. The salesmen recognize us as "Mormons", they all say "Sister, sinina! sayal! blouse!" (dress! skirt! blouse!) haha. They know, now, that I can speak to them so now they try to persuade me to buy all kinds of things, but we are very frugal in bargaining with them. It's a good opportunity to share the gospel because they ask us why we are so dressed up? Do we get paid for missionary service? NO? Whey then, are you serving a mission? It's a great way to bear testimony to them of the gospel and our purpose as missionaries.

Yesterday I was just sitting in church and then the Branch President announced that I would be the concluding speak, give a 20-minute talk about prayer. So caught unawares, I just went up and found that I was able to comfortably deliver a 20 minute talk in Bisaya about the principles of prayer and the importance of individual and family prayer. I felt so much love for the people looking out at all of them from the pulpit.

Our area just went through realignment, so it's a lot smaller now. That means we really need to focus on less active members and finding new investigators.

I love you all, have a good week.

-sister bertoldo

Wherefore didst thou doubt?

Last P-day we went to Odlot Hideaway Beach Resort with the Branch President and some of the members....it was like my own personal form of torture, because I just wanted to jump in the ocean and swim! Haha. I did get pretty soaked by some big waves that crashed over the side of the seats! There was a diving board extending out over the rocks for people to jump into the waves, and man it killed me not to jump!

But it's ok, rest assured that I'll return to the Philippines after my mission aron sa pagligo sa dagat! Lami gjud siya!

We had a training meeting this week, so we went back to the mission home to discuss successes and problems with training. It was neat to see the trainers' side of the meeting this time, and it's always inspiring to hear President speak.

I've been having ups and downs of course, but through fasting and prayer and study and work, it's amazing how Heavenly Father speaks to us through personal revelation. I've been especially touched by reading Alma 26:27 (bear with patience thine afflictions and God will grant you success), Helaman 10:2-5 (work with unwearyingness and you will be blessed) and I've been studying the life of Christ from the book of Luke a lot. I know that if we focus on the Savior and doing his will, we are steadied, supported, uplifted, and ultimately successful. But the miracles and success come AFTER the trial of our faith.

As I was staring out at the ocean that I can't swim in I thought of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water, showing such great faith, but when he takes his eyes off of Christ and focuses on the waves and winds, immediately he begins to sink. Christ then asks him, "wherefore didst thou doubt?" How often are we like Peter, letting the winds and waves of life falter our faith!

I hope you all have a great week! Do a little something extra for your spiritual welfare, like pray a little longer, study the scriptures a little deeper, or seek a few extra ways to help others.

-sister bertoldo

Balaan Espiritu ang Yawe

So many small miracles this week!

They taught me that the Spirit is the key to missionary work. The Spirit is the key to peace. The Spirit is the key to guidance in our everyday lives.

Of course, I knew that before. But sometimes you learn things on a deeper level.

I'll share one experience.

One, our area has many less actives, but I've been feeling like we need to reach out more and find more new investigators. So one day our appointments fell through early on, and right there in the yard of our punted appointment, we prayed that God would place in our path people that were prepared to receive the gospel. After the prayer, my companion looked at me like, "what now?" like she was expecting investigators to drop out of the sky haha.

Then I remembered a name from the area book I had read earlier that week. Veralio, lives in Pelaez. So we went to Pelaez. There was no Veralio. But we found one old Tatay sitting in his hammock under some palm trees. We talked with him and found out that his wife recently died and he is now taking care of his children and grandchildren by himself. We testified to him that God is aware of him and led us to him today. His eyes filled with tears and he agreed to meet with us later this week. We also went on to find a Nanay that works for a member, a 10-year-old boy from a part-member family who hasn't been baptized yet, and a whole family that was so happy to hear an American talk in Bisaya that they let us in to teach their whole family.

I know that when we actively seek and heed the guidance of the Spirit, we aren't alone in our efforts. We will be directed and guided for our good. Without it, we'll surely fail.

We have one investigator that is REALLY progressing. Once we forgot to give him a reading assignment from the Book of Mormon and he texted us later that night asking for one! He came to church and actively participates in all the classes. He even invited his girlfriend to join in on our lesson and now she's reading the Book of Mormon too. His parents aren't willing to let him be baptized yet though, so we are all just praying for their hearts to be softened, and that they will see how much happiness that gospel is bringing their son and can bring them too!

We had Zone Interviews this week, which happen every five months (I've already been here 5 months?) It was very edifying to talk with President Tanner, and get some aircon in the middle of our work hours!

I'm really loving spending a second transfer in the same area. It's wonderful to know the area, discover more people, learn quicker routes, and develop relationships with the members.

We have planned a branch temple trip to Cebu Temple in November, a branch FHE, and a Branch Christmas party this December!

Later today for P-day, we are going to a nearby beach resort for a bbque with the Branch President and his wife and a few of the members. They said it is their tradition to do that for their missionaries each year. So sweet!

​

ayo, ayo!

-sister bertoldo

Birthday Week!

I had the best birthday so far because I got to spend it surrounded by the Filipino people here in Bogo. I got to spend it here in the Philippines under the heat and the palm trees and the flowers and teaching and testifying to people of the truthfulness of the gospel in Bisaya. I love this crazy language, and constantly learning new words. 

I also got to teach an FHE lesson this week. We had about 30 people there. I used an analogy of three cotton balls. One got no rubbing alcohol (doesn't keep the commandments) one got a little bit of alcohol (sometimes keeps the commandments) and the third was completely doused in alcohol (always keeps the commandments). Then I set them all on fire. The first one masiga dayon. The second one burned more slowly, but still burned. The third one stayed a white cotton ball despite the flames. We then discussed how the commandments are a protection to us and how they strengthen us from within. Then we played games and ate pancit, bread, and soda (a Filipino party classic haha). 

This week I learned how to weave a puso na saging (hanging rice)! But I'm not sure if I remember, I may have to be shown again haha.

I spent the day after my 21st birthday throwing up, but not for the usual reason 21-year-olds throw up. I hadn't eaten all morning, then at lunch I ate 1/2 a kilo of landsonies I bought off the street, followed up with cold water (shocking to the system in this heat) and a LOT of walking. Then during the last lesson of the day, I felt soooo nauseous. I managed to finish the lesson and get out of the Nanay's house before I started vomiting up the water and fruit. Then it was awkward because the lady and my companion are both rubbing my back and holding my hair and suggesting things like massages and menthol oils (the cure for EVERYTHING here haha) but after getting it all out of my system, I was totally fine.

I hope you all had the chance to hear General Conference! We just barely got to watch it this weekend, and it was wonderful! I especially loved President Monson's simple and direct invitation to live the gospel and be an example to others. 

https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/october-2015-general-conference-invitations-from-the-prophet?cid=HP_SU_10-4-2015_dPTH_fCNWS_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng

Last night we had a choice experience. We went out to work in this little baranguay on the mountainside. We have been praying to find investigators. We were seeking the name of a potential investigator in the area book. Instead we found her sister who agreed to listen to us. She then invited her cousin, her two sisters and her cousin's wife! Nindot! Soon, Sister Dayhop and I found ourselves teaching the message of the Restoration to five young women! One left before the lesson began, one left before the lesson ended. Of the 3 that stayed for the whole lesson, 2 actively participated. Of the two that participated, one requested for us to continue teaching her and set an appointment. 

That is the difficulty of missionary work. We need to talk to MANY people if we want to find ONE who is actually prepared and ready to accept the gospel into their lives. I'd like to invite all of you to talk about the gospel to your friends and peers and passersby. The Gospel is the way to happiness. Walay laing agianan. Without the help of members, without the courage of the members to speak up and share the truth, the work can't progress!

"As members of the Church, we are responsible to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to illuminate the great blessings that flow from heeding God's commandments as well as the inevitable consequences of ignoring them. We invite you to pray that people everywhere will have their hearts softened to the truths of the gospel and that wisdom will be granted to those who are called upon to decide issues critical to society's future." -Elder M. Russell Ballard "The Lord Needs you Now" ALSO SEE Mosiah 2:41

Sigi, wala na, amping kanunay!

-sister bertoldo

Pagkananay

Kamusta!

I'm feeling more like a "real" missionary as a trainer- I get to take initiative and make things happen. It's scary, in a good way

 Right now we are working on strengthening less active members through:

1. Setting up Home and Visiting teaching

2. FHE every Saturday night at a different LA's house

3. bringing active members as kuyog

4. Inviting EVERYONE to attend General Conference

My new companion is a huge blessing....she is pure Bisayan. My past companions spoke English and Tagalog and learned Bisaya here on the mission, but Sister Dayhop is PURE Bisaya. I just copy her pronunciation all day, and she's under strict orders to correct what I say wrong. It's so helpful. I know enough of the language to teach, but I want to expand my ability to: fluency- I want to really converse and relate to the people. It's hard to be patient with myself in the language! I'm really loving Bisaya.

Favorite new foods:

1. Landzones and rambutan fruit.....for description, read 1 Nephi 8:11 (haha)

2. Tamarind candy, imported from Thailand, it's so good! Not sweet, more like "aslum".

3. Natural Ginger candy....Relieves stress. So good!

4. Fresh Lato (a type of seaweed) with vinegar and boiled camotes.

You can't imagine unsa ka lami until you eat it for yourself!

Great Teaching Experience as a Trainer:

We were in a lesson. I felt a lot of pressure leading, opening, inviting, teaching, TALKING! I started getting scrambled, like my thoughts wouldn't align and I was messing up my Bisaya and trying to memorize things on the spot. Then I paused and a wave of calm came over me and I felt the words "you don't need to do everything. Let your companion talk, she has something to say" So I stopped talking and turned to her. She proceeded to relate a personal story to them that was just what they needed to hear. The Spirit filled the room. She was crying so it became my turn to take over and continue the lesson. Without thinking or reading anything, I just tied the lesson into her experience and into the commitment for them in seamless Bisaya. The words just came. I know that when we let the Spirit work instead of trying to do everything on our own, mahimong ta malampuson. 

"Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" -Alma 32:21

cge amping mo, kita kits!

sister bertoldo