Kung Walang mga Pagsubok, Walang mga Pugunlad at Kagalakan

My Dearest Friends and Family,


     Unfortunately, I have been sent home from my mission to receive medical help.  This past weekend, the fact that I needed medical help became too obvious to ignore, so my Mission President suggested I be sent home for help.


     It hurts my heart to write this, because I loved my mission so much.  I treasure every moment-both the trials and the achievements.  I wish I could still be out there serving the Filipinos; trying anything to make them laugh; complimenting them in every possible way to build their self esteem; testifying of Christ with every fiber of my Being; teaching the children how to follow along in hymn books; singing "I am a Child of God" with the children; praying with the members for the success of the Work of Salvation; falling to my knees to plead for guidance in this work; sweating everyday under the hot sun to find the One who is prepared to receive the restored Gospel; sharing the people's sorrows by simply sitting and crying with them; witnessing true conversion in progressing investigators; reading the Book of Mormon with less active members; waiting eagerly at the door of the church on Sundays to see if our investigators arrived; shedding tears of joy while witnessing someone come unto Christ by entering the waters of baptism; feeling peace and joy when an investigator learns the true steps to prayer; hearing one of our new converts stand up in fast and testimony meeting and say with conviction, "Alam ko po na totoong propeta po si President Thomas S. Monson", when for so long we pleaded with God to help us know how to help him gain a testimony in living prophets; soaking in the beauty of each sunset at 6:25 pm; and going to bed exhausted, knowing I worked hard the whole day.  I will treasure these moments for eternity.


    And though my time was cut short, I know God is aware of my situation.  I know He loves me, and wants me to receive the help I need to become the instrument He needs me to be in this life.  My fervent prayer is that I will never forget what I learned on my mission.  Though it was short, I learned life lessons.  I learned of true conversion.  I learned how to truly come unto Christ.  I now just need to make sure I incorporate all of this beauty into my life here at home.  I pray that I can get the help I need.  I am hopeful.  This first while will be hard. I know it will.  My thoughts turn back to my mission constantly, and oh, how I long to be back there.


   However, again, I testify that God is aware of my situation.  He is aware of ALL of our situations.  He wants us to experience everything in this life that will prepare us to enter into His Kingdom.  I know that each individual has their unique trials to face in order to be molded into the character Heavenly Father knows we can develop.  He sees us as how we can become.  It is our job to faithfully and hopefully accept God's will and always move forward with conviction in our hearts that this is God's Plan of Salvation.  We accepted His plan when we chose to come to earth.  I know I chose to be here.  I know without a doubt that in the Pre-mortal world, I shouted for joy for this earthly experience.  So, amidst my trials I will forever magtiis hanggang wakas (endure to the end).  I know that though I have broken, I will one day be mended fully and completely sa pamamagitan ng pagpabayad-sala ni JesuCristo (through the Atonement of Jesus Christ).  His atoning sacrifice is both redeeming and enabling.  Let us all come to know Christ a little more personally as we endure this life with joy.


I love you all.  I am sorry I couldn't stay out and continue to serve in the Philippines.  But I promise you all, my mission is not over.  It never will be.  I will work and work until "The work is done"!

The Standard of Truth has been erected;

no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;

persecutions may rage, mobs may combine,

armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but

the truth of God will go forth

boldly, nobly, and independent,

till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime,

swept every country, and sounded in every ear,

till the purposes of God shall be accomplished

and the great, Jehovah shall say,

"The work is done!"

Crazy Week!!

wow, what a magulo week!  every thing was weird, haha.  So, Sister Butler, my MTC companion, has been my house mate during this transfer.  It has been her adn her comp and then me and mine.  She went home this week... :(  SHe was struggling with depression and stuff.  So then I got put into a threesome with me, sis perez, and sister Dial (Sis Butler's comp).  We had to work in TWO different areas!!  wow, rough!  We were running around like crazy!  Really hard.  It will be like this until Thursday (transfer day).  I can't believe I am already done with another transfer!  wow.

Okay, sorry if this email is way confusing.  I don't have any time because I had other people to write and such!  But Brother Conrado was baptized last Saturday!!!!! Yay!  He is doing so great!  Magaling siya talaga!  REally though.  He goes around himself and is introducing himself to the ward.  It is great.  I hope he keeps staying strong.

We also met this AMAZING family last Monday.  We had a referral from the Ochoco family.  We had FHE with the Ochoco's and the family they referred.  Then on Tuesday we visited the family by themselves.  wow, so humble.  I love them!  We already extended a soft baptismal invitation to them twice and they accepted!  We pray they keep progressing and really come to know for themselves of the truth.  We can't set a specific baptism date with them yet because they aren't married....  They have four beautiful children.  the oldest is seven.  

We also wanted to extend IBDs to Melody and Arnel and STILL haven't been able to because they are never both home!  Satan is working on them.  Please pray for them.

OH! We met a golden family!  So there are these two sisters we went to teach.  they are awesome and have so many wonderful questions.  When we went to teach them this weekend, their older sister joined our lesson.  wow, she is so prepared TOO!  It wasn't our plan to talke about Joseph Smith's first vision, but the Spirit prompted- so I pulled out the pamphlet and turned to the picture of Joseph smith's first vision and explained it and the 1st vision.  She immediately started to describe how she was feeling.  She said that she always does bible study because she is catholic, but that she has NEVER felt the way she did when she saw the picture of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.  she said she felt chills even thoough is was mainit.  She said she felt it in her back and through her whole body.  she said she knows something is different about our church.  Wow, the spirit bore witness to me that I really am testifying of the true church.  We testified that her feelings were from the Holy Ghost. She committed to read the intro to the BOM and pray to know for herself.  Also, we asked if the three of them would come to church.  The two younger said yes, but the oldest sister (the one who felt so strongly about the first vision) said she couldn't come becasue of work.  We asked her the days she works and asked her if she could try to work saturdays instead of sundays.  Then on sunday, SHE CAME!  Wow!  We are so happy for this family.  they have 6 kids and their mom.  We are hopeful that we will eventually be teaching ALL SEVEN of them! :)  and sister Aurea already has an IBD for May 14th!  Please pray for this golden family!

I love you all!  My time is up.  I know God lives.  I testify that our Savior Jesus Christ has His arms outstretched for us all to come unto Him.

Love!!!!!

sister Wright

Hello!

Wow, what a beautiful week.  My heart is full.  I just can't quite express my love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I have learned so much thus far.  It's weird to think that in 5 days, I'll have been out for 4 months!  What?  Where has the time gone? So brother Conrado had his baptismal interview this past saturday and passed!  He is all set for this Saturday to be baptized!  I am so excited for him!  He is so ready for the step in his life.  I feel so blessed to have been able to witness his conversion right before my eyes.  His very countenance has changed over these past 5 weeks.  It's been amazing to see the Atonement take effect in his life.  wow, I love this Gospel.  He is so funny.  he always gives me advice because I am a foreigner.  His last advice was, "Sister Wright, let me give you some advice- Filipinos are peace-loving, religious, and hospitably people."  haha, after this I kinda waited for the 'advice' part, but it never came.  he just made that statement.  haha!  So funny!  But I will treasure his "advice" forever :)  Also, he wants me to be the one to play the piano for his baptism.  It's my pleasure to help him have the perfect day, because he really deserves it :) Wow, sister Perez and i witness so many miracles this week.  We extended three new baptismal dates!  And then with Bro Conrado, we have 4 baptismal dates!  We are very happy.  we plan on extending at least two more baptismal comittments to the Hermusura family this upcoming week.  We also get to meet a referral tonight at an FHE.  So exciting!  The work really is moving forward.  I know that God's Hand is in this work-it is HIS work. Okay, side note.  It is SO hot.  Really though.  It keeps getting hotter!  I'm worried if I'll survive, haha.  I have heat rashes every where.  I moved my mattress on to the floor so I could have the fan blow directly on my face all night!  If you don't wake up every so often to change positions, then you'll wake up in a pool of sweat.  Haha, you think I'm exagerating??- I'm not. A bummer from this week, was that a lot of our investigators and less active members committed to church this week, and then they didn't come yesterday.  this really hurt my heart.  I am coming to really love these people.  And I know that the Gospel will make them happy.  so when they don't keep their commitments, it's sad.  they sounded so certain that they would come to church too. It wasn't just a soft head nod with a muttered "oo sister". (which we get often, haha) they were more like, "Opo sister, pupunta kami sa church bukas."  It took me awhile to snap out of the discouragement.  Pg 10 of PMG says we can't get discouraged as missionaries.  I'm trying to balance my sadness and love for these people and not allow it to discourage me.  I am grateful though, because I prayed for help to snap out of it and renew my faith for another day of work.  so then sister Perez and I went out after church and worked hard once again :) I know this work it true.  I love being a missionary.  Even more, I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  you are right, mom, the Gospel IS love.  God's plan would be frustrated if Christ wouldn't have shown us such perfect love and given His life for the plan of salvation. Love you ALL!! sister Wright

Love from the Philippines

Mahal ko sa lahat!  Grabe, talaga.  sobrang mainit dito!  Grabe.  Bakit!?

Basically, this is what I say every day of my life.  haha.  good luck figuring it out ;)

Okay, I love it here in the Philippines.  I had a life changing experience last Friday.  It is so hard to explain what the Spirit taught me, but I will try.  My companion gave me a talk to read.  It is called "The Fourth Missionary"  It changed my whole perspective of the mission.  I thought I had been changed from the Zone conference.  Now I feel even more changed.  I realize how much growing I need to do here on this earth.  I have such a long way to go.  But I am grateful for the experiences I am having that are helping me become who God wants me to become.  Basically four different types of missionaries were described.  the fourth is someone who surrenders their whole heart to the work.  the thing is, when I read the talk, I classified myself as a third missionary.  The third sacrifices everything but still holds on to their own desires.  they are still successful but not as happy as they could be because they are inwardly fighting their own natural desires.  Even if they are good desires (ex. schooling when you return from mission, life goals, future family, temple etc.)  The author talked about a fourth missionary lock away EVERYTHING and desires with their whole heart to serve the Lord.  when I was reading this, I was overwhelmed as to how big the task seemed.  But then, the mission president said, "don't think this is unreachable"  It is a mindset that you can change immediately, right now!"  It is hard to explain, but after reading this, I locked away everything.  I changed my mind set.  And I have witnessed profound joy as I have done this. I have surrendered my heart to this work-the Lord's work.  I promise to be His servant for the next 15 months and until the day I die and then for eternity!  I will fight this great cause forever.

Okay investigators: Please please pray for Brother Arnel and Sister Melody.  They have two cute children.  they are golden.  We worry about them coming to church because one of the kids is so so crazy!  Hard to control.  sister Melody worries that she would be hard to manage in church.  but I know the Gospel would bless their life.  Last night, we were going to extend the invitation to be baptized to them, but Brother Arnel wasn't there!  Bummer!  Next time for sure.  Please pray that she will have the faith to take her family to church.  She knows the Book of mormon is true.  And please pray they will accept the baptismal date.  Please pray.  I know prayers work.  It was the most beautiful experience last night.  We sang Families can be together forever.  Her two children put their heads close to their mother's in order to see the words.  We all sang, and as I looked at this image with these two children and their mom singing this song about families, I got choked up.  wow, I envisioned this family one day being sealed in the temple.  wow.  Even now, tears fill my eyes.  Please pray for them.  I want so badly for them to accept the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Brother Conrado is still doing well.  He still asks about President Thomas S. Monson.  Please pray that he will receive an undeniable witness when he listens to conference that President Monson is a true prophet who receives revelation from God.  He is excited for his baptism, talaga.  I'm excited too! He asked me how I knew Pres Monson was a prophet.  I shared an experience of when I attended the conference center and how I felt when Pres Monson entered the room and everyone went silent and stood as he walked in.  Wow, the Spirit bore witness to me that what I was saying was true.

Brother Edward.  Oh please pray for him.  He is 20 years old.  He wants to be baptized.  But him and his girl friend have to be married first.  She is a returning less active.  they really are doing well.  But sister Ailene doesn't want to marry him until she is sure he has changed and will be a good father.  He is trying to stop smoking.  so hard.  He has completely stopped drinking and is down to one cigarette a day.  Please pray that he will have the strength to overcome these addictions.

Also, my heart aches for the Less active members and recent converts who have fallen away.  It hurts to know people enter into such sacred covenants and then fall away.  It really wrenches at my heart.  some times, I have a more tender spot in my heart for these people that we teach than our investigators just for the fact that they have already promised their Heavenly Father to endure to the end and now they aren't.  It is hard to explain how I feel.  but please pray for the members in your areas back home.  they need your love.  Please fellowship those who are lonely.  Visit those in your ward that you do not know.  Please invite families over for dinner.  Please help the busy young mothers and invite families over for FHE.  Please build zion in your individual areas.  Please, let us all help God fulfill this great and necessary work of Salvation.

I testify of the truthfulness of this great work.  If any of you are questioning, please email me.  If any of you are thinking life is just too hard right now, fall to your knees and seek Heaven's help.  I promise you, as a set apart representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that God will hear and answer your prayers. Show Him your faith.  Pray daily.  Treasure the Words of the scriptures and apply them into your life.  Attend church.  Serve others.  Love with your whole heart.  Let the Lord change you.  If any of you are feeling overwhelmed with blessings and life seems pretty good, pray even harder and longer and THANK Him for your blessings.  Stay humble and help those who are hurting.  I love you all!  Please stay strong! I can't wait until we meet again.  

Love you!

Sister Wright

Come Unto Christ

This week has been one of the most inspiring weeks of my mission.  I have every intention to become a better missionary.  Wednesday was a Quad-zone Conference.  Elder Ardern of the seventy came to speak to us. He is area of the seventy for Philippines. Wow, it was amazing.  I learned so much.  There was a part where he talked about "meeting Christ".  He talked about how hard we should be working as missionaries.  He said that it should be to the point where when our mothers see us at the airport when we return home, that she says, "honey, what happened to you!!??  You look...exhausted.  what happened????"  And then he said how he hopes we will be able to answer, "Mom, I met Christ." Truly coming unto Christ takes every effort on our part.  It is a journey that will exhaust us, and yet, it will be the most beautiful journey we ever experience.  I have had time to ponder this.  what does it mean to "meet Christ"?  elder Ardern talked about how if we want to keep full and complete enthusiasm in this work, we must increase our Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  It doesn't happen over night.  It is a life-long journey.  I pray that when I see you, mom, that I will be able to confidently say, "Mom, I met Christ.  I am a witness of the miracle of the Atonement changing people's lives.  I have been placed in the furnace of trials, disappointments, and tests of my own faith; and I have come to learn of the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I couldn't have done this mission without Him-my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Friend."

It's hard to explain all of the emotions I felt during that conference.  but it truly changed my perspective of the mission life.  I even wrote in my journal that night, and I wrote the date real big at the top of my journal page and said, pointing to the date, "Let THIS be the beginning of my mission"  I have every desire to be fully converted to this work!  Not that I wasn't working before my this day.  Just that the beauty of this life, is that through the Atonement, we can always become better.  Our life journey is to learn to become like Him.  And I have a long ways to go, haha.

Okay, on to the events of lately!  Brother Conrado!  he is our investigator who is getting baptized April 5th!  Yay!  Sobrang magaling po siya, talaga.  sobrong receptive din siya!  He is so prepared for baptism.  His desires are truly to become like Christ.  He is even trying to open up and share this glad message with his family.  they won't let us teach them.. they say they don't have time for it.  Pero I know that miracles happen when the first one in a family to come unto Christ is the father.  His family will follow one day-I know it :)  But please pray for him.  He is doing much better and believes in President Thomas S. Monson as a prophet now, pero he had a really hard time with the concept of living prophets in these latter days.  We've poured our hearts out time and time again testifying of Joseph Smith, the restoration of the Priesthood, and how the authority has continued on to President Thomas S. Monson.  It has been a journey with him.  Pero, in a way I am grateful, because I have found that my own testimony of prophets has increased immensely.  I find myself thanking our Heavenly Father in prayer for prophets and their guidance in these latter days.  I find myslef thanking Him with a more sincere heart.  This work is true.  I testify.  I testify.  If any of you question or wonder, study the book of mormon, pray, ask God, I promise you will receive a witness.  Again, I testify with my whole heart of the truthfulness of this work.  Pinatotohanan ko po na totoo po ito.

I also testify of the miracles that come when missionaries are STRICTLY obedient!  There was one night when we finished a lesson.  Then sister perez asked me what time it was.  I said, 7:48 pm.  WE are supposed to go home at 8.  We were wondering...should we just go home twelve minutes early?  There's not really enough time to do anything...  But, then we were like, NO we will be strictly obedient.  Thank goodness we chose the right!  We found a new investigator!!!  She let us teach her right then and there.  We've taught her only twice now and she has agreed to prepare to be baptized as she comes to know the truth for herself!  wow, I promise that when we follow perfectly to the commandments of God.  He will bless us.  He has a plan for us.  We must follow it.

I know that God lives.  He loves us.  I pray that each and every one of us, including myself, will make a greater effort to come unto Christ.  Learn of Him.  Read about Him.  Cry unto our Father in Heaven in Christ's name.  Love Him.  Love as He loves.  Serves as He serves.

I love you all!

Sister Wright

Tender Mercies

If I were to choose two words for this week, they would be "Tender Mercies".  Of course, some moments were really hard.  The mission is hard; however, if I were to summarize this week-it was a beautiful week.

The church is more established here in Sevilla.  There is a lot of progress.  In our one ward there are four sets of sister missionaries!  Wow!  We are working hard for this sweet little ward.  

Okay, I think I am just going to start by talking about the sweet moments of this week that really touched my heart:

First- "It is GOOD to be here!"  During mine and Sister Perez's companionship study, we read from the White Missionary Handbook.  We were reading from the very beginning about our purpose as a missionary and "How great is [our] calling!"  As we had a discussion together about our purpose here, our hearts were filled with the Spirit testifying to us that, yes, it really is good to be here!  I was so touched.  It is really hard to describe how I felt, but I was just reassured that I am here for the best cause possible.  I am privilaged to be apart of God's work 24/7.  what a blessing it truly is.

another blessing is my companion.  I am learning so much from her.  She loves to work.  She is teaching more about the importance of trying our very hardest to work towards the goals we set. We both are such goal-oriented people so it helps us stay driven in this great cause!  she is also a wonderful teacher during lessons.  Our companionship unity during lessons is actually quite impressive.  I know it is the blessing of the Spirit.  We pray so fervently everyday that the Spirit will guide our lessons.  We had a really cool experience where we hadn't prepared a lesson for some one we weren't planning on teaching one day.  When we were opening the lesson with a hymn, I was silently praying that the Spirit would help us know what we needed to teach.  The word "service" popped into my mind.  I haven't had a lot of practice teaching this lesson, but I trusted i the Lord.  I was leading the lesson, so I just introduced the topic of Service flat out.  the lesson went well.  Then after the lesson, sister Perez asked me, "so did you really feel that we should teach service"  I told her I did.  Then she told me how as she was giving the opening prayer she was also silently praying for what to teach, and service came to her mind as well.  I testify that the Holy Ghost really is our teacher and guide.  I testify that if we pray to our Father in Heaven, He will bless us with the Spirit.  It is so important to live worthy of the Spirit, because the Spirit is the true teacher who will help people begin their conversion process.

Another blessing from my companion is that this past week she said three words that struck me.  She really doesn't even know how much they affected me.  we were talking about how some missionaries don't understand the work here.  and then she said,  "we just need to LIVE THIS LIFE"  those words have stuck with me.  I just need to fully get lost in this work and live this life!

Okay, now my most treasured tender mercy this week- We were in a lesson with a less active member.  His name is Brother Temi.  He is 21 yrs old.  Our plan was to teach L1P1 (God is our Loving Heavenly Father).  When we were about to start I thought, 'is this really what he needs?  He already knows about God because he is member...'  But even though I had this thought, I kept going with talking about God, our Heavenly Father.  I'm so grateful we did.  I picked out that my thought was MY thought, and not the Spirit's thought.  so here we were, teaching the very first principle of the very first lesson.  We asked Brother Temi about his relationship with God.  We asked him about his prayers.  we asked him how he felt about God being our literal Father in Heaven.  etc.  wow, these thought provoking questions caused me to ponder for myself.  While my companion was speaking, I found myself trying to answer these questions for myself.  I was filled with the Spirit.  Then it was my turn to talk.  I started talking and then I was so overwhelmed with the Love of God that my voice shook.  I had to stop talking and my companion took over.  I sat there in amazement with the love that was filling my heart.  Tears silently streamed down my cheeks.  It is hard to explain, but I felt our Heavenly Father's love for Brother Temi, Sister Perez, our member worker, and me so strongly.  I will never forget the feeling.  wow.  I also was so humbled.  Here I was taking the first principle of the first lesson for granted.  Who am I to judge what someone needs to hear?  It is the Spirit who is the senior companionship.  I am in a tri-companionship-- me, sis perez, and the Holy Ghost.  It was such a toucing experience.

I testify that God lives!  He is our literal Father in Heaven.  He loves us more than we can comprehend.  I have felt His love for me and for the Children here in the philippines.  His work will continue to more forward. Because He is our Heavenly Father, He wants us to return to His presence. He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide the way for us.  Oh, how grateful I am for my Loving Heavenly Father.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Wright

Sivilla

Kumusta sa lahat! So I have been transferred to a new area.  I am now in San Fernando zone and my area is Sivilla ward.  My new companion is Sister Perez.  She is filipino too and is 21.  I am hopeful that we will be able to work really hard together and help this work move forward in this area.  It's really different from Agoo zone though!  I miss Agoo... however, I know this is where the Lord wants me to be.  I miss my last companion, but I know I will get to know sister Perez and it'll be good.  She WORKS!  So she is 5 ft and her legs are so short-but she walks so so fast! We book it down the street!  Haha, it's really good.  She really likes to work.  she tries her very hardest to teach as many people as she can. I think it will really help me completely get lost in this great work. Fortunately I was able to witness the Nieva family's baptism before I left Agoo!  It was beautiful!  It was in the ocean because the font isn't finished in the church yet.  also, I have pictures of the baptism on my camera but I don't dare to use put them on this computer because someone told me that this computer shop will erase all your pictures!  It really was a beautiful baptism though.  I hope they are doing well.  It was really hard for me to leave them and the others we were teaching.  Especially sister Martin.  she was the very first person I ever extended a baptismal date to.  We went through a lot with her.  I hope she is doing well.  she was a witness of the power of the Book of Mormon to me.  We were almost about to drop her, but we persisted that she read the book of mormon and act.  Once she read the sacred words in the book of mormon, her countenance changed.  Her prayers became beautiful and she wasn't nervous to pray in front of us anymore.  She came to church.  she wanted to learn more.  We extended a new baptismal date to her the day before I left.  It was so hard to tell her I was leaving.  We were both sad.  I pray that she loves sister Cardenio's new companion and really is baptized April 29th. Oh also, the Baloran family invited us over for FHE the night before I left agoo.  We had an awesome meal and they had me and sister nott make it!  so masarap! Like I said, the work here in Sivilla is different.  It is farther along than in Agoo.  I will be teaching way more lessons here.  Hopefully this will help me with my Tagalog.  The language is rough!  I am finding that we have many people to teach here; however there are many Special cases here.  For example, people who wanna be baptized but they aren't married and their partner refuses to marry.  Or they were married before and now they live with someone else and have a family with them.... you see, you aren't allowed to get a divorce here.  so...if people get married then separate and live with someone else, we have to figure out what to do to help them be worthy of baptism.  It's really tough to work around. My time is almost up.  but know that I love you all!  This work is true!  God lives and loves us more than we can imagine.  I testify that if we give our whole hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be happier than we have ever been.  Never forget to put God first (3 Nephi 13:19-21, 31-34). I love you all! Love, Sister Wright Making Dinner for FHE

CHARITY-pure love of Christ

Hello everyone!  I titled this email Charity because I am learning so much about it.  I have so much to learn, too.  But really, I'm learning lessons that I didn't even know I needed to learn.  For example, I have always been someone who views strict obedience as being of utmost importance (and it is!!), but now I'm learning that love is perhaps even greater.  I have come to realize that I cannot teach without the pure love of Christ.  When we love with His love, we invite the Spirit, when we have the Spirit, we teach with power and authority, and when we teach with power and authority the Spirit testifies to those we teach and they become converted unto the Lord.  It is a beautiful process.  I have seen this mostly with my companion.  She is wonderful.  We have so many differences, but I have learned so much from her.  At first, I was so impatient when we weren't on time, or we didn't do things EXACTLY how I thought we should.  Don't get me wrong, obedience is importance, but I am learning that I need to learn PATIENCE and LOVE.  Some times it may be just a bit more important to think of my companion before myself and love her with Christ's love.  As I have tried very hard to always do this and have really tried to learn the Filipino ways from her, we have been able to teach with more unity and with the Spirit ever present.  I have seen direct results from this.  The people we have been teaching have actually been coming to church!  Both our investigators and Less actives!  Yesterday brought a smile to my face as so many of them attended church :)  It really is a miracle if they come.  Many of them live so far away from the church, and they don't have money to pay for the fair to take a tryke to church.  It makes me so sad, as I realize that growing up I should have been more grateful for my many blessings.  I lived right across the street from the church.  And when it snowed, we some times would drive????.....haha.  but let's be real, it's not snowing here any time soon.  Jokelang. :) Okay, Kenneth Woo Woo!  My dear little brother!  There are so many things here that make me think of you and I literally laugh out loud!  I saw this FUNNY looking cow and I busted out loud thinking of how you would make fun of it!  Haha! Also, I drink warm Gatorade here!  Just like during lawns!  Wow, I love you little bro.  Stay strong buddy.  And I hope you are enjoying US Synthetic, but keep up with our business too!  I miss lawns! During my personal study I read Alma 17: 2 It reads "Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and WHAT ADDED MORE TO HIS JOY, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God."  wow, tears came to my eyes as I thought of all you back home.  I hope with my whole heart that all of you are doing well.  I hope that when we meet again, we will still be "brethren in the Lord".  Stay strong family and friends.  Search the scriptures diligently.  Know the word of God.  Wax strong in the knowledge of the truth.  Love you all. Okay our baptism was moved to bukas.  It was supposed to be this last week, pero many different trials came up and the branch all went to Baguio because someone from the the general young women presidency was speaking.  So... we moved the baptism.  so many obstacles are approaching!  Please pray that this baptism will happen tomorrow!  The family is staying strong though. Okay we have a new investigator!  Her house is in the middle of no where!  Wow, we hike to get there.  But it is beautiful scenery the whole way!  I was tagged in a picture on FB standing in rice fields!  I took this pic specifically for my sweet little niece, Paisley!  I promised her I would send her a picture of me in a rice field. :)  I hope you liked it, my little angel!  Anyway, to get to this house we also have to walk through a corn field on this skinny path!  So cool!  But our investigator is doing well!  She was a referral that we took forever trying to find last week haha.  No phone numbers...just an area and then we have to ask people if they know so and so and try to find it haha.  I feel very hopeful for her! Also, our other investigator is progressing too!  She came to church for the second time :)  I love her so much :)  She is the very first person ever in the Philippines that I extended a baptismal invitation to :) So many of our less actives came to church!  Yay!  It really rejuvenated my hope as my comp and I saw the "fruits of our labors" at church this week :) We were all sick a couple weeks ago and missed a couple days of work.  So my comp and I made a companionship goal to eat more vegetables :) :)  We have been making the best lunches!  We practice the language while making awesome Filipino dishes and we just add TONS of veggies to it!  Wow, delicious!  Mom, I told my housemates that my mom would be so proud of me to see me preparing meals.  Because you know how impatient I am when it comes to preparing food :) usually i like to just eat right away BECAUSE I'M HUNGRY ALL THE TIME, but I've been patient and chopping many many many veggies and cooking rice. etc.  My time is ending sooner than I though!  Ah!  I love you all!  I testify that this work is God's work.  The work is hastening.  God loves us All!  More than we can imagine!  Love you! Love, Sister Wright

Count your many blessings

So, if I am completely honest, this week was really really really rough for a variety of different reasons.  Pero, I know that one of the best cures for rough times, is to count your many blessings!  So, in this email I am going to do just that :)

1.  One of our families plan to be baptized THIS SATURDAY :)

2.  While teaching our family with the Baptism, we sang Love at Home with the children.  Wow, moments like singing hymns with children remind me every time of Christ's love for us.  In this moment, I was filled with gratitude to be on a mission with these beautiful people.

3.  On Valentine's Day, we were punted over and over and over again...PERO along the way as we walked wondering who we should visit because people were hiding from us... we came across these kids.  I decided to talk to them. I played catch with them for just a few minutes and laughed with them.  Then a few of the little girls gave me flowers and said in English, "happy valentine's day!" So cute!  I think I was tagged on FB of this picture, the one with me and a group of kids with flowers :) what a treasured moment!

4.  I witnessed a miracle in one of our investigators.  there is an investigator who we were planning on dropping because she wouldn't keep her commitments.  We told her last time that she really needed to act.  then this time she actually read the intro to the Book of Mormon!  when she prayed, she really prayed.  Usually she doesn't want to.  but this time she really did.  and she asked to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet and if the Book of Mormon was true.  And then she came to church on Sunday!  wow, what a miracle.  what's even more amazing is that during this lesson, her mom kept saying-"there's only one God!"  and then when we quoted Joseph Smith's first vision this man who was listening to our lesson started laughing.  This was the first time I really felt rejected.  and it hurt to have people turn down this sweet lesson.  but even with all these distractions,  our inv. listened to us with real intent and prayed seriously.  wow, miracle.  I really felt the Spirit.

5.  I am becoming Filipino!  Such a great blessing haha.  My companion taught me how to make this Adobo and so sis. Nott and I made it for our house!

6.  the members here are a testimony to me of this work here in the Philippines.  some times it is so easy to get down about the hardships people face here.  You wonder some times, how it really is possible for them not to work on Sunday to go to Church.  Especially when they barely have enough fo their families.  but to see the strong members here, and how they testify that yes, the Gospel really does bless family situations when we keep the commandments!  It's touches my heart every time.

7.  I love my companion.  she gave me this white flour oil (mom, it is sorta like your tiger Mentholatum stuff for headaches).  When she gave it to me for my HAs, and I smelled it, I almost started crying because the smell reminded me of you, mom.  I love you so much.

8.  I could go on and on with blessings.  but I am out of time.  But the greatest blessing I witnessed and will ever witness, is the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I know He lives!  He loves us and strengthens us when we are weak.  Draw near unto Him, and I testify that He will ALWAYS reach out and draw nearer unto you.  Helping you every step of this mortal journey.  The greatest blessing of all.

I love you all!

Sister Wright

Baptism in the Ocean

Okay, so this past Saturday, 3 investigators were baptized!  They were my housemates, Sisters Rea and Nott's, investigators.  But the new converts are in my branch.  I hope that makes sense?  Anyway, their baptism was in the ocean!  So Cool!!  It originally was supposed to be at the church, pero walang baptismal font, kasi under renovations po ang simbahan. Sobrong maganda siya! As for my sweet little Nieva family, they baptism is most likely going to be postponed. :(  You see, they went out of town this sunday so they didn't go to church.  They have been going faithfully, but we feel they need some more time to prepare for their baptismal interviews.  They really are willing, but they learn a little more slowly, which is okay.  you see, my companion and I were studying in PMG about keeping new converts active members of the church for the rest of their lives.  It is so common here to become a member and then fall away a couple months later.  I do NOT want this happening to the precious souls I find and teach.  There is a quote in PMG from Pres. Hinckley about how missionary work is a waste if we don't keep the converts active and eventually have them make the sacred covenants in the temple.  the baptismal covenant is only the gaitway to heaven.  We really want to make sure they are prepared and understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We want them to fall in love with the Book of Mormon for themselves.  So that when we leave, their faith will be rooted in our Savior Jesus Christ and nothing or no one else. We had to be bold with a couple of our investigators because they don't keep comittments.  It's really a hard thing, pero we as missionaries are here to find the people God has prepared for us to teach.  There really are people who are ready to change now.  So, it hard, but if people aren't willing to change, we must move on and find those ready to COME unto Christ.  Come is an action word.  So though many people like to just listen to our message, our purpose as missionaries is "to invite others to COME unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel...."  So I am here to find the people who are ready to covenant with our Father.  We testified of this and asked many inspired questions to a few of our investigators.  I hope the Spirit bore witness to them of the truthfullness that faith without works is dead. Oh, side note.  Many of you have asked about how my hair is doing here in the Philippines.  Well, just look at the pictures that some of the members here are posting and you'll get a good idea....IT'S CRAZY!  Once upon a time I tried to straighten my hair-then ten minutes later it poofed again.  It is hopeless.  So yes, I've embraced the fact taht I will have poofy, wavy, crazy hair for the next 16 months.  Also, I'm getting fat.  Mom and dad,  the pounds you are losing I think are coming to me.  So, thank you?? Anyway, can all of you who read this PLEASE go eat Taco Amigo for me?  Yes, I know I just complained about being fat...but yes, I think of food all the time.  Also, Kyle bro, I know you love cheese too, so will you please eat a block of cheese for me!  Taco and Cheese are the things I am craving all the time!  Mom, you asked if I had eaten fish yet here.  So...I gathered my courage and tried fish balls.  Scary name, I know.  They were good though!  I tried squid today and almost threw up- end of that story...  Really though, I eat rice for every meal.  Is that healthy???  I really don't think I'm getting all my nutrients.  Probably one of my hardest things here is that I have headaches and migraines all the time.  I only drink one bottle of water a day....and I sweat all day.  It's because we are out all day and I need filtered water so I can't just get a drink anywhere.  I pray all the time that my headaches will subside and not distract me from this important work dito sa pilipinas. Oh, I sleep with three fans blowing on me.  And I probably look so funny as I sleep with my legs and arms spread like a star shape because I'm so hot.  Just thought I'd throw that in here. It's hot okay?- the end. Well my time is almost up!  Everyone, please pray for my investigators and less active members.  Please be member missionaries where ever you are!  People need YOU!  We are all called to the work.  I really have a special place in my heart for less actives too.  These precious children of God are under covenants with God.  Please do all you can to help them remember the covenants they can made and tenderly, lovingly, assist them back to our Heavenly Father.  I know this work is God's work.  Alam ko po na mapagmamahal po ang Ating Ama sa Langit.  At dahil mahanamahal po tayo ng Diyos, nais niya na makakabalik po tayo sa kanya.  So let's do all we can to helpl our brothers and sister return faithfully to our loving Father in Heaven.  I can't wait for the blessed day when I kneel at Jesus' feet.  I can't wait when I can thank Him face to face for what He suffered for me personally.  How grateful I am.  Let us all prepare to meet Him face to face.  I love you all!  Keep your hearts in this great work palagi! Love, sister wright!

A message from Agoo!

Kumusta po lahat kayo! Sorry for the short email last week everyone!  There were other emails I had to send out!  But just know I am doing so well!  Your love from America really helps me keep going strong :) So first off, the Nieva family is still doing well.  They are the family (mom and two daughters) who have a baptismal date for Feb 15th!  I can't wait!  It's funny how each Sunday my heart is so scared until I see them walk in!  I smile SO SO SO big every time I  see them walk in :)  I love them so much.  They really are so special, and I really do believe they want to be baptized for the right reasons.  The daughters would wear tank tops, but then when we taught them about modesty, they committed to follow it and I haven't seen them wear them since.  They are faithful. The other two with baptismal dates (Sister and her son) are scheduled for Feb 15th, but unfortunately we will probably have to postpone... they have missed a couple Sundays :(.  She mom has questions about the word of wisdom.  She has a hard time understanding why.  Please pray that she will be blessed to feel the Spirit and feel the blessings that come from living the Word of Wisdom.  She really does as questions of the soul, so I know she is interested!  Pray for her! Then our other sister who has an IBD is scheduled for Feb 22nd.  but she will have to postpone too.  :(  It's hard, but I'm trying to stay patient and hopeful that the power of the Atonement will take full effect in her life.  "Those who believe in God, might with surety HOPE for a better world"  (Ether 12:4) Last night was really tender.  We had a lesson with a family and so many children were there!  The family has four young kids, but then like 6 other neighbor kids joined our lesson because I greeted them and they thought it was so cool I was american, haha.  Anyway, so were were all gathered around sitting on the floor, and we sang I am a Child of God as our opening hymn.  Wow, how tears came to my eyes as I sang this precious song with so many of God's little children surrounding me! Moments like these make all the hard times worth it!  Really though.  I know we are ALL God's children!  Tapos mahalnamahal po tayo ng Diyos!  (God's loves us so much!) Oh mom, by the way, the picture of the leaf is the COOLEST THING EVER!!!!  So my kasama and me are walking down this beautiful path and she then picks a leafs and says, Sister Wright watch this!  Then she cracks the leaf and BLOWS BUBBLES FROM THE LEAF!!!!  What!?!?  Wow!  I was so so so amazed!  I couldn't believe this!  Bubbles from a leaf!????  I'm telling you...the Philippines is AMAZING on so many levels. The family I mentioned who had been having so many trials we haven't seen but once since :(  they aren't ever home anymore.  My heart hurts for them.  But I have to ask myself if they really are willing to change right now?  I'm not sure.  But I won't lose hope and I will always try to discern of the Spirit. Something hard this week was how many times we were PANTID!  this means that so many of our appts fell through.  Seriously, we saw people legitimately get up and hide from us!  Ouch....it made me wonder if I was doing something wrong.  It really hurt.  This whole week was like this!  It hurts to see people not wanting to hear your message.  But, I know I need to stay faithful. I had a really cool experience though.  So we were at this house this week that we had tried like three or four times and hadn't gotten anyone to come let us in!  So on Wednesday, we tried again, we were yelling "tao po!"  (people!)  And no one was coming.  My initial thought was 'why do we keep trying, we never get anyone to answer here..."  but then I remembered in PMG how it talks about never lowering your expectations.  So I decided to pray.  My prayer was simple- "Heavenly Father, if this sister really is willing to change and thou has prepared her for us to find, PLEASE let someone come to the gate...."  Immediately after I said Amen my kasama said "Hello po!"  I turned around to see someone just coming home from the palenke and let us in the gate!  Whoa.  I know God hears and answers prayers.  I know without a doubt that He has prepared people for His missionaries to find and teach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I really hope we can help this sweet sister come unto Christ.  She is catholic, and is very very shy.  But I hope she felt the truthfulness of our message.  We have a return appt Tuesday :) Everyone,  I love you!  I know God lives.  I know Christ is our savior and Redeemer!  Please don't ever forget this.  I have been experiencing things I never expected to experience here on the mission.  It is full of things I've never experienced.  Some times I feel too weak to stretch as much as I have been required to stretch.  HOWEVER, my testimony is strengthen everyday knowing that I have made it through another day.  Jesus Christ walked beside me one more day and I know He will tomorrow too.  He is there for us All, not just me.  Trust in Him.  I love you all! Mahal kita! With love from the other side of the World, Sister Wright P.S.  Remember how I said it was HOT AND HUMID!?  Well, let me tell ya....over night it just got 25 degrees hotter I swear!  I have been dying today!  Really though!!!  They say its the beginning of summer now.  I believe it!  My face is always glistening with sweat!  Bubble blowing leaf!

Not much time

Let me tell you some good news!  I extended my first baptismal commitment this week!  It was during the first time teaching her a lesson too.  She was hesitant, but said yes, if she comes to know the truth.  I have high hopes for her.  We have another family we are teaching we plan to be baptized as well!  they are so sweet, and seem solid!  They have a sweet little one who is eight.  We sat by them in church.  It's so funny because she asks me all these questions in Tagolog and I have no idea what she is saying!  Haha :)  I just smile.... haha.  But really, I love her so much.  We are still praying for the Galera family.  Have I told you about her family?  I can't remember?

I know this experience here in the Philippines will make me strong. I am learning so much about life.  I know I will get used to it, but this week was hard because my heart hurt for the people.  I knew there would  be trials, but it is crazy.  For example, my heart hurts because I know how important the book of mormon is in the conversion process!  Go read chapter 5 of PMG (Preach my Gospel)!  BUT, many people here can't read very well, or they can't see and they can't afford glasses, so they can't read the Book of Mormon.  I don't know what to do!  It breaks my heart to see barriers such as these keep someone from reading the book I love and treasure so much.  My heart just aches.

HOWEVER, please know that my heart is full of joy as well.  Why?- because I know that the Lord sent me here.  I cannot deny the instruction I received in Doctrine and Covenants section 16 to come on a mission.  I know I am doing what the Lord would have me do.  Also, I know that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored on the earth.  What wonderful news to share with anyone who will listen!  God Lives!  Jesus Christ is His Son.  He came to earth and taught His Gospel, ministered to the wounded and afflicted, and suffered and died for us.  Through the Atonement of our savior Jesus Christ, I know we can be strengthened in our darkest moments.  I know this, because I have experienced the power of the Atonement in my life.  I know that Joseph Smith restored the Church here on earth and that He translated the Book of Mormon.  Oh how I love his faithful fight for God's Kingdom here on earth.  I am coming to understand more and more that it really is a fight.  Let us all fight for the sake of God's Kingdom.  Let us all open our mouths and declare the restored Gospel to ALL who will listen.  I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.  I know it!  What a blessing it is to wear Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day.  I pray I will never ashame His name.  I am a representative of Jesus Christ.  I have a renewed determination to live up to this sacred calling that I have. What a blessing!  Writing my testimony has brought joy to my heart.  It has reminded me of the reason I came out here. Let us all keep the faith.  Let us all try a little harder.  Pray a little more fervently; study a little more effectively; serve a little more purposefully; love a little more deeper; and count our blessings a little more often!

Love,

Sister Wright

AGOO!

Holy tolito!  Wow, talk about culture shock!  I am officially here in the Philippines!  Yay!  Wow, I am going to apologize right now in advance if this email makes no sense.  My thoughts are so jumbled right now, and Tagalog has officially ruined my english!  It is hard sometimes to structure sentences the english way haha.  Anyway, I have so many things to write, so I am sorry if it seems crazy.  Hopefully in the weeks to come, I will get better at writing more organized! So let me begin :) -Almost everything I heard about the Philippines is true! I ate with my hands for the first time, there is no toilet paper, most the toilets don't flush, I have rice for EVERY meal, it is BEAUTIFUL, there are geckos on the walls of our appt, the people are AMAZING, the food (rice) is good, IT IS SO HOT AND HUMID (and they say that January is the coldest month here!????!!!!!), oh and I wash my clothes in a bucket by hand!  Haha!  What a life, RIGHT!???!  :D -The Jeepneys here are awesome!  I also rode in a Tryke for the first time! Haha!  So cool- it is our main source of transportation if somewhere is too far to walk.  they are motorcycles with little side seats.  They are my favorite :) Okay, those are just some updates about the Philippines.  Now I will try to write more organized. My first area is AGOO!  It is the southern part of my mission.  I am grateful that I get to have this as my first area because they speak a lot of Tagalog.  You see, a lot of the missionaries don't like to serve in places like Baguio city because they speak so much english and it is hard to learn tagalog because they speak english most of the time.  But here in Agoo, trust me...it is not english!  And if it is...I definitely don't understand it. haha.  This area is beautiful.  My kasama and me are opening the area.  She has only been here for 3 months.  She is filipino so I am learning a lot from her about the culture.  When she speaks Tagalog, I rarely know what she is saying!  I am waiting for the day when I understand :)  Her name is Sis. Cardenio.  She is the smallest, sweetest thing ever!  I look like a giant compared to her!  Really though, I have never felt so tall in my life, everyone here is so tiny and short!  Anyway, I am excited because I can tell that I have so much to learn for my trainer.  Her spirit is so strong, it shines through her eyes.  She always has good intentions and her love for the people and other missionaries is out of this world.  Her love for me even is so pure and christlike.  When she said our companionship prayer one night, I started to cry as I was humbled and learned that I have such a long way before I can love others the way she loves.  It's amazing. Let me tell you.  Every little kid laughs at my Tagalog!  those twerps!  Jokelang :)  They are the cutest kids ever!  But they make fun of you.  The adults are really kind though, and patient.  Also, I never have felt so many eyes on me in my entire life!  So, once upon a time when I lived in America, I felt average in looks etc.  Then...remember that one time I stepped foot in the Philippines and I became the most beautiful thing anyone has ever seen?  Haha.  I walk down the street and I hear, "you are beautiful!" "can I have your number?" "wow!"  "I want your skin!"  "Beautiful lady!" "American!" "I love your hair and red cheeks!"  etc.  wow, it's really embarrassing.  My kasama says it's an advantage for her to have an american kasama because then people just want to talk to us because I am white :) haha.  so funny. The members are great here!  The sad thing is, though, is that people will get baptized and then fall away.  there is only 17% activity of the members...  Wow.  Our goal as a mission in to focus our work 50/50- 50% less actives and 50% investigators.  There is so much work to do here.  But the members who are active are so willing to help us become familiar with the area.  The young adults seem to be the strongest in the church!  We have a 21 yr old, and then teenagers helping us and coming with us to lessons.  I am amazed at their willingness to give their time to the service of the Lord.  They are wonderful ward missionaries.  Everyone, please help your wards by being ward missionaries!  Help strengthen the weak and also those in your areas who are members!  Us full time missionaries NEED your help!  Anyway, Sister Kaimi has been our biggest helper.  She is 21 and she just graduated as a nurse!  Yes!  :)  She has shown us where members live so we can build their trust.  She is coming with us to an investigators home tonight, too for a lesson.  She is great.  I am sending a picture that has the three helpers or ours.  church here in the philippines is geat.  Haha, it's loud!  Their church buildings don't have any doors so you hear people in the halls so you can't hear the lessons haha.  Oh also, I had to play the piano in their sacrament!  no one here really knows how.  Also, I had to get up and introduce myself during sacrament meeting.  I was amazed with how much Tagalog I was able to say as I shared a short message about a scripture!  But...then at the very end, I tried to say something, and after I said the sentence the whole congregation started to laugh (um...it wasn't supposed to be funny, I was intending to bear testimony of member missionary work....haha!)  I must have said something different than I intended!  haha!  Bless my heart! Another funny thing with Tagalog was after sacrament meeting.  I went up to the sister who said the closing prayer.  I shook her hand and I wanted to say, "Many thanks for your prayer."  but instead....I accidentally said, "Sister, many thanks for your name."  HAHA!  She gave me the weirdest look and just nodded to me and then looked away!  It took me a second to realize what I had said!  Oh dear, this is definitely a humbling experience :) Another funny thing-my hair is a LOST CAUSE here!!!  It is so humid that my hair POOFS!  One day, I tried to straighten in and get it to calm down, and literally 15 minutes later, it was poofy again!  Oh dear.  There is no use in me even trying to tame it. We have a lot of work to do here in Agoo.  We got our area book and the elders before us must have not been doing much...?  It is very incomplete...  it is really frustrating.  We really have spent the whole weekend trying to find where members live so they can help us get used to the area and find investigators houses because the area book has no addresses!  Dah! Sis Kaimi helped us meet one of our investigators, the Galera family.  Please pray for this family.  They had a baptismal date before, but then a missionary offended them and so they put off their baptisms.  They said this elder would act rough with their kids, tore a poster off their wall because is was inappropriate, and told their son to go home when he came late to sacrament meeting.  I have no idea who this elder is.. but I feel so bad about the situation.  We tried to tell her that people in the church are not perfect, but the church is.  They are letting us come visit tonight.  We are hoping that since we are sister missionaries, we will be able to be more tender with them and help them truly become converted unto the Lord and no one/nothing else.  Again, please pray for them. I love it here!  Some times it is hard because it is so different from America...but I'm sure I'll adjust.  I love the work, I am really praying that kasama ko and ako will be able to work are very hardest to get the work here in Agoo up and running.  We have a lot to do.  Every day I feel too weak, but this is why I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Without the Atonement and my savior, I would be too weak for this great work.  I love my Savior. I have never said so many prayers in my life.  It's like that quote, "when you are too weak to stand, kneel" Love you all! Sister Wright Me and my comp!  TRYKE! LAUNDRY!!! Path from our house Path from our house Me and my Comp