2017.08.28 Weeks of Self-Evaluation

Dear Family & Friends,
Wow is this transfer just going so fast! So just for a little update, I have been paired with one of my best-friends on the mission, Sister Aiono. We have been together for two weeks now and it feels like just yesterday we became companions! Well I did transfer outside of Santa Fe, I am now in Bacolod 2nd Ward which is just the next door neighbor of Santa Fe. Haha... So I am still in the same zone. I am even in the same house that I have been living in! So I guess you could say I'm not too far. But I love the people here in Bacolod 2nd ward. They are all so great. They all know me pretty well already because I have been in their stake since I arrived here on my mission. They still call me Sister Taylor Swift. Haha! 

Well, since I have been here, I have already seen some great things happen in the area. Apprently Bacolod 2nd ward hasn't had the greatest success with baptisms this year. Not quite sure why, it's just been known that the previous missionaries just had a difficult time there with baptisms. But since I have been here me and Sister Aiono have seen great success and great potential. And everyone is amazing and so willing to help! 

So let me tell you a little about my past week...

This past monday me and Sister Aiono decided after emailing to go to Gonzaga, My old area to visit Hazel and his family (Hazel, my RC, died suddenly on Aug 13th in the morning around 10AM from heart failure at the age of 33) We went and saw his body and we dropped off some food for his family. We were just really quick because we had somewhere to go at 4. Even though we were fast, Hazel's mother loved that I came to visit her. She says whenever I'm there she feels like Hazel is still there as well. Hazel tried so hard to change his previous lifestyle, everywhere he went  he brought along with him his Book of Mormon. So these past two weeks have been hard, but I can't tell you how much light it has brought into my life and how much of a greater understanding I have for the Plan of Salvation. It really made me think of my life and just put my whole life is perspective. 

Well, after our quick visit there, we headed straight to the church to teach three young men that showed up to church the day before with one of their member friends. They are so respectful and just love to learn! Since this past past week they have come to the church about 4 times already for us to teach them. Even though they are crazy busy with school and work they still found time! Also this week we were also able to meet with the Mendoza family which is the brother of Joseph Mendoza. Joseph is the tricycle driver that I met on my first week here on the mission field. He had gotten baptized a few months before I knew him. But ever since the first day he saw Sister Abad and I in the pouring rain and we had no umbrella and no way to get back home he has since then giving us free rides anywhere we need to go. Something great is that him and his wife will be soon be getting sealed in the temple in the beginning of November! :) Anyways it just so happens that Joseph's brother Weanie lives in my new area! He has yet to be taught by missionaries! So I am hoping that this is the time that he will accept the Gospel. But I've also made some great new friends with Wenies kids who are just the cutest! I am excited for us to get to know them more! 

Well other than that time has been flying so fast in the mission! It feels like just yesterday I had no idea how to speak this language pero teh kabolo na ko! kag daw medyo sagad na ko... haha joke. 

Well also this Saturday my companion and I were invited to a baptism in Magsungay because that was the Gift that one of the boys wanted for his baptismal gift and it was his birthday. So he wanted us to come to his baptism. So we got permission to attend his baptism. Then afterwards we went to the families house to eat some amazing chicken! :) ​

Here it just makes me think I need to literally give my all. Sometimes I find myself being self centered and it makes me feel sick. Sometimes it pops into my head how like one time my Mom bought me an I-pod and a guitar a different year but they weren't the exact one I wanted and I just remember my attitude and oh how much I wish I knew then what I know now. The sacrifice of what my parents or people in general do for me and how I didn't appreciate it as much as I wished. That's the part of me that I've always wanted to change. I want to give my all to the Lord and not let my weaknesses get in the way of doing that. So of course I will pray and ask for forgiveness from God and of course my Mommy and do what I can to do what's right. I know this to be true, that if I do this I will become not only a better person for myself but for my whole family and for my Father in Heaven . I'm tired of life being complicated when its not suppose to be... haha. There is that one saying by President Thomas S Monson... 

But to be honest the longer I'm here and the more I learn about some peoples lives here and how hard it is... it makes me so grateful for what I have and for my life. Everyday I think about what I can do more for people and how I can stop thinking about myself... my mind always seems to go to the story that I read in Mark 10:17-23

God loves us and he knows us. He knows what what we want and need. So lets just trust Him and He will take control. 

I love you fam... thanks for all of your examples. <3

-- Whatsoever He Saith | Mormon Channelhttps://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2017-01-006-whatsoever-he-saith?lang=eng

watch this video... :) 

Sister Garrish

Kids we taught

Me and my companion <3

The Ward missionaries

The Laural boys! : )

After the baptism of Kenji and Marc after lunch

All the Sisters in the Zone after meetings : )

Me and Sister Angelique who got baptized before I got there : )

Angelique's brother Kyle

Sister Aiono and Sister Salvie who wirks with us : )

Ryan and Joeman the amazing YM in the Ward preparing for their missions by working with the Missionaries

​Kenji and Marc after their baptism at Magsungay : )

​Mendoza Family : )

2017.07.31 Building Zion

Dear Family and Friends,
What a WEEK!!!!! :) Well I want to start off we have started to help the Magbanua Family build their new house!!! It was a lot of work and we are not even close to being done. But we help as much as we can. You can see that we didn't even get one wall done... haha, oh by the way the house will be made out of all bamboo :) Its so fun to learn how to work with bamboo! :)
This weeek we also had a baptism of Brother Dan Dan! He is really amazing. He has been going to church for over two months and pretty much set his own baptismal date!!! He is now starting to prepare to share the gospel. One year from now is his goal is to be fully prepared to serve a mission. :) Also Sister Angeline and Sister MA. Fe received their certificate of their baptism and confirmation :) I love seeing people's desire to be baptized and to share their joy. This church is true and it really brings joy. It's true, if we just follow the commandments of God our lives are just a lot less complicated! I am so grate to be here on a mission to grow my understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Something I came to realize just on a mission is that Jesus literally dies for all my sins. Not just the little ones but the big ones. I also learned how important it is to forgive ourselves and others. Seeing people get baptized is my favorite thing. Every time I see them come out of the water I get the chills and a overwhelming feeling comes over me. They are new, their sins are gone.  This is how repentance works... it's not complicated it's super simple. The church has even helped us to know how to repent by 6 simple steps. ​

Repentance is the second principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it is extremely important and is how we show faith in Jesus Christ. Follow these six steps to learn how to repent and receive forgiveness.

1. FEEL GODLY SORROW
2. CONFESS TO GOD
5. FORSAKE SIN
6. RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

The first step of repentance is to recognize that you have committed a sin against Heavenly Father's commandments. You must feel true godly sorrow for what you have done and for disobeying Heavenly Father. This includes feeling sorrow for any pain you may have caused other people

Godly sorrow is different than worldly sorrow. When you truly feel godly sorrow, you work toward repentance. Worldly sorrow is simply regret that does not make you want to repent.

There is a simple test to know if you have repented of your sins. If you confess them and forsake them, then you have repented.

Some sins only need to be confessed to Heavenly Father. This can be done through prayer. Pray to Heavenly Father and be honest with Him.

More serious sins may require you to confess to your local LDS bishop. This requirement is not set up to frighten you. If you have committed a serious sin, one that can result in excommunication, you will need help repenting.

3. ASK FOR FORGIVENESS

If you have sinned, you must ask for forgiveness. This could include a number of people. You must ask Heavenly Father, anyone you have offended in any way, as well as yourself for forgiveness.

Obviously, asking forgiveness from Heavenly Father must be done through prayer. Asking others for forgiveness may ultimately be much harder. You must also forgive others for hurting you. This is tough, but doing so will foster humility in you.

In the end, you must forgive yourself and know that God loves you, even though you have have sinned.

4. RECTIFY PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE SIN(S)

Making restitution is part of the forgiveness process. If you did wrong or made something wrong, you must try to set it right.

Make restitution by fixing any problems caused by your sin. Problems caused by sin include physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual damage. If you cannot rectify the problem, sincerely ask forgiveness of those wronged and try to find another way to show your change of heart.

Some of the most serious sins such as sexual sin or murder, cannot be made right. It is impossible to restore what is lost. However, we must do the very best we can, despite the obstacles.

Make a promise to God that you will never repeat the sin. Make a promise to yourself that you will never repeat the sin.

If you feel comfortable doing so, make a promise to others that you will never repeat the sin. However, only do so if it is appropriate. This could include friends or family members or your bishop. Support from appropriate others could help to strengthen you and help you keep your resolve.

Recommit yourself to obeying God's commandments. Continue to repent if you sin again.

Scripture tells us that if we repent of our sins, Heavenly Father will forgive us.

What is more, He promises us He will not remember them.

Through Christ's Atonement we are able to repent and be cleansed from our sins. We can not only be clean again, we can feel clean. Fulfilling the repentance process cleanses us of our sins.

Each of us can be forgiven and receive peace. We all can feel the glorious feeling of peace that comes with sincere repentance.

The Lord will forgive you when you truly repent with a sincere heart. Allow his forgiveness to come upon you. When you feel at peace with yourself, you can know you are forgiven.

Do not hold onto your sin and the sorrow you have felt. Let it go by truly forgiving yourself, just as the Lord has forgiven you.

Repentance is for everyone.

- Sister Garrish