Whistle why you work!

Hello Family,

This week can be described in one work...SICK. Pero, surprise it's not me! It's my companion. Sayang. She has an ulcer and so she's now taking medication to help her out and it actually makes her really sleepy so that has been interesting. So since she has been sleeping a lot I've been reading the Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel, as well as doing a little bit of cleaning, and also Laba. I never liked washing my clothes but I can now say I enjoy it! Yeah, it's hard and it took me 6 months to enjoy it but now I do :)

We had interviews with President Maurer and a check up with Sister Maurer on Friday which was great! I really have the most amazing Mission President and oh how I love his sweet wife! They are the best :) President and I were able to have a great interview and he never fails to make me laugh. Especially when he uses some waray waray/tagalog words randomly. Too good.

Remember last week how I told you about a member in our ward passing away? Well it turns out they had 2 more funerals for her this week. (I'm still learning how they do things here.) Wednesday morning was the final funeral and our Bishop asked us missionaries if we could do 2 musical numbers. We were happy to help out. We sing and pray then they announce that I, yes SISTER WILDE will be speaking. Oh my goodness. I would expect to be called up in Sacrament meeting, gospel principles, transfer meetings, zone training meetings, but a funeral? Wasn't expecting that. I was SO nervous but I got up and shared Mosiah 24:13-14 and talked about how our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for us and how He will always comfort us and that through the Atonement we can receive that peace, love, and comfort. I don't remember all that I said, but the spirit was really guiding me. As I looked at the children looking at their mom who had passed on, I could feel the love Heavenly Father has for them, even her 2 month old baby. He may not have the opportunity to be with his mother in this life, but he will in the next and how sweet their reunion will be.

So I have a funny story. Well at least it's funny to me. Sister Minoza fell asleep around 2:30 in the afternoon on Thursday and man she just wouldn't wake up. And here it gets dark around 6 so I decided to change the clock so when she woke up it would be a different time. I changed it to 11:15pm. She woke up around 6:30 and I told her, "Wow you really slept for a long time!" She's all, "What time is it?" I said it's 11:15! She then has a mini panic attack and is all, "Really? Oh my gosh. Why aren't you asleep then??" (Clearly I didn't think this through. Bedtime is 10:30.) I told her I couldn't sleep I don't know why. She then could hear people yelling and playing basketball. I told her our neighbors were having a party and not to open the door because it could be dangerous. (haha what? I'm so dumb) She BELIEVED me. Hahaha oh my goodness the look on her face was priceless and finally 45 minutes later I told her the real time. It probably doesn't even sound funny at all but I promise it was.
I'm really excited to get back to work this week! I hope you all have an amazing week! Sending my love!

Love,
Sister Wilde

PS It was National Community Service day at the LGU. It was so much fun!

Elder Wheeler (My Zone Leader) and Elder Huges (AP) and I. These Elders are the best! Talk about amazing missionaries! They have taught me so much!

National Community Service = lots of Cleaning!!

Elder Carlton (batch) and Elder Magtanum!

Elder Wheeler and Elder Burton. You don't want to mess with them ;)

Could Sister Vallestero be any cuter? Love her!

It is so much fun being with my batch! (Elder Means)

I just love the people in my ward!! :)

Work, Party, and Eat Crab!

Hello Family,

So let me just start off by saying I LOVE hearing from my cute family every week and seeing their faces in pictures! Everyone is looking so big! Like Tate!! Holy moly! Everyone needs to stop growing up! ;)

This week we had somewhat of a miracle happen. We have a less active family, the Bardiagos, and we discovered that Brother is having a problem with Cigarettes. We have been visiting them and trying to know how we can best help them. We've been praying for them constantly and while Sister Minoza and I were out working I had the prompting to go to their house. We didn't plan to visit them that day and at the time Brother would usually be at work (Petty cab driver) but I didn't hesitate to tell Sister Minoza we should go. We went in and the spirit really directed the lesson and we talked about the Word of Wisdom and brother admitted his problem to us and we have come up with a plan for him which includes eating his favorite candy when he wants a cigarette. He is doing so well! I am so proud of him.

Thursday can be described in one word, PUNTED. But hey, that's missionary life, it happens! After being punted 4 times in a row (at this point I feel like I just got out of the shower because of sweat. (Have I mentioned that it is SO HOT? Because it is!) We went to Gloria’s and found out it was her 77th birthday! We ended up buying lechon manok and ice cream and took it over to her and we had a mini celebration! (which included my BFF’s because they are her granddaughters :)) The smile on her face was priceless! It was something so simple but she just loved every minute of it!

We taught Sheryll this week and she really has a desire to be baptized but is nervous because Jerric (boyfriend-they aren't yet married) has been Less Active for so long and doesn't want to go with her to church because he is always busy with his work. (They have 2 daughters who are active in Primary) Missionaries have been going to their home for so long and she would always just entertain them because she felt bad just turning them away. From our first lesson with her I knew she was ready and that she wouldn't just entertain us. I could feel and still do that now is her time. She came to church this last Sunday and when I saw her I gave her the biggest hug and said I was so happy she was here but most importantly Heavenly Father was so happy. She started to cry because Jerric wasn't with her but she knows someday he will return. We are working with Jerric to return and also working with them to get married so that Sheryll can be baptized :) She's amazing! I will keep you all updated :)

Yesterday I attended my first funeral in the mission field. One of our members, named Julie, age 34, with 4 primary age children, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. During the funeral her husband got up and through tears said, "If I didn't know about this gospel, about Heavenly Fathers plan for us, I would be sadder than I am now.  I miss my sweet wife, and I always will, but I'm so thankful we are sealed in the temple and that I get to be with her again, for time and all eternity." It brought tears to my eyes as gratitude filled my heart because of the perfect plan Heavenly Father has for us. How thankful I am that through the Temple, we get to be with our families for time and all eternity.

Sending my love always!
Love,
Sister Wilde

Standing on the back of a petty cab is way more fun than riding on the inside! :)

This sweet girl reads to me in Tagalog from an English book every time we visit them which I really enjoy :)

We bought crabs this week which were alive! I had to hold the lid down on our pot while boiling them because they were trying to get out. I felt kind of bad but hey, they are delicious!

Sister Minoza forgot her umbrella so a rad did they trick. All of my Filipina companions do this. They hate the sun.

Celebrating Gloria's Birthday!!

BFF's

Sister Minoza and I

Santa's son! We call him "baby Ed" he is adorable and hilarious.

Say hello to my new companion!

Hello everyone! This week has been a great one! :) It has been fun introducing my new companion, Sister Minoza, to everyone and teaching her waray waray. She is from Cebu and she's been speaking Cebuano her whole mission except for now so it has been an adventure ;)

We had the opportunity to teach Jeralyn’s husband Leonardo. We taught him the Restoration and he listened intently and asked questions. When we started the lesson their neighbor was doing karaoke (it wasn't good by the way) and it was SO loud. I prayed that we would be able to have the spirit to be with us and that the music would stop. After we sang and prayed during the lesson it was silent and the spirit really was there. After we finished and prayed the music was loud and in the middle of a song and I realized that the music had  never really stopped, but we were able to tune it out as we taught and had the spirit there :) It was awesome.

We taught Sister Sheryll the word of wisdom this last week and she said she loves coffee and drinks it 4-5 times a day. We committed her to stop drinking it slowly but surely and that thorough reading the book of Mormon and praying she would overcome her desire to drink it. When we went last night she told us she's only had it twice in the last 2 days. She is really trying. She is amazing!

Sister Santa is doing great, and is being a missionary herself :) She introduced us to her neighbor Joan, who is now a new investigator and is loving our message. She has a 12 year old girl and a 4 month old girl :) Her husband was not there when we taught her the first time but she wants him there the next time :) I'll keep you all updated!

Now, GENERAL CONFERENCE! I LOVED it! I feel so weird that I'm a week behind you all! But I learned so much and wanted to share just a few things that I really liked. I don't have time to share them all! Henry B. Eyring’s talk on fasting was so powerful and when he said fast offering does more than clothe and feed bodies, it changes and heals hearts, I thought of here in the Philippines of course and how generous fast offerings from faithful members of the church have blessed so many lives. So please obey the law of the fast and give what you can when it comes to fast offerings. I also liked Michael T. Ringwood’s talk when he talked about not focusing on titles. I hope that we all make good choices and serve others not so we are recognized or gain a reward, but because we have the desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ and return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven again someday. And I loved Thomas S. Monson’s talk about the Temple. I honestly miss the Temple and took advantage of it at home which is something I regret. PLEASE take the time to go to the Temple! It will bless your lives tremendously! I'm so thankful for the messages that were shared and the spirit that I felt during General Conference and I hope you all had your own special experience :) I can't wait until October :)

I love you all, make this next week a good one :)

Love,

Sister Wilde

Just another day with my best friends. I LOVE them. Are they not the cutest?!?

Girls night before transfers!

Carigara Zone!!

Saw my batch on transfer day! :):) Don't mind how red I am. I told you all I got burned pretty bad :)

Elder Maguales mom made me this keychain! I LOVE it! Sorry it's not a very good picture!

Lechon Baboy! So yummy!

Sister Santa's sassy little girl J.M. She is so funny. This is our attempted selfie.

BBQ with Sister Santa which is the best! :)

Me with my new companion Sister Minoza

This is our water that needs to last us this next week because water in Carigara will be shut off today until Saturday! Challenge accepted!

The Philippines is a beautiful place!

It was a busy week!

Hello all! Well, I just got a new companion! Yes, Sister Pui is being transferred and her new companion is in my batch, Sister Malu! :) My new companion is Sister Minoza! She is in Sister Pui’s batch. So much batch stuff going on! Basta, she seems really sweet I just don't know her that well yet :)

Sister Pui and I actually missed all of Transfer meeting because we waited 4 and a half hours for a bus or van to take us to Tacloban. The meeting was at 10:30 and we waited from 7:30-11:30-noon. Yeah. That wasn't cool. I'm super sunburned now but that's okay! ;)

This week was busy! We had so many appointments one day that we went on splits with the ward missionaries to cover them and got 10 lessons :) It was awesome! Santa Claus is doing great :) She keeps telling me she is so happy to be a member! Aster was going to be baptized on April 4th but it has been hard for her to get to church. She told us that since it was hard to get to church her husband said that it isn't God’s will for her to be baptized. We told her to pray about it, and that we knew Heavenly Father would answer her prayers and that He knows what is best for her. When we went back this week we asked her how her prayer was and she said she wants to be baptized and feels good about it. YES! She is preparing and her new date is set for May 2nd :) She was at church yesterday and took notes and everything. She is so cute :)

We have been visiting a lot of our recent converts and they seem to be doing great :) Jolita is an older lady and she is interesting. She is not nice to us but she loves us visiting her and every time we share she says okay what else? We ended up sharing 6 different spiritual thoughts and I really liked it because it tests my scripture knowledge ;) Adolfa’s husband (the preacher) and I had an interesting conversation last night. It wasn't a debate, and he told me what he believed and I told him what we know to be the truth. He is interested in being taught. There is hope! :)

We also had ZTM this Friday and Sister Harper and Sister Vallestaro stayed with us for 2 nights since Friday was Good Friday so everything was closed and nobody was out. It was also Holy week. So, we knew who was not Catholic if they were outside their house on Friday and we were able to talk to them :) We had a girls night Friday night which turned into eating junk food, taking a billion pictures, putting on mustaches with eyeliner, and making videos.(I bet you're all wanting to see the videos, but you'll have to wait until I come home :))  It was so much fun.

Something I have run into a lot this week is mice and rats. Yeah, I saw a rat the size of Gracie! It's no lie! I freaked out. But yeah for some reason they (mice and rats) love crawling over my feet. Teaching appointments at night freak me out now and our investigators laugh because I squeal when I feel one. How could I not?? The truth is I really do LOVE my mission. It's running with a kite made out of plastic bags with little kids, chasing chickens and ducks, and killing giant spiders and cockroaches (because no one else will) and so many more experiences that will be memories I will forever cherish.

I hope that you all enjoyed conference this weekend! I get to watch it this next weekend and I couldn't be more excited :) I hope you all remembered our Savior Jesus Christ during this Easter season, and continue to remember Him throughout your everyday life :) He Lives, He loves us, He knows us, and He will come again. I look forward to the day when I get to be wrapped in His loving embrace. I hope you all look forward for that day too :)

Sending my love from the Philippines! 
Sister Wilde


PS Easter looks like it was so much fun! Briggs is adorable! I was worried he forgot about me. Also pictures will have to wait until next week, sorry!

Sister Brereton's mom sent me this photo that was taken this week at the Sister Missionary transfer meeting. It made my day seeing these sweet faces!

Baptisms

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing great :) This week we had exchanges with our STL's and I got to be with Sister Henry! She is the sweetest and I learned so much from her! We worked in my area and I felt a little nervous since I still feel new after being out for a bit with Dengue Fever, but I didn't get lost. I officially know my area! Woop woop! It's because there are no addresses :) It's all about the landmarks!

Wednesday night Sister Pui and I were companions again and we went to one of our new investigators, Sheryll. Her husband Jerric is a less active, and she really wants him to return to the church. And she really wants to become a member :) Our lesson was great and she always keeps our commitments we give her, which is awesome :) We taught her the Plan of Salvation last night and she asked questions and everything. I love when our investigators ask questions, it means they really want to understand and I love being able to help answer them :)

One of the recent converts in our ward is Sister Adolfa. She is hilarious and we have instantly become best friends. She's in her 50's and her husband is a preacher for a different church, but he is nice to us. Sometimes he will try to debate but I just pull out my Book of Mormon and he then stops and leaves. Hahaha. Basta, I accidentally called her Gloria in the prayer in our lesson. oops! Gloria lives right next door and so I had her in my head. Adolfa and Sister Pui started laughing then I realized what I did. I corrected myself and she still gave us yummy chocolate after our lesson :)

Jeralyn’s husband has been asking questions about the chuch and Jeralyn loves answering his questions. Jearalyn really wants to make it to the temple someday so that her family can be together forever. She's so sweet. She has 3 kids (2 girls and a boy) and is currently pregnant. We call her baby Justine Kimberly. (Kimberly is Sister Pui's first name) and she actually likes it! She would love to have her baby named after us. She said what if it's a boy? And I said Justin works I got called that all the time growing up so no worries. Then Kimberly could be changed to Kim. Ha it all works out ;) Jeralyn also thanked me for being so happy and smiling all the time even though her house isn't nice and they don't have many nice things. I told her that didn't matter and that I really love them and am happy I get to be here with them at this time. I thought she was so sweet about it. I love the people here!!!

Now to Saturday... TATE'S BIRTHDAY!! I can't believe my little buddy is 11 years old! I LOVE YOU TATE!! :) Also, the baptism of Santa Claus Ponte! Yeah, you read her full name right. I was waiting until her baptism to tell all of you! Elder Wheeler baptized her and he is happy now because he can say that he baptized Santa Claus. He is such a nerd! The baptism was so amazing! The Elders had 2 families being baptized so all together there were 7 baptisms :) All those who were baptized shared sweet testimonies and Sister Santa was so nervous! She got up and looked and Sister Pui and I and started crying. She is so sweet. She thanked us for teaching her and helping her to become a member of the church, and that it is the best she has ever felt. Ah, I love her. She is amazing.

This week is the last week before transfers! Announcements are on Saturday! Crazy! This cycle flew by!! Sister Pui and I hope to have one more cycle together but we will see what happens! Love you all!

Love,
Sister Wilde

Sister Santa's Baptism!!

This is our church

On our way home from the baptism :) She was SO happy!

Adolfa!

Sheryll and her girls :)

Kuya won this time and as you can see he is so happy about it!

These kids sure love taking pictures! Whenever we go to Jeralyn's I play a game with the kids called "catch the chicken."

Don't be alarmed, it is alive

Sister Sheryll has a GIANT pig

Trial this week-no food, no money, oh no! We unplugged our fridge because well...there is nothing in it! Heavenly Father has blessed us as members have been feeding us unexpectedly!

Future Missionary!

Meet Justine Rose :)

Life is good!

Hello Family, 

This week has been a busy one, full of amazing experiences. I have really pushed myself this past week and even though it's been so challenging, it's been so rewarding. We did some finding and we were able to pick up 3 new investigators. One is a family. We have been praying really hard for new investigators and of course we have had some mean things said to us and people denying us but someone in the MTC once told us that sometimes it takes 4 or 5 encounters with missionaries before people actually accept them. I am thankful that Sister Pui and I still try and do our best because just maybe the next set of missionaries who talk them will be able to teach and bring those people unto Christ.

This Saturday we have the baptism of Sister Santa. She is so ready and excited. At church yesterday in Relief Society they welcomed the investigators and she leaned over to me and said next week I will be a member :) She is amazing! We moved Sister Aster’s baptism to April 4th so she can really prepare, and she's really progressing so hopefully we can continue to help her and address any concerns she may have. Jeralyn is doing good. We had a cool experience with her this last week. During our lesson with Rhodora (another investigator) I had the prompting to buy bread and take it to her. I thought it was a little odd so I just continued with the lesson. It kept coming to me. After the lesson I told Sister Pui and she said "I think we need to take our emergency light too. I've been thinking about them." We used some of our money we put together for food (Because I'm good at budgeting now Dad-proud of me?) and bought bread. When we got to her house they had no food and no light. How grateful we are that we followed the promptings of the spirit! She couldn't believe it when we showed up and she asked "How did you know?" And she realized Heavenly father answered her prayers through us.

On Thursday afternoon we ended up talking to a group of high school girls who were so fun and asked if I had a brother. I said I have 3! They asked what age and when I said one is 18 you should have heard the screams. Haha too funny. I showed them our family picture and they thought Kaden was good looking! Same with Carter and Tate but they are too young. We were then able to introduce our church and they had questions and were so cute. We gave them all a Restoration pamphlet and took pictures :)

Friday we had Zone Conference which I LOVED. President and Sister Maurer picked us Sisters (Sister Pui, myself, Sister Harper-MTC comp. and Sister Valestero. We are the only sisters in our zone) up to take us to Biliran and it was fun. Again, I love them! President always says the best things. I told him I was going to start writing them down and putting them in my group emails! He said, "No Sister Wilde!" Then we just laughed and Sister Maurer said, "Does anyone want another cookie?" (Which were delicious by the way) And President said, "Is the Pope Catholic?" Haha I had to share that one. (Sorry President)

This week with I have really improved with the language. We went on splits yesterday with the ward missionaries and I worked with Chenchen who is 19 and preparing for her mission. She is so cute and she helped me with some words I didn't know or words that are different than the waray waray in Catarman! I'm really getting it.

I love this work and this gospel with my whole heart. I also love all of you! Have an amazing week! :)
Love,
Sister Wilde

PS #HeLives comes out Friday march 27th for this Easter season! It will be an amazing video and will be the headline of youtube! PLEASE share it with everyone including on facebook! I can't wait to see it myself! :)

My best friends, Unice and Christine. I love them!! They told me yesterday I am their favorite missionary :)

Jeralyn and her little girl!

Too cute!

Zone Leaders to the rescue! Our apartment is haunted (I'm just used to it now and expect it everywhere at this rate) and so they have blessed it twice now so hopefully things will be okay now. But our Zone Leaders are literally the best!

I love my companion!

The group of High School girls we talked to

Sister Aster and her family! Her kids want to be baptized so we will start teaching them and her brothers heart is slowly being softened as he is supportive of them :) Sister Santa's children also want to be baptized :)

#selfie (are hashtags still big?)

Am I good at yoga yet Yara??

Sister Santa

This is Nanay Gloria! She is a recent convert and she is adorable! We always end up laughing for 5 minutes.

This fish is so good!

Elder Koufauna is probably the nicest person on this earth.

Sister Malicdem! We were a zone in Catarman!

Elder Cotcher! My first district leader! First thing we say to each other, "I thought I got rid of you when I left Catarman." Haha too funny!

Elder Maguale! He's currently AP and his last cycle in next cycle!! He is going to BYU Hawaii in November and he is the bomb!

Photo shoot with a petty cab