Missionaries + Chocolate Cake = CAKE FIGHT!

Hello Family!

This week. This week has been one of the craziest weeks I have had on my mission!!

I just want to say we didn't have gas to cook for a week so we have been living out of the rice cooker. It is possible my dear family and friends. A rice cooker is amazing and I don't know why we don't have one back at home! (Mom-you might need to look into getting a rice cooker.)

Also, where we live, we have rats. LOTS of them. And it is gross. Sister Rodrigo and I are terrified and can't help but scream. They stand outside of our gate and sometimes we stand there for 5 minutes until they move because the really big ones (I’m talking Gracie size or bigger) are not afraid. EW EW EW.

We had a zone activity last Monday and we ended up playing a bunch of fun games at the chapel and just had a blast being together! We also rode to that cool resort to eat and I happened to leave mine and Sister Rodrigo’s proselyting clothes and shoes on the back of the tricycle. Awesome. Needless to say we no longer have those clothes. We hope and pray someone who needed clothes has them and we hope to see someone wearing our clothes. Haha.

Our district meeting was on Tuesday and we also celebrated the Birthday of Elder Simona. We had two chocolate cakes which were really yummy but when you have two Polynesians in the district who are such jokers something is bound to happen. CAKE FIGHT!!! Yes. A cake fight and they got me SO good. Grabe! I had the most cake on my face and in my hair. Yummy.

We visited Sister Peregrino this last week and she opened up to us about some problems she is having and to be honest, we didn't know what to say. It broke my heart too because I just love her and don't want her to feel the way she does. Well you all remember my poderize scripture this last week. That the Lord knows the thoughts of our hearts? Well while we were sitting there I said a prayer in my heart to know what to say and to also guide Sister Rodrigo to know what to say as well. I then started talking and words just came and Sister Rodrigo was led to a scripture in the Book of Mormon. It was an awesome experience. I loved that my ponderize scripture was a tender reminder to me at that time. Heavenly Father really knows the thoughts of our hearts.

Mary Ann had her baptismal interview this last week and she passed!! Woo hoo! She is so ready and again, I just love her! She has been praying for her parents because she wants to be with them in the next life too and now her Mom wants to listen because of the changes she has seen in Mary Ann! So amazing.

So last night Sister Allen got a call from President Maurer which made us curious because transfers are not for another week! Well, feeling relieved President and Sister Allen talked and then President asked to talk to ME. Well he asked me if I was ready for a change...I said okay. And he said, "Wow. I like how you are so accepting." Um...well yes President! Haha. He then asked me if I was still being a diligent and obedient missionary. I said yes and he quickly said, "I would like you to be a Sister Training Leader." So I am now a Sister Training Leader in Ormoc 1st ward. Sister Compracion will teach me the things I need to know this next week before she goes home, then I will get a new companion. So I have transferred but only to a different room. I'm still in the same house :) I will miss Ormoc 2nd ward SO MUCH. And even though I am totally shocked and NERVOUS, Heavenly Father knows where I need to be.

My ponderize scripture this week is Doctrine and Covenants 12:8 "And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."

I love you all, have a great week!

Love,
Sister Wilde

Okay 1..2..3...Elder Fakava puts MORE cake on my face. Really Elder?? But the picture is funny!

Quick picture! Sorry it's a bit blurry!

I got Elder Griffin and he said, 'Out of all people I didn't think you would betray me Sister Wilde." Haha oops!

Me and Elder Griffin.

Jumping picture! Not all of the zone was in it, darn it but it's still cool :)

Andy always hugs my legs when he sees me!! I also love how he says Sister Wilde!

Our neighbor cooked this fish yesterday. Sadly, I didn't get to taste it :(

Missionary work is the best!

Hello my sweet family and friends! How are all of you?! I hope great :) I'm doing great over here in the Philippines, still loving being a missionary. It never gets old :)

Did you all ponder a scripture this last week?? How did it go?! As I pondered my scripture this last week it gave me the reminder to always show my good works to everyone around me. Always be an example. My Dad once told me, "Whether you think so or not, or whether you like it or not, someone is always watching you." It's so true! As members of the church we have a light about us that people notice and we need to be an example to them. Let our light shine and glorify our father who is in heaven :) This week my scripture is Mosiah 24:12 "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts."

We have been doing a lot of finding this last week which has been quite a challenge but so rewarding! Sister Rodrigo and I are nervous going house to house but as we have been praying for help to open our mouths and have the courage, Heavenly Father has been leading us to where we need to be and know what to say. We were able to find 7 new investigators this last week :) They all have great potential. We really can share the gospel anytime, anywhere! We shared about families and how we know our families can be together forever to a lady doing laba is the hot sun. While sweating more than I thought was possible, squatting to be at her eye level, and telling her that God loves her, and loves her family, the spirit was there and she was touched. She told us to come back next week.

MaryAnn is doing AMAZING (nothing new) and they all came to church on Sunday! The cute Dacal Family :) She is so excited about her baptism and is reading the Book of Mormon like crazy! We got to watch the Restoration video with her and she loved it and really loves learning about Joseph Smith. She is so thankful he prayed to know which church was true. She also told us she really knows Heavenly Father answers prayers because he answered hers to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet, if the Book of Mormon was true, and if the things we were teaching her were true and the feeling she had was "the best feeling in the world." She is going to do amazing things and we look forward to the day when they get to be sealed in the temple!

Family and Friends, Heavenly Father really does hear and answer our prayers, and as we pray to Him in faith, He will help us and be with us every step of our journey here on earth. I love you all!

 Love,
Sister Wilde

The Dacal family at church! LOVE THEM!

Celebrated Sister Allen's birthday this week!

Had exchanges with my STL, Sister Compracion!!

Pics of my area!

We have some glow in the dark going on in our bedroom since Sister Rodrigo is afraid of the dark sometimes. Haha this is my Brooke side coming out. Haha just kidding I just don't want to sleep with the light on.

I was so scared. The sisters thought we should just leave him in peace. Um yeah...better not. (said in my fat Amy voice) He is resting in peace now.

Ponderize!

Hello my dear family and friends! I hope you are all doing well and are still pondering the amazing, inspired messages we received at General Conference! I am so happy I was able to watch it this weekend and the spirit was so incredible!! I will go ahead and share some of my favorite talks with you!

Saturday morning Larry R. Lawrence spoke about the Holy Ghost and the promptings and comfort we receive from him. At the end of his talk he challenged us to pray and ask Heavenly Father, "What is keeping me from progressing?" I did it Saturday night and my prayer was answered. As I waited for what felt like a minute, the prompting came and I knew what I needed to do. I hope you all took the challenge, but if not, you can still do it! It's never too late!

Saturday Afternoon Jeffrey R. Holland gave the amazing talk about mothers and I could not hold back the tears! The spirit was strong and of course I was thinking about my Mom and the amazing woman she is! I know the gospel and I mean everything to her and for that, I am forever grateful. To all you mothers out there don't ever forget what Elder Holland said, "Be peaceful, believe in God and yourself, you are doing better that you think." I love you Mom!

Sunday Morning we got to hear from our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He gave us great counsel full of wisdom and love. He truly is a prophet of God. I love when he said to "Sand out! Be different!" The world really is becoming more wicked and as members of the church we need to stand out and be different and be in the world, but not of the world.

Sunday Afternoon Devin G. Durrant gave a great talk on pondering a scripture every week. Brilliant!! My scripture this week is 3 Nephi 12:16 "Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." I hope you have all chosen a scripture this week to ponderize! But if not, we could ponderize together the scripture above :) I'll share mine each week if I get to hear about yours :)

We also had the opportunity of having Zone Training meeting and interviews with President Maurer. President Maurer is amazing and I am so grateful he is my mission president!

Mary Ann is still doing great and attended General Conference and really felt the spirit as she heard from President Thomas S. Monson. She is so thankful to have a living prophet and for the guidance and counsel he gives to us from our Father in Heaven.

I hope you all know how thankful I am for all of you! Thank you for all of your love and support. It means the world to me. I love my mission. I love our Heavenly Father. I love our Savior Jesus Christ. I love all of you.

Love,
Sister Wilde

We visited the NICEST resort last P-day :)

Resort adventure!

I promise these birds are real. Nindot.

Elder Griffin and Elder Cruz doing the "Leprechaun" jump! Haha!

LOVE THEM. (Her husband was too shy to be in the picture. Next time!)

Brotherly love!

SHE IS THE CUTEST!

I love Sister Rodrigo!

Cute Alexa!

Sister Peregrino and I. SHE IS THE BEST. Love her!!

Peregrino Family!! :)

Batch!! :)

Elder Simona and Elder Fakava are too funny.

What I live with. Sister Rodrigo and Sister Compracion.

Like my new glasses ;)

So many good things!

Hello Family!

I hope you all had a great experience during General Conference. I can't wait to watch it this weekend! I did however get to watch the General Women’s session and it was awesome!! The spirit was so strong and I couldn't hold back the tears a few times, especially in those videos!

I also got an awesome surprise this week when the STL's came home from Tacloban with packages for me! I was so not expecting any and it was like Christmas morning! ;) Carter family-THANK YOU! Mom, Dad, and the boys- THANK YOU! Grandma Worthington-THANK YOU! Granny and Poppy-THANK YOU! Grandma and Grandpa Wilde-THANK YOU! YOU ARE ALL SO SWEET AND I LOVE EVERYTHING :)

So church yesterday was AWESOME! The Gonzales family came!! And what made it even better was that everyone is the ward was so sweet and welcoming to them. They did not recognize them so they went up to them and welcomed them which we really think makes all the difference. I hope they come again next week and that we can continue to help them grow in the gospel!

MaryAnn also came to church yesterday! Sadly, her husband couldn't come due to work but he is determined to come next week! She is still so amazing! She is already to 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon and has started a study journal! We had told her that we study the Book of Mormon everyday too and that we write down things we learn or impressions we receive from the Spirit and when we went to her house the next day she showed us a brand new notebook, the pages filled with scriptures and the things she learned from them. She keeps all of the commitments we extend to her and she is just GOLDEN. After church yesterday she said to me, "Sister Wilde I will never forget you. You have changed my life. You have helped me to know the truth. And now my family and I know the right things we must do. I will never forget you." She had tears in her eyes. And with tears in my eyes I said to her, "MaryAnn, I will never forget you either. I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and are happy with the decisions that you are making. I am an instrument in His hands, it is through Him and His gospel that you will know the things you need to do. Keep going Sister, I know you can do it. I will never forget you." The spirit was present and I look forward to her baptism the end of this month. We taught Temples last night and once she is a member for a year they really want to go to the Temple. I can not wait until that day arrives for them too :)

We taught Henry yesterday who is also an investigator and he sadly didn't come to church but when we taught him I asked if he had read the Book of Mormon he answered yes. A little unsure I asked, "What did you read about?" He then continued to go on about Joseph Smith translating the gold plates and how the Book of Mormon contains writings from prophets and then concluded saying, "The Book of Mormon really is the word of God. It's true." He read the introduction and Joseph Smith’s Testimony so I can't wait until he starts 1 Nephi :) Now we just need to get him to church!!

The Peregrino family is doing great and I still sure do love them! Their oldest son, Leandro, will be 16 this week so we will be going over to celebrate and also have a Family Home Evening :) Brother Andrew really has a desire to return to church and they are working on going to the Temple :)

I love you all! Have a great week!! Oh, I totally opened the email from Mom about who the new Apostles are. Awesome! I can't wait to see it this Saturday :) I really was going to wait but Sister Rodrigo and Sister Compracion wanted to know so thanks for sending the email Mom :)

Love,
Sister Wilde

My area!

This random little boy has loved hanging out with me since I got here!

Cute Jeanette worked with us this week!

MaryAnn at church :)

She loves tootsie rolls ;) Thank you Grandma Worthington!

Sister Rodrigo during personal study. Haha!

Ew!