Hello my dear family and friends! How is everyone doing? Things are really great and really, really emotional over here! As the time is getting closer for me to return home, I can't hold back the tears! Especially when teaching and spending time with these people. They are like my family! The most common thing I keep hearing is, "Sister Wilde, it's like you are from here. You've been here in Ormoc so long!" And this week really proved it as we walked through the streets and rode on tricycles random people say, "Hello Sister Wilde!! How are you?!" And they are people who I have been able to talk to about their families and invite to church as well as give them pamphlets. They truly have become my friends here and I love it! (I also had a nightmare my family forgot to get me at the airport so please don't forget me. Hahaha.)
This week there has been a lot of walking. My whole mission has been a lot of walking but this is really A LOT because covering 2 areas is actually harder than we thought, but despite the challenge, we love it and are learning so much! We worked in Alta Vista which is part of my current area (ward 1) and the people there are really progressing and ready to receive the gospel! We have one new investigator, Rhemehea, who has so many questions which makes for a really awesome lesson. We have invited her to church but she said she wants us to teach her a little bit more before she commits to come so we can't wait to go back this week.
We visited Sister Peregrino this week (one of my most favorite people in the world) and she is doing great! She totally made me cry and said she won't come to church my last Sunday because she might make a scene sobbing her eyes out. Hahaha but we committed her to come because it wouldn't be complete without her and she said she would also prepare my favorite food before we go home! (Bananaque and Buko Salad-only she makes it the best:))
We worked with a sweet nanay in ward 2 and she was able to show us the home of a Less Active we didn't know about! We came to find out that the reason she hasn't been to church is because she is really offended by the members. She made a comment that was really sad to me, she said, "The church is true. The gospel is perfect. But the members are the worst!!" She really emphasized on the last part and I was caught off guard by her bitterness toward the members of the church. I have been thinking about it all week and as I have thought about it a few different things have come to mind. In our lives we are always going to have people who say mean things to us or about us. There are always going to be people who might do something mean to you but that is their choice. We cannot use what they did to us as an excuse for being Less Active or becoming someone people are afraid to be around. Jesus Christ had people reject him, spit on him, and so much more, yet He loved them. He didn't curse them or blame them, He still loved them. I hope we can always remember the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in treating others (our brothers and sisters) the way He would, with love and respect, even if they have done or said something bad to us. The other thing that came to mind is I hope as members of the church we remember who we are and what we stand for. We can't find ourselves caught up in the things of the world and try to fit in with the world’s standards. I remember the talk our beloved prophet gave last General Conference. He said, "Recently, as I have been reading and pondering the scriptures, two passages in particular have stayed with me. Both are familiar to us. The first is from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The second scripture is one which came to my mind as I pondered the meaning of the first. It is from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I believe the second scripture explains, in great part, how we can accomplish the first. We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. As we do so, our lights will shine for others to see. Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others." I hope we can all remember those scriptures and strive to become the sons and daughters our Heavenly Father wants us to become. It won't be easy but He will help us and it will be worth it :)
I love you all! Have a great week! Remember who you are and what you stand for :)
Love,
Sister Wilde
This week there has been a lot of walking. My whole mission has been a lot of walking but this is really A LOT because covering 2 areas is actually harder than we thought, but despite the challenge, we love it and are learning so much! We worked in Alta Vista which is part of my current area (ward 1) and the people there are really progressing and ready to receive the gospel! We have one new investigator, Rhemehea, who has so many questions which makes for a really awesome lesson. We have invited her to church but she said she wants us to teach her a little bit more before she commits to come so we can't wait to go back this week.
We visited Sister Peregrino this week (one of my most favorite people in the world) and she is doing great! She totally made me cry and said she won't come to church my last Sunday because she might make a scene sobbing her eyes out. Hahaha but we committed her to come because it wouldn't be complete without her and she said she would also prepare my favorite food before we go home! (Bananaque and Buko Salad-only she makes it the best:))
We worked with a sweet nanay in ward 2 and she was able to show us the home of a Less Active we didn't know about! We came to find out that the reason she hasn't been to church is because she is really offended by the members. She made a comment that was really sad to me, she said, "The church is true. The gospel is perfect. But the members are the worst!!" She really emphasized on the last part and I was caught off guard by her bitterness toward the members of the church. I have been thinking about it all week and as I have thought about it a few different things have come to mind. In our lives we are always going to have people who say mean things to us or about us. There are always going to be people who might do something mean to you but that is their choice. We cannot use what they did to us as an excuse for being Less Active or becoming someone people are afraid to be around. Jesus Christ had people reject him, spit on him, and so much more, yet He loved them. He didn't curse them or blame them, He still loved them. I hope we can always remember the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in treating others (our brothers and sisters) the way He would, with love and respect, even if they have done or said something bad to us. The other thing that came to mind is I hope as members of the church we remember who we are and what we stand for. We can't find ourselves caught up in the things of the world and try to fit in with the world’s standards. I remember the talk our beloved prophet gave last General Conference. He said, "Recently, as I have been reading and pondering the scriptures, two passages in particular have stayed with me. Both are familiar to us. The first is from the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” The second scripture is one which came to my mind as I pondered the meaning of the first. It is from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I believe the second scripture explains, in great part, how we can accomplish the first. We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. As we do so, our lights will shine for others to see. Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others." I hope we can all remember those scriptures and strive to become the sons and daughters our Heavenly Father wants us to become. It won't be easy but He will help us and it will be worth it :)
I love you all! Have a great week! Remember who you are and what you stand for :)
Love,
Sister Wilde
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| So haggard but I am cooking Maha in what you call here a "dirty kitchen" |
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| District activity! |
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| Zone Leaders. We just laugh at Elder Suisalas' umbrella! |
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| Because this puppy is adorable and reminds me of Gracie! |
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| Lake Danao! |
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| Me and my companion! |
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| The sun was piercing in to my eyes in this picture but hey, there is a "wildeing shop" close to our apartment. (welding shop) |
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