The WEDDING!

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week the one thing that I have always dreamed to experience on my mission is a wedding and thanks to Kira we were able to make this a very special day for sister Ely and her husband.  Ah!! so it was a little bit of a crazy day but we were able to get sister looking so beautiful and brother looked so stunning in his suit and then we went to the church.  we took pictures and they all looked so beautiful+guapo.  Then as the wedding commenced they were so happy and she was just glowing. it was more amazing to watch the look on her husband face as he watched his wife and son enter the waters of baptism and become clean.  I really enjoyed the feeling of seeing this family come together and since then I have seen the wife and the husband come together and the light come into their life.  Ah so worth it.  after we went and ate at their house and just had a great time.

then yesterday we had a some problems with our BGD's.  Reldon had some problems with his past that we need to fix and it was heart breaking to see him get so depressed to hear that he might not be baptized this coming week but I have not lost hope.  I know that he is ready and I know that he has repented.  I really feel like this is a test for him to test his faith in this church because it will be the best gift when it is hard to get.  then we went to our other baptismal goal date martin and we caught him smoking just a little and the minute he saw us he knew that he had done wrong.  so that was two blows in one night and I was tired.  my heart hurt and I didn't know what to do with myself to help these people.  I love this gospel and I know that it is true and i want everyone to feel the love of our savior like I feel it and to feel the way my family does and that their family can be that way too.  

I watch a movie the other day about President Monsons life and I got this overwhelming feeling of my Grandma Williams in our apartment and at that time I was really struggling trying to find my purpose again on the mission. we have been having problems with the area and with other things going on that I have kind of gotten lost.  well the moment I finished the movie I felt my saviors love again telling me it was ok that I knew that this is the way to true eternal happiness and then I got this overwhelming desire to go out and tell the whole world about this wonderful message.  I got this overwhelming desire to just take the blows and go forth with a smile on my face knowing that the lord would help us.  even though we didn't get a lot of lessons or this or that I came home happy that night knowing I did my best and gave my whole soul to the lord.  he has shown me great things in my life and I have seen my spirit grow by studying his word and trying to become like him.  I love my spare time studies in the new testament and I see the lords side on all the situations that he encounters and it is interesting to in some way be in his shoes without doing it in actual life.  

Well that is all I got for this week I want to thank Kira again for sending me those cloths they have gone to good use and to my family and friends that support me through all of this.  I love you all and will talk to you next week.

Love,

Sister Snow

Rough Week and Waiting

Dear Family and Friends

Well it has been a rough week but it has also been one of great discovery. on Tuesday we had Zone conference and this was the last zone conference we would have with president Querido, man I will miss him. he has been a great example and a has had a huge effect in my life.  we learned a lot about making our lesson 1 really effective so people understand and cannot deny the truth but there is still that agency factor in all of this.  we could give the best lesson one and have it perfect, but if their hearts are not in it then it will not happen.  the only thing we can do sometimes is give all we can to people and then know that we did our best and it is up to them.  like Jesus did for Judas, he gave him so many chances to choose the right path even up to the point when he went to kiss Jesus.  It was up to Judas to  change his mind and chose which way to go. it is sad to see and kind of feel how the savior feels for him as he goes throughout this process and it just shows that no matter who we are our heavenly father and Jesus Christ will give up as many chances as it takes to learn even up to the end.  

Well on that note, Reldon our investigator has been doing good.  he has found a stronger faith in the church and loves it.  I am so proud of him for choosing to become stronger because his situation could have easily become one to take him away from the church.  for those who don't know we came upon a problem and are waiting for a letter from the 1st presidency to let us know he is good to go on the baptism.  I have seen miracles that I never thought were possible but nothing is impossible with god.

last night we had a neat experience as well.  Martin Llamado also passed his interview and we went to teach him last night and had the opportunity to teach his little brother.  he is such an interesting 20 year old martin.  he really thinks about his family and is trying really hard to help them come to the gospel.  he sent us a text last night how grateful he was that we took the time to teach his little brother and his mom was touched by his prayer that he wants them all to be baptized.  Lino, the dad is working and has started again into cigarettes really strong and his anger level has gone up again.  martin was a little frustrated to see the opposite change happen but I know that his prayer will be answered one of these days.

that is it as far as missionary work goes here in Orion, trying our best to help the branch be strong and it is struggling a little but I know that the lord has plans.  I love this mission and I love this area.  I have learned so much and I know I have much more to learn.  Well I hope you all have a great week and I will talk to you next week.

Love Sister Snow

Awe the amazing Conversions

Dear Family and Friends,

So we had another baptism this week and I think that this is one of the first baptisms that I really feel like the people are converted to the gospel.  Rueben who is the one who did drugs was struggling at first but then you saw his countenance shine a little after he was confirmed and I know he still has a long road to go but he will stay strong and be a great member.  Then there is my all time favorite Rudy.  This guy is 71 and he was so excited to be baptized he did a fist pump as he walked out the door and just smiled all during church. Ah I just love that man.  

So I am not so great finding I really need to work on it but something amazing happened the other day.  We were going to one of our investigators in a tricycle and sister Pati-on started to talk to the driver.  We were then invited to come to his house and teach his son.  The next day we didn't have anyone to teach and his name came to mind so we decided to go teach him. he was a really nice guy and listened intently.  He seemed really interested and searching for the truth and we gave him a book of Mormon straight off.  Then when we went back he had read the assignment and prayed and was still searching for an answer.  We showed him the restoration video and it really seem to help him understand Joseph Smiths story.  Then the next time we went back (knowing that he had a word of wisdom problem and wanting to BGD him) we started off with teaching the plan of salvation.  that went well and then we asked him about being baptized and he said he wanted to.  so then sister Pati-on goals him for may 31.  WHAT!? we both knew he has a word of wisdom problem and she is goaling him for a month later when he needs to get rid of his kape and tea.  well I went with it and having faith knowing he wanted this we goaled him for it and then taught word of wisdom.  he was a little shocked but then we asked him "when are you going to start" he said tomorrow.  WOW! so then he came to church and just loved it.  he sent us a text later and said thank you I know now that the fruits of the spirit are love, hope, charity and a bunch of other stuff and said that he know that his heavenly father will help him with is problem.  the best part is we shared to him on Friday and he had not had a cup of kape or tea since or smoked.  I was so excited to see the conversion happen so fast.  it is amazing what you can do with the lords help.

Another investigator with a word of wisdom problem that we have been teaching for a while is finally down to 1-2 sticks and we wanted to goal him too for may 31 but then he came back and said that is too late can we do earlier.  so he wanted may 17 and if he has the motivation I know he can do it so we are looking forward to that in the next coming weeks. 

So that is all for this week nothing much happened but it was a great week and I am looking forward to improving some of my finding so we can help this area be more progressing.  that is one thing I have started to have a love for is changing because I know that that is when the lord helps us learn and become better.  I know that this work is important and more importantly is doing it with the spirit FOR the people and not anything else.   I love this work and I know there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be.  Thank you for your support and love until next week.

Sister Snow

Miracles, miracles

Dear Family and Friends,

So we have a neat experience this week with one of our investigators Reldon.  He is the one that immediately quit drinking kape and tea and it has been a week.  we decided that we wanted to get him baptized earlier since he has really found a love for the gospel. he has made friends quickly and it seems to be such a breeze that he took the light of Christ and held on to it with all his might.  I have seen such great changes in him and I am so excited.  we moved his baptism from may 31 to may 17 because he has come to church 2 and is doing so well.  miracles happen when you hold on to the revelation and light of Christ that he gives you but when you deny it that is when things are not good.  speaking of, Nora, that one who I thought was so ready for the gospel denied it on Wednesday and told us that she doesn't need a religion as long as she just worships Christ she will be saved.  oh how my heart broke.  I don't like to hear those words because it is not that easy.  Satan has such a way of working things to his advantage.  Nora received an answer to her prayers and then denied it because it was too big of a change that she didn't like.  Satan came in and made her think that her faith was weak and that this was bad. he came and made her think that the book of Mormon didn't have the answers to her prayers and that we were just causing her more pain.  NO! if she would have just listened to the spirit she could have been so much more happy. I am really sad for those people that deny the spirit like that because they are missing out on so much more happiness. 

then we had the best rain storm on the plant and mostly because it has been so hot I love to go out and just drench myself and then sleep it like the best.  this time the rain just never stopped and we were out there for a good hour.  we danced and then I wanted to shower so I got my shampoo and conditioner and totally showered in the rain.  #only in the Philippines. it was probably one of the best nights ever. 

then I had another cool experience. so on Wednesday we were finding and it was just not working. I told sister Pati on that we needed new investigators and so we were walking at the fish ponds and there was a young man 17 years old walking toward us.  I immediately thought "yea this is just a punk he is not interested" wrong so wrong.  sister Pati-on actually pushed to talk to him and then we taught him.  turns out that he had a lot of questions and was really interested.  well he came to the branch activity and then we went back to him the next day.  at first he wasn't there and it was about 7.  so we met his sister and she just didn't want us to teach her.  she was like yea I am Christian but I am not interested, my family doesn't like people like you to come into the house all that stuff but then Henry came and we were able to teach them.  as we started out the sister that was rejecting us started to get interested mainly because her younger brother had been readying the pamphlet we gave him.  then we pulled out the book of Mormon and she was surprised.  she said that they had one of those and then proceeded to get it.  I was surprised to read that the missionaries who gave them that book of Mormon was in 2001 and was the branch president right now.  I freaked out I was so excited mainly because when stuff like that happens yea you know that heavenly father is telling them something.  so pretty cool. 

One of our other investigators, martin, who has a smoking problem finally has been able to quit.  we have been teaching him for 4 months now and I am so excited to see the testimony start to grow in him.  he has come a long way and really wants his family to join him but that will take some time. 

one thing I want to share is from my studies in the new testament. 
I read about Christ and the washing of the feet and then again about the atonement.  the one thing that is common is about Judas.  to think that Christ knew that he, Judas, was going to betray him and then still call him as an apostle and then again at the washing of the feet, Christ knew what he was going to do and still washed his feet trying in every way possible to give him another chance to change.  what great love.  we too must think that way.  we need to serve out of love for one another the minute it is for ourselves it is wrong.  if we serve out of love for the person then we are truly showing our Christ like qualities.  I know that the atonement is for us too in that way.  when we chose the wrong Christ is still there serving us and trying to get us to come back.  I know that this is true and I know that Christ loves all of us just as much as he did Judas and I know that we can all partake of his atonement if we really try to do better in our own lives.

I love you all and I wish you the best this week.

Take care,

Sister Snow

Catholic Holy Week

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week was holy week and i want to share a little about what happened this week with the catholic beliefs because i didn't know what crazy things they did until now.  So Holy week is when the worship the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and they do a bunch of ceremonial stuff.  they have what is kind of like a parade of graven images and they do that twice in the week. the first one was Wednesday and they just set up all these images of Christ, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the apostles and then they have the people walk around and look at these images.  they have the priest dress up like the apostles and walk around to and then through out the road they have these little stands again depicting the life of Christ and the graven images that they have and they walk that like a parade.  the main even is when they have people walk around whipping themselves with these metal things that have little tinny blades that slowly cut their skin and many people do this and walk through the town so all and can see them.  then they walk to the ocean to clean with salt and don't shower until Sunday to symbolize the resurrection.  i got to see the end and people are just crazy.  the feeling in the air was so empty and i just thought "Jesus Christ did that for us so we wouldn't have to why would you put yourself through so much pain when you don't need to?" but it is their belief and i respect that i am just glad that i know the truth and can rejoice and not be saddened.

so on a better note we had some miracles this week.  one that was so cool was yesterday we went to contact some that we had only talked to in a tricycle and he is born again but was catholic and has been searching for the truth.  after the lesson we gave him a book of Mormon and then he said "when my dad told you that a foreigner and a philipina would be coming to share about the gospel i remembered a dream i had had a couple days ago about you two coming to my house and teaching me."  WAY!!? that was so cool to see that heavenly father is preparing people and we need to make sure as missionaries that we talk to everyone because you never know the ways of our father in heaven.  through sister Pati-on sitting on the back of the tricycle and talking to a tricycle driver we were able to teach his son who was waiting to hear the gospel.

then we went to Nora again and this time we had a member.  this was going to be the make or break it lesson and i was scared.  so we went in and once again i wasn't feeling the spirit and i didn't know what to teach.  finally whatever our member said in the lesson the concern came out.  she was married before and then her husband was abusive so she left and is now living with another guy.  so she has committed adultery so she said and it is just so heavy on her that she didn't feel like she could enter in to our church because of it.  i was so excited to tell her that she could and that that heavy weight could be no more.  she has been living with this guy for over 13 years so by the mission rules she can be baptized (because there is no divorce here in the Philippines sometimes it is a problem) so i really hope that in the next coming weeks we can help her feel happy again.

then we ran into a problem on Saturday for interviews for baptism. we found out that two weeks earlier she was baptized into born again and her mom didn't want her bouncing religions so quickly.  so we lost that right at the very last moment and i was a little frustrated.  on a better note, Rueben has really felt the effects of repentance and has started to share the gospel with others around him by his good example.   he has also let go that he is not going to know everything and has gained faith that through enduring to the end he will know that things that that trouble his mind.  he has really matured in a sense and i know for a surety that he knows that this church is true. through Ruebens example we have gained a family as investigators that want to know that truth and most importantly want to be married, and baptized.  the husband wants to give up all of his word of wisdom problems and do better and now it is just getting them to come to church and pray about the church. 

That is one thing that i have noticed is the importance of prayer.  people who really take it seriously and pray to know if the gospel is true will find an answer through prayer but if there is not prayer then they will never feel it.  i know those that have taken the time to read and pray to know and they usually have the fastest conversion. so i encourage everyone even myself to really re-evaluate your prayers and take time to talk to you father in heaven he loves you and i know that with all my heart.  i pray that you will all have a great week and thank you so much for your support and love.

Until next week!

Sister Snow

Wedding, baptism and Jehovah witness

Dear Family and Friends,

So this week has been crazy let me just tell you about trying to get married here in the Philippines!!

So transfer day came and went and I am still here in the Orion zone and I am actually really ok with it I love it.  Why? because I get to see one of my favorite families married and baptized and I am still companions with sister Pati-on and I love her I will just be honest we are the best of friends and get along great.

So about marriage.  marriage is what brings us here together today!!! (couldn't help it) here in the Philippines you need to get something called a CENOMAR and I am not sure what that is but you need it and then you need to apply for a marriage certificate and again I am not sure what that is but you need it and it takes 10 business day (business being key word here) unfortunately it is also HOLY WEEK which is when all the Catholics do the Crucifixion stuff and it is crazy out here so I am not really looking forward to that but it is going to happen.  that is a problem because that is a holiday so that puts getting the CENOMAR until about April 29.  we want her to be baptized this month so what we might end up doing is having her married on the 30 and then have her and her oldest son baptized that afternoon.  the best part though is she is so excited for everything that it is ok and I know that lord told me to help her for a reason because he is going to provide a way. I know that!  we did get the CENOMAR through the mission and president Querido brought it down to Orion for us so we should be good to go.

we had a problem with one of our investigators this week who is getting ready for baptism he said that he has asked god if this is the true church but hasn't received an answer.  I was a little frustrated because I kind of knew why but I also knew it was something deeper.  he has been talking to his brother who is a Jehovah Witness and that has really been messing with his head and he won't let go that the name of god should be Jehovah as it says in the bible.  a little frustrated with Jehovah Witnesses let me tell you. well I sat there and prayed and prayed for him during the week and when we went back yesterday we figured it out.  he actually hasn't prayed to know because he doesn't feel worthy to pray he is not perfect or free of sin.  well the spirit directed me to share this analogy.  if your child comes home and they are sad and they say they have done something bad would you want them to tell you what they did? he said yes. then i said how is our father in heaven different? the light bulb click on and he realized that although he is not perfect he can still talk to god in fact that is the time when it is most crucial to pray to our heavenly father.  I shared with him 1nephi 21:16 about the palms of my hands and he got his light back in his eyes.  I hope he will pray to know and I pray with all my heart that he will feel god's love like I know that god loves me.  that is one thing that is so important for all of us most especially with investigators.  if we as missionaries feel god's love and the spirit then we know that they are feeling it too and that is essential to conversion.  the spirit is so important!

we also had another experience where we went finding in an area I have avoided because of a creeper but it's ok now.  as we were walking we discovered that it is really big.  we saw a cluster of houses and sister pati-on said to me "ok in that cluster of houses we are going to find new investigators" sure enough we were let into this person how to "meet them" and shared our message.  the spirit was strong and I am excited to go back and teach them again.

 lastly I had a sad experience this week again with doubt.  that investigator I told you about that bore her testimony in church told us the other day that she felt that our testimony meeting was a waste of time and that she doesn't like to read the book of Mormon it is not deep enough for her.  my heart stopped as she said those fleeting words and now I think of the talk in conference where they said you might have to defend your faith.  oh, I was going to defend it.  obviously Satan had taken the little faith and spirit that she had felt, like Rueben(the story earlier), and twisted it.  now she was doubting her feelings or outright denying them.  we will keep trying there because we cannot let him win.  he is getting stronger but we are much more stronger because I know with all my heart that this is the true church and I know that god loves all of us.  I hope and pray that you all know that too and I hope you all have a great week.  I love you and will talk to you all next week.

Love,

Sister Snow