Hey Kamusta na kamo? A huge part of our teaching pool right now are people that range from the ages of 18-20. We try to teach the family, but the younger generation seems to be the only ones receptive, and open to new things. They have reached a point in their lives where they're searching for more and asking questions, so when we come along they're more than willing to listen and act. Our job is just to help them remember what they once knew in Heaven. One of these is 18 year old Rodel. Earlier this week, he accepted a baptismal date for May 26th, and came to church. We haven't been teaching him very long, but he knows the Church of Jesus Christ is true. Because his heart was open, the spirit was easily able to testify of the truth. I know he hasn't had an easy life, but that's the beauty of the Gospel. Even amid life's storm's, we can find calmness and peace of mind. Our best friends, Judito and Leobert quietly admitted to us with tears in their eyes, that they feel the Church of Jesus Christ is true. They've come a very long way, and I know eventually they will enter the waters of baptism when the time is right. If they don't find missionaries in Manila, I might just have to fly over myself. haha jk Funny story of the week.... Last week we had stopped to talk to a man named Gary as he was washing clothes outside of his house, by a well. We were really excited to go back this week, because as we talked to him, he told us a good friend had given him a copy of the Book of Mormon. He told us that we could come back to teach....so when we went back, we approached his house from the opposite side we had come before, and we stopped frozen in our tracks. We were just a little surprised, because connected to the other side of his house, was a small baptist church. Being so confused, I turned and asked a lady if she knew Gary? She responded, "you mean Pastor Gary?" I almost burst out laughing, because we really had no clue. He wasn't there, but we are totally going back.
We haven't been able to teach Sam this week, because he has been in Bacolod, and at a funeral of one of his good friends. tani this week. I'll just leave you all with a quote I love. "As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fears will be replaced by the courage of our convictions" -Thomas Monson Palangga ta kamo pirme. Love Sister Adams
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Maayong aga, hapon or gab-i wherever you might be :) Wowzers this week was so good! Madamo nga mga miracles. I love Hinigaran so much! It's so beautiful, but the main reason is because of the people. I can't even tell you how much love I have for the people here, especially for those we are lucky enough to teach. Cool quick story, early in the morning on our way to District Council our favorite tricycle driver was there waiting at the gate of our subdivision. We jumped in and immediately he said he knew someone that wants to be taught by missionaries, and then asked if he could take us to him. As in, it took us a moment to register what he had just said, because we were so surprised. We became even more surprised when he took us to one of the largest houses I've seen here in the Philippines. A man came out, introduced himself, and asked if we could come back later that same day. Later he told us his sister is a member and had called earlier that week, encouraging him to find and meet with missionaries to learn more. He said that very same day he was out on His balcony, when he saw me, and Sister Castillo walk by down below him on the opposite side of the street. He said from then on, that whole week, he couldn't stop thinking about that coincidence, that he actually went searching for us, because he felt so strongly he needed to talk with us. He searched for that week, and in one last attempt, he talked to one tricycle driver saying, "if you ever see them, tell them I want to be taught. That same tricycle driver just happened to be the one person who is always driving us! Grabe gid. I was on the verge of tears the whole lesson from this sweet tender mercy from God, and because of how much he needs the Gospel in his life. Sam is the most successful man. He has the money to do whatever, or go where ever he wants in this world, but told us he's not happy. As we shared the message of the Restoration of the Gospel, he said he felt a happiness he hasn't felt in a long time. Sorry, that was supposed to be a quick story haha Also guess who we finally taught this week?? Yes yes Bevvs, along with Judito and Leobert. I love how seriously they take us, and our message. They've been reading the Book of Mormon, and I know without a doubt, they're testimonies are slowly growing. It makes we so sad they're moving to Manila the end of next month for work. I made them all promise to continue there, and until then, we'll continue to teach them. Gian and Gyhzer are seriously my favorite. Sometimes they remind me of a younger Sam and Elijah haha. They call us Manang (an endearment here for an older sister) they're the sweetest and are as strong as ever. I'm excited for May ll.
Because this week was Easter, I was more fully reminded of the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior. Especially here, because everything shuts down in honor of Him. I love the story in the New Testament of the woman who suffered with an issue of blood for 12 years. As she had faith, and reached out for the Savior, she was healed IMMEDIATELY. Jesus Christ waits for us to come unto Him. His arms are always outstretched, and as we come unto him healing begins immediately. Our trial isn't always taken away, but we are given the strength and comfort to keep going. I know that full healing comes in His own way and timing. I know He lives and loves you. Halong kamo pirme love Sister Adams Yo yo I've said it so many times but I really can't believe it's been another week! Dasig ang tion diri sa mission. I also hit my half way mark this week! grrabbbe. This week was a good one. We taught lots, found lots and had Zone Conference. My favorite thing of every week is getting to teach the Buga-ay family (a part member family). Their mom and older brother Charles were baptized years ago. Charles has been going to church for years by himself, and he is preparing to serve a mission in a couple of years. We started teaching His brothers Gian and Gyhzer hoping to eventually teach their father too. Seriously they are the smartest 11 and 12 year old kids. They look up to their older brother and want to be like him. They accepted a baptism date for May 11. In one lesson with everyone, Charles bore the strongest testimony of the truth of this gospel. He told them that he wants their family to be together forever, and how that could only happen through this gospel, leaving us all in tears. There is nothing more powerful then a simple and sincere testimony. Also, we've all been working toward flooding this mission with the Book of Mormon, because it brings about the strongest conversion. That applies for us too. Conversion isn't a one and done type of thing it's a continual process, and the Book of Mormon helps us to stay bakod. President Nelson said, "My dear brothers and sister, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon EVERY DAY, you will make better decisions every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind numbing addictions." The blessings, and power that come through reading the Book of Mormon everyday are amazing. I've felt that power every day as I've continued to study and ponder the Book of Mormon. So if your reading, continue, and if not start today. Happy Easter! Love you all! Sister Adams I talked to Em on messenger for a little bit. It was 1:00am when she called, so I had her all to myself as everyone else was sleeping. She loves her new area, & said it is full of beautiful fields of sugar cane. She said it tastes good too. She feels fortunate that she has been in the rural countryside so far.
She has fish everyday. She was worried about this before her mission, but says she now loves fish! Her favorite fish is mongroose. She also loves “green shell”, a kind of clam. A picture from a couple weeks back was a snake on a stick. She said it tastes like chicken. She said girls don’t usually play basketball there, only the boys. Things like cooking or sports are very gender assigned. She loves to play b-ball on pday. Nobody plays soccer that she has found yet. I love that I got to hear her voice. She is so happy. Maayong aga! Kamusta kamo? Lets just say I think I ate more rice in this one week then I ever have in isa ka simana. Sister Castillo is turning me into a true blooded Filipina. Pero sad day. So you know Bevvs the one guy we found last week? Well we tried going back(I was excited because he seems really interested) but he was never home. You wanna know something pretty cool? We ended up stopping and talking to a group of boys, and had one of the best lessons I've ever given, the spirit was so strong. They didn't want us to leave because they wanted to know more. We found out, one of them is Bevvs best friend, the one he wanted to invite the next time we came. Coincidence? We don't think so haha It was also so much fun this week because I got to go on exchanges with Sister Nanlabi again. I went on exchanges with her my second transfer in the field back in Cadiz. She made me realize really how far I've come in the language in just a short time. The gift of tongues is real. Halong kamo ha! Sister Adams |
Sister Emily Adams
Philippines Bacolod Mission April 18, 2018-October 2019 Mailing Address
Sister Emily Adams
Philippines Bacolod Mission Galo St. between Lacson & Mabini Brgy.22, Bacolod City 6100 Negros Occidental Philippines Archives
January 2020
Companions Provo, Utah MTC
#1 Sister Anna Wilde From Dallas, Texas Taylor, Arizona
#2 Sister Jamie Stuart (trainer) Pleasant Grove, Utah & #3 Sister Kendall Richards Idaho Falls, Idaho Show Low, Arizona
#4 Sister Brooke Casebolt Roy, Utah Manila, Philippine's
#5 Sister Perry Serving in the Iloilo mission from Fiji Sagay, Philippines
#6 Sister Lauren Schenk (Trainer) Syracuse, Utah Sagay, Philippines
#7 Sister Ashley Ellis Highland, Utah Pulupandan, Philippines
#8 Sister Andrea Camille Sales Isabela, Philippines Hinigarin, Philippines
#9 Sister Castillo Sta. Cruz Zambalis, Philippines. Hinigarin, Philippines
#10 Sister Natalie Miner Pleasant Grove, Utah Cadiz, Philippines
#11 Sister Kate Blakeslee Meridian, Idaho Bacolod, Philippines
#12 Sister Kalyx Christensen San Diego, California Bacolod, Philippines
#13 Sister Stephanie Garcia Pangisan, Philippines Bacolod, Philippines
#14 Sister Santa Barbara Marikina, Manila, Philippines Bacolod, Phililppines
#15 Sister Eliza Clark Corvallis, Oregon |