3 month mark in the Mission ! - 02/03/19

Hello everyone!~

It has been a while since I have updated everyone on how I am doing. Just this past week on the 2nd of Feb. I hit my 3 month mark in the mission, and time really flies by so fast! But, during these 3 months I have had many ups and downs, and have really come to realize how to really rely on the Lord and to put all my trust in His hands. I have met so many wonderful people and have had many experiences happen during my mission- ones that are miracles from above and ones that test my faith, but bring me closer to ang ating Ama Sa Langit!

This week has been very challenging, as it can be a disappointment when you find 33 new investigators and no one makes it to church. Or when you are working very hard every day, but it seems like none of your investigators are progressing in the gospel as you hope they would. So, it is very disappointing to us especially Sister. Augerea having a drastic change of weekly baptisms to 1 here and there. But, this week was a trial of our faith and an answer to our sincere prayers as well. This week we found 25 new investigators and we really had this family in mind, S family, that we could see them as how they could become if they accepted the invitation to "Come unto Christ." We planned to visit them, but when we would go to their home they weren't available, so it was turning our hope upside down. Until yesterday, we were on our way to church waiting for a jeepney when we heard"sisters, sisters!" and to our surprise it was Sister. S and her children on their way to church. What joy it brought to my face and to my heart to see Sister. S and her children. She expressed that she felt super happy at church, and the kids want to be baptized. So, it was a answer to my prayers and a trail to my faith. I am grateful for the struggles that I face during the mission that help me more rely on my Savior and Heavenly Father, so that they can help me in their strength.

I love missionary work and one thing that I wished I did back home was to give missionary referrals. Members have a big task to do! Members are full time finders! So, jump onto the work and help build the kingdom of God back home.

 Hope you are all doing well! God Bless.

- Sister. Castro

Here is a picture from our baptism this week. :)

Buenas noches! Buenos dias mi familia! 01/27/19

I have seasonal allergies!! YAY, so this week I was feeling the worst, but I have medicine now so hopefully I get better.

Tapos, members are saying my tagalog is getting good!! :)

Great week for Sister Augerea and I this week! We reached and even exceeded some of our goals. This week we were working hard araw-araw and it motivated us to improve for these next 5 weeks we have together. :) 

 

I would like to share to you one miracle that happened this week on Saturday night. We had planned for that evening after one of our appointments to visit one of our investigators, Sister. Mercy, but time was running against us, and when the time came it was really dark outside. Where Sister. Mercy it goes in, and we were very hesitant to go in because it is not a safe area to visit especially when there is no sun-light. So, for our safety we decided not to go down to her house. So, we were walking back to and I left with the thought that we didn't visit her and share with her a message that I felt like she needed, as well as to invite her to church. Sister. Augerea also left with the same thought because she says shortly after something along the lines, "I wish we could just run into Sister. Mercy right now on our way back to our house," and that just sat in my thoughts about Sister. Mercy. When literally, around 8 mins after she said that we here, "Hello Sisters!," it was not Sister. Mercy, but it was her son and his girlfriend. They were so excited to see us, and at first I did not recognize them, but then when I did I was shocked. Heavenly Father heard and felt our sadness and deepest desires and created a miracle in that instant moment.

Earlier that day we were talking about obedience and how our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds all influence the outcomes in our life. And, we said that when we have exact obedience miracles happen in your life and that to me was one of my first miracles in the mission and I am so grateful to have experienced that moment.

That was my last zone! So it is all the missionaries in the Valenzuela stake but now with transfers a lot of them left.

01/21/19

 This post is pieces of a conversation through emailing back and forth with Sister Castro.

• How are you???
•  I fell again hapon..... getting out of a tricycle LOLOL, so now both of my knees are matching LOLOLO. I need some knee pads LOL I have a picture that I will send you guys!! But omg this week has been really good! Yesterday especially we didn't have sacrament meeting because Elder Holland is here and we watched a devotional he gave to the QC South Stake!! It was soooo good!!

•  How was your week? 
• Yesterday we spent time with 3 member families and omg they are soooo nice and wonderful! I actually started tearing up because we are going to do the family study of come follow me and Sister Augerea said that since we don't have family here it is nice that we can do it with them so it will be every Sunday and they were sooo excited!! 

• This week was a miracle. Sunday evening we were having a rough time being welcomed into homes and all of our appointments fell through. So we needed to pray harder to Heavenly Father to have Him guide us to the souls He has prepared to us and to those souls who are willing to listen both with their ears and their hearts. Sister Augerea invited me to say the prayer for us on the side of the road, I really felt impressed from the Spirit to pray for families and to pray for a space that would be filled with them. After closing the prayer Sister Augerea told me what road did you see. We were in a street that had a left and a right, and I told her I really saw families towards the right side of the road. So We walked and there was no one, but we still kept going- until we saw a young girl walking and she walks into this really narrow and long road. So, of course we go in and stop at the first house. We taught a sweet lady and asked her if there was more houses down the road and she said many. It was late so we said we would track it tomorrow. We went back yesterday and we went to the end and our eyes met a huge village, filled with many houses. It was such a good day yesterday- and many of whom we taught were taught by the elders who were previously there many many months ago. They were so welcoming to us and recognized us as missionaries. That village was an answer to our fervent prayer, and I know that Heavenly Father really led us there and had prepared them. I am excited to help that area progress. It was a miracle and a blessing to be led there. 

• Have you been eating well? 
• We have dinner every week with 2 families now 3! Even though we don't have a calendar they are still inviting us over every now and then or come to our apt and bring us food 
• Do they play a lot of music over there since they love karaoke? 
• They love Spanish music here! and when they find out that I speak Spanish they speak to me in Spanish LOL.Our bishop knows a lot LOL

• How is you Tagalog coming along? 
• slowly but it is coming!! 

• BUT WHAT ARE THOSE BUG BITES!!!? Man those suckers are badddd . Mom says to rub Vick on them at night with the ointment pero que hagas caso! Lol.
• Yes they are mosquito bites, and yes I have been putting ointment on them so they won't get infected. I will start wearing stockings.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 1 Month in the Mission Field! - 01/14/19

Happy New Year to you all!

Hope that this year brings you all much blessings and happiness!

This week marked my 1 month mark out here in the mission field. I have had many great experiences and have learned much of the Filipino culture. But, one thing that amazes me of them is of how happy they are regardless of the trials and afflictions they face in life. This past week we were passing by a neighbor hood and a group of older friends and one of them says, "It is a new year lets make it a good  one regardless of what we face, we need to look towards the blessings and live happily!" So, being the start of a new year let us all live after this manner. Count your blessings one by one- and strive to live more fully as a disciple of Christ in all things, times, and places.

Happy New Year ulit (again)! And hope to hear from you soon. :) 

- Sister. Castro

SISIG - 01/06/2019

 This post is pieces of a conversation through emailing back and forth with Sister Castro.

• How are you doing? 
• I am doing great! My health is doing great! I did fall this week LOL and my knee is all scratched but other than that I am doing great! I feel more confident and slowly my tagalog is coming with is so comforting.
•  What area are you in and until when? 
• Quezon City North Mission, my area is called Ugong and I am here until March. March is when my training period ends! I could transfer or stay here will know until then. 
• Just three pictures this week? 
• They were sent by a missionary from India who took a really nice camera.These were at the MTC!!
• Is there something that you have tried that you really like?
• SISIG!!!! I love that stuff. I think it is pigs face and brains LOL it is spicy but soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!

12/30/18

 This post is pieces of a conversation through emailing back and forth with Sister Castro.

• HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
• Happy New Year! people here already putting off their fireworks, singing karaoke!

• How was your week? 
• This week has been so good! So my trainer is also an STL and she has to do exchanges with sisters from other areas so me and Sister Pay were left by ourselves on Thursday to proselyte and it was the best! We met 6 new investigators and taught them lesson 1 and it gave me much more confidence! 

• What are your plans for today?
• Our plans for today is not much because we have curfew again, but the people here already putting off their fireworks, singing karaoke! We have dinner at 5pm again with Family Galicia!

• What did you get to eat when you wen there for Christmas?
• On Christmas day the Galicia family fed us like kings actually the entire day we ate like kings! So much food! But they gave us Korean spicy chicken, lumpia shanghai, rice (of course that is a staple), and much more! And then the Hno. who is the 1st con in the stake brought out his guitar and we were just singing so many songs! the PH people love to sing! And it reminded me so much of dad and the music he likes like the Bee Gees, etc!

• What is the name of your Bishop and the ward you go to? 
• Bishop Bassig! He is the coolest and such a hardworking person! Our ward is called Gen T De Leon in the Valenzuela Stake in Valenzuela City, Quezon City

• Is it true that people love to do karaoke?
• The karaoke is right outside of our apartment lol
• So we wake up to that and sleep to that

• Is there anything you want us to send you?
• Grandmas hot chocolate LOLOL

• Okay! We will make sure to send loads!
• ahaha thank you so much familia los amo so much and I always get so happy talking to you guys!!!  

Week 2 SA Mission Field & Merry Christmas! - 12/24/18

Merry Christmas to you all from the Philippines!

This field is super white and ready to harvest here in the Ugong area! I love the people here so much and they bring such a big smile to my face. We had our second baptism this past saturday and my heart is filled with so much joy when they smile so brightly as they enter the waters of baptism, and the family and friends are all gathered around. What true happiness the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to us all. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas alongside your family and friends! God bless you all. 

#LightTheWorld 

Week 1 SA Mission Field! - 12/17/18

Hello Everyone!

Today marks my 6th day in the mission field and it has been such an amazing experience thus far. The area I am assigned in is called Ugong - It is a place filled with a lot of people and one of good cheer! I love the area so much already because everyone is so welcoming and friendly. My trainer and companion, Sister. Augerea, and I have gone finding these past few days and we have found souls that I know were prepared just for us by the Lord and that we were led to them by the guidance of the Holy Ghost because they were so receptive to the message we were sharing with them. They did not only listen with their ears, but most importantly they listened with their heart. I am so excited for our next appointments with them and to see them act on their faith and hopefully accept the invitation to be baptized. I know with my whole heart that the gospel is true! I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are His children. And because He loves us he wants to return back to Him, and through exercising the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives we are able to. I know that we have the greatest gift ever, which is the gospel, and we should treasure it and share it with others so that they can taste of joy that we feel by living the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I invite you all to gift a friend or a family member a Book of Mormon and to write your testimony in it this Christmas! Share the greatest gift you have with others!

Hope you are all doing well and hope to hear from you all soon!

Sincerely, 

Sister. Castro

HULING LINGGO SA MTC (Last week at the MTC) 12/05/18

Merry Christmas to you all family!

Here are some pictures from this week!

Oh, from last week I forgot to share with you that I got called with my kasama to be the STLs (senior training leaders)! My first calling as a missionary! So it is like a district leader but for the sisters, making sure that they are okay and helping them! I love my calling because it helps me make friendships and to talk with everyone! 

Also, I was chosen to give a talk during sacrament last week! It wasn't as scary as before and I wasn't nervous. Everyone told me they loved it and the MTC President and his wife gave me the sweetest card! That same day we taught the class in RS! 

This week not much has happened because our days just consist of teaching our interested people, language study, and doctrine study! Pero the teachings with the interested people has been so AMAZING! The spirit has been so strong in those classrooms that even the teachers start tearing up and crying and so do we! I can only imagine how it will be with actual interested people in the mission field. Our message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is so beautiful that I can't wait for next week! So here at the mtc every saturday there is going to be a light the world concert and this past saturday we had the first one and it was really cool! The choir was really good! 

I leave the mtc in one week! OH MY GULAY (oh my vegetables) lol that is what they say here in the PH. I am super excited!

Here are some pictures from this week & of my bestest friends ever. I love all of them so much and they are sooooo amazing! 

The picture of my district sisters and I (wearing the blue shirt) is of today before we went to the temple! We went together as the Ammon & Samuel district to the temple and it was so great! I love the temple y dije lo de el velo solito en ingles! such a comforting and hugging spirit came to me. Gods love is amazing!

Kita kits next week family! 

Love you all so much. Mahal Kita! 

- Sister. Castro

p.s. I have been told I look like a child actress from the PH called Julian Ward lol