Sister Castro Blog: January 2019

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.