His Grace is Sanctifying!

Dearest Family,

 

How's everyone doing there?

Time flies so fast and I can't believe your counting my days left here. I've been in my area for more than 9 months already and yes, they've been asking me already when I'll be leaving (sawang-sawa na ata sila sa akin eh haha) but I love that branch so much. And I've consecrated my time and my whole life to this cause and this work continues to go forward though it has never been easy but I'm grateful to see myself changed.

 

Sister Lyrma, one of our recent converts, just received a calling as Relief Society Secretary. She's super awesome! She's a good member missionary too and guess what, her husband in the Philippines is was baptized yesterday! She's always so excited and she loves telling us that her 7 year old son is already leading the prayer with the missionaries. She is also asking us about how she can give her talk because she'll be one of the speakers next month.

 

Sister Lyn, also a recent convert who was baptized last June, had a wonderful experience at the Temple last week as she was able to do baptisms for the dead! It was her first time and temple attendance will really give us spiritual strength.

 

It was Sister Christel's baptism this week! No words can express how happy she was to be able to enter the waters of baptism. She had a week-long holiday and she's ahd a lot of spiritual experiences before she goes back to China to work.

We were able to teach widows this week! I love it! Don't you just love Heavenly Father's plan of salvation for all of His children? It is so beautiful!

 

I am grateful that Heavenly Father is so patient with one of His least patient children and that's me. I know that He loves me so much because He is trying my patience and He wants me to be patient like He is. I've learned to be more patient ever and to be able to endure many things and prayer has helped me a lot.

 

What I've learned from a talk by Elder Kevin Pearson is that, Prayer is not a negotiation process but aligning our will to His. It is not changing our circumstances but changing us. It is about finding about what He would want me do and not letting Heavenly Father do things for us. 

As we come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ and have faith in His Atonement, we can change our lives. His Atonement is pardoning, transforming, sanctifying, and redeeming and I strongly have a testimony of that. 

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world 

Helaman 5:9

I love you all and I'm always mindful of you in my prayers.

Love,

Sister Posadas

PS

Oops, it was Elder Funk who visited us by the way not Elder Gong. 

Photos during Christel's baptism and her temple visit and also a photo with me and my planner in Tagalog because it's Buwan ng Wika haha! ;)

(AUGUST 25, 2014)

August is here!

 My Dearest Family,

 

    How are you all doing? I'm so sorry. My email is short and no-fun at all because of lack of photos! We've been rushing a lot lately during pdays. Don't worry, I'll send a photo probably next week when I'll have more time. It's not that I'm hiding my Dora-like hair because my companion and I chopped it off due to extreme heat. I'm still crazy.

 

   There have been indeed a lot of miracles as we all worked hard for the 65 baptisms in July and there were really wonderful and inspiring stories of families and individuals that entered into the covenant of baptism! 

 

   I know I've said this a ton of times before but everyday, I do continue to learn and grow. My testimony has been strengthened so much and the Book of Mormon is indeed a big part of it that is why we really enjoyed the Mission Tour this week with Elder Gong and Elder Wong for it really did inspire, uplift, and motivate us to do and be better. There is indeed a greater desire to repent, change, and be better and really bind ourselves in holiness before God. Sister Mabunga and I were one of those chosen to share our testimonies by surprise. I just can't believe she's leaving soon. I'm really going to cry!  Time jets!
     

   I was pondering one day and thought that I could've given up long ago because of all the challenges I've faced, am facing and will be facing in the future but I won't and I can't because I love my Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, I love Him. I guess that kind of faith in Him unto repentance is enough to keep us all going. I know that having that testimony and faith in Him is really important for the people that we teach because once we have that, we just have that desire to follow Him no matter what happens. The Atonement fixes everything and it strengthens me each day. He has overcome the world and so will we through Him. Do not ever give up. Don't be discouraged. Satan is happy when you are. I've had a lot of hard and trying times before this mission because of the adversary. Those who have that desire to build God's kingdom are a threat to him. He will try to knock you down if your weaknesses are unguarded so fortify yourselves just like how Captain Moroni is so prepared. Continue to pray, study the scriptures, and attend church. :)

  

  I feel so blessed to be serving in such a choiced land in this wonderful time with the best mission president and his wife. This experience has changed me. I know I will never be the same again.

I'm grateful for the Spirit that's always guiding me and all of us in this work. I've had a lot of spiritual experiences that I hold sacred and it's just amazing how the Spirit leads us not knowing beforehand the things that we should do. But because it is the right thing, as we courageously follow the promptings of the Spirit, we are led to more miracles and we are changed. Forever.

 

Fun Fact:

1. Since last month, my companion and I sacrificed something tangible and intangible to bless our missionary efforts even more. And this month, I just said goodbye to my love for sweets! I haven't had ice cream and chocolate for 11 days already and it feels like it's been forever already. Haha. Oh, don't expect me to be skinny.

 

Love,

Sister Posadas

(AUGUST 11, 2014)

Your Faith is a Gift from God

Dear Family and Friends,

How are you? I hope and pray that everything is well with you. July has been a very challenging yet a wonderful month. There are a lot of truly amazing miracle stories from the missionaries here as we worked towards the 65 baptisms in July! One of those that we really caught my attention is one companionship was chased by dogs and even if the dog was already attacking them, they were still contacting and asking the person who's helping them if he's interested to learn about the gospel. Good thing, they're all safe and healthy now! 

The past few weeks have been life changing. I've a lot of spiritual experiences that truly strengthened my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyday's a stretch of faith and the truly amazing miracles that happen here are the changes within ourselves. It's a wonderful thing to evaluate ourselves each day and ask, "What have I done today that is moving me towards eternal life?" 

Always know that nobody can take away your faith from you, not even your trials, because your faith is a gift from God. Keep that faith alive! 

I love you all! I'm going to see you all in a bit! ;)

A glimpse of Hong Kong: https://www.lds.org/church/news/saints-in-hong-kong-commemorate-missions-beginnings?lang=eng

Love,

Sister Posadas

(JULY 28 2014)