The Power of Faith

My Dearest Family,

How are you all doing?

I've been studying more about faith and I was reminded again that faith is a gift of God that comes from obedience and yesterday, we learned about the faith cycle that after being obedient, we receive blessings and sometimes we receive trials and that's usually the time that we question God why He gives us trials when we are being obedient and these trials are just blessings that we often fail to recognize because those trials help us rely and be more dependent on God and when we faithfully overcome those with God's help, we gain confidence in God because of His divine help and then our faith increases and also we become more obedient and it's just amazing! We, human, tend to have a lot of doubts and fears but as we put our complete trust and confidence in God, He will help us and we are able to do the things that He wants us to accomplish. He works according to our faith. And faith increases through diligent scripture study, prayer, dedicated service, and obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and to the commandments! How fast those 18 months went by and I remember during my first month, I thought of how hard this mission is and how hard it can even be but eventually, I got used to it haha but it's just a miraculous thing that I was able to survive this long haha but the most important thing was that I was able to learn for myself that no matter what happens, it wouldn't be that hard with God's help as I continue to exercise greater faith in Him. He is always there. He has always been there and will always be there. We learn so much about miracles in the Book of Mormon that were wrought because of great faith. We walk by faith all time. Our probation time here on earth requires a lot of faith for us to be able to come back to our Heavenly Father and I'm grateful being able to invite people to come unto Christ and have faith in Him and in His Atonement. 

I just love the Atonement of our Savior. I will never get tired of talking and sharing about our Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement until the day I die! My testimony of His Atonement grew even more here and it's something very dear to me and it's the most beautiful gift and the most glorious thing that our Father in Heaven gave and that is just the reason why I'm here to share and invite them to come unto Christ that they too can receive His perfect love and that they too can be forgiven, cleansed, transformed, and be sanctified by His body and blood. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". (John 15:8). I'm very grateful that He considered me as one of His friends and we are all His friends. Remembering Him and keeping Him in the forefront of my mind and in my life gives me a perfect brightness of hope and I know that despite of my countless weaknesses and imperfections, I can do all things because of Him. I am confident that He will continue to bless me for the rest of my life and help me to be a light to those who are around me as I continue to exercise greater faith and be obedient- there's no other way! :) 

There are countless miracles happening each day that comes because of faith. I'm very grateful for everyday and for everything. I just love being here. I love Hong Kong, the missionaries, the members, and all of those people that we meet. People remind me that I'm coming home soon and when they do remind me, it makes me sad. I know that I will go home with a broken heart missing this mission but I will go home with a happy heart knowing that I've served Him with my very best and I will forever be a missionary!

I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and that They loves us with an infinite love. I know that the gospel is so true! 

Thank you so much. You are such great examples to me! You are amazing and I love you all so much!  

*will be busy next Pday cause it's a statutory holiday! We got to work, work, work even on a Pday! :p

Love,

Pa Jimuih / Po Jiemei

Sister Posadas

This is His Work

Ang Aking Minamahal na Pamilya,

It has been a month full of giving talks and signing books of remembrance. People (especially missionaries) have been asking how does it feel that you're almost finishing your mission. Simple, I feel normal. I don't think there's anything different and I guess when you're into the work and you're enjoying it, you won't even feel that your leave date is coming. I love the counsel in D&C 51:17, , And the hour and the day is not given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for years, and this shall turn unto them for their good.  There's just more to do here and I love it! 

I'm now with my new companion, Sister Neri and she's going to deal with my spasmodic nosebleeds. Companions, don't worry, I'm not dying, I'm normal and fine haha! I've lived with her before and she's a wonderful companion and missionary. She's such an interesting person and I am falling in love with her everyday! It's amazing how there's instant unity and power in our teaching and we both know that it is all because of the Spirit. This week was incredibly fruitful! God has truly placed prepared people in our paths as we allow the Spirit to help us. Last Saturday, my body was aching so bad (signs of aging I guess) and I was pleading with God that He would help me because I can't afford to be sick here and I don't want to decrease my effectiveness in any way possible and with my last Ibuprofen tablet and with God's tender mercies, I was just as energetic enough to do what I should do. What a blessing!

This work is really the Lord's and to be successful, it should be a unified effort of church leaders, members, and missionaries. There's just power when we work shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm. I'm so excited to be a better member-missionary when I get home now that I understand things better! I know that God has sent me in Hong Kong for a such a magnificent reason and I have been unfolding and discovering the 'why' of it in the past few months that I've been here and being here is truly what I need. I'm just happy and grateful everyday despite the odds and oppositions that we all face all day, things will work out as we continue to give our very best each day. Keep the faith. Be believing.

May we all prepare ourselves for the Easter Season and for the upcoming General Conference. I know that the gospel is true! I know that we will prosper as long as we keep His commandments. I know that happiness is the sum of obedience! 

Love,

Sister Posadas

Stand in the Light

Ang Aking Minamahal na Pamilya,

How are you all doing? Last week was surprisingly depressing numerically for me and Sister Valenzuela but we still had a very good week as we continue to apply Elder Ballard's plan even though we weren't able to have immediate results but we are still very optimistic that as we stay faithful, obedient, and persistent, we will see those efforts sooner. It just feels really good that at the end of the day, we're still happy because we know we did our best and that the Lord is with us. We are excited for the coming weeks because we know that God will continue to pour out His blessings! Yesterday, Sister Valenzuela were so blessed to have a pullback and we gave her a church tour. By the way, we are now giving church tours in the newly opened Welcome Center in the Wan Chai church. (It's so cool now!!!) It's an awesome spiritual yet simple experience. My companion and I's favorite part is taking them to the sacrament hall and staying there for just a couple of minutes is so powerful then the visitors start tearing up and you just know that they've felt it, the peace, the love, the Spirit. They have definitely felt God's love encircling around them and that is my testimony that God loves His children. 

We attended a devotional from the Christensen's. Brother Christensen wrote the book How You Measure Your Life and it's not based from our achievements but it's about investing our time in what really matters most- our families and how we are able to solve problems and how we are able to help others become better people and all about our devotion and discipleship with our God. So think about where you're at now with your life.

Guess what, Sister Valenzuela is moving to Macau tomorrow! Why so soon? It was just so painful because we were both enjoying the work. She's just awesome and she's a great learner who's really humble and teachable. I love her because she gets me when I'm being hard on her (in a good and loving way of course) because she definitely needs to learn exact obedience and the most important things early in the mission. We had so much fun together though. I love her so much but then we have to part ways and I can't believe I'm getting my eleventh companion. Isn't that too many? It's so crazy and fun. I really don't know what God's plan is for me but I'm still grateful for this opportunity that God has put me in. I have learned so much from all my companions and it's an opportunity to share and help those who are around us stand in the light and be our very best selves. I know that this gospel is true!

May we all stand in the light and may it show in your eyes that you are seeking the Lord each day. I'm grateful for the deep abiding testimony that I have acquired here for our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that They love us and that this is Their work. The Atonement is real. It worked for me and it continues to work for me everyday. Let it work for you. Because my Savior did everything for me, I am willing to give my all because I love Him. I will choose the Lord's way as my own. I will live what I believe and I will be a light to all around me. I know these things are true and I share all these in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S.

Photos from last Pday with my super awesome companion, Sister Valenzuela. She's so special because she's my baby and she's growing too fast that she has to leave. Haha. She'll love Macau. The Lord needs her there.

..and photos this morning at the Temple! It was so refreshing and so good! I love it! I'm excited to visit Cebu Temple soon! See you all soon! I can't wait to hug you all!

If you want God to have a good laugh, you can tell him your plans. :D -heard that from the Asia Women's Conference this week!

I love you all.

Love,

Sister Posadas

Carry On

Dearest Family,

I used to be too excited to read emails on P-day but now I'm hoping that you wouldn't say something so nice that would give me a weird feeling like, "I'm so excited to see you a month from now! Countdown starts!". It's not that I don't want to see you, I really do and I even want to hug you BUT it just feels weird. Haha. Well, thank you for the funny and inspiring emails today, mom and dad! I already got the super late package probably two weeks ago and we're now enjoying all the goodies in our apartment. I also appreciate the letters from the YSA's. You're all too loving, thank you!

I've been getting a lot of feedback from RM's and how hard life after mission is and I guess that's a fact that I should also face soon and if life's harder out there, I am definitely working even harder right now. I've never been so hungry in my entire mission that's why I enjoy cooking food for my companion and eating with her. Tigilan yang wedding dress issue na ipagkakasya. Haha. And can someone explain to me why Filipino meals are so tedious to prepare? 

This week, Sister Valenzuela and I are striving to develop that desire to constantly follow the prophetic counsel, "The Elder M. Russell Ballard Plan" and be exactly obedient in all things. I'm helping her understand why mission rules are just very strict here like we're not allowed to listen to EFY music anymore, elders and sisters aren't allowed to spend P-day together, etc. I do not know everything but one thing's for sure, just be obedient. It's the first law in heaven. We can't get pass law number 2, 3, 4, and so forth if we don't get the first one! We're very anxious in waking up each morning and out of our beds at 7 AM and get our hearts pumping at 100bpm during exercise and prepare for the rest of the day. I love Elder Jeffrey R. Holland counsel that those hours in the morning are very crucial, it will not only affect the rest of the day but it has an eternal effect. We also have a companion goal to not argue with the Lord and it's been amazing because we couldn't fight those feelings but we are taught to be more humble each day and to submit to His will. I sometimes feel hesitant and awkward in approaching some people and Elder Ballard reminded us to be more bold and fearless (because we are being too shy here) and the only thing to overcome those seemingly insurmountable hurdles is to JUST DO IT! I'm grateful that my companion is there to support and remind me and she takes the initiative in talking to more people especially to men! She's so hard working and she's doing awesome. She's also very soft spoken and sweet. (Ilongga gid) Being able to maintain a level of desire and attitude of hard work requires a lot of effort and faith and it's something that we're constantly working on. I'm learning a lot from our companionship and is constantly striving to develop those Christlike attributes and teach like the Master Teacher. This week as we really did our best to be a straight arrow with our schedule, miracles were very immediate with two pullbacks in a day and two baptismal dates! It's incredibly awesome. I know that the Lord is more anxious to help us and we allow Him too.

I pray that you are doing your best to stay obedient to the Lord, reading your scriptures and saying your prayers daily and also serving those who are around your sphere of influence. If not, will you repent tonight and seek to follow what God wants to have you done? I promise you that you will have . As my ministerial certificate states, everyone should heed to my message. :) It's truly rewarding and a blessing to represent Jesus Christ and have the power to make and feel others good because of our Heavenly Father and Savior's love for all of us. I know that the gospel is true! I know that The Church of Jesus Christ is the only true and living church here on earth. To my nonmember family and friends, I love you. Are you interested to learn more about our religion?

I know that God really blesses the families of His faithful missionaries! I know that our leaders are called of God and I'm grateful to be able to work and serve with them and receive instruction directly from God! Isn't there so much love and happiness in the world? I hope and pray that you would be able to feel that peace and hope that comes from our Savior despite the disturbing and competing voices from the world. All is well in Zion.

Our zone goal right now is, "Wars come and go but My soldiers stay ETERNAL." This mission is my war right now and we are doing our best to have those things we've learned in our mission to make a permanent change on us that will bless us for the rest of our lives. Carry on!

I love you all. Have a great week!

PS

-I'm supposed to send photos but I brought the wrong memory card. Oops! I'll think about sending it next week or probably you can wait a month from now to see it. 

-Meet the Mormons is a wonderful movie!!

Love,

Sister Posadas

The Final Stretch!!!

Ang Aking Minamahal na Pamilya,

Another transfer is over and I just couldn't believe that it's my last! Isn't that so crazy? It's been miraculous. If our mission president think he needs to repent more than I've been repenting on a whole lot of things this week. Haha. Oh how grateful am I for God's grace that we can all improve and be the best selves that we could be.

We're so happy that Fatima got baptized last Thursday! It was the same day that Elder M. Russell Ballard had a devotional for everyone and we were all happy to see recent converts, investigators, and less-actives attend that meeting. It was such a spiritual day for all of us. It was also a blessing that all the missionaries were instructed by him and I testify that if we fully embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, we'll definitely have a greater desire for the eternal welfare of our brothers and sisters. Truly, there is joy and satisfaction that is only understood in spiritual feelings. I testify as I've come to continue to learn and witness it for myself.

I have a new companion and she's Sister Valenzuela who's fresh from the Philippines MTC. She's such a good companion, very humble and teachable. I love her and I'm so blessed to have her. She's very lucky to meet a living prophet and apostle of the Lord on her first day of her mission and also a baptism on her first day in the field! We really are striving to learn more and apply the prophetic counsels we received and it has been challenging but absolutely miraculous and fabulous!!! We're bolder and fearless in finding as we're able to talk to more and more people each day. I've never been so talkative in my entire life in a good way of course and we've been really busy talking and inviting to more people, also asking for more referrals and it's really been awesome. We're happy and enjoying this work that requires a lot of faith and effort! Remember, nothing worth it comes easy, my friends! 

It's also been a sad week full of farewell parties for The Clarks. I will surely miss them as I've worked and served with them almost my entire mission in the Victoria 2nd branch. I truly have learned a lot from them. They are exemplary. How we all love them here.

I'm grateful to be a missionary and so much of me has been made because of being here. Always remember who you are. You are a beloved child of God. You are of eternal worth. I know that God lives and that He loves us. 

I invite you all to heed to the counsels of our living prophets for their promises are sure. Follow the prophet, he knows the way! Elder M. Russell Ballard reminded us to be your best and be fabulous!

 The Thursday Family is one happy family and they decided to have a black and white themed baptism! Derek is a recent convert who has a very inspiring story. It was his first time to perform a baptism ordinance and it was perfect. He's such a great example to all of us.

I love you all!!!

See you in six weeks,

Sister Posadas

Declutter Your Lives

Ang Aking Minamahal na Pamilya,

One of the things that I've learned here in the mission is to declutter. Yeah, basically to be remove all clutter, fix things, and be clean, neat, and organized. Mom and dad, don't you think it's an answered prayer? Haha. I told you, my future home will be tidy! I just didn't know how to start before. I want it to be like a temple! I'm full of faith! ;)

I remember President Hawks relating his experience when he was a bishop and one young man went to his office confessing horrible sins to him and after that, he asked the young man how his room was, the boy thought that he must be crazy because what does his room has to do with his sins. President Hawks then explained that, if we don't have control over those small and simple things in our lives like our personal time and space, we wouldn't have control over bigger things in our lives. I've been applying this principle since I got here and it took me only now to share it to you because I, myself, have to fully apply it for months and I have seen the changes and the miracles within me personally and it has been my personal goal always, daily, and weekly to organize ourselves and establish a house of order, a house of God. (See Doctrine & Covenants 88:119) So I invite you all (if you're not yet doing this yet) to check your personal space and declutter those unnecessary things, even declutter those unnecessary stuff out of your lives for good and witness the difference. It will work wonders, I promise you and you'll invite the Spirit even more in your lives. It always a start with the small and simple things- line upon line, precept upon precept. 

I'm so stoked for February! Ito na yung kasagsagan ng winter! I'm excited for the Chinese New Year, baptisms, reactivations, and more miracles this month! Plus, Elder M. Russell Ballard going to visit us! :) 

We can now see the fruits of Sister Aro and I's harvest and we are so grateful and happy for it. We had some hard times because we tried to spare some of our investigators a little longer but we had to drop some of them and focus on the elect ones- We've seen the changes in their lives as they continue to keep their commitments and it shows in their faces, the light that shines in and through them because of their faith in following our Savior Jesus Christ.It's been amazing! It's a miracle how God always leads us back to our former investigators, and those less actives the past few weeks. He truly is mindful of each one of us. He loves us unfailingly, eternally.

I know that God is pleased with all His missionaries so I'm happy to hear and see the glow from fellow missionaries in the field, those who have received their mission calls and those who are returned missionaries continuing the work. Every member is a missionary, right? You inspire me. Keep up the awesome work! Thank you for all the prayers and love! 

I know that God lives and that He loves you unfailingly, eternally.

I love you, too.

Me: Sister Aro, pinapauwi na nila ako. :( Lagi na lang nila tinatanong kung kailan at sinasabihan ako na malapit na yung April.

Sister Aro: Sinong may sabi nun? *matapang voice*

Me: Sila. Malayo pa yung April diba?

Sister Aro: Malayooooooo pa yun.....

Me: Yes! Ikr. I love youuu!!! :))))))

Until we meet again,

Sister Posadas

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-Cutest Family Photo- Christmas 2014 :)

-Just happy with the Hello Kitty Red Bean Pie a member gave after a long day :)