I Know that He lives!

Dear Family and Friends,

It's Easter and we've been singing Easter hymns whole week long. Everyone's reminded about the One who gave it all for us. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He is risen and that He lives!

It's been a long stretch of a week. Sister Capucion and Sister Lopez went home last Saturday and it was very emotional as Sister Balubal and I had to see them leave us. We are all going to miss them and we are grateful for the service that they've done. They've been great examples to us.

So I got my new companion! She's Sister Balubal from Cagayan Valley. She's my batchmate in the MTC. We've lived together for more than five months now and now we got the entire flat all to ourselves. She's a wonderful companion as she is very cheerful, humble, and teachable. It's amazing how we've been working miracles for the past few days. It's amazing how God has helped us do it all because we really can't do it without His help. I'm grateful God has entrusted us with such responsibility by taking care of three branches. It's not easy, we're always busy but happy! I remembered what we were taught during our last Zone Conference about the Nephites who lived after the manner of happiness. Why were they happy? Because... (See 2 Nephi 5)

 10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the ^astatutes,and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the^blaw of Moses.

 15 And I did teach my people to ^abuild buildings, and to ^bwork inall ^cmanner of wood, and of ^diron, and of copper, and of ^ebrass, andof steel, and of ^fgold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which werein great abundance.
 17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be^aindustrious, and to ^blabor with their ^chands.

Thus, they were happy because they were obedient to God and they were industrious. They did all that they can and gave their very best. And that's exactly what we've been trying to do. Sister Balubal and I are applying these things and we are excited to implement new strategies and plans in finding! We do feel that we are like brand new missionaries exploding!

Sister Marjorie got baptized! When we first found her and brought her to church, she said that she just wants to attend church but that doesn't mean that she wants to be baptized. And for a few months, we know that the Spirit touched her heart. When she was about to share her testimony, she was so nervous at first like.. "I'm so speechless... I don't know what to say" but later on when she conquered her fear, she bore a really sweet and powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Church, of the Restored Gospel, of Joseph Smith and our living prophet today, and of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for her.

Our recent converts are doing amazing as well! I am so happy and grateful for their faith and example which also strengthened me. As I listen to their stories and testimonies and as I've witnessed them grow in the gospel and how they're sharing the gospel to their families (Sister Ruby's daughter was baptized in the Philippines!), I do know for a fact that God's love is manifested through the lives of His children. How beautiful is His gospel!

I loved the General Conference! I know that you do too! I've been uplifted and edified. I prayerfully wrote down my questions during personal study as I prepared myself for conference and it's amazing how all my questions have been answered. Heavenly Father is really mindful of us and He knows our needs. He speaks to us through His chosen servants. I know that God continues to speak and I love the reality of divine revelation. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is really true and it unequivocally affirms the divinity of the Jesus Christ that He lives.

Everyday, Sister Balubal and I share our love about missionary work! It's really not all about baptisms. The most important thing here is we do our best to be converted each day as we strive to be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for everything. I love you all.

PS I'll be back with photos next week! We're going out this afternoon for some exciting adventure with some of the members! :)

Until we meet again,
Sister Posadas

Get Your Hats On!

We live in an exciting time! Elder Maxwell said that all the easy things have been done and we're in for a high adventure! Eep! So get your hats on! :)))

I don't want to say much today because I'm tired haha always tired that our zone leader thinks we've been working really hard haha ewan ko lang but we're on fire. I'm grateful for all the struggles and success we had. Missionary work is not easy but it will never be hard if we constantly ask for God's guidance and help :)

Here are some photos that I want to share with you... Enjoy! :)

- We baked really good chocolate chip cookies with our mission mom on a Pday :) we also got to bond with her! It was such a sweet treat!

- Additional photos that day goofing around with my girls.. and yeah, Sister Mabunga forced me to take a photo with Captain Jack Sparrow and Bruce Lee. I was too shy on that but hey I like Captain Jack Sparrow! Hahaha!

- Photos during Sister Dea's baptism last week :)))) she's such a sweetheart!!!! She's really a shining light!

- Photos during Sister Elizabeth's baptism yesterday! Finally! After years of waiting and all that she's been through, she was really crying after she arose from the waters of baptism. We only met her thrice before her baptism day but she was just so prepared. She really has a powerful testimony that brought the members and even our branch president in tears during baptismal service. Sweeeeet!

- Random photos with lovely people feeding us hahaha! They're all so nice and loving! :)

- Photo with my comp who's been crying this week- so not ready to go home yet! But hello to lesson 6: TM? haha sige na lang :))

- It's springtime. Flowers bloom everywhere. The sun's not even out. I know the summer heat is on there in the phils! Hmm don't you think me and my comp's name sound spanish? ;)

Anyway, have you seen the General Women's Meeting? Oh how I loved it! My comp and I are so excited to watch it as we've heard really good feedback and yeah, we got to see it more than once this week. It was BEAUTIFUL. I was crying because of the lovely music and I love all the wonderful messages they've shared! I was even imagining that I was watching it with my mom and sisters. Oh, how I miss you girls but I looked around me and I was also surrounded with beautiful women whose faith and strength inspired me a lot. I'm grateful for them and I'm grateful to be His beloved daughter that I was tutored by Him and was perfectly chosen just like you before we all came here on earth. :) I was reminded not to compare (women sometimes are very casual about this). We should relax and rejoice in the differences we have and yes, we truly need each other and we need to LOVE EACH OTHER BETTER, treat every person with love. <3

I also love how it reminded us of who we truly are that we are disciples of Jesus Christ, we are covenant making people, and we should help others-- ALL of God's children walk through that same covenant path also so that we can go back to Heavenly Father's presence someday! :) that's what we're all working on and even if people seem uninterested with what we have to say, we never keep trying!

Countless miracles each week. My heart is swelling with gratitude and joy! I'm grateful to be serving here especially in Victoria 2nd and Island 2nd branch. I love them all!!!!! :)))

I testify that we really have one amazing and awesome God.

I'm excited for General Conference week! Come and listen to modern day prophets!

I love you all.

SHOUTOUTS:

Thank you for the package! So funny mom and ate love! Thank you, thank you!

Congratulations for all those who've graduated and passed licensure exams! Rock and roll!

...and happy 24th year mom and dad! An eternity to go!!! :)

Until we meet again,

Sister Posadas

Let Me Give You One More Thing

Sa Aking Minamahal na Pamilya,

Kamusta kayong lahat? I'd like to share a few of my experiences with you. There are actually a lot but I hope these few ones will lif you up!

A few weeks ago, Sister Mabunga and I were praying for a service opportunity and we didn't know that it would come our way on one Saturday afternoon. I'm sorry but I have to admitted that there are times that I'd think how this work can be so tiring and when I get home, I'd love to have a full body massage, sleep all day, all week long haha but that wouldn't seem to work out for me though but during our last zone training, President Hawks said that when we our tired, the Lord would say, "Let me give you one more thing to do". It had been a busy week though and that afternoon when we were finding with one of our valiant branch missionaries, Lynnette. We were led to this woman who's waiting for her friend. She was really upset because she got terminated from her employer and really doesn't know where to go. It took some time to build a relationship of trust with her but she then came with us to church and attended the sacrament meeting. Her friend didn't show up so we volunteered to help her with all her luggage as we took them from the agency to the shelter where she's supposed to stay for the night. She had so many bags and we had to carry them from a distance and even through the staircases because there was no elevator. I never thought I'd be lifting weights in my mission but that wasn't the first time but this was far more the toughest and it was just me, Sister Mabunga and this woman we've met. It was tiring but then I remembered again, "Let me give you one more thing to do". I know it was God's hands helping me carry all those huge stripe bags step by step down the stairs. He's also the one who led us to those who are in need. When we got her there, her friend already showed up and she was really grateful that she was in tears for what we've done for her because we were total strangers to her but she felt that she needed to come with us. Sister Mabunga and I felt at peace and happy that night :)

Sister Mabunga's transferred to Macau again. How could she?!!! The Ma-Pa (our chinese names) tandem is gone. We really know each other so well and it sometimes gives me a glimpse of married life. It's fun, wonderful, and sometimes annoying haha but we've been to a lot together. I'm grateful for her. She has a big heart for everyone. She's really awesome even if she feeds me a lot heehee. She's the funniest too! So I got a new compy, it's Sister Lopez from Bicol!!! I got to live with her before so I know her already. She's a lot of fun too and I am learning a lot from her as she's very experienced in the mission. She's so pro in teaching too! No doubt about that. Guess what, she's the one who trained Sister Mabunga and she's leaving in a few weeks. Noooo. Sad how it all comes to an end. :( why do all my comps have to leave me? -_-

Dea's baptism happened this week! It was wonderful! It was very spiritual and she just has this very strong testimony and she's so happy that she's baptized already. She's even a missionary already because she has shared the gospel to her employer and friends. She's a light! We, the missionaries, sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives in 3 languages: English, Tagalog, and Cantonese!! The Tagalog really goes right into the heart. Oh how I love that hymn!

Missionary work is full of heartaches, it is difficult and tiring, it is a pit of temptation. It is leaving and letting go, it's interdependence. It is all about faith and hope. It is sowing seeds of faith. In missionary work, CHANGE is possible. It is a work of miracles! In missionary work, you are never alone. I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I'm not a perfect teacher.

This week's really a test of faith for me. For every heartache, I try to tap my shoulder and say, "Remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ". And that just comforts me instantly... :)

The Will of God video in Mormon channel is one of my all time faves! I hope you take time to watch it this week.

Watch out next week's update: Sister Elizabeth's going to be baptized! Awesome photos too! Hahaha!

Mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat.

Hanggang sa muli,

Sister Posadas