Sunday, December 7, 2014

My last week..

Okay, so reality just slapped me in the face and I'll be home next
week. NEXT WEEK. Can you believe that? I had a little talk/interview
with Sister Lopez. She just told me how much she has seen me grow and
change here during my time during my mission. She told me that I have
increased in my confidence that I am a daughter of a loving heavenly
father, my knowledge has grown, and my ability to use and apply the
gospel, specifically the atonement, has dramatically increased. She is
so kind.

This last week my companion and I had to give a training on Faith. It
changed my life. It changed our zone.

Just a little back ground about my companion and I... we are the best
of friends... but for some reason, companionship unity in our teaching
just isn't there... We don't know why, we have talked about it, and
tried so many things to overcome it... but we just I don't know.
Anyways, we might not have great companionship unity in teaching, but
we needed to be trainers together because we change lives together
when we do. Not just other peoples lives... but our own.

A good training is one where the trainer is edified. And that is
exactly what it was. I wish you were all there. I can't even explain
the power and spirit that was present. We just talked about faith, and
trials, and how the whole mission is just one great faith, that starts
with us. I want to relive that moment over and over.

As you know, there was another HUGE typhoon that came through... we
were on lock down starting Friday at 6pm until sunday morning at 7. I
remember last time how much I complained that I wanted it to be
worse... and this time, even though where we are at it didn't even so
much as drop a little drop of water out of the sky, I didn't complain.
I prayed. and I enjoyed the time with my compnaion. I don't know how
bad the damage was to anywhere else, but I pray that everyone is safe.

Well, I love you all. I hope you all got a chance to watch "the gift"
on christmas.mormon.org it is also on youtube.com if not, look it up,
and watch it. it changed my life.

Have a great week! See you all next week(:

Love, Your Sister Missionary,
Sister Young

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Everyone watch this....

http://www.mormon.org/christmas

Merry December!

... and happy Thanksgiving! My companion and I thought that Thanksgiving was the week before.... I guess we were really wrong. (: We were on exchanges and one of the natives told me that it was "my holiday" today. I asked her what she was talking about... Yeah, long story short, I don't even know what day is what anymore. (:

Also, happy birthday kay Riggin!!! I can't believe he is already 2 years old. 

Well, this week has been just a rollercoaster of emotions and things happening. 

Monday we had a great p-day. We went to the chruch and played volleyball/soccer and then it started to pour rain. but We kinda just kept playing. It felt so good to do something other than walking.. (: then we had planned another FHE with the boys in brgy 5.. but nothing seemed to be working out... So right before we walked all over sipalay looking for someone to drive... it is a lot harder than you might think. there is only 2 people in our branch with cars... and only one lives in our area... So anyways, god prepares people in crazy ways to accomplish his purposes... because earlier that day we saw President Victoria as we were walking to a little island.. and we told him, then when we found him. it was a no hesitation yes even though he was still selling his fish and stuff at the market. Such a blessing.

We got to the church and President Ramirez had set up a little mini movie theater for the movie. We planned to watch the Joseph Smith, prophet of the restoration movie. Galing.. its all in english and all the boys just could not understand. But they had so many questions about joseph smith and we just felt so impressed that they needed to see that movie... so I took one side, and My companion took the other side, and we translated the WHOLE movie into Ilonggo for them. While explaining the back ground and everything. I remember sitting back for a second to catch my breath and I remember just being overwhelmed by the spirit. Only Missionaries could do this. And only by the spirit can missionaries do it. 

The spirit in the room was so strong. And The boys understood everything. It was just so amazing!

One of them was baptized this past saturday... supposed to be all 14 of them. but they are having the hardest time stopping their word of wisdom problems... I would love any advice on how I Could help them. They have such great desire, but it is just so hard for them to stop. 

Yesterday, they actually came with us after church to BRGY 4, which is like a 1 hour hike in the mountain to find an OYM. We got there and he just wanted to bible bash us, and afterwards Sunny, one of the boys, told us that he didn't feel the spirit and that he felt bad for the man cause he didn't know what he was missing. How amazing.. and then they hiked abck with us and stayed with us to teach more of our investigators. They want to be missionaries so bad!!! Just that darn word of wisdom. 

The work is hard. But it is good. Satan is trying hard to stop the work, but nothing can stop the work of the Lord.

Have a great week! 

Love, Your sister missionary,
Sister Young

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Family History

Hi! how is everyone's family history coming? I hope you are all
diligently working on it. The time is running short(: only about 3
more weeks until I need all the information(:

I love you all so much!

Love, Sister Young
Well. I got to go to Manila this week, and got to sit inside the
temple. It was really busy so we didn't get to do a session or
anything, just sit there and ponder. We also didn't have a lot of
time. But Manila is so busy and loud. It was so refreshing to walk
into the holy walls and feel refreshed and apart from the world. It
was such a blessing.

I finally got back to my area. I only walked in the door long enough
to set my bags down and then we left and went right to work. The only
way to not be trunky is work. And I can't afford to feel that way. It
was so good to get out and work. I just have to give more than
everything I have to these people.

In the 3 nephi 7:18, Nephi had such great faith that no one could
disbelieve him. And that Is my goal this last couple of my weeks. To
have such great faith that everyone will want to repent and come to
the waters of baptism. ANd I am so excited!

I love you all. have a great week!
Love, your sister missionary,
sister young

Sunday, November 16, 2014

What do we see?

 This is sister Mengutio. she is in my very first area... and this is my Favorite old man. Remember Bro. Noynoy... the paralyzed one, and then he walked. at the very beginning of my mission. he is still strong in the church and walks now with his walker, and has read the book of mormon almosty 8 times now... in just a year...and a couple of months!!!!  LOVE IT. Miracles never cease.


This week has been wonderful and uplifting. We had mission tour with the area president, Elder Ardern. It struck me was strange as he was training us... it wasn't like he was training us at all... but he was using us to train him. What I mean is... Bacolod Philippines mission is one of the highest baptizing missions, kuno, in the world, and the number one in the PHilippines. So basically he just wanted to know the "secret". But... There is no secret. He asked questions like, "how do you find your investigators?" "what makes you so successful" "Why is YOUR faith better than anyone elses faith" "how can you have weekly baptisms"  just strange questions like that.
ANd the only thing is... our vision. We are exactly obedient, we study preach my gospel every single day in personal and companion ship study, we invite everyone we meet to come unto christ, and we have weekly baptisms. That is not just our vision, but its the Lords vision. Its hard, oh grabe is it hard, but its like we don't know what else to do. we just work work work.
It was just so interesting that he would have a mission tour and just try and grill us to get answers to his "unknown". At least I thought it was strange.
One thing, though, that I am so thankful for is my mission President. President Lopez. The way he runs the mission is strict, we don't get to have "fun" (going to ward parites, staying longer than 45 minutes to and hour in a persons house, zone and district activities...) we do none of that. We seriously just work. We walk out that door and we have our lines our for fishing. we talk to everyone. It was so scary at first, but you get used to it when you have no other choice but to talk to everyone. President Lopez has shaped every single missionary in this mission. He has shown us by example how to be dedicated, powerful servants of the lord. He has motivated us in a way that is unknown to me.. I just know that I don't ever want to disappoint president. So, I guess that it is not that we have magical powers here in the bacolod mission, or that our faith is greater than anyone else, or whatever else Elder Ardern was looking for, but I really believe that it is just how unified we are as a mission. everyone is motivated by a strong desire to do the Lords will, and even if you don't have a lot of "fun" miracles happen. This is the Lords work. Not our time to have "fun".

I am so thankful to have been assigned here in Bacolod Philippines mission, Under the direction of President Lopez. And to have worked with so many other missionaries that have the same great conviction as I do of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There really is no other mission like this one.
Have a great week.
Love, your sister missionary,
Sister Young
P.s. I am going to Manilla tomorrow so get my fingerprints done so I can come home next month... crazy how fast time flies. Also, I get to attend the Temple! I am so excited to be reminded of my covenant, and deepen my relationship with my savior. love you all!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Faith and miracles

Family!!!!!!!

So this week has been a great week! We worked hard and like I always say, the miracles are endless. Heavenly Father really has his hand in EVERYTHING. It never ceases to amaze me how little I do, and how much He really does. It is very humbling. 

My companion and I are doing great! she really helped me with the training we had to give last friday. I was so nervous... having to stand up and train a bunch of missionaries. But it ended up being so good!!! And even though I had left the paper of notes at my apartment, the spirit helped me. It was amazing. And it wasn't because I got to tell a bunch of missionaries about what they could be doing better, but because as I and my companion were training, I was also learning. That edification of the spirit is just indescribable. 

So because this week we will be in Bacolod for mga 4 days, we were stressed about how our investigators will progress with us not being here... so after church on sunday, we prayed and then we started spitting out ideas of how we can help them even if we wont be here. We decided, with the help of the spirit, to have a family home evening and invite all those boys.. you know the ones that all came to church, 

anyways, so we planned to get them all there and bring lots of the church magazines and have them make those "cut-out-the-picture-things-of-what-you-want-in-your-life" things... I don't know what those are called. SO we talked to president dela serna and his wife and asked anothermember if he could drive them.. but come monday... we hadent heard from anyone.... I didn't think much of it, but my compnaion came to me about 1 1/2 before and expressed her doubt. It was strange cause I hadn't thought much of it... i was just in lala land I guess. and I told her, everything will work out. then at 6 we walk to the place, and all the boys are all ready and in the truck! it was a miracles! 

So we went back to our house and grabbed all the stuff we needed, and grabbed some snacks, cause Filippino people can't live with out snacks, and went to the church. It was so much fun!!!! they were kinda confused at first, but we really wanted to know what they desired and we wanted them to SEE it. TO give them extra desire to be good. At the end we had them share why they put the pictures on the things, and it was so special. THey had pictures of people getting baptized, and said they wanted to be baptized in this church. and family in the temple and missionaries cause they want to be missionaries.

it was so special. then we walked home and it just felt so good. it was just great! 
If you just have faith, miracles happen. 

So, anyways, have a great week!

Love, your sister missionary,
Sister Young

Sunday, November 9, 2014

wala tiempo

Sorry, I just am writing this to tel you that I will be emailing
tomorrow so you don't freak out. We have mission tour this week so we
will be in bacolod starting tomorrow so I will just email you all
tomorrow. I lov eyou all!!!!\

Be on tomorrow if you wanna talk. sorry gid.

Palangga ta ka!

Love,  sister young

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Family History

Hi everyone! I just wanna check up and see how your family history is going? how have you started? how is it going? are you being full of all sorts of love for our family? have you spread the word? I sure hope so! I have started... and I can't tell you how much I have been filled with love for each of you. I can't wait to see you all again and get to know each of you again. I know it sounds kinda funny, but thats just the way it is!

Love you all!
Love, sister Young

Transfers

Hi everyone. Well, its that time.... today starts the last transfer of my Mission. I can't believe it. I really can't. I still feel like I am such a baby in the mission and I just got here..

Today we had a transfer. My companion, Sister Rosario, Transferred. I was so sad, and so was she. But I know the Lord has so much in store for her! She was a great companion and I learned so much from her. We experienced so much together, and saw many miracles together. I will truely miss her, but I am excited what the Lord has instore for her. 

As for me, I am staying in Sipalay, and I have been called as a Sister Training Leader. Which is the same as a Zone leader for the elders. I feel so inadequate ... It is a lot of responsibility, and a lot of training, and a bit overwhelming... but I know that the Lord's plan is always better than MY plan. 

Because of that I am just barely emailing you... right now its 6:15pm on monday. We woke up at 1:45 this morning to ride the bus here to bacolod, and then I had a Missionary leaders council and it just got over with. I am SO tired... I could not sleep on that bus. But I have felt the Lords hand helping me stay awake. I mean if you could really imagine... a missionary is always tired. But, enough about that! My new companion and I will stay here in Bacolod tonight and travel back tomorrow morning so we are safe. It is a 6 1/2 hour ride... 

My new Companion is Sister Char. She is great! She is from hawaii, and absolutely beautiful. She is great and I am excited to work with her in Sipalay!

In other news, I can't believe it is already November!?! Where does the time go? Happy Birthday Vianna!!!! TOmorrow. (: You are getting so old... just like the rest of us. hehe.

We had a great baptism this week! A part member and her friend who was a child of record. Hershy-an and Elaysha. They are a hand full... but they are so much fun! 

Well, I can't stay here much longer I'm so sleepy. But I want you all to know that I know that this church is true. I know that God loves you and has a plan for each one of you, and as we make our plan what his plan is, we can never fail! 

I love you all, have a great week! 

Love, your sister missionary,
Sister Young

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Happy birthday dad!!!!! You are like 1/2 a century old now!!! (: Older than the hills, i'd say. (:
Also, a late happy birthday to Grandma Billie, and Uncle Brent, and Bret! ANd whoever else(: sorry I can't remember anything(:
But anyways, this week has been great! full of miracles, obstacles, trials, and tender mercies!
Nothing can stop the Lords work. I know he is paving the way here for my companion and I. There is no doubt in my mind that we are just the tools to make his master piece perfect.
We are finding great investigators, the members of our branch and getting excited about helping us, testimonies are being strengthened, and lives are changing. Including mine.
I love this work, I love being a tool of the lord.
Love, your sister missionary,
Sister  Young


These are the earrings I got from 3 of our male investigators when we taught the law of chastity(: ha

THe earrings(:

This Year for Christmas . . .




I want to make a History Book; "A Ray family..and all those attatched" history book.(:
But to do this I need all of your help! So you have now until December 24, 2014 to get all the things I need. If you work on it every sunday until then... you should have it done and ready for me(:
To have this work I need everyones participation! The youngest to the eldest. So for starters i need everyone to collect at least 3 photos.
1-a family picture of the "unit" in which you live. For example. Grandpa and Cc, would just have a picture of them. Or pwede, they could have one of them and JUST their kids. Hannah would have one of just her and milez, unless she has a husband now that I am not aware of(: gets?
2-a picture of when you were a baby.
3- a picture of you now.
THen I need everyone to write about themselves to answer these 2 questions
1-"what do i want people to learn about me?"
2"My hobbies, interests, and favorite traditions."
I will also need your birthdate, birth place, and marriage date if you are married.... and a wedding picture.
This next part will be a little challenging, but don't stress... it is possible! I need everyone to think about and answer this question for each person in our family:
1-"my memories, or stories about him/her."
Make them as kind as possible.. tell a funny story about them, what you admire about them. it doesn't hae to be long, but make it meaningful. remember they will read it!
You need a paper for everyone!
For those under the age of 4... i have somethings planned for them... later. But milez and jacob, just ask them questions and show them a picture of the person and write down what they say. that will work.
Does this make sense? It will be so much fun! But please... everyone I need your help!
Here is the list of everyone in our family that you need to wrote about, and they all need to do it too..
Grandpa Jerry
Cc
Juline
Dewayne
Shelby
Mashayla
Weldon
Riggin
Jake
Cody
Crystal
Will
Jaren
Eliza
Annie
Jerry
Stella
Kelly
Jeremy
Hannah
Milez
Eli
Bree
Jacob
You have about 8 sundays! Ready, set, go!
I love you all, and it is not just a present for me, but for you all too... spread the word cause I do't have everones email. Thank you

Love you all(:
Love sister Young

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Miracles

So much fun!
Well... this week has been so amazing! You know.. this area was so
unprogressing and so hard when I got here. And don't get me wrong.. it
is still hard, and challenging, but as the days go by and as hard as
we work.. we are seeing the miracles just flow in!

This week we had 24 investigators at church. I have NEVER once in my
mission had that many at church... It was so fulfilling to know that
all my sweat, pain, heartache isn't just for nothing. Heavenly father
has really answered the prayers of my companion and I and has been
softening the hearts of the people here.

We had a wonderful baptismal  service on saturday for 3 of our
investigators. They were so ready and willing. Even though their
testimonies are still little, and they don't really know all the ways
of a member of the church, they are just glowing with the spirit! The
two moms were so excited that they FORGOT to eat the day of their
baptism. But they said that it was okay, because they were finally
baptized as members of the only true church. Sister Anjoilta bore her
testimony and said that Here, in our church, is where she found who
she really was. THat she was a daughter of heavenly father. The spirit
was so strong!

It feels so good to know that Heavenly father is aware of the
challenges here, and is always willing to help. Just like he can in
your life.

I love youall so much! have a great week!
Love, your sister missionary,
Sister Young

We decided to have a little fun while walking to one of our really far
out areas! (:

 

The Ocean

Investigators... future missionary force!



So These are some of the 24 investigators we had at church yesterday!
These are some of the boys in BRGY 5 that are so hungry for the
gospel, they brought their friends, and they read the book of mormon
all the time, and they are just amazing. The branch didn't know what
to think when they all showed up at church... (: Blessings and
Miracles!

 

 




abcdefg


The baptism of 3 of our amazing investigators!!!! (: such a special
day. The Women are sisters, and the daughter of one of them got
baptized too.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

a mile-stone


A new place, a new fun time




Goodbye silay... hello to the beatuiful beaches of sipalay!(:












My last days in silay...(: Bitter sweet








 

 

My house, and some coconuts(;

 Remember how scared of my house I was? yeah... this is why.  but Its okay now, I just pray everynight that the spider that is the size of my hand wont sleep with me(:








Playing at the Beach (:


 Jump Shots (:

Chrisitan - Our baptism (:
  Sipalay!

A giant spider in my house... a flood after a big rain cause of a typhoon this last week, and us in a boat crossing to the other island!




liwat.



My dear family,

I've hit a mile-stone in my life, which i never with to forget. A mile-stone that i never knew existed, but one that is so very sweet. 

My dear family, friends, and whom ever else may be reading this, the Church of Jesus Christ of letter-day saints is the only true church on the face of this earth. It is led by our living Prophen, Thomas S. Monson who is directed by the Lord himself. He is a man of God. His councellors and the other leaders of our church have also been called of God to help him carry out his goapel here on the earth. they serve not only the Lord, but us too. I've never doubted this, but it has been made very clear to me this past weekend.

THis past weekent I had the priviledge to watch general conference. what a beautiful opportunity it was. I felt the spirit, I learned from the spirit, I was chastized by the spirit, and through the power of the spirit, i have felt the great love of heavenly father.

I don't kow how anyone could watch conference and not feel the love of our father ... with all the glorious news of temples dedicated, re-dedicated, soon to be dedicated, and ground breakings..the member ship of the church reaching over 15 million, and the lords young army reaching over 88 thousand... 

We heard the simple but moving testimonies of our prophets, apostles, and other leaders. we heart their councils, not to repremand us, but to help us to beocome better... I testify to what the Prophet said in his opening remards on saturday morning,... everyone that spoke truely sought heavens help.

One theme I picked out waht our need to receive PERSONAL REVELATION. Our testimony cannot grow if we do not seek personal revelation. if we have no testimony,  we cannot be converted if we have no  conversion, we fall away. waay pulos. 

President Uchtdorf said that our personal testimony is the most important thing we can gain in this life. i stand behind him in this. this takes work on out part. it is not a one time experience... it is experience upon experience, study anger study, prayer upon prayer.

Before my mission i believed the church was true, but is wan't ntil now... after having my faith tried, been rejected and persecuted by investigators, having notheing to stand on but my testimony that i know it is true. that every fiver of my body knows that it is true. and i know this because i have had to study , pray, and pnder and seek and apply to my life this gospel. it is hard work, it requiers change, humility, chastizement, but the reward is sweet. 

In 2nephi 28:30 we learn that knowledge comes "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little", My conviction is strong, and yours may be toom, but we cannot stop here. as we contunue to desire the spirit, desire spiritual knowledge and work towards it, out understanding expands , our sincerity grows, darkness is replaced with light. our channel of person revelation gets more clear!

Receiving revelation is different for everyone, but we are all entitled to it. recently i've been on a soul searching quest, you may call it, to find out how I receive person revelation, and how I can help other recognize when they receive it too. I can't say I got it down...casuse i'm still figuring it out... but I am more and more convinced that if we really understood the ability we hae of sons and daughters of god, we would try lots harder to be more faithful.

also, anyone can receive revelation, not just members of the church. as missionaries we do something called...HTBT. where we set down our expectations to our investigators on a firtst visit. one thing that i have been saying laely is basically we expect you to receive revelation for yourself if our message is true through prayer, and study. that really grabs their attention!

It is so vital for my investigators to receive that confirmation by the spirit instead of just believing on my words. i'veseen the difference between my recent converts who have ad have not. .. most of the time, for anyone, it is the difference of being active or inaciteve in the church.

this brings us back to prayer. it is though our prayers that we talk with our father in heaven. Brother Callister gave an example of his mother and how important it is to teach the POWER of prayer not the ROUTINE of prayer. I have been guilty of this...but, once we realize our realationship with the Father, praying becomes natural and powerful, not awkward, hard or just a routine.

I testify that prayer is power! Prayer... those sacred times throughout my day that I am blessed with to speak to our Father in heaven haev givin me strength. have lifted me up in thimes of need, comforted me. With out that... well...i'd probably not be writing this to you from the Philippines. Prayer is everything. Continue praying, continue developing your relationship with Heavenly Father. He is eagerly waiting to hear yur voice, he is anziously waithing to speak to you...to give you those things that you desperately need!

I have indeed been spiritually fed this weekend. I have had my questions answered. my testimony of the savior has been strengthened. my priorities have been fixed and corrected.

I know god lives. I know and testify that this church is the church of JESUS CHRIST. they love us, as does the prophet and apostles.

I testify as we whole-heartedly continue in our faithfulness, we will not need to worry about being preared... but we must start now.

I love you all. Have a great week!

Love, your sister missionary,
Sister YOung

Transfers, new companions, same amazing spirit..

Well, today was another emergency transfer! So, just to catch you up if you have been so confused.. after Sister Menguito left I got a short term companion, sister Dalisay, then she stayed for two weeks, and I got another short term... from my old area. It was so much fun to be with her! Sister Mendoza. She was only my compnaion for 5 days and now I have a full time missionary companion, sister Legaspi. She is so great, i can already tell we are going to do great things together! (: we are batch so we go home at the same time, but, I love that neither of us are trunky.. we have such great desire to get out there and work.

This week was a challenging one for me. I struggled with some kind of being sick. I'm better now, don't you worry. But it was hard to just stay in my apartment cause I was sick. I just wanted to be out working and teaching.
The thing is though... you know its hard to have a short term companion... you have all the responsibility and you basically teach everything cause she doesn't really know anything... and I think I got sick because heavenly father was trying to teach me a lesson. I make mistakes, and I sometimes just think that I can do everything on my own... but I'm not Super Missionary Sister Young.. I'm just Sister Young and I can't do anything if I don't rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

What I mean is that I am stubborn and I was trying to just do it all on my own. Not asking for the help that I knew that I needed. Why? I don't know. But I was reading in my personal study a couple of days ago in alma 7:11-13 where it talks about all the things that Christ went through for us.... and it hit me like a rock. I can do a lot of things on my own, but I can't accomplish what HE wants to be accomplished if I just try and do it myself. I learn alot, repented a lot, and now I am better. 

I know i've said this before, but the atonement is not just to us to be cleaned from our sins, but it is for us to grow, and to over come our challenges, and to become who HE knows that we can become. WE are so special to have him. 

Sister Camille got baptized this week! She is so great. I know that as she continues in the gospel and studies her testimony will grow and she will do great things in her life!

Have a great week everyone! (: \

Love, Your sister Missionary, 
Sister Young

My little moment of discovery.


I am writing this especially for my family. Because it is so very sacred, and personal. I want to share with you an experience that happened to me this morning before we started our studies.

As you all know, today is Preparation day. This means that we have to wash our clothes, shop, clean, study, prepare for the whole week. We don’t have much time to do it all so I usually start by waking up and doing my laundry. While I washing my clothes I usually think about random things… like what we will do this week, where we will eat today, old memories.. but today my thoughts were turned to the savior as I sat there in my silent time washing my garments.
Garments, as we all know, are white and need to remain white. But… I live and proselyte in the Philippines. So inevitably there are dirt in them, rain water stains, and just really dirty. So as I sat there and tried to get them white, even with the soap, I just couldn’t do it. I scrubbed and squeezed… I was so determined to get my garments white and not have to go get the zonrox (Clorox??).  But to no success, my garments were still not as white, and still a little brown from the dirt and rain water… I finally decided to get the zonrox, after I put just a little dab on seconds later they were white.
This is just like the Atonement. We are like garments, we make mistakes, we are dirty, we have stains. We MUST do everything in our power to become clean, for example go to church, read the scriptures, keep the commandments, pray, and after all that we do. The atonement makes up the difference.
We cannot become clean on our own. We need divine help. But only after ALL WE CAN DO.
I am so thankful for Christ and his infinite atonement for me because he loves me and wants me to return to him and the Father.
As I was thinking about his relationship with me as Elder brother… I thought of my earthly elder brother. Dustin. I never had a chance to meet him in this life, but I imagine that if he were here he would be something like the savior. Protective, loving, caring, compassionate, obedient, and willing to take the punishment for his little sister.
Then I thought about my little brother Weldon. I thought about the time that mom was prego with him how resentful I was. I didn’t want another baby… I wanted to be the baby forever. I remember when I had to go to the hospital, I didn’t want to go. And then when I got there mom told me to hold this little bomb that I thought ruined my world… I was hesitant. But I remember as I had this little home wrecker in my arms, and I looked into his little face, a wave of love washed over me. And ever since then, he has been such a great joy in my life. He makes me laugh when he laughs, I cry when he cries, I hurt when he hurts… I want to always just protect him, I want to do everything I can for him so he will have a good life… and then I thought about the way he sees me. I remember when I was almost ready to leave on my mission.. him and I went to the store and he just had to tell everyone that his sister was going on a mission to the Philippines.. and he was going to to when he got older. I remember he wanted to wear fingernail polish, because I did. He wants to do the same things as me.
This relationship is the same, or should be the same between us and the savior. The savoir loves us more than anyone else. He weeps when we weep, hurts when we hurt, rejoices when we rejoice, and laughs when we laugh. He wants to protect us. He Even took the punishment of sin upon  Himself so we could have a good life.
Now our relationship with him, is much like weldons relationship with me. We should look up to him and want to be like him. Do the things he did. Follow in his footsteps.

As we use the atonement we become more like the savior. Our relationship becomes stronger, and we really get to KNOW the savior.

Kabalo ako gid nga ini tanan matuod. Sa sagrado nga ngalan ni JesuCristo, Amen.


I love you. I hope this makes sense... (: love, sister young






 My last days in silay...(: Bitter sweet












Goodbye Silay... hello to the beatuiful beaches of Sipalay!(:



 A new place, a new fun time.




COCONUTS!!!!!

 


 Remember how scared of my house I was? yeah... this is why.  but Its okay now, I just pray everynight that the spider that is the size of my hand wont sleep with me(:

  A giant spider in my house... Remember how scared of my house I was? yeah... this is why.  but Its okay now, I just pray everynight that the spider that is the size of my hand wont sleep with me(:


 a flood after a big rain cause of a typhoon this last week, and us in a boat crossing to the other island!





 Playing on the beach.   Jump shots(:



 Christian, our baptism.

liwat.