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

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.

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.