Monday, August 25, 2014

Magulow! 08/25/2014

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!
Wow, so another crazy week here in San Fernando! I feel like so much and so little happened this week and it just went by way too fast. I don't even know where to start honestly. Well, like I said in my email last week, Sister Tapusoa was going to be my companion until she had to leave to get knee surgery. She came back on Tuesday, and we were together until Sunday.It was such a short six days together, but honestly my favorite companionship, just hanging out and doing missionary work with my best friend. I was really happy for her to be back, but we both knew that there was an expiration date on our companionship, just not when it would be. On Friday, her legs were hurting really bad. We were in an open area which means a lot of walking and getting punted because we don't know where people live or when they will be home. This is exhausting for a normal missionary, but when you add a torn meniscus on top of that, it just put Sister Tapusoa in a lot of pain. So Friday, we couldn't work because her legs were hurting so bad, and then we had a meeting with President Balledos and he told us that her visa had just gone through and she would be leaving on Sunday. It was all so quick, but I'm grateful for the time that we had together, and that I could be her last companion. I'm really so thankful for all of the friends that I've made on my mission whether it be other missionaries or the people that I teach. I know that they have made an impact on my life, and hopefully I will have made a good impression on them as well.
So these past two weeks have been really crazy and emotional, but I think it's all getting normal now. For the rest of the transfer, I'll be in a trisome with the STL's here in San Fernando, so my new companions are Sister Rea from Australia, and Sister Parker from Hawaii. They're batch mates and go home soon, so it's fun to hear all of their mission experiences, and they are just fun people so we've already been having a great time! I honestly haven't done too much work this week with all the moving and trying to figure things out, but hopefully by next week I can tell you more about my area and the people we're teaching! I love you all, thanks so much for the emails and letters from Sara, Sydney Wallace, Dad, and the package Mom! Also, Happy Birthday Elder Rodriguez, Bishop Sybrowsky, Syd and Samuel, hope ya'll had a great day!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter
Me and Sister Tapusoa on our last full day together! When we first came to the Philippines we took pictures on the beach at President Balledos' house, and we got to end with a ward activity taking pictures at the beach too :)

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Nakakabaliw 08/17/2014

Kumusta everyone,
This week has been a super emotional week for me for many reasons, but I'll start with the good stuff first. So right now, I'm sitting in San Fernando, I've been transferred to the San Fernando Ward here in the heart of the mission basically because San Fernando is where the mission office is with all of the leaders and President Balledos. I got the call on Wednesday morning that I would be transferred here into an open area, and my companion will be SISTER TAPUSOA! I couldn't hold back my excitement when President told me that. Sister Tapusoa was in my MTC district, and we've literally written each other our entire missions saying that we're going to be companions one day, and then it finally happened! But the only catch was that she was at the missionary recovery center in Manila because she has had knee problems from her torn ACL. But President told me that Sister Tapusoa would be back on Saturday, so I wasn't too worried about it. Since Thursday, my birthday was transfer day, I spent my last day in Agoo as if it was my birthday. We went and ate waffles for lunch of course, and then later that night we had FHE with President Mariano's family. It was really fun, and they invited the Abuan family over, so it was so nice to spend time with them before I had to leave. So I'm considering Wednesday to be my birthday now, because my birthday wasn't really the best day ever.
Now for the bad news, so on transfer day/ my birthday, we got down to transfer point, and I found out more news about Sister Tapusoa's situation. Her knee is in pretty bad shape, and if she has to get surgery, she will have to go home. We've waited for 11 months, and when we're finally supposed to be companions, she might have to go home. Nothing was definite yet but the rest of my day was spent without a companion, being in a few trisomes and crying over the fact that my best friend in the mission might have to go home. So this pretty much sums up the past few days for me, being split between my open area and the STL's area or the other sisters in my ward. I've been living out of several bags in between about three houses since Thursday, and I'm just ready for some stability in my life again.
These past few days have been really hard for me, I've done a lot of thinking, and I'm not proud to say, but a lot of crying about the situation. What I do know now though is that Sister Tapusoa will be back here later today. I'm so excited to see her, and we will be companions until her visa comes in and she will go back to the States for surgery. I know that everything that happens on my mission is for a reason and that my mission President is an inspired man. I am still really sad that Sister Tapusoa will have to go home, but I'm so grateful that I get to be the one to be with her until the end. I'm so grateful for all of the people that I've met on my mission, and for some of the best friends that I've made here too. With each transfer and companion that I have, I realize more and more how much the Lord loves me and trusts me with the companions that I have and the areas that I have as well. I know that God has a perfect plan for all of His missionaries, I'm ready to spend this next transfer with my bestfriend working as hard as I can to bring souls unto Christ.
Thank you so much for the letters Sister Todd, Sami, Brooklyn, Sister Behrmann, Grandma, and Mary Claire, and also the packages Mom, Dad, and MC and Pais! I got them all on my birthday so perfect timing! And Thank you so much everyone in my birthday video, it was adorable and I loved it!!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter
Waffles on my birthday!

Waffles on my birthday!

Abuan Family 

FHE with the Mariano's and Abuan's

FHE with the Mariano's and Abuan's

Sister Sidwell on transfer day

Sister Panganiban

Sister Aroa, my last companion in Baguio

Sister Spjut

Batch mates at transfer point

Monday, August 11, 2014

Patnubayan Ka Nawa ng Diyos-08/11/2014

Kumusta everyone!
Today marks my 11th month on the mission, it's so fast it blows my mind! But I still have 7 great months to work my hardest and give my best for the Lord. Sadly, this week is transfers, and I'm pretty sure I will leave, so I only have about three more days left in my favorite area. It kind of all hit me yesterday when both the Abuan family and Lucban family came to church. I love these investigators that we have right now, and it really breaks my heart to think that I could be leaving them when they're right in the peak of their progression. But that's just how mission life goes, you love people and then have to learn to say goodbye. I know that they will be a part of my life forever though, and I'm just happy that I could be a part of them accepting the gospel.
As for the rest of my week, things are still going great here in Agoo. I seriously love this area so much, the members, investigators, even the less actives that we teach, they have all been so loving and helpful here. I hope that my future areas are like this one, they just really get the prophet's counsel about working with the missionaries, and the growth of the branch has been proof of that.
Sorry, I feel like I don't have much to say this week, but know that I'm loving my mission and I really don't want for it to end.
Shout outs to Mom for the birthday card, and Sister Todd for the letter!
Oh and a random story from this week, we tried to preach by the way to this white guy because you know when you see a white person in the provinces you just have to ask them why their here. Well, I couldn't really understand his French accent, but he said something along the lines of, "I don't need to talk to you to talk to God, I can do that on my own, don't talk to me!" All I did was say hello to the man. But right after that, a less active invited us unexpectedly to his birthday party, so as you can see I really love the Filipino people, they are so genuine and kind!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter
I took a lot of pictures with some ward members this week because of the upcoming transfers. Also, the other sisters had a baptism of the Galera family, the branch is growing!






Monday, August 4, 2014

Prayer of Faith 08/04/2014

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!
Sorry I think I will always say that, but now ya'll can learn some Tagalog! When I know more ilakano, I'll switch it up a bit ;)!
This was a great week here in Agoo! We had interviews with President Balledos this week, and I may have extended...don't worry it's only a week, and it's because the temple here will be closed the first two weeks of March, which is right when I go home (not that I'm trunky ha) so I really want to be able to go to the Manila temple before I leave, so I may come home a week later, but I'll know more when it gets closer.
Also this week, we have really been focusing on the Abuan family, they're so great, I always love going to their house. We have to be careful because our lessons can sometimes turn into two hour long discussions ha, but it's always a good thing because they're progressing, and now have a baptismal date of September 20th! I probably won't be here by that time, but I know that they can make it to this date and that their lives will be eternally blessed once they're baptized. Brother has some word of wisdom problems with smoking, but they're really trying to get healthy now, so it was just perfect timing that we taught them the word of wisdom, and they really want to live it. Actually everything with them has just been perfect timing, I know the Lord really does just place people in our path who are prepared. Actually, we met them by accident when we were looking for a less active, and knocked on the wrong house. They let us right in, and although the first visit they said they don't want to turn their back on their church, now they have come to church, read the Book of Mormon, and want to be baptized! The gospel changes people.
Another great thing that happened this week, our investigator Nanay Huling finally had a break through! I think I've told ya'll about her before, but she's this sweet little old 69 year old woman who has a fracture in her knee where she can't bend it and has to sit with her legs straight out at all times. She can't come to church, and her eyes are too bad to read, but we have people reading to her and she prays constantly about what we teach her. It has been so hard for her to understand the priesthood authority and the ordinance of baptism. I think we've been teaching her those two lessons for about a month now. Just when I was losing hope, we taught her baptism again, and the next time we visited, she said that she wants to be baptized! The only concern, she didn't think it would be possible, but there's always a way to accept the gospel if you have the desire. We have talked with the Branch and our mission president, and she will be given the sacrament at her home after her baptism and all she needs to do now is continue to have that sincere desire and commit to living the gospel and the commandments. I am so excited for Nanay Huling, we'll be giving her a baptismal date this week!
Things have been so great this week, and I know it's because of my prayers. I was feeling like my prayers were getting pretty repetitious and routine, so I evaluated myself and tried to be more specific and sincere. I literally witnessed the blessings and felt the spirit so much more this week, I was happier and I know that the Lord is leading me in His work. Think before you pray, and realize that we're communicating with our Father in Heaven. We should talk to Him like a friend because He sincerely cares about us and is waiting for us to act in order to give us the help we need.
Well I love you all dearly and have really been praying hard for all of you, especially Uncle Vyrl, you're always in prayers and I know the Lord will bless and watch over your family. Thanks for the letter Amanda and the post card Shanoah, I love ya'll!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter
Wacky Pic!

Riding in a tryke

The day we had warrior games with the coconut ha and a water balloon fight afterwards, the elders were brutal.

One of our LA's just got a monkey!

Rainy Season!