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!

To the Sherman First Ward! 07/28/2014

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!
So for starters, here are a few highlights from my week:
1. Our investigators the Abuan family finally came to church this week! We were at the chapel, and get a text that they're on their way, this is huge because legitimately no one ever texts us back. We had to keep ourselves from running to the front lobby because we were so excited, and just as we got there, in walks the Abuan family! I can't even express my excitment, and even though their 4 year old son was a little crazy, I could tell that they felt the spirit and really enjoyed it, and the branch members just welcomed them with open hands, they fit right in perfectly. This was the best Sunday yet!
2. Well, I can't go long without embarrassing myself. Yesterday, we were walking to an appointment, and I slipped and fell down this muddy hill. Got mud on the outside and inside of my skirt and yeah, I got to wash off, but was just wet for the rest of our proselyting. Don't worry though, only hurt my pride.
3. I finished the New Testament for the first time ever! I know the Bible is true so far as it is translated correctly, and I love seeing how much the Bible and Book of Mormon testify and support one another. They go together, and the Book of Mormon brings clarity to the Bible and the purposes of Christ's ministry!
4. I can't express enough just how much I love the people I've met on my mission. The members, our investigators, and even other missionaries. I know that I had to be called to the Baguio mission for these people to be a part of my life, and I'm so grateful for them. They have helped me to be a better person, and have showed me how to really live this gospel.
5. The area is great, I love Agoo, and I'm so happy here!
Now, on to other business, Sister Rodriguez emailed me asking for a letter to the congregation as part of Chris's farewell. I don't have a lot of time, but I just wanted to include it in my weekly email, so here it goes!
When I decided to go on a mission, I truly didn't expect how much it would change my life. From the moment I entered the MTC until now, I have felt the presence of the spirit more in my life every day, and have truly gained a testimony for myself of the importance and blessings of this gospel. I have always had a testimony of the church, but when you're serving a mission as a representative of the Lord, and introducing the gospel and the Book of Mormon to people who have never even heard of the church before, you get a special first hand witness of how much God loves His children that He would restore His true church back on the earth. I realize now more than ever how important my family is to me, and how our covenants through priesthood power will enable us to be together for eternity. This is the greatest gift that the gospel gives us in our lives, eternal salvation as a family. With each day of my mission, and as I immerse myself in the scriptures and the doctrine of Christ, I learn how I can be better, how I can really live the gospel and prepare my friends and family to receive these saving ordinances and eternal life. My mission has blessed my life in so many ways, that I probably won't fully comprehend until I go home. But with each transfer and each day even, I strengthen my testimony that God lives, Chirst is His son and our Savior, and He has never and will not ever forsake us. There is one true way to happiness in our lives, and it is through obedience to the Lord's commandments. I love my mission, I'm so grateful for every good and hard experience I have had, because as true disciples of Christ, salvation isn't easy, and sometimes living the gospel doesn't seem easy, but when we have an eternal perspective, the reward is far greater than we can even imagine. I love the Sherman First Ward, I gained my testimony because of my life among the great saints there, and every single teacher and friend that I have had in that congregation has impacted my life in such a way to lead me to the point that I'm at now. I love you all, and pray that you may live the gospel and take advantage of the blessings that we have, and want to share that eternal happiness with others. I have a testimony, that this is God's kingdom restored on the Earth today, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter

Also, shout outs to Grandma, Brent, and President Rogers for the letters, and a super late happy birthday to Mary Claire, I'm the worst but I did remember and I hope you had a great 20th birthday chica!

Restoration is Key! 07/20/2014

Kumusta everyone!
Well we just had a super fun zone activity where we basically wrestled/played rugby with an oiled up coconut, only in the Philippines! But it was way fun, and sadly my camera died, so I can't send any pictures, but next week I'll be more prepared!
Well, I don't have much time now, and not too many things happened this week, but there was Typhoon here. Actually, it was just super strong winds, but we had to stay inside all wednesday so it kind of threw things off for the week. But something I did learn this week was how important the Resoration really is for our conversion. We've been working with some super amazing families right now, and they are so close to accepting the gospel, they just don't fully understand the Restoration yet and how this makes our church different from others. So we've been reteaching this so many times this week, and as I study it and bear my testimony about prophets, the apostasy, and Joseph Smith, it only confirmed my testimony of these things. The Restoration was a turning point in the history of the world. Because a 14 year old farm boy wanted to know the truth, Christ's true church has been restored. This has always been a part of God's plan, and God never changes. He called prophets before to declare His gospel, and He still does today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God, I love him and sustain him as the Lord's mouthpiece on the Earth.
Well sorry this was a lame email, but I'll be better next week. The church is true!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter

I love Agoo 3! 07/13/2014

Hello everyone!
So this week went by so fast, and it made me realize that I probably only have 5 more precious weeks here in Agoo! I really love this area so much, and all the people that I've met here. This branch has really become like a family to me, and I'm so grateful that I could stay here for 3 transfers so far, but it just makes it that much harder to think about leaving, so I have to enjoy each day as much as I can! Missions really go by so fast. Just this week, I hit my 10 month mark, where did the time go?! I feel like just the other day, the age change happened and then I was filling in my mission papers. I know that I've changed and grown a lot since being here, especially during this time that I've been training. The mission matures you, sometimes a little too much when people tell me they think I'm 25...haha but it's ok, still young at heart!
Well this week, we had everyone unload their problems on us, but that's just the life of a missionary. Sometimes it amazes me how much people trust just these two young girls that knock on their door and come into their lives. But they recognize us as servants of the Lord, and with that calling comes a special authority and spirit that people feel that we can help them with their problems. I know that by myself, I am just a 19 yeah old girl in a foreign country, but since I have called and set apart, I have the Lord's promise that He will strengthen me and give me the ability to help strengthen others with their problems. I realized this week that it really is true, no matter what problem we have in our lives, a principle of the gospel can solve it.
Well to be honest, there's a ton of little kids in this internet shop singing John Legend and playing video games, so my mind is kind of all over the place at the moment, but just know that this was a good week and I continue to learn so much everyday! We are extending a lot of baptismal dates, but like I said about people have some problems, not sure if everything will work out, but I know that God always has a way to fulfill His purposes, so I'm not losing hope yet! With faith and diligence, I really think that we can have another baptism by the end of this transfer as well.
I love you all, thanks for the emails, and for those who don't email or write me, you should! Shout outs to Grandma and Kyrsten, happy birthday, I love ya'll!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter

My favorite branch members that realize the importance of member missionary work, they're the best! Oh yeah and we got elders in our branch too, one is from Cebu and the other is from Tonga, but he's white!

Bagong Transfer! 07/6/2014

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!
Well this is the start of a new transfer here in Agoo, and I'm staying here in Agoo 3rd Branch with Sister Panganiban, so I'll be finishing her training! But since this was the last week of the transfers, not too much new has happened. It was a pretty normal week, but I'm excited to see what this new transfer will bring. At the moment, we have a few very potential investigators, we just really need to come to church and be more serious about their Book of Mormon reading. Actually these past couple of weeks, I think my testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown so much. I've never really had a problem with knowing that the BoM was true, but when I think about it from an investigators prospective who has never seen or heard of this book, it could be hard to accept in the first visit. But I truly know that the BoM is the role and most important tool in conversion. All we have to do is read, and we will know that it is a book of scripture coming from God to bless our lives and teach us about God's plan for us. Actually this past week, we've been teaching about the Plan of Salvation alot, as in almost every lesson is some part of the plan of salvation. And as we teach it, I have seen a literal difference in the countenance of our investigators. They realize that they have a purpose and a plan for their lives, they have more joy and hope, and it is all because of God's perfect and eternal plan. I know this gospel is true, and we find our plan for us in the scriptures, more specifically, in the Book of Mormon. Because the Book of Mormon is true, this is Christ's true church, Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration, and we can be united with our families for eternity!
I love you all, thanks for your prayers and support, and I hope you read my last email and are preparing and inviting people to listen to the missionaries and obtain eternal life!
Shout outs to Mom, Sara, and Elder Dunn for the letters! And Mom for the packages again, I can't say it enough, you're the best! Also, Happy Fourth of July and birthday to Karina! It was a little sad not to see any fireworks or hear the national anthem haha but I still wore red, white, and blue none the less. I love America! But the Philippines is right up there too :)!
Mahal Kita,
Sister Bangerter

My district this past transfer!

My district this past transfer

Threesome for a day!

Me and Sister Sidwell still celebrated the Fourth of July! #GoUSA

Gusto Ko Maging Bold sa Inyo 06/30/2014

Kumusta sa inyong lahat!
This week, I ate a burger made out of the heart of a banana with banana ketchup, try getting that in America! Also, I ran into a group of students from Texas A&M, and one was from McKinney, Texas! This world is too small, and it made me realize that I feel much more comfortable being around Filipino's than Americans haha I just love these brown people.
Anyways, this was a really amazing week! Brother Erick Gaerlan was baptized this past Saturday, and I'm so happy to see another worthy priesthood man join the Agoo 3rd Branch. I think that best part of his baptism was just seeing how happy he truly was. He really has repented and humbled himself and is so excited to be a member of this true church. Even better, his parents really want him to serve a mission! He's only 21 so he could if he wanted to, and I could really honestly see him being such a great missionary and sharing his conversion story with others. Baptisms are my great, but I also really love all the little steps leading up to baptism that remind me of why I'm on my mission. I saw a lot of those this week as we worked with our other investigators like little old Nanay Huling. She is a referral from who other than Gaerlan family. We have been teaching her for a while now, and at first is was more Bible study to her, but now, she feels the spirit, she told us she knows this is Christ's church, and she said a REAL PRAYER!! This is huge because every time we would teach her, she'd always pray "Lord Jesus", no matter how many times we explained that we pray to our Heavenly Father, not Jesus, because we follow the example of Christ. Like I said, she's old, and can't really hear, or read because she doesn't have glasses. But the last time we taught her, she said that her granddaughter read the BoM to her and she loved it, and then she prayed the right way, straight from the heart and had tears streaming down her face by the end. It was such a tender moment that I will never forget. She wants to come to church so badly, we just need to get a wheelchair for her, but next week she should be able to come. Please pray for Nanay Huling, she is like my grandmother in the Philippines. We are continuing to have investigators that are really making strides in the gospel, I'll talk more about them another time, but just know that the work is great here in Agoo!!
Now onto other business, so the title of this email says that I want to be bold with you. This is something that my comp says right before she lays the hammer down, I love it! Anyways, I was reading through Elder Ballards conference talk about following up, and just felt really inspired that I should follow up with all of you! The apostle of the Lord has counseled us to invite 4 people a year to listen to the missionary discussions. That is four of our most loved and cherished friends and family members who are missing out on the blessings of the gospel because they don't know where to find it. Family and friends, this is our responsibility to share this gospel with them! Be that example that they want to follow, and then act, invite them to an FHE, a church activity, or to have dinner with the missionaries. Nothing happens in missionary work until we act and actually do something to invite others to listen to the gospel. The Lord is hastening His work of salvation. SALVATION people, this is for the eternities!! Something I've really learned on my mission is that we can't just be bystanders and expect to obtain the kingdom of God, we have to act too, we have to be worried about others salvation and not just our own. So I want all of you to take on this challenge from our dear apostles, and give those referrals to the missionaries. Pray to prepare people, and then actually prepare them! I know you can do it, it's so simple and will give you the best feeling when you see your dear friends and family members enter the waters of baptism, I can promise you that!
I love you all! Shout outs to Sister Behrmann, Shanoah, and Grandma for the letters! And Mom for 3 packages this week, you're still the queen of packages and I think the AP's hate me for always having to deliver them haha, but I appreciate it so much!
Mahal Kita!
Sister Bangerter

My current companion, Sister Panganiban, and Sister Del Rosario

Me and Sister Sidwell 

Me and Sister Hatch 

Pics from the conference in Baguio last week. Me and my old companion Sister Sawada

The coolest shirt ever, thanks Mom it's literally me on a shirt!

Ericks's Baptism 

Ericks's Baptism

I Love Gaerlan Family! 06/22/2014

Kumusta everyone!
My email is dedicated to the Gaerlan Family this week because they are probably my favorite people in this whole country, and I'll tell you why.
1.Leonardo and Elena Gaerlan were baptized when I first transferred here to Agoo, and they have been the strongest converts I've ever met! They have such a strong testimony of this gospel and they're not afraid to live it and share it.
2.Their son, Erick Gaerlan will be baptized this Saturday! He has come a long way and really wants to change his life so that he can too live the gospel and be sealed with this family in the temple. I bet he'll go on a mission one day too, I hope he does! I know that his testimony could change lives!
3.You can tell when someone is really converted to the gospel by their desire to share it, and Brother Gaerlan has that desire! In this week alone, he's given us several referral's, come to lessons with us, and brought a ton of people to church this sunday including his mother, niece, and the kids of one of our investigators. When we talked to him after church, he was telling us that he is just going about doing Christ's work and he wants his friends to be happy like he is. Brother Gaerlan is truly converted to this gospel!
I truly love the people that I've had the privilege to serve here in the Philippines, and I'm so glad that I was assigned in Agoo so that I could meet wonderful families like the Gaerlan's and I know that they have influenced my life more than I could have done for them. There are so many families that I've met here that I love and adore, and I know that I had to go on my mission so that I could be friends with these people for the eternities.
For some random news, we had a conference in Baguio and I got to see my old companions Sister Sawada and Sister Hatch again, so that was really great! I took some pictures, but my SD card is corrupted so I'll have to send them next week. Also, I found out that I have a bacterial infection in my eye haha but no worries, just gotta be 4 eyes for a couple of weeks and then I'll be fine again!
The work here is great and I'm loving this area, I know that the Lord and the Gaerlan family are preparing so many people for us right now, and I'm excited to go to work!
Shout outs to Mary Claire, Hermana Minnick, and Sami for the letters, be expecting some mail soon!
I love you and all and pray that you may be preparing people for the missionaries to teach too!
Mahal Kita.
Sister Bangerter