February 26, 2014

SHOUT OUT TO BRANDON RIGGS!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN A FEW DAYS!!! FEB 28TH!!!! I can't believe it, you are 21 now right? how does it feel?

Thanks again for all the letters and pictures of the family, it's been great to see everyone, it makes me feel like I was there. My companion, Sister Villasis is from Negros, so the Philippines, sorry I thought I sent you a picture and told you where she was from, but I guess not. She's great and makes a lot of dishes to put on rice, we eat rice all the time, I'm kind of getting sick of eat, but realizing you can put rice with a lot of different things. She'll make chicken, beef things mixed with potatoes and carrots and just a lot of good things, it's great.

It has been a very interesting week. It's been so funny, I realized we really need to ask more questions in the lessons or you might not know exactly all about them. If we don't get to know about their background, it's hard to cater to the needs of these people. So this week we went to visit Sister Erlinda again, so funny. So our plan was to teach about baptism and the doctrine of Christ in 3 Nephi 11 and right as we brought up baptism, she said, oh, I've already been baptized. WAIT WHAT?! She didn't tell us until our visit this week which is our fourth visit with her. SO INTERESTING, we were wondering why she never brought it up. What was she thinking? You'd think that she would have told us a lot sooner. Oh well, it's okay. It's just funny. We were just so so so so so shocked. So that changed our lesson. The thing is she said she was baptized in 1963, but we don't think that missionaries could have taught her and baptized her that early because missionary work in the Philippines didn't start until the early 1960's, but they weren't assigned in this area, it was Manilla when it was first opened to missionaries so we have to make sure she has the dates right and that is was a baptism for our church. We totally showed her a picture too and asked if this was the way she was baptized, and she said yeah, so we are thinking she's a member, but we don't know for sure. So we will find out what really happened. Also she hasn't been to church in about 50 years, she went to church for about a year after she was baptized then she stopped and she is 67 right now, so it has really been forever. We hope to really get her back to this church. It was weird because it seemed like she has a good background of this church at first so we didn't know how she knew about Joseph Smith and some other things. But she has forgotten a lot, so we will definitely have to help her with that.

 Also we were FTEing a family outside and asked if we could share a message right then with them. They willingly agreed and so we went inside to teach. Later on in the lesson we found out that they had been baptized before. Wow, we were happy that they told us. We also realized with them that they were missionary converts. This is so common here, I think a lot of people are just so impressed with us as foreigners knowing Cebuano and they might not fully understand the importance of baptism. Seeing this has really helped me realize that you have to make sure that they understand all that you teach them and are ready for baptism, we can just think, oh they are so ready and then they really aren't. And seriously they have forgotten so much so we really need to get them back into things. One of the girls is named Maya and she is 22. The only problem right now is that she has a live in partner, who is not a member. Man, we'll have to remind her of a lot of things. She is super bright though and remembers the things we teach her. Also she came to church on Sunday, that is so good, and we've had fellow shippers come with us to her house. It's been great and helpful since we can't have these people rely on missionaries, they need to have friends in the ward so that when the missionaries leave they stay in the church. That is a hard thing in the Philippines. So many people have live in partners because it is hard to get a divorce here and people aren't willing to make commitments to each other. It's kind of sad, but that makes it hard when we want to commit them to baptism because they have to get married first or get paperwork and it's just hard. It really depends on the person, but the people in this area really struggle with the Law of Chastity here and Word of Wisdom too. It's really to bad. And most of them happen to be less active members, because obviously the investigators don't know it's wrong. interesting.


It's been nice tracting and finding more investigators because there were not many in our area book so we have a lot of work to do and people to find. We also have an IBD who is progressing really well, but we have so much to teach her and she is only available on Saturday's and Sundays, but she is great! We were surprised that she is so busy, but she still will read the Book of Mormon, it is AMAZING!! Her name is Sister Carmen, she really wants to get baptized, she does have to get married first to her live in partner so their plan is to get married April 12th in the morning and then get baptized that night. We hope that she will keep progressing to this date. The date was originally in March but because of the wedding, we had to change things.

We are really helping the work in this area grow! It's great and this week has been so much better, we got 26 lessons, that feels good. I have so been wanting to just teach so much, but I feel like we always run out of time during the week so this week was great, we are remembering to FTE. Sister Villasis says once we start talking she is fine, but she doesn't like just starting a random conversation, so she keeps saying, remind me to just start and help her to FTE too. FTEing really helps find investigators, it's amazing. And I feel like I can talk to anyone, I am glad my fear is gone. I think it was gone about a month ago, but now I really feel like just talking to everyone I see and sharing this wonderful message, it's great!

Sorry I feel like this letter isn't as detailed and as much as usual, but I have to go, I didn't have a lot of time this week, but will be able to share a lot more hopefully next week. 

Nahiguma jud ko ninyo (I love you all tons) and hope you have a wonderful week
Love Sister Riggs

February 19, 2014

Ala Sioku Famili moekuvkaungamea ngaahi (That's Tongan)

Wow, a lot has gone on this past week and it has been wonderful. I loved being able to hear from Elder Neilson, of the 70 and being able to ask him doctrinal questions and just a lot about missionary work with him and how Elder Bednar's talk really ties into our job as missionaries. The enabling power of the atonement is such a huge part of this gospel and man, without it, life would be way hard. We need this power to overcome all our weaknesses and to make changes in our lives by using repentance. I loved the things he shared and that he let all the missionaries share insights and on their readings instead of just giving us a talk and what he knows about this talk. And he says hi to you Grandpa Pace! And so does my mission President. We got to shake his hand before he spoke to all the missionaries and man, it was great! We told him our name, where we were from and I just had to ask him if he knew you Grandpa, he said he did and that he is actually really close to you, so he says hi!! Then President heard and said, tell him hi for me too okay? Also to the family too. President said make sure you tell them hi for me okay, to family and friends. Man I love him. And he always brings up, I remember when we got to skype, such a lucky, sweet experience. 

 I came to realize that in my last area I really was just trying to get through lessons because I could tell these people were Elect and ready to get baptized. But I realize that it is so much better to take things slowly. I was just so excited to see them get baptized while I was there so we went speedily through the lessons, than realized, that wasn't the best idea for them. So we have changed. Even teaching recent converts now, we have just been teaching 1 point at a time and making sure they really understand what is being taught. With investigators we usually teach a few points from the lessons at a time unless we feel like we shouldn't. It really depends on the person, but over time I really have learned that you teach them as much as you think they can handle/take in and then keep going if things aren't too overbearing. I loved hearing him and speaking with him and of course hearing from you too. Every time we go to Lahug to hear speakers I love it and learn so much. I am always pumped to go out and work and totally filled with the Spirit. It's great!! 

Last week we did split in a way with Sister Kaafi since Sister Neri was going home. We worked in Minglanilla and Naga. it was a blast, the only problem is last week we really didn't get a lot of lessons and FTE's. I felt awful. I couldn't believe it. It has been really different here. Apart of it was that we split the amount of lessons and FTE's so it was about half of what we would have gotten in those two days. But in Lawaan we were teaching all the time and getting a lot of lessons. We usually get 25-28 lessons per week in Lawaan and here it's been about 17-19. I keep thinking it's because when we are in a lesson sometimes it takes us so long to actually teach because these people talk a ton. We have to learn to not really cut them off, but learn how to make it so you can teach and give them a little time to talk to. So this week we are working on using our time better. Also gamay kaayo lang (not very many) FTE's so this week we aren't letting any opportunity pass by that we think we will be able to talk with them about the gospel. 

We had some neat experiences this week. One actually happened last night. We were teaching the Getuaban family and the Brother smokes and we are trying to get him to overcome this so they can enter the temple and be sealed together as a family. We asked him why he wanted to enter the temple and he said because he wants to see what is inside. We asked, is that the only reason? We told him, temples aren't just to go inside and look at, but to do work/service there and enjoy the blessings coming from that. We really were stressing the importance of keeping our bodies clean and we asked him if he wanted to choose God or cigarettes, he said, both. Then I said, we cannot serve two masters, we have to choose between one. I have learned here that scripture Mastery is very important, few, i'm glad I can remember the scriptures I learned from there. And actually do have them memorized. Then as he was talking a scripture popped into my head. It is Mormon 9:21. I thought this was perfect because if he has faith and believes in Christ and asks for help to get over this addiction, it will be granted him. He will be given that strength. So at first, I thought to myself, well we already read a scripture, and this might go off on what we were just talking about, and it was getting late, we needed to go home, but I kept thinking, no I should probably share this if it came to my mind. NEVER reject a prompting right. So I just decided to share it. I had his son read it and explain what he learned from this scripture. Right after the scripture was read I looked at the Brother and he pounded his chest and sat back, I could tell that it hit him hard. I didn't think it would have that much of an effect on him, but it did, I was so happy it touched him. He explained it and really catered it to him. He said well it says here that if you are going to smoke it is going against Christ and da da da da da. Just really didn't talk about the scripture, totally catered it to smoking, and tied it in a little, just a different way then I would have explained it, but super funny. So then I explained my thoughts and it felt so powerful, the spirit was really there and he seemed a lot more willing to change. Because at first we asked him if he'd commit to stop smoking, but he said maybe, we asked him to limit his smoking and he didn't want to. We kept asking him and he wouldn't change. He was gahi kaayo (very stubborn). But we just kept testifying, promising blessings and recommitting. Finally at the end he said he will start preparing now and limit the number of cigarettes every week, so hopefully by next week he will have improved. It was great, I'm glad I acted on that prompting to share that scripture. 

Also we spent most of the day, Monday FTEing and Tracting. We really want/need to find more investigators so we are making it happen. We FTE'd a family outside and asked if we could share a short message right now. They agreed and we were happy. We actually found out that they had been baptized, but hadn't been to church in a long time. We have noticed that there are so many people who are missionary converts, not converts to the church. It is so sad. I wondered why they didn't share that they were members when we first introduced ourselves. But it was good that we asked questions so we could find out. It ended up being a really good lesson and their friend was there and actually seems really interested in the church. And another neighbor. He knew so much about Jesus Christ and the works he did here. Some people really know a lot about Christ already, it's great. 

I have loved working with Sister Villiasis, she is wonderful. She is funny, keeps me entertained, cooks amazing, healthy foods, and makes sure I am okay before she is. I wasn't feeling well on Monday. I had a fever and I was becoming tired throughout the day, but I really just wanted to work and said, don't worry, it will pass. She said, no, we need to go home and get you medicine and to sleep. I finally gave in and decided to follow her words and she made me soup, let me rest and just took such good care of me. Tuesday when I woke up I was so much better, my fever seemed to be gone and I was just being watched over. I used Elder Neilson's words to follow the example of Nephi and Alma and ask for the strength to be able to work instead of my fever to leave. It worked, my prayers were answered and we were able to go out and work on Tuesday. Also our Branch Presidency brought us fruits and a shake to help me, sweet kaayo sila! 

Nindot week this week. Thanks usab for all of the e mails I get each week from family members and friends, I am so blessed. I got the letter from Barnwells and it was AMAZING, they all gave me advice and comforting words, it was great, so Thank you tons Barnwells! It's fun to get letters and e mails. Also I got the kind words from all of the family on the Bling Bling and Ice Cream, so thank you, I will read those often, I am lucky. Thank you all for the kind words you said and Uncle Rusty for typing that all out.

I hope you all stay strong and are enjoying time in the little snow we have or whatever the weather is in Arizona, Oregon, and other places you are in. I am jealous you have a hot tub, but can't wait to experience it in the winters to come. And the skiing and all. I want you to know I pray for you all and love you all to death. TA TA FOR NOW!!! Until next week!!

February 12, 2014

FAMILY OH FAMILY (and friends) name that movie!

Transfer calls were this week I am glad I am going to be able to stay here with Sister Villasis because we still have a lot to do in this area and a lot of people to find. I was thinking I would stay here with her since we just got here, but you never know huh? So still we have been visiting a lot of less actives, and recent converts which is so good, but I want to find some more investigators. I should really focus on them though because I have heard there are so many members of the church here in the Philippines and just in the Minglanilla/Lawaan Area, but seriously not even a fourth come to church. I think one of the problems is finding these less active members too, so we have been blessed to be led to these people by the Spirit it is wonderful!! Sister Villasis said, wait, I think there is a member who lives around here, so we looked around and sure enough, it was her. A sister named Con Chita who had gone back to her Catholic church. We told her how sad that is and tried to figure out what happened. Since so many less actives here have been offended by one person or the other, which is different from some people in Lawaan who just don't have money. I have realized though that most of the time it is because of their feelings right now and things they can help. They can change their attitude about coming to church or choosing to be offended by someone, but things like money, they can't do anything about. With this Sister, we extended our love towards her and talked about endurance. We also told her how sad this really was, her falling away. I couldn't believe it. You really need to let them know the consequences or things that will happen or else things won't change. This happened yesterday too. We went to go teach a less active member in Naga with Sister Kaafi, our Sister Training Leader. Man, she is great!! We had so much fun, anyway. We knocked on her door, first time I've ever knocked, kind of funny. Usually we just say AYO! She took a while to come to the door and then I see her peeking through the window and I wave. Finally we hear her open about 7 locks and then opens the door. We were so scared, why did she have so many locks, weird. Right as we opened the door we introduced ourselves and shook her hand, were just trying to be friendly and create a good atmosphere since her expression was not super excited to see missionaries. She said, okay, good to have met you, goodbye. And started closing the door. In my mind I thought, "we can't let her get away that easy/fast, say something." So I said, "We would love, we're happy to be able to share a short message with you. . . .and she cut me off and said, no thank you. But at least it stopped her from closing the door. So she kept trying to close it, but we just kept taking, it was Sister Villasis, Kaafi, and me. As we talked she shared that she was a member, but had now joined the Iglesia ni Kristo, another church and that she really wasn't interested in coming back or anything. We were very sad. I really don't like seeing people like that. So many people here have fallen away and we need to bring them back. She was offended by some members and just lost it. We kept trying to share how awful that was. She just wasn't listening, so finally we just bore our testimonies and some last minute things since we could tell she wasn't going to change her mind, and she said, thank you for the visit, but I am good how I am, and closed the door. Wow, our expressions were all the same, shocked and confused. We just sat their for a minute and looked at each other. We heard her lock all the locks again and we were laughing so hard. Hearing all of those, made the mood a lot better. We were laughing so hard. We were just wondering why she had so many locks. Usually people would have gone away from that really disappointed from that experience, but we walked away laughing so hard, seriously it was hilarious. I have never come across a person like that before. Usually people are really willing to listen and want to hear about this gospel. I'm sure I have a lot of these thought huh? Man, you have to have been there, but man, we almost started crying we were laughing so hard, that is seriously a moment we will never forget. Hopefully Sister Sanko will somehow come to realize what she is missing and that this is the only true church on the earth. We will pray for her heart to be softened for future missionaries.

Also we had another neat experience with an investigator. We had FTE'd her and had gotten a return appointment. We had planned to get to know her, and develop a trust with her and just a few first parts of the Restoration, the spirit was so strong and we just felt like we should keep going so we taught from the Savior's ministry to Joseph Smith, and then of course an intro to the Book of Mormon and taught her how to pray and recognize the Spirit. Her name is Sister Dulce. Man, she was so good. She knew a lot and after her prayer, she started crying. We decided just to stay put for a little bit, and sit quietly. We asked how she was feeling and she said, she felt something. Like someone was trying to speak to her. She really felt the Spirit and that the Lord was answering her prayer. She said, I don't know for sure yet, that this is true, but I do feel good and different about this. I am so glad that the Lord's promise came true. We promised her she would be answered if she prayed about our message and Joseph Smith, and sure enough she did. I have never seen it happen that fast before. Usually people say that they did get an answer, but sometimes we don't know if they really do because we didn't see them do it. But that was a witness to me that he is aware of all the people we are teaching and wants them to know. It was cool to be there when he answered her!! Wow, I was almost brought to tears, and boy did she thank us a ton. What an incredible moment.

Really wonderful things have been happening in this area, a lot of less actives have come back to church and it feels AMAZING, no investigators yet, but sometimes it feels just as good. And we have dinner appointments all the time. It's not good though, I'm scared I'm gaining weight, just since there is so much rice, lots of carbs, but man the food is good and the members are so sweet!

Again thank you so much for catching me up on people's lives and for making me feel so good and motivated on days that I feel inadequate. Sometimes I think, I'm not that great or I don't know enough, but I realize it is Satan trying to get at me again and then I read this verse in D&C 10:33. He is trying so hard to get into our minds, it's awful. I have to remember to not listen to him because there is so much good that can be done here. Also It is so cool to hear Abir talked in church and everything that is happening to everyone. Keep up the good work, and I would like a copy of your talk ;)

With much love this VALENTINE's week,

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO hugs, kisses, roses, and chocolates

Love Sister Riggs <3 

February 4, 2014

FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!!!

Man crazy craazy week!!! We were able to have interviews with our Mission President, President Schmutz, and talk about how things are going for us. I feel so lucky to have him as the President here. He feels like another Dad or Grandpa for me. He is so sweet and loving and kind, and gives us confidence and I just love him dearly. All of his workshops are so doctrinal and just incredible. I have never met another person like him before that knows so much about this gospel and really dives deep in the doctrine. It's amazing for us as missionaries, so we gain that knowledge for ourselves and then we can become stronger to bring others closer to Christ. Every day I realize something new I either need to learn and just feel why I really need to be here. And why I am on a mission. It has been talked a lot about with different people, but especially in my old zone, we had talked a lot about why people are even on missions. People do it because they feel it is a sense of duty or to please their family or friends, and so many other reasons. And I was thinking, was I just caught up in everything and just went for the fun, but no, I did it because I love Jesus Christ and know that he has done so much for us, for me, that this is a way I can do something for him. Plus, as members of this church we have such a wonderful responsibility, opportunity to share what we know. Seriously, people just don't know about their purpose here on earth and have thought about things in life, but not really come to a certain conclusion, like Joseph Smith. I feel like we are just their aids, but they really need to find out for themselves, not for us, but for them. I want to be able to bring people back to this knowledge and let them know how much their Father in Heaven loves them as well as Jesus Christ. There are some days I feel like I don't know that much about the gospel, but I just have to be patient and study to do my part. It will come eventually and as long as I have a good attitude and just keep telling myself it's okay, I can do this, than things will work out. Just keep smiling, just keep swimming, what do we do we smile, swim, smile! I was just realizing this time goes by so fast so I need to make it count and take things seriously, and most importantly be obedient, and I have seen the blessings of that. 

This week has been GREAT! I have loved getting to know Sister Villasis and been able to work well with her. I feel a lot more comfortable in lessons now with the less active members and recent converts we have been visiting. They are all very welcoming and just excited to visit with us. Especially since we are new missionaries in the area. We never have a dull moment with this companionship and with the people we are teaching. We have a ball, laughing and getting to know these people better. It is so nice that Sister Villasis knows this area, because if she hadn't been here before, man would it be hard to find these people. It's great too, because members see a familiar face which lightens the mood a lot. So in the lesson they already have that trust. Sister Villasis is so fun and reminds me of Raven Simone sometimes. She talks to everyone and is smiley all the time. Also she is bold when talking to people so when we commit them to things, she makes sure they understand what they just committed to do and have them say it so it's in their mind and we know they understood the committment. I love that. Also in her FTE's she really makes them count, she doesn't just introduce herself than invite them to church she talks about smoking if they are smoking and relates basketball to this life, or just other little things, and they are all different, it's helping me come up with different ways to teach according to needs and FTE. Also there is one girl we visited named Bhlessie. She is 15 and is a less active member. The first time we came in contact with her she ran away from us and it was pretty much like hide and seek. We waited for her to come back and she finally did. We tried to talk to her and she really was not wanting to talk at all. She gave us a few answers and then would look away and just not answer. Man, it was pretty frustrating, but we didn't show it, we just would either wait patiently for her to answer or just sit in silence waiting for her to answer or for the Spirit to let us know what to say. At first it was weird just sitting there in silence, but now I know that it's okay, it's almost better not to push anything or put thoughts in their mind when they are still thinking.  It was a long time that we sat and would talk and ask questions, but no answer, not even a nod. Later on we finally got some answers and she had said she really only got baptized because of Sister Cora, her mother figure in life right now. She pushed her too much and she just really didn't understand the importance of baptism. We were sad that she was pushed, so we asked her if she wanted us to come back and see her and even though it took a while, she finally said, Yes. So we made a return appointment and man, it was so much better. When we went back, she was happy and she would speak to us and was participative, same with her friend. I'm pretty sure it was because Sister Villasis was there. Bhlessie said that she never really understood Sister Weschler, the last American Sister that was here, so it was hard for Bhlessie to visit with her. But she felt comfortable with us I guess, that's what is good about How To Begin Teaching and Build Relationship Trust. In the beginning of the lesson, whenever I would talk they would either laugh or just not really pay attention. I asked if they understood me, and they said no. I think they just have something weird with Americans, so Sister Villasis would let me talk and then clarify if they didn't quite get it. Later on, it was so much better, she shared her thoughts about church and talked to us, which was good. She got more used to me I think and then was able to get what I was saying. That lesson turned out well and hopefully she will progress and maybe come back to church.

 We have met mostly with less actives and recent converts since there are a lot here, but we will have to tract for new, prime investigators since we don't have any IBD's and only a few Progressing Investigators from the last companionship, we'll have to hasten the work here! It's so sad to hear how people were members and then somehow something little makes them fall away. That's why missionaries are here huh? We will look for a lot of investigators this week and do our best to stay focused. Sometimes we spend a long time at a house because we get talking, which makes us not have that many lessons, so we'll have to be better at using our time wisely. We both just talk to much I think, which is good though because I am feeling so much better at the language, but there still are times, I feel it is so hard. It will come, I just have to keep working hard. 

I really do love this area, I do miss my last one SIEMPRE, ug tanan sa mga tawo didto, (and all the people there), but I have really enjoyed this area. We have a bukid area so we get to go up in the mountains and man is it gorgeous. And jeepneys don't really go up there so we get to ride motorcycles, and our bishopbric take us up there. Well branch Bishopbric, it is so cool. They are sweet and so fun. They are very helpful with the missionaries and just super fun to be around. I can be myself in meetings with them and they just keep saying that they can see I am a sarcastic, fun, missionary, and I like to party. I'm glad that I feel like I can be myself even in a third world country in another language. I am able to joke now, a little in this language and things are just getting better every day. There are still some days that I feel like I don't know what is going on, but mostly I feel great!!! I am happy with my new companion and things I am learning from her and how she supports me and is there for me, with the three of us, they'd either talk or have me talk and there wasn't a lot of building off each other like there should be. Things are just great, and I still see people at the church so it's nice. Also every morning during companionship study I hear birds chirping and it totally reminds me of Grandma and Grandpa Pace with all their bird things. The clock, the hummingbird feeder and all the birds we see there during Spring, it's great. I do miss you all, some days I just think, man, I'm worried i'm missing out, but then I remember, what a wonderful opportunity to have to be here, serving these people. I have seen so many people change and it really makes you feel so good and so excited. I have really been able to learn so much from the scriptures, and about the doctrine of Christ and just so much more as a person. I feel so lucky to have a calling as great at this. I love you all, and hope you remember who you are and how important it is to be members of this church. 

Sister Riggs