Come Unto Christ.

Our lives should be a confession of Christ. And together with our words, testify of our faith and devotion unto him. This week was a wonderful week as we worked hard to give everything we are to our investigators. I can seeing them have a literal coming unto Christ. And drawing near unto Him. Marissa, asked her when her WHOLE family can be baptized! Amor, is reading the BOM constantly and giving up his cigarettes. He is continuing to come to church and experiencing a change. We found a perfect fellowship. They even look similar. And both went through the sadness of losing a wife which caused their addition to drugs. Nickanor, totally stopped using cigarettes! He said he feels like he is 25 again! P.s. He is currently 72. He told us that 20 yrs ago 2 elders gave him an english BOM when he was in the mountains. He couldnt understand it bc it was in english. He went up to the mountains bc he became sad and went there to him peace. If he never went there he never would have met the elders. Becuase he couldnt read it she said He had a dream that the BOM was true, someone told him in the dream it was true, then we was walking on a pathway of light then he woke up. Ever since then, he knows that this is the true church and can now hold in his hands a Tagalog BOM and we can speak fluent Tagalog to explain to him what it means. He talked about John, the sheep He has that is not of this fold and said the other sheep are the Nephities and Lamanites, the Book of Mormon people. He will be baptised on Jan 10th! Yay! He will be a strong preisthood holder in the church. Roma, she lives in a junkyard, and has not very many things of a temporal means. We gave her the BOM and followed up. She was on page 100!!!!!! I think that is a new record. She remembered all the people and the stories. She doesn't have enough money to come to church, but I know and have faith that the BOM will help her develop enough faith to come. Eric, is overcoming his addition too. We saw him at his job driving a van while procelyting and the Bom was in the rear view mirror. He said he will read it instead of smoking during his breaks!! Yay! We are happy for him and his family. I know that Christ lives. He is the cornerstone of this church. I believe in Him and know he is the way of truth and salvation. I know that He loves us. He truly loves us and his love is manifest in all things. Nagmamahal, Sister Reed

Evacuated Ruby

Pamilya, Kaya....this has been an interesting week. As you know typhoon Ruby has hit our area. We were evacuated to the Malinao chapel for 4 days....Our whole zone was asked to go there by President Mangum. So it was me and my comp and all the Elders. We didn't shower for 3 days and when we did we showered in the custodial closet in the church. I bet you never thought it would be used for something like that. We are grateful we still has water. One night we were sleeping and then woke up all wet. The bathrooms flooded and sewer water was everywhere! The water was up to our shins. So we were living in sewer water for one day until we got it all cleaned out. EWWWW. It was the color of yellpw...blah! We are now back to our area and it is fine except for flooding in some areas and I bet some houses were destroyed. But our home is okay. We lived on crackers and bread for 4 days. I ate my first meal today and it tasted soooo good! I forgot how good real food tastes. Also, after living in the dark for 2 days, i am so grateful for electricity. What a beautiful gift from our HF. After the 3rd day and the last night the quietness was so beautiful. No rushing wind, the quietness of the storm was so peaceful. I loved the quiet from the storm. We were really prepared for this storm. We knew 2 days in advance, had a game plan, 72 hour kits, water, candles and other things. I was not scared at all. I was not scared because we were prepared. No fear, just faith that God will take care of us. I felt like this story in the BOM really relates to what happened on our mission and has a beautiful interpretation to the typhoon we experience. Ether 4:6-12. On another take in our area we are continuing to see miracles. We found a potential priesthood holder!! Actually three. This is what we fasted for this fast sunday to find more investigators that have potential to becme priesthood leaders. They all have problems with the word of wisdom but they all have a desire to stop and change. That is a miracle. After we taught the lesson 1 overview we taught him the word of wisdom. He said he had a problem with all those things on it, coffee, tea, alak, and cigarettes. When we taught him the doctrine of it and committed him to live it he answered back quickly, "I can stop, I forgot that my body is a temple of the Lord". He also attended sacrament even though there was a storm. He is prepared and has a deep desire to follow Christ and to be saved. He has read Jesus the Christ and other church magazines and has received an answer that this is the right church through his prayers. This is brother Nickanor pala. As we are obedient, I feel the Lord is anxious to bless us with people and priesthood holders that are ready to become members of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing will stop the work from progressing until the lord says, the work is done.

Change, it is possible

Dearest Pamilya, Wow, this has been one crazy week, from traveling to Manila, then to Gumaca, exchanges in Tayabas, then the Malinao chapple dedication...i think we were in our are for 2 days but in those 2 days i saw miracles. We had a many investigators attend church this Sunday so that is always happy. Here are how our investigators are diong this week 1. Amor San Juan. Is addicted heavily to alcohol and cigarets. He wants to change, he came to church and commits to live the word of wisdom. When i look at him, i think that he can become a strong priesthood leader and father in the church. 2. Pousy Villasin, before, she is pretty hard as a rock. But she felt goose bumps during the Restoration video. She wants to understand her answer through the spirit. She wants to know truth but her actions are not enough, she still needs to show her faith by attending church. When she prays if the church is true, she gets horror flash backs of when she saw her son die. I know we can help her to find her answer. 3. Norma Oloveros. She lives really FAR away and lives in really poor circumstances, she has recieved an answer that this is the truth church. She said on sunday she only have 50 pesos and she has to decide if she will use it for rice or to get to church. She hasnt come to church yet but we are still trying to help her build her faith. They are not married and her husband doesn't want to be married, but a miracle happened and they are working on their papers!!! 4. When i was in Tayabas, i saw sister joemilyn again. Wow, she is changing totally. Before her countenance was dark and she was quiet and not very receptive. Now, after time and reading the BOM, she has been filled with light again in her life. She said that she will come to church on sunday. She said, Sister Reed you were the first misisonary to come back to my house in years. Why? I asked her back the same question and asked her why God sent us to her. The spirit was strong and you could feel the love of God for her as a child of God. 5. Sad story, a recent convert of the other sisters told us she didnt want us to come back to see her. She doesnt want to be a part of the church any more. She is content with her life with her job and friends. It makes me sad to see her individual apostasy from the church. But we will still fight for her and help her to come back to so she will not suffer those consequences in the next life. Our ward is amazing! Now that we have a ward mission leader there is correlation in our ward and things will start to move again. They desire to find fellowshippers for us! Yea! MIssionary work isnt complete with out the members. We have been working with the ward and now we can see the fruit of our labors. Mahal kita palagi, alam ko totoo yung gawain ko dito. Walang ibang bagay maaari bibigay yung kagalakan higit kaysa ito!! Ingats parati at huwag kang makakalimuton kailangan natin ibahagi yung mensahe sa lahat ng tao sa lahat ng dako! Sister Reed

Dear to the heart of the Shepard

Kamusta! This week has go by so fast! I just got back from traveling to Manila! Wow, there were big buildings, there was a huge mall, I am not used to seeing tall things so I was in shock to see so many big buildings. My area is the mountains, so it is totally opposite from where I am coming from. We went through immigration papers and got finger printed. It took 6 hours!!! But after that was the good part, we got to go to the temple!! It has been 17 months since I have gone through the temple last. The spirit was so peaceful there to me. Life outside is so busy and fast, I found so much peace and quiet serenity inside the holy house of the lord. I cant wait when I get home to go every week again. In our ward we had a miracle happen, we have a WARD MISSION LEADER!!! YAY! The work can move on! We have been working all transfer to try and get a mature mission leader for our ward. He is so on top of things and ready to help us. That was a load of weight that has been take off from my shoulders. We had a cool experience this week. It was another miracle from the Lord. Last week, I oymed this tric driver. He was taught a long time ago by the Elders and was never baptised. He was kind and said that we could come back to share with his family. We returned on Sunday. He told us of his experience. That when I asked him to come to church that invitation was running through his mind all week. During the week, he had a vision that he saw us. He saw me and my companion walking on the side of the street, that we walked up to him and invited him to come to church and for us to share the Restored Gospel. He is confused which church is true, catholic or mormons. He said, which ever church comes first he will receive. When then come back to his house and he is very receptive. He desires to know truth for his family. He has real potential. God is prepare the people to hear and receive this word. I am humbled ever day to labor in the Lords vineyard. We continue to increase our faith and follow the example of our Savior. Mahal Kita! Sister Reed

Mice

Dear Pmailya, Well, We all know the great commandment #6, thou shalt not kill. Well, I am to say that i have killed 4 rats in our apartment!! I am not sure where they are coming from! They just keep coming. I think i have gotten good at smashing them with the broom. Also, at our ward lunch in, there was intestine and pork blood....oh man...the intestine was so chewy....yuck! I couldn't eat all of it..all i could think of was what was in the intestine before from anatomy.... Happy News, Khiezel was baptised this Saturday!! It was a beautiful baptism and she shared her beautiful pure testimony of the truth. She was confirmed on sunday. It was so priceless to see her face and her smile that radiated after she was baptized and confirmed. Because she felt the spirit and knows this is right. There was lots of rain here this week and it was really strong. One of our investigators said to us, wow you sisters are really dilligent. He said when rains only a little the Jehova witness people dont come. But when there is a storm or typhoon, the Mormon missionaries still come. There is just a testament that this is the true gospel. We know how important the rescue on one soul is. We started teaching Engligh class to college students. It is a hit, they love having an American teacher. They call me mama in class. Mama Reed. They are sweet. We are using it as a finding activity and are teaching it at the church. We did lots of service this week and are reactivating lots of less active recent converts. 5 of them came to church this week! We are happy for that and that they are returning back to church. Love you! Times up....Mahal ko kayo para walang hanggang Sister Reed

Called to Serve.

Dear Family, This week, we have been continuing to work and increase our faith. I have been reading the 4 gospels of Christ. Starting in Mathew in my personal study because it is close to Christmas. I am in love with the gospel of Christ, like i dont want to end personal study. The life of christ is beauiful. What he did was like magic. NOw, that is me, I am his disciple. I am doing the same thing as if he were here on the earth. I would invited everyone to read the 4 gospels this Christmas, so that we can better follow his example and do what he did. Wednesday and Thursday we were traveling ALL day....We had to got o San Pablo for Sister Krisubanu's 4 week check up. They checked to see how her training is going. They want us to start helping our comp with base lesson plans with the doctrines and scriptures from the doctrines of the kingdom. She was excited bc I already taught her how to do it :) Ahead of the game. We have been continuing to teach Khiezel Anne. She has been reading 1 chapter in the book of Mormon every day and stayed after sacrament for class and enjoyed it! She will be baptized this Saturday at 6pm. She had her interview and passed :) She has a desire to live the gospel bc it makes her happy. It is the only light in her life. I was reminded this week. Be thou humble. We found a recent convert family that is less active now. They live in a little shack above the ocean. It is really dirty. The children look like they are Holocaust victims. They dont wear many clothes and are very bear. They are probably hungry every night and literally have nothing. But, one thing. The gospel. We dont need that much in this life to be happy except the gospel. We are so blessed, I feel like i have so much from my father in heaven. I have food, and dont have to sleep on cold dirty cement and I have clothes to cover my bone. God has given us so much. When I see that, It reminds me of all the things I have and of his love for everyone of us. One of the LA members is struggling with smoking. We are helping him with the repentance process. He said that he smokes bec he gets cold at his job. Soooo i found an old sweter of an elder and gave it to him to help him remove his addidtion. If that is the real problem. We will find out how it goes deeper and what the real reason is. We have been opening our mouths to everyone and found new investigators. We want to find those who are prepared. Nanay Legar is going through hard trails. She is sick and suffering. She doesnt have any friends and always cries and lets her heart out when she is with us as we teach her the doctrine. We have been working with the auxiliaries. Our bishop didnt come to church, we dont have a ward mission leader, and most of our investigator dont desire to come to church. But, we are happy in the work of the lord. Doing what lies in our power. We have been making lists of the members LA, RC and inves and giving it to the specific auxiliaries so they can assign them fellow shippers. I hope this can become a fellow shipping ward. Mahal na mahal kita! Sister Reed

Rejoice!

Dear Fam, The highlight of this week was went Elder Robbins came to our mission. I loved his workshop. He talked about the doctrine of responsibility and agency paired with control. He said that respoonsibility is the courage to confront your negative consequences. That we must take full responsibility for all our actions. That when we hide, make excusses, self justify, rationalize, blame, rebell, have ignorance, flee, have fear, give up or have self pity that is when we let satan take control of our lives. We hand our lives over to him. This is the exact list that destroyed Laman and Lemuel and the Anti Christs. It will also destroy us. I also loved when he said when your going through a hard time on your mission and dont know what to do better, "Rejoice for suffering in the name of Jesus Christ". I love that. I will suffer for Him. Becuase he suffered everything for me. I give Him my life. Khiezel has her baptisimal interview this week! Yay. She she so cute and prepared for the gospel. After 2 years of going to church she can finally be baptised. We are seeking to build this area. I love it. Nagmamahal, Sister Reed

Onward Christian Soldiers.

Dear Family, Kamusta po! This week went by quickly. Where does the time go? Sa week ito, we went to Lopez twice for stake conference and then to Gumaca 1 time. We have to travel all the time. I used to like traveling, now it just makes me sick. All the missionaries sang the closing number at stake conference, we sang "COME UNTO CHRIST". We thought that it fit our purpose well. Khiezel Anne is still progressing. We have her keep a study journal and its good bc that is the only way that she will remember her assignments. She has received a witness that this is the true church and came even though it was all the way in Lopez which is about a 2 hour drive on a jeepney. Sister Puosy is also one of our investigators here. She is interested in the plan of salvation because her son died. But she justs likes the knowledge, she is not willing to act. She says after a couple years she might be baptized, but our pourpose is now. To save now. So we will try to resolve her concern about acting in faith, not have a perfect knowledge but acting on our promptings. On of our part member families doesn't want to be married. They told us not to come back and when they are ready they will let us know. They have lots of arguments in their relationship so i think they have no desire to be married. Its sad, but we will pray for them. Tomorrow we will leave at 3am in the morning to listen to the apostles of the Lord! They are coming here to the san Pablo Mission. We will be taught on high, I hope we will have enough energy and not be too tiered from the travels. but the Lord will support us in our righteous actions. Nagmamahal, Sister Reed

Atimonan

Dear Family, Wow, this week went by so fast! We did a lot of good work here this week! We got locked inside of our apartment twice this week. I don't think that Satan wants us to go out, but it didn't stop us. Our neighbor hammered off the lock for us. So that was nice of him. We had interviews this week this President which was nice, i had some questions about our investigators. I am grateful for his council to us, President is wonderful. We first taught sister Khiezel. She is 10 and lives with a member family. Her parents are divorced and have abandoned her. So the member is her guardian. She is so sweet and has come to church for about 2 years. So we are going to teach her and help her get into the book of Mormon so she can be baptized November 15. Sister Aizel is also a part member that will p[repare for baptism on that same day. I am excited for them to gain testimonies on the book of mormon. We are new to this area and it is huge! Especially bc it is part of the mountain, there were no maps in our area book so we got lost looking for our investigators, but ended up finding them :) There is no real address so maps are really important, but at least we have the spirit. It always tells us where to go. Most of our investigators need to be married before they can be baptised so we will see how great their desire is to be baptised. Also, like no one read the book of mormon when we first got her. So that has been our focus with all the investigators. One of our investigators doesnt have a leg. It just sways back in forth during the lesson. It reminds me to be grateful for my leg. We also taught brother Nickanor. He is 54 and sooooooooooooo receptive! He looks like a biker dude with a scarf around his head. You would never guess from his outside looks that his heart is humble and soft. Love you! Let us all press on in the work of the lord..... Love sister Red :)

I Have Been Transferred to the Bundok :)

Dear Family! I feel like I am camping in my new area! I am re-opening the area of Atimonan and training a new missionary. My comp is Sister Krisubnanu from Indonesia. So I can help her with English and Tagalog :). We are in a really far area so we are the only sisters in our zone. We are a province, which is the opposite of the city. It is just what i prayed for! We are also really close to the ocean :) And it is warmer here :) Yay! I am blessed in my last area, it is what i wanted to go to!! I love my new comp, she is so kind and loving and happy. Wow, i feel so blessed to have this in our last area. We got into our area late on Thursday. I traveled by myself to the mission home and got my comp in San Pablo. When we got to our apartment my comp said, " wow this is a sister missionaries home? I didnt except it to look like this"...I was embarrassed for her first home to experience that. I am guessing the sisters before us didnt have time to clean. So the next morning we spent anbout 5 hours cleaning the down stairs. We zonroxed that place up! There were bugs everywhere and had a gross smell....I have a testimony of having a clean home. I will never get tired of cleaning my home when i am a mom. I know a clean home is necessary for the spirit to dwell so we can receive revelation. The scripture kept coming to my ming, establish a house even a house of prayer, a house of fast.....It is next in sacredness next to the temple. I loved conference!! I left my notes at home, by I received so much revelation and feel empowered to keep going. This week we met with our bishop and auxiliaries. Yay! It was geat, They are kind and willing to help us. We are working on establishing the church and then we are giong to look for all their investigators that the sisters left. I am excited to start a new area. The ward keeps asking me when i am going home, they all say i am close, but i still feel far away. There is much to do. In my whole mission this is my favorite scripture Math 16: 15-16. On my mission i have been learning to take up my cross and my life, to find the eternal. To save my life is to give it back to him. It is a daily life of getting rid of the natural man and living the commandments of God. Being wiling to be public about our discipleship. To be an example. Our lives should be a confession of Christ. To put the Savior first and His work. It is living in harmony in his willing. And doing the things that are pleasing unto the Father. I know this is the work of God. I will forever stand as a witness to Him and his work. Mahal Kita!

sister splits

Well..this email will probably be really short. Monday, we went to Marinque for exchanges, it was great, our proselyting was literally a walk in a huge circle around the whole island. We taught some really good lessons and were working on resolving concerns of the people by helping them build a testimony and seeing if they just didn't want to commit. The BOM is always the center of our teaching to help them resolve their concerns. We came back on wednesday. The traveling literally take ALL day, we go on a jeep ride, then a boat, then another jeep, a tric, then a van back to Tayabas. We get really tired after our travels. President called me on MOnday! He said i was chosen by inspiration to train for my last 2 transfers on the mission! Yay! This is my favorite calling. I feel more qualified to train after this opportunity to be an STL. I hope i can train in the mountains or in a far area, i just dont want to be in the city. So , Thursday we went to the new trainers meeting in San Pablo. Except, we were stuck in traffic for 4.5 hours! I missed the meeting! Grabe, it took forever! President said it was fine since i have trained beofre. Then we had our MLC meeting with all the ZL and STL. This was on Friday. There is one thing that i loved that president said, He said there is too much labeling in this mission. If a area is too hard, if someone is disobedient, or if a certain missionary is a bad companion. He sadi that when we label people it means you are saying, "I deny the atonment of Jesus Christ". When we label people it is saying that people cannot change. And they can. We all have the ability ot transform and change. We can all stop labeling people for what they have done and accept the atonement and let them change. See their potential. Saturday and Sunday we worked in our area! The ward now calls me sister splits. Thats what they want to remember me as. Haha, i did that in our ward talent show. We had some great lessons and are focusing on the BOM to change them. I know they can change. The atonemtn works for those who lives the gospel of Jesucristo. Mahal Kita! SIster Reed ps pics on the island and us as the ZLs nd STL of Lucena zone :)

A Piece of Heaven.

Dear loved one, This week I experienced a piece of heaven. Through all the trials we have been going through, this Sunday made it all worth it. We have to know the hard to know the sweet. I was sitting in the sacrament room. There sat sister Roxanne our Recent Convert. Even though her mom is not very supportive of her being a member is not very nice and hard on her, she shows her increased faith of God. She is standing as a witness of Him for what she knows is right. She is a woman of faith. Then I noticed our LA sister Irene Matos was sitting in front of us with HER HUSBAND! There is a special spirit i feel when families are together as parents, a couple. She was so happy her husband came to church. She is returning back and showing her faith in Christ by keeping the commandments even though they dont have any money and there pamasahe she spent to go to the church was probably their food money. Then I looked to the left. There was Sister Allen Lado. Tears felt into my eyes as i saw her faith. Being a single mom at the house, her husband comes to visit once a year. She earns money by selling little candies she makes. We are teaching her the doctrine and she is understanding it and acting on it. Her daughters were there too. She has no money or food. But God always provides a was for his people to keep the commandments. I traveled to Lopez, it is up in the bundok and really far, to do exchanges. Then we had more exchanges in Tayabas. Today we are traveling to the island again to do exchanges, we are leaving in like 5 min! There is a festival here in Tayabas right now. Everyone is out and there are tons of beggars asking for money. They are celebrating the saint michael. Everyone will be drunk soon so its a good thing we are leaving to Marinduque. Love you! Sister Reed

"It's Me, MARIO!" :)

Hello po! Kaya, this week we had another storm typhoon. Its name was Mario. There have been 5 storms since Glenda. Grabe naman, malakas talaga. We didnt get to go outside to work that day bc the rain was so strong. We went on ex changes with the sisters in Candeleria. It was great! I pray every time that i will receive revelation for them and their area. I am blessed because even if i am so tired and have no energy, Heavenly Father always gives me enough. I get everything done that needs to get done. You never know how much good you do. Every little thing. You never know how much you can help someone. We have been working hard in our area. Everywhere we go there is something that goes wrong. Our investigators are dropping us like flies. One night we were walking on our way back home. Then i thought, awe, we should stop by sister Lorna! So we did and she was actually home. We were talking about the baptismal covenant that when you become a member, you hold the name of Jesus Christ in your heart. That we become his literal representatives here on earth. She said that she has goose bumps go all up and down her arms. She said she felt different. So we told her that was the spirit. She said, really? She said she has a desire to know what is true. She said its either Catholic church or the mormon church that is true. She has many questions and is happy to see us. This is a simple tender mercy from our Heavenly Father from our faith and obedience to Him. We had zone pday today at the church :) We played water games. yen lang yata, ubos ang oras ko. Mahal Kita Sister Reed

Following Christ

"Following Christ is not casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and a way of life that applies in all times and all places" Dallin H Oaks Dear family, This week my companion and i had an increased commitment to talk to everyone and increase our faith in him. Our goal this week is to talk to 100 people. This week we hit 80 OYMs. We really need to find new investigators, most people that we talk to are not interested in listening and walk away from us. Our investigator Edgar told us he didnt want us to come back. Because of this increased rejection, we must increase our ability to find and become master finders. We are asking referrals from everyone. All the trike drivers wives or family of our current investigators. We have seen a tender mercy. We received a referral that is actually interested in our message! Sister Ellen Naces who referred Roxanne to us our current Recent Convert also referred Lydia. She said that when she first saw us in their house she felt the spirit. She felt that her heart was light and then she had the desire to listen to us. In her head she sadi she wanted us to come and teach her. We taught her the restoration and committed to be baptized. She prayed correctly and said that she felt the spirit. She has a desire to read the bom and to come to church. We are excited to teach her and that the Lord per prepared us to meet her. Also in my OYMs this week i committed one of them to be baptised. Haha imagine this, i was riding on the back of his trike and we were talking about religion and our church. He asked about our religion and i talked about the gospel of Jesus christ and how we needed binyag to be saved. Then, i committed him to be baptised on Oct 26! He said YES! Another oym i told a man that only through this gospel could his family be sealed for time and eternity. If not they couldnt be together forever. He said, i want to know about this gospel, can you explain it to me", we tried to set a return apt but he is never home.... We had zone training this week! President didnt give us an outline, so as STL and ZL we came up with the training plan of the transfer. We focused it on a discussion and it went really well! I made sinigang this week! I am enjoying cooking philipina food! Maybe Ill cook it for you when i get home :) Masarap! We had exchanges this week in Barra, it was good, we worked with the sisters. President wants us to call the sisters to repent when they are not following the schedule or doing it the lords way, so we extended the invitation to repent to our sisters to raise the bar. Our LA have forgotten the doctrine. So we are focusing on teaching that to them and helping them become strong members. One of our LA joemilin was hiding from us dahil she knows that we will invite her to come to church. She sadi that she is angry with some of the members so she doesn't want to go back. We decided to start with the first step to read the BOM and she accepted. Our other LA are confused about the truth and going to the catholic church, we are focsing on the restoration and them receiving an answer of the truth. This area has a problem with drinking so it is hard for the people to be receptive, i am learning how to help others overcome their additions, repent and come to Christ. I find joy everyday in inviting others to come unto Christ. It is His invitation to the world. Mahal Kits! Sister Reed

MISSION TOUR :)

Kahanga hanga pamilya :) Kamusta!! I had a wonderful week! Elder Bowen from the 70's came to our mission! We were truly taught on high. He talked to us as we are the warriors of God. He taught us how if we have faith+obedience=miracle. He was calling our mission to live exact obedience. So he taught us about who we are. When we know who we are then our desire will increase to follow our Savior exactly. He wants us to increase our standards. That if we are not face to face with someone (oyming) that we are unemployed. I am an employed missionary which means i will always be talking to someone. He talked to us about being covenant keepers. That we are to keep the covenants of our Father Abraham and talked about all the blessings we can receive if we magnify our calling. He told all of us sisters that we should not expect anything less from a husband than one who knows who he is and is a righteous priesthood holder who knows and understands the oath and covenant he made. I also got to go to the special meeting with Elder Bowen as a STL. It was amazing. We learned more about the gathering and scattering of Israel. And about leaders. that a leader is an obedient missionary. And then about the order of the church and all the keys..anyways it was beautiful...i loved it. We were in San Pablo for 2 days because we had MLC after to talk about the vision of our mission with President. Sister Gaspar de Alba and I woke up early and went on a bike ride around the river behind the chapel. It was beautiful. We solved the problem to my head aches. I GOT GLASSES! Wow, i am turning into an old lady on my mission haha. I am just happy that I can teach more by the spirit and not be bothered by my head the hole time. We basically got punted by most of our investigators this week. They told us that they are not interested in the message at this time. Sister Rosalie din. She goes to Mauban every week for days and is gone on Sundays so she cannot progress and come to church. I know that we planted a seed for her to accept the gospel when she moves to Mauban. Sister Gandia our LA is making progress. We are teaching her friend her referral. She said that she had a dream the other night. That there was a bridge. That she couldn't cross the bridge. She was with her two daughters. Nothing they did could they get across. On the other side was a baptismal service with people wearing white. She said someone came to help her get across the bridge. Then she dived into the water and woke up. She said she didn't know what it means. But it was beautiful.The bridge is like her barrier to come to church. She has lots of concerns about wh she doesn't feel worthy to cross. As missionaries we help her across the bridge to get to the other side. The purity and beauty the side of God. Her enduring to the en is the diving into the pool. Being worthy to make and keep temple covenants. We found a new investigator. Sister Gina. She is reading and praying right! She has a desire to know the truth. She is a little scared to come to church bc her whole family is apart of the Catholic church. Her roots are really deep in their church. I know that when she receives a witness of the church she receive the strength that she needs to come to church and be converted. Onward Christian soldiers, marching on to war.... Sister Reed

Miracle

dearest family, the shift on the computer is not working so i am sorry for not having correct grammer. but we had a great week here in tayabas. yah, maybe no one wants to listen but we are having miracles happen in the ward. We have 15 names! yah. We have been visiting the ward auxiliaries all week to prepare them for our meeting. we used to inspired teaching method to help our ward set a vision a plan and to help sustain them in their callings. we have been noticing that most of the LA are going catholic. the ward needs to become more established to retain the recent convert and help their attendance increase. they told us they have never set plans for the people in their ward like this. miracles are happening. heavenly father loves tayabas. things are starting to happen!!! its a miracle. that has been one of our focuses this week. we went on our last exchanges of the transfer with the other tayabas sisters. i worked with sister bagiou and we had a great time. we worked on resolving the concerns of their investigators concerns. one didnt want to be baptized until December, we found the root of the problem through the spirit. she accepted in October and attended church on sunday! i am so happy for them. i am also happy that i got to play a role in her progression. i felt the spirit talk to me so strong. there is no way that those thoughts come from me. i have really come to better understand the role of the spirit on my mission. i am so incapable of all things. but though the power of the godhead i can connect myself to them and help gods children come unto them. We had a really good lesson with our ward mission leader. he is struggling right now in his life. we wanted to help him and resolve his concerns. he told us he can barely support his family with food. he is working really hard to support them. we taught him the doctrine of putting god first in his life, then the lord will bless him. i sat their in tears. the love of god penetrated by body and eminated from me into that space. i could feel gods love for him. god has not forgotten us. i can testify he knows. he is aware. i can feel it in my bone. the reality of him is beautiful. We did service in the river! they said that i wash clothes like a filipino! thats one skill i have mastered, professional hand clothes washer....i can start my own business in america haha. every day in a philippinos life they wash for 2-3 hours every morning. they live by the basics that someone would need to live to by to just simply live. i love it. mahal kits sobra! nammimiss ko kayo! palagi nanalangin ko para sa iyo! mag ingat lagi hanggang pag-uwi ko ;) love, sister reed

Work, work, work its the secret :)

Kamusta po sa inyong lahat! It was a good week. We had our exchanges with the sisters on the island and then came back to our area. We really seeked for inspiration to help the sisters in their area, we were guided and the spirit will always tell us how to magnify our calling. I am humbled to be their servant and give of myself in every way that i can to hasten the work. We did get to go to the beach on monday for pday. It is beautiful! We also helped some people pull in fish from the sea! It was actually really hard. I am not sure how those little people do it. The life of the Filipinos is very simple and unscattered. They live uncluttered lives. Only the basics that they need to survive. I am humbled to live amoung them. We have been working hard in our area, but all of our investigtors are falling through the cracks! NOOOO! Heavenly father is really testing our faith right now in our area. We have recieved inspiration to focus on the ward. There isnt a vision, Ward mission plan, 15 names list, or Home and Visiting teaching. We want to help establish the church here in Tayabas. So that when we have investigators and recent converts, they will stay hanggang wakas. Our WML is also inactive kind of...we have lots to focus on with them. We are working on using the inspired teaching method to help them find how they can realize what they need to do to become established. This is our focus right now and also to FIND FIND FIND. We have faith that they are people ready to receive us. So far, most of them are very comfortable in their ways and dont want to listen to us. It is the most rejection that i think i have experienced on my whole mission. But, i know that if i seek heavens help, i can magnify my purpose here. Sad news! Our LA family that we were working with has been going back to the Catholic church! we found her praying to the rosary! NO! She is going through therapy right now. We are trying to help them, we found out that they never prayed to know if the church was true before they were baptized. Oh my. We have found this situation with almost all of the LA here. That is really sad to me because i know what the doctrine says about the people that do this. They are cast into the darkness and cannot stand before the presence of Heavenly Father. They will be judged for this. We are trying to help them understand the doctrine. Dont worry, with love :) I am working on a personal project right now. I am reading the BOM about faith lang. It has really been strengthening my faith to see all the examples in the BOM focused on the first principle of heaven. I am continuing to learn and grow and stretch myself. I love the doctrine of the father. yen lang po :) Sister Reed

stand and lift

Kamusta :) Well, this week was fun. My companion caught a virus from the air so we were stricken to the house all week. We went out of the house to get medicine and then that's it. We had one appointment where we saw Roxanne. She is doing good and committing all she is to the gospel. She has great faith. Her brother has also been coming to church with her. He is 14 and interested to listen. He is interested in his salvation and why this church is true. In church, The counselor came up to me and asked to me give a talk and bear my testimony. I talked about our Savior Jese Christ, and His atonement. That how through His atonemtent we can obtain the faith we need to follow the example of the Savior and keep His commandment unto the end. I was grateful for the opportunity to testify of my Savior. On Sunday after church, we left to Marinduque to have exchanges with the sisters again. It took about 7 hours. Kaso, It was beautiful sa boat. There was no rain so that was nice. We went to the beach earlier with the elderly couple. We will be here until wed when we go home. A really good talk that i love reading is by Elder Holland, "The First nt need just again, He needs disciples. She asks us to abandon what we love from the world and serve HIm. Do we love Him enough to do that? WHOOps sorry it sent when i wasnt done. The talk is called the First and Great commandment. By elder Holland. But i love you so much! Let us always remember the first and great commandment of our discipleship. Mahal kits! Sister Red

Lift Where You Stand

Beloved Family, To a wonderful week in the Philippines, I love the work of Salvation. Roxanne was baptised and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It was a wonderful baptism and the yw had a special musical number for her. We had the baptism on sunday morning before church and then she was confirmed right after that. She glows with the spirit inside her. I know she will become a leader in the church. She asks such thought provoking questions. She is converted to the gospel bc she knows the BOM is true and has received several witnessed for herself. Sister Rosalie is really progressing. her blessing from church is that her husband came back. She is so agrateful and happy. She said at church she felt like Joseph Smith and felt the light open her heart. That Christ was welcoming her, She keeps saying that the light bursts from her chest. We had a lessons and taught her the doctrine of christ. She finally understood. We drew it out and she said, i finally understand sisters, i need baptism in this church to be saved. We also taught her the GOd head., I guess its a blessing that i am a visual learner bc it really clicks for her when i teach her like that. I drew her a picture of the god head and she started to cry. she said, i though thats what it was. I was to tell my family and all my friends. That pure truth just came to light of her and made her cry, the precious truths have been taken away but have been restored through our church. I know that the gospel blesses families. Sister Irene a LA that is ALMOST reaCTIVETED said, My family was a mess, until we all became members. All things that are messy can be made right through Christ and His atonement. One of our referrals the Derrdas family, their heart is so hard. Sher thinks that she is perfect and doesnt need baptism. She says she has no sins. The Doctine in the BOM helped her to realized that she does need it, bc Adam fell. We had MLC this week and were instructed by president. 6 hours of travel and 6 hours of meeting. We are helping ot come up with the training p[lans. We are helping sister gandia retuen to church. She is soooo close. She has social concerns with her family. We were teaching her the Tree of life and everything came out. She just needs to strengthen her faith. We had exchanges with the sisters from Lopez, I really enjoy working with the sister. yen lang. we are doing our best to strengthen the units in which we serve. Love you! Mahal kits! Sister Reed

Come Unto Christ and You Will Find Eternal Life.

Dearest Family, Well, this was a good week! I love the work of the lord. I am finding as I give my self to the lord and sacrifice all that i am, I am becoming 1 with Christ and His will. I love my Savior and feel myself lifted up to His work. We had exchanges in Barra. It is the poorest area I have ever seen in the philippines. It is dirt and bamboo. The people are really dark and only have ripped clothes to wear with barely enough food. We worked 2 days over their to help the sisters in their area. We found some promising investigators. Roxannes mom signed the papers for her to be baptised! It is a miracle that she softened her heart. God knows who he wants part of His church. her baptism will be on Sunday :))). One more on Gods children will be a candidate for the celestial kingdom. Ever since the strom in our area we have been giving service and focuing on the Gecale family. The father has had a hot head to the church for years and years and years. FINALLY we have penetrated his wall! We taught him for the first time. He has a desire to follow Christ back to the Father. He wants to be baptized. He will be the last one of His family so that they can be together forever. He has a problem with the word of wisdom but we will help him with that. He said he wants to baptised in December, but i felt the words of the HOly ghost to tell him now. I told him brother, i feel that this is the time for you. I know that this is the time for you to change, to repent and follow the example of the Savior. He was quiet. Everything was entering his mind and the spirit was so strong. I have a strong feeling he WILL be baptised. That was my feeling after we walked out. I am truly humbled from the example of Sister Rosalie. She statred crying and said that her husband has not came home for 2 weeks. All her family has no food. They are starving. The children had to drop out of school and now they sell bread in the morning. Sister has a desire to come to church. She said she feels it is truye. THey have no money for traveling so we offered to walk with them. We come on sunday and she is selling coal outside her door. They dont even have enough to buy rice. When we came, they didnt use that as an excuse to stay home. They brought it in and walked 50 min with us to church. 3 nephi 13:33. This is the promise i gave to her. Heavenly Father will bless her with spiritual and temporal blessings. I am so humbled in the work of the Lord. I feel my Saviorsw love all around me, lifting me up to accomplish what i cannot do on my own. Mahal Kits Sister Reed

When you walk into the STORM, you WONT be the SAME as you walk out.

Dear Family, You can take this literally or spiritually. After the storm your hair is gonna get messy and your clothes will be soaking wet. You are physically different than it started. But this is the purpose of the storm, to change you. Th purpose of the storm is to make you change your nature. I have seen many people begin to change their nature. They are beginning to ask soul searching questions. This is where we can answer what the purpose of all this happening. I know the Lord is preparing the people to com unto Him. He is fulfilling the signs of the times by the calamities that we are seeing. Sister Gaspar de Alba gave the workshop at zone training and then went on exchanges this week with the sisters. the ward knows us as the traveling sisters, its hard bc i would like more time to work in our area, but i know that the sisters need what i have to offer them right now. Everything is inspired of God. Roxanne is progressing and sang with the YW in sacrament in church yesterday. She even wore a skirt!! :) Before, sh would not dar wear a skirt. She will become a strong member of this church. The BOM is changing her life. She has th desire to follow the Savior.I love her so much. I know this is the time for her to recieve the gospel, I am grateful to beapart of the working of God to prepare her for eternal life. We taught Tatay Crispin and he asked why God took away his roof, i told him it was a blessing and he got mad at me and asked how, i told him, now he is ready to rcieve us and Christ in his life. When we go through hard things, the Lord softens us and prepares us to recieve HIm. Mahal Kita! Sister Reed

Pictures

Bagyo GLENDA

Dear Family, Wow that was crazy. The typhoon Glenda hit directly on top of San Pablo Mission. Things have been pretty crazy all week. My old comp went home and so i was in a tri-sum during the storm. It started at 9pm in the night and didnt stop until 9am the next morning. The sky was so dark, the wind was howling all night long, it felt like the roof would just pop right off! The rain was pounding, it flooded into our room and our house, tin banged against the house as things were flying everywhere. None of us could sleep because of the noise, we were so scared! But as i was laying there, I prayed to my Ama, Father in Heaven. I immediately feel the peace swell into my heart and i felt wrapped in a huge hug from him. He is there. For each of us. We just need to call him to come. He will come running towards us and wrap His arms around us. No worries we were all safe. There was just no electricity, water, or other things that we are just used to having. I actually enjoyed studying by candle light every night. The houses here bad. Lost are destroyed. The bamboo or wood houses are gone. People lost everything they poses. Walang material na bagay. We have been giving service this week in building houses, building walls and roofs and washing clothes. We served at some PM families. Hoping our service would soften the heart of the father so that they can become an eternal family. I have been praying for this, something to happen so the hearts of the people in this area will be softened. By giving service we can help others feel the pure love of Christ. They will feel the pureness of the gospel and this message. Roxanne is doing good and came to church this week. She is singing with the other young women in a musical number for ward conference next week. She is in Mosiah 1 of the BOM. When we follow up with her, she can remember all the stories she reads. We are applying all the stories to her life so that she can feel the power of the BOM change her life. We have been working with a less active family. nanay Matos. They were telling me their experience during the storm. They were sleeping, then all of a sudden the roof blew off her house. They were soaking wet. The wind was so strong. She remembered the story in the BOM about Nephi and when he prayed during a storm and the storm stopped. ( 1 Nephi 18:21-22). She feel to her knees and offered a prayer. She asked God to protect her family. Her house should have fell apart and into pieces. But becuase of her faith in the BOM and her prayer, her remembrance of God, she was safe. I asked her why God gave her this gift to her. She said, "bc He wants me to remember HIM. I am far from him now, he wants me to come close to HIm." I know that this is the desire of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. No matter where you are in your life. Come unto him and be healed. Oh yah, i have a new comp now! I am training her to be a new Sister Training Leader. She is from Texas, Sister Gaspar de Alba. :) The good news is that because the storm hit, it knocked down a lot of coconuts. Soooo me and my comp drank coconut juice at one of the members houses and will make buco salad mamaya. When i opened the cocnut it sqiured all over me! Pero, it was soooo masarap!!! Sobrang mahal ko yung gawaing ng Diyos. Ito po ang tunay kaligayaan dito sa mundo. Alam ko po na yung nais Niya kayo ay lumapit. At mararamdaman kapayapan habung bawat pagsubok. Ito po ang tanging totoong simbahan dito sa lupa. Mahal ko kayo! Sister Reed

Pictures

Magandang Pics

Hello! I dont have enought time to write any more but i know that pictures will suffice. We were looking for an LA in an area, we carried bi=uckets for little children full of water. We asked to share a message to the parents. Satan has a hold of their hearts. Its hard in this area to teach people/.//// so we took some pictures This is nanay matos. She doesnt have any money to get to church. When there is a will, there is a way

Faith

Pamilya, Faith can move mountains. But don't be surprised when He gives you a shovel to do it with. Things wont always happen quickly, but we have the opportunity in this mortal existence to see things change a little at a time. I have a new Mission President from Orem Utah. President Mangum. They are so kind and we love them! They gave us a zone conference on wednesday. They talked about living a culture of righteousness. The def of this is John 8:26. We do things bc they will be pleasing to the Lord. We do things out of love for the Father, to align our will with His. It is past being exactly obedient. After we are exactly obedient then we capture the culture of righteousness. I feel like this isnt just for the mission, but for after the mission. In my daily life. In my dance life. And future, creating a culture of righteousness in the dance studio. Beautiful Doctrine. Sister Niup[alau and i will go to San Pablo on Friday for a Leaders Training on Friday. Then she will leave, and i become the only STL to give the workshop at the zone training meeting next week. Ahhhh. Sayang talaga. This week we had some emergencies with the sisters, so we went to there areas to help them out. To comfort them and help them solve what was going on. The doctrine is what changes them. The Book of Mormon is a powerful resource in everything. Update on Roxanne. She lives in Bry. Ayaas. It is my favorite area in Tayabas bc there are tons of rice fields and trees. When you see it, it looks like paradise. The jungle i guess. Anyways, she is so progressing! She loves the BOM. Is is in 2 Nephi 14 and asks great questions. She really understands what she is reading. She will be ready for binyag July 26th. She takes in the doctrine and has sucha willing heart to learn. We can just feel that she is a chosen child of Isreal coming back into the fold. We are gathering the children of Israel. It is a promised that the prophets have talked about for centuries in the BOM. It is now being fulfilled. Wow. There is such beauty in this doctrine. Nagmamahal, Sister Reed

Romans 8:18

WHAT WE SUFFER NOW IS NOTING COMPARED TO THE GLORY HE WILL REVEAL TO US LATER. Romans 8:18 Whatever we experience in this life, is so insufficient to what we will enjoy in the next life. I know the reality of the next life will happen. It is our destiny. What we experience here on this life will prepare us to become like Christ. because when we have trials we gain Christ like attributes to shave off our weaknesses and become pure. Pure like the Savior. This week has been real busy. We traveled almost all week. We got back from ex changes and then gave our workshop at Zone training. I was nervous to give my first one in front of the zone, but it beautiful. Let the spirit guide. Thats the secret. Sister Niupalau will be leaving in 2 weeks so she got to visit her favorite area. In Batangas. It was a 6 hour drive! We got a tour of the San Pablo Mission while we were traveling haha we feel like we have been around the whole mission. We took a back way home, it is a miracle we found our way home. The Savior loves his missionaries. We were in Marinduque and had a cute little experience. We were waiting for a jeep, literally in the middle of no where. And we had to catch the boat so we were kinda in a hurry. We prayed that one would come get us. Then we waited. and waited. and waited. For 1 hour. then we decided to start walking. to at least start moving. It would prob take 2 hours to walk home but it was better than sitting there. Right after we got up and walked for a minute a red jeep comes blazing by. I learned we need faith unto action. We sometimes wont get answers all of a sudden, but after we show our faith by walking into the dark. By walking into the unknown. Then Christ will shine the light so we will know where to go of what to do. We are in HIS hands. Mahal Kita Sister Red ps these are my new friends in batangas :)

The HEART of your mission is the MISSION of your HEART>

Hello poooooooo :) Well, this week has gone by fast. We had training meetings in San Pablo. We had exchanges for the Cadaleria Sisters and now we are in Marinduque for Sister in Mogpog. it is beautiful on the Island!! It was raining the whole time on the boat! We sang "master the tempest is raging" Haha we thought it was appropriate for our physical circumstances. This week was hard with our investigators. many of them rejected us. I was so sad. Crying in the lessons kanina because I know that this is the only way for them to return to their Father in Heaven. But i know that we are looking for the children of Israel. They told us we are welcome to come, but they wont change religions. Their hearts are hard to the doctrine. Their minds are not open to his word. Another said, I cant listen to you. Then another Progressing investigator has been hiding from us. So...we start from scratch/. Yay. Sister Roxanne is loving the BOM. She is in 2 Naphi 2 and just received an answer that this is the true church! She has an open heart and wants to come to the truth. She has been coming to church. She doesn't want to wear a skirt yet, but i think that will change soon. We are working our hardest in the lords vineyard, bc this will be the last time. THe last time for it to be harvest. Love you! Sister Reed

Work work work is the secret

Hello pamilya! So i had my first week here in Tayabas! There is like nothing in the area book, so we are starting over again. Even in the ward we are building up their excitment in missionary work. YAY! we are looking and finding investigators through the members. The area is huge and beautiful. The people are different in this area, lots of concerns. But it is nothing that Christ cannot handle. I had my first exchanges! I was nervous because i still don't know the area but we were guided. I love the sisters in this area. We are teaching sister Roxanne. She is 15 and progression. The youth of the church are being prepared for the time when Christ will come. We went to the beach for pday. That was my favorite pday. Thats it...nothing else really exciting happened. We are teaching an indaian women that barely understands english and knows only a little tagalog. she didnt know Christ loved her and was so surprised. We know simple truths that help define who we are and bulid us. It breaks my heart when they sont know a Savior of the whoel world loves them. I guess thats why we are here. :) MaHAL nA mahal kita! SISTER REED

By your faith, You shall be made whole

Kamusta Beloved Family, May bagong balita para sa iyo! STL na ako! I will be a Sister Training Leader in my mission. Wow. I am humbled with this calling to be a servant in the Lords vineyard. I get the opportunity to learn from all the sisters here and to work more closely with President. I am transferred to Tayabas, Lucena Zone. My new comp is sister Niupalao! It is so wonderful to be her companion and I am learning alot! aND IT is colder here! The water for the shower is freezing! And i dont sweat when i am sleeping here! Wow, i am so spoiled. In my last area, in Santa Cruz I witnessed another way that the atonement has worked in the lives of my investigators. Ate Beth had breast cancer. it hurt her to hold her child. She had to take a lot of medicine. After she started listening to our message and keeping commitments She said that she doesnt need medicine anymore and that she can hold her child just fine. She said she is healed. She knows that this is the true church on the area because she was healed. The power of the Atonement healed her because of her faith. Because this is the true Church on the earth. Her faith made her whole. I am going to miss my old ward so much, i love them so much, but i know that the Lord has a plan for me and what we need to do. I got to bare my testimony in my new ward. They are wonderful! Except, the Tagalog is a little different in this province so it was hard for me to understand at first, but i will catch on quickly. The Lord will help me with the gift of tongues. I love the work of the Lord, I know that when we have enough faith, it can make us whole. Spiritually or physically. I know that it has the power to do that. It is the power of the atonement. mahal mahal kita! Sister Reed

There is beauty all around

Beloved Family, There is beauty all around. I stand amazed in what the Lord has blessed me with. I am blessed to serve a mission for the Lord here. It is a beautiful place and a blessed people. I see beauty and holiness in every day things. There is holiness in the simple things that we do every day. Elder Christensen from the 1st quorum of the 7 came to my mission this Tuesday! He felt inspired to talk about prayer. I understood from the meeting that our prayers begin the day start us in being aware of the spirit. Its called being overcome in the spirit. For the whole day. When you start a prayer of faith, you can be overcome and receive answers through the day. The day is like one continual prayer. If that is how you live it. Anytime we can receive these revelations even if it isnt right after or during your prayer. My favorit scripture he used was DandC 67:10. Tapos, we had the baptism of Luz and Samantha! Yay! We are so happy for them. It was a great turn out. Our other investigators came, and LA families. All of our speakers were there and the Bishop was even there to preside :) Samantha is 10 nd gave the cutest testimony, simple and pure. Luz cried in her testimony, She has problems with her husband but finds peace in the gospel and feels comfort. She feels the atonement working in her life. The spirit was beautiful. We sand teach me to walk in the light sa Tagalog. The ward loves when we sing in Tagalog, it brought a special spirit to the room. We celebrated and went to Mac Donalds to get sundays and fries. I think it was my first fries in 11 months! Lots of meeting this week, we went to San Pablo 2 times and will go back next week for transfers. Traveling makes you tired, but i feel the strength to keep going every day. Nagmamahal, Sister Reed

Faith based Action.

To my beloved family, Kamusta sa inyong lahat! Masaya po kami dito. Masaya din po ang work dito sa Santa Cruz. Maraming tagumpay dito! Mahal ko ang gawaing ng Diyos! Highlights of my week: 1. Service Project sa bukid. We pulled weeds out by one of the fields with one of our less actives and investigators. With Sister Samantha. Everyone that saw me was like, wow a foriengier knows hoe to gummis (pull out the weeds). They didnt want me to get dirty, or to get darker, they were so worried I would get a tan from being in the sun. Little do they know, i love that! 2.We had zone training this week. Our focus is to find by faith through the members and less active. Our mission has just increased the standard. Oh man, it means numbers are going to need to go up real soon. We will have to increase our faith to meet all the goals. We learned about the Enos Principal to listen to the spirit through the thoughts. Magandang scripture: 1 N 3:14-15. 3. We received a referral. Ate Beth. She is really prepared and anxious to learn the gospel. She really wants to be baptized and has the desire! 4. Sister Dona is progressing. She has a deep desire to come unto Christ. She sadi to me the other day. Dito na ako. I am here now. This is were i want to be. 5. There has been alot of temptations lately going on our investigators lives. I see the power of the adversary trying to pull them away. But the power of God is stronger :) 6. We will be having a baptism this week for Danica and Mary Vee and her brother Marko! Marko is a child of the record so not a convert, but the more the merrier. We are excited in planning the baptism for them. They are anxious to be baptized! We are so excited for them. We are enjoying the work of salvation for the salvation of souls in this area. It is the most important work here on earth! Hurrah for Israel! Sister Reed

Masayang Work

Hello po family!!! I feel a little brain dead, I am not sure what to write. But we had a really great week. We have been working really hard in our area and we are teaching lots of lessons! YAY! We taught 18 lessons with a member present this week. I think that I havent been higher than that before! In church on Sunday in Gospel Principals Brother Jay Jay asked me to pick a song and i asked what the topic was, he said, kayo. haha Sister Cortes taught the lesson on the spot again. I think we are getting good at teaching unexpectedly. Sister MV bore her testimony in sacrament on sunday. I was so touched. Before she said she had no testimony. We helped her to find it. She said in her testimony yesterday that she is grateful for for the missionaries to teach her the gospel and that she now knows this is the true church on the earth. I was so touched that she knows the truth for herself and feels it inside herself. We also witnessed a miracle on Sunday. Our investigator that is preparing for baptism this month said that She didn't have money to pay to come to church. She really wanted to come. We told her that is she prayed to Heavenly father with faith, he would help her find a way. She got the opporunity to exercise her faith and we saw her on sunday! We had a fast for her to help her have a way. her desire is so strong. We witnessed a little miracle. When there is a will, there is a way. Heavenly Father looks out for all of HIs children. He knows our desires and is willing to help us as we come unto him. We will continue to serve our Heavenly Father in bringing His children unto Him again. Though the temptations of the adversary are tough, we shall stand strong as we help our investigators overcome. He is hitting hard, but we will remain strong. Nagmamahal, SIster Reed

Pananampalataya kay Cristo.

Magandang hapon po! Kamusta sa inyong lahat?! Masaya ako dito. Masya yung work dito. Alam ko po na, yung gawain ito galing directcho sa Diyos. This week has gone by so fast! We are working hard in our area for the salvation of souls. We had 3 baptisms this week! Marko Obiniana, Mary Vee Obiniana, and Danica Razon. They were so prepared to accept the gospel in their life. There was a special spirit there at the baptism. As Danica bore her testimony she started crying. That she was so thankful for (Us) the missionaries to teach her the right way to come unto Christ. She said, without the missionaries she might have not ever joined the true church on the earth. She said she knows that through Joseph Smith na ibinalik sa mundo yung totoong simbahan at he is a true prophet and that this is Gods true church on the earth. That Thomas S monson is a true prophet bc she has seen him at conference. Tears ran into my eyes as i felt the spirit so strong. HOw great will be your joy as you bring a soul unto Christ. As MV bore her testimony she said that at first she did not believe. Then, as the missionaries helped her, she realized that she did already know truth. She also knows that ths is the true church here on the earth. Marko was too shy to bear his testimony. All of the members could feel the strength of their tesitmony. It was a beautiful service. Then, our investigator Dona was also there. she walked about 3 miles with her baby in the hot sun to attend. Grabe, she has alot of faith. She cried during the testimonies. She felt the spirit witness to her of truth. There are special blessings that Christ holds for those who attend a baptismal service. It re convicted to her that this is the truth and what she needs to do to return to her Heavenly Father again. She is so excited for her baptism next week. We had a specialzed training with President. We talked about working with members to help THEM INVITE their friends. yep thats the key. We all need to have faith that there is someone around that needs the gospel in our lives. Then the faith to invite and act. This is the most important work that is here on the earth. So that Heavenly Fathers children can be with HIm again. Who can you help bring back to our Father? W eare working on proselyting at the colleges and making our baptismal services sobrang maganda, so beautiful and making FHE;s an activity where the members will increase their faith to invite others. It is now our main source of finding. We are supposed to have 7 new investigators each week...so that means we will have a massive effort with working with the members to teach their friends. Then, Sister Samantha had her baptismal interview on saturday. She was so scared and wouldn't answer our DL's questions. Haha, he is from Hawaii and really tall so as a 10 year old she was too shy to answer him. We got permission to sit in with her. She would whisper the right answers to me in my ear, i would tell her thats right now tell elder! She is really smart for a 10 year old and she had beautiful answers. She always says, punpunta tayo sa langit! Lets go to heaven! I always ask her, which kingdom is that? She says, the SUN! I love our investigators in this area. We also just found May Anne. Wow, she yelled at us while we were walking and told us she wanted to know about mormons. We made a return appointment and she was so receptive. her prayer was so sincere. She wants to know which church is right. She is concerned for the salvation of her son. He is sick and might be dying. SHe wants to know where is the truth so her son can be saved. Elizabeth is also progressing. She can to church with her apo. granddaughter. She listens so intently to the messages and speakers. Imari really wants to be baptized but she is 14. We are trying to help her mother be interested. This church is central to the family. Should be all together to have unity in the family. She has been to church 2 times and has already received a spiritual witness. Luz, is preparing for baptism may 31! She is so excited! There is such light in her eyes. I know this work is of the greatest importance. We must hear the message of the gospel while in he flesh. How much great the advantage will we have in the next life. The work of salvation is not easy, and never will be. Christ paid the ultimate price, it wasnt easy for Him, so it means, it wont be easy for us. We too can endure like He did to receive the fullness. Love you! MAHAL KITA :) Sister Reed

Let us all press on in the Wok of the Lord

Dear Family! Highlights from this week: My comp sister Kinikini has been transferred to Lipa! My new comp is Sister Cortes! We are doing so well together! We are happy and love each other! She was my house mate in Darasa so we already know each other. She is from Bichol! She is so sweet and we are setting the area on FIRE! :) News for the week: We had the national day of service! We got to wear the helping hands shirts. We gave out hygiene kits to the little children and taught them how to use them. Sister Dona is progressing she is in 2 nephi 26! She is excited for her baptism this month! Sister MV had a testimony! I gave her a paper and asked her to write her testimony on it. Before, she said she had no testimony, now, she can exclaim to all , she knows the truth through the HOly Ghost. She knows this is the church church. She also will be preparing for baptism on may 17 with her younger brother. Sister Luz is a mother we just started to teach. We just taught her the restoration and the room was filled with the spirit of understandment. She could feel it and was in tears. Right there she received a witness of truth and is excited to be baptized! President really wants us to focus on our purpose to bring others to Christ by baptism. I hope i can always magnify my calling. I love you so much. I am learning so much in this time i have to be a minister of Christ. ps i included samanthas answer to what is the gospel, so cute! I love this work Love Sister Reed.

Let's go to heaven

Kamusta sa inyong lahat! This week has been good in the Philippines! The area loves us! They always yell, "Hello Sisters! Kamusta ate Red (sister reed)". We are softening there harts to receive the message. We had Zone Interviews this week. They went well. We are focusing on visions for our areas to bring about the work of salvation by baptism and confirmation. They also gave us a list of members from our area that are "lost" on the unknown names list. They have no address. So we go looking for them and ask everyone. It is a finding tool we are also using to find new investigators. We were looking for a Meyline. After about 1 hour we found her! She has been inactive for 25+ years. None of her family is a member. They drink and smoke, but she was so kind and will let us come back to teach their family! She was unknown, but now she is found! I am hoping to teach her family and bring them all unto the gospel. I spoke in sacrament! We sang before my talk "Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy" One of my favorite missionary songs. Then i talked about how we as members can be the lower lights for those people out at shore. I didn't use any English in my talk! YAY! One of our investigators, Sister Samantha. She is so cute, she is 10. She kept saying to me all say, sister reed pupunta tayo sa langit! Lets go to heaven! Haha, we are teaching her the 2nd half of the plan of salvation today, i think that she will like learning about the selestryal kingdom. Danica is also so excited to be baptized. She said in her prayer, hopefully Heavenly Father, i will be baptized into the true church. She has a humble heart and open eyes. She holds on to the truth. Because that is all they have. Dona is also progressing! She came to church again and told me that she loves Mormons and wants to become Mormon! She is deep in reading her BOM and understands. The lord is preparing those that are ready for us to teach. Just think about who the lord is preparing for you to teach. I was also teaching Marko. He is 8 from a part member family. I was teach him the role of the prophets and comparing them to a pen, with a game. that when you hold onto the pen you have guidance and that the prophet is our guide here on earth. Then i was checking for his understanding, i asked him what a prohet is, he anwered, bulpen! (pen). Haha, his mom starting laughing and he had a huge smile on his face. Cute. I love teaching children. I love the work of the Lord. This is the the greatest of all work! May it go forward in the way we live our lives and talk with our friends. We can rid fear in our lives, increase faith and open our mouths. i love this gospel. IT is the way. Love you all! Sister Red

Be grateful in your trails

Pamilya at mga Kaibigan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Conference was wonderful this week! We had some of our investigators attend! Yay! My favorite was the Sat. morning session about standing for truth. It reminds me of situations in high school and even now on my mission. As people reject us and ridicule us, we still stand as a witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I forgot my notes but I loved the talk on being grateful in our trails. No matter what we are going through in our lives, if we turn our thoughts to Christ, we will always be happy. We just got back frm Zone pday. We hiked Majayjay. There were huge falls! I also forgot my flash drive so i will send pics next time. It was beautiful, we were hiking in the jungle! I really feel so connected to this area that i am at now. When i first saw one of my inves. i thought she looked so familiar to me. Like her face and everything. The feeling was like i know her. Even though i have never seen her before in this earthly experience. I feel as if i knew her before. before this life ever even started. I have fit for exactly what she needs. on the edge of leaving the church and lessons, we have helped her to gain a testimony of the fullness of the gospel. We had a powerful lesson with her. We talked about the light of Christ. We watched the patterns of light by Bernard on the computer. Then i gave her a list of different ways the spirit works in our lives. i was thinking she would just check one of two. but she checked ALL of them but one or two! Before she said she had no testimony. After follow up questions i asked her what this means that she has felt the light of Christ, that she had felt truth. She said, sa aking! Its in me! She said she has a testimony and knows its true. Wow, the spirit was so strong. She understands. Miracles happen. She will not be lost. But she wants to be baptised in May! I know this work is true. I know this is the kingdom of God upon the earth today. I love my Savior. I know He lives. Love, Sister Reed

What would a disciple do?

Kamusta sa inyong lahat! The work is going well! This Saturday I got to listen to the General W omens conference! It was so beautiful. When they had the different countries sing I am a child of God, Tagalog came on twice! Ako ay anak ng Diyos is my favorite song to sing with the philipinos, i got so excited! My favorite take home message was, " What would a disciple do?.....LOVE BETTER :). I loved how it talked about how we are covenant keepers. Women of the covenant. We walk the path of light back to our Heavenly Father. By keeping covenants. It reminded me of this scripture 1 Nephi 15:16. It is the most important things here on earth, our covenant with our Savior. And our family. I cant wait to go to the temple after my mission! So preach my Gospel says, :"look for unplanned acts of service" for finding activities. Well...my comp and I had a great service opportunity this week! We saw 2 young little girls with large bundles of sticks in their arms used for cooking. When i saw then I was immediately pulled to them. I asked them where they were going and if i could carry them. They were really shy so I took it from them and carried it for about a 20 min walk. Man, it was so hot, We are sweating so bad! P.s. it is sumer na dito. So it means we sweat ALL the time! We wake up with sweat on our necks, I love the warmth. Its like a giant hug from Heavenly Father! They were worried bc they didnt want us to get dirty. I am not going to lie, they were really heavy, im not sure how we carried them all that way without Heavenly Fathers help. All the people on the side of the street just stared at us, they said to me, "ate (sister), what are you cooking?" We softened some hearts to the missionaries that day. We are preparing Marc(RC) to receive the priesthood on Saturday! He is so excited! He will be the first priesthood holder in his family! His mothers eyes light up as we talk about it! My favorite investigator is Sister Samantha. She is 10. We just found out that when she was a baby her mom left her on her grandmothers door during a flood. She was just outside her house. Her mother abandoned her and her father died. It is so sad. We are helping her be happy. We are helping her feel the love of her heavenly Father. She is smiling more now. We were teaching one night abuot the nature of God. I pointed to the moon and said, look sister samantha! The moon is smiling at you! HF is also smiling at you! He loves you! She put a huge smile on her face. It was priceless. She has recieved a witness that the BOM is true. She feels happy when she reads it. We have reactived the Callio family! They are so kind. We are helping them to enter into the temple. We are teaching Danica. She is 14, no mother or father figure around. It means she cant be baptized until her sister does. Her sister needs a wedding and a desire. She said that the BOM is tinapay ng buhay, the bread of life. She loves it. And she always comes to church. She already feels the blessings of this church. I was told by a member that i look like brittney spears and my comp looks like mariah cairy...Haha, we could help but laugh, they are so funny. I killed a huge cock-crotch in our house today. Points for sister Reed! Every day we pass the way in skinnita, a small path way were everyone takes a bath, it always catches me off guard when i see them bathing, i feel so bad for the way they live their life. We are so truly blessed. Heavenly Father Loves All of Us! We all have different blessings. Our progressing investiator sister Myala is ready for baptism, and has come to church, we just found out the bad news she is moving to a different province for 2 months!! NOOOO!! I was so sad. But i know in her time, she will be baptised. Also another progressing investigator has been so ano..diffidult? We solved all her concerns and now she doesnt want to be baptized??? It breaks my heart. SHe is so precious. I love this quote: It fits with exactally how i feel about how important our hands are. “As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.” -President Uchtdorf, You Are My Hands LOve you! MUAH! MAHAL KITA! I AM SO EXCITED FOR CONFERENCE THIS WEEK! :))) Sister Reed