Emergency Transfer AGAIN?! New Office Duties...

Well sana (hopefully) this was just another regular week, but Saturday morning, President called again and told me that I would be emergency transferred..again..so mine and Sister Liguayan's "no-transfer-happy-yelling" on the phone with the zone leader was kind of wasted lol.  So I'm now here in Quirino 1st ward, which means that I'm now an office STL.  We share a ward with the Assistants to the President, so it was a little trippy to walk in to church and see the AP's; I'm used to only seeing them at conferences.  Maybe the reason President emergency transferred me again is because he just wants to save me the hassle of catching a taxi, so he sends the AP's to pick me and my luggage up...lucky me XD We'll be spending a couple of days every week working in the mission office, so maybe I'll just be gaining secretary skills to put on resumes when I get home haha.  Not very many new updates this week, but next week I'll update you on how I did working my way around the office computers.  Pray for me, because sometimes I am very technologically challenged!!!

If God sends us on stony paths He provides strong shoes.  --Corrie Ten Boom

Alma 37:17  For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.  When we follow Heavenly Father's commandments and do the things that He would have us do, He promises to always bless us.  So obey the commandments peeps ;)

Love you all!!!

XOXO

Sister Payton Pectol

No Transfer!! Leading and the Power of Testimony

Hello everyone!!

Well it's transfer week already, and I am thrilled to report that Sister Liguayan is not transferring!!!  I can't even tell you how much of an answered prayer that is for me; I am so not ready to lead the area and I don't really want a new companion haha.  So it worked out good, and I am very excited for this upcoming transfer :)

We had exchanges again this week (#STLlife lol) with the sisters in San Isidro.  It was great because they're close enough that we were able to work in our area as well, instead of just staying in their area.  Sister Liguayan told me that I would be leading here, so Wednesday and Thursday I brought my temporary companion to our area to work here.  It was great; we still got lost, but we did a lot of finding, so it was fun.  We literally spent both days tracting in our subdivision lol XD  I'm just glad it's allowed here, because some subdivisions we're not allowed to enter. But it was fun :)  knocking on almost every door we passed and talking to people in the street--it's crazy the things that I do here on the mission that I never would have done at home.  Lots of learning experiences :)

We had a crazy lesson on Sunday with an older couple that is Seventh Day Adventist.  We had two members working with us; our ward mission leader and one of the YSA sisters.  It was such a powerful lesson!!  They kind of wanted to do the whole Bible bash thing with us, but we just kept bearing our testimonies to them.  I could feel the Spirit so strong, and hearing the conversion stories of the others with me was amazing.  It was an intense lesson, but afterwards they agreed to read the Book of Mormon and come to church to see what it's like.  We have a return appointment with them this week and I am so excited!  Sometimes our investigators are definitely not easy, but I know that when we can just bear testimony it will help them to feel the Spirit and we will also be guided.

You are not called to serve in a place; you are called to serve in place of the Savior.  As a missionary, I have the name of Jesus Christ on my tag, right next to my name.  And I am so grateful every day for the opportunity that I have to be here and to do this amazing work.

Mosiah 5:15  Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen

Love you guys!!

XOXO

Sister Payton Pectol

Happy 1 Year! Custodian Duties, Still Remembered, and the Enabling Power of the Atonment

This week has been insane--we're so busy, and the time is going by so fast!  On February 4, I hit my one year mark in the mission.  It blows my mind that I've been out here that long!!  The time is going by so fast, and honestly I'm a little bit terrified that I'm so close to going home.  Even though I'm excited to see everyone again, I don't want to leave!!  I love being a missionary, and every day I learn new things.  But because there's only a short amount of time left, I'm just going to have to make every minute count while I'm still here :)

We had our district activity last Monday after emailing and got to go to this place called Cloud 9. It was so pretty!!  We got to climb up the hanging bridge and basically just spent the entire time taking pictures.  It was fun :)  I loved being able to get up above the city to see all the mountains and forest around.

We had the opportunity to do exchanges this past week with the sisters in Sumulong 2nd, which was actually my first area in the mission!!  It was so fun to be able to return to that area and to be able to see the change and the growth that I've experienced since I've been here.  I had the blessing of being able to give a quick hug to a couple of the members that I got close to, but they weren't the only ones that remembered me...even the woman who worked at the karenderia down the street from the apartment recognized me!  It was so fun!  But the apartment was so gross...Sister Liguayan and I literally stayed up late just so that we could scrub the cr (comfort room) so that it didn't make us want to throw up.  Jesus said in the scriptures that true love is giving your life up for your friends.....but I think scrubbing somebody else's disgusting cr for them is also pretty high on the list of love levels lol.  I guess working as a custodian before I came on the mission proved useful after all... #custodianskillz LOL

This week I've actually had a lot of stress to deal with as well.  I feel very inadequate for this calling that I now have, and like I'm not good enough to be here trying to set an example for the other sisters.  But my first week here, during my new district leader's follow up call, he reminded me of the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  He told me that even though it's so important that we rely on the Atonement to be able to repent of our mistakes and weaknesses, we also need to remember that the Atonement is what enables us to be our best.  That's something that has been on my mind a lot this week, and that I've really been praying for.  And I just keep feeling peace.  This calling isn't easy and I'm not enough for it by myself, but I know that my Savior is right by my side and He's not going to let me down.  I am not alone in trying to magnify my calling, and I know that He has been and will continue to give me the strength that I need.

Prayer is the passport to peace.  --President Thomas S. Monson

Psalm 116:1-2  I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.  Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

I love you all!!  Have a great week!!!