I'm Not the One Teaching

Hello everyone!!

Well it has been another great week here in PQCM!!  (That's Philippines Quezon City Mission, for all those who aren't in the loop ;) )

 

 

We have had a busy week, but unfortunately weren't able to spend as much time as we would have liked working in our area because we had meetings at the mission office.  We did have one lesson that was absolutely amazing though.  One of the less actives in our area referred her neighbor to us, and as we were getting to know him we found out that he'd already been taught by 3 different sets of companions.  He said that he had a lot of mistakes in his life and he wanted to change, but he'd never kept the commitments (he already had a Book of Mormon and pamphlets and everything).  Well we started talking about the Restoration and all that, and it was a good lesson but we could see that he hadn't really progressed before because he'd never taken the steps to learn for himself.  We got to the part about the Book of Mormon, so I started to talk about the BOM, and out of nowhere I just started slamming into him.  Now, let me explain something.  My teaching style (and personality) isn't really the type to slam into people, so it really took me by surprise.  I wasn't sure where it was coming from.  I was just straight up with him and told him that he has to act for himself and that we can come and teach and teach but unless he reads and prays and knows for himself it won't do any good.  I didn't know where my intensity was coming from and I was a little nervous about continuing, but then I could see in his eyes that what I was saying was really impacting him and actually helping him feel the Spirit.  When I saw that, I realized that I was being guided by the Holy Ghost, and I knew that what I was being prompted to say was right.  It was so powerful!  I started to run out of things to say, so I knew that I was finished, and then Sister Udarbe and Angel, the ward missionary with us, both bore their testimonies, and it was so powerful.  We recommitted him to read the Book of Mormon, and he said that this time he wouldn't "try," but that he would actually do it, and he committed to prepare himself for baptism.  It was so powerful, and suck a witness to me of how powerful the Spirit can be when we are really listening and following the promptings we receive.  We are not the ones who convert people; we are only the mouthpieces for the Holy Ghost to be able to do the converting.

And funny moment of the week...there are actually a bunch, but this one is like the cherry on top lol.  I have pictures of my family on the wall by my desk, and one of the pictures is of my brother (who is a handsome little twerp).  Well, one of the other sisters came in and was looking at my pictures, and asked me how old James is.  I said 17, and she said "I'm 20...that's not too bad of a difference!"  I started to laugh, then her companion said "No, I already have dibs!" XD  I was cracking up; I did not expect to have to deal with 2 sister missionaries arguing over my brother lol.  But, you know...it happens.  And as his sister, I obviously have priority over all of them.  RIGHT JAMES??! Lol.

My scripture for this week basically sums up my calling as a missionary in one verse :) 3 Nephi 5:13  Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life.  Boom.

I am in the process of re-reading the talks from this past general conference, and I found a quote today that I absolutely love.  God cares a lot more about who we are and who we are becoming than about who we once were.  He cares that we keep on trying.  --Elder Dale G. Renlund.  It's so true.  No matter what past mistakes or what current weaknesses we have, Heavenly Father doesn't care.  As long as we are doing our best to be better every day, and to reach our full potential, He will be proud of us, and He is truly always there to support us.

Lots of love, clear from the Philippines!!

XOXO

Sister Pectol

A Week of Miracles

Wow, I love missionary life!  

There are sometimes challenges, but they're only temporary, and we just keep seeing miracles.  We had an investigator who dropped us last transfer come to us and tell us he wanted to come back, we have found so many golden investigators who readily agreed to a baptismal date and are so magaling, and life is just amazing.

We had Marissa's baptism this week, and it was awesome!!  Her story is kind of cool too.  She had been taught for a long time already when I transferred here, so me and Sister Gasu decided it was time to drop her.  We decided to give her one more chance, and we went and told her that if she wasn't willing to put forth the effort to pray about the Book of Mormon and to know for herself that it was true, there was no point in us coming to visit her.  We scheduled a return appointment with her for a couple of days later, and when we followed up about her prayers, she said she knew it was true and that she needed to get baptized.  It was so amazing to be able to experience that.  We finished teaching her lessons, and she was so excited for her baptism, and so happy!  

Funny moments of the week.  If you remember, I had to help my Filipina companion cook rice.  Welp, now I'm helping her in Tagalog too XD  Not too much, because (as the Filipinos say it) I still have a nosebleed in Tagalog.  But she's fluent in English, so sometimes she doesn't know the Tagalog words for things.  It's really funny when I don't know a word, so I ask her, and then she doesn't know the word, and it's the investigator that helps us out XD  And of us four sisters living next to each other, 2 are Filipina, which means that they literally can't live without rice.  Literally.  I've started calling Sister Udarbe and Sister Maravillo the rice gang, because that's literally what they eat every meal haha.

My quote this week is actually from me and Sister Udarbe, because sometimes we're really funny XD

Sister Udarbe, after watching me trying to get tan:  You're like Lehi's fruit; white above all that is white.  You're the light of my life!!

Me:  I'm not the light of your life, I'm the reflector!!  I don't actually give off my own light, I just reflect the sun :P

Despite my best efforts to tan...it's not happening.

Mosiah 8:18  Thus God has provided a means that [His sister missionaries], through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore [they] become a great benefit to [their] fellow beings.  We are literally seeing miracles.  I completely understand now what it means to have a heart overflowing with gratitude.  I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

Love from across the world!

XOXO

Sister Pectol

6 Months! Training, Miracles, and Realizing How Truly Blessed I Am

Hey all!

Well my first week of being  a trainer has been absolutely amazing!! Sister Udarbe is an absolute doll, and we are having so much fun.  It's really cool, because seeing how hard she's working and how hard she's trying to learn the area and learn everyone's names has truly inspired me.  I think she's really teaching me more about being a good missionary than I am teaching her; it's awesome.  We had a really funny moment on Friday though.  We didn't have any rice in the house, so when we got some Sister Udarbe immediately got it cooking.  She's Filipina, so not having rice was very abnormal for her.  Well, she wasn't quite sure how to cook the rice.  So the American companion taught the Filipina companion how to cook rice!  It was very backwards lol.  And then when we were walking, a trycicle drove past that was blasting a great beat.  I'll admit, I danced a little bit.  Then I looked at Sister Udarbe and said "Anak, don't tell your tatay!"  Her 'tatay' is the district leader...and dancing is pretty bawal lol.

It's my 6 month mark tomorrow!!  It's hard to believe, actually.  Time is going by so fast.  I'm a little excited about that because I can't wait to see everyone again, but I'm also kind of sad because I absolutely love being a missionary.  We learn so many things, and I have seen so many miracles.  We had two big miracles just yesterday.  One of our investigators had her baptism interview on Saturday, and it went great, but she needed to come to church yesterday or we would have to move her baptism back.  Well, we were standing at the door greeting people like we usually do, and she didn't come.  We kept waiting and waiting, but she didn't show and she didn't show.  We finally went in for Sacrament, and we were at the point that we'd already started the Sacrament hymn, when I looked back and saw her walk in and sit with some members.  I was so excited I grabbed Sister Udarbe and said "She's here!!"  We had both been praying and had even included her in our fast, so we were so grateful.  I told Sister Udarbe that I had felt a lot of gratitude before, but it wasn't until my mission that I knew what it meant to have a heart overflowing with gratitude towards the Lord.

And if that wasn't good enough, we had another amazing lesson that afternoon.  We went and taught the mother-in-law of one of the high priests in our ward.  We had introduced ourselves to her last transfer, but hadn't taught.  So when we went back, we followed up if she'd read the pamphlet we'd left, and she'd finished it, plus had read in the Book of Mormon that her grandson gave her.  We taught the lesson and were teaching about the Book of Mormon, and asked if she'd prayed about it.  She instantly started to cry, and told us that she had prayed about it and that it was true.  She just grasped our hands and kept telling us "It's true, it's true, thank you."  It was amazing.  She was so ready to accept the invitation to be baptized, and it was such a tender moment for us.

We had another amazing lesson to a less active family about temples, and they told us that that's what they want to start working on.  They're starting the process to be worthy to go to the temple together!!  We were so excited!!  It is going to be such a blessing for them!

My quote kind of stems from that:  "When we organize families according to the order that the Lord has revealed, we organize them in the temples."  The family truly is ordained of God, and sometimes it's hard for me to be away from mine, but when I see somebody else's family strengthened because of something that I was able to do to help them, it's all worth it.

Alma 42:31  And now, O my [daughter], ye are called of God to preach the work unto this people.  And now, me [daughter], go they way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that though mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them.  Alma the Younger people.  He's pretty awesome.

Have an amazing week!!

XOXO

Sister Pectol

Preparing for Next Transfer: Magiging nanay na ako! (I'm going to be a mom!)

Hello everyone!!

First of all, just read to the end of the email to understand the title :)

Boy, this week has been interesting. First off, I ACTUALLY HEARD COUNTRY MUSIC!!! We were on a jeepney and they played Blake Shelton, and I almost wanted to hug the driver. I've barely heard anything like country here, so it was very nice (even though it's pretty bawal lol).

Well, since this week is transfer week, maybe a quick summary of this past transfer is in order. Basically, IT WAS SO STINKING HARD. I'm going to be blunt here and tell you that me and my companion spent most of the transfer driving each other nuts. We really struggled together. But, I do know that Heavenly Father puts us with the companions that will help us grow the most. I learned so much from Sister Gasu!! I learned a lot of things about myself--a lot of weaknesses that I'd never seen before, a lot of things I need to improve. It's hard sometimes to see those things, but it's so good because once you recognize them you can improve. But, after lots of really intense companionship inventories, and some help from the STL's, we worked through everything, and we ended this transfer just having a blast together. When we let Him, God really will work miracles in our lives :)

 

 

 

 

 

We had a baptism on Saturday!! Aaron is 10, and it was really cool because his dad was baptized right before I transferred here, and he was able to be the one that baptized! It was fun to be a part of that. He didn't want to smile in the pictures, which is unfortunate because he has an adorable smile. But it was a good day :) then on Sunday, us four sisters sang in Sacrament meeting. Yeah, like up on the pulpit! It was actually really cool to be able to do that, and it turned out really good, so we were happy.

It's transfer week, and I found out yesterday morning...I'M TRAINING!! I'M GOING TO BE A NANAY!! And I am so not ready!! Lol. I actually am really excited to be able to train, I'm just kind of nervous because I haven't even been a missionary for 6 months yet! I've only had one transfer in between being trained and training, so hopefully things will work out, and me and my companion won't be hopelessly lost all the time haha.


 

Alma 38:5 And now, my [daughter, Payton], I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. When we give Heavenly Father all our trust, and just place everything in His hands, He truly will help us to be able to get through our trials, and to learn and grow from them.

"My message pertains to the only source of true and lasting peace, Jesus the Christ--our Prince of Peace...Peace can come to all who earneslty seek the Prince of Peace. His is the sweet and saving message our missionaries take throughout the world."--Elder Russell M. Nelson. I love being a missionary :) The message that we share truly is the message of hope, of peace, and of joy, and especially here on my mission, I can see that clearly. It's pretty much awesome :)

Love from the Philippines!!

XOXO

Sister Payton Pectol

 

 

How I felt most of the transfer, ...but we ended good :)

 

 

 

 

ACE Hardware, Zone Conference, and Getting Ready to Lead

Hi everyone!!

Well, to start things out, it was zone conference again this past week, and guess which zone sang the special number...yep, mine!!  We didn't sound too terrible, so it was ok :)  While there, I got to take a family picture with Sister Arcangel and Sister Pakalani.  Sister Arcangel was our trainer, or our nanay in the mission field, so we're siblings haha.

And my fan broke the week before last, so when we went to the mall I literally went to ACE and bought a screwdriver.  I didn't think they would have ACE Hardware in the Philippines, but it worked :)  And I was successful at fixing the fan, so you know...Sister Missionary Power!!

There hasn't been too many eventful things this week, just the amazing day to day life of a missionary :)  There have been some challenges that have come, but just like Jimmy Dean said, "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."  Even if we're faced with challenges, when we adjust ourselves and align ourselves with God, we can overcome everything :)

Alma 28:9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it.  I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

Mahal ko kayo lahat!!  Have an amazing week!

XOXO

Sister Payton Pectol

Satan is Real. But So is God!

Well, these past couple of days have been really interesting.  From sliding in the mud to losing investigators to gaining investigators, it has definitely been up and down.

 

First of all, the mud.  It's rainy season, and some of our areas definitely feel that.  A lot of times, it doesn't feel like we're walking to our investigators; it feels like we're mudsliding there haha.  But there are plenty of puddles when we get back to the concrete to rinse off in haha.  Between puddles and generous security guards with buckets full of water, we manage to survive lol.

We had a bit of a heartbreak this week when one of our investigators kind of dropped us.  He had been so progressing, and we met with him Saturday morning to have his baptismal interview with the elders.  Well, he wasn't quite ready (he just needed to pray about the Book of Mormon--he hadn't wanted to because he already knew it was true), so we went back to follow up with him, and he punted us.  It wasn't just like an "Oh I'm busy, next time" kind of punt.  It was like a "Oh I'm busy today and I'm busy tomorrow and I don't know when I'll be available" kind of punt.  We were just confused, but we are going to give him a break and try again later this week.

We did have a miracle right after that though; we went straight from his house to one of our new investigators that's almost next door.  We followed up if she'd prayed about Joseph Smith and the restoration, and she had and she knows it's true!!  We committed her to baptism, and the next day she came to church!  It was such a testimony to me that Heavenly Father really answers our prayers, and truly knows what we need.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine hear; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  I know that when we truly place our trust in our Heavenly Father, He will provide a way, and He will take care of us and watch over us.

"To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved."  As a missionary, Heavenly Father has trusted me to work in this area.  Satan is very real, and I now understand why returned missionaries say that missions are the hardest things you will ever love.  It is so hard to be a missionary sometimes!!  But it is literally the best thing in the world.  I get to be here and teach people about the gospel, and see their spiritual progress, and learn about myself and the world and draw ever closer to my Savior.  It basically rocks :)

I love you all!!

XOXO
Sister Pectol

One of our roads; and we fit three of us inside a tricycle.  it was pretty cramped.

It's Rainy Season!! Which means Mudsliding to Investigators :)

Hello from the Philippines!!  And since it's July, hello from the rainstorm!!  We get lots of rain everyday, which I don't mind because I love the rain, but it definitely makes it a little sketchy sometimes to get to investigators.  Especially in one of our more poverty areas, where we slide down a muddy slope, cross a very homemade bridge, try to climb up another muddy slope while sliding backwards, and basically mud wade to our investigators houses.  Lots of mud.  And all of this is in skirts!  My dad has this thing that he says when he thinks we're being wimpy:  "Hike up your skirts, Alice!"  I have no idea where he got it from, but let me tell you...I've had to hike up my skirts a couple of times!!  One of the ward missionaries asked me if I had the blood of Dora (as in The Explorer) after I managed to climb up a slick, steep hill without getting covered in mud.  I don't have a lot of pictures because I'm nervous to take my camera with me when it's raining this hard, so just take my word for it lol.  And there's bullfrogs here!  I'd never heard a bullfrog before, so I thought somebody was practicing the trombone or something until one of the ward missionaries told me it was a frog.  Welp.  Live and learn.

And happy Independence Day!!  It was basically one of the most boring independence days ever, actually.  We just had a normal day, and even though I absolutely love missionary work, I was definitely missing parades and barbecues and fireworks and family and friends.  And I didn't even get to celebrate the Philippines Independence Day, because they don't really celebrate it!  It was in my last area, and I wouldn't have even known it was independence day if somebody hadn't mentioned it.  I was just like "You people do not know how to celebrate Independence Day.  In America, you know it's Independence Day on the 4th of July, and here it's just mentioned.  Boring!"  

The syrup was the only thing that had an American flag that I was able to take a picture with.  I've seen lots of American flags on shirts and stuff, but I couldn't find one to get for myself to celebrate haha.

And we had another Bible bash -.- I'm pretty sure these people were from the same group as the others, because a lot of the questions were the same.  The thing I don't like about it is that their questions aren't actually questions, they're challenges to see how much we know.  It makes it impossible to feel the Holy Ghost.  It makes me wish that I would have been more diligent with my scripture mastery in seminary so that I could help them understand how the Book of Mormon and Bible are connected, but oh well.

And we got to go to the temple today!!  I miss going every week like we did in the MTC, but I'm grateful that I'm in a mission that even has a temple.  It's always so peaceful inside the temple, and it definitely rejuvenated my spirit for this next week :)

2 Nephi 4:16 "Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."

The quote is just another random one I saw:  "Know your limits, but never stop trying to exceed them."  I read an article this week about the difference between weakness and sin.  It was very powerful, and in it were outlined some steps to overcome our weaknesses.  I've come to realize that I have many weaknesses; but I also have the Lord on my side, and with His help and His grace I can overcome the things I struggle with.  I am so thankful for the gospel in my life!!

Mahal ko kayo!!

XOXO

Sister Pectol