August 31-Pictures

remember that one time that we almost got drowned because it was raining cats and dogs!! we got drenched! and so did the poor members that were working with us.. we actually the boy is one of our investigators that is going to be baptized in sept. 

We got invited to a birthday party! for twins! Whoo cambal! but sister altea accidentally closed her eyes....

Sister Altea was sick one day and wasn't thinking straight and accidentally left her name tag at home. good thing i had a spare...but we were two Sister Larsons. oops. only a few people actually noticed so it was okay. but i got a kick out of it :) 

August 24th-I love my new area!!

This week was awesome, of course. Have I told you how much I love our new area? Because I love it. Like love love love it. The members here are just getting the missionary spirit. And that makes all the difference in missionary work. 

This week, during a lesson to a new investigator I realized how grateful I am for less actives. We were teaching a sister who's husband is less active and it was a great lesson because the Spirit was so strongly there. As we shared with her the true character and nature of God she was taken back. She never realized that God, our Father, has a tangible body of flesh and bones. As we testified and read scriptures to help her understand I thought to myself "Wow, there really are people who are kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it." And then I thought about how we probably wouldn't be teaching this sister if her husband wasn't less active. And then I realized how this great burden of so many hundreds of less active members here in the Philippines is actually a great blessing and finding opportunity. I know that we are encouraged to find part member families and this week my testimony of the importance of part member families really took on a new meaning as I began to feel gratitude for the opportunity to unite these families with the gospel and thereby tie them more strongly together. The less active members as a blessing, not a burden. 

Tell me what you guys are learning in Preach my Gospel? :) 

Sister Larson

(Language:  anyone under the age of 60 speaks tagalog because they also learn tagalog in school, but then everyone also has at least one more dialect they know because of where they live and that's what they speak when they're at home. here in this area their native dialect is ilocano, which kind of sounds like chinese)

 

 we had a sports day earlier today at the church with the youth and YSA and even some of our investigators. it was awesome.. we have a TON of youth in our ward! 

The Bukid

Service project in the bukid :) it means field. that bukid was sugar cane. which i'm pretty sure is the first time i really saw sugar cane in real life.

we were chopping all the weeds with machetes and raking them up. but the second pic in front of that machine thing is what they use to make the sugar cane into sugar. they hook their caribou up to it and he walks in a circle to grind the sugar cane up.  it's like ancient. 

Dragon Fruit

i tried dragon fruit! it was weird and didn't taste like anything. it was like a stawberry mixed with a watermelon in texture but not very tasty. disappointed.

we made a cake in the rice cooker! and it was delicious!

Saying Goodbye to Padapada and Hello to our new area

So.... TRANFERED NA AKO! to a different ward in the same stake.  but still it's a new area. And the elders took over my old area. I guess it was just too big of an area for us sisters. Plus finding transportation at night was hard, so maybe it will be better for elders to hack it over in Padapada. But Sister Altea and I (my new lovely companion) are white-washing this area. Which means that just like my first area...both of us are new. We didn't know anyone or anything about this area. Even though I have been in the same stake for about 5 months now..it's still brand new to me. But it's been awesome because the ward members here are feeling the missionary spirit!!! They have been super helpful and have shown us where many of the investigators, recent converts, and less actives are. We have had a member with us almost every single day and it is so cool! Members really are the key to missionary work. I remember my zone leaders saying that missionaries should be able to leave and the missionary work still continue. Well that definitely would happen in this area. The missionaries are just the sidekicks in missionary work. Yesterday we had a really great experience teaching two friends of one of the recent converts here. A member had told us the night before about some friends that he wanted us to teach. So we made plans to meet them on Sunday. Then on Sunday when we went to visit this recent convert, his two friends (the referrals) were with him and we were able to teach them and it was awesome!  It was a right place, right time kind of thing. But I know it wasn't a coincidence. We have been so blessed in this area. I told Sister Altea, if I had to choose an area to white-wash it would be this one. One of the members was joking about almost reaching "Zion-status". But really, this ward is well on it's way with the way they are working with the missionaries. I love it. 

And Sister Altea! Let me tell you a little about my new best friend. If she wanted to, she could take a bus from our area and be home in less than 30 mins. She is so close to her home town right now, it's nuts! But she would never think of leaving. She is one of the most humble, meek, and loving people I've ever met. Her dad past away while she was serving her mission. Yet, she continued, if anything it deepened her drive to serve the Lord with her all. Only her and her sister are members of the church and she amazes me with her charity and patience everyday. Yes, we are both Sister Training Leaders. It's a calling that both members of the companionship hold because we are the ones that conduct "exchanges" with the sisters in our zone and in the neighboring zone, Camiling. We are kind of like the Zone Leaders, but just for sisters. We get to be a part of the Mission Leadership Council,which is what I'm most excited for because we get to go to meetings monthly with the rest of the leadership in the mission and learn directly from President and Sister Clark.   

Basically this week has been super crazy busy and so awesome. I love seeing the Lord's hand in the details of my life. I'm trying everyday to really serve Him better with ALL my heart, might, mind, and strength. I love being a missionary!

Mahal ko kayo!!! 

Sister Larson

My and my kasama and our kabahay. the two sisters that we live with. they are great but hopefully i'll get to see them again at zone conferences and whatnot. 

one of my favorite families. well this is kind of a mish mash of one family and some active members and of course, cj, our recent convert. i miss them already!! 

our bishop, his wife and the relief society president

our new beautiful house! 

the ward missionaries the worked with us!

there was just a little too much love for me  ;) 

this is us at my first mission leadership council..it was in the mission home. the last time that i was in the mission home was when i came into the field in October!  almost a year ago. it's different because now it's the Clark's home and not the Martino's 

Letter from the Mission Office-Called as a Sister Trainer

Your Calling As A Sister Training Leader
“Our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord” (Jarom1:7)
You have received a call to be a Sister Training Leader from the Lord through your Mission President. This is an important calling which will allow you the opportunity to serve other missionaries in your zone. I would
like to share a few principles of righteous leadership that will help you in your new calling.
Example: Your personal actions and those of your companionship are examples for all of the sister
missionaries to follow. Constant loving communication in your companionship will help you and the sisters
become united. As leaders, others will look to you and your companion and follow your righteous example.
Love: This is the key principle of righteous leadership. An effective leader looks on all situations as
opportunities to serve. (John 15:12) Love the sisters by following up with concerns, complimenting progress, and positively talking about their work with them. Look for the good in all things. Trust them to make
righteous decisions according to principles you share with them. (D&C 121: 34-46) Your humility, service, tone of voice, choice of words, and smile can show great love.
Work: Serve with all your heart, might, mind, and strength to set the pace for your sisters. Trust in the
Lord through constant diligence in giving an example for others to follow. Establish a strong teaching pool to
be the example for others to follow. Rely on the Lord through faith as you pray earnestly for your Investigators and also for the fellow missionaries in your Zone.
Obedience: Always work to be 100% obedient and help sisters missionaries to be totally obedient. Be
strict in using your time wisely and following the daily work schedule with exactness. Have daily personal and companion study, follow PMG guidelines, and obey all mission rules and mission guidelines from the
President. When minor disobedience is discovered with your sisters, you and your companion work to council and help your sisters to resolve the problems. Show love and give council from the Scriptures, Missionary Handbook, and PMG. Report all disobedience on call-ins. Any major disobedience must be reported immediately to the President. Help teach that obedient missionaries are happy missionaries and they are able to have the Spirit with them in serving in their calling as missionaries. Help maintain obedience and good behavior in all meetings.
Teach, Train, and Instruct
Be motivated and excited about missionary work. Love this work. Motivation and enthusiasm is
coming from you, passing on to missionaries, and influencing others to come onto Christ. Motivate your
missionaries to become Preach My Gospel missionaries. Praise and encourage your sister missionaries at all
times. Because you are a leader you have the responsibility to teach others correct principles and how to be
better missionaries. You are always teaching and are always being watched by others. Do your very best to
train, encourage and help others.Duties and Responsibilities of a Sister Training Leader
Sister training leaders are responsible to conduct companion exchanges with other sisters. They serve as a vital part of mission leadership. Sister training leaders:
o  Are members of and participate in the mission leadership council.
o  Are experienced and exemplary missionaries who serve in a companionship with another sister training
leader.
o  Are responsible for the training and welfare of sister missionaries assigned to them.
o  Maintain a vibrant proselyting area in addition to working regularly with other sisters.
o  Conduct 24‐hour companion exchanges every six weeks with each companionship of sisters assigned to them (an average of two exchanges per week).
o  Report directly to the mission president on sisters’ issues.
o  Are assigned to a specific zone. However, depending on mission geography and the number of sisters
in the mission, the mission president may assign sister training leaders to train sisters in a single zone or
in multiple zones. It is not necessary to have a companionship of sister training leaders in every zone.
o  Function as members of districts and of zones and assist the mission president, zone leaders, and
district leaders in training meetings and zone conferences.
Mission presidents should assign a sufficient number of sister training leader companionships to allow all
sisters in the mission to have a companion exchange during each transfer cycle.
Mission Leadership
The following aspects of mission organization will remain unchanged:
 Assistants to the mission president, zone leaders, and district leaders will continue to be elders.
 Baptismal interviews will continue to be conducted by zone and district leaders.
 Sister‐only zones are not authorized, and sister‐only districts are not encouraged. If unusual circumstances exist that might warrant creating a sister‐only district, mission presidents in North America should consult with a member of the Presidency of the Seventy before doing so. Mission presidents in other areas should consult with their Area Presidency.
The Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission and the Illinois Nauvoo Mission are exceptions. The organization of sisters serving in a visitors’ center might also merit an exception.

August 10th-A great week...like every week

This week was so great! Every week is great. But the time really does feel like it's going by faster. 11 months this week! :/ I am still patiently waiting for you to share with me all the things you are learning from Preach My Gospel. :) But I of course do love hearing about the new cabinets. And everyone getting married and whatnot. 

Sister Esirom and I weren't able to work all day Wednesday and part of Thursday because of...food poisoning. I remember my friend Craig, who served in the Philippines telling me that the only time on his mission that he thought about going home was when he got food poisoning from eating fish at a member's house. Funny how... that's exactly what happened to us. But we didn't get to the point where we debated calling President and asking to go home. But it was pretty bad.  

The rains have taken a break for about a week now. I forgot how hot it gets here. And HUMID. I prefer the rain and mud. But they say it should only last a little longer and then we'll have rain again. 

We visited one of the members in our ward this week to share a message about missionary work. Um they have the nicest house I've seen on my whole mission.....like niiiiiiiiiice. And they even fed us ice cream! It was awesome. But the most awesome part was when the dad brought up his concern that his 24 year old son hasn't gone on a mission yet, we were able to share about some of the blessings of serving a mission and I told him exactly what my momma told me. "Serving a mission will never be a wrong choice" We all felt the Spirit very strongly and tears were shed... I hope that he chooses to serve a mission soon because I know for sure now that this was the right choice for me. I feel so much more prepared to be a wife and mother, my understanding of the gospel and appreciation for the Savior has deepened and so many more wonderful blessings. 

In other news....HAPPY BIRHTDAY SARA, JESSICA, AND REO!!!! 

and happy priesthood REO!!!! 

Sister Larson

Family Home Evening with the Rambaoa Family

The infamous fish...yummy but made us very sick

Brother Danny gave his first talk in church

Our Yummy taco dinner with the beans and El Pato from home

I love me some El Pato...this is what I ate with the left over...yum!!

Rain boots and the Goat

this is what happens when i DO wear my rainboots. Muddy still but on the other part of my legs.. weirdo ako. 

We walked up to teach recent convert, Bro. Danny (the one who's wife died) and the neighbor boys had an animal sitting in a huge bowl of water. At first I thought it was a dog and I was like "oh no they didn't!" but then we realized it was just a goat. Goats are a lot smaller here, okay. And even though it was kind of gross because it was like rigor mortis (that's a thing, right mom?) with it's legs sticking straight out and tongue out, we just went on with our lives and taught Bro. Danny. But we were sitting outside on Bro Danny's porch and the boys with their goat were right there too and as we were teaching it just starts smelling nasty. Like one of the worst smells of my life. And so we look over and yep, those boys were just chopping up their lamb parts right there. With bowls for each of the different organs. It was disgusting! So of course we had to take a picture. 

August 3rd Letter

On Sunday our recent convert blessed the sacrament and next Sunday our other recent convert will give a talk. I love watching these people on their journey in the gospel. I love seeing them progress, it just makes me so happy! And if it makes me happy, I can only imagine just how happy it makes Heavenly Father. I really do love being a missionary. Sometimes I feel like we need invisibility cloaks so that we can sneak up on people so they will stop hiding from us...but then this week one of our investigators told us that when she sees us climbing up the rice fields to come teach her she get so excited and she runs and gets her Book of Mormon ready. That one person makes it all worth it. It doesn't matter if a thousand people hide from us when we come back to teach them, because at least one of them is excited and ready to listen. 

President and Sister Clark stopped by our ward yesterday. Just because. And they bore their testimonies. It was awesome. Plus our boy, CJ blessed the sacrament today! Whoot whoot! As Sister Esirom says, "The Spirit was so high, dude."  But I have to admit that it was somewhat difficult to pay attention in the first part of sacrament meeting because the little boy next to me was playing with his spider and kept throwing it on my skirt. Thankfully he decided to let his spider friend go. But then he started playing with my arm hair. They call my arm hair "balbon" which just means really hairy. Most Filipinos don't have very much arm hair and they love my golden fur. 

We had interviews with President and Sister Clark this week. They did things a little different and we got interviews by both of them. Sister Martino would teach a little workshop while President Martino did the interviews. But Pres and Sister Clark are the new kids in town and they do thing how they want! :) I really love them. President and I talked about how sincere prayer takes work and it's worth the effort. And we also talked about how serving the Lord with ALL your heart, might, mind, and strength is a life-long process. He's really cool. And you know what, he's just a normal human like the rest of us. 

Anyways, I think that's all the main happenings of my life last week. I love telling people that my grandparents are coming to join me on my tropical island! :) 

I love being a missionary. Sister Clark asked me what things have I learned that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I told her that I'm going to be a missionary for the rest of my life!!! 

Mahal ko kayo at namimiss ko kayong lahat pero alam ko ito ang panahon para pagpapabalis ng Gawain ng Panginoon! Lahat tayo ay mga misyonero! 

Sister Larson