Pray for the Carig Family

These are mostly recent converts from Rizal

We had a small photo shoot after the farewell party and they all lined up to get an individual shot! ha!

8315- Ryan Cauilan, 6yrs old-- from my first family converted

8294- Raymundo, one of our recent converts...we are still working on his wife and other kids

8295- Lucio, our hard-core investigator with a heart of gold--still waiting for clearance from 1st presidency to be baptized

8296--Susan, a member who works with us almost every day. SHE IS AMAZING

8297- This is often the setting where we teach investigators, that is Renato, one of our recent converts

8301- Flor and her husband have baptismal dates for October. They are the funniest, sweetest old couple EVER

8309- Jecca, 9yrs old--member

8313- Marlyn is one of our recent converts and is preparing to serve a mission

 

In answer to your questions... 

I'm starting to feel a little better

Hard work is good medicine

So is scripture study and prayer!

I've gotten to see some of the people we baptized when I was here earlier this year, and there are also some of my old investigators that got baptized while I was gone, but I was never really that close to them. Its still kinda cool though. Some of our old investigators are STILL our investigators, so that's kinda fun too.

We are the MOST excited about a family we recently started teaching. They are SUPER cute. They have 6 kids from ages 21 to 6. The last name is Carig. They have been pretty receptive so far, and i just have  good feeling about them.

They were really hesitant to commit to come to church, but they said they would try and we told them we would come and pick them up. Sunday morning we got a text from one of the daughters and she told us that only she and the other kids would be coming, her parents wouldn't be able to make it. The dad is a tricycle driver and she said that he left for work early that morning.

Well we decided to go there anyway and pick them up like we said and see if we could talk the parents into coming. Mom was worried because she didn't have a skirt, but we told her she could wear pants so she decided to come. We were even surprised to see that Dad was back and was helping to get the kids all ready to go. He said we would drive us all in his tricycle. 

Sister Eveland and I were just PUMPED. We were sooo happy that they were all really coming to church. 

When we got to the parking lot, Dad told us he was just going to go pick up their neighbors (they are members and his relatives) and he would come right back. 

Well........he didn't come back. How rude, right? We were so bummed about it, we had our hopes so high and then he crushed them. Anyway, don't worry, I'm sure they will all come to church next time--we are going to teach them tonight. Dad is kindof a jokester, but he always listens and answers questions sincerely when we teach their family. Pray for the Carig family! 

So thats the story for the week.

My companion is great. She goes home next week, but she doesn't act trunky at all, she is still going strong and works hard, which I am SOO GRATEFUL for. She also went to BYU- Idaho before the mission and will be returning there when she gets back.

Oh yeah, one last story I forgot...

President Carlos planned to go the baptism of the Abalos family (a family I taught in Rizal, my old area) and he asked me if I wanted to go with them. Of course I was so surprised and I said YES, I WOULD LOVE TO!! And so I did. Its only about an hour from cauayan. 

Boy were those members surprised to see me. And I got to have a little crying party all over again. I just love them so much...It was just a dream to be there again with them and see the baptism of the Abalos family and they were SOO HAPPY that I was there too. That was sister Abalos's only request, that I be in their baptism picture--she was so sad when she found out i was being transferred, that I wouldn't be in their picture for their baptism. HA! Request granted. They are so sweet to me, they would hardly let me leave when it was all over, they just swarmed around me and asked when I was coming back.

There are still about 15 more investigators that we taught in Rizal that will be getting baptized in the next month or two. Two of them are families. I wish I could go to all of their baptisms but I know I can't. 

Well, the gospel is true. It sounds cliche, but serving a mission is the best thing i have EVER done. I can't believe how blessed I have been, I just feel SO grateful to be a part of this incredible work. 

HOpe you all have a GREAT week!! When you are having a hard time or you feel confused about your purpose in life, just go back to basics. Pray first, with all the sincerity of your heart and then search the scriptures. Serve some one else in some small way! It will bring you joy, I promise. I LOVE YOU!

Continue fighting

sister webre

P.S. The two people in that picture with me are from rizal as well. They are going to be baptized next month. They have a MIRACLE story. Sister was a die-hard catholic before and Brother went from coming home drunk every night, to now--he hasn't had a drink for over 3 weeks and they are both coming to church. yeah! People really CAN change. Only the true gospel of Jesus Christ can make a person do that. Alma 31:5

P.P.S. I'm jealous of your peaches and icecream

 

 

 

Cauayan City

Well, here I am, writing from Cauayan city.
The announcement was made Tuesday morning at our district meeting, I pulled an all-nighter on Wednesday packing my bags, and on thursday morning I left my beloved Rizal. I could never explain my feelings this last week. My heart has never hurt so much. I never expected leaving to be so hard. I am still really hurting, and really missing all those people that I helped and come to love so deeply.

Bishop threw me a farewell party on Wednesday night, and almost all of our recent converts and progressing investigators were there, along with some members. He had us all sit in a big circle and he had each person take a turn to stand and say their goodbye's.
It was really sweet, but kindof torture at the same time. I was just a mess, bawling like a baby the whole time. I saw a lot of my investigator and recent converts cry for the first time, and some of them got so emotional that they were having a hard time speaking. It feels good to know you're that loved, but it was almost too much for my heart to take.
It is just hard knowing I can't be with them anymore and not knowing when I will see them again. If I am not able to come back to the Philippines, I guess it will be a very sweet reunion on the other side.
I feel confident that each person, each family that we baptized and are still preparing for baptism have a solid testimony in the church and in the Savior. I know that even in my absence they will continue to be active and make it to the temple next year!
I FEEL SOOOO BLESSED to have been given a chance to serve in RIZAL. I still marvel how we started almost from no progressing investigators and no baptisms- to hard work and great faith and patience that led to now -- being part of the conversion of SEVERAL families and other individuals. MY JOY IS UNDESCRIBABLE.

So another shocker was when I found out at transfer meeting that I would be going BACK to my OLD area here in Cauayan. Yes, it is the same exact branch/area that I served in earlier this year. My companion is Sister Eveland (American from Washington State) and she is going home in 2 weeks. Yeah, we don't even get a full transfer together...only 2 more weeks.
President told me that when my companion leaves I will be the new "sisters trainer". (It means that I will help train the sisters and i will go on splits with different sisters each week)
There is not a whole lot happening in this area right now, so it looks like I will have my work cut out for me. I get to go back to planting season, but I learned in my last area, that by small and simple means, great things are brought to pass. I'm struggling just a little bit to make the adjustment from transfers, but I know I can do it. The Lord has a better plan! I will do His will! It will be a great chance for me to grow. The Lord is just testing my Faith. Miracles can happen here in Cauayan just like the ones I saw in Rizal! I have a work to do here before I go home, and I will do my very best to fulfill all of my responsibilities well.
I was reading in D&C 98 and 100 this week and it gave me a lot of comfort.
The Lord really does hear our prayers and He answers them in the perfect time and the perfect way. All we have to do is BE PATIENT and TRUST in HIM!

Have a great week. I love you! Don't worry about me, just keep me in your prayers!
It's looking like I might not be able to send pictures so you'll have to wait until next week!
Keep fighting the good fight
sister webre

Bong Bong Baptized

 

So Bong bong was baptized on Saturday and that completes the Cauilan family! I love them so much! I never dreamed I would get to see all of them baptized. It truly is a miracle!!

Marlyn is the other girl that got baptized. She is awesome! 21 years old, works in the rice field and is totally tom-boyish, but now wears a skirt to church every week!

Both Bong Bong and Marlyn want to serve missions, and that just thrills me! Isn't it wonderful?!

I actually don't find out if I will be transferred until tomorrow, but I have a feeling I will be. It will be a sad day.

I have seen so much success and many miracles here in this area, and I love my companion sister Villamor.

 

To answer your questions, yes, I still bathe in rusty water and I wash my clothes by hand! Isn't it great!?

Oh and I got a letter this week that says my departure date is December 15. So there you have it. I'll be home for Christmas.

 

 

I'm so sorry, I don't have time to explain the pictures I sent...

The ones where my companion and I are matching-- we had a member make my dress and her top. Nice, right?

We had a sisters training last week with all the sister missionaries and it was way fun. There is a picture with most of the American sisters in the mission. Fun to get together with all of them!

 

Well, thats all for now!

Love you forever

Sister Webre

 

 

 

Note from Heather

My apologies for slacking on the blog updates the last few weeks! (The last three e-mails are new even though 1 of 3 says it was posted on the 14th) I promise to be a more consistent blogger in the future. Less than 3 MONTHS 'til our Jenny comes home! :)

Halelujah, amen!

Hello,

My Transfers are fast approaching. My feeling is....I'm gonna get transfered. I've been here in this area almost 6 months now and with my same companion for 4. I love my area and my companion. We are having TONS of success here, and it will be super hard to leave. We'll find out next week!

 A few nights ago we were sharing with a member about being thankful and she pointed out how usually our prayers have only about 2 or 3 "I'm grateful for's" and then about 10 or more lines of asking for blessings. Yeah! It's true! And once in awhile I try doing the prayer like Elder Bednar said-- with total thanksgiving and no asking in return. --It's HARD! I always want to ask for stuff.
Anyway, the word is, BE MORE GRATEFUL!

We are teaching an investigator that came from the Born Again religion. She always surprises us with a random "AMEN" or "HALELUJAH!" when she feels the spirit when we are teaching her. I always have to exert super-human powers to hide my smile. But hey, why don't we do that in our church anyway? A few extra amens and halelujahs never hurt anyone! ;) Actually, this investigator now has a baptismal date for next month! She is doing great and she is getting used to how boring it is at church. Ha!

We had a special training last week and we found out about the changes they have made in the missionary curriculum. They have changed what they do at the MTC and specifically for new missionary training in the field. Extra study time and they get a portable DVD player to watch the Preach My Gospel DVD's. Doesn't that just rock?! I think it's stinkin' cool. Too bad my mission is almost over. I could have been a good missionary with this new training system. ;)

I got TONS of mail on thursday. It was the most I have gotten at one time in a LONG time. Thanks to Brent, Remington, Grandma, McKell, Heather, Mark Ensign, a member from my first area-- JR, and my Trainer-- Sister Valdoz. I'll try to write each of you soon! And thanks also to my family, who email me faithfully each week.
Love you all SOOO much.
Have a FAVULOUS week!
We have every reason to smile, every minute of every day because WE HAVE THE TRUTH!
sister webre

I don't have any new pictures, so I sent this old one. Does it look familiar? This is me and Esperanza cauilan and their cutest baby- Riza.

Disaster Baptism

I finally went to the doctor (which I put off doing but finally consented when after two weeks of suffering, it still wasn't going away) and got an antibiotic. That was on saturday, and I think its starting to work! Cross our fingers!

So our baptism this week was almost a complete disaster. It was the baptism of Elizabeth Cauilan and her dad was able to baptize her! Now we just have Bong on the 3rd of September and they will be complete!! Happiest day of my life!

So back to the disaster baptism. The person in charge of the program printed the wrong name on ALL the programs. He put "Marybeth" instead of "Elizabeth" so we had to re-do all that when we got there 30 minutes before the service.
The second thing was that while I was playing the opening hymn, one of the keys broke and fell completely off the piano. As in-- loudly dropped to the ground. (Its a dinky electric piano) And it was an Imortant key!!
The third problem was that the baptizer memorized the wrong thing (supposedly) for the baptismal prayer. So, while they were both standing in the water-- bishop was searching for the prayer (tagalog) in the D&C. All the long-time members of the church here just use the english, but the baptizer wasn't comfortable with english.
The fourth problem was that the water in the font was super shallow. We're not sure if slowly drained because the seal wasn't tight, or what, but this was the most stressful part of the whole baptism. Rolan had to dunk Elizabeth three times to get a complete immersion because her knees kept coming up. And she had to go down almost like a straight board. STRESSFUL!!!
We were supposed to watch a video while waiting for Elizabeth to change, but I couldn't fast forward to the right part, or get the subtitles on, because the remote for the DVD was lost.
Anyway, I guess the important thing is that she received the ordinance of baptism and we can forget about all the rest.

Sister Villamor and I have been brainstorming ways to help our recent convert families to have family home evening and pray together, etc.
I remembered our family home evening chart and so we decided to make charts for them. I'll send a picture of the first one we made. It's SOO stinking CUTE!!

Well I guess that's all for this week, or at least all you get to hear about! Wish I could say it all!
Take care this week!
Loving you always,
Sister Webre