It's Like A Roller Coaster, just keep hanging on!

Pamilya ko! 

How is everyone? I hope you all had an amazing valentines! ah don't you just love, love? haha I can just hear Avery laughing.

This week was a straight up roller coaster, we had so many good times and so many not so good times. 

At the beginning of the week we found out that the Baltar family, who were getting baptized on Saturday, were having so many problems at their home. The lady that owned the home were threatening to kick them out because they were getting baptized in the LDS chruch. On Friday we found out Sandrie, who was also supposed to be getting baptized, was very sick and had the flu. In the midst of all these problems we did the only thing we could do, pray and fast. It's the hardest when problems are out of our control.

Saturday morning I woke up feeling like I hadn't gotten any sleep at all, I was so worried about these people and that the baptisms weren't going to go through. Then at about 8 in the morning we received texts that all three baptisms were going to happen. I immediately started crying. Heavenly Father answered our prayers and these people were going to be able to be baptized! 

Mark and Vincent- Vincent is a tricee driver and one day he drove the Elders to one of their appointments. One of the Elders decided to start talking  to him and found out that his wife is a member and he said we could come visit any time. We went to visit them the next day and found out that his wife has been waiting for someone to come visit them. We brought her to church and she's come everyday since. The first time we brought them to church, Vincent said he would come next time, which we really didn't believe because everyone says that, but he really did and he brought mark his step son. They've come every week since and Vincent has given up smoking and their whole family is now full of active members of the church. 

Sandrie Santiago- Sandrie's husband, Melchor, is a recent convert. However, when I first arrived to Vigan he wasn't attending church. When we taught him we found out that he has had a hard time, because so many people were telling him the church wasn't true and he didn't have any support from anyone around him. We started teaching him more and more frequently and inviting Sandrie each time. At first, she was always busy, but then she started listening more and more. She told us that she saw the changes in her husband and wanted to know why. Melchor received the priesthood and was able to baptize her and they are now preparing the enter the temple. 

Seeing the changes this gospel makes in people is so amazing, it's so worth all the trials and the hard times! On saturday we had 10 baptisms in our district! I just love love this gospel, it is truly the only way we can be completely happy in this life and return to live with our families forever! 

Sunday was pretty crazy! All the missionaries sang at a farewell for one of the members, she was 38 and had breast cancer. She's left 3 young kids behind. the whole time I was just praying that it would sound good for this family and It did, let's consider this a miracle! After the funeral I got to ride in a pick up truck and I felt like I was back home riding in the back of dad's truck, it was the best feeling! 

To end the week we taught an awesome object lesson to the Santiago. We used cotton alcohol and fire. When you immerse cotton in alcohol and light it on fire, it won't burn the cotton at all. We explained that the cotton is our life and the fire is temptation and the alcohol is the gospel and its principles. In life there are always trials and temptation, but as we immerse our lives in the principles of the gospel by reading praying, attending church, and keeping the commandments, we won't be affected. As members of the church satan is constantly trying to bring us down, but as we follow the guidance of the prophet and the gospel, we will be okay. This church is true. I know it with everything that I am. I am grateful everyday to be a representative of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to build up his kingdom on the earth! 

Love you all! have an amazing week!

Sister Abelhouzen

All da Filipinas up en her

kumusta pamilya!

can I just say that I love filipinas! ahh I love my new companion! Her name is Sister Villareal, she's 23 and has been in the field 10 months. We are going to do some serious work in Vigan. The first day we were together we taught 12 lessons! yeah. 

We now have 2 filipinas in our apartment now this means: Better food, more hair on the ground, Tagalog of champions, and laughing non stop. They cook so much, I'm going to get even more fat. haha They shed like no tomorrow, don't even care so worth it. We speak in Tagalog so yes I'm going to be magaling in no time. We laugh so much now and by we and mean they at us... 

haha It's so great, plus we're having a lot of success in our area!Don't worry it's back to being sweaty and wet all the days... I now enjoy my ice cold showers (: 

 Next week we have three baptisms I'm really excited! 

Vincent and Mark- Vincent was the elder's Tricee driver one day. The elders referred him to us and when we went to visit them we found out that his wife is a member and hasn't been to church because she didn't know anyone and was afraid. Mark is Her son and is 11. They now come to church every sunday and are so prepared! 

Sandrei Santiago- her husband is a recent convert. When we were teaching them before she was really not interested! When we started teaching her husband after baptism she slowly started to open up and then she started to come to church. She now reads with her family every night and wants to be sealed in the temple. Her husband, melchor, has the priesthood and he gets to baptize her! Ah I love the gospel! 

I've been studying the Book of Mormon a lot (obviously) and I've been reading in Either and am so amazed at his strength. His dad stood for right when everyone around was making bad decisions. I know sometimes life feels like this and we feel as if we're standing along, but I know like Either, Everything will turn out okay if we keep an eternal perspective! 

"Wherefore whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God which hope cometh faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast always abounding in good works being led to glorify God." Either 12:4 

Always be steadfast and abound in good works! Never forget this is so much bigger than you and me. 

 

Love always,

Sister Abelhouzen

I'm in a cornfield, Wanna hear the Gospel?

Pamilya!

first and foremost transfers: I'M DONE WITH TRAINING! and I'M STAYING IN VIGAN! ahh so excited! I love it here! AND my new companion is a Filipina! One of the sisters here knows here and says she's so awesome. I'm so excited! next stop: fluent in tagalog!

This week was crazy. It went by so fast and I can't really remember everything that happened, so sorry if this is really short!

We taught 34 lessons this week and everyone wanted to feed us... I've never eaten so much food in my life. I thought I was going to die. I never thought I would complain about having too much food...  seriously one day I ate dinner like 5 times... and they won't let you eat just a little here. So this week alone I've probably gained 10 pounds. awesome.

on the bright side, we taught 34 lessons! My area is so awesome!

Also can somebody please tell me why it's so cold here right now? I've been freezing at night.. haha I just bought some blankets so that will be good, but still not what I expected haha I guess this is the coldest season its been in history. I guess I shouldn't be complaining It's wayyy better than always being sweaty.

last night we had a feast. Mom all the Sisters here LOVE YOU! I took a video of them eating and it's hilarious! Seriously STUFFING?? they were so happy haha they were saying things like ahhh this the best meal I've ever eaten and man I love the Abelhouzens haha. I made turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, salad and french toast. haha they were so happy. I felt it was an appropriate time since Sister Keith and Sister Bettilyon are going to Cagayan... no civilization.

I've been studying a lot about Jesus Christ and his life. I'm amazed every day. The fact that one man changed the course of history as much as he did in his short life... there is no doubt in my mind he is the Son of God. Through him everything is possible. He knows each and everyone of us, he knows everything we feel, and everything we're going through. I love this gospel and I love my savior Jesus Christ, I am so grateful for him.

I love you all so much! Remember, Lean on the Savior!

Sister Abelhouzen