We all have walls to face, but we are not forgotten

Hey fam.

Sooo I'm sitting here in Laoag and everyone is speaking Ilacano... awesome. I just barely got good in tagalog and they're like hey we're gunna speak a different language now. okay whatevs I can handle this.

haha anyway my last few moments in vigan were rough. First off, our apartment got nice and flooded so that means I lost pictures and letters and allll that jazz, but It's okay no damage to the Book of Mormon. tapos It's hard for me to say goodbye. I felt like I was saying goodbye to family, except worse, because to be honest I don't know if I'm going to see them again. Yes I cried like a baby. 

My new area is Laoag, it's fun, but there are a lot of problems here. The area really isn't progressing as much as I'd like it to. So it's going to be a challenge, but on the bright side this is going to be one of the times (besides all the time) when I'm going to really have to rely on the Lord. I know that I'm going to see a lot of miracles. 

My new companion is Sister Quimpo. She's filipina, 24 and  so great! Probably one of the sweetest people I've ever met! She cooks amazing food AND speaks Ilacano! She's teaching me and I'm learning so much! Can you believe I will know two languages by the time I come home?? 

This week has been a lot of fun! The sisters in my apartment are so fun and I'm really growing a lot as a missionary. My Zone Leader (Elder Crandall, who also happened to be my District Leader in Vigan) Called to tell me how great I 'm doing, he told me that I've become a very effective missionary and he's excited for me to "turn Loaog 2A upside down." what a great compliment! It really makes me want to work hard. There is this family that President Barrientos always uses as an example of quality converts and every missionary has their baptism picture for inspiration and guess what, this family is in my area! I taught them yesterday and they are amazing! The gospel has really changed them. I'll share you there story sometime! And this morning: FREE MCDONALDS. yes I know right. There is still some america in the philippines, even if it does have rice and spaghetti with it... haha anyways so good! 

During my personal study kanina I read a scripture that really hit me. " Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me, but he will show that he hath not.. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands: Thy walls are continually before me." Jesus Christ is who he is because he loves us. Everything he does is literally for us. He hath 'engraven us in his hands' and is always there to help us face those walls in our lives. He knows us and he loves us, and hes is ALWAYS there for us! 

I love you all so much! Have a good week!

P.S. Pictures of some of my peeps in Vigan The Amecay kids and the Reals Tricycle! 

Don't trust turkeys. Baptism and My Good Byes

P a m i l y a   k o

Woah. what a week.

So to start things off: I'm getting transferred. The day has come and I'm a little in denial. These people have truly become my family. To say goodbye I've been visiting 10 people a day and today's my last day. I also got to speak and sing in church and it was really neat, because so many the the branch members came up to tell me how much better I am at the language. Dang, I'm going to miss Vigan! The amazing ward; All the kids running and yelling sister A and randomly giving me flowers; the families I teach; all the good times!

My next stop: Laoag City 2A. I'm going from the bukid (farm) to the City. Every one has told me it's hard there, but it's really fun! So It's a little bittersweet, but I'm ready for my next adventure!

Paolo's baptism was on Saturday! Ah it was so amazing! He bore his testimony after and he said he has never been so happy in his life! Paolo has been an Investigator for almost 3 years, because his parents said he needed to wait until he was 18 because they didn't approve. His birthday is not until may, yes folks miracles do happen. His parents told us they will allow him to be baptized. His mom even came to his baptism and threw a party for him afterwards. It was a great day and I'm glad I was able to be there before he left!

I definitely got chased by a turkey this week. dang they're fast! I was doing my professional turkey call that dad taught me, but then my companion said, "sister what are you doing?! they are mean." I just laughed. I mean it's just a turkey right? no they're evil. It started charging haha my companion and I just booked it, I've never ran so fast. when we came to a turn the turkey stopped following us and we just laughed and laughed. yeah. Don't trust turkeys.

I want you all to know that I know this church is true! I have been exposed to SO much on my mission! It's true! It's all real so real. I love you all so much! Keep on Keepin' on!

ay ayeten ka

Sister Abelhouzen

P.S. Happy Birthday to my darling sister Ave! (I've sent you some pictures) I love you so much & hope you Have the best day ever!

"Is anything to hard for the Lord?"

Hey family!

This week was pretty awesome, but I'm sorry I forgot my planner sooo this is going to be really short! We found a lot of really awesome new investigators! And I had exchanges! again! with sister Rosell! She's awesome, I always learn a lot from her.

We had 10 investigators at church yesterday and Some of the families we are teaching are really progressing! The best part of the whole week had to be when Melchor, one of our recent converts, bore his testimony. He shared about his conversion story. It used to assist the Priest in the Catholic church, but he always knew something wasn't right. He spent a year attending different religions until the missionaries found him. The moment he entered the church he knew. He has felt the spirit testify this is true. He testified of how he knows this church is true and how he can't wait to go to the temple with Sandrie and be sealed!

Jojo and his family came to church. Hallelujah It's a miracle!

Paolo is getting baptized! Okay so paolo is 17 years old and has been an investigator for about 2 1/2 years. He has such a strong testimony, but hasn't been able to be baptized, because his parents said he had to wait until he was 18. until a few weeks ago when his parents randomly told us that he could be baptized! So hopefully next week we will be having a baptism! Also paolo just told us that he is planning on serving a mission one year after his baptism!

I love seeing people be truly converted of the Lord. Even if my mission were over right now I would call it a success, because I got to help bring these people the gospel!
I know that God is aware of all of us, he knows what we're feeling and he knows what we are going through. I know that if we turn to him in all things he will help us and guide us. All we need to do is trust him! He can do anything! 
 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid."  John 14:27

Have an amazing week! And to my precious sisters Ashton & Avery - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

5 months! Another Crazy fast week!

Hey family! So today I hit my 5 month mark on the mission! Sister Brewer wants to go to the cake shop to celebrate, she's always looking for a chance to eat cake. "it's my cousin's friend's birthday, lets go to the cake shop." I can't say I'm mad. 

Before I get into the good stuff, I have a crazy (literally) story for you all. This week we were going to teach this family that we've been teaching for about a month, let's just call them the Brown family. Anyways we've been teaching them for awhile and they have a lot of potential. But as we went to go visit them a grumpy tatay not wearing a shirt comes out of the house and tells us that we can never come back again. When we asked why he told us that Mr. Brown had gone crazy and his siblings found out we were teaching him and are pretty sure we did it. Of course we didn't believe it so we asked him if we could please talk to Mrs. Brown, he told us no and that we needed to be quiet or he would hear us. all of a sudden we hear banging in the house and someone yelling, "SINO IYAN" or who's there?! We look into to she Mrs. Brown trying to hold back Mr. Brown and then he runs up to us and says, "Sisters! May Problema!" Okay now we believed grumpy tatay, we besides the fact that we did that to him.. that's ridiculous. To be honest me and my companion were a bit scared, but before we left we made sure that Mrs. Brown was okay and she just apologized and ran to follow her husband. 

When we left, my companion and I were so sad, we had lost one of our families and frankly had never seen anything like that. After that I told my companion I had an Idea, "Let's teach the Amecays and Reals on the beach." so yes that is exactly what we did. It was amazing. We taught a lesson about the Holy ghost and then just enjoyed the beach! It was so fun, then to top it off we had some fish balls. which are now my new favorite thing. When I first got here I thought they looked and smelt disgusting, but I finally tried it and I LOVE them haha. 

Funny story of the week: Jessa Amecay is 6 years old and probably one of the cutest kids here. The other day while we were teaching the family she put on my name tag and was walking around shaking everyone's hand and saying "Hellllloooo magsimba po kayo!" haha something I say often. I have attached a picture, it is probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen! 

yesterday we had interviews with President Barrientos. It was so good! He is so motivating. He talked a lot about obedience and how it's for our investigators not ourselves. He so awesome! and to top it all off, I got my packages and mom you'll probably be receiving some thank you cards, because the elders loved the candy haha. It didn't last 20 minutes. You're awesome! 

On a mission, we study 3 hours a day. 2 hours gospel study and 1 hour language study.  While studying I have just learned so much! It's amazing how everything fits together. There is so much proof the church is true in history, the Bible and of course the Book of Mormon. I often think of ways I could share all of this information with my investigators, but I know I can't. It doesn't help to prove anything, because no matter how much proof you show, sometimes they still have doubts. It's crazy how many miracles I see here and my investigators see too, but sometimes they still don't believe. How is that? How is that in the Book of Mormon Lamen and Lemuel saw an angel, but were still disobedient? 

the reason is simple: miracles don't create faith, they strengthen it.

This is the same reason that before Christ performed miracles he asked the person receiving if they had faith. 

So how is that we have faith? By humbling ourselves enough to act on what we believe. Alma 32:16-18

We must act, because we receive no witness until after a trial of our faith. Either 12:6

I Just love this gospel. I promise this church is true. Trust in that! Thank you for all your love and support! 

"Let's doubt our doubt, before we doubt our faith." President Uchtdorf 

have a great week! Love you all!

Sister Abelhouzen

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