Dinagsa

Hip hip Hello!

This week was another week of so much learning and growth. I realized this week that the greatest blessing we can receive in this life is change. That’s what it’s all about. Every time we obey a commandment we change a little in our hearts and take one step closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Same thing happens every time we repent or overcome a weakness. We got to teach the 10 commandments this week and it was a gift to be able to testify to those we were teaching that we will be immediately blessed every time we obey. Sometimes we don’t realize that blessing because it takes place in our hearts. The change that Christ has made in me the past 9 months is a gift and a blessing I will never have  words for or be able to pay back. He is so merciful to all of us. I know that true happiness and freedom comes from complete surrender to the will of our Father in Heaven. It brings peace to the soul that we can’t get any other way. I’m still working on that complete surrender. Line upon line right.

This week Sister Nanlabi and I trained at zone conference! Our topic was The Strength to be Obedient. When we were planning we both felt that we all have the desire to be obedient and to follow the Savior sometimes we just lack the strength or the courage. Sometimes it’s not always easy to stand up for truth and righteousness. We trained that through the small and simple things we can receive that strength that we need. Especially through our personal and companion (or for you all family) studies we can receive the spirit and the power that we need.

Also this week was the Dinagsa festival here in Cadiz! The whole week was nutzo crazy. People came from everywhere to “party party” haha. On Saturday and Sunday the roads everywhere were completely closed down so we had to walk everywhere. On Saturday that was fine but Sunday was the hightlights day of the festival and people were throwing paint all day. We left to walk to church a little before 7 and we made it paint free but on the way home oh my goodness. Since I’m like the only Kana in Cadiz it was like a walking target and I was actually running home but the paint people surrounded me and I ended up looking like an alien smurf or something haha. It was so insane. 

 Cadiz Party 2019 (a clip mom found online)

Haidee passed her baptism interview! But because of the festival we had to move her baptism to next weekend. She’s so ready and I’m so excited for her. She has the most precious testimony. Kevin also had his interview this week but we found out that he’s been drinking coffee so we had to move it back a month so he has time to overcome that. So send some extra prayers of strength his way!

I had to dispose of a 2 rats this week... One dead and one living. They climbed into a bucket of water. I cried for 30 minutes afterwards.  

I love you all. We can be changed through Christ and His atonement if we give our hearts to him. Sometimes it’s really painful and uncomfortable but I know it’s always worth it. Read your scriptures and pray with all you’ve got and bear your testimony every day.

Sister Zollinger  

WOAH HALFWAY THERE WOAH LIVING ON A PRAYER (Literally)

MAGANDANG ARAW MGA KAIBIGA!! (Good day friends)

Joke lang I don’t speak Tagalog but I’m having Sister Nanlabi teach me a bit! (Mostly so I can read her Tagalog cookbook :)

This week was a ride - woo. We went to 3 different district councils this week- twice to train and once to participate.

Happy moments:

I went on exchanges in Sagay with Sister Ellis! We taught Ramone and he said he wouldn’t come to church because his feet hurt too much. So we read 1 Nephi 3:7 and explained how Nephi walked for days in the hot desert while his brothers tried to kill him just to fulfill a commandment of the Lord and Ramone understood that church attendance is also a commandment and God will provide a way even though his feet hurt! Ramone promised he would go to church. He also had me write my name in his Book of Mormon for remembrance so that was really tender.

Also I got to meet John and Jennifer who were taught and baptized with Sister Schenk and Sister Adams! I told hem I'm Sister Schenks companion before and it was so much fun to get to know them. I love my MTC batch :) 

I met the sweetest lady Ritzelyn in the tricycle and she opened up to me that her mom had passed away and she’s living with her dad and she’s the oldest in her family and all her younger siblings are already married and have lives of their own. I think she was feeling really discouraged. I taught her the basics of the Plan of Salvation in the tricycle and then gave her our phone number. Later that night she texted thanking me for the friendship and she said she wanted us to come and teach her and to tell her when so she can invite all her siblings so they can listen to. It was the best.

Our zone organized a missionary musical fireside for our stake and President Sumagpao came. We had 6 musical numbers and invited 3 recent converts to speak and also a missionary and a  returned missionary. Our theme was We’ll Bring the World His Truth. The spirit was wonderful and we want to do them more often now! 

I'm learning every day how to rely on my Savior Jesus Christ. I loved this quote from our stake president this week "Love him, sustain him, follow him, don't just believe him". 

I Love you all! Padayon pirme sa pagsalig sa aton manunubos amo si JesuCristo! Kag lihug mangamuyo kamo para sa akon mga kuko sang tiil :) :) :) 

(continue to always trust in our redeemer jesus christ and PRAY FOR MY TOE NAILS)

Sister Zollinger

We saw a nun carrying the new Come, Follow Me manual!

True story ^^ 

 

 

Some more blessed moments:

• We taught the law of tithing from a hammock
• We watched the Restoration movie in the rain storm
• And then I played chess against Haidee after our lesson and she beat me! She's a pro and has a contest next week.
• Kevin and Haidee and Isaiah and Shakiah accepted their baptism dates! 
• 9 of our precious people came to church! 
• We had Missionary Leadership Council and we learned so much! 
• We made lunch for 12 Elders!! and 4 sisters
• We planned a musical fireside with our zone to help with reactivation and retention! 
• We met so many people with names like JunJun and PaulPaul and JeffJeff!
• We worked with the members and found so many new families to teach! 
• Jacob, Andrea, and Elijah wrote us a letter. 
• To not be Stubby! Be Spinner! 
• And to be better today than yesterday. 

I learned so much this week. Probably more than I've ever learned in a week. Feels like 10 weeks.

The focus of my learning and studying this week was PRIDE! Yikes on Bikes. The tears fell. If we could just overcome pride everything in the world would be "all is well". So that's the task- overcome pride. I've got mountains to go but I'm so grateful for the revelation and learning I received this week because it prepared me for Elder Holland! 

So this week we had a first time ever event in the Philippines! There was a nation wide stake conference and Elder Holland came to Manila and spoke to the whole Philippines! It was such a gift. (Also everyone in their prayers and when talking about it kept saying President Holland so who knows what that means.)  But anyways!! Everything he said was so perfect. Some of the things that really touched my heart.

We have 168 hours in a week and only 2 are spent inside our meeting houses! What will we do with the other 166 hours! Being active is about so much more than just showing up to a building. We make or break it as disciples of Jesus Christ in the other 166 hours. 

We have the power to bind Satan! We can start the millennium in our personal lives and in our homes as we rise above temptation and do what's right and submit to the will of the Lord! We don't have to wait for the world to catch up before we can have our peace and joy. And as we do this the world will catch up! And then we can have the real millennium the real peace! 

The most majestic moment in the life of our Savior Jesus Christ was when he completely submitted His will to the Father. "Not my will but thine be done." When Jesus came to visit the Nephites in America he introduced himself to them by saying "I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning" (3 Nephi 11:11) That's how we glorify God! We do His will. Through Obedience Jesus Christ gave me my chance. He gave us all a chance. Through our obedience we can show our gratitude and we can be HAPPY! The solution to it all is to be humble and to submit to the Father through obedience! To overcome our pride. 

Oh so much more! I wish I could just share everything I've learned this week but just go out and study and serve and follow the Holy Ghost and He'll direct you and teach you what you need too. The gospel is so real. And I love it! Never give up.

I love you all

Sister Zollinger 

 

 

"You're so white! Do you bathe in snow?"

 Some more questions I've been asked this week..

"If you're a Mexican why do you have blue eyes?"

"Are you sure this one's American? She eats fish with her hands!"

"Why are you so white?"

Also not a question but we asked Elijah how Jesus Christ helped people while he was here on earth and he just said "KABUOT SA IYA!" which means He's SO nice! It was the best. 

This week Jacob, Andrea, and Elijah were baptized! They're

testimonies are so precious and I've only known them for a week but I already love them so much! They didn't get to be confirmed this Sunday because they were late and next Sunday is a surprise stake conference so they can't be confirmed that week so please pray for them that they can continue in faith regardless and be confirmed in two weeks! 

I love Cadiz!! I'm in the Polynesian district here! We have 5 Polys 2 Pinoys and 1 Kana! haha. It's so much fun. Sister Nanlabi is the best companion. I always say this but divine design is SO REAL! We're the Sister Training leaders for the Cadiz and the Sagay zones. I'm so excited to work with and learn from lots of new sisters. I'm so blessed. 
 

We're right on the ocean here so we get lots of FISH! So blessed. Also we basically live in a mansion but it has rats. You win some and you lose some right. 

Also for my Silver City people! I've met families that know Sister Billings! Your legacy lives on!! 

Sister Lizzie Billings' friends!

I love you all so much. Being a missionary is such a privilege and a joy. I know that's is true that men are that they might have joy! Heavenly Father REALLY wants us to be happy. And the way to true happiness is giving your will to the Lord and submitting to his always greater plan for us. 

Sister Zollinger