BAPTISMS NILA LA AND ALEX!!

ANG HULING EMAIL....

Hello, everyone. I can't believe this is it. 

This is my very last email. 

It has come so fast, it just has hit me like a train.

I don't have much time because I'm currently visiting all my areas to say goodbye to all these wonderful people that have become such a huge part of my life. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that He has given me to serve. 

Since I won't be able to update again next week, I'll announce now the baptisms of LA and Alexandrea!! They are both getting baptized this Saturday! They are stoked :) And I am stoked for them. It's so rewarding to see the Atonement of Jesus Christ working in the lives of those you teach. It is such a sweet experience to see the light and joy they feel as they change their lives and follow His plan. Both LA and Alex were brought to tears as they have been preparing to make this covenant with Him. They know this is true. And they want with all their hearts to follow Him. I love them so much! I'm so grateful I get the chance to witness their baptisms just a few days before I leave. I have been so blessed by a Loving Father. :) 

Also, Salve is doing so great! Her and her kids came to the ward night and also came to church for the first time on Sunday!! They are AMAZING! Her son, Patrick, who is 14, even washed his own clothes on Saturday and ironed them all to get ready to go to church the next day!! He's such a sweet kid.  Tapos after church, her other son, Kyle, who is only 9 turned to his mom and said, "Mom, let's switch religions. I feel happy here."  Salve cried because she already knew it was true. Her prayer was answered through a miraculous dream! And now they are preparing to be baptized on the 15th of August. I'm sad that I will be gone.. But I'm more happy that they are beginning their conversion and coming closer to Him. 

It's hard to leave. It's especially hard when everything here is on fire. Miracles are happening every day. But I know this work will go on. :) Because this is His work. He doesn't need me. He loves me enough to let me take part.

The Lord didn't send me on a mission for me to change other people's lives. No, He doesn't need me here. 

The Lord send me on a mission to change me. 

Because I need Him. :)

I know this is His true church-- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love us more than we can comprehend. 

I know that this mission never ends.

This is only the beginning. 

I have been changed. There is no going back. I will forever be His disciple, where ever He calls me to go. How great is this calling!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO!

Always,

Sister Oyler                                  

BAPTISM WEEK :)

MAGANDANG BUHAY!

Hello, everyone! How was your week?? 

Our week was so good!! We had the beautiful opportunity to witness the baptism of Romel and his son, Cyrus! It was such a beautiful baptism :) And now their goal for their family is the temple! To be sealed for all eternity. Oh how I will help them do everything they can to get there!! :) They all mean so much to me. 

 

 

I want to also share about one of our new investigators, Salve. We just found her on our own and she is SO PREPARED! I have never taught somebody before with as much excitement in her eyes as Salve does! She almost sits on the edge of her seat as we are teaching, her eyes just open wide soaking everything in! After our first lesson with her, she just placed her hand over her heart and told us she knew what we had shared was true. She has 7 kids! And they are all so cute! 

Well, this week, we invited her to come attend the baptism of Romel and Cyrus. She said that she would come! The night before, she texted us and told us that she felt kind of embarrassed because she was EXCITED to come to the baptism and witness this sacred ordinance. When she came, it was just a miracle. We already informed some of the members about her and so when she came, they welcomed her with open arms! She was really impressed and felt loved and accepted. 

As we were walking her out after the service. She just turned to us and said, "Sisters...this is beautiful."

That night, she texted us and told us that on her way home she had bought 2 skirts so she could come to church the next day!! She said that she hasn't worn a skirt since she was a little girl, but she feels something so different and she can't stop talking about it to her kids and now her kids are excited too!!

The only sad thing is her youngest son woke up the next day with a fever. So they weren't able to come to church yesterday.. Salve was devastated :( She texted us and told us even her kids were so excited, they had already gotten all dressed up ready to come to church!! But next week for sure they will come :) 

Ahhhhhh.....I wish so badly that I could be here to witness their baptism...

I don't want to leave.

I haven't mentioned it until now, because I honestly just keep pushing it out of my mind. But the time is getting closer and closer that I have to leave this beautiful place, these beautiful people, and I have to be released from being a full-time missionary and servant of the Lord. 

It brings me to tears even now. I will never be ready to leave this. 

I have been overwhelmingly blessed to be placed in this sacred position. To become the Hands of the Savior here on earth in the lifting, teaching, and blessing the children of God. I am grateful that He loves me enough to place His trust in me and has given me this sacred call. It is something that I will cherish for eternity.

But it is not the end.

I may have to leave here....but it is never the end. When we are called as witnesses of Jesus Christ, it was forever. When we took His name upon us, it was forever. Not just for a short period of time that I get to carry His name engraved upon a badge....but it's for a lifetime that I will carry His name forever engraved upon my heart. 

I will have to go home. 

But I will never go back. 

Ito ang gawain ng Panginoon. Alam ko na buhay Siya. Wala Siyang simula, di katapusan... Ang Kanyang gawain ay papatuloy, kahit ano ang darating sa mundong ito. Papatuloy ang perpektong plano ng Ating Diyos hanggang Siya mismo ang magsabi na "It is finished".

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO!!

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Oyler

 

 

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I HAVE NO TIME!!

KAMUSTA KAYONG LAHAT??

Pasensiya, I have no time today to email, the time ran out so fast. But this week has been full of....

- one-person 4th of July celebrations :) wooo!

- rain.

- rain.

- MORE RAIN!

- ...and it's still raining. :)

- trials

- miralces

- ups

- downs

We were actually super excited about the fruit in our area, like you might have read about last week. And we were excited for the opportunity to fast for all of these progressing individuals on sunday...

Long story short, we've been thrown into a time of trial and learning. Things have kind of spiraled and crashed. We were confused and dishearted yesterday, especially as we were fasting for everything. But we are learning so many lessons from our Father in Heaven. 

I am truly learning to humble myself and submit myself to His will, whatever that will may be. This is not my work, this is His. And even though, things are pretty tough and tiring, I feel happy!  How that is? I can't exactly explain or even completely understand myself. But I just know that this is truly His work. And I am so grateful to be a part of it. 

Again, I have no time, I'm so sorry. But I hope you all have a wonderful week this week!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO! :)

Sister Oyler

 

We taught this girl who had approached us and after explaining about the Book of Mormon, she said, "...I think we have one." We were like, "Really??" she went inside and came back out with this! This is back when they didn't even have the full Book of Mormon translated in Tagalog! "Mga Pinili Mula Sa Aklat ni Mormon". Just some chosen chapters that they translated into Tagalog. I guess some missionaries had taught her dad briefly years ago! And this little girl had been reading this book! It was such a miracle. 

 

 

 

 

Those elders didn't realize the seeds they were planting :)

 

 

 

 

I made my anak try taho. muah ha ha ha.

 

 

This is how you pray when your skirt and legs are so wet from the monsoon rains...

Computer shop!