THE MIRACLES ARE REAL

MAGANGANG BUHAY!!

It just started raining right now out to my left! :) It's rainy season right now, so you know Sister Oyler is happy :) I love the storms!

We had a really great storm this week around lunch time, where it just started POURING! And....me and my anak decided to go for a shower...:) It was so much fun. It was honestly exactly what I needed. I needed some fun in the rain, and I feel like all my stress went out with it. :) 

Avery, you would love it, too. I sat outside one night before bed, and filmed the lightning. You wouldn't believe it! It was non-stop lightning. No breaks! Non stop thunder too :) ahh you would love it. The camera didn't do it justice.

ANYWAY, this week has been great!! I want to just share really fast about one of our investigators namin na si Romel. His wife is a member, just less-active because she works on Sunday. And Romel has been taught by the missionaries for 3 years now.  I think I mentioned in one of my other emails about him and the lesson we had a while back with him about polygamy. Well, turns out, that lesson REALLY helped him. He was able to pray and gain a witness for himself that Joseph Smith really was a true prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon is true and that this Church is His true church on the earth today. When we had gone back to him shortly after that visit, he expressed this and then asked, "Kailan ako puwedeng magpabinyag?" ("When can I be baptized?")   We were so excited! He wants to be baptized with his 9-year-old son as well.

Well....I feel like every time an investigator makes an important decision, the devil always tries to step in their way.... I won't go into detail, but something really heartbreaking happened within their family. Something that left individuals--especially Romel-- deeply hurt and betrayed. He texted us and told us and then said that he has no more hope, he doesn't want to be baptized anymore, he's going away, he even expressed that he wanted to commit suicide. 

We helped him through text and asked to come visit him. He didn't want to. But I remember bearing my testimony to him about the reality of our Father in Heaven and the power of the Atonement in our lives. And I invited him to come to church to get the help he needs. 

Well, for the first time, HE CAME. 

We talked to him for a while, and then we directed him to bishop who really helped him. And for the past week, we have been visiting their family. The lessons have been some of the most spirit-filled lessons I've experienced. We have been fasting and praying for him and his family. And we are seeing pure miracles :)

They are getting back on track, and I am witnessing the power of the gospel in their lives.

Just yesterday, we received this text from Romel:  (I'll translate into English)

"Sister. Thank you so much for your big help. You have saved my family. I am slowly forgetting the pain that I feel because of the things you are sharing with me. I feel the Spirit and I am blessed. I will overcome this trial in my life. Thank you so much for your help. I am ready to be baptized with my son."

I was brought to tears. Sister Lonitenisi and I just cried with overwhelming joy. 

As we are visiting them, they are truly learning to rely on Him. Their goal is now first, baptism, and next, the temple! :) They want so badly to be sealed as a forever family. I know it will happen. :)  This is His plan. 

The miracles are real. This work is real. I know that this is His true Church. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us SO much. More than we will ever comprehend. He places people in our life, and guides us to Him. It is up to us to act and come unto Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. And if we will truly humble ourselves and discover Him in our life. We will see miraculous changes, and will experience a kind of happiness that you can find no where else. A kind of eternal happiness that only God can give.

I'm sorry that I didn't get to reply to anyone this week. But I read your emails! I love hearing from each one of you. Know that I love you all!! Have a great week!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO!

Sister Oyler 

 

Playing in the rain :P

 

Our zone! Just missing a couple elders yata

 

 

ASTIG NA LOLA :) Elsie!! She is such a ganster haha

Fresh coconut milk :)

 

It's more fun in the Philippines.

 

My little Olaf gang :)

They call me Elsa

 

 

HIGHS AND LOWS

HELLO!

Ahhh time goes so fast pag email!!!

This week, has been full of highs and lows. I feel like the mission is just a big physical, spiritual, and emotional rollercoaster. In one day you're going through some of the deepest trials and suffering, and then just the very next day, you're on cloud 9 with blessings and miracles and tender mercies and then even the very next day, you are crashing again under a load of hardships. Ah! But I love it. It is building me every day. 

I was struggling a bit towards the beginning of this week. ALL of our investigators were struggling. I felt like all of our effort and work with them was just going out the window. Everything was literally going wrong. In every aspect of the work. It was a humbling experience for me and my anak. We began to fast.

I wish I had time to tell about it, but for short, THE POWER OF FASTING IS REAL.

Yesterday was a miracle day. We had 7 investigators at church! We have 12 now with baptismal dates! I wish I can describe the events of these last few days, but I will have to save it for another time because my time is running out. 

I have to go, but MAHAL NA MAHAL KO KAYO!

Sister Oyler 

UPDATES :)

MAGANDANG BUHAY!

Sorry, these past few weeks, I haven't been able to send any pictures, because none of the computer shops were working with my SD card. But this week we found a good computer cafe! So most of my time has just been used sending you all the pictures from these last few weeks, so I have not much time to write, but I'll just send some photos to sum it all up :) especially for all my missionary friends whom I don't send all the pictures to each week...

My anak and I are just enjoying every moment :) We've been doing great. Especially this week! We've started to see a little bit more fruit from our efforts!

 

 

 

 

Sisters Conference was a blast! But that's kind of old news now..

 

 

 

There are so many ipis (cockroaches) :( No, I haven't overcome my fear. hahaha

 

 

 

Just a peek into the Philippines. Humble, happy..it's my home :) 

 

 

 

Oh! The other day, I was showering in the morning. and in our shower, there's just a big hole in the floor, it's no fancy drain. And as I was finishing my shower, I was so surprised as a FROG jumped up out of the hole!!! Hahaha! I was so startled and I screamed and jumped back but the shower was slippery so I'm slipping around and screaming and the frog is jumping around the little tiny CR (bathroom)!!! Hahahahaha pretty soon I was running out with a towel on laughing my head off!  There is never a dull moment here :)

 

This week as well was awesome! We were finally able to meet and teach Romel, a part member. His wife is a member, and he has been taught by the missionaries for 3 years! He has read the entire Book of Mormon, the only reason why he doesn't want to be baptized is because he has some doubts, when he read on the internet the Joseph Smith had 44 wives. We were informed of this concern by the members before we went to go teach him, but I figured our first visit with him, would be kind of a get-to-know you and kind of overview of everything. But when we arrived and sat down, he went boldly right to his concern and asked us all these questions about polygamy. I was so nervous! I didn't feel like I had adequate knowledge to answer all of his questions. But we opened with a prayer, and I was just pleading silently for the help of the Spirit to guide us and teach him. As the prayer finished, I just felt completely calm and confident. And we taught him, used the scriptures, and bore testimony. And ultimately, we encouraged him that the big concern in reality is that he just needs to pray and gain a testimony for himself that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He doesn't have to go to the internet, books, or even us missionaries. He needs to go straight to our Father in Heaven through prayer. and He will give him the answer and direction that he needs. 

It was a really great lesson. I am so grateful for the Spirit. Without it, we are nothing. Romel is doing great. He is actually a really down-to-earth, open guy. He just really wants to be sure and confident before he makes the decision to be baptized. Which is awesome! Romel is great :) 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I'm out of time. But I just want to tell you all I LOVE YOU! Schools out for you, and today's the first day of school again for all the Filipino kids. haha but ENJOY SUMMER! Stay safe, stay happy :)

Always remember who you are, and WHOSE you are :) 

MAHAL KO KAYO!

Sister Oyler

 

 

I love the Schlagers. I am going to miss them!

Sister's Conference

 

Mission President and his wife

 

 

Sister Lopez!

 

 

 

 

This girl is my favorite haha

 

Ay naku inside joke haha

Yes, these are literally blood splats on the floor from killing surot (bed bugs)

 with our tsinelas (flip flops).

 

Random baby shower we walked by and had to end up eating at...haha.

 It's more fun in the Philippines :)

 

Our little "rabbit hole" to do laundry... haha

 

 

These were the happiest kids!

 

 

 This cute Juliet house" that we found in the nice part of our area