Maligayang Pasko.

Hello.

Pilar is splitting! This is the first time to have 2 sets of
missionaries in over 15 years. And by next January or February, plans
will hopefully be a bit more definite for building a new chapel here
in Pilar. My journey in Pilar will continue for at least another 6
weeks, and hopefully more.

Before I left on my mission, I hoped that I would be placed in many
areas so that I could meet more people, see new things, but now I am
incredibly grateful that I have an opportunity to work in this area
for a longer period of time. I spent 7.5 months in Lubao, which was an
incredibly rewarding and fruitful experience as we also split Lubao
into 2 areas. (Actually, Lubao had been split before, and we were
reopening the split.)

I've realized that for me, it's easier to go out and work every day,
in an area that I have worked in for a longer period of time. It's not
a burden to go out and work. It's more of a 'I really love these
people, and want to help them. I'm excited to hear and see these
miraculous changes that have/are taking place."

Rose Ann was baptized on Sunday. She is one of those 15 grandchildren.
I loved what she said after she was baptized, 'Masarap siya.' (it was
a delicious-feeling.) I can't express to you all how incredible it is
to see these kids taking on and grasping the things that we are
teaching them. Several members have mentioned to us that the kids look
cleaner and they look happier than they did before. Jezebel, who is 11
years old, was recently baptized and is now in 2 Nephi in the Book of
Mormon. She told us that the Book of Mormon is 'delicious to read.'
(YUM.) I remember when we first went to their home and Jezebel didn't
join in on our discussion, but would just observe. She slowly started
to listen and now I'm amazed as she is really taking off and embracing
these things. Our responsibility has now shifted to help these kids
continue in their journey of growth. Baptism should only be a starting
step for them for a life time of fulfillment and growth.

I think back of the times before my mission, in a state of need and
humility, when I truly called upon my God for divine assistance. I
think of how selfish that is-that my most sincere prayers were when I
was in need, but at the same time, I was given the opportunity to
exercise faith, which i'm grateful for. Faith dies quickly, I've
noticed when it is not strengthened.

Humility is something that has been pressing on my mind lately. I love
the talk "Pride and the Priesthood" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and while I
do not hold the Priesthood, there are many applicable principles. It's
an uncomfortable feeling to say to myself that I am prideful. Nobody
wants to admit that they are prideful. Of course we all would like to
think of ourselves as a certain way, and to admit to ourselves that we
are prideful is a real ______ to our self perception. Maybe it is a
start for better understanding our relationship with God and with our
fellow brothers and sisters. Yes. maybe.

hasta luego.

Picture- pamintol (sp?) fishing. This is somehow effective in catching
fish. Instead of a hook at the other end of this fishing pole, there
is a large basket-like structure that is laid in the water, and when
lifting it up, it is supposed to catch fish. I was unsuccessful but
Sandy (the man who thinks he's not in the picture, is good at this.)

"Mahal mo ba ako?"

Hello.

We were blessed with two baptisms this past weekend. (This program was
easily the most eventful baptism I have ever attended and will
probably ever attend. Our district president who attended also said
the same thing for himself. Maybe I'll tell the story when I get home,
but it was incredibly unique.) These little girls are cousins and are
only 2 of 15 grandchildren in one home. I've mentioned this family
before because it is complete chaos whenever we teach them. This
family is notorious for causing speechlessness, for first timers.
Sometimes, members will work with us as we teach and every single
first-timer to their home (including myself) was speechless or silent
during the lesson. There's babies crying, kids screaming and fighting,
hair laden with knits, and unique smells. Sometimes it feels like a
circus when we teach. I'm keeping kids out of my bag, getting small
children off of me and at the same time trying to keep the focus of
the kid we're teaching. I love this family. They're incredibly poor
but I've already noticed small improvements in the quality of their
life because of the gospel.

Pilar is progressing and it is so exciting to see. We had an interview
with our mission president last week and he said that we have a 50/50
chance of gaining another set of missionaries here in Pilar. If that
happens, Sister Lacanaria and I will split and we will each get new
companions, each set covering half of the Pilar area. This is very
very exciting and will be the first time ever to get an extra set of
missionaries in this area. Our area is being monitored to receive a
new and larger chapel, so we will hopefully find out in the next few
months if that is going to be approved for this area. It's an
incredibly sweet feeling to have worked so hard and then to see the
results of that labor.

The mission president's wife took pity on me when I should her my skin
issues and so I visited a doctor earlier today so hopefully my boil
and other skin problems will start to clear up. I was told by a member
that sometimes 'when the blood is dirty, it screams out through the
skin.' I wasn't sure what to think when I heard that.

I forgot to mention general conference last week, but conference
progressively gets more delicious to me and 10 hours of conference
somehow doesn't seem enough.

Jeffrey Holland continues to amaze me. His sincerity is unmatched.

"Lovest thou me?" -Peter was asked this three times. I was surprised
at how timely this particular talk was in my own life.

Explore and Expand and Love. The transcendent power of love is so
tangible. It is not easy nor cheap. It is really the 'greatest of
all.'

Moroni 7:45-47

Your daughter, sister, niece, and friend,



Sister DV

april2013:/

The last picture is of some sort of plantish organism that was
gathered from the ocean. I thought it looked like a terrible and sad
pile of dead Whos from Dr. Seuss. But don't worry, it's just plants.

God is in the dirt.

My time is a little short this week.

God is breathing. and raw. and lives especially in the ugly of our lives.

When we feel like we're just rolling around in the dirt, and deprived
of guidance--
we can realize that God is actually the dirt and it's making us
stronger and tough as ________.

I have a new boil on my leg and I'm trying to time when I'm going to
pop it so that it interferes the least with the work. Chances are my
foot will swell (swelling has already started actually) and I'm not
sure if I'll be able to walk around after it's out.

I also had a blessed opportunity to split up a fight this week. It was
between two cousins, one is a member and one wants to get baptized.
They were pulling hair and hitting each other. I was sitting next to
one of them on their couch when the other one just started going at
her. I practically laid myself on top of the girl on the couch and
yelled, "Huwag na!" a few times. (Stop!) and then "Ano ba yan. Huwag
na." (What on earth! - Stop!) I felt like crying afterwards, but I
had nowhere to go and cry, so I didn't. God gave me an opportunity to
become acquainted with some of the more ugly sides of human nature.

Among those and many other unique, inexpressible challenges, I have
become certain of the reality of my Lord, Jesus Christ. It is true
that there is a price to be paid to understand certain things, as
often times when we aren't suffering, we don't tend to cling to
knowledge and light like we do when we are in obvious need. I have
felt a divine grace this past week, unlike any other. If that divine
grace hadn't been bestowed to me, I simply would not be able to
continue at this work.

I am starting to better understand 'unconditional love' and have a
long ways to go. God has been glorious to me and I am grateful.

I do love you all and thank you for your prayers and support.

charity.

1 John 3:2- "We shall see him as He is."

Our branch in Pilar is on the verge of expansion, which is so
exciting. Pilar branch is a candidate for receive a new, larger
chapel. This building in Pilar is the tiniest chapel I've ever been
in, and we are working towards a goal of a more consistent attendance
in order to qualify for a new chapel. It is really exciting to be a
part of growth like this as the members here have been waiting a long
time for a better building. I love the people here. I am so grateful
for their kindness and support for the missionary work here.
Missionary work is dramatically more effective, when working closer
with members and involving them.

Yesterday I met a man who was one of the first photographers in
Bataan. He showed me his cameras and as we were talking about his old
film cameras (and I was playing with them), it was like time hadn't
passed. It didn't feel at all like a year had passed since I've even
touched my cameras. It was like the knowledge was still there and not
even rusty, like maybe it should be after a year of not seriously
doing any photography. It was a bit of a surreal moment for me. I was
thinking, "When was the last time that I touched a camera like this?"
Over 1 year now, but it doesn't feel like it. Matthew 10:39

We have about 4 potential baptisms this month. We are excited about
this. I'm definitely not the wangling type of missionary, and so we'll
have to see if they are adequately prepared and ready to accept that
kind of commitment. (Did you catch that, BB?)

I've accepted the nature of my companionship as being inconsistent. I
will accept the good moments as well as the difficult. I think before
I just dreaded thinking about whenever her mood would flip, and I
would have to deal with it. Now, I've decided a different approach of
more like, 'riding out the storm' and it is always peaceful after the
storm, right?

Moroni 7: 45-47- I hope I can attain this kind of charity.

Love-
Sister DV

"Magkakasama tayo mapagkailanman"

Magkakasama tayo mapagkailanman- We'll be together forever.

Yesterday during sunday school, we watched one of the cheesy videos
about families, and I just started to cry. I was the only one crying
and it came out of nowhere. I'm thinking it stemmed from having a
difficult week. I have no idea how I'm supposed to survive this next month, (I will probably
read this email in a year and laugh about this all, but it's really
______ when I'm going through it.) I would love your
prayers on my behalf. :)

We're hoping for 3 baptisms for this month, but I'm thinking that only
2 will be ready for this month. We met a former investigator, who
after a few years, has finally decided to be baptized. I feel like God
really just handed us this opportunity.

I've gotten so many wonderful letters from my dear friends, and I will
try to write you back, but I really can't promise anything.

BYE.

Steph!- Wow.wow. wow.wow. Congratulations! I was so shocked and
excited for you when I read your DearElder. Yay! Thanks for writing
me!

LASTWEEK

Sorry, this didn't work last week. Hopefully you receive this: )

Hello Family,

I feel terrible. I forgot my Dad's birthday which was on September 15.
Missionary life is such an undescribable alternate world that I could
probably never imagine unless I was in it.

To dad: happybirthday Paugh! I love you forever!

The song "How will I get you alone?" by Heart is playing next door,
which is making it extremely difficult for me to keep focused at this
moment. I also keep getting distracted by a small little mouse that is
running back and forth on the floor of this internet shop and
occasionally runs along the back wall of where this computer is
sitting.

This transfer was a little unexpected as nothing changed. I am still
here in Pilar, and am still with Sister Lacanaria. I have quite a bit
about love this past transfer. What does 'unconditional love' really
mean? I feel closer to figuring out what that means. It seems that God
has given me an opportunity to not just forgive and move on, but to
figure out a way to grow and hopefully prosper in my current
situations. Last transfer was particularly difficult in that I had not
yet fully trusted my companion, for a variety of reasons. I am hoping
and thinking that this transfer will give us the time to continue to
develop a friendship and trust.

Doctrine and Covenants 32:4- And they shall give heed to that which is
written... and they shall pray always that I may unfold the same to
their understanding.

I've had a cold for the past week. My voice is terrible sounding and I
can't even "Tao po!" which has been a little annoying. (We don't
usually knock on doors, we yell, "Tao po.") The hearing in my left ear
has been going in and out which has made for a somewhat peaceful past
few days. ha.

I wrote in my journal this week, " The Lord has brought me out of the
depths of ______ into a state of progression and growth. Sometimes I
am uncomfortable with this change, but His grace fuels me."

Matthew 11:28-30- Unexplainable truth.( 2 Ne 4:34)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest in your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I love you all like crazy.

                                                                       Our baptism!

                                We also gave two them haircuts before their baptism which was
hilarious. We considered leaving the mullet on Romnick's head...

We took pictures by the "Espada" in our area. **Jump Shot**