Ready, Set, GO!!!

FAMILY!!

I hope everything is going well! Thanks to those of you who wrote me (the others of you can consider this a guilt trip,haha!) Just another week of riding on motorcycles, looking at pretty sunsets on beaches, and preaching the gospel! It has been a great week.

Since we arrived here in Valencia, Sister Vui and I have really focused on teaching the importance of Families. We have been teaching from Family:A Proclamation and it has been great! We had a rewarding experience when we went to go visit an "Active" family last week. We had taught them several lessons and it was quickly apparent they were NOT active in the gospel. They were having some family problems (parents not leading the way and thus children not keeping the commandments) and we challenged them to change. Now with most families we have to push a little bit and usually the follow-up visit they haven't even tried our challenge of daily family prayer and scripture study. HOWEVER, last week we went to their house (the Quilicot family) and when we asked them how it went with family prayer and scripture study we were SHOCKED. They had actually done it!! After the lesson, Sister Quilicot started to cry and just told me how we have helped their family so much. I felt so happy and fulfilled as a missionary. This is what missionaries need to be doing in the Philippines. Strengthening families which in return strengthens the Church.

It was also great to teach lessons to other less-active with the Quilicot's son, Brother JhonJay and another Brother Omar (a YSA whose family is just like that of Quilicot). We taught about family prayer and they were both able to effectively testify of the difference in their families since they have prayed and read scriptures together. "No success can compensate for failure in the home." David O. McKay. It just felt good knowing we are making a different in the lives of the branch members here. So basically, family watch out!! I am a family prayer and scripture study nazi now!! Haha.

We have a new investigator, Brother Peter who had lots of questions about what happens to us after we die due to his mother's death a few years ago. It was great to teach him the basics of the Plan of Salvation. It's also great because he looks a bit like FroZone...the black guy super hero from The Incredibles!!

We haven't found any hermit crabs or stray cats in our apartment this past week. That's the good news.

Last Pday was fun! We had a district activity and played volleyball at the beach in our area! It is so beautiful. I wanted to send pictures but the computer keeps telling me to update the antivirus software....so yeah....next time  na lang.

Anyway I am so happy to be on the Lord's errand. I love being a missionary. I have learned so much on my mission and I am grateful for the experiences I am having. I LOVE the scriptures and I am so sad for all those times before the mission that I neglected to read. They are so precious and a guide to our lives. I hope you are all taking time each day to search and ponder the scriptures. I am so thankful for the love and support I have felt from all of you.

The mission bought the airfare...July 17.....so until then I'm going to be working HARD. Only 2.5 months left. Time to save some souls!

love you
nicole

HALA!

Family and Friends,

It's another GREAT day here in the Philippines and I am happy to be writing all of you. Sister Vui and I have survived transfer week and we are both staying here. Good thing! But next transfer I will definitely be transferring to Cebu or Negros so that I'm not part of the Cebu East mission for 15 days before I go home....so 6 more weeks here in Valencia. So sad :(

We had another less-active die this week. I don't know what's going on? Nanay Terrencia passed away yesterday morning. She was a pioneer member here in Valencia and so it was sad for the members. She was over 60 years old and had been quite frankly neglected by her family. Thank goodness there is a RESURRECTION! I kept thinking of Alma 40: 23 'The ^asoul shall be ^brestored to the ^cbody, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a^dhair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and^eperfect frame." Thank goodness for our Heavenly Father and his loving plan.

Things are still going great here. Our Muslim investigator now is a Christian and she is sooo great! She is so diligent in reading and learning the gospel. We are also trying to help those stinkin' Less-actives overcome their challenges and get them to become active in the Church.

I've got to sign off a little earlier today because we had to come all the way to Jagna (an elder's area)because Valencia keeps turning off electricity in the whole city from 9-5....haha, I love the Philippines. We are going to play some volleyball at the beach and eat lunch together with the other 4 elders in our district! Should be fun.

Family, I hope you know how much I love you! I have had some great realizations these past few days about how we all need to step up and be a little bit better. I am SO SET on all of us receiving Celestial glory so y'all better be reading your scriptures and saying your prayers!! If NOT, beware cause I'll be on your case when I get back ;)

I know the Church is true. It is the only way to complete and true happiness. Satan will always try to fool us- to think that we'd be happier if we accept the ways of the world. But the truth is we need to choose the Savior's way EVEN if it is the harder way. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.We all need to repent, every day. Let's become better and better each day.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Sista Trayner

i'll send pics next time cause this internet is sooooo slow!!

THAT DARN CAT!!

Hey family,

So I am running a little short on time today. We came to Tagbilaran in order to eat a delicious pancake breakfast at Elder and Sister Jacob's house! It was soooo great! 

CONFERENCE was amazing. Mostly I was just really struck about families and how much they are under attack. I've heard a little about what's going back home and stuff so I can understand why Heavenly Father prompted his leaders to give such direct and inspired direction to all of us. As I sat a listened I realized that there is so much we need to do! And how we really do need to become even more peculiar than the rest of the world. My favorite quote was from President Packer, "When tolerance is exaggerated it becomes a vice." I hope we will all take a stand for what we know and what we believe- especially concerning the family! We didn't have to travel all the way to Tagbilaran because the District delivered DVDS to all of the branches that are far away. So we just went to the church in Valencia and watched it on the TV. We sat front row and LOVED it. OH, General Conference is the BEST as a full-time missionary!!

I HAVE A STORY FOR ALL OF YOU!!!
Okay so on Monday night I was already asleep when I heard a big "BOOM!" I woke up my companion and asked her if she heard anything and she responded "no." I was a little worried because I could still hear things going on in the kitchen of our house so I grabbed my pepper spray and shined our phone's light. A little later I heard more movement and so did my companion. SOMETHING OR SOMEONE WAS IN OUR HOUSE. We tried to call our Zone Leaders but they didn't answer. SO then we called the APs and they started to freak out and worry us even more. They told us to stay quiet and to lock all the windows and doors in our bedroom. They told us to not leave the bedroom because we could still hear something going on. They were finally able to contact members of the branch and about 30 minutes later, Brother and Sister Maestrado came to the rescue! As we left our room the only thing out of place was the tupperware container...it had been sitting on the table and had been thrown down to the floor! The rest of our things were untouched. We sat in a bit of bewilderment and then came to realize- IT WAS ONLY A CAT! Oh my goodness, one of the scariest moments of my life and it was just a stupid CAT. Haha we got a good kick out of it and apologized to the APs for disturbing their sleep. Better safe than sorry, I guess!!

Our investigator, Sister Petronia, who was once Muslim has now accepted Jesus as the Savior and Redeemer of the World. It has been great to see her gain a testimony of the Savior and watch her learn how to pray and receive answers. Oh, I love my mission. Hopefully she will continue to progress and will commit to baptism. Never thought I would convert a Muslim.

I love you all so much! I am so happy to be on the Lord's errand and I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. Don't forget to do the simple things that matter the most. READ, PRAY, GO TO CHURCH, AND DO THIS ALL WITH YOUR FAMILY TOO! The Church is true. We are so blessed. Do your home and visiting teaching. Serve someone today. Become a little better!

Love
Sister Trayner #2

Wa na ang kuto!

Family and Friends,

It is another beautiful (and HOT) day here in the Philippines and I am happy to be emailing all of you again! In case you are wondering what the subject line means, it means "THE LICE IS NO LONGER!!" haha yes, my kind companion went through and picked out every single lice egg. Haha, so sad but maybe y'all can send her an email of appreciation? Haha, you really should. Here's her email: de-tiare.vui@myldsmail.net!!

Okay I am so glad no one gave any spoilers about conference because I am SOOOO excited. Yes we still have to wait until Saturday but I am excited. Supposedly we won't have to go all the way to Tagbilaran to watch it because the District will give a DVD to all of the branches that are far away. But it's still kind of fishy from what we heard because last October 2012 Conference the branches were given the DVDs for April 2012. Haha, soooo bad. The sad part? None of the members realized until after. BUT YES I AM SO EXCITED. General Conference is Christmas for missionaries! 

We had a great week! I really LOVE this area. We taught a really good lesson to one of our less actives, Brother Reymundo. He is 20ish and his father just recently died. He is also the leader of the local bad boys "mga bugoy" The death of his father obviously had an effect on him and so we were able to share with him on Saturday night. We shared Alma 34:32 with him about preparing to meet God. Then he started to express how hard it would be for him to do what is right. As we taught him I kept asking him, Brother Reymundo, what is more important? Your family or your friends? Jesus Christ or your friends? Temporal happiness or eternal happiness? He was able to say what was more important to him (yes he chose all of the right answers) but then he just kept making excuses. It was so sad to see. He is so torn- he wants to do what is right but he feels so trapped by his "barkada" (group of friends) After we shared with Reymundo I was reminded about how Satan will do all that he can to help us feel that it's just too hard to change or to repent. That it is impossible. We were happy to see Reymundo come to church on Sunday and the Young single adults are also doing a great job in fellowshipping him.

I forgot to tell you all that we have a Muslim investigator. Crazy, right? she is the sister of the branch president's wife and it's been a great experience to teach her from the very beginning- in very simple ways- about God our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I guess I just always took it for granted, knowing who Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are. She is doing great (her name is Petronia) and she is even saying her prayers and reading her Book of Mormon. We are excited for her!

THE BEST NEWS OF THIS WEEK.

I FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON! Oh, it is sooooo good! I believe this to be my 3rd time to read the Book of Mormon here on my mission. I can't even express how much I love that book. I am so grateful for the time I have been given to study and apply the Book of Mormon to my life. (Remember Mom when I asked you 'What am I supposed to study for one hour each day?!?!' ) I hope that you are all taking time each day to feast upon the words of Christ. I feel so bad for the times before my mission that my Book of Mormon just sat pretty on my desk. I guess I just didn't realize how precious and valuable it is! It may be just a small book but I know it is the most precious possession I have.

Anyway things are going great here. We have water in the mornings and I am lice-free....for now! I love my mission. I am so grateful I made this decision. Best thing I've ever done. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to find true happiness and meaning in our lives. Whatever it may be that we need to work out in our lives, let us do it NOW. I love you, family. I think of you all often and I don't know why I was so blessed to be sent to the best family ever. I hope you all know I will do my best so that we can be together forever. Now all of you just need to do your part. It's not the Celestial Kingdom if we aren't all there :)

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! ajo ajo
Seesta Trrayneerrrr 
(that's the pronunciation of Filipino!)

Okay na ang tanan

Hey family!!

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRITTNEY last week! I hope you had a great
one ;) Next week is Josh's birthday...
How are you all doing? It was great hearing from some of you :) Thanks
for emailing!

Everything is okay now and we are still alive and kicking. We have had
water this week (at least in the mornings) and my lice is under
control... unless I think about it too long then my head starts to
itch! haha!

This past week was holy week here so the Catholics (and almost all of
Bohol) were at church or inside sleeping. So it made it an interesting
week for missionary work. Also heard of some crazy, I mean
"interesting" things the Catholics do here...like hanging people to
crosses for 2 hours or getting whipped in order to understand what
Jesus Christ felt. Yeah....interesting....

We had a less-active member die on Saturday night. He had suffered a
stroke and the family had no money to have him checked up so he just
kind of withered away. It was really sad. But the family gave the most
wonderful testimonies at the funeral service (it was right after
church on Sunday) It was a great moment to see how the gospel effects
people. The family was so positive in all they said and knew they'd
see him again. They testified this now is the time for us to repent
and do our best. Then at the end a lady of another faith...(you can
probably guess) got up and just started to bawl and cry hysterically
for the dead man's forgiveness. It was so sad and kind of pathetic.
One day it will be too late. Let us do the things we need to do in
this life or we will have regrets in the next life.

We are still becoming acquainted with our area but all is well. Last
week we went on the most amazing hike. It was so fun! We went with the
Pajo sisters. They are members here in Valencia. The area is really
big (all areas are in Bohol) but we are enjoying our rides on buses
that drive so fast they are practically flying and hopping on back of
motorcyles. This area is an adventure and we are loving every part of
it.

We are trying to get the member lessons rolling here since we have now
been asked to teach all active members- even if they are branch
president- all of the missionary lessons. It has been a great
experience so far and feel like this will really help the "Active"
members of the church here to gain deeper and more meaningful
testimonies. I am so glad I came on a mission. My testimony was so
shallow before. This mission has deepened my understanding and it
scares me to think of where I'd be if I wasn't here right now.

I love my mission so much. Just a warning I will brainwash Mercedes
and Madeleine when I get home....the mission is such a wonderful
experience to have.

I love you all! Thanks for all you have done for me and for your
prayers and support. You are all the best! I will try to send pictures
next week...I know y'all are dying to see some pictures of this
beautiful place.

Write me again next week. And please, read your Book of Mormon and do
your Home and Visiting Teaching!!
LOVE YOU

nicole

MIA

INIT KAAJO!

FAMILY NAKO.

Wow, so much has happened these past few days....we arrived here in Valencia, Bohol and it is an AMAZING place. Definitely my most beautiful area. Okay so last Thursday I woke up at the wee hours of the morning (3AM) and hopped on a bus headed to Cebu. It was sad to leave Sister Houston behind. She will always be one of my closest friends and we were both expecting that I'd be her last companion. But the Lord had a different plan ;) I arrived in Cebu around 12pm and headed straight to the temple grounds where I saw lots of my missionary friends. Then we waited a little bit until the APs said it was time to head up to the mission home to pick up our new companions. The American/foreign missionaries had just arrived that morning because the Church's flight agent messed up on their flight plans....poor missionaries. Anyway at the meeting I was paired with Sister Vui....from Samoa!!! Yes, so awesome. Both of my "daughters" (the missionaries I trained) are brown so I am happy to say that while I may be somewhat white on the outside (I have a tan now!!) I must be brown like I always wanted to be on the inside!! It was also fun to see Sister Prasad there....she looked happy with my "apo" (grandchild)...a Filipina ;) We were rushed to the boat heading to Bohol and made it JUST IN TIME. Then we got to Bohol and because our area is pretty far away we stayed at another sister's apartment.

Then we came to our apartment. I hate to use this word but none other will do justice. It was an ABOMINATION in the sight of all sister missionaries. The elders had done a service project before we got there but I'm not sure what exactly they cleaned because it was a mess. The elders were keeping pet spiders, rats, you name it. It was soooo dirty. It's also huge so we call it the haunted mansion. Anyway we spent a good day and half deep-cleaning the place. Heavens, I'll never forget when we entered the apartment. Papers thrown every where, spiders, rat poop stuck to the floor (my comp is a champ and cleaned it all up), and pictures of Jesus taped all over the bed frames?? what the??? I'm happy to say I participated in an extreme home makeover!!

The area is so beautiful here and the members are so great. Oh, I wish you could all see it here!! AMAZING!!! We have the ocean in our backyard and the highway runs along bright blue ocean. We have bikes to ride here as there is not much transportation and we ride motors too (crazy!!). Our area is huge and we have so many people to teach that live so far away. It is an adventure. The members here are so nice and they treat us like celebrities, haha. They are all so kind and all want to feed us every meal. I am excited and happy to be here. My companion is great and I am so happy she is my companion because I know this would be a hard adjustment to make for other sister missionaries but she is doing so well. It's so cute to hear her speak visaya,....reminds me of when I was still a new missionary. Now look at me.....so old in the mission!!

On Sunday we had district conference in Tagbilaran and I saw Uncle Dick and Aunt Joann :) Fun to see them. I was also able to see the members from my last area here in Bohol. They were all so excited and shocked to see me. I love those branch members. It was a happy Sunday.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so much. My companion was asking me questions about the changes I have seen in myself here on the mission and there are so many. I was a good person at the beginning of my mission but I feel the Spirit has helped to mold me into a better person. I still have weaknesses and am far from perfection but I am so grateful here on the mission I learned how to truly repent and become better. I know that repentance is a daily event. I have so much further to go and so may more things to improve but I am grateful for this time on my mission that I've learned how to be a little better. I hope we all take advantage of the opportunity to repent (read Alma 34:32!)

I LOVE YOU ALL. Keep writing me. Haha.
Love
Sista T #2