Balambantastic

Family,

Kumusta mo? Ok ra ko dire sa Philippinas! Salamat to all of you who had the chance to write me! And especially to those who remembered that it is indeed my birthday this Saturday. Thanks :)

First, I have been receiving letters from my friends...and I guess my blog hasn't been updated since March? Can someone please follow-up with Rachel and make sure she updates it? Haha...but really though. My friends want to know what is going on!

Let's see....so it's been kind of rainy which means it actually hasn't been blazing hot here in Balamban. I am very grateful for the rain here! Also, the old men that sit on a bench that we pass about 200 times everyday mentioned that I am looking slimmer. So that is also good news. And my favorite shoe (yes, they are tevas) was stolen by a dog last week...he only took one....was discovered 3 days later in a gathering of banana trees. I was so very, very relieved! I don't think I can survive the rest of my mission without those bad boys. And boy are they stylin'....

We have a baptism this Saturday and I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! It's about darn time I have my first baptism (sorry, Nate...I know you probably waited forever for your first) Brother Wilson Ganigan is going to be such a great member. He is so excited to learn about the gospel and I am so happy to know he is a gospel convert. He is awesome. We had an amazing lesson yesterday with his family about the Priesthood and I am the happiest for them. The gospel is such a blessing!

My patience is being tried with those darn Less-Actives. And with all of the times we have to teach and reteach the Sabbath Day. I am grateful to have an awesome companion who is so diligent and has so much faith in these people. In your 3rd transfer it's just hard to believe people will actually progress....

Thank you all for your love and prayers. Here on my mission I have come to realize how important families are and how incredibly blessed I am. We have an awesome family (I'll stop there before I get homesick!) I am glad to hear that things are going well for everyone...in spite of Nate's scare this week....I know that this Church is true!! It is through the gospel of Jesus Christ that we are able to find true happiness and peace in this life and in the life to come.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
Nicole

PS. Happy happy happy birthday to my dearest Mercedes Nicole! I hope she has a great day and let her know that her aunt Nicole is thinking of her!!!

(no subject)

Hello family,

Well I am writing you once again from the hot and sweaty Philippines! I love P-Day. Emailing is just the best :)

This week was....a good one. We worked our little-tails off. I also happen to have probably THE most diligent companion so we just work all of the time. It's great. Last week we had 39 lessons and 214 I2L's...meaning we invited 214 people to learn about the church. Wow. We work, work, work.

We won't be having a baptism this Saturday. Sayang. Our investigator had doubts and his family didn't want him to get baptized then that night he also got drunk. He still wants to be baptized but he will have to really show us that he is not a social convert (his friends are investigating and he has member friends) So we are back to step one with him. The good thing is that we taught the baptismal covenant so clearly that he really understands what he will be covenanting with the Lord for the rest of his life. I was disappointed but also relieved that this all happened before his baptism, before he became another Less Active that other missionaries would have to track down later on.

Brother Wilson Ganigan is still going to be baptized next Saturday and I am just the happiest. He is a future District President. He is so humble, kind, and loves to learn about the gospel. I feel so blessed to be the missionary who not only taught him but will also see him enter the waters of baptism. Also next Saturday we have Zone Interviews so basically my birthday is going to be the best! One to never forget.

Our Less-Actives are coming along....Sunday is game day. Will they show up? With they keep their commitments? Ahhh...the anxiety KILLS me! We have some who are progressing and other who are not. It's so sad to see their conditions. And the saddest part is that most of them have been offended and just refuse to come back. I've learned one simple thing: No one can stand in the way of your salvation but you. Members of the Church are not perfect and neither are you. So learn to forgive others and don't let them get in the way of your salvation! Anyway....it is so rewarding to watch people come back to church and make goals to enter the temple as families. It is the best.

I love you all so much!! I think of you all often. It's funny because the Philippines just feels like home now. As i fly down the road on the back of the motorcycle I realize that when I forget myself I am much happier.

Love you,
Sister Trayner

Pinapay....my favorite snack.

Hello my dearest family.

FIRST....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay...so I just want to tell you all about my favorite snack here in
the PI. Pinapay. Basically they cut bananas in half (hot dog style)
and then they piece 4 banana halves together...so it kind of looks
like your hand. And then...they fry it...and put sugar on it. Let me
tell you what!! It is so LAMI!! (delicious)

So this week was another great one. It was so sad to lose my dearest
Sister Brand (who I just feel is my long-lost other half) but I am
happy to say that my new companion is great. Her name is Sister
Mahinay and she is from Manila. Basically she's a Filipina Dora the
Explorer. Ha, she is just cute. She has TONS of energy and we are
working hard. I have so much to learn from her!

Our investigators are doing great and I am so excited for them! Next
Saturday will be my first baptism here in the Philippines. Brother
Cyrus. He is awesome! He has just soaked up the gospel. He's only 19
but he has such a desire to learn and also to LIVE the gospel of Jesus
Christ. He is a cool kid. And then the next week....Brother Wilson
will be baptized. Future Branch President.

My companion really likes Filipino food so I am sure I will be eating
lots of interesting things in the near future. I got too much into my
comfort zone with Sister Brand. So...yeah...bring it on. She really
loves dried fish...and lots of other things....yum.

I can't really think of anything else to say... earlier we went to the
temple which was amazing, once again. I am so lucky to have a temple
here in my mission.

I know this gospel is true. I now know how hard missions are! I am
seriously just so tired all of the time. And usually something is
aching: my foot, my back, my head...but I know this is my calling and
my duty. To represent the Savior in all that I do. Thank you for all
of your prayers for me, they have given me so much strength! I
challenge each of you...if you aren't already...to start to read the
Book of Mormon every day. I know how powerful it is and I have
witnessed its power while I've been here in the Philippines. So if you
aren't doing so right now, then START.

Thanks for your support and all of your love. I am so blessed to have
such a wonderful family. And just a shout out to Papa: I LOVE YOU! I
hope all of us siblings realize how blessed we are to have such a
wonderful and stalwart man as our father. And also, he is quite funny!
I love you Dad!

Have a great week. Don't forget to write :)
Sister Trayner

I be ridin' solo

Well hello there family of mine!!!

Another week has come and gone. And...I am companionless! Right now
the branch missionaries are taking shifts with me...haha until Friday
when I go to the City to meet my new companion.

So I have the pinakamaayong balita EVER! Brother Wilson, yes THE
Brother Wilson Ganigan HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE. Everyone, whatever you
are doing, just for me...will you please stand up, clap your hands,
scream "YES!!!" and the top of your lungs, and if so capable, will you
please cry sweet, sweet tears of joy? Okay, thanks. Basically that I
how I feel. We went to go teach him last Sunday when he was all
gilantan ( he had a fever) and we taught about the 10 virgins. FINALLY
his wife bore her testimony about how she knew he was ready and that
if he knew the Church was true than he should just be baptized. And so
then I committed him later on and he was just like "ok" and I was
SHOCKED. So I recommitted him 2 more times after that. And this is
also kind of fun....he will be baptized on June 30 (which, let me
remind you is the day of my birthday) so pretty much I will have the
best birthday EVER. I am definitely reaping the rewards of many
prayers and many lessons of other missionaries. I feel so blessed to
have taught Brother Wilson and to be the one who will also see him
enter the waters of baptism. The BEST part: Now his family will be
sealed in a year. And guess who will still be roamin' around these
parts? AKO. me.

I am just so happy for him. I know baptism is essential and such an
important part of us showing our willingness to follow the Savior
Jesus Christ. Brother Wilson is an educated, humble, and kind man who
will have such an impact on the Balamban 1 Branch. He will become such
a strength in a place where there are so few worthy and active
priesthood holders. Simply amazing.

So as I mentioned before, my beloved Sister Brand (or as the elders
called us...Sister Brayner) left early yesterday morning. In that
moment I realized....goodbye English. It was nice speaking you. But I
know this will be good for me. My next companion is Sister Mahinay...I
don't really know much about her but the elders said she is "dope" and
I have heard she is super kakugihan (diligent) so I am excited. We are
going to get work done here in the Bal-ban.

This last weekend we had District Conference and so were able to see
President and Sister Schmutz. Holy cow, do I LOVE them. They are just
the best. I also had the privilege of bearing my testimony...which was
fine. I learn so much each time they speak. They are both amazing
people and I feel so loved by both of them.

Well the work here is progressing. I hope that I can have a companion
for longer than 6 weeks! That would be great! I hope you all know that
I think about you and pray for you always. I feel so blessed to have
my family. I hit the jackpot in this life. Sure we aren't perfect but
we are pretty dang nindot.

I love you so much!!! Also thank you to my four friends who I received
letters from this week!!! I love you all!!
Sister Nicole Trayner