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

DTJH? Did that just happen?

Hello family! Yes in the subject line is my favorite acronym here in the Philippines. Sister Houston and I are always saying that to each other....the Philippines is just crazy!!!

Okay so last week I said there was no big news.....haha, well I've been slammed with lots of surprises this week! So here we go....

#1- I am transferring. I will be returning to Bohol! This time I will be white-washing an area in Valencia, Bohol (yes, round 2....but this time I'm sticking it out!!) and I will also be training. Bahh! Add on the stress. But it will be okay. All of the American missionaries missed their flight so they are delayed. Earlier we got a text telling me that I wouldn't be going to Cebu until Saturday (meaning for sure I was training an American) but then the APs texted and told me that I am going tomorrow at 5AM....so I'm not sure if I will still be training an American? I know I shouldn't really care, it's just the fact that I would really love to help an American sister out! But of course I know that President Schmutz will choose by revelation. ALSO my daughter in the mission (Sister Prasad!) is also training!! I was excited to hear this! It will be great to have my 2nd child and 1st grandchild be born at the same time!! (yes, that is missionary lingo...)

#2- They have changed Rescue Mission. We are now visiting ALL "active" members here in the Philippines. Isn't that just NUTS? It's actually really sad to me but it is so obvious that it is what needs to happen here. So we have been told to visit all members- even if they are the stake presidents or church leaders- and teach them all of the missionary lessons. It is so crazy. They reported that over 3,500 members were returned to the church last year in the Cebu Mission but there is only a 800-900 sacrament attendance increase. Meaning- the active members aren't holding on to those less-actives and that those "active" members are also following the pattern of going into inactivity. Ugh, it's so hard here!! So we will work on converting members now so that new and returning members will stay. Cleaning the inner vessel!

#3- NEW EMAIL POLICY!!! Yeah!! Maybe Dad knows about this....but now we are allowed to email our friends!! Crazy, and we can email for up to 2 hours on Pday. Wow, so crazy, I never saw that coming....

Oh my goodness, I have so many things to get done before I leave Dumaguete. I really love this area and I have learned a lot. I have felt disappointed many times by the leaders here in the branch. We had another frustrating PEC meeting (in which the Branch President never attended) with the leaders making excuses about why they won't go visiting...they basically told us that people never change. It hurt my heart. Especially thinking about the role Nana's ward played in helping her to return to activity and helping convert Forrest. Just like President Monson's talk last Priesthood Session of GC, men are not leopards. They can change their spots any days. I have loved this area but I have definitely learned what a true follower of Christ is by observing members of the church here.

Okay well I love you a lot. I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR RACHEL'S NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dreamed the other day that I was playing with baby Owen....then I realized that he ain't no baby no more....haha! But yes it made me trunky. So I'm glad I'm transferring, opening an area, and training so that I can stay busy in the Lord's work these next few days.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Sista T #2

Init na!!

Family,

Summertime has arrived here in the Philippines (yes, to us Americans it is always summertime here!) and it is SOOOOO hot! There is actually a difference...oh, how I miss the rain! It is crazy to think that within the next 10 or so days I will hit my one-year mark of being in the Philippines. Time has gone by so very,very fast. I remember feeling like I was going to die here in the Philippines and now the time is just slipping through my fingers.

We had a great week here in Dumaguete. We conducted splits with 2 companionships which was great. I stayed in our area while Sister Houston worked in the other areas. We arranged it this way as she is still new to the area and can't really lead it. So I am jealous she was able to work in other areas! I realize it will be the same way next transfer when I get another new companion, I will be left in the area while they go and work in the other areas! But it's okay because I really do love this area in Dumaguete. It was fun to go on splits with the other sisters and I am certainly learning a lot from them. However, I won't lie, Sister Houston and I are always happy to be reunited. Too bad she'll be leaving me here pretty soon at the end of March...

Not too much shocking news this week....which is a good thing because I feel like this past month or so there has been crazy things happening in the mission or just in my life. Lots of surprises! But the work here is progressing. We have made a goal to find new less active members here. There are 600 plus names on the branch record and on average only about 150 go to church each week. So there are 450 plus members that are lost. We set an appointment with some long-time members here, President and Sister Salayog, so that we could go over the records with them and ask them about who else we can look for and teach. The appointment was kind of pointless as they went through the list and just told us they didn't recognize many of the names, or the people were dead, or they had moved, and so on. But we will continue to look for those Less-Actives (come out come out from wherever you are!!) It is hard work looking for less-actives here in the Philippines. People are constantly moving around...so transient.

We have a new investigator with a baptismal date, Sister Mila Francisco. She is a sister of a member here and she is GOLDEN. In our first lesson with her she just expressed her want to repent of her sins. That is such a good thing to see in people. She is in her 60s and has had a really hard family life- her husband died a couple of years ago and her kids have pretty much abandoned her. She is looking for the light of Christ. She told us that every time we teach she just feels so different and good. It has been a great first few lessons with her and she is just soaking everything in. She is so willing and committed to changing.

We had a few moments of frustration with our branch here this past week and it has all just been a learning experience for me. The branch here basically refuses to take part of any service projects. We asked the Relief Society to find some members to help us wash clothes for one of our Less Active members who just had a new baby, has a toddler, takes care of her other siblings, and can't wash except for Saturdays because her husband is working and no one can watch her kids. The Relief Society Presidency told us that we need to tell the member to be more self reliant. I was so disappointed in that moment. They then made excuses about how they are too old or too busy to help. While they sat there and made excuses I just kept thinking of Mosiah 2:17, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn ^awisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the ^bservice of your ^cfellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Oh, the lessons I am learning here on my mission. I hope we will all make the effort, no matter how old we are, what our physical conditions are, or how busy we are to serve our fellow men. Charity never faileth....well I guess it's failing here in Dumaguete....haha

Anyway we have an activity today so I've got to sign off but know that I love all of you and pray for all of you!!! Thank you for your support. DO YOUR HOME AND VISITING TEACHING!!!!!!!!!!

Love you
Sister Trayner #2

Pastilan!!

Family!!

Hello there! It's another wonderful Wednesday here at the computer (yes, it now kills my eyes to sit at a computer for 1 hour....not used to it anymore) and I am just so happy to be emailing all of you :) For the last half hour or so my companion and I read about all of the new 58 (YES FIFTY-EIGHT) missions being created. We also read Dad's name under Texas McAllen and I just felt so sad. I don't know why....I guess it's just hard to believe Mom and Dad's time is almost up (which in return means my time is almost up too). I can't believe how fast the work is hastening and I just feel the excitement....my goodness!! The excitement of all this missionary work is just pumping through my veins!!!

Anyway, we had a great week here in Dumaguete/Tanjay areas. We spent about 3 days in Tanjay working with the sisters there....we had only scheduled to be there for just 2 days or so but then one of the sisters had a dental problem so then we had to come back to Dumaguete and then rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Tanjay is soooo beautiful. I am excited to come back after the mish....I will just drive around here in Negros, it is so beautiful!! We worked with two sisters, Sister Delacruz and Sister Neri. It was fun but we are TIRED. Haha all of the work and travel is exhausting. But it is so fun.

Our area is doing great. For some reason like none of our Less-Actives came to church on Sunday which was really disappointing. They all had different reasons but it was kind of disappointing. We've hit kind of a hard spot in our area as far as teaching-wise and with our new responsibilities as "Coordinating Sisters" (We are SO official) we are so busy but with faith I know we will find those people who the Lord has prepared for us to teach. Tonight Sister Houston will travel to another area, Sibulan and I will stay here with a sister coming from Sibulan and we'll work in Dumaguete. We are excited.

The Senior Couple assigned here in Negros did a Home and Visiting Teaching workshop for our branch leaders which was great. It was in english and the next day at church the leaders came and told us they didn't really understand that much....so yeah....it was a great workshop but now they have asked us to do the workshop again for them in visaya. You know, just to add on to the work load....but that's okay! Then the Croppers (the senior couple) took us out to dinner to a REAL restaurant....yeah I felt like this uncivilized jungle lady walking back into civilization. It was a shock and the first time in over a year that I"ve eaten some true Italian food! LAMI!

I hope that all is well back at home. Each week is just flying by. I love my mission!!!! I am hoping to do a round #2....do you think President Monson would give the ok? Haha. But really I am so grateful for these experiences I am having on my mission and I am so thankful that the time has finally arrived that more young women will be able to serve full-time missionaries. Sister Houston and I were talking the other day and I just hope Nate and Josh know that I will literally BRAINWASH their daughters to go on missions. This is the best decision I have ever made and I know that this is what I needed in order to help me on my path to exaltation. Missions are great. The Lord watches over me each day and I feel His love and His care for me and for the people we teach. I never thought as a little girl I would serve a mission ("sister missionaries are weird and grungy looking" attitude), let alone serve a mission in the freaking JUNGLE of the Philippines with all the lizards and frogs and spiders! I often look at my surroundings and think, "how did I get myself here?" The truth is that the Lord put me here. And how grateful I am that I have been assigned to these places that I am serving. That attitude I once had is true--- I am now a weird sister missionary and grungy!! Haha! But I couldn't embrace it more. Being a sister missionary is the best! The Church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. We have a loving father in Heaven. There is a true and living prophet! These things have been engraved on my heart as a full-time missionary. If I had not served, I am not sure if those things would be engraved on my heart.

I love you family. I think of you often and I am so grateful for your love and support!! You are the best. Keep up the hard work Presidente y Hermana Trayner!! Ikaw pod Elder Trayner!!!
Good luck Rach with your interview. Love you Nate,Meg,Josh,Britt, Madeleine, Owen, Mercedes, Tyson, Jaxson!!!! You too Nana, Forrest, Grandma, Grandpa!!!!
Love
Nicole

Crazy things are happening in the Cebu Mission!!!

Hello to my dearest family!

Okay so much is happening here in the Cebu Mission. Let me just start off by saying that I misread the transfer text last week and I'm not training. Instead I was informed that my new companion would be Sister Houston (from Roosevelt, Utah! Also, my "twin" in the mission) would be my companion. When I found this out I was SHOCKED. Because with so many new sisters coming in the mission I just thought it was so weird that two experienced sisters were placed together. But I was really excited and figured since it would be Sister Houston's last transfer, President was just trying to end her mission the right way (which you know...I am the best way to end any mission, haha). Then the Zone Leaders told me I had to go to Cebu to be interviewed by President Schmutz and I was like, "what???? It is soooo far away!" So then one of the APs was texting us, kind of teasing me and finally he just called and told me, "You and Sister Houston are breaking ground in the Cebu Philippines Mission....You two are becoming the first coordinating sisters of the mission....you are going to travel all around Negros Island training sisters." I was even MORE shocked after he said that. Anyway, long story short I met my new companion in Cebu and we had a quick 12 minute meeting with President Schmutz where he told us, "You two will write the handbook for this new assignment." and gave us no further direction other than, "go back to your area and have some fun!!" So yeah, Sister Houston and I are seriously having the time of our lives!!! If only you could see us, it's so great. She and I were both companions with Sister Brand (shout out!) and we owe our missionary-greatness to her. (haha just kidding, I sound so prideful.) So yeah. Once a week we travel to the different parts of Negros and go on splits with the sisters. Later today we will travel to Tanjay. But I just laugh because I traveled 12 hours in order to talk with President Schmutz for 12 minutes....so tiring.

SECOND BIG NEWS: OUR MISSION IS SPLITTING!!! What the???? It will split this July 1 and I am just praying I get to stay in the same mission as President Schmutz for the last 16 days of my mission. Crazy things are happening. Seriously.

THIRD BIG NEWS: our baptism was great and now Sister Crisencia is an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her baptism went well (of course it started an hour late- Filipino time) but she was so happy and her testimony was so wonderful. She is the cutest lady ever and I love her a lot.

Okay that is about it. I just feel like this past week has been one of the craziest/most exciting of the mission. I have gotten little sleep but I am loving my missionary life right now. I am so excited for our new responsibilities and I know I'll be the one to keep it going as Sister Houston will be going home this next transfer. I feel so blessed to have been given this assignment and I know that through diligence and prayerful, hard work Sister Houston and I will be able to help and train the sister missionaries here.

I AM SO HAPPY TO HEAR about Rachel's interview at BYU. Rach, I'll keep you in my prayers. Hopefully your nose is okay now, haha that is like the funniest/saddest thing I've heard. I hope Nate and Megan are doing okay--in fact the whole Hullinger clan. I've thought about you often this week. Josh and Britt, keep sending those videos. I love seeing your kids. The other day Sister Houston and I were talking about eternal families and this feeling just swept over me. How much I desire that I will be with all of you forever. I then realized how much work it will take on all of our parts. That it won't always be easy. But siblings, keep the faith and keep doing what is right every moment of your life. I can't think about the next life if my 4 best friends aren't there too. How blessed I am to have each of you in my life!

I know this Church is true. I know that we have the fulness of the gospel and we are so blessed because of what we know. I know the scriptures help us through the hard times and keep us going. I know we have a Savior. Even though we live in this imperfect world we have a Savior who has paid for our sins and gave us the gift of repentance. Each day of our lives we have the opportunity to evaluate ourselves and rid ourselves of our sins, our bad habits, and our natural man tendencies. I know that as we each are diligent in our repentance,  we will become better people- born again.

I love my mission. I'm so grateful for these experiences I am having and the lessons I am learning. To be completely honest, looking back to who I was before my mission, I was a good person who wanted to do what was right. But my mission has changed me. It has shown to me the path leading to our Father in Heaven and all the things I must do in order to return to him. My mission has blessed lives of others but it has taught me lessons I couldn't have learned any where else. My understanding is so much more complete now- I know what I must do to gain exaltation.

I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!!
Love
Sister Trayner

Maganak ko pag-usab

FAMILY!!!

Thank you for all of your emails this past week. It was great to hear from all of you!! Thanks for your emails!

So the subject line=I will bear a child again......meaning  yes.....transfer calls came today and I am going to be training another new missionary! So Friday morning, bright and early (yes, 3 AM....yikes....) I will get on a bus and make the looooooong journey to Cebu. My cute current companion, Sister Abundo, will be transferring to Bohol.....I am so sad that we will be separated but I kind of saw it coming. Some things are too good to be true.We had a great 12 weeks together and I will really miss her. She is one of my dearest companions and I will miss her.

We had a great week. I really love this area! We had 7 investigators attend church (BOO YA!) and we are seeing great progress in many of our less-actives. Yesterday night we were able to share with one less-active family, the Tulabing family. They were offended by a missionary but the mom has already come back and I know the rest of the family will just follow. We shared about the Book of Mormon and the Spirit was so strong. In those moments I just think to myself, "Missions are amazing. I will never forget these moments! I just met these people but yet I already feel such a love and strong desire to help them." Like I always say, Mission are Miracles.

This coming Saturday, Sister Cresencia will be baptized!! YEAH!!! She is such a great investigator and SO committed to live the gospel for the rest of her life. It is so rewarding to see someone's life change so much. It was cute when she pulled out her phone and showed us that she had made a picture of Jesus the background of her phone. I am excited to see her enter the waters of baptism but sad that Sister Abundo will miss out. But that's just how the mission works. I guess my new companion is pretty lucky....first day in the field and BAPTISM! haha....

Everything here is going great. We had a fireside for our branch last Sunday and taught them how to give referrals. So....let's just hope the members will step up and give us some more referrals!

I wasn't bitten by red ants this week. 

Anyway I love you all, I hope you are happy and healthy. Time is FLYING by so I will make sure to take advantage of every moment. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! 

Love
Sister Trayner

AGAY!!! gipaakan ko sa amigas

Hello my dearest family,

Thanks for those of you who emailed me this first week of February....(insert feelings of guilt trip here)

Okay so I have stories for you! In fact one just happened like a half an hour ago. But I am short on time so I hope I can fit this all in.

So the subject line....translation: Ouch!!! I was bitten by ants!!
Story: We just moved into our new house. I went to take a shower. My towel was hanging on the towel rack (yes this new house is so fancy it has a towel rack!!) I stepped out of the shower, wrapped myself in the towel. Then it felt like I was being bitten....lo and behold my towel was COVERED in red ants. Of course I could not see them as I am basically blind with no contacts or glasses. So yes, my approximate guess would be that there were 30 bites. And since my body is super sensitive to insect bites they got SUPER huge and my body was swollen all over in random places and it really hurt. 3 days have passed and I am still itchy. Those darn ants.

I love falling...I mean HIKING.....
Story: Last week it was POURING rain....it was like a small tsunami with winds and all of that stuff but our district decided to continue with our district activity of hiking in the mountains to a japanese shrine. Anyway we got SUPER wet and actually it turns out there aren't good views on the tops of mountains when it's raining and foggy. As we made the descent, I totally slid (in typical Nicole style, of course) and was COVERED in mud. My underclothes (hahaha) were even brown. When it comes to hiking in mini tsunamis all I can say is: Oh, be wise...what can I say more?

The companionship t-shirt of Sister Trayner and Sister Abundo....
Story: I received revelation one night coming home from a long day of work. We had been thinking about the design for our companionship t-shirt (it's like the thing to do here in the Philippines...make matching t-shirts...) And I received pure revelation. The Filipinos have a hand sign, your thumb and index finger extended in the shape of a "v" and when you place it right below your chin it means you are gwapo or gwapa (good looking). So....our Branch Mission Leader made us a design for the t-shirt....which the hand shape and then it says....."Oi! naay gwapa!" Meaning---Wow! there is a pretty girl!!---as we were walking to this internet place we wore them because we are on our way to play sports with the Zone, this man called us over to him. I thought he was a member or something but long story short....he's not......but he LOVED our t-shirts and introduced us to all of his friends. Then he ended by trying to give me "besos" hahahahahahahahaha.....I guess funny t-shirts might spread the gospel message faster than pass along cards ;)

Okay enough storytelling. We had a great Sunday with 5 investigators coming to church and SO MANY LESS ACTIVES!!! I was sooooo happy. We have been working so hard to get them back and they are coming. Oh, the tender mercies of missionary work. It was one of the most successful and happy Sundays of my mission. We moved into our new apartment which is really nice and it's close to the market which is great! Fresh fruit and vegetables just in walking distance :)

I am learning so much on my mission and I am so grateful for the experiences I am having. I have developed a love for the scriptures and reading. I know that we need to become a more scripture reading people. If ever we have questions or decisions to make, we just need to read. As we show our faith to our Heavenly Father by prayer and scripture study, the words of Christ will tell us all things we should do (2 Nephi 32:3) Time is flying by but I am loving every moment of it. Missions are miracles! I am so eternally grateful for this chance to spread the gospel message.

I love all of you. Write me next week...Valentine's week!! So give me some love!!!! 

Love
Sister Trayner

Ulan, ulan, ulan

Rain, rain, rain. That is the weather here in the Philippines. The
rain is never ending!!! But I have counted my blessings that at least
it isn't snow ;) Sounds like you Utahns have had quite the
winter...global warming, maybe?

We have had a great week here in Dumaguete. I really like this area
and my companion is also great so I'm a happy sister missionary :) We
have seen great progress in our investigators and less actives this
past week. Sister Crisencia is still pressing forward with her
baptismal date of February 16. She is so great. We taught her about
repentance this past week and in the next lesson she told us her
experience of repentance and the impact of her true repentance. It was
a great moment to have as a missionary and it's been a blessing to
teach the gospel to her and watch her accept it- without any questions
and complete obedience. She is a gem.

This week we taught one less-active, Sister Antinero. She is in her
mid 70s and unfortunately, she is the leader of the
we-left-the-Mormons pack in her area. We finished the first missionary
lesson and she had lots and lots of questions. At the end when we
testified about Joseph Smith, the Spirit was so strong. She then
whispered, "I know this is true. But it is too late for me to go back
to the Church. I have dragged too many people away and I can't go back
now." She also explained that her daughter had become a pastor in the
church they now participate in and how she couldn't leave that church.
As I sat there and listened to her and after we exhorted her to return
to the Church no matter what, I learned one of the biggest lessons of
my mission. I learned how powerful our choices are. How our choices
have an effect on so many people- especially our posterity. The moment
Sister Antinero decided to leave the Church and take others with her,
she automatically affected the happiness of those people and their
posterity. As I ponder about her situation, I just feel so sorry for
her. I feel sad she doesn't have the courage to do what is right no
matter what the consequence. I feel sorry for her the day she faces
the Savior and tells him she didn't have enough courage to follow Him.
Every choice we make in our lives is very important, especially those
concerning if we will or will not keep the commandments of Jesus
Christ. If only we could see our futures I know we would always keep
the commandments.

We also have another golden investigator, Brother Raynald....the
problem however is....that there is no divorce in the Philippines
which leads to people living-in with each other. Brother Raynald has
been living in with his member "wife" for 3years now and if they could
be divorced to their previous spouses, they would be. But...the
Catholic Church has a strong hold on the government here and they are
anti-divorce. (I'd love to throw some marriage and family research at
them....it's better to be divorced and have the chance to be remarried
than to be forced to live-in) Anyway they both kind of know that he
won't be able to be baptized immediately. Elder Oaks has set a rule
here in the Philippines that the living-in couples must be together
for a minimum of 5 years- with complete and total fidelity- before
they can be baptized. However, they will never be able to enter the
temple. So disappointing.

We will be moving to our new house this Friday!!! OH YEAH!!! so excited.

Okay well I can't think of anything funny to tell this week. Besides
the fact that we are getting soaked walking in the rain everyday and
loving every moment. I am so grateful for all of your emails and
prayers! I know when the hard times come on my mission I have your
prayers to help me keep going. I am so grateful for such a wonderful
family and I always think about how great it is that I have 4 other
family members working for the same great cause. The time is flying by
so it's time for me to take advantage of every single moment.

I love you all so much!!!
Sister Trayner

I wish this email was "sent from my iPad"

I dedicate this subject line to my parents and siblings. It appears as you are all moving into the future as almost every one of your emails ended with the following words, "sent from my iPad". My family is so tech-savvy and I'm walking around in jungles with frogs and lizards! I love it!

We had a great past week and I can't believe it is already Pday. Last week we committed one of our investigators, Sister Crisencia Macario for baptism! She is Tagalog-speaking (yes I NEED to learn Tagalog ASAP) but understands English. I can't remember if I already told you all about her but she came to Dumaguete to visit her sister (who is a member) and as she was getting ready to return to Manila she suffered a stroke. It has been a very humbling experience for her. We have watched her physically recover but it has been a blessing to see how the gospel has blessed her to heal spiritually. She has such great faith and it has been rewarding to watch her keep commitments and feel the Spirit in her life.

Last Friday we had Zone Interviews so President and Sister Schmutz came! It's always great to see them. President gave a great workshop about Joseph Smith and I was reminded of the sacrifices he made for the Church. It turned out that I was the only missionary out of the whole zone who had visited Carthage Jail and I was so grateful that I have been there. I was reminded about the sacrifices he made for the Book of Mormon. I remember times before my mission when my scriptures would just sit on my desk- I'm sad to say it-but there were times they would sit there for 4 or 5 days without being opened. I was so caught up in my own busy-ness that I forgot how precious the Book of Mormon is. So many prophets gave of their time to write their histories in the Book of Mormon and to add upon that, Joseph Smith gave his life. So many of us forget just how valuable the Book of Mormon is. How applicable it is for our day. We make excuses, "I'm too busy...." "I'm too tired to read..." "Reading scriptures is boring...." "I have only 15 minutes to read so it's not worth it....I won't learn anything." We make these excuses because we forget the sacrifices that were made so that we can have the Book of Mormon. We forget that Joseph Smith gave his life so that truth could be restored through the Book of Mormon.

I realize I just ranted but I hope you all know that reading scriptures is important. It doesn't matter how busy you are, there is time to read every day. Take advantage of the writings of ancient prophets. Read the book! If you only have 15 minutes, read. Read 5 verses and try to apply what you read to your life. I know as we all do this, our lives with change. We will become better people and come closer to the Spirit. The next time you complain about reading the Book of Mormon just think about what you'll say to Joseph Smith on the other side of this life!!

I hope you all know that my mission has changed me. I am still Nicole but I am a better Nicole. I am so grateful for these experiences I am having. As I looked at a picture my friend sent me of a bunch of my friends and longed to be with them, the Spirit confirmed to me that this is what I am supposed to be doing. My time couldn't be used for a better purpose. We had amazing experiences this last week challenging Less actives to keep the Sabbath Day even when they have...well "dumb" excuses. Both families came to church and they have testified to us about the change in their lives and the blessings they are receiving. EVERYONE KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!!!

We also had a great service project last week where we weeded the garden of a member. We off-roaded it in the van of the ZLs and it was fun. I just love serving a mission in the Philippines.It is FULL of adventure and sometimes I look around and think "how did I get myself here?!" Just like Dad said in his email, I will have so many crazy and funny stories when I get home!! But hey dad and mom....just say no! to gettin' trunky :)

I hope all of you in Ut are staying warm. Sounds like it is nice and chilly. I'll think of you as we sweat away here in the Philippines!! I love you all. You all wrote me this week! I couldn't be more proud of you! Haha. I love you all.

LOVE YOU
Sister Trayner #2 (hehe)