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