Alam ko po na Ang Aklat ni Mormon ay totoo.

Dear Family,

Hello from Las Pinas! It was a crazy busy week for Sister Veras and I! We had our temple day, a finish strong meeting for those who only have 1 transfer left, and service projects in the ward! We are so busy, and the weeks keep flying by. 

Usually on Monday mornings in personal study, I think a little bit about what experiences I had that week and what things I could share with you. Today as I was reflecting over the week, what really stood out to me was the role that the Book of Mormon has played in the lives of those who we teach, and in my own mission experience.

In the introduction to the Book of Mormon we read, "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible. It is a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel." As missionaries, the Book of Mormon is our greatest teaching tool. We believe that through the power of God, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. Because of this, it is literally evidence of the message that we as missionaries share every day. If one comes to know for themselves that the Book of Mormon is true, they thereby discover the truthfulness of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, of priesthood authority, and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by living prophets and apostles. 

As a missionary in the Philippines, I have invited hundreds if not thousands to read this book, and to come to know for themselves if it is true. 

This week Sister Veras and I were teaching one of our investigators named Rose. She lives in a humble home, and as we were teaching, her neighbors began to gather and listen to what we were sharing. One by one they either came and sat on the floor, or stood outside the window and listened to us teach about Jesus Christ, and His church on the Earth today. As we were closing, we gave Rose her own copy of the Book of Mormon. Her friends and neighbors quickly told us they wanted one too! When we returned with their own copies, they excitedly accepted and told us they would read. 

Of course, this is so exciting for us because this is the first step that they take to come unto Christ and His gospel. We know that if they will really read and pray with real intent, the Holy Ghost will testify to them of its truthfulness, and their lives will be changed forever. I have had this experience myself as I have read in the Book of Mormon, and prayed to ask God if it was true. Every time I read in it, the Holy Ghost testifies to my heart that it is not a book written by man, but the word of God, written by ancient prophets.

The Book of Mormon has also been a huge strength to me for a very different reason. It does act as proof of our message, and as evidence of the restored gospel. But it also is my source of comfort of peace, and the way that I have felt my Savior's love. The past few weeks have been some of the hardest on my mission, but the Book of Mormon has continually brought me the peace I need to keep going. 

Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon helps me understand who Jesus Christ is, and more fully comprehend the sacrifice that He made for me. "The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ and confirms the truths found in the Holy Bible. Far from undermining the Bible, the Book of Mormon supports its testimony of Jesus Christ. One passage says that the Book of Mormon “shall establish the truth” of the Bible “and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved” (1 Nephi 13:40).

In its more than 6,000 verses, the Book of Mormon refers to Jesus Christ almost 4,000 times and by 100 different names: “Jehovah,” “Immanuel,” “Holy Messiah,” “Lamb of God,” “Redeemer of Israel,” and so on." 

I love the Book of Mormon! I love getting to share it with everyone around me here in Las Pinas. I know that it is true. I know that Joseph Smith translated in by the power of God. I feel so blessed to have it as a power source of my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. For the remaining time I have here in the Philippines, I will continue to invite others to read it and to let the truth they find change their lives.

I love being a missionary! I hope you all have a great week and really let the Book of Mormon change your life as it has mine.

Love, Sister Lockwood

(Kayla did not send any pictures this week.)

Planning for the future

(No explanation given about this photo.  I don't know who she is but this appears to be a family history form that can be taken to the temple to do work for deceased ancestors.)

Dear Family,

This is going to be short because I just spent the last half hour or so figuring out what class schedule I am going to register for in a couple of weeks. I am super excited! And pretty nervous, too.

This week was really good. Sister Veras and I are working hard.  We are preparing recent converts to go through the temple, and to start doing their family history work and stuff. We also found some really great new investigators this week too. So life is good!

Conference was definitely the highlight of my week. I LOVED LOVED Vern Stanfill's talk. That was such an answer to my prayers. I felt like it was talking exactly about my situation. Its okay to have to rely on other's light for awhile until you are strong enough to get back to how things used to be. I also really loved Elder Hales, Sister Marriott and President Uchtdorf. And of course, Elder Holland's talk made me cry thinking about you, mom. (General Conference is a world wide broadcast of inspirational talks given by the leaders of our church.  It takes place the first weekend in April and October but is aired in the Philippines 1 week late due to the time zone difference.  Recordings of the talks can be viewed or printed at lds.org.)

I also am "ponderizing" a scripture this week! I chose. "To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" Romans 8:6. Are you ponderizing a scripture this week? I chose that one because I felt like I keep getting the prompting that I need to clean up my media when I get home. I watched/listened to way too much crap. All media that we intake does have an effect on us whether we like it or not. So that's really a commitment that I am making to myself and to the Lord!

Another favorite quote I had was from President Uchtdorf "We don't need to be more of anything to start to become the person God wants us to be." (:

 I'm also doing my best to take dad's advice and "finish joyfully!" Don't worry about me, just keep prayin for me!

Love,

Sister Lockwood

Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt

Dear Family,

Hello! This week has been super tough. I actually really considered not writing a letter this week, but I think that it is through the hardest parts of our missions that we learn and grow the most. I think there is value in recognizing that missionary life is really hard sometimes!

Before I served a mission, I knew it would be hard. When I got my call to the Philippines, I knew it would be really hard! I already knew in my head that I would have hard companions, that I might get head lice, bed bugs, hundreds of mosquito bites. I thought that I'd probably get homesick. I knew at some point the food would make me sick. I expected bucket showers, long hot days of rejection, big spiders, flying cock roaches, washing my laundry by hand.. I had heard almost every returned missionary testify that it was the hardest 2 years, but the best 2 years. I knew it was going to be really, really tough. But- I was willing to do it. It was an opportunity for me to show my Savior how much I love Him. It was a time for me to help others have the joy and blessings that I've had my whole life. I knew it would be hard, but that I would have heavenly help, and would learn and grow in the process.

And, for the past 15 months, that is about what has happened! Almost every trial that I expected would come, came. Of course, it wasn't easy, but I was able to look at it like an adventure, and it was what I had mentally prepared myself for. I was able to find things to be grateful for and overall maintain and really happy and positive perspective.

This past week, however, a trial came that wasn't really in the plans! Give me lice, bad food, crazy companions- whatever. But this particular trial-heck no, no way, no sir ree. And, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was not in the ideal mission Sister Lockwood had planned. 

So for the first few days, I just prayed and prayed that it would be gone. I thought, okay, if I have enough faith and determination, it will go away. I struggled and cried...and for the first time in my entire mission, I began to wonder if I could go on. I thought, maybe this is too big for me. Maybe I can't actually do it. I tried to be strong, just talk my way out of it, but I just literally could not move forward!

Finally, after hours on my knees, and after quite honestly feeling pretty sorry for myself, I realized that I needed to give in. I needed to be humble and figure out what the Lord was trying to teach me. I had to let go of the ideal mission that I had planned for myself.. and accept the mission that Heavenly Father had planned for me, whatever that might be.

And, of course, that is WAY easier said than done. At first, I thought, "Wait a minute? I just want to be a happy and healthy and hard working obedient missionary! Is that not the Lord's will for me? You want me to be happy right? Well, just in case you haven't noticed this isn't makin me so happy!" And right there... is where the lesson begins..

"Know thou, my daughter, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than He?"

Heavenly Father does want each of us to be happy. That is His greatest desire! But He sees a bigger picture than we see. He wants us to be happy now, but, what is MORE important to Him, is who he wants us to become, and how we can be happy for eternity. And sometimes, the only way to become that person, and to reach that happiness, is through trials. Its through those tests and times of despair that we start to reach that divine potential.

I am still trying to be humble and learn what the Lord has to teach me. But I am so thankful. For the first time in maybe my whole life- I really began to understand just a tiny bit of what the Savior felt when he cried out, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."

For all of us, for every missionary, and for every person on the planet, we will have times when we feel we cannot go on. We will wonder if we have the strength to move forward, and we do! We always do. Because the Savior of the world came before us. He is our source of strength, and He is there when nobody else is. 

I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father loves us. We are His children. His love is unfailing, and He will help us through every trial that we face. I am so thankful to be a missionary. To face trials that I never thought I would, and to come to know my Savior a little bit better.

Lots of love,

Sister Lockwood

(Kayla did not send any pictures this week but I am pulling these off of the mission blog and Sister Teo's blog.  Kayla got a new companion this week, Sister Veras, from Hawaii.  Sister Veras used to be Sister Teo's companion.)

"Christmas is coming, so we are already wrapping presents for missionaries.  (You have to start early when you have over 200 children! )  :)  (Thank goodness for wonderful Sisters who help me with this project!)"  Sister Ostler

Missionary Leadership Council

Sister Veras (before she was Kayla's companion) 

Sister Veras from Hawaii

Temple!

With Sis Arif at the temple.  What a very special day for her!

President Ostler did the work for her father.  I have the best mission president!

This is my district! It was sister Gallano's birthday so we bought her a cake

Sister Arif sprained her ankle

Dear Family,

I don't have too much time today so this will be short!

It was a good week in Las Pinas! We had the privilege of going to the temple to do the baptism for Sister Arif's father. She is from Pakistan, and they don't have a temple in her country. She had told President Ostler that she wanted so badly to do the temple work for him while she was here in the Philippines close to the temple. President Ostler did it himself! It was such a wonderful experience. I felt so lucky to just be there. Sister Arif said, "Now when people ask me how many members of the church are in my family, I can say 3! Me, my brother, and now my Father." 

I love being a missionary! It is such a blessing to help people not only here on this Earth to accept the gospel, but on the other side of the veil as well.

I love you! Have a great week!

Love, Sister Lockwood

The Ups and Downs

Hard to stay dry when it is pouring rain

Meet the Mormons activity at church

This is  a picture of the Berdin family. I got a letter from them this week! Sister Teo says that they are still going to church every Sunday! Yay!

Dear Family,

This week was a good week! It was super busy. We had interviews with President Ostler, choir practice, and our ward had a Meet the Mormons movie night! 

Sister Arif and I are working hard, and we really love this area. Our recent converts are still doing great! And we have some new investigators that we are starting to get excited about. One of the investigators we really focused on this week was Nanay Amacio. She is the mother of 2 of our recent converts.. They were baptized last year, and one of them is preparing to be sealed to his family this coming November! The missionaries have visited her for awhile, but she has been really hestitant to get baptized. She comes to church frequently, and listens to us when we come visit, but has not been able to really progress towards baptism. This week Sister Arif and I taught a lesson about temples and eternal families. For the first time, she really opened up to us. She began to cry as she expressed her sorrow for her husband that has passed away. We bore testimony that families can be eternal through the temple. She came to the Meet the Mormons activity and to church on Sunday. Keep her in your prayers!!

My companion, Sister Arif was baptized in 2012. She and her brother are the only members in her family. Her father is passed away, her mother is still living, and is Catholic. Her family is all pretty much Christain, either Catholic or LDS.  They do have missionaries in Pakistan but only Elders from Pakistan. Its okay to post her picture. One fun thing-she is actually engaged!! Her fiance is a member too. They often have very long engagements. Dating is not really allowed in her country.  Its fun to be with her because Pakistan is not Westernized at all. She doesn't really speak English super well, but is just the cutest and sweetest thing.  I just love her. 

Another highlight of this week was hearing about the people in my old areas!! I saw a Sister who just got back from Palawan who was serving in my old area in Santa Monica. She said that the Segovia's are preparing to be sealed!!! I am SOO excited for them. I also got a letter from the Berdin family! Sister Teo said that they are coming to church every week and that Baby Arianne was just blessed. Also, when I saw Sister Teo, she told me that Robert is still doing great, and that Carol is preparing to be baptized!!! I don't know if you remember me talking about her.. Sister Pamesa and I taught her together. When we first started teaching her, she was pretty closed. She told us that she wasn't really interested in being baptized, but that she just wanted to learn more. My very last day working in that area, Sister Pamesa and I taught the Plan of Salvation. We talked about the reasons Heavenly Father sent us here to Earth, and what things we have to do to be able to return back to Him with our families. After that lesson, I left the area, and Carol went out of town! But this week when I saw Sister Teo, she said that Carol is progressing towards baptism!! She said that Carol shared how after that lesson Sister Pamesa taught about the Plan of Salvation, she went to the gym and just started crying. She couldn't explain why, but it was then that it all changed. Nothing is more exciting for a missionary than to get news like that (: (: 

So, life is good! But of course, life isn't perfect. Last night, ALL of our lessons fell through, including our back ups. We were trying to OYM and look for new investigators when it started POURING. We were outside and had no place to go. Everyone punted us, in the pouring rain. Even though these aren't the things I email about, things like that happen all the time. Such is missionary life. But, I love the saying that even though our good days may not outnumber the bad days, the good days will always outweigh the bad days. 

I love you!! Have a great week! The church is true!!

Sister Lockwood 

Another great week!

This is my new companion, Sister Arif! It was her 1 year this week so we ordered pizza.

These are our new Indian investigators!

Outside of our apartment in Maganda

Dear Family, 

This week was transfers! I got a new companion, Sister Arif! She is from Pakistan. She is so wonderful and is just full of light. I think it will be impossible to be sad at all this transfer because she is always smiling and laughing. That was an answer to my prayers and I am so thankful for her. We are very excited for the work that we have to do together this transfer. I already know that Heavenly Father is preparing souls for us, because we have already found some of them!

This week, on what I think was our very first day working together, we were rushing to our last appointment with some recent converts at 8 PM. On the way there, an Indian woman called out to us and stopped us in the middle of the street! She started telling us that she knew some missionaries before, and invited us into her home. It wasn't long before Sister Arif discovered that they speak the same language! I didn't understand much of what was being said, but I just felt the spirit testify to me that Heavenly Father is so involved in our lives. I didn't even know that we had any Idians that lived in our area! Yet, God knew, and He knew that Sister Arif would be the perfect missionary to start teaching them. They are Hindu, and aren't interested in getting baptized yet, but they want to learn about Jesus Christ. It was such a faith building experience for me to watch how the Lord works.

For me personally this week, I am working on building my trust in the Lord. I read a few talks about Gordon B. Hinckley (a previous prophet in our church) that talked about his optimistic attitude. President Eyring shared how President Hinckley would be faced with big problems, but that he never seemed to worry. He had an attitude always of "things will work out." What I love that President Eyring said was his optimism and happiness came from an unwavering trust in Jesus Christ. That is one attribute that I really want to obtain. I love and believe and have great faith in my Savior. I want to be able to have deep trust in Him, and not worry so much. Sometimes I find myself worrying and stressing and trying to do things on my own. But I know that as long as I do my best, I don't need to worry! There is no need to stress because the Lord is on my side. Now, saying that and putting it into action are 2 different things.  Over the months I have remaining in the mission field- I want to trust. I want to do all I can, and then not worry and stress, but be optimistic in all things.

One super fun thing that happened this week.. We were at Buendia for transfer day, and so of course we had to go to Subway! (There is only 1 Subway that I know of in all of the Philippines, and it's next to the Buendia chapel.) It was Subway's 50th anniversary, and so the 50th customer got a free meal. Guess who was the 50th customer?  ...This girl! And anyone who knows me, knows that if anyone deserves a free meal at subway, its me. (: 

This coming week will be lots of fun! We have interviews, zone meeting, and choir practice, PLUS we get to work in our area, which is probably the best area in the mission. Sister Arif and I are the Sister Training leaders, and so we will be teaching in zone meeting. We will probably start our exchanges next week, too!

Life is so good! I am so happy to be here, especially in this area. It was a blessing this week to get to start re-teaching the families that were baptized last weekend. The Doloroso family is so amazing. Apple is already seeing and feeling the blessings of the gospel in her home. They are having family scripture study and family home evening! Ah- I love them so much. 

Well have a great week!! 

XOXOXO

Sister Lockwood

My purpose as a missionary.

 The Arias Family was baptized on Saturday, Sep 5th!

The Deloroso Family was baptized on Saturday, Sep 5th!

It is officially Christmas season in the Philippines! September 1st is when trees go up, and when music starts playing! They call it the start of the "ber" months (SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER). We also are starting practices today for the Christmas choir, which I somehow ended up as the director of.. So, Merry Christmas from the Philippines!  (I'll be home for Christmas! :)

 Missionary Leadership Council

Sister Te'o!  Friends and roommates from the MTC! 

Dear Family,

Hello from a very happy missionary!! This week was just wonderful. I just can't even believe how much Heavenly Father has blessed me. When I left my for my mission last July, I couldn't even have imagined how many amazing experiences waited for me. I knew that my mission would be hard, but I didn't know it would be this joyful, too.

Of course, this week was so happy for Sister Lagrimas and I because the Arias family and the Doloroso family were baptized! They both have been on a long journey to this point, and it was so much fun to just watch their faces fill with light as they finally made it here. But, I was most happy not because they finally made it to the finish line..but rather because they finally made it to the start! As I watched Apple receive the Holy Ghost, I thought of the guidance and help she would now have in raising her children. When Y'vonne was confirmed, I listened as they promised her amazing blessings, a future filled with the gospel. It made me ponder all of the baptisms and confirmations that I have changed my life. If Dad had not made the decision to be baptized when he was in his 20's... I know that my life would not be what it is today. If Grandpa hadn't joined the church, I definitely don't know how I would have the gospel in my life. Both of their decisions not only changed the course of their lives, but the course of the lives of all those who would come after them. The day of a baptism marks the day of a new beginning, a new life as a follower of Jesus Christ. It is just the beginning for Apple, Yvonne, Liezel, Camille, and Michelle, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for them!

As I have written these letters home.. I have often thought about what people who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints think when they read these letters. Most people think of missionaries that go to foreign countries as missionaries who help build houses, and who bring people clean water. However, readers of these letters soon figure out that my work as a missionary has a lot more to do with helping people come to church on Sunday! While helping those in need and doing service projects has been a part of my missionary service here, my purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I am here to help children of God make the steps they need to return back to Him one day.

I remember in my missionary preparation class at BYU, Brad Wilcox talked about our purpose as missionaries. He said that others may be confused why I would go to a place like the Philippines, and not spend my time helping the people temporally. He said that we have a higher cause. What I am bringing to the people here, is the ONLY thing that I can give to them that will last forever. Any other help- food, shelter, money, is temporary. Of course, they are so important, but my work helping others to enter into the waters of baptism, is even more important. 

Jesus Christ taught, "Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." I love the people of the Philippines! I LOVE the Doloroso family and the Arias family. I want them to be happy.. and most of all, I want them to be with their families, and their Heavenly Father forever. I want them to be saved in the kingdom of God. 

This is what I know to be true. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He is our Savior. He came into this Earth to give ALL of us a way to get back to Him. That way is through the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. His gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that it is true, because I feel the peace and joy every day as I embrace this gospel in my life. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that families can be together forever. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints truly is the Lord's church here on the Earth. 

I am so blessed to proclaim HIS truth to all the world. Jesus Christ's last words to his apostles were:

19 ¶Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

That is what I am here to do. I love it! I am SO thankful to be a missionary. I will forever be in debt to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have such beautiful experiences here. 

I love you! Have a great week!!

Love, Sister Lockwood