April 28, 2014

HI FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!!

How are you?! This week has been CRAZY!!!! hahah so we are now in a trio with Sister Lewis (whom I love to bits!!!) and covering two wards! Ang Mo Kio still and Toa Payoh now! It’s CRAZY!!! haha exchanges with all the sisters and keeping up with both areas has been hard, but we have seen a lot of miracles! Last Monday we had an AWESOME lesson in FHE! We did the scripture chase mom gave me, and they loved It! We went around the room and everyone shared something that they learned about the resurrection of Christ and bore testimony; it was a great experience!

Then we played the tie game which was HILARIOUS!!!! You send two ties around the circle... 1st you tie one knot only. 2nd one you tie 2 knots, but the person who gets caught with both ties has to do something embarrassing! We had a lot of fun with that! People ages 25-65 :) and it was great! The next day we had zone meeting! Which the zone leaders had us help plan again and it went really well! We played a fun game that helped us see that we all have trials and obstacles in life; but through the atonement we can be clean, and given second chances! We watched the talk ‘his grace is sufficient’ by Brad Wilcox and then Sister Romney and I gave training on Love and Christ like attributes! It was amazing how strong the spirit was in this meeting! You could tell that it was needed for all the missionaries! And I know that it helped me a lot! Jesus Christ’s atonement is sufficient to carry us... in this life we are not earning Heaven... we are Practicing for it! We are not alone!!! EVER! What comfort this brings! :) We were able to meet with I. and he has been doing really well!! He has been coming to church, and preparing for baptism! We are really excited!! I was able to go on exchanges with the Woodlands/3rd ward sister (companionship over 2 wards) and it was nice to see how hard they are working, and how obedient they are trying to be! They are having a hard time, but doing so well! Sister Proffit and Sister Hansen! Literally my favorite people! They are AMAZING! They are beautiful and have such strong desires! We have amazing missionaries in the Singapore mission! We had a successful planning session! Prob. the best one on my mission! And I didn't go crazy after planning for both areas!! :) We had a huge miracle!!! We went to go heart attack the Chen family in AMK ward, and we sat down at a bench to put it all together so it would be faster! We ended up talking to the guy who was coming out of his apartment! We talked to him, and he is Christian! We got his name and number and he wants to meet with us! IT WAS A TOTAL MIRACLE!!! We had gotten lost trying to find their house, and if we hadn't been there at that time, we wouldn't have met him! I think that everything happens for a reason! He said that as well! :)

We also went to a baptism for the AMK ward with L! He is so cool! From Cambodia, and he was so happy after he got baptized! I love when people are able to make that decision to come unto Christ and they find utter and complete joy in it! :) Church was CRAZY busy! We had to go between two different chapels and were exhausted by the end of the day! BUT! It was great! We had several meetings, and got to know both wards better and the church meetings were soooo good! :) Sorry this email is crazy! My thoughts are everywhere! It's not easy to be disciple of Christ, BUT! It’s totally worth it! We have much to be grateful for and Christ has given us so much! I pray you all realize how much I love you!!!! But more importantly how much God loves you!!! WE are all in this together!!! Never forget it!!! Keep on keeping on!!! <3

Love
Eternally
Sister Waldvogel <3
OWLE FOREVER!!!!!!

April 21, 2014

HI FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!! <3

 

How are you?! This week went by sooo fast! It was like I blinked and it was Monday again! Missions are so interesting! It's like I have no concept of time! Anyway!!! Last Monday for FHE we watched this really cool video on Easter.mormon.org ITS AMAZING! Everyone go watch it! It was really amazing! Because of our savior Jesus Christ, ALL things are possible! That has been my motto for this week! It's been a little bit of a rough few weeks, but I have really had Christ carry me as I strive to lift my brothers and Sisters around me :) It's an amazing concept! We went to North zones, Zone Meeting! AMAZING!!! Elder Black and Frey rock! They focused a lot on faith… really having the faith to do what the Lord requires of us! Faith is such an amazing power that increases as we are obedient!! It truly opens the door to so many blessings "that we won’t have room enough to receive them!" We also watched the atonement and how it applies to missionary work.. Makes me cry every time! But it hit me differently this time... I have come to realize that I am my biggest obstacle to overcome... and this frustrates me! BUT! My Savior loves me so much that he overcame for me! As long as I am trying my best, striving to be better, and really use the atonement to change! THAT IS ENOUGH!!! I just want to give of myself to the people in Singapore, and sometimes I feel as though I don’t give enough! BUT! I know that Christ has and will make up the difference!

Anyway! We went to the A. Families wedding this week! Sisters B. and L, and Elders H, D, B, Frey, S and H came! IT WAS AMAZING!!! There were so many people that we were able to talk to, and although many of them weren't interested, we were able to testify of little things to them, and get to know them! It was really fun! We sang ‘Families Can be Together Forever’ and ‘Love one Another’ in English and Chinese! It was sooo cool!! They also had ballroom dancers perform (I may have died a little inside!) It ended up being a really amazing missionary opportunity!!! SO COOL!!!! I want to be like that all the days!! Share the gospel so freely like this family!! :) We had this man call us the other day, who was a former investigator! He is a religion that we can't baptize except under special permission. And he wants to be baptized! We were able to talk with him about many of his concerns! It was a MIRACLE!!!! He told us he couldn't stay away; he knew that it was true! And he bore an amazing solid testimony to us!!! Please pray for him! :)

 

We went on exchanges with the 4th ward sisters! Sister R. and A! IT WAS SO FUN!!! We had a little birthday celebration with them that night! We picked up a new sister who is going to the MTC today to go to Boston on her mission, Sister Ng! THE CUTEST!!!!! She found out it was my birthday and gave me a hair bow, and sang to me in Chinese!!! IT was the most adorable thing of my life! She is so nervous, but will be an amazing missionary! She wants to do everything right! And that was a great example to me of how exact obedience to the little things is very, very important!!! If you’re obedient to the little things, you will be obedient to the big things! :)

 

So, we went to Baja Fresh (I really wanted Mexican food for my birthday) and it was so fun!!! And that was my celebration! ALSO! I met Sister K. Lim at a baptism on Saturday!!!!! IT WAS AMAIZNG!!! I have decided we are going to be best friends!! We also found out that one of our sisters has to go home for medical care, so Sister R. and I are now in a trio with Sister L, who I LOVE so much! I'm really excited! It's going to be difficult covering two wards, but God is going to help us so much!

On Sunday we had to take Sister N. to get her patriarchal blessing at the stake center and I got to see the woodlands ward!!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!! I seriously miss them a lot! All of the YSA and young woman were squealing we were so excited to see each other! It feels like home every time I see them! Now I'm really trying to build a bond like that with the Ang Mo Kio Ward, and its coming! I really love this area, and want to build it up!!! It’s taking work and time! BUT! It's coming together and we are seeing miracles!!! :)

 

Family and Friends! I just want to let you know that I feel your prayers! That God loves you so much, and I love you so much! During this Easter time I want to bare my testimony about my savior Jesus Christ! I KNOW he LIVES! That he atoned for us... so we never ever are alone! He suffered loneliness so we don’t have to, and if that isn't love I don’t know what is! This is a work of Love! As we love God and our savior, we will love those around us! And as we love those around us, we will do what God wants us to. And one day return to him! This Church is true! I know it! I live it! I love it!No matter what religion everyone is! God is love! And we are all in this together!!! <3 :)

Love

Eternally

Sister Waldvogel OWLE <3

April 14, 2014 (19th) HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER WALDVOGEL!!!

 

HI FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st off, THANK YOU so much for all the amazing birthday notes… I opened the package from Mom and Dad at the office and bawled like a baby in front of the assistants to president... still getting teased about that one! Haha, but thank you it means a lot!!! I love you all so, so much!! Anyway!!! THIS WEEK HAS BEEN CRAZY!!!! Needless to say! It's hard departing a companion! But we were able to visit a lot of members! And we even had a farewell FHE dinner for her! SO I miss Sister G. a lot, but I'm excited to continue to strive to build up the AMK area! :) Sister R. is my new companion; yes there is relation to Mitt! haha 2^nd cousin twice removed haha something like that! Anyway! She has TONS of energy and is ready to take it on! So it's gonna be good! :) We went to pick up the new missionaries on Thursday which was fun! I really enjoy seeing them! They are full of so much energy and are ready to take on anything!! They were so tired by the end of the day! haha and we got a little lost on our way to the hotel that night, but it all worked out!!! :) SO! The new sisters are so cute!!! They are awesome! A lot of them were talking to people and are really excited to just go out and DO! I was able to talk to the cutest little girl and her mom with the sisters!! They were adorable! I was able to give the little girl a hello kitty sticker! And in that moment I just realized how much I really love being a missionary! Being in Singapore!! You have so many opportunities to just do little things to make someone feel Gods love! It’s amazing! :) We were able to hear General Conference! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! I love general conference! A recurring theme of what I heard was 1) Discipleship 2) Exercising your Faith 3) LOVE!! WOW! These were all things that I needed to hear for sure! I have started to make some goals to how I can implement the things I have learned into being a better missionary! :) This week has been really difficult and I can't really pinpoint why; but I know as we focus on what God has given us and are full of gratitude in our hearts, we will find joy, peace and eternal happiness! We have much reason to Rejoice and to be cheerful! :) ALSO!!!!!

 

CHALLENGE:

INVITE SOMEONE QUARTERLY!!!!! That was an amazing message given by Elder Ballard! So I'm following up for him, haha :) who can each of us try to invite to come unto Christ?? Who can we love more? Serve more? Think about it! :)

 

Anyway!!! This week was amazing! Story time!!

So the Elders Sister G. and I saw at the airport... ended up being in our mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CRAZY RIGHT?! haha they are from Australia, went to the Manila MTC and are now serving in the Singapore mission!! I thought it was crazy! Haha… figured that out when we picked them up at the airport!!! So crazy! I really just want to bare you my testimony! About how Christ carries you! I have a huge testimony that no matter what is happening in our lives, how we feel, whatever situation we are in… the power of the Atonement is strong enough to carry us! God loves us sooo much! I testify that this is true!!! He knows us inside and out! He cares, and Christ understands how we feel! WE ARE NEVER ALONE!!! As we turn to him he will show us the way to eternal happiness, he will have his arms open with unconditional love! This to me is the greatest of all! The love he feels for us, we should share with those around us! Family! Friends!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I pray for you always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I appreciate what you do to support me!!! I can never express how grateful I am!!! Have an amazing week and keep on keepin on!!! 

Love

Eternally,

Sister Waldvogel

 

OWLE <3

April 7, 2014

 

Hi family!!!!!! 

How are you?! I had to email late this week! We went to a trampoline jump place with all the missionaries! It was so much fun!!! So we e-mailed really late this week!

BUT! TRANSFER NEWS!!!!!!! I’m staying in Ang Mo Kio as an STL, but with Sister G. finishing her mission, I am now with Sister R! She is soooo amazing! And CRAZY! But I love her to death!! I’m crazy excited! Really sad to see Sister G. go, because she is def. one of my favorites!!!! This week was AWESOME!!!! We went to the river safari last p-day, with Elder H, I, H, and S! Also C. (RC from ang mo kio) went with us and it was a BLAST!!!! The river safari is like the zoo! :) It's so much fun! I saw a PANDA BEAR!!!!!! And was so excited!!! :) I took about 200 pictures! It was really fun! We went on a little boat and looked at some different animals that was pretty cool… we also got up close and personal with some monkeys! That terrified me haha!

Anyway! This week has been so, so busy!!! We had Zone Conference! It was awesome!!! In our mission we have 3 diff. zone conferences and Sister G. and I attended 2 of them for our calling! We were able to speak and give training/break out sessions at both! It was a really good experience! The topic for our talks were how we are striving to become a PMG missionary! I talked about the Study, Apply, and Evaluate pattern... and a lot about obedience!

My favorite Quote:

"When you love the Lord, Obedience ceases to be a burden... Obedience becomes a delight..."
 

It's SOOOO true!!!! I continued in saying that if we are obedient we will have the spirit with us! And we can't do this work without the spirit! We MUST preach his gospel by his spirit!!!! <3 it's truth! I wanted them to really understand that as they Love the Lord... are obedient, study PMG, they will be effective missionaries!! Anyway! Our break out session was about working with ward Members! It was fun! We decorated the white board to show how we would heart attack ward members..

 

We also explained about the member book that Sister G. created for AMK ward. We really focused on 4 main things 1) gaining their trust 2) love/serving them 3) inviting them to come unto Christ/teaching them 4) working together and helping them see the urgency behind the work of salvation!!! IT’S TRUE!!!!!!! This work is sooo important! And we need every hand giving their part!!! :) I had so much fun with all the missionaries I got to see! I’ll send pictures!!! :) IT WAS SO FUN!!!!!!! A bit too much! haha  

We also had MLC (Mission Leadership Council) this week which was fun! It was really a good reminder of the fact that we need to reevaluate ourselves.. And to make sure we are doing what we need to set a good example, and to be internalizing our Singapore mission plan! It's true though! I've almost reached my half way point and I really don’t want to feel like this is routine! I want to push myself… find new ways of being a better missionary! And really come even close to my Savior! This week was cool!

 

We didn't have a ton of time in our area! Sadly, but we did see miracles! Our investigator I. came to church again; we had a lesson with him, and put him on a baptismal date!!!! <3 that is a HUGE!!!! Miracle!! We have set goals as to best help build up AMK ward and I pray that I can just work so, so hard to build it up!!!! I had an amazing study on grace the other day! "His grace is sufficient." ~Brad Wilcox (READ IT!!!!!!) its sooo good! We aren't expected to be perfect... God just wants us to TRY! To Practice! To strive to become like our savior Jesus Christ!

 

He will be with us every step of the way... it's different for every person, but that is the beauty of the Atonement it can encompass each of us in our own personal matters! IT’S AMAZING!!!! The Woman’s conference was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! I missed mom during it A LOT!!!!! But it was so cool! They really incorporated hands into this session! During the videos, musical numbers, etc. it was always people using their hands!!!! WE ARE THE LORDS HANDS!!!!!!! Let's be worthy instruments so we may bless the lives of our Fathers children!!!

 

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep on keeping on, have an amazing week!!!!

Love

Eternally

Sister Waldvogel

OWLE< 3

March 31, 2014 hi FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!!! <3

 

Such Cute Children in Ang Mo Kio

How is everyone?! Singapore/Malaysia is GREAT!!!!!! We had a CRAZY week, full of exchanges, plane rides, eating durian cakes, seeing missionaries from other missions, planning for zone conference and seeing MIRCALES!!!! <3 I just love being a missionary!! :) Anyway!!! So last Monday we went to the National Museum of Singapore with like a million different missionaries and it was a BLAST!!!! <3 haha we were really board, but we made it fun taking too many crazy pictures! :) Oh P days are the best! Later we went to FHE for Ang Mo Kio and it was AMAZING!!!! We did something called the tea bag experiment! You hold a tea bag on your hand... After taking out the tea... light it on fire... and it floats up, then you read Alma 38:5 :) TRUST IN GOD!!!!! We than had each Recent convert/less active write a scripture on a paper and I WILL TRUST IN GOD AND HE IN ME... it was a really great FHE lesson! :) I have really learned the importance of doing the little things in life to maintain the spirit, and have it with you EVERYDAY!!!! SO IMPORTANT!!!! Tuesday we went heart attacking some of the new auxiliaries...        
less actives... it was a lot of fun! We took sister A. with us!!! <3 haha I loveeee Sister A. she is the coolest recent convert ever!!!!!!! <3 We went to Penang this week!!!! It’s an island in Malaysia really known for a tourist attraction! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!

MIRACLE 1

So we had checked in our bags... went through security... and were in the waiting area for boarding the plane. I look across the way and see 2 young men clean cut, dressed in suits with side bags and I tell Sister Guzman "Hey! they look like missionaries!!!" they were on a flight going to Manila Philippines! So I see them take their jackets off and low and behold!!! A planner and a celestial smile!!!! WHAT?! So I pull out a copy of the BOM hoping they will look over at us... cause I can't leave the area to talk to them! So, we see two other elders come over and shake the other ones hands and at that moment I was like THEY ARE TOTALLY MISSIONARIES!!!!!! So I freaked out and of course grab my name tag (cause we can't wear them through customs) and start jumping up and down like a mad man!!!! for 15 min. they don’t look! Then I ask Guzy... if I pray do you think they will look up?? She said yes of course!! So it may seem silly friends but I did!!!!!!!!!!! And GUESS WHAT?! The second I looked up and held up the BOM one more time, one of the elders looked up and they all noticed us! We grabbed our cameras and started taking pictures of each other. Sadly we had to board really quickly! BUT! I know God answers prayers even for little things! And what’s even cooler!!! WE are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!!!! So cool!!!

Anyway! We made it to Penang! With sisters R. and B!!! I LOVE THEM!!!!!! :) It was soooo much fun!!! We went to a family’s home for dinner (the P family) my FAVORITE!!! Sister P. is a hoot!!! I totally want to be her when I grow up!!! She is hilarious, super down to earth, a public speaker and an AMAZING member missionary!!!
 

The next day I went on exchanges with Sister B. who is a TROOPER!!! She has been really sick sense she came out, but works so hard!!! She was very diligent and worked her butt off!! It was a miracle all the things we were able to accomplish! We met with a Potential Investigator... made an app. and met with a less active... and I'm so amazed to see the Faith of the sisters in the Mission! And how amazing their testimonies are! SHE IS A ROCK STAR!!! We had so much fun with those sisters!!! They are hilarious!! Sadly we had to go home! BUT!!!! I have really come to LOVE Singapore!!!! I really don’t ever want to leave!!!

Anyway!!! We went and helped move/clean for the T. family (from the Philippines) they have the cutest daughter F!!! She is wayyy too cute!!!!!!! I LOVE HER!!!!! And then we went to... Wait for it.... an 8 COUSE DINNER AT A CHINESE RESTRUANT/COUNTRY CLUB!!!!! It was so fancy!!!! haha ward member (The A. family) took us, and brought their niece who is the coolest person ever!!!!! She is wayy super cool and we are meeting with her in 2 weeks. We are praying that she is willing to take the discussions!!! :) This gospel would completely change her life for the better!!! Anyway!!! It was so much fun and an amazing opportunity to just explain to her why I’m on a mission! It was cool! I told her all about the things I have been learning... how close I have come to my Father in Heaven... and how wonderful it is to share what you love!!! Anyway!!!! Church was AWESOME!!!! It was the 5th Sunday (focused on missionary work!!!) so it was really fun to hear all the speakers (Sister G. spoke and did an AMAZING job!) NOW IS THE TIME FOR MEMBERS AND MISSIONAREIS TO WORK TOGETHER!!!!! It’s a true story!!! The work is going to progress whether we catch on or not! BUT! It will BOOM if we catch on!!!! So LETS DO IT TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

A. (our RC) we have been working with came to church on time to take the sacrament... I. our invest. who fell off the face of the earth for over a month called us!!!!!! and then came to church!!!!! We had 4 invest. come to church!!!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!! The work is booming!!!! And although it's difficult because we don’t have a ton of time in our area, we can really see the hand of the Lord in ALL THINGS!!!!!! It’s amazing what happens as you do ALL that you can!!!! and then give God the rest!!!! JUST TRY <3

Fun fact: Durian cake is DISGUSTING!!!! haha is was sister R. (sister from Cambodia who stays with us..) birthday and she lovessss durian (most ppl in Asia do!) and I was so ill!!! hahaha anyway!!!
 

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep on keeping on!!!!!

YOU'RE all HONESTLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!

LoveEternally

Sister Waldvogel

O.W.L.E <3