July 28, 2014

HI FAMILY!!! <3

How are you??? This week was CRAZY!!! Also the BEST!!!! We had 5 investigators come to church this week!! #MIRACLE!!!! It was AMAZING! We were able to meet with our investigator A. on wed. and President T. followed us! It was such an amazing lesson; she was recovering from Dengue fever so we haven't been able to meet with her for the past month! We talked a lot about the BoM and faith, and really just let her know how she can receive her answers through the Holy Ghost! It was such a spiritual lesson! She even prayed... committed to read the Book of Mormon, and she came to church! She really opened up to us, and explained how she thinks this is the church for her! WHOOT!!!! We love her so much! And are excited to keep meeting with her! Later that same evening we went with Sister L. (a member in our branch) to visit some of her friends who only spoke Chinese... so it was hard to communicate but they were the sweetest people in the WORLD! They fed us so, so much! And were so kind! They had a really cute grandma there, and she just kept holding my hand talking to me in Chinese! It was adorable!!! :) I pretty much am in love with all the people here! They are so humble!!!! And give soooo much!!!

On Thursday we went to PENANG!!!! It was AWESOME!!! We went on exchanges with sister A.and Sister L! And it was the best time of my life!!! Sister L. is literally the most amazing friend I have ever had!!! We had so much fun together! We went to visit a potential investigator and met with him and his wonderful family who made us TONS of chicken curry and rice. His sister was from Indonesia and didn't speak English, but she is so kind!!! And is so prepared to learn about the gospel! They didn't have a lot... but they served us sooo much! I can't get over how much people just give and give! I really admire it! And just pray that God blesses them so much! Anyway! Sister L. and I talked a lot about life... and how our missions have changed us! It was so cool to talk with her... and talk about how we can't go back! "You can't go back Peter" (a joke we have from a talk one of the Elders gave) I can't go back to the same person I used to be... I have started my mission and it's not going to end at 18 months! I have made the choice to be a disciple of my savior Jesus Christ for the rest of my life! <3 anyway! We had some good convos! :) The best part of the day was when we walked through a cemetery at 9 at night and sang primary songs and hymns as I clenched so tight on sister Lewis hand! I was scared out of my BRAINS!!! But it was all good cause than we saw people ballroom dancing at a park near their house and went to watch! I told them I had done ballroom dancing in America and they invited me to come dance with them.... sadly I had to deny.. :( BUT! It was a great contacting tool! So that was awesome!!! Really made me miss dancing though! :)

This Sunday was the BEST!!! I gave a talk in sacrament meeting and the topic was search, ponder, and pray! It was really cool, because so many of our investigators were there! It was a complete miracle! It’s been hard because we have had such a hard time meeting with all of them since I’ve been here, and so it was amazing to finally see them all at church! J. brought her two girls, and Amy brought one of her girls (they are friends, so it was excellent to see them helping each other at church!) the best part was teaching F! This is the sweet, sweet lady from the Philippines with 7 children... we taught her about the Godhead and went through who God our Heavenly Father is... his Son Jesus Christ... and The holy Ghost. We testified of God’s love for her... and the spirit was so tangible in that room! It was the most amazing experience ever! I just felt how much God loved her... and I just loved her so much! She prayed and was even brought to tears and she wants to come to church every Sunday! :) That's the only time we can meet her, but she is sooooo prepared, and such a beautiful person!

This week was so fun! It was kind of all over the place! BUT! something really cool we are doing with our branch is called 21 DAYS... it’s a promise given by someone in the quorum of the 70 that you write down 10 specific people who you could share the gospel with... and pray for them each day and read a scripture from the chart for 21 days and at least 1 person will want to learn about the gospel! :) SO COOL!!!!!!! We are really excited to see how it goes! :) Anyway! Sorry I’m quite scatter brained today! But! If there is one thing I especially learned this week it is about God being our Loving Heavenly Father.... doesn't matter who you are... what diff. religions we are... or ANYTHING! GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN! He is the same yesterday...today....and FOREVER! I know that he is aware of every single one of us... he knows us... and he is ALWAYS there for us! Let us always share that love with our brothers and sisters... regardless of differences! <3

Keep on keeping on!!! <3

Love
Eternally
Sister Waldvogel <3
OWLE <3

July 21, 2014

HI FAMILY! <3

How are you??? This week was CRAZY AWESOME!!! I taught my companion and all my housemates how to 1) Ballroom dance (cha-cha, waltz, tango, jive) 2) ballet - it was the most HILARIOUS thing of my life! I’ll send some pictures! We have too much fun at our house... pillow talks are the BEST!!! ;) SO! I went to the top of the Petronius towers last Monday and that was really cool! It’s the tallest attached skyscraper in the world now I guess! :) We went out this week with some of the YSA and went to this place called the Burger Lab! IT WAS AMAZING! Wow! It’s better than In-N-Out! It was fun getting to know all of them and one of the Sisters served in this mission and knew everyone from Woodlands, so we of course talked for an hour about that ward! I love them! :)

Anyway our invest. A. was really sick with Dengue fever! So we haven't been able to meet with her at all! Sister Hillier and I thought it would be a good idea to make her some cookies and take it to her house hoping that she would be there! Sadly she was not :( but it's all good! CAUSE! That same day she was finally discharged from the hospital and came home to cookies and a note, she sent us such a sweet sms thanking us and now she wants to meet this week! We are really praying that we can help her to come to church and feel the spirit! :) She is amazing and reads her kids the children’s BOM every night! We have ROCKIN investigators! :)

This week was really cool because we went to Ipoh!!!! I LOVED it there so much! The people are AMAZING!!! We went on exchanges with Sister Rigby and Sister LeBaron! It was a BLAST!!! First off we took a train from KL to Ipoh where the legendary Sister C. picked us up! :) She then took us to a Vietnamese restaurant where we ate SO MUCH!!!! But it was SO GOOD!!! The next day we had appointments like CRAZY! It was ROCKIN! The people in Ipoh are so prepared! It was really neat to see the sister’s work hand in hand with the members in Ipoh, and they were so good! They did EVERYTHING with the missionaries! I’m going to be a member missionary like that! They drove them and followed to every appointment, went knocking with them, visit LA, and did service! Took them for dinner, it was simply AMAZING! The members were so cute! They told me at the end of the day... "Sister when are you coming to serve in Ipoh?? You need to stay..." haha I told them I would pray my way there! haha so here’s to hoping!! ;) The next day we came back to PJ, and I fell back in love with my people here! hahah you just can't win! ;) We taught RS class, and we taught the Restoration but had the sisters break up into groups to teach us! It was really cool! It was a good way for the sisters to bond as well! :)

BIG MIRACLE!!!!!

 WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR!!! Her name is F. and she is from the Philippines, she is the most beautiful humble person I have ever met! She has seven children. It was the most heart wrenching feeling when she was explaining her story, but the spirit was so strong when we testified to her of how much God loves her and how he is aware of her! We taught the Restoration, and she grew up Christian so she has a lot of questions about the Godhead, but we invited her to pray and to ask God herself; and she is really interested in learning more! Sister I, the most AMAZING woman from Indonesia in our branch referred her to us! We love her a lot! This sister is always giving the missionaries referrals! She is the best missionary I have ever met! :) I want to be like her! It was such a good Sunday! We have a lot of new families that are from America and working here! It was weird to see so many white people, but they are all so nice! We are really looking forward to meeting with all of the new families! I wish everyone could experience church in Malaysia, we have the most FAITHFUL members ever here! I am amazed at how much they Love God and Trust him! It’s such a testimony builder to me!

This week was really good! It was A LOT of traveling! But I was able to see a lot of Kampongs (little villages where people live that don’t have a lot) It was a really neat experience to see some really humble people! It's the story when Alma is teaching the people who have been kicked out of the Synagogue... but he tells them how blessed they are because of their humility! It's amazing how much you learn from the people around you! :)

It's been difficult for me just adjusting to so much in Malaysia, but I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ! He is my perfect example! At the moments when he most could have turned inward... he turned outward... he submitted himself to the will of God, and I want to have that unselfish love and submission to the will of my God! I'm grateful for Repentance and how great of a gift Christ’s grace is! It allows us to change and to be better… To BECOME like our savior! This gospel is perfect... we may not be... but we don’t have to be because we won’t be in this life! We just need to keep trying... keep on keeping on! <3

Love
Eternally
Sister Waldvogel
OWLE <3

July 14, 2014

HI FAMILY!!! <3

How are you this week?? I’m so happy for Justin! Can’t wait to meet his wife! The wedding looks BEAUTIFUL!! Congrats! :)

Well! This week was CRAZY! Most all of our appointments cancelled which was really sad, but we aren't going to let it get us down! :) Last week my feet were eaten by Fish! haha Elder Robinson’s family was in Malaysia and took the sisters to the fish spa... for those who know me, know I hate my feet being touched... so you can imagine how terrifying it was! Everyone else got a kick out of it! :) We then went to the National Mosque and it was SO COOL!!!! We had to wear a hijab, and robe (which looked TERRIBLE on me haha) but it was a really neat experience! They had a cool chart to show from Adam down to Muhammad and how the Muslim religion came to be; it was very interesting to see! :)

On Tuesday we had zone meeting and it was really good! The zone leaders taught us about how we need to change our paradigm (or the way we think) to be able to have a change wrought in our hearts or in other words to repent! It was a really awesome training! It’s cool to see the missionaries that I knew when trained, already grow so much! :)

We went on exchanges with the Subang Sisters this week (sister Asanuma and Sister Chan) and it was a BLAST!!! I went with Sister Asanuma! She is from Japan and literally the cutest person I have ever met!! She is such an amazing example of a pure disciple of Christ; I just want to be like her! We were able to go and visit a sister from her ward that was in the hospital and the elders (elder Moore and elder Chang) were able to give her a blessing! She really appreciated it! I'm so AMAZED at the awesome member missionaries that are in Malaysia! I am learning so much from all of them! This sister was in the

hospital and talking to her Dr. about the gospel! WOW! She rocks! It started raining after we left (my first experience in Malaysia rain.. hahah it doesn't just rain, it pours) so the Elders were kind enough to run to a store and buy umbrellas for us! Later in the day it stopped raining and got REALLY HOTT!!! We walked super far to some houses we were going to visit from the branch and I have never sweat so bad in my life! AIYO! haha but it was fun to talk with sister Asanuma and get to know her really well! We told each other we were going to pray so that we could be companions someday :) hahah :) we taught a lesson to this super awesome invest. R. and her boyfriend S! They were so cool! we taught them the plan of Salvation, and S. (very well versed in the Bible) asked me where in the bible it talked

 

about the 3 kingdoms of glory being compared to the sun, the moon, and the stars; at that moment I was very grateful for the spirit bringing back to my remembrance 1 Corinthians 15:40 (I’m glad I learned about that in a district meeting once!) I testify that if we are striving to be worthy, the spirit can use us to bring one of our Heavenly Father’s children unto him! It seems like such a simple thing, but it was a big testimony builder to me! :) The spirit was so strong in this lesson and it was a pleasure to see them at church on Sunday!!! :)

I love going on splits with the sisters! It ROCKS! We have such AMAZING missionaries in this mission! We met with a Sister and her family in our ward, the Y. family and she is so kind! They fed us very well! We taught them about faith and used a seed, then had them draw a tree and read a few versus from Alma 32 with them! I have really been thinking a lot about faith lately, and how I really want to be Faithful, and just have utter and complete Trust in my Savior Jesus Christ! It's something I know will take my whole life! But I’m grateful for my mission being such an amazing opportunity for me to practice exercising faith for the rest of my life!
Church was so cool!!! Sister Hillier and I taught Young woman’s class! (There is only 1 here) and we talked about covenants. It was such a neat experience to have a one on one lesson with this girl! We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and showed why covenants are so important... They help us stay on the "straight and narrow path" to return to our Heavenly Father... WHAT A HUGE BLESSING!!! :) I am so grateful that God is so good! He sent his son Jesus Christ, whom I have been studying a lot about lately... I have really asked myself... “do I know that Jesus Is the Christ"... my answer; YES! He is the Christ... he performed miracles and his miracles have not ceased! He has risen.. he has suffered.. he has overcome Sin, death, loneliness, weaknesses, imperfections, everything for each of us! It is because of him that all things are possible! And more than that, he is the message! The simple message that we share! "Come unto me.... and I will give you rest"... IT’S TRUE!!! I’m so grateful for the continued mercy and grace that Christ gives me, and although I’m not a perfect vessel, I know as I Give my best,I can give the Lord the rest! I love you all so much! I am praying for you!!! Keep on keeping on! <3

Love
Eternally
Sister Waldvogel
OWLE FOREVER <3

July 7, 2014

 

HI FAMILY!!! <3

 

How is everyone?! I'm officially in Malaysia! It’s a complete 180 from Singapore! It's hot, not as humid, really dirty, and busy city life!! It's amazing though! So many beautiful mosques and temples, and the people are really humble! I'm in a Branch and my area is called Petaling Jaya (P.J) for short! And it's the BEST!!! We have a lot of expats (people from other countries America, UK, etc.) and so it's cool to see the mix of people! We have an AWEZOME branch President! He is from America and is such a laid back dude! Reminds me so much of pops! Anyway! I love our branch! They are the most beautiful people! <3 we have about 50-80 active members, so it's small, but we are getting there! We are hoping to get a stake in Malaysia!!! :) so last Monday in Singapore we had a big BR (book of remembrance) signing at East coast Park which was wayyy fun and sad to say goodbye to so many of the missionaries!!!! It’s crazy! The elders who had a year left when I arrived here are home now! It’s weird how fast time goes by sometimes! Anyway! I ate more Durian and LIKED IT!!!! Brother W. took us to get some, and he bought us TONS! haha so we ate a lot of durian, and our house smelt terrible! (Don’t worry Mom and Dad, when you come you'll try it ;)) We found an AWESOME new investigator, K. in Ang Mo Kio and he is SOLID!!! He was really opening up to us saying how he knows he has different problems and addictions and he wants to get rid of them; so it was an amazing opportunity to testify to him that this gospel can really bless his life! We went to visit the A. family and they are the CUTEST!!! The boys showed us the Gangnam style dance! It was the best thing of my life! I’m really going to miss AMK a lot! On Wednesday we went to lunch with P, Indian food, my FAV! We talked with her a lot about faith, set a baptism date with her and said we would fast and pray with her! It was really cool!!! She is AMAZING and I love her a lot! She works so hard for her boys and has a lot of faith! We also got to visit S, K and M! They are the best!!! We read 3 Nephi ch. 11 with them and really focused on Jesus Christ, it was such an amazing lesson! This is one of our goals with Sister Hillier and I, to use the BOM a lot and make sure we center EVERYTHING on Jesus Christ, because he is the center of absolutely EVERTHING!! :) SOTC we had a farewell party, it was really sweet! I love Ang Mo Kio and I learned so much from the members, recent converts, investigators, and a lot from my companions!

NOW!!!! I’m here in Malaysia with Sister Hillier the funniest, most sarcastic, hardworking, British person ever! I love her! I have had so much fun with her! We have set several visions and our scripture for this transfer is Jacob 1: 7 :) we are really excited to just build up PJ! :) We serve with the CUTEST senior couple the Thatcher’s and they have a HUGE family of 10 kids! They feed us soup and always take care of us! I love them so much! They are like my family away from home! :) And are from Logan Utah!

 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY <3 it was weird to celebrate it in a house with no Americans hahaha!!! I live with Sister Chan (also a Brit) and half Chinese :) and Sister Asanuma (from Japan, cutest human being ALIVE!) and it's so much fun! They are all AMAZING sisters! So obedient, and they work hard! We went to A&W for lunch to get a root beer float to celebrate! It was really fun! I was shocked they had one here, but it was a blast! We were able to visit the cutest family, P. and his wife H. from India and they just had a baby boy N, 3 months ago. They were giving him a traditional Indian Bath and it was SOOO cool!!! The culture differences here are so interesting! They first put oil, and milk all over him and then rub some type of good smelling powder to exfoliate and then wash him with soapy water! Next they take a clay pot and burn this smoky incense stuff to dry him! It was the most interesting thing I have ever seen, but really cool! They are a beautiful family!!

 

My favorite part of this week was going to do a service project for refugee children from Myanmar! We gave them little kits, goodies and served them dinner! This is the month of Hari Raya (a Muslim holiday) and they fast from morning till sunset! It’s really cool! So we were able to learn about this culture and provide service! It was amazing! I fell in love with all of them! Some of them are orphans and some of them are so far from family! It’s so sad! I feel so grateful to have so much! Coming here has been a HUGE wake up call for me! Church on Sunday was such a different experience because the branch is so small! But! The faith that these wonderful saints have is so inspiring!!! I’m very grateful to serve alongside them! WE are really excited to get the members fired up, and the buildup this area! We have already seen miracles! Our investigators are all very successful working women, so it's hard to meet with them! BUT! We are really excited to get them hooked to the book!!! :) It's been a little bit of an adjustment, but I’m really starting to love it here! I am just trying to immerse myself in the culture and most importantly LOVE THE PEOPLE!!! I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for everything and I’m grateful to always be given experiences that help me grow and become more like my Savior Jesus Christ! I'm grateful that I have the Gospel, and I’m able to share the truth with the beautiful people of Malaysia! I know that through Jesus Christ’s Atonement we too can be perfect one day… even as he is perfect! And as we strive to be as he is, we will one day see him as he his and become ever more Pure!

I LOVE YOU FAMILY!!!!! <3

<3

Love

Eternally

Sister Waldvogel

OWLE FOREVER <3

June 30, 2014 Received this wonderful email from Sister Alfrey...

Hi moms and pops!!

sister alfrey here! i just wanted to send a quick note to tell you how amazing your daughter is. i had the priviledge to go on exchanges with her this week! she is just a shining light in this mission and she has taught me soooo much! thank you for being such rocking parents in raising her to be an amazing daughter of god! your the best, thanks for sharing her with me :)

 

love,

sister alfrey