Hello!

Hello to my wonderful family!

I'm sorry to hear about Grandpa. Isn't it wonderful to know about the plan of salvation?

I am so grateful to be a missionary! I love it so much! It's hard, but it's so wonderful. I am learning so much about the plan of salvation, and about repentance, and about how everything in the gospel fits together so perfectly. It really is such a perfect plan that Heavenly Father has for us! I was reading in Alma 29 this morning, where Alma says, "Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul...repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth." When I read that, I thought, wow, that's so true. Repentance and the plan of salvation are there for us so we can be happy--so there won't be any more sorrow upon the earth. I used to think repentance was a sad word because it means you are bad, so you have to repent. But now I know it is the happiest word in the world because it gives us a chance to change who we are, and to have peace in our hearts. I am so thankful for repentance! I don't ever want a day to go by where I don't use it. I love this gospel so much! I want everyone to have the gospel so they can feel how very very happy it feels to use the Atonement!

This week was the baptism of Shiela. I've only taught her for the past 2 or 3 weeks, but it was so special to see her be baptized, and to hear her testimony about how the gospel has changed her life. The gospel is true! I love it so much!

Love, Sister Boekweg.

This is a good week!

Hello, my wonderful family!

This week has been a good week. I still don't know my area very well, but we're slowly figuring things out. We're teaching a really sweet, nice family, the Guillermo family. They are less active, but the mom really wants her family to be active again. I'm excited to keep teaching them.

On Saturday I had a really cool experience finding new investigators. I've been kind of shy up to this point about finding new investigators on the street, but we had some teaching appointments fall through, so we decided to try it. We found Wendy (17), Sheryl (21), and Ivy (11) sitting at the side of the road, and we decided to ask if we could share the gospel with them. They said okay. We started teaching about the restoration. Then when it was my turn to teach about the apostasy, I felt very strongly that I needed to bring up that the gospel helps us become clean from our sins. So I did, and I explained that the gospel is the way that God has given us to become clean from our sins, and that was what was lost during the apostasy. I was really amazed because at that point they started seeming really interested in what we were saying, and at the end of the lesson they seemed like they really did want us to come teach them again. That was definitely a new experience for a first lesson because usually people will allow us to come back because they are nice, but they don't really seem to understand the importance yet of what we are teaching. I really feel like it was the spirit that told me to take the lesson in that direction. And I guess it's also because I related the restoration to them in a way that they could really understand why it is important for them. It really taught me how very very important it is to always make sure we always teach the gospel to people in a way that very much relates to their lives. Sister Cabato and I walked away from that lesson saying, "wow." It was a great day.

I love my Companion, Sister Cabato. She is really good, especially in interacting with people and teaching them. She worked with the missionaries a lot before her mission, so she's basically already been trained quite a bit. In fact, sometimes I feel like she is training me, rather than me training her. It's great! I'm really glad she is Filipino because I have no idea what's going on a lot of the time while we are out proselyting because Laoag is kind of a big city, and I'm still not familiar with everything. I think if she wasn't here to guide me, I would probably walk out into the street and get hit by a tricycle or something because there are not very many cross walks, and I have no idea when to cross the street. We've been jogging to the palenke (market) on p-day mornings. I didn't really do that with Sister Asuro--we just bought at the little grocery stores. It's a different experience, especially when we are buying meat because it's not refrigerated or anything; it just sits on the counter and then you buy it, and they put it in a little bag for you. We buy all our vegetables and meat there because it's cheaper than at the supermarket.

I am so grateful to be a missionary. I've definitely had some challenges, and it's definitely the hardest thing I have ever done in my life--it's definitely not a job for anyone who isn't willing to work and to sacrifice. But I have learned so much about the gospel, and I feel like I am becoming a lot better than I was before. I'm really grateful I decided to go on a mission before getting married because I definitely feel like it will make me a better mother someday. I'm so happy that sisters can now serve at age 19 because it means so many more will have a chance to go.

I love you all! Thank you so much for your letters, emails, and prayers! You have no idea how much they help me.

Love, Sister Boekweg

Transfers...dun dun dun!

Hello Beloved Family!

Thank you so much for the package you sent me. I recieved it earlier this week. Thank you sooooooo much for the chocolate, and gummy bears, and alfredo, stroganoff, and brown gravy mix, and for the pudding mix, and the SEASON ALL!!!!! and the t-shirt! (If you can't guess, I am pretty excited about the season all). It was just like Christmas! And thank you for all the letters from the baby shower. I received those this week too.

So, tomorrow we have transfers, and today we found out what's going to happen for that. So...I'm being transferred to Laoag city...and I'm going to train. It's the goal of President Barrientos for every new missionary to train after 12 weeks, and so I guess this proves he's serious about that. I don't really know how it's going to work, training in a new area, but I guess if it's what the Lord wants me to do, I can do it. 

Tonight we are teaching Marlon, and Dave Ashley, and Harlene, Christy and Jessica. I'm really glad because I want to say goodbye to them. I'm glad Sister Asuro will still be here in Paoay to take care of the area and make sure Marlon gets baptized. I REALLY want him to be baptized, and I'm kind of sad I won't be here to see that happen. Oh well.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Love, Sister Boekweg

This is a happy week!

Hi Family!

Yesterday was the happiest Sunday of my entire mission so far! We had 13 less actives at church and 6 investigators! Marlon came to church!!!!! You have no idea how big this is! this is not your everyday neighborhood newspaper headline. This is front-page-of-the-New-York-Times material! We have been trying for so long to get Marlon to come to church, but he was too shy. We were trying to get Ryan, one of the less actives we're helping come back to church, to go with Marlon to church becuase they are friends, but things kept coming up that kept Ryan from going to church. So we got Franklin, one of the other YSA in the branch to go with him instead. On Wednesday we taught Marlon, and he said when he prays he feels that what we've taught him is true. We also taught him about the Sabbath day, and he said he really wanted to follow that. We committed him to go to church with or without Ryan, and he did!!! And I think he had a good experience! And he will be baptized on November 3! 

We also taught Dave Ashley this week, a 12-year-old investigator from a part member family. We've been teaching him with Jackielyn becuase he's really shy and he prefers not being taught by himself. But we taught him with his mom (who is less active and hadn't been to church in a long time) on Saturday. After the lesson he told sister Asuro that he wants to be baptized! And he and his mom both came to church the next day!! 

Life is happy! the church is true!

Love, Sister Boekweg

This is not an email from your favorite missionary. This is a slice of pizza. You are confused.

Hey family!

Life is good. Today we had a district activity. We went to some kind of resort/wilderness place and ate food and played some games. It was fun, but it was hot. I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I’ll be grateful to change back into my proselyting clothes. Pants and t-shirts are hot.

So, when you come to pick me up at the end of my mission (Mommy and Daddy), you have to try empanadas. They are pretty much the best thing ever invented. Random side note.

We had the baptism of Jessica on Saturday. It was really good. Her mom and two of her sisters came which was really good because her mom is really inactive, and her sisters are not members. So it was cool that they were able to come.

On Sunday I gave my second talk in sacrament meeting. It went okay. We had two investigators at church, Jackielyn and Dave Ashley. Dave is 12, and he is the brother of one of the young women. His mom is also a member but inactive. He’s really shy, and so we weren’t sure he was very interested, but then he started sitting in on the lessons with Jackielyn, and he’s started reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and now he’s come to church. He’s really cute. Marlon still didn’t come to church. It’s because our fellowshipper for him is a kind of less active, and he didn’t go to church either. It was a little bit disappointing, but we’ll keep working on both of them.

Oh, we had zone conference on Tuesday. It was really good. We had Elder Nielsen of the seventy come to train us, and I learned a lot. It was reemphasized that we need to keep working on less actives, even though we’re also trying to focus on investigators. He also said we need to teach not only poor people, but also the rich and educated because they are the ones who will most likely be able to become strong leaders in the church. Mostly we haven’t really attempted teaching rich people because the poor people are a lot more receptive, but we’re going to try it.

Oh, one of the less actives we’ve been teaching, Nieves Paligat, came to church the last two Sundays. She’s a little shy to go with just her 2-year-old daughter, but she said after she went the first Sunday her daughter kept saying “Simba tayo,” which means in baby Tagalog, “let’s go to church.” Isn’t that cute? So I think because of that she went this last Sunday too. We were really happy.

Well, that’s about all the time I have right now. I love you all.

Love, Sister Boekwe

Another email from your favorite missionary who is SO EXCITED to be an aunt! You have no idea!

Hey Family!

So, I have just one word for you to start out: BABY!!!! AHHHHH! I’m so excited! You have no idea! Actually, you probably have a pretty good idea. I was so excited after printing out my emails this morning, so sister Asuro and I bought a whole bunch of yummy snacks when we bought our groceries. We love snacks. It’s our weakness. And today we had a good excuse to buy them. I took a picture, which I am hoping to include in a separate email. I’ve been talking sister Asuro’s ear off about Nephi ever since this morning because I’m SO EXCITED!

There’s a little 1-year-old boy in the branch here who loves to play peek-a-boo games with me. He’s so cute! Nephi will be about that age when I get home. Maybe he’ll be like that too! I’m so excited!

Well, I guess you want to hear about what’s happening here. Yesterday we were really hoping Marlon would come to church. We arranged for a couple of the YSA guys in the branch to pick him up for church, but he didn’t end up going. It was really disappointing, but I guess we just have to really think more about how we can help him. He is reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and he says he’s noticed a difference in his life because of it. He feels happier and less bored. He just needs to go to church so he really can be baptized. Rebecca, if you can think of any ideas to help people go to church when they are shy to do so, that would be really helpful (unless you’re too busy with Mommy stuff).

We’re also teaching a woman named Lisa. She is in her 40’s and she works as a maid at a member’s house. She has a lot of trials, especially financially. Her husband is sick, so he sometimes can’t work, and they sometimes don’t have food, so she has to ask for help from neighbors. She is very humble, and she needs the gospel so much.

Could you all pray for Marlon and Lisa. They really need prayers so they will accept the gospel. If you could, also pray for Jackielyn. I don't remember if I've told you about her, but she is the 16 year old sister of one of the members here, and she is really excited to learn about the gospel, but she also has a hard time coming to church. she has a baptismal date for October, but she needs to come to church every Sunday before then. She's such a cute girl, and I really hope she will be baptized.

Hey Daddy, can you think of any experiences where the gospel really blessed your family when you were growing up that you can share with me? Especially financially because most of the people here are very poor, and especially examples of how living specific gospel principles brought specific blessings. I want to be able to share it with the people I teach.

Oh, and Mommy and twins, thank you so much for your letters! You have no idea how happy it made me to get real letters in the mail! And Rebecca, thank you for your dear elder! I love getting letters!

I love you all! Thanks for your emails and letters! They always make me SO HAPPY! You're the best family ever! Give Nephi lots of hugs and kisses for me! Make sure he doesn't forget his Auntie Lisa, since I'm not there to remind him!

Love, Sister Boekweg

Pictures for my favorite nephew!

  Sister Asuro and I with our birthday cards that she made for her dad and I made for Nephi

  Me with all the goodies I bought with Sister Asuro today to celebrate the birth of my favorite nephew

 An ube cupcake to celebrate!!

My birthday card for Nephi

 Paoay and Batac sisters

 My district

Harlene and Christy's baptism

Another email from your favorite missionary!

Hey family!

So here’s some random bits of information, if you care to know.

1) I found out from Sister Asuro the other day that I am the only American sister in my mission right now. We’re getting two more next transfer though.

2) Everyone laughs at me when I eat fish because I don’t know how to avoid bones. Even President Barrientos laughs at me.

3) One of my favorite things about the Philippines is all the yummy snacks they have here. They have so many munchies that you can buy in small quantities to snack on, like crackers, and cookies, and chocolatey yumminess.

I love how the people here love to be with people. In America everyone wants to be on their computer or listening to their ipod, or doing whatever, and their always busy. Here, everyone loves to just sit and visit with each other, and it's not weird at all to just go up to someone sitting outside their house and just start talking to them.

So, this week Marlon accepted to be baptized! He still needs to recieve a definite answer first, and we need to get him to come to church, but I believe he will be baptized because he really wants to do what God wants him to do. I'm really happy that he wants to be baptized.

Well, that's about all for this week.

I love you all!

Love, Sister Boekweg