We are never alone in our trials!

Maupay na Odto!! 

Hello everyone!! Kamusta kamo ngatanan? Iyo Semana? Nakabulig ba kam ha eba na tawo? This past week has felt SO great being back at work. I am still not up to the strength or energy level I was before, but I'm back and it's great. :) Catbalogan is currently preparing for Fiesta so the people are busy and there are decorations everywhere! 

Even with that, we still had a Baptism this last Saturday!!! Sister Riza Carcellar!! She is sooo good! Her faith and testimony builds mine even stronger. I am so blessed to have been able to see how the gospel and Atonement of Jesus Christ has changed her and her life. When I first transferred here to Catbalogan 3 months ago she was still a fairly new investigator, but now she has followed the example of Jesus Christ and has been baptized by the proper authority. She was literally glowing after her baptism on Saturday and on Sunday as she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's so amazing being a missionary. :) 

This past Thursday, August 11, was Samar (Pronounced like "summer") day!! We celebrated the island we are on right now. Sister Prudy wore her Samar T-shirt all day and even though we missed the parade, we saw the fireworks that night. It was fun. :) #SamarDay2016

We also had 2 exchanges this week and got back to visiting all the people. We were worried about them because we didn't have work for over a week (because we were in Tacloban and the Divine Word Hospital) but they were all ok! In fact, while we were gone, 2 of our investigators downloaded and watched the Restoration Movie about Joseph Smith!! It was so great!! 

https://youtu.be/1xVw6PsSinI  (Click to watch) 

This past week has been exhausting but I am so happy that I am here serving the Lord. I know that we are never alone. Being in that hospital and not being able to work was really hard for me. I felt kind of useless and helpless, but I know that I was not alone in the pain I was going through. We are never alone. Prayer is so powerful and Heavenly Father really listens to all of our prayers. I was able to make it through and now I'm back doing the Lord's work, doing my best to serve Him with this little time I have been blessed with. 

Time is so short, we should make the most of it. Look at the positive and remember that we are never alone. I just wanted to share this Footprints in the sand Poem again because I love it so much. <3 

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

Pray always, choose the right, and remember the Lord is on your side. :) 

Stay smiling, 

Sister Healey

 Riza's Baptism!!!

Catbalogan Zone

 Nono at church (the deaf tatay who can hear now)

Samar Day

Exchanges

Dengue Update

Maupay na aga! 

Kamusta kamo ngatanan? I'm sure my mom has updated all of you that I have been sick. I had dengue pretty bad for the past week and a half. I was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday morning and got out Saturday afternoon. I survived!! haha Thank you SO much for all of your prayers and I'm sorry for the scare. I know that your prayers made a large difference in helping me heal faster. 

Today we get to go back to our area in Catbalogan, Samar. I'm sorry not much to update on this week... haha but thank you all! Take care!  Watch out for mosquitoes. Until next week! 

love, 

Sister Healey

In the hospital in Tacloban

Thank you for your prayers!!

Dengue fever

Hey guys. Sorry I don't have a lot of time to email you this week. :) But I love you all sooo much and hope you are doing well. Hope you had a blast at reunion and I will email you next week! 

Love, 

Sister Healey

Written by Mom:

This is the letter we got from Maddie on Sunday, July 31.  We weren't concerned because every once in a while she is unable to write a long letter home because of time constraints.  On Monday evening we received a call from the Mission President and his wife.  They informed us that Maddie had been admitted to the hospital with dengue fever.  She was ill when she emailed us, but did not want us to worry so she didn't tell us.  This is a common viral illness in the Philippines which is transmitted by mosquito.  Most cases do not require hospitalization, but she was having a hard time with the illness and dehydration was a concern.  They assured us that she was in good hands and can expect a complete recovery and that we do not need to worry excessively.

We were able to speak to Maddie on the phone on Tuesday evening from the hospital.  She was in pretty good spirits but was very tired.  She is doing better after having an IV, but her blood platelets are still low so for now she will remain in the hospital.

Dengue fever lasts for 7 to 10 days, generally, and as of today, Wednesday, she has had the virus for about 6 days.  The high fevers have subsided and the severe joint pain is just an ache now.  She is still nauseous, has headaches, and has a rash and fatigue, but she is improving each day.  She has an indomitable spirit and looks on the positive side of everything, always worried about others before herself.

As her mother I can't help but worry and wish that I could be by her side to help nurse her back to health, but I know the Lord is with her and in what better hands could she be?  It may be a week or two before she is well enough to be back at work, sharing the gospel in the Philippines, but I have no doubt that she will be out teaching again as soon as possible.  She loves being a missionary and she loves the people there.

Miracles

Maupay na udto ha iyo ngatanan! 

This past week has been crazy busy! We had 2 exchanges here in Catbalogan and Sister Prudencio and I have been killin' it. Surpassing our goals and breaking personal records! Some things that happened this week: 

-We have 7 new IBDs (Investigators with Baptismal Dates) 

-The Bustillo family are going to be future leaders in the church and brother was able to pass the sacrament for the 1st time yesterday!! It made me so happy to see how happy brother Bustillo was being able to serve. 

-We had a baptismal interview for one of our investigators!! :D 

And a miracle I wanted to share with all of you: 

Our RCs (recent converts) the Bustillos have this relative that comes to their house sometimes late at night to visit and eat dinner. He is Brother's uncle and is 60+ in age. He is an old deaf, single, catholic, pedicab driver, who has strong faith in Jesus Christ. He has a speech impairment (is that what it's called) and it is hard to understand him. His name is Nono. We have taught him a few times in the past, he just joined our lessons with the Bustillo family if he was there but he couldn't hear us very well unless we shouted and we couldn't ever understand his response. Four weeks ago he came to church for the 1st time, and during church . . . he could hear. He said that it was as if his ears were cleared and he could hear the speakers clearly and understand what was being taught. After the 1st time he went to church he said that for 1-2 hours after church he could still hear, but then the deafness came back. He has now been to church every Sunday since then. We have taught him many times after that and he is speaking clearly and can hear us even in the lessons. On Saturday he accepted a baptismal date. I am so thankful for this miracle and for the faith of Nono. The church is true. In the past month I have seen it make such a difference in this old man's life. 

I love missionary work. We need to raise our voice of warning! Share the good news! Because this restored gospel and guidance is for everyone. It really does change lives. I love you all and hope you have a great week. Pray daily, count your blessings, share the gospel. 

Love, 

Sister Healey

 View from our roof top. you can see the church.

One of our exchanges (Sister Garcia assigned in Borongan),

Great things are happening :)

Maubay na Kulop! 

This week has been one of the most tiring weeks so far of my mission. I'm still in Catbalogan and Sister Prudy and I are still companions! The work continues! I'm am so thankful that we are still here. There are so many amazing people and investigators that we have to get baptized!! :))) 

Sister Prudencio and I have been working hard this past week to break those false limitations and have been seeing the blessings! Basically our recent converts are future leaders in the church because they are SO amazing. They have come so far and have the light of Christ about them! We have a few Investigator families right now that are really progressing and I have just seen so many lives change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Some fun/ funny things this week:

- we visited that deaf Lolo again and I helped him pray, but if he couldn't hear exactly what I said he would say whatever he thought I said or make up a word, and it was probably the funniest prayer. It was so hard to finish because we were laughing. He is still the cutest old man. 

- we were walking on this side road and a pedicab driver came by and sideswiped me. My skirt got caught in the wheel and I flashed all of Catbalogan (really only like 4 people) but it was still super embarrassing. haha

- some little kids called Sister Prudencio 'Mama Mary" 

- I climbed a mango tree this morning with this old nanay and picked mangos with this stick mango catcher thing

- 13 investigators at church! 

- Exchanges with the San Joaquin Sisters: Sister Fajardo

- I met Bob Marley (not really) 

And . . . that's all I can remember. I love it here in Catbalogan! Hope you are all doing fantastic and I will talk to you all next week! Take Care! 

Kamarayawan, 

Sister Healey

(Maddie included this link in her email. It is very inspirational and worth watching :) )

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/the-hope-of-gods-light

So beautiful!

Sister Prudencio and Sister Healey

At church with investigators

Visiting the deaf tatay

Climbing the mango tree :)

Happiness

Kamusta kamo ngatanan! 

This past week has been awesome. We are killing it out here in Catbalogan. And by killing it I mean helping people a lot . . . haha . To start off with, Monday (4th OF JULY) we had the best Zone Activity in Calbayog! We did an amazing race around the city but it all had to do with missionary work. For example: getting an on the spot lesson, then making at least 5 contacts on the street and taking selfies with them, then a scripture race. It was so fun and definitely helped us reach the goal given by the area presidency for 30 contacts a day. We ended with over 40! Then to finish the day we had an FHE at a members home, Brother Nikki. He took us to the fanciest Hotel in Calbayog and bought all of us dinner. It was by far the BEST 4th of July ever! Tuesday we had our Zone Training Meeting. 

Recently Sister Prudencio and I have really been focusing on Prospective Elders, Contacting Less Active or Inactive Families. It really works. As we have contacted them and shared with them, they have been so receptive. There was one sister who hasn't been to church in years and just felt lost, like she wasn't important. Forgotten. As we shared about our savior Jesus Christ and how He doesn't forget anyone, tears came to her eyes and the spirit testified of it's truthfulness. Every single human being alive is important. Whether friend or foe we are ALL children of God and are loved. 

Sister Prudencio and I also reached our goal of being in the newsletter 3 times!!! 

​

 July 2016 newsletter.pdf

​

Something funny: the other day my companion thought she knew a short cut to get to one of our areas and we ended up taking over an hour hike out in the middle of nowhere. haha 

My roommate Sister Arais is going home now because her mission is over! Today is also transfer announcements! And tomorrow transfer day, so we will see what happens! 

In general this past week has been so crazy busy. We reached almost all of our goals! 12 investigators came to church yesterday! That has been the most investigators who attended church in my entire mission! We have a lot of progressing investigators and in church yesterday I was just SO happy. I was sitting in sacrament meeting listening to the speaker, sitting next to an investigator family, the Adina family. Sometimes the father would lean over to me and ask questions about the talk that was being shared and I helped them find reference scriptures so they could read them. In this family, specifically, I have already seen a big change in character. The Father has already become happier and I have seen just a glimpse of how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes people's lives. One of our other investigators came in late and sat on the other side of me with her little girl. Her name is Riza and she has already become a happier person as well and has been sharing her testimony with others. That feeling I had I can't even begin to explain. I couldn't do it justice. That feeling is why I served a mission. I felt like I was fulfilling my purpose. It is not even anything I have done, it is just the Light of Christ touching these peoples lives and I have been blessed enough to be a witness.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same Church that Jesus Christ himself established that was lost but was restored in the 1800's through the Prophet Joseph Smith.Through this restored gospel our families can be together forever, not just in this life, but for eternity. 

I know that is true with all of my heart and no one can make me think otherwise. I love you all and hope you have a great week. Always look at the bright side, because if we spend to much time being negative that is all that we see. Everyday is a good day. It is all about attitude. Look up, pray always, and keep on keepin' on. 

Love, 

Sister Healey

Dinner at the fancy hotel in Calbayog

 Part of the zone

Family Home Evening (FHE) 

Look, a shortcut!  (Our hike)

Happy 4th of July!

Maupay na aga and happy Independence day ha iyo didto ha America! 

Sister Prudencio and I (being 2 Americans here in the Philippines) have been making the most of it by singing the Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful, even in a few lessons. hahaha We are also wearing Red, White and Blue and being really obnoxious and Patriotic.  Later today I'm sure we will go buy some BBQ chicken intestine and eat some watermelon. It will be a great Pday. 

This past week we had MLC (Missionary Leadership Counsel) in Tacloban where all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders meet in the mission home. It was fun to see some of the other missionaries  as well as further discuss what we learned from Elder Bowen the other week. 

This past week we have been applying the principles taught by Elder Bowen and have started talking to a lot more people every week and have seen miracles! This past week we got 26 new investigators!! And a lot of people committed to baptismal dates! It has been a great week, even though it has been pouring rain here every day... haha and every time it rains our bathroom floods because a pipe is broken and we have to bucket the water into the toilet so it doesn't get into the other room. haha but it's ok!! It's better than the drought! Count your blessings right?!

Basta, that's all I have time for this week! I love you all! Celebrate America for me. Take a few of those cliche vids of the fireworks and post it on the internet! Take care! Don't drink and drive! (Actually don't drink at all...) sigi bye! 

Love Sister Healey

This old man is the deaf tatay that we have to yell at to teach him. He only has his two front teeth left but was too shy to smile. After we took the picture we showed him and he was in awe because somehow he got inside of this little box. I love him so much. 

The DelaCruz Family on exchanges with Sister Angeles

FHE with the Balarasa Famil