tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5817586635573763322024-03-13T16:08:15.661-07:00Catching up with Sister CalicaAn 18 month mission to touch hearts and change lives for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsSister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-52353744715616380762017-02-23T01:20:00.001-08:002017-02-23T01:21:04.811-08:00Feb 23<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv05BMNIu6PIWY_Dw4Q21TpFsHn-4TjJ_HMdAscNm0aJ42O91I7GruH9WB83vS0dhCepAiVu6U3Z5F-uJqXWnBufx-pIw4nZOuA0H6DOPiIDkELlR1mVfiPCQpXDvAyCX1bBX6AUtc8Xue/s640/blogger-image--2054272973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv05BMNIu6PIWY_Dw4Q21TpFsHn-4TjJ_HMdAscNm0aJ42O91I7GruH9WB83vS0dhCepAiVu6U3Z5F-uJqXWnBufx-pIw4nZOuA0H6DOPiIDkELlR1mVfiPCQpXDvAyCX1bBX6AUtc8Xue/s640/blogger-image--2054272973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNCaxbNRKOqB_Owo-QSc4Jhiv5aZ0n1uLIkWX_cSPcsPP00BNHIxSAZhLH44qhkknr62YtxikVSzlohdboQrHCp2jrdi1v0Oq5DHb-1rTjDAaW9eGQ8wI57LVCHup_aJRQrrd2UN6uRS3/s640/blogger-image--343744910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNCaxbNRKOqB_Owo-QSc4Jhiv5aZ0n1uLIkWX_cSPcsPP00BNHIxSAZhLH44qhkknr62YtxikVSzlohdboQrHCp2jrdi1v0Oq5DHb-1rTjDAaW9eGQ8wI57LVCHup_aJRQrrd2UN6uRS3/s640/blogger-image--343744910.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYQdNC-tJzqQisnXFqdT0U_-WnPmBK3vZnUTKNLEAoV7RybOcn5JQLEH_HsVgbWcSncm2jvwDn6LDbxlGNXHzFw0AZRMcPXr7zccLsEm8Pt_zqWhTEXTnn8vdxU6NPydnKpG5G2jim7Xy/s640/blogger-image--1121475794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYQdNC-tJzqQisnXFqdT0U_-WnPmBK3vZnUTKNLEAoV7RybOcn5JQLEH_HsVgbWcSncm2jvwDn6LDbxlGNXHzFw0AZRMcPXr7zccLsEm8Pt_zqWhTEXTnn8vdxU6NPydnKpG5G2jim7Xy/s640/blogger-image--1121475794.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Hey Mahallies!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is the last week of the transfer....and I'm psyched! 6 weeks nalang to give my best with the name of the Lord on my chest! May the blessings continue rolling in (:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My district and I got to go to Tagaytay on thursday, and the view was magical. I love them tons, and they're so supportive - i'm grateful to have learned from each of them. We found a gigantic pineapple house and spent the day singing the sponge bob theme song while viewing live snakes and taking selfies. It was a great pday. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout the week, we visited our investigators. Sister Gizelle, a mother of 4 of the cutest little rascals, attended church again this week and got to attend class. I feel like whenever we speak about the gospel, she glows with happiness! You can just see her eyes light up like "eureka!" because she's constantly learning by the Spirit about God's plan. She wants to be baptized and is completely ready to, but she and the government don't have a record of her husband's birth certificate. She told me how hard she'd been working to get a new one made - she and her husband have both been saying the most sincere prayers and have been doing all that they could to get married. We've been doing our best to help - but seeing first hand how determined she is to get baptized because she knows it's true inspires me! Watching her convert unto Christ and become more aware of His love for her is good enough motivation for EVERY missionary to share this gospel.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today all the missionaries leaving in a month went to the mtc to get x-rays done. It was crazy to think that just a year and a half ago, I was waving goodbye to that place and heading out to the field. time moves so fast - we gotta make the most of it. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that people are waiting for the truth - for this gospel - and I plan to give my very best these next six weeks. The work never stops!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all, and I pray you continue to build your testimonies through reading and pondering the words of God.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Sister Calica<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvbJHrjAl8FMpbDv6Df0iqMoZKDhg-RAC-ISZVo30xTFDPnyOLMI5RizYZuOy3CAJHOPcmsXDNswzrd5jZCq948wQknJjSlZmR1EQhwbVhQA9dL9s3b2CnEi-vWW8QQFjHDLe0YrnZIP0/s640/blogger-image--1304664479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvbJHrjAl8FMpbDv6Df0iqMoZKDhg-RAC-ISZVo30xTFDPnyOLMI5RizYZuOy3CAJHOPcmsXDNswzrd5jZCq948wQknJjSlZmR1EQhwbVhQA9dL9s3b2CnEi-vWW8QQFjHDLe0YrnZIP0/s640/blogger-image--1304664479.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-49639566504743601642017-02-23T01:02:00.001-08:002017-02-23T01:03:19.852-08:00Happy V<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpkUqXiVtECsw7OJsjRtX_4Rx1avbsva6XbgYqpuqHNp7o2Bw7Qc7yaY_ZceIIIx2NGT5nG2S1DaWtvqRx3ip8ePx6nUnXbaK3OcthMjQmb-COYBmMPQVWQkcMdKLT_7cr4sStWy4sdK/s640/blogger-image--585935131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpkUqXiVtECsw7OJsjRtX_4Rx1avbsva6XbgYqpuqHNp7o2Bw7Qc7yaY_ZceIIIx2NGT5nG2S1DaWtvqRx3ip8ePx6nUnXbaK3OcthMjQmb-COYBmMPQVWQkcMdKLT_7cr4sStWy4sdK/s640/blogger-image--585935131.jpg"></a></div>Hey Mahallies. We're reaching the end of this transfer, and next week, I'll get to know if I stay or if I go! I love golden city - I've officially hit my 6 months here, and it's been the best 6 months ever. I've been so blessed to be surrounded by people who are ready for the gospel, and a ward that is so supportive of the work! </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I just wanted to share a few of the tender mercies I experienced this week.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last Saturday was Brother Bringas's birthday. We had gone to his house to wish him a great one...but he wasn't home. We ended up being punted appointment after appointment - even our most dependable investigators didn't have time for a lesson/weren't home! I couldn't figure out why - until we knocked into Brother Bringas selling lugaw. We ran to him singing happy birthday, and he started crying! He doesn't have very much family, and I'm almost sure no one greeted him except for us...so although we were punted the entire day, it was a blessing for me to be used as a tender mercy in God's hands, to show a child of God that his Heavenly Father remembers him individually. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Elijah got to go to church for the 2nd time, and she's committed to come every week from now on! She's growing so much in her testimony, I'm so blessed to see how much she's been growing. Rom has been working with us a lot more as well - I can tell that his testimony is growing as well, because he's so willing to share it with those around him. He finally attended the sunday school class, and loved it!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for all of you, and hope that you continue to seek ways to be an instrument in spreading God's love for his children. Seek service, and pray for opportunities to help others! The best way to find happiness is to focus on helping others gain it first. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Love you all! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM321mud1vapQOX-PqMMn_fyV3MlGXV_gUiXZhThOdTNdcc5O61eC6pFuyr118LmVQdKi8NVsiPVwqMN9nTKG28_gIJXEr04uXX6LEJLpgjqhfoFxpBNErELxMA3ST0TPo28vtm4Ss5wNy/s640/blogger-image--1464242779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM321mud1vapQOX-PqMMn_fyV3MlGXV_gUiXZhThOdTNdcc5O61eC6pFuyr118LmVQdKi8NVsiPVwqMN9nTKG28_gIJXEr04uXX6LEJLpgjqhfoFxpBNErELxMA3ST0TPo28vtm4Ss5wNy/s640/blogger-image--1464242779.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-7983327421652525962017-02-23T00:55:00.001-08:002017-02-23T00:59:37.862-08:00Becoming who He'd have you be<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NLQx5vi1pI9Xvd97zPcEcWTKihFWDRWSPNXYzbra1HPZgKwR7ADr9AiAzN0zdBIceBHeA90JeRz5KFMfMSLRklcCLy1dS00XOPMvSPfPshcoTwJCD3EqAWGBI_OLW42nnPwIaM1OUbki/s640/blogger-image-1087580086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI_TbgpoY_la65yp7HtNMz-8Ts_AAzFm6ut4XB8PiN4nonFtjJUX43Pxeqd5vSdGEO1JqcJSk0s5tjRW7farKMmiaY5SgPmeeBXxKlWzuvBLoI15US1fC1OiTQ4YKKLGAW3GkXTH_qrwE/s640/blogger-image-1009511419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI_TbgpoY_la65yp7HtNMz-8Ts_AAzFm6ut4XB8PiN4nonFtjJUX43Pxeqd5vSdGEO1JqcJSk0s5tjRW7farKMmiaY5SgPmeeBXxKlWzuvBLoI15US1fC1OiTQ4YKKLGAW3GkXTH_qrwE/s640/blogger-image-1009511419.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>My love for the scriptures have been burning immensely this last week. With the flexibility in the new schedule, I've been able to fit in 2 hours of personal study by starting earlier, rather than just one (don't worry, I've been fitting everything else in as well) and it's been a big blessing. One of the best scriptures I found this week was 1 Corinthians <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);">10:13</a>. God never gives us problems, addictions, or hardships too much for us to bear. It doesn't take years to overcome - repentance can happen as soon as we decide "i'll change - and mean it"</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for you, my family. I'm grateful to hear that sabrina's doing well, and I hope that jill had an amazing birthday! love you always. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZa3WPTcZMFr9InB7kihLnnfghX85ZRJqrmcsPockTlfzlkGsIAxazyu2rsgH8Pup0sWfDKkl2mv2ia9uTQDU9PXXIt5PF5VIaC4eWmFcLLRhzu1a_6yDSfL0ceifqx_5ysQNK5CN9P9U/s640/blogger-image--2120012219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZa3WPTcZMFr9InB7kihLnnfghX85ZRJqrmcsPockTlfzlkGsIAxazyu2rsgH8Pup0sWfDKkl2mv2ia9uTQDU9PXXIt5PF5VIaC4eWmFcLLRhzu1a_6yDSfL0ceifqx_5ysQNK5CN9P9U/s640/blogger-image--2120012219.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-84336135234291462762017-02-02T00:18:00.001-08:002017-02-06T08:11:01.911-08:0010 weeks<div dir="ltr"><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So this week was amazing. I got to attend the Young Women's broadcast & the worldwide missionary broadcast. God is sending so much new revelation - I can feel the work hastening and I'm thrusting my sickle in to build the kingdom as much as I can! I'm so grateful to be apart of it! Such a blessing to be a missionary - I wish I could fully describe the happiness it brings. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our schedules have changed and become a lot more flexible. They kept emphasizing how we would be blessed for using our agency correctly - and I'm so grateful for the change, because I feel like it's preparation for how life's going to be after the mission. Obviously, no one's going to be keeping me on check and watching my every move...but I know that God is watching, and that He expects so much out of me. He's prepared me for this life...so how could I possibly give Him less than my best effort?<br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I was so inspired about their insights - I'd love to share some with you:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. If your investigator (or your child) is not keeping commitments you extend, before assuming something is wrong with THEM, reflect on yourself and your teachings. Why did is it not important to them? What did they not understand? Was the spirit present during the lesson, to bring the message to their hearts?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This really applied to one of our progressing investigators - Rom - who is 16. He'd been taking the lessons because of his tito. He's respectful and willing to listen, and even goes to church. But I feel like he still can't see the personal importance of the gospel in his life. He'd lied to us about stopping his smoking and drinking...and UGH it was the most awkward situation trying to get him to admit it (bc his tito had given us a heads up). I was so disappointed - not just because we'd have to push back his baptismal date...but because the importance of the wow obviously didn't impact his heart. He kept continuing to give into peer pressure.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I kept wondering if maybe it was because of me - because perhaps I wasn't able to bring the spirit as powerfully as I should've been. At the broadcast, we learned about the importance of practicing the gospel in our lives - especially daily repentance. Not just repenting about the big things - but even things we don't really consider sins...but just bring us away from God. Not only sins of commission, but sins of omission. I know that I'm not perfect and there are still things I need to improve and fix.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Because another key point they expressed was that we don't have to worry about if we're doing enough, if we ARE giving are best. like it says in alma 26:27 - success is "given"...so if we have to double guess about if we're doing are all...then we're probably not. and the real question should be, "what lack I yet"?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I learned about the importance of baptizing CONVERTS. people ready for the gospel, and who love the gospel. I realized that if they just do it for no good reason, then they have a better chance of falling away. I actually felt really prompted to ask mom to speak with ateh soo...to express the difference in your life with getting baptized for your future family and then after reading the bom and REALLY becoming converted. I know each of us should still continue to develop our testimonies everyday. Have personal and family prayer, both morning and night. Read your scriptures. Go to church and understand the importance.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that at times it's hard to know if we have a testimony. We may doubt it. but i love this quote i read this week</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"a testimony is the holy ghost bearing witness to our soul of the truthfulness of the gospel and restored church. when we fail to pray and study the scriptures, the influence of the spirit is weakened - lowering our resistance to tempation. when we sin and become unclean, we lose the spirit all together and w/o it can wonder if we had a testimony at all</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="cid:406C0111-C3C2-4D14-8322-43CDDF001C0C" id="406C0111-C3C2-4D14-8322-43CDDF001C0C" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"><img src="cid:4D061CB1-574B-4A0E-A973-2893ADA11AD3" id="4D061CB1-574B-4A0E-A973-2893ADA11AD3" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"><img src="cid:77131938-8553-4D65-9A6F-7DE871CDF013" id="77131938-8553-4D65-9A6F-7DE871CDF013" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4gN6CMvVWnTvaJZFFtEj8NuQ5Fx20-xc9vGYpopGhyphenhyphen5BJS73D0mssokfUR4PG3qWhUFDHet8RLvXwOYcKNEGOZhXMQYeIOLRrOfzkO-CCCMaoiYsAPREJkLNGyhE4Na5j1EHuZ57_EBE/s640/blogger-image--1647873371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4gN6CMvVWnTvaJZFFtEj8NuQ5Fx20-xc9vGYpopGhyphenhyphen5BJS73D0mssokfUR4PG3qWhUFDHet8RLvXwOYcKNEGOZhXMQYeIOLRrOfzkO-CCCMaoiYsAPREJkLNGyhE4Na5j1EHuZ57_EBE/s640/blogger-image--1647873371.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEics4d6EDMusMSdPXi6JEyc1uy4bT9MxgNZb6xyJWvVS2WOlOOrhLDOFwMRAc6sjshzQsdXTokPuO8aLnH6FMg-KIdGT-9UmFRnozCLaGsYAxGiEaUSJiH6j5hnGEzrj4hQGs4yApCvW3tT/s640/blogger-image--1466742339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEics4d6EDMusMSdPXi6JEyc1uy4bT9MxgNZb6xyJWvVS2WOlOOrhLDOFwMRAc6sjshzQsdXTokPuO8aLnH6FMg-KIdGT-9UmFRnozCLaGsYAxGiEaUSJiH6j5hnGEzrj4hQGs4yApCvW3tT/s640/blogger-image--1466742339.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtggkoXKCDGsRxWv0SYvJ-Eg-e8ScXX2W4nfkDGNQz9bxrVC0d7oOHDtmmFVAwulgi8oeUXoFUVz6U8wV1UDAQKQ1JGQuQJ98bW1Jia7jYI7TqV26UWIT5J-m5aXq1JHpPfAoaed-A_IIG/s640/blogger-image-1468991789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtggkoXKCDGsRxWv0SYvJ-Eg-e8ScXX2W4nfkDGNQz9bxrVC0d7oOHDtmmFVAwulgi8oeUXoFUVz6U8wV1UDAQKQ1JGQuQJ98bW1Jia7jYI7TqV26UWIT5J-m5aXq1JHpPfAoaed-A_IIG/s640/blogger-image-1468991789.jpg"></a></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-6274293645561467112017-01-19T04:14:00.001-08:002017-01-19T04:14:51.860-08:0012 weeks<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjDOCVHsPfr4N_POmsvxW6o9s8GsTcXgXq30uNC3Spt1tSf8fhJvKjdqof-Maac6NkXN_ZQnc9X_RfdzFtWofoDVaw7gNjA48rS3P4mn_7pj1oiVfNJBuH81-Qq67b-82HFsvb8eAE0sm/s640/blogger-image--635240062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjDOCVHsPfr4N_POmsvxW6o9s8GsTcXgXq30uNC3Spt1tSf8fhJvKjdqof-Maac6NkXN_ZQnc9X_RfdzFtWofoDVaw7gNjA48rS3P4mn_7pj1oiVfNJBuH81-Qq67b-82HFsvb8eAE0sm/s640/blogger-image--635240062.jpg"></a></div>So I woke up on Tuesday, and was wondering why in the world my lips were feeling so numb. I looked in the mirror and BAM! Mosquito kisses = free botox everyone. I was a real life bratz doll for a day. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But despite having bratz lips and losing my wallet this week, I could feel the miracles continually flowing in. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The first of those miracles being Sister Aquino. We were able to be a trio with my "kapatid" here on the mission for three days, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to teach with her, because I learned so much about being positive and loving my calling. She comes from a pretty rough background, and yet is one of the most spiritually in-tune missionaries I know. She NEVER blames God for obstacles that would hinder almost anyone else I know. From her I learned that as we continue to trust in God, and serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, we will be made enough. <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We'd been teaching the nephew of Brother Latigay for a few weeks now. Rom is one of our progressing investigators and, although he's only 16 years old, he has such a mature attitude and has been going to the church regularly for almost a month now. I am truly amazed whenever I encounter teens searching for the truth. It just further testifies to me that God has prepared the most valiant servants for these latter days and that God's plan is for EVERYONE, no matter the age. Some people, although they're searching with true hearts, just don't have the truth because they don't know where to find it. I testify that this is the true church of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and that we have all the rights and authority to prove that claim. Just like we did with Rom, I invite you to pray and ask if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's church, and if the message we share is true. Rom shared that when he did pray, he felt like he felt God speak to him and advise him to "continue to take the lessons with the sisters". I'm so grateful for the Holy Spirit, because I know that the spirit is who testified to Rom that he is on the right path. We just heard that he might be going back to his province, but I'm really praying he doesn't, because I want to see how much God can make out of Rom!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for all of you, and have a testimony that if you are looking for the truth, you can find it here. <a href="https://www.mormon.org/">https://www.mormon.org/</a></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQFzG76rupYZP5_rT-S-bByf4HJGDmeDWOYX-GcMZv5xfALes5rz-8fkXVu3LmFUB3araWN37zba3A0HEAY_79LACyqfpn6fEY-kEvO8PayuHgW6qTqaTeEvkx6JFwGE6xX6jeau-yqv/s640/blogger-image--719922835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGQFzG76rupYZP5_rT-S-bByf4HJGDmeDWOYX-GcMZv5xfALes5rz-8fkXVu3LmFUB3araWN37zba3A0HEAY_79LACyqfpn6fEY-kEvO8PayuHgW6qTqaTeEvkx6JFwGE6xX6jeau-yqv/s640/blogger-image--719922835.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-26120950718252503622017-01-15T20:13:00.001-08:002017-01-15T20:13:36.468-08:002017<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucFrD1-XUb5H5JBmudePAtroRB7znFdyeCl904rkTVOuOB3R4oALsf7fyIEJsjZ3bmon4zJc_6HVQM36RFCZy6y1WEyiWJsrsgcvu02yBlFwAQ2_TbHYaZGf7gZrcJOwSLGhCdWXjM028/s640/blogger-image-1681183272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucFrD1-XUb5H5JBmudePAtroRB7znFdyeCl904rkTVOuOB3R4oALsf7fyIEJsjZ3bmon4zJc_6HVQM36RFCZy6y1WEyiWJsrsgcvu02yBlFwAQ2_TbHYaZGf7gZrcJOwSLGhCdWXjM028/s640/blogger-image-1681183272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYdt4bAoWwwX9AxepJG76ILmOKXXM0Je5l7ehU1DpQNCAH4gttvanM-bdvztDgH_rEgRaXPuCSH7rVeV5mmFou5lVDTJlhQ3SI3xCaMY2DyCmxQynuKxD5-q2UJj1Y1XxRn8AOml1hL6h/s640/blogger-image-215559840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYdt4bAoWwwX9AxepJG76ILmOKXXM0Je5l7ehU1DpQNCAH4gttvanM-bdvztDgH_rEgRaXPuCSH7rVeV5mmFou5lVDTJlhQ3SI3xCaMY2DyCmxQynuKxD5-q2UJj1Y1XxRn8AOml1hL6h/s640/blogger-image-215559840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjcsZbIItJNOJmjWrpVHhUClapC9tLBct2PZbkrUKOlmiS3oTXUVoT6IJNANn_u1oVqTE9xDBD1y0YscydMn0rYcLDn0j4YJh8TC37HER5hkNBgO2A3o0xWo6xBMmV7GiyQeuqC9qo6Rn/s640/blogger-image-1377575790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjcsZbIItJNOJmjWrpVHhUClapC9tLBct2PZbkrUKOlmiS3oTXUVoT6IJNANn_u1oVqTE9xDBD1y0YscydMn0rYcLDn0j4YJh8TC37HER5hkNBgO2A3o0xWo6xBMmV7GiyQeuqC9qo6Rn/s640/blogger-image-1377575790.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYdt4bAoWwwX9AxepJG76ILmOKXXM0Je5l7ehU1DpQNCAH4gttvanM-bdvztDgH_rEgRaXPuCSH7rVeV5mmFou5lVDTJlhQ3SI3xCaMY2DyCmxQynuKxD5-q2UJj1Y1XxRn8AOml1hL6h/s640/blogger-image-215559840.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucFrD1-XUb5H5JBmudePAtroRB7znFdyeCl904rkTVOuOB3R4oALsf7fyIEJsjZ3bmon4zJc_6HVQM36RFCZy6y1WEyiWJsrsgcvu02yBlFwAQ2_TbHYaZGf7gZrcJOwSLGhCdWXjM028/s640/blogger-image-1681183272.jpg"></div>Happy first week of the year Mahallies.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So this week was ridiculous. The plumbing in the Philippines doesn't take too well to tissues...so our bathroom got messed up. we had to endure and shower at a member's house - the Madriaga Family (they're our landlord) - until our they got permission to open up the second floor for us to use, and we were SO grateful! Literally 5 minutes after the Madriagas left, Sister Table and I heard screaming from the upstairs bathroom - the bathroom knob had broken off AND WATER WAS SPRAYING EVERYWHERE flooding the whole bathroom. We all jumped in, hopelessly trying to shove the knob back to where it was and simultaneously using the bathroom buckets to shovel the mini-sea into the shower, to keep it from flooding the whole second floor. The Madriagas came back to find us soaking and desperate for help. It took 2 hours to fix, but thankfully, Brother Madriaga was able to fix the problem. We were so relieved....then yesterday, our shower faucet broke off so, y'know, all the water pipes have been messed up and I've just been taking tabo showers out of this little bucket. IT'S BEEN A CRAZY WEEK, MAHALLIES!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Missionary work this week was brilliant. Sister St. Gelais and I finally got to teach brother Maximo, the husband of a recent convert, Sister Jen Gonzales. We'd been wanting to share the gospel with him for forever, but he'd always get so shy whenever we'd come by, he'd run off! During our last lesson, however, he told us that he really wanted to go to church and be baptized! He loves his family tons, and watches them go to church every sunday, and I think he's ready to take the steps he needs to to make his family his forever. We're going to continue our lessons with him, and I am sure the day will come when he will be ready and willing to accept the truth of this gospel, or God's plan for us, for himself, and for his loved ones. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've also started teaching a friend of Brother Padlan's (recent convert), Antonio Gile, who became interested in the church because he saw the strength it had given brother Padlan, both physically and emotionally. Brother Padlan's foot is swollen, black, and partially numbed due to diabetes, but he never fails to walk to church every single sunday. His sacrifice amazes me. Brother Padlan bore his testimony to Brother Gile about the blessings and strength he's gained for his obedience to God's commandments and obeying the sacredness of the sabbath day. Brother Gile can barely walk because of his arthritis, but was SO COMMITED to come to church, he came the sunday after we taught him is first lesson! (He's scheduled to be baptized <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://4" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);">on the 18th of February</a>). I know the gospel of Jesus Christ can help us overcome any obstacle. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Gizelle, one of our investigators, has also informed us that she's finally taken action to get her husband's birth certificate, so that they can be married and she can be baptized! I'm so excited for her, and am praying that everything falls into place. God is so good. The Lord always provides a way, if we're trying to do what's right. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love the people here, and I am so blessed to be able to see how the gospel of Jesus Christ, or his plan for our happiness, has motivated them to better themselves. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I would like to leave my testimony with you. I know that this is the true word of God. I know it's easy to say, but what has strengthened my testimony is <i>actually living it</i> and seeing first hand the blessings it brings. Back at home, I didn't have a good study habit when it came to scripture reading, and now I find that the hours of study we have just aren't enough, because there's still so much more I want to learn, and still so much the spirit has to teach me! I think that when we stop looking at prayer and scripture reading and church going as a bore, and begin to see them for what they really are - blessings to enlighten our minds and bring us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ - we will learn to love it. I've grown such a deep love for the prophets of old, who sacrificed time, safety, and (for some) their lives to bring me their testimonies of my Savior Jesus Christ. I know these things are true. I know that Heavenly Father , out of love for each of us, sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us of our sins. I know that the Savior lives, and I know that the spirit will guide us and help us to understand the testimonies of the prophets about Jesus Christ, if we pray and ask for his guidance.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for all of you and invite you to read and pray, and ask for yourself if you really are a child of God, if He really does love you, and if the testimonies in the Book of Mormon are true. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I leave you my witness that they are.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ8F0U4_DWfio_dB9zu9_R1cAgsrSQnC6JISbdWhGyn8tkg2Vn1Dt_siZTyKFnChr7jRtqOi4tUO4Er1DUKA-aQtEMqcyDCD9iWrb9Wt-Y-dLSo6DfGKchcnlOnQqX3m36KjtoEGvAUmf/s640/blogger-image-2030331650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJ8F0U4_DWfio_dB9zu9_R1cAgsrSQnC6JISbdWhGyn8tkg2Vn1Dt_siZTyKFnChr7jRtqOi4tUO4Er1DUKA-aQtEMqcyDCD9iWrb9Wt-Y-dLSo6DfGKchcnlOnQqX3m36KjtoEGvAUmf/s640/blogger-image-2030331650.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-85988780240887739862017-01-08T20:58:00.001-08:002017-01-08T20:58:14.864-08:00100 Days<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbGysSpbWjTksfCWDnv7A_qrdvMMGVFo5B3GywLPlWRMr7Zu8unOoQn2kq1v9o0pe77ozzaEvm4YPg_RbnhpJVtj4Wex0RiiJ0NAeWmzXaz7gJoM4rJldgmF8__ygdhISRqrYhIl8tofc/s640/blogger-image-231406580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbGysSpbWjTksfCWDnv7A_qrdvMMGVFo5B3GywLPlWRMr7Zu8unOoQn2kq1v9o0pe77ozzaEvm4YPg_RbnhpJVtj4Wex0RiiJ0NAeWmzXaz7gJoM4rJldgmF8__ygdhISRqrYhIl8tofc/s640/blogger-image-231406580.jpg"></a></div>Happy New Years, Mahallies. I hope that your Christmas and New Years were filled with loads of joy and a new sense of gratitude. Today, the countdown begins: 100 days until we're together again, everyone! I can't really imagine how it feels to come home and see all my family and friends. Sister Swanson left last tuesday, and I was in tears (which makes no sense, because of course, we're gonna hang out in America)! I guess I just came to a realization that nothing will ever be the same - being a missionary is such a blessing, and for most, is a once in a life time shot in their youth. I feel so blessed to have been able to experience and learn from all those I've come to know out here. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On tuesday, after Sister Swanson left, I met a really amazing mother of 3, named Jennielyn. She's a friend of sister Gizelle, one of our progressing investigators. We were about to start a lesson with Gizelle about the Book of Mormon, when in steps Sister Jennielyn, to pick up her kids. We invited her to listen, and at the end of the lesson, Sister Gizelle tells us how she'd been intending to refer Jennielyn to us for a long time now! Jennielyn said she knew it wasn't a coincidence that she stepped in just in time to meet us. She said that she usually doesn't go out to pick up her kids, because she knows they'll come back, but something was pushing her to go to Gizelle's house...and I know that "something" was the spirit! I am so grateful to continue our lessons with her, and watch her grow in the gospel.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week, we had so much help from the members, which we'd been praying for. They fed us tons of food, and at nearly every house we stopped at, they had friends they wanted us to share the message with. I know God blesses us with tender mercies everyday. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then on thursday, Brother Bringas, we'd asked a less active member if he knew how the spirit felt. He told us that he feels it everytime we come around, that he feels happy, yet calm and strong. He's been coming to church consistently these last couple weeks, and even attended Jhun's baptism! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jhun got baptized on Saturday, and the spirit he brought when sharing his testimony was so strong. He said that when we found him, he felt like he'd finally found the missing piece he didn't realize he was searching for. This gospel helps us understand our purpose for being here. It helps us truly grasp that we really are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that Heavenly Father is real. He has a perfect, glorified body. I know that Jesus Christ is a separate being. He is the son of God, and is our Brother. He also has a glorified body of flesh and bones. During his time on earth, he gave his life for our sins and pains, and overcame death. HE LIVES and loves us! I know that the spirit has no body, but we can feel it in our hearts. I know that it can change who we are, and help us become who God wants us to be. I know that this time on Earth is the time to prepare to meet God. This Earth is our training ground to become more like our Savior, and we can do that by setting goals to be better and overcome our weaknesses. My invitation for each of you is to set 4 goals: mental, physical, social, spiritual. Write why you want to do each of these, and how you're going to do them! I know that we all have weaknesses, and might slip up, but heaven sings and cheers us on every step of the way, so keep trying to be better than the person you were yesterday! and if you'd like to join my mission in this challenge, I'd also love to invite each of you to read 5 pages of the book of Mormon daily, and underline every single time you see anything that references the Savior. I've started doing this and have come to see that the Book of Mormon really does testify purely of our Lord.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all so much, and pray for you always!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">See you in 100. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Sister Calica<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjLbszxsZ-UWgI8lVYukmSlDTFz0umjk4JhYO76bYyGBbH-EVW39qryf_yFqar8rmvkHJ_bIl3_1_4wuB-AYRQAkkZRHEuDmqiC2H82jY8MFgsKdyuSqh8xC_Pq-XG4-KiResrmEfCnCM/s640/blogger-image--1643370867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjLbszxsZ-UWgI8lVYukmSlDTFz0umjk4JhYO76bYyGBbH-EVW39qryf_yFqar8rmvkHJ_bIl3_1_4wuB-AYRQAkkZRHEuDmqiC2H82jY8MFgsKdyuSqh8xC_Pq-XG4-KiResrmEfCnCM/s640/blogger-image--1643370867.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-70907088510674015132016-12-25T22:36:00.003-08:002016-12-25T22:36:29.693-08:00It's the most wonderful time of the year!<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlM-oEDIsXQgXgQ23EnROIZyThJh3dlN-7cR8Pff61Tb4yxuyFiia3_evBdqN11KzGynYR_DPLS5OKlCWg739G0gpqMJXTD0afim304yRqPkTEgVEFTeOKMXsxobyX6QqMU8VHJ9799z6/s640/blogger-image--1213098938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlM-oEDIsXQgXgQ23EnROIZyThJh3dlN-7cR8Pff61Tb4yxuyFiia3_evBdqN11KzGynYR_DPLS5OKlCWg739G0gpqMJXTD0afim304yRqPkTEgVEFTeOKMXsxobyX6QqMU8VHJ9799z6/s640/blogger-image--1213098938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_sQ_gCKixohrlAehWkDWzNynw8eCstzDqI3D6Ksy9l9vMeEJjiVCaDdFsXXmuMnriQkrTB0oG4A_ATu8gPeeR9QqF_tCCBbLwJd_AqDrw3gGzubYdeYrUkDfShTFHjeQVTHqGww2zBY0/s640/blogger-image--136074416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_sQ_gCKixohrlAehWkDWzNynw8eCstzDqI3D6Ksy9l9vMeEJjiVCaDdFsXXmuMnriQkrTB0oG4A_ATu8gPeeR9QqF_tCCBbLwJd_AqDrw3gGzubYdeYrUkDfShTFHjeQVTHqGww2zBY0/s640/blogger-image--136074416.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlM-oEDIsXQgXgQ23EnROIZyThJh3dlN-7cR8Pff61Tb4yxuyFiia3_evBdqN11KzGynYR_DPLS5OKlCWg739G0gpqMJXTD0afim304yRqPkTEgVEFTeOKMXsxobyX6QqMU8VHJ9799z6/s640/blogger-image--1213098938.jpg"></div>Hey Mahallies! Christmas is inching closer, and I love it! We've been celebrating Christmas here since September, but it's always different watching the kids go from to house to house caroling for treats with lights shining everywhere, and everyone is always in a more cheery mood. The rain has been heavier than ever, umbrellas don't help much, but it doesn't stop us from going out to work! It's actually pretty refreshing after months of burning heat, so it's as close to my sister's "-15 degrees" as possible here in the Phils.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We became a trio on December 7th, and so this last week, I've been focusing on training my anak, Sister St. Gelais, from Arizona (she's <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);">1/4th</a>filipino), and killing (not literally guys...) my going-home companion, Sister Swanson from Utah. She's going home on the 28th, so we're going to have her for Christmas but be all alone for the New Year - I'm going to miss her so much! She and I get along really well - we can be sassy with each other, so you know we're always having really good laughs. Especially this last week.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Monday, our homeless investigator, Jhun Tempongko, got us each of us a carrot cake with creme cheese toppings as our Christmas gift! We asked him to give the prayer for our lesson, and during his prayer, he expressed sincere thanks to God for allowing us, as his missionaries, and this gospel to make a difference in his life. He promised God, although he knows that we'll be leaving soon, he would continue to stay steadfast in the truth of this gospel. His conversion continues to amaze me - he's already half way through the book of Mormon! I can't wait to watch him be baptized.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then on tuesday, we were teaching our cute, old, deaf recent convert, Sister Prima. Right after we closed the lesson, they got us food, and I turned to my anak and midway through our conversation, she got crazy eyed and straight up smacks me on the back of the head! And at this point i'm in shock - obviously I have no idea why she keeps smacking me, and I'm laughing and confused all at once, and I look up at Sister Swanson and she's not helping at all!!! Just dying of laughter screaming THAT THERE IS A COCKROACH IN MY HAIR. YES THAT IS CORRECT. THERE WAS A NICE BIG COCKROACH USING MY HEAD AS A NICE PLACE TO LAY ITS NASTY EGGS. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This last week has been really different - being a trainer is A LOT of pressure some days, especially with the thought of my co-trainer, Sister Swanson, heading back to America. But I'm grateful for the opportunity to train at the same time my sister is being trained. If I ever struggle, I just think of my cousin JJ's advice "to think of them as your siblings" and it makes it a lot easier to love them! My little anak is actually making tons of progress, and it makes me really proud of her. She really takes what I say to heart, and then works on it, so I'm grateful for her willingness to improve, and I continue to learn from her daily. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for this mission, for the opportunity to serve Filipino people, and especially grateful this Christmas season, to be able to remember all that Christ gave for my salvation. I hope, for each of us, we will extend kindness to all around us and remember that He never complained, and neither should we. "If you give of your money, you give much. Give of your time, and you'll give more. But if you give yourself, you give all."</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I challenge each of you to give yourselves to God, by serving your fellowman. #lighttheworld</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you and miss you all! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXcx0ZcnnplZWY0tApDgRoODVTE_RX5AE1MzDWdaXjoHDuWNFbKhdRDcrhyY4D03O8i-b_XofSjfQNKlrb39Ler_z6Ol8ywshqiCxwfcuEkeX2WnYR_8xBESiT0ox_6613BfOOGEPTiEB/s640/blogger-image--1201630045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXcx0ZcnnplZWY0tApDgRoODVTE_RX5AE1MzDWdaXjoHDuWNFbKhdRDcrhyY4D03O8i-b_XofSjfQNKlrb39Ler_z6Ol8ywshqiCxwfcuEkeX2WnYR_8xBESiT0ox_6613BfOOGEPTiEB/s640/blogger-image--1201630045.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-72878945953351672082016-12-25T22:36:00.001-08:002016-12-25T22:37:34.161-08:00Merry Christmas<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNP-DkNi5MoDJuJQbPDq_RL-bEEy2B9CE4L3OrU6YNcq_8_jtKOQFDFc7plRAQ7-KRB2-hRgGU_adYFAfBlIhIe03c9cZWarYo2Qgz24t9Yjxm1hKbXPuHfVDAhwAbEljomWryV179QEQ/s640/blogger-image--1713479749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNP-DkNi5MoDJuJQbPDq_RL-bEEy2B9CE4L3OrU6YNcq_8_jtKOQFDFc7plRAQ7-KRB2-hRgGU_adYFAfBlIhIe03c9cZWarYo2Qgz24t9Yjxm1hKbXPuHfVDAhwAbEljomWryV179QEQ/s640/blogger-image--1713479749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZouv7Zxpqa_CowOLBSjPbRNTARwL3KlL5iTA-z6DdUm6xD0dVGft8ALS7oIpHuFbECs-gevsn464aMsVtqPOcT66kgpeRrbSHyEZx8s_mirQx3FJyiTzYnnJDijlDvUOtHSomuXoffWNC/s640/blogger-image-961610130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZouv7Zxpqa_CowOLBSjPbRNTARwL3KlL5iTA-z6DdUm6xD0dVGft8ALS7oIpHuFbECs-gevsn464aMsVtqPOcT66kgpeRrbSHyEZx8s_mirQx3FJyiTzYnnJDijlDvUOtHSomuXoffWNC/s640/blogger-image-961610130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PFM3gd9uRNSJbrJPIOeVD1JTGMJRMPzIa51LYaOAtrPqNMAUFD4fgW0scyTxFC1kqs69AR765FWl0GZLfwaILhktynRyBoKOYfLCeEoIQB506LWi02hrdfwU3HXL_ttM8CrWkYUEiP6D/s640/blogger-image-449051508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PFM3gd9uRNSJbrJPIOeVD1JTGMJRMPzIa51LYaOAtrPqNMAUFD4fgW0scyTxFC1kqs69AR765FWl0GZLfwaILhktynRyBoKOYfLCeEoIQB506LWi02hrdfwU3HXL_ttM8CrWkYUEiP6D/s640/blogger-image-449051508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2GJ9fWpDhMYTxHIgcYYhdwHPgWOkOiJaQDEcazglIEJAyLhDcG1HpOt1fbxlp7zrOx4-d9v0nLyMyVGUOfaW-R2-WspO8FzRqJsbRuxjFGChGXzDG6lLBWVEj32TyUDVhFGdkIW0OV4K/s640/blogger-image--230637702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2GJ9fWpDhMYTxHIgcYYhdwHPgWOkOiJaQDEcazglIEJAyLhDcG1HpOt1fbxlp7zrOx4-d9v0nLyMyVGUOfaW-R2-WspO8FzRqJsbRuxjFGChGXzDG6lLBWVEj32TyUDVhFGdkIW0OV4K/s640/blogger-image--230637702.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PFM3gd9uRNSJbrJPIOeVD1JTGMJRMPzIa51LYaOAtrPqNMAUFD4fgW0scyTxFC1kqs69AR765FWl0GZLfwaILhktynRyBoKOYfLCeEoIQB506LWi02hrdfwU3HXL_ttM8CrWkYUEiP6D/s640/blogger-image-449051508.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZouv7Zxpqa_CowOLBSjPbRNTARwL3KlL5iTA-z6DdUm6xD0dVGft8ALS7oIpHuFbECs-gevsn464aMsVtqPOcT66kgpeRrbSHyEZx8s_mirQx3FJyiTzYnnJDijlDvUOtHSomuXoffWNC/s640/blogger-image-961610130.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNP-DkNi5MoDJuJQbPDq_RL-bEEy2B9CE4L3OrU6YNcq_8_jtKOQFDFc7plRAQ7-KRB2-hRgGU_adYFAfBlIhIe03c9cZWarYo2Qgz24t9Yjxm1hKbXPuHfVDAhwAbEljomWryV179QEQ/s640/blogger-image--1713479749.jpg"></div>Merry CHRISTMAS Mahallies! </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So I'm so excited to tell you all about my Christmas week so far - it's been hilarious.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On tuesday, we caught a mouse in our apartment this week - thanks mom, those traps were finally put to good use. then on the 25th, we caught an even bigger RAT running around in our bathroom. Shoutout to my anak, because there is NO WAY I was gonna pick that thing up to throw it away.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then on wednesday, my companions were having a nice meal at a bbq stand on beside an ukay-ukay...and ended up shoveling down a whole plate full of nice black ANT rice (you should've seen their faces when they realized - Sister St. Gelais literally sprayed it out and there were rice and ants flying everywhere HAHAHA PRICELESS). </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thursday was the Christmas Party, and the whole Cavite mission met in one building to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! I was able to perform a song for everyone, called "Who could imagine a king". I finally saw my batch again, Elder Tedrow and Elder Cook, and it amazes me that a whole year had passed, and so many things have changed! I can't believe that this is my last Christmas on the field - it doesn't feel real. At the party, we had an exchange gift - i got a cool donut pillow - and received some gifts given by members, and I cannot express how EXTREMELY grateful I am for the support, love, and kindness of people who support the missionaries. It makes being away from home a little easier, to know that others appreciate our sacrifice. But more than that, it makes me even MORE grateful for the sacrifice that Heavenly Father made by giving us His Son. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'd love to hear if any of you have been participating in the 25 days of Christmas, or if you've done any service for anyone. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On Christmas day, we taught a lesson to brother Jhun and gave 2 ties and a white polo. Then we went to Bishop's and had a 5 star dinner and watched the best 2 years. And at the end of the night we exchanged our Secret Santa gifts and Sister Table got me a super cool cultural figurine. I finally got to skype my family this morning at the Tiongson's house, and I can't wait to see my dear loved ones in 4 months. quote of the week? marriage advice from Brother Tiongson: "Three C's of relationships, don't compare, don't complain, don't criticize" </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I'm still grateful to be out here!<br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know this gospel to be true. I know that we are so blessed to have our Savior, Jesus Christ, and a perfect plan to return to our Heavenly Father. I hope that none of us forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas - to celebrate the miracle of an ever loving, ever merciful Lord, willing to sacrifice His all so that we could have it all. I'm so grateful for His teachings, and so blessed to share it with everyone I speak to. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for each of you, and I pray that you seek to have the blessings of this true gospel for yourselves.My invitation for each of you is to read the Book of Mormon, and find out for yourself. Merry Christmas my loves!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Sister Calica</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislj31Zw7QrGvAZ8_ZMpxpH724dN8l-AeKKASX8H3-Xhsn0X5FmiRZ5JxvWxhOU3xuc-NLmnzBoTfpUyfqTSpl1uh-RsbJA0tQk2R9unH9VpTC_DfNjnBO_iU4wWNZbb2Dq-hnUHbefuWJ/s640/blogger-image-447626906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislj31Zw7QrGvAZ8_ZMpxpH724dN8l-AeKKASX8H3-Xhsn0X5FmiRZ5JxvWxhOU3xuc-NLmnzBoTfpUyfqTSpl1uh-RsbJA0tQk2R9unH9VpTC_DfNjnBO_iU4wWNZbb2Dq-hnUHbefuWJ/s640/blogger-image-447626906.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-15243166454750121392016-12-04T23:13:00.001-08:002016-12-04T23:13:03.874-08:00Thanksgiving<blockquote type="cite"><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; padding-left: 1ex;"><div dir="auto"><div class="m_6138324006087153637m_8849994128051431349h5"><blockquote type="cite"><div class="gmail_extra"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="m_6138324006087153637m_8849994128051431349m_-8964209438839098020h5"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38pALmGPLLHizBpzRaPhPnE5dlWfqYgCvxSQRh8ybqOfFtnz6nMBdhzD1e4YHoAb60uYJgyNgYqNfTYiCxjNipJV5MWzy0ploXs5Om9AcdSDoDc0Ta4ppLMpXFXBWCuqm6RGl9sDpCUp/s640/blogger-image--1897463352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38pALmGPLLHizBpzRaPhPnE5dlWfqYgCvxSQRh8ybqOfFtnz6nMBdhzD1e4YHoAb60uYJgyNgYqNfTYiCxjNipJV5MWzy0ploXs5Om9AcdSDoDc0Ta4ppLMpXFXBWCuqm6RGl9sDpCUp/s640/blogger-image--1897463352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGIw9K4lE8zJSHQU4FU5IQuZpLoaKF_g35l6z37LoB-S03kkgsuECTVfKCN_YvTt6rvxa-WsvVRvNO50Kgu2z8TrM3WRa9IS7ZNh3Z0HtutWBQxkhDc1OywFu-wi3sPb_A3sBmJmOKsSE/s640/blogger-image--1272043766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGIw9K4lE8zJSHQU4FU5IQuZpLoaKF_g35l6z37LoB-S03kkgsuECTVfKCN_YvTt6rvxa-WsvVRvNO50Kgu2z8TrM3WRa9IS7ZNh3Z0HtutWBQxkhDc1OywFu-wi3sPb_A3sBmJmOKsSE/s640/blogger-image--1272043766.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38pALmGPLLHizBpzRaPhPnE5dlWfqYgCvxSQRh8ybqOfFtnz6nMBdhzD1e4YHoAb60uYJgyNgYqNfTYiCxjNipJV5MWzy0ploXs5Om9AcdSDoDc0Ta4ppLMpXFXBWCuqm6RGl9sDpCUp/s640/blogger-image--1897463352.jpg"></div> Happy Thanksgiving to you, my lovely family <3<br>><br>> It's crazy to think that just a year ago, I was on a plane ride over to my new home here in the Phils, and that here we are a year later, and Sister Calica || was heading out to hers on the same day! ALSO you have to know that i literally waited up all night and day to make sure i'd get that call from sister calica so that's honestly so STINK that it didn't work but y'know thanks for trying bc obviously the love is real. 😉💟😘<br>> My companion and I tried to celebrate thanksgiving but one of our kabahays (sister Verances) was just NOT in the jolly ol' thanksgiving mood and said that they don't celebrate thanksgiving here in the phils so Sister Swanson and I ended up celebrating on our own and went out on a cute date to this little cafe right next to our house. This week was pretty amazing! Some miracles we'd witnessed: 1.Our homeless investigator, Jhun, read 83 pages in the tagalog book of mormon in ONE DAY. AS IN, he's caught up to my month's worth of studies in a single day. I was amazed, but curious if he actually understood it, and so I started explaining that the book of mormon ISN'T the mormon bible and isn't about mormon, and he replies "i know that this is just a book - but i know that it's the word of God. and it testifies of Christ. And it has all my answers - if I have any questions, I just have to read, and I get my answers" AND I FOR REAL JUST WANT YOU ALL TO MEET THIS GUY BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!! This last week, we had stake conference far from our normal ward. People have to attend church 4 times in order to be baptized, and I was honestly concerned that he wouldn't go, because of course he works really hard to try to make enough money to have enough food, BUT BEFORE WE EVEN ASKED IF HE WAS GOING HE SAYS "don't worry sisters, i'll meet you there" and paid the whole fare on his own. he actually ended up getting lost, but eventually found his way to the church and got there even earlier than us. He showed up in his best white shirt, and EVEN took off his beanie (which he'd been embarrassed to do thus far because of the wounds on his head) but then looked around and felt embarrassed because he said everyone was so well dressed. So he sat outside and read the pamphlets and contemplated if he should stay or leave...and then he told us that one of the members invited him in and made him feel welcome! we were so grateful for such a miracle.<br>><br>> I've realized the meaning behind "teaching people, not lessons". It is SO important to LOVE everyone we meet. we decided to take a different approach with one of the less actives we'd been struggling with and had pretty much lost hope on. We came in, and just started talking, and it's AMAZING how much she opened up. Usually, I feel like we just share a verse with her, tell her to come to church, she'll make some excuse about why she can't make it, and then we leave discouraged. but this time - this time was SO different. After listening to her testimony about how she knows this church is true, and that she knows she's lacking the action to prove it, She TOLD US that she'd come to church, and that she wanted to go back to the temple too. I was amazed. It was then that I realized that the question should never be "what are we teaching to our investigators today?" it should be "what do my investigators need to learn, need to feel, and need to experience to move closer to God"<br>><br>> I am so grateful. We also got guitar lessons from our cute little Recent Convert, Nanay Prima, so that was amazing. i could see how happy it made her to feel like a teacher again (: She's deaf, but so talented - aka we should all work to add to our talents, because we'll use them still, even in our old age!<br>><br>> I love being a missionary, and I can't wait for all of you to experience this for yourselves.<br>> Jeremiah 1:4-10<br>><br>> I love you all!<br>><br>> Sister Calica |<br>><br>> Pictures of me in the jungle, sister swanson and I with brother Jhun, a family home evening with Rex and NovieFaith (i made her a poster lol) and one with my other kapatid, sister aquino, and nanay, sister livermore (who is leaving to usa in a few days! <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://18" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="18" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(18, 192, 14, 0.258824);">dec 7</a>)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt2oUOPjY4zS3-BVavQHYBEPer5R1aWlU0VbCSLFLxAyTAhXzedJQsogeV6OliM6weBW93g0ObFh5C_XAkkqXv8pBHLAeAX7i4ewWgrMxIuUiR6uXIP07Dh9mVUFgB4Acgo5GiyGK2qVy/s640/blogger-image-926391152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt2oUOPjY4zS3-BVavQHYBEPer5R1aWlU0VbCSLFLxAyTAhXzedJQsogeV6OliM6weBW93g0ObFh5C_XAkkqXv8pBHLAeAX7i4ewWgrMxIuUiR6uXIP07Dh9mVUFgB4Acgo5GiyGK2qVy/s640/blogger-image-926391152.jpg"></a></div></span></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwJA8ZdeoZQquJg9R_yb_MaZqmTlXQv1wTUVtJ_DZ1VIlcOWaRMlfYMuZpwDDYQ8oWaRQg0FTlMEGvZ4FYQiwIudoxw7La1POeuEk969iIraY-kHWE24eQ5rjV5_N2QnYPcL-q1jg7qoM/s640/blogger-image-1413812282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwJA8ZdeoZQquJg9R_yb_MaZqmTlXQv1wTUVtJ_DZ1VIlcOWaRMlfYMuZpwDDYQ8oWaRQg0FTlMEGvZ4FYQiwIudoxw7La1POeuEk969iIraY-kHWE24eQ5rjV5_N2QnYPcL-q1jg7qoM/s640/blogger-image-1413812282.jpg"></a></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-55791958417326516482016-12-04T21:44:00.001-08:002016-12-04T21:44:24.561-08:00#lighttheworld<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT2WJXJvrF4ZsWYkf8_HBpzoikgbqW7DcNTMU14rwvUTgnPAiENrQKxjKIGqX69bg02oa4qCPu9_i7aQsBPxZG-zXiE26oJUM1blrkdtKb8Y8xShs3YxhyphenhyphenCjZBJk5mNzz1B4eAkY9xYBH/s640/blogger-image-1678011957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT2WJXJvrF4ZsWYkf8_HBpzoikgbqW7DcNTMU14rwvUTgnPAiENrQKxjKIGqX69bg02oa4qCPu9_i7aQsBPxZG-zXiE26oJUM1blrkdtKb8Y8xShs3YxhyphenhyphenCjZBJk5mNzz1B4eAkY9xYBH/s640/blogger-image-1678011957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvgRP_Q_JPCdD1Zks7cSQ0lxVmootTC5NWhxeAUT29jSOGbMsTGjwUZLuW_lObFaZ6cueY08M__gy8Q5R8rkhDHQ0BgMT6LRNBRbRxQZm8TDU_YJ_EpVtZaKsi2rL6B8CLqR_FMKgvP_w/s640/blogger-image--1518556968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvgRP_Q_JPCdD1Zks7cSQ0lxVmootTC5NWhxeAUT29jSOGbMsTGjwUZLuW_lObFaZ6cueY08M__gy8Q5R8rkhDHQ0BgMT6LRNBRbRxQZm8TDU_YJ_EpVtZaKsi2rL6B8CLqR_FMKgvP_w/s640/blogger-image--1518556968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL_C8QEh7FHAkMdHWhBd9d47NRxifO6-srNpmpv2mROncHYOUbCEkN_KgO8-jBvFe82IKAcXYZpjWA4TF0B7Wyq4HqXbmSiDxi2Lm8lmDZ9UqY4LxmaeSdXgF8fiCsY8EM9efaIn4-7xE/s640/blogger-image-239864351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL_C8QEh7FHAkMdHWhBd9d47NRxifO6-srNpmpv2mROncHYOUbCEkN_KgO8-jBvFe82IKAcXYZpjWA4TF0B7Wyq4HqXbmSiDxi2Lm8lmDZ9UqY4LxmaeSdXgF8fiCsY8EM9efaIn4-7xE/s640/blogger-image-239864351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJgT7OacXjWECotaZoz4zxQbWm0lFVEjBFiIrd5sS2dFopQeMxq1aj8shrTGlv86avfQdSi3SlLtuxAsQD8r1of17fdjOvdKwT6d7cusUp-120StgNm1-mXHXxGCGPqEtDYV_Xhut-6bq/s640/blogger-image--1857062613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJgT7OacXjWECotaZoz4zxQbWm0lFVEjBFiIrd5sS2dFopQeMxq1aj8shrTGlv86avfQdSi3SlLtuxAsQD8r1of17fdjOvdKwT6d7cusUp-120StgNm1-mXHXxGCGPqEtDYV_Xhut-6bq/s640/blogger-image--1857062613.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL_C8QEh7FHAkMdHWhBd9d47NRxifO6-srNpmpv2mROncHYOUbCEkN_KgO8-jBvFe82IKAcXYZpjWA4TF0B7Wyq4HqXbmSiDxi2Lm8lmDZ9UqY4LxmaeSdXgF8fiCsY8EM9efaIn4-7xE/s640/blogger-image-239864351.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvgRP_Q_JPCdD1Zks7cSQ0lxVmootTC5NWhxeAUT29jSOGbMsTGjwUZLuW_lObFaZ6cueY08M__gy8Q5R8rkhDHQ0BgMT6LRNBRbRxQZm8TDU_YJ_EpVtZaKsi2rL6B8CLqR_FMKgvP_w/s640/blogger-image--1518556968.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT2WJXJvrF4ZsWYkf8_HBpzoikgbqW7DcNTMU14rwvUTgnPAiENrQKxjKIGqX69bg02oa4qCPu9_i7aQsBPxZG-zXiE26oJUM1blrkdtKb8Y8xShs3YxhyphenhyphenCjZBJk5mNzz1B4eAkY9xYBH/s640/blogger-image-1678011957.jpg"></div>Hey Mahallies!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To celebrate the (less than) 25 day countdown to Christmas, my companion and I have been taking part in the #lighttheworld 25 ways in 25 days challenge. Everyday until Christmas, we take part in some type of service that reflects the sacrifice and love Jesus Christ did during his time on Earth. It feel so amazing to serve, and be served, and as we do so, it makes us more aware of all that God has done and the many blessings he has given. I invite you all to join! (: there are videos everyday to support the service of the day, so feel free to look it up. It's worldwide - so any service you're doing, you're not doing alone! Millions of people are alongside you. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://mormon.org/" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">mormon.org</font></a></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We served at a less active member's house a few days ago, by helping them garden so that they could gain some extra income (being that their financial situation is very rough) and as we did, I noticed that in their house, which was made of tin and had no furniture, stood a makeshift tree made out of rolled up red paper and used bottle caps for ornaments. I couldn't help but compare it to the tree we put up yearly at home and stand amazed at all the blessings we constantly manage to overlook. I invite you to seek to give, instead of receive, this upcoming Christmas season. I promise that as you center your hearts on Christ and not on the worldly items of the world, we will better understand the REAL meaning of Christmas - we will understand that God, as a gift to us, sacrificed His Beloved Son, that all mankind might be saved.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know it to be true. I invite you to find out for yourself, by joining my sister and I in the challenge her mission in North Dakota gave, to read the Book of Mormon before Christmas, and pray to know it is true, as a gift to show our love for Christ. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica |<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM77G6_w7s6txnQ1D5iBCskY0brhSCl7ZuXA0_r7WquBK3d2QJbDd8YY-tgFelBjNIE9KyK-YRypz6kkda8WaQUT5Os6ewUx9Tst0NqQycrejg0XHmIpsboaqGlpGgLOUD9yI5HOV6zz2q/s640/blogger-image--1792215966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM77G6_w7s6txnQ1D5iBCskY0brhSCl7ZuXA0_r7WquBK3d2QJbDd8YY-tgFelBjNIE9KyK-YRypz6kkda8WaQUT5Os6ewUx9Tst0NqQycrejg0XHmIpsboaqGlpGgLOUD9yI5HOV6zz2q/s640/blogger-image--1792215966.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-9873003187965230642016-11-07T05:18:00.001-08:002016-11-07T05:18:02.040-08:00Happy :)<div dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">OKAY for all of you who want to know...SISTER CALICA 2.0 IS AT THE MTC and is doing amazing, and I'm gonna add a little pic at the bottom and a little throwback pic on my own because #MASAYA (HAPPY)</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week has been awesome! My companion, Sister Swanson, and I walk miles and miles and miles without rest, but it's 100% worth it. We've gotten to meet and teach tons of people, and their back story never ceases to amaze me.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is one little old woman that was converted into the church for a little under a year now, and we go to visit her often, to offer service and share spiritual thoughts. What I love about missionary work is that it's all about LOVE and our message applies to everyone. This nanay was always so happy and preppy, until last thursday I'd never guess that she had such a tragic backstory. She got married at 13 and lost her 2 children and 19 year old husband in a bomb in incident, just 4 years after getting married. She spent the rest of her life studying and teaching in africa and america to try to forget them...but as she shared her experience with us, it was obvious that the pains were still fresh, as she couldn't finish due to tears.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am grateful that I know that I know - and that she can find comfort in the fact that - life doesn't end here. Our souls are eternal, there is life after death, and we are meant to share that life with our families forever in the presence of God. I'm grateful for my family, and their love and support for me. I'm grateful for this gospel and for the chance I have to share it with the world. I hope that each of you may take the time and truly appreciate the message that God has been waiting to share with you! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all and hope the best for you always, </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sister Calica <br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="cid:1E54C21F-D5A9-45FA-964E-1B4E088F6D82" id="1E54C21F-D5A9-45FA-964E-1B4E088F6D82" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 16px) + 16px); margin-left: -16px;"><img src="cid:0B1EDF37-4CAC-4D3E-B87B-10641E02B3A4" id="0B1EDF37-4CAC-4D3E-B87B-10641E02B3A4" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 16px) + 16px); margin-left: -16px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjdgQXYIi7VhPheQPSKq_WpjBBt5HC7FiQvbFDVm5HZUTeWUH1DtMeT0Nu_zoXvJv-NUrf_1mvUjhpqlSunc9A4ZR5qBuwecI58zKJHvihoIuhGvJvVLsaUTcDBUWthe8p5-_KbWUvIlv/s640/blogger-image-1100142369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjdgQXYIi7VhPheQPSKq_WpjBBt5HC7FiQvbFDVm5HZUTeWUH1DtMeT0Nu_zoXvJv-NUrf_1mvUjhpqlSunc9A4ZR5qBuwecI58zKJHvihoIuhGvJvVLsaUTcDBUWthe8p5-_KbWUvIlv/s640/blogger-image-1100142369.jpg"></a></div></span>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-80679115883700588072016-10-20T13:54:00.001-07:002016-10-20T13:54:15.037-07:00The time is far spent, there are 6 months remaining...<u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReP6-AXxf3iLMcHaPdPMUkzPswxZg9clyg6HfqxQ6w-xyFNBS7Do52avkeMT0SduedsPdR_uvr8tEX2CLK3ruvS6HTLx6e6VpTSw1-AKILbBBw1OoN61L9BfQmsItU8BfJEG8tMfHWi8V/s640/blogger-image-1107362129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReP6-AXxf3iLMcHaPdPMUkzPswxZg9clyg6HfqxQ6w-xyFNBS7Do52avkeMT0SduedsPdR_uvr8tEX2CLK3ruvS6HTLx6e6VpTSw1-AKILbBBw1OoN61L9BfQmsItU8BfJEG8tMfHWi8V/s640/blogger-image-1107362129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpHSZAGGi1Iudp8fdVeUhwiQovsG5vtCYqd_mg7Hk7GoxJ2MjAgmW-qb3XNKo03QOZ4HP7ngISLFbOh7Kn_BsFCDTl13_48QitBObJAvePQg8_KLgaHw-QlDLPcNFwkElNPX4Z0NbOoNl/s640/blogger-image-1229804769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpHSZAGGi1Iudp8fdVeUhwiQovsG5vtCYqd_mg7Hk7GoxJ2MjAgmW-qb3XNKo03QOZ4HP7ngISLFbOh7Kn_BsFCDTl13_48QitBObJAvePQg8_KLgaHw-QlDLPcNFwkElNPX4Z0NbOoNl/s640/blogger-image-1229804769.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReP6-AXxf3iLMcHaPdPMUkzPswxZg9clyg6HfqxQ6w-xyFNBS7Do52avkeMT0SduedsPdR_uvr8tEX2CLK3ruvS6HTLx6e6VpTSw1-AKILbBBw1OoN61L9BfQmsItU8BfJEG8tMfHWi8V/s640/blogger-image-1107362129.jpg"></div><br></div>M A H A L L I E S</u><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hey loves. The time has flown by so fast! I honestly can't believe I've already hit my one year mark. I think that if one year could fly by that fast...six months is going to be done in the blink of an eye. And...it's not that I don't like you guys or something...but I honestly don't want to go back to America ahaha I love my mission way too much. The people are wonderful, the food is fattening, the spirit is converting, and the love is never ending. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for my family, who've been celebrating my brother(Josh)'s 17th birthday and my little sister (Sabrina)'s mission farewell *SHOUTOUT TO YOU GUYS I MISS YOU TONS*...because they included me in the celebration by sending me a 1 year package of my own! It had chocolate and tissues and books so I could cry tears of joy and eat my feelings all at the same time, then read something uplifting to push me forward. They know me way too well ahaha but honestly my one year was great thanks to my companion and kabahays who set up a huge tarpaulin with my face raging across it (and also featuring the three of them partying in a jeepney on the sidelines) and a delicious yema cake haha #itsmorefuninthePhilippines diba?! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tons of other crazy things happened these last two weeks - first i'd like to speak of Cherryanne. She's a recent convert, and had only been a member for about 4 months now. She suddenly stopped going to church one week because she had to help her sister set up for a huge statue worship event...and after that things all went downhill. She just stopped coming all together, and when we went to go visit her, her eyes were dark and she said that she'd seen bad spirits in her home. She saw one possess a lady down the street, and had been lighting candles and opening scriptures all around her house in a desperate attempt to get them to go away. It was honestly a little bit horrifying to speak to her...because, i guess the best way to explain it was that she felt "dark". Even just giving her a hug...felt empty. AGH and then the way she looked at us, it was like no one was inside. I know this probably seems very far off from reality, but here in the Phils, EVERYONE believes in dark voodoo spirits so this was just...NOT OKAY. But in a brave attempt to try and help, we spoke with her and asked her why she hadn't been going to church or praying. We listened to her concerns, and earnestly urged her to pray, read from the Book of Mormon, and listen to hymns to try to invite the spirit back into her life. She agreed to do so. We left and came back the next day and I kid you not - She didn't even need to say she'd done it - I could feel the difference when I walked into her home. I could see it in her eyes - it was like she had the shine restored back into them. She told us that she'd been playing church music since we'd left the night before, and that she'd read her scriptures, and prayed...and hadn't been bothered by the bad spirit - it'd left. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that this gospel is POWERFUL. It comes directly from Heaven. Each and every one of us are very special children of the Most High Being - Heavenly Father. He loves us, and wants us to be happy. No matter how powerful the adversary is, and no matter how hard he tries to pull us down, I know that we can stay firm and that our testimonies will not be shaken if we rely on our Heavenly Father, and on His beloved son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Spirit of God will testify to you of these things. You are loved, prayed for, and blessed more than you know.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Of these things I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e-jLMHuKjBumMabVViModHc4sq47U17F5UnQrNrJ0zwNjvbMA__Q4n6A0FXtzZYd8xeLLWUkkeVPkIK8Tzvoz0MhGfgGlWAEsnDk7FSoyKSEL3mZE_8sbKO9Rl1PsKhtfK0p2dVGo7Dm/s640/blogger-image-679186650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6e-jLMHuKjBumMabVViModHc4sq47U17F5UnQrNrJ0zwNjvbMA__Q4n6A0FXtzZYd8xeLLWUkkeVPkIK8Tzvoz0MhGfgGlWAEsnDk7FSoyKSEL3mZE_8sbKO9Rl1PsKhtfK0p2dVGo7Dm/s640/blogger-image-679186650.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-57783915676225853942016-10-09T23:31:00.001-07:002016-10-09T23:31:30.109-07:001 Yr<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuVwauByHo4AH7SC1Ukg-IXCEjimLzQuTbZapGmkO0CCaWoyjXstkyVO06TpnmIHXiKFFjLZ0LwbzBzO9nTiowJuNO7PMnRmq_h8LDYJb1FUEKqr6d3QI3PFy8i4Kp65DGoGuyYQjxITz/s640/blogger-image-1478115658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuVwauByHo4AH7SC1Ukg-IXCEjimLzQuTbZapGmkO0CCaWoyjXstkyVO06TpnmIHXiKFFjLZ0LwbzBzO9nTiowJuNO7PMnRmq_h8LDYJb1FUEKqr6d3QI3PFy8i4Kp65DGoGuyYQjxITz/s640/blogger-image-1478115658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqF8Xa_lW50x3-0eWKvKpVVxLk0hfpmjKHqOtN1tVuQvusMMyGua_0P8Xo3GsUVC9_T0h_AGtZ_9q29DBNj5ECS1Tr7tcg_Wkpn5S4GpeD7oEbDyMIlu9TIwYxvDwA6cWUaM_Vh-49At2/s640/blogger-image--1020955394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqF8Xa_lW50x3-0eWKvKpVVxLk0hfpmjKHqOtN1tVuQvusMMyGua_0P8Xo3GsUVC9_T0h_AGtZ_9q29DBNj5ECS1Tr7tcg_Wkpn5S4GpeD7oEbDyMIlu9TIwYxvDwA6cWUaM_Vh-49At2/s640/blogger-image--1020955394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B9fQYZUFKOWYDjxIq-p_xsGYzM7S9nVbizFUv_gewhOJnO00PIW9cblhiheSvShvygICLltbhW6EyozzCs4dG9UHE6HNqixzg2oAFBYGw3ZFX4wAEupCoME8PICO9kPAoS851wEvaYCu/s640/blogger-image-688486510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B9fQYZUFKOWYDjxIq-p_xsGYzM7S9nVbizFUv_gewhOJnO00PIW9cblhiheSvShvygICLltbhW6EyozzCs4dG9UHE6HNqixzg2oAFBYGw3ZFX4wAEupCoME8PICO9kPAoS851wEvaYCu/s640/blogger-image-688486510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr38cOfMxOWneEFqt6SWcRTxR11kKhN1s-X1z2QFhOYrSVxShx0_nFVx-o3yZRs3Rdn8VSkIdtiCX6droLfbAAHCBnNjtToOYrd_IR81J7b6zguArMRba6SI0n7YHYft7hyphenhyphenklisufBWpPJ/s640/blogger-image-1122952602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr38cOfMxOWneEFqt6SWcRTxR11kKhN1s-X1z2QFhOYrSVxShx0_nFVx-o3yZRs3Rdn8VSkIdtiCX6droLfbAAHCBnNjtToOYrd_IR81J7b6zguArMRba6SI0n7YHYft7hyphenhyphenklisufBWpPJ/s640/blogger-image-1122952602.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2B9fQYZUFKOWYDjxIq-p_xsGYzM7S9nVbizFUv_gewhOJnO00PIW9cblhiheSvShvygICLltbhW6EyozzCs4dG9UHE6HNqixzg2oAFBYGw3ZFX4wAEupCoME8PICO9kPAoS851wEvaYCu/s640/blogger-image-688486510.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqF8Xa_lW50x3-0eWKvKpVVxLk0hfpmjKHqOtN1tVuQvusMMyGua_0P8Xo3GsUVC9_T0h_AGtZ_9q29DBNj5ECS1Tr7tcg_Wkpn5S4GpeD7oEbDyMIlu9TIwYxvDwA6cWUaM_Vh-49At2/s640/blogger-image--1020955394.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuVwauByHo4AH7SC1Ukg-IXCEjimLzQuTbZapGmkO0CCaWoyjXstkyVO06TpnmIHXiKFFjLZ0LwbzBzO9nTiowJuNO7PMnRmq_h8LDYJb1FUEKqr6d3QI3PFy8i4Kp65DGoGuyYQjxITz/s640/blogger-image-1478115658.jpg"></div>Hey Mahallies!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So like I said last week, October is crazy. Babies are being born, my brother's turning 17, my sister's leaving on a mission, and our living prophet and apostles have filled our minds with tons of new spiritual insight, AND MY BATCH AND I ARE HITTING ONE YEAR ON THE MISSION FIELD ON THE 14TH! Isn't it all so wonderful? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was such a blessing to watch the General Conference from a different country, for the first time! Singing along with the missionaries as they sang "Called to Serve" and "I'll go where you want me to go" brought me so much happiness - I'm so grateful to be a missionary, and to be blessed with the opportunity to share a beautiful, heaven-sent message about how Jesus Christ has paved a way for all of us to return to our Heavenly Father, and more than that, to return together as families, to be together for all time and eternity. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So many things happened this week, it's hard to sum up all I've learned, seen, and heard in a few paragraphs. Rex Paras, our little boy who was recently converted last month, turned 11 on Sunday! We came over to his house with cake and some pokemon lego, and you guys should've seen how happy he was! His mom, Jennifer, told us that they never had cake for their birthdays (because they couldn't afford it) and they were so grateful we had done so much to make it memorable for him. For me, back at home, cake on birthdays seems like something "given", something expected, something I honestly wouldn't notice very much because I'd take it for granted...but watching how much joy it'd bring people who aren't used to having such blessings in their lives made me realize how important the basics are.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just the same, I believe that too often, we grow numb to the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or of God's love. We begin to feel entitled to blessings and want more, but thank less. Blessings such as family, opportunities to study the scriptures and uplifting/educational literature, our homes, our jobs, food, etc the list could go on forever, but more often than not, we forget to have an attitude of gratitude and positivism, and search for what we lack.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So today, I'd like to invite you to look through your life, and write down every time you'd felt the spirit, or felt God's love, or experienced miracles, and thank Him for those things. And afterwards, ask Him what you can do to show him how grateful you are for His tender mercies. Look through your life, and think of any sins you've left unrepented, and seek forgiveness from Him. And I promise you, that you will find the peace, joy, and beauty in life you didn't know you were looking for. I know that He loves you, and He blesses you everyday. Evidence of His love is all around us - just look a little harder.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love each of you, I love this gospel. I'm grateful to be a missionary, and my testimony of God's love and Christ's atonement grows every single day. My prayers are always with you! I leave these things in Christ's Holy name,</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Amen. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-40537479302508847312016-09-25T23:42:00.001-07:002016-09-25T23:42:38.610-07:00Family<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hey Mahallies! </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I didn't get to write you all last week, so this entry is going to include some insight from both this week and last.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've been able to be part of 2 huge "Family Day" events - encouraging others to research and do work for their family trees and also to encourage love and unity in the home (and if you'd like to try it out, here's the website - <a href="http://familysearch.com/" target="_blank">familysearch.com</a> ). My friend, Sister Alapa, and I were able to sing one of my favorite Primary songs to celebrate the event, called Families can be Together Forever.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At one of the events we had a parade, and as my companion and I marched with the banner, all the members behind us handed out pass along cards about families and about God's plan for them - it was exhilarating to watch as the kids raced to try to pass on this joyful message to everyone in sight. It made me think, how great would it be if people always acted with such enthusiasm to share the gospel and spread the truth! Let us stand tall and lovingly and respectfully share what we know to be true with all those around us. especially family. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some families are not as fortunate as our own. This week, My companion and I had a day full of dropped appointments this week, and decided to go to an area we hadn't planned for, to visit a family we hadn't planned to visit. When we walked in, we saw all the kids curled up against the wall, in rags, and eyes swollen from tears. We were shocked and asked what happened. They told us their mom and sister had gone missing for three days and their father left them <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1">at 12 am</a> to go find them - it was around <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://2" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2">4 pm</a>when we arrived at their house, and they hadn't eaten for days. We said a prayer and got them food, and have been back to check on them every day...but what really hit me was the fact that most of us are not aware of the many blessings before us. We take it all for granted. Let us not focus on the things of the world - remember how blessed we are to have families that can support us when times get rough and a God that is so good to us. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A house is not a home without family. Families create the perfect atmosphere to learn and grow together. But what I know without a doubt is that our families are not limited to just our living blood - it stretches out to all those who have sacrificed and labored before us - all of our ancestors. This is why it is so important to do family history work - because they are our angels! (I don't know if any of you have ever watched Cokeville Miracle, but it's a testimony to my words, and based on a true story, so you should def go watch it!) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that family is ordained of God - and our families can last a lot longer than just here and now. We were meant to be together forever! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all and hope to hear from you soon (: </span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVaWgOf4D7MKa6vWTc-VagQG9MwsxVox-bX_AqAKAsKOwaJ8YNaBT6O95_8iBMs6qD5UsTc8vSqaeesxPf92YfzB8a4_mx9s2HkUiG6Wh0GqvhdW_XL2Z5T4QK4hlKbxTfnuaLuT0obm-/s640/blogger-image-2044339616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVaWgOf4D7MKa6vWTc-VagQG9MwsxVox-bX_AqAKAsKOwaJ8YNaBT6O95_8iBMs6qD5UsTc8vSqaeesxPf92YfzB8a4_mx9s2HkUiG6Wh0GqvhdW_XL2Z5T4QK4hlKbxTfnuaLuT0obm-/s640/blogger-image-2044339616.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pnTDlP4zql6kTgbau8dtSXNwd7GMIeoqcBHqpJlYlJn3W8EQCrS75luONjIDQnajdn8_IycO9FNDBL6iFYS13ceGspVseLtXUu_wuL0BNv0FYCGpsc7Va2NGb4niT7XzG_Tuo6UH797A/s640/blogger-image--1586336979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pnTDlP4zql6kTgbau8dtSXNwd7GMIeoqcBHqpJlYlJn3W8EQCrS75luONjIDQnajdn8_IycO9FNDBL6iFYS13ceGspVseLtXUu_wuL0BNv0FYCGpsc7Va2NGb4niT7XzG_Tuo6UH797A/s640/blogger-image--1586336979.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFJR2OOUBmu0Y2GRXih_INdjo9nHB_N3e_LF7XULD84HhZr4Bqn30EdKYYet3d5hdrRYIyxLwp6PxOM_5d_8pyZpmHt_1O7I1YYeB-ZQYF12niAa363O0KJuT_9LVlziHa6yCkT1H3MVg/s640/blogger-image--425834235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFJR2OOUBmu0Y2GRXih_INdjo9nHB_N3e_LF7XULD84HhZr4Bqn30EdKYYet3d5hdrRYIyxLwp6PxOM_5d_8pyZpmHt_1O7I1YYeB-ZQYF12niAa363O0KJuT_9LVlziHa6yCkT1H3MVg/s640/blogger-image--425834235.jpg"></a></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-50746015143010717992016-09-11T23:07:00.001-07:002016-09-11T23:07:02.706-07:00Count your blessings, See what God has done.<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivS5Mh5m44zmxsc8qzWtt7-huK0fpi5p5fQeTfYmeXRp0rbiRHwboVGt4i9ISn8Wfxvj-hG2weihDNDoHzZ6U-RJu9-hoTafqgHzywxXyR0hFJl04qTGVVN0xQUwCKGdgnVvcCQB-qu7K/s640/blogger-image-1673138721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNbJ4eMCF2folL2w60EZFontQwgLZltSt9L7AHNN0UQeDE8-Y3VtpOiitYoExwVMsCPsXmoSefZnjENmlWeZ8Y77yOcQx8CcCvEd__hO7Ns4eVAEWRD9XwqpCVjAi70VT0vwaMgHZRSvD/s640/blogger-image--795201918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNbJ4eMCF2folL2w60EZFontQwgLZltSt9L7AHNN0UQeDE8-Y3VtpOiitYoExwVMsCPsXmoSefZnjENmlWeZ8Y77yOcQx8CcCvEd__hO7Ns4eVAEWRD9XwqpCVjAi70VT0vwaMgHZRSvD/s640/blogger-image--795201918.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Hey Mahallies!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So this week, I got to go to Tagaytay! It was the most beautiful spot ever, and I felt like, from just the view, I could see the Phils go on forever! It's amazing what has been created by God's hand. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In other news, I'd love to speak to you today about blessings. This week, our investigators, Jennifer Gonzales, Mcjinx Paras, and Rex Paras got baptized! This family is amazing, and I don't think I've ever met people so ready for the gospel. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We visit them almost daily, and have grown very close to each of them. From just seeing them, you'd never be able to tell that they had come from such hardship. Their home is built out of boards and tin, on top of a field of mud. Their source of living is their vegetables, which Nanay Jen sells all day, and what they can't sell...that becomes their meals. During lessons, they'd share about their lives, and told us that this year was a lot more blessed than before - they used to go house to house collecting plastic to make money, and would have to bathe in a filth ridden river by their home. The boys would only be able to go to school twice a week, because most days they'd try to help their mom get enough money for food. And they laughed as they told us that they LOVED the rain! They would take out buckets to collect it all so they could cook and have a clean shower and wash their clothes. They spoke of it as such a blessing. And yet, with all this "lack" they still manage to laugh and love each other. They are closer than almost any other family I've ever seen. They are willing to share and go out of their way to feed us whenever they have the means to do so. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I remember one night, they shared a meal with us, and allowed us to get first pickings. Sister Jen said, "go ahead and take all that you want! Don't be shy." So my companion and I scooped some corn beef on our plates, and after we were finished, I watched as Mcjinx put some on his. His brother, jokingly (but actually meaning it) said HEY HEY SLOW DOWN! OTHERS OF US HAVE TO EAT TOO!...and only then did I realize that the small bowl of meat was all they had to eat.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't think that any of us will ever <i>really</i> understand how <i>gracious </i>God has been to us each and everyday, until we experience for ourselves, and see first hand, exactly how blessed we are. These stories are not rare. Most of the people - even my companions - have told me that they come from families that have gone periods where food was scarce and the lifestyle was low...and yet, they still find it in their hearts to see the blessings they have been given. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love the people here, and from their examples alone, I have learned so much. I'm ever grateful for all that I have been given, for my education, for my family, for my friends and loved ones, for this gospel, and for all the opportunities God has given me. Please, never ever believe that blessings have been scarce. Because if you have shoes on your feet and enough food to eat, you've already been given much, much more than the people here. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that Heavenly Father is aware of you, but do your best to be aware of Him. Give thanks for all you have - count your blessings. I promise you that as your share, as Christ would, you will always have enough, and your blessings will only multiply.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I leave these things with a humble heart, in Jesus Christ's sacred name, Amen. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW4XY0mhKP6Vtm36e2pKBdTATn-kDCeDCy9mynWERSrvJvI4DwYfGNVZUOELoP13HSSF9zsPLQ1AF5T5wxFuwoKgDPav1eexO1dRLFwtwYsb8Ry2nTI6jLlUCOk-9aa0YHfAWOUrRZcD0/s640/blogger-image--900587692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFW4XY0mhKP6Vtm36e2pKBdTATn-kDCeDCy9mynWERSrvJvI4DwYfGNVZUOELoP13HSSF9zsPLQ1AF5T5wxFuwoKgDPav1eexO1dRLFwtwYsb8Ry2nTI6jLlUCOk-9aa0YHfAWOUrRZcD0/s640/blogger-image--900587692.jpg"></a></div><br></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-47313463542213626662016-09-04T22:28:00.001-07:002016-09-04T22:28:54.570-07:00With Love,<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mahallies! So my kabahays and I finally moved into our new apartment, and it's BEAUTIFUL. GOODBYE TOILET SHOWER, hello wall of separation! (for those of you who've never been to the phils, you probably wouldn't understand...but just look it up on the internet or something. our shower is just a bucket...and the floor ahahaa there is no divider. #yayPHILS ahha just kidding, it's not that bad, but y'know. just one of the things you don't see very often in the states. BUUUUT Can i just say how much I love it here? i would use the toilet shower for the rest of my life if it meant i could be here forever. Golden City is full of blessings and some of the kindest people I've met in my entire life. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week, I've learned to love the Lord more than I ever have in my entire life. He'd given me another chance to improve myself, and the sand and stars could never amount to the number of tender mercies He has bestowed upon me. I can't even begin to express how continually blessed I am to be able to share about the plan God has for each of His children and the sacrifice that Christ made for each of us. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've learned this week of the importance of love. Knowing that we are children of our Heavenly Father and that He loves us, and we are WORTH loving changes how we think of ourselves. Acknowledging that others are also children of our Heavenly Father, and that our brother, Jesus Christ, sacrificed His life for them as well should change how we treat others, and inspire us to see them with love - giving them extra patience. And lastly, but most important, making the right choices out of love for God, rather than fear of Him, changes the amount of happiness we will have in our lives. Believing that God has given us rules and regulations as restrictions make life seem like prison cell, but when we understand that He has given us commandments as steps to become more like His son, Jesus Christ, we will realize that the motivation behind it all was always love.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let us seek to serve others with love, and to serve God with love. We shouldn't choose to obey God and serve others just because we're afraid of the consequences - that is selfish. We're only thinking of how the consequences will impact us. Instead, I invite us all to be selfless and strive to be better, because we want to be closer to God,&we love Him too much to do anything to hurt him. Strive to serve others, not because of the reward, or praise, or consequence, but because we want to help others to feel the Christ-like charity we all hope others would show us. As my mother taught me, "One of the greatest ironies in life is that we acquire love as we give it away"</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout history, the prophets of God have called repentance among people. Rarely do we ever think of this as an act of love - more often than not, we think it to be an act of chastisement. We think "GET OFF OF YOUR HIGH HORSE! you're not perfect either!" But I know that they have been sent as representatives of God and that God calls us to repent because He loves us. He wants us to return to Him, and we cannot do so if we are dirtied with sin and have not used the atonement to repent and become clean. He wants so badly for us to come back into His arms, and has given us all the tools to do so. I know that our leaders are called of God - and that we have a living prophet on the earth today, by the name of Thomas S. Monson. Heavenly Father has an equal love for the people of olden times as He does for us, and knows that we need guidance because our specific needs are not the same as those people in times of old. I'm grateful, that because He loves us, He has given us direction. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the Bible, which stand as a constant reminder that God still speaks to His children today. I'm grateful for this gospel, and hope to share it with each of you, because it is something that has changed my life, my family, and my relationship with God - and I know it will do the same for you. You are so, so, so very loved. You are prayed for. And you are known by our Father in Heaven. Please don't ever doubt His love for you, or the love of His son, Jesus Christ. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know these things to be true, and I'm happy to leave my testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></div><div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-83514296354973583392016-09-04T20:52:00.001-07:002016-09-04T20:52:51.263-07:00A time for change<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4AeXY-3Wznf9NxPj8j2bWW9pSu6h4ap3PFF5_Mt77bB5VeWRsCUYAE-zLG_6BBAJf-Z0HwGtVVLpfSF9dRfUAtru65oAx6OXyvDhdcG2AsPrzoeIKoL90EOla4hwJ0fjvCJ2KIoa1V39/s640/blogger-image--1240385634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4AeXY-3Wznf9NxPj8j2bWW9pSu6h4ap3PFF5_Mt77bB5VeWRsCUYAE-zLG_6BBAJf-Z0HwGtVVLpfSF9dRfUAtru65oAx6OXyvDhdcG2AsPrzoeIKoL90EOla4hwJ0fjvCJ2KIoa1V39/s640/blogger-image--1240385634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLTand4fEYiELtJs6KVQ9buOI-klIr8BNO_Q9ZdeGQrsJs3aF-ruSPsrb-eZy_dxbc_IdRLimWKklzJDNqy2Hy0nM1_rdY6-zSsngCAZH5VRP_tJZ2TvBnGEUAGI2TXNGWmtW3L00oYnl/s640/blogger-image--1645255476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLTand4fEYiELtJs6KVQ9buOI-klIr8BNO_Q9ZdeGQrsJs3aF-ruSPsrb-eZy_dxbc_IdRLimWKklzJDNqy2Hy0nM1_rdY6-zSsngCAZH5VRP_tJZ2TvBnGEUAGI2TXNGWmtW3L00oYnl/s640/blogger-image--1645255476.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4AeXY-3Wznf9NxPj8j2bWW9pSu6h4ap3PFF5_Mt77bB5VeWRsCUYAE-zLG_6BBAJf-Z0HwGtVVLpfSF9dRfUAtru65oAx6OXyvDhdcG2AsPrzoeIKoL90EOla4hwJ0fjvCJ2KIoa1V39/s640/blogger-image--1240385634.jpg"></div>"Alma 50:16"</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mahal na mahal na mahaaaalllll ko kayo, Mahallies! I just wanted to go ahead and thank everyone for the love and early birthday greetings. it's the big 2-1 everybody! Aha, it's actually my first birthday away from home, so it's definitely one for the books. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love my new area, and all the people here. I'm new, but they've done all they can to make me feel so welcome! Grateful for all the food, the packages, the prayers, and the love they've given. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today, however, I wanted to speak of the greatest gift you and I have been given: The Atonement of Jesus Christ. His love for us started long before the cradle in Bethlehem, and the impact of his sacrifice will continue to affect us forever. What's amazing is that, in just the space of 3 years of His ecclesiastical ministry, He taught us all we must know to be headed back towards the Heavenly Kingdom of Heavenly Father. And I, in comparison, have been blessed with 18 months to share why His 33 years on Earth means so much to all of us.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Atonement He paid makes it possible for us to be cleansed from the frailties of mortality - and the sins we've accumulated throughout our lives. I've known this throughout my life, but it isn't until you <i>apply</i> the atonement that you realize it's worth. Avoiding repentance and covering up sin is like walking down the pathway of life with a ton of rocks in your backpack. Adding a rock every time you sin, and getting weighed down...when we could be moving forward a lot faster with the weight lifted off our backs. The only way for that weight to be lifted is through repentance. By doing all we can to fix our wrongs, then giving all our sins to God to make amends. There is no point in continually going down the wrong road - no matter how far you get, you're only further from the place you want and need to be - further from His Heavenly Kingdom. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know that repentance is hard. But I also know that we are daughters and sons of a loving Heavenly Father. That won't change, no matter what we've done. HIs love will never evaporate or lessen. But I know OUR love for Him, and His son, Jesus Christ, will only increase when we learn to let go of ourselves, of our weaknesses, of our sins, and sacrifice them all to be closer to Him. I know, without a doubt, that we mustn't judge. If people try to change and make amends and be a better person, we should push them forward. No one should ever be described based on their worst sin. I know that we must learn to show a Christ-like love and forgive with a Christ-like forgiveness if we want to be any closer to the person He would have us be. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am grateful for another year to learn, to grow, and to serve. I couldn't be more thankful for your love and support. I pray for you all, and wish you all happiness. I'm grateful for my loving and merciful Heavenly Father, my brother and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my guide and comfort, the Holy Spirit. I'm grateful for the scriptures - the Book of Mormon and the Bible. I appreciate the sacrifices of all the prophets of God. I beg you all to strive to grow closer to God, and let go of anything holding you back from doing so. It will change your life, and your eternities. I leave this as my earnest hope and prayer for all of you, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <img src="cid:ii_156b136ce3cf7962" alt="Inline image 1" width="340" height="87"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpL817bJfrpDNL2pjC-Kabh5S1Bp5XOiiZZWuuuhLVMj_1Ul9dDdYUkC8IlibORrtWWuUPVBzZ1FHOYKb0HBwLekdmQXx0n1wXgz1i17TlhqVJpOm9q7D5n0F-mOMdT0IuLk_iqB0NQ15/s640/blogger-image--1768414737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpL817bJfrpDNL2pjC-Kabh5S1Bp5XOiiZZWuuuhLVMj_1Ul9dDdYUkC8IlibORrtWWuUPVBzZ1FHOYKb0HBwLekdmQXx0n1wXgz1i17TlhqVJpOm9q7D5n0F-mOMdT0IuLk_iqB0NQ15/s640/blogger-image--1768414737.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-34142481745586432192016-09-04T20:50:00.001-07:002016-09-04T22:27:00.105-07:0021 Candles<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Gusto ko lang nagpapasalamat muna sa lahat ng mga loved ones ko - aking pamilya at yung mga kaibigan ko. Maraming salamat sa birthday wishes ninyo at lahat ng mga regalo ibinigay niyo sa akin! I'm amazed that despite the distance, you've all made the effort to show your love and support for me (and although I probably won't be able to reply to all of your emails this week) I want you to know that i'm so grateful that you cared enough to think of me this week! A very, very special thank you to my family, who were amazing enough to send me enough food and stationary and other household items to provide for a city of people (my kabahays also send their thanks, seeing that half these things will be sustaining them as well ahaha) and for the love I felt from home! </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I thought my birthday would just be another normal day, considering i'm in a new area where I don't know the people very well...but it was full of blessings! We literally spent every hour of the 26th celebrating. My kabahays woke me up exactly at 12 to open the box from my family (which they rewrapped with a bunch of liahona articles and topped with a huge red bow) and they made the sound effects (the "oohs" and ahhhs") necessary to make any good gift great as I took apart my balikbayan box ahaha. I thought that was it for my birthday surprise...but then they woke me up again at exactly <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">6:30</a> singing happy birthday with cake and a huge poster they stayed up all night making. We went out with the Elders to a Korean restaurant, and then had back to back dinners with the members. It was honestly so much fun, I couldn't help but thank God for being so merciful and kind enough to make me feel special and loved.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't think me to be naive - I am fully aware that God's love doesn't always come in the form easily seen blessings. This last week has been a week of testing for my testimony - a week in the refiner's fire. But I know that this test has been a gift as well, for God had seen me fit enough to grow and become more Chirst-like than the person I was before. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With every trial that comes our way, we are given the opportunity to allow it to define us and defeat us or to learn and grow from it. Let us each be refined by the God's fire - it will put us under pressure and challenge us to be better, but in the end, we will be much closer to the best person this world has ever known - Jesus Christ. Let us accurately self evaluate ourselves, give credit to God for all of our achievements, and be understanding of others, because they too are struggling to become purified. Don't we all wish to receive support and love and understanding from others around us? We don't know the full depth of anyone's backstory, so let us seek to improve our own imperfections first, before we start to point out others. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My prayer for you is that your love for God grows enough to not only avoid sin and temptation...but to despise the idea of anything that would separate you from returning to His presence again. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all and am so grateful for your willingness to serve your fellow brothers and sisters. I know that God loves you, and wants the very best for you. Please don't ever doubt that. Everything we do, we should do with the motive to be closer to Him. He lives, and heaven is rooting for your success. </span></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-76325503113746270292016-08-15T00:35:00.001-07:002016-08-15T00:35:31.264-07:00Happy 10 Months of Service<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7wVnmUvO-UOiKxHR-xpMB8VAJNKlGxOloYRqZ2wlDxltK7Jz1ft2N90FjYkYzc8IzAgOZP8EF8nzI3xpJXgvxp9sCqgbHJj6_mdI3YwN3P4PeuyCnTOcvCpEi0xa8cyOXpk4cJjchRY_/s640/blogger-image-1223392727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7wVnmUvO-UOiKxHR-xpMB8VAJNKlGxOloYRqZ2wlDxltK7Jz1ft2N90FjYkYzc8IzAgOZP8EF8nzI3xpJXgvxp9sCqgbHJj6_mdI3YwN3P4PeuyCnTOcvCpEi0xa8cyOXpk4cJjchRY_/s640/blogger-image-1223392727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPWItVqJ-oSqZtaD00U43JVih6JG2PRgGU6ZjcXK8JgJHSX4x8Z-8eNqZ0jSbW0XnJuB3sPstbSC0SAXJLeNBOA57XIaQRsRIid5C4xLI90xdCAL7EQHtn0g2JA9PEZbHkev2a80RpxY9/s640/blogger-image--1959130324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPWItVqJ-oSqZtaD00U43JVih6JG2PRgGU6ZjcXK8JgJHSX4x8Z-8eNqZ0jSbW0XnJuB3sPstbSC0SAXJLeNBOA57XIaQRsRIid5C4xLI90xdCAL7EQHtn0g2JA9PEZbHkev2a80RpxY9/s640/blogger-image--1959130324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXOPH6tbRuSHbIzFYxwd0aEaJ2VtNpnsO-j0RM2oQt6niImcuO9RwLLm-eoskvlzCn7WQSB56DJSj94ybXt8qUrHCy8abHZQjTBhCLIGziAb5uw4N2PYl0GU-oWYH3cSV2q7kiOE80bey/s640/blogger-image-282967109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXOPH6tbRuSHbIzFYxwd0aEaJ2VtNpnsO-j0RM2oQt6niImcuO9RwLLm-eoskvlzCn7WQSB56DJSj94ybXt8qUrHCy8abHZQjTBhCLIGziAb5uw4N2PYl0GU-oWYH3cSV2q7kiOE80bey/s640/blogger-image-282967109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ00BzBUDe3Fbnd2eo4043TP-zIM9_2_Fxejr3CDIcjkjfRnZa2hF7OMErcrRkTd0GBYsw8nvWwmEDq7WQh6FKqcmNl9Saz1PGL6TArkSZX-SQISKppPxEUiRKcw4Z4UizJot2ro3Q9w-U/s640/blogger-image-1912523132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ00BzBUDe3Fbnd2eo4043TP-zIM9_2_Fxejr3CDIcjkjfRnZa2hF7OMErcrRkTd0GBYsw8nvWwmEDq7WQh6FKqcmNl9Saz1PGL6TArkSZX-SQISKppPxEUiRKcw4Z4UizJot2ro3Q9w-U/s640/blogger-image-1912523132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqCndgQfbJ6v06bGtR19kgA1YIUymdUAE7e_tckwiAlU-fkh4XE2WU3pnS1UCbvD2Dp8Tudp2SWqSTXrANk_RMImySYWLPe_5N5FvMGwtQ0-aPEmWbRZRSszAxjk0QnO0TbqkwMI6oNs3/s640/blogger-image-809855272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqCndgQfbJ6v06bGtR19kgA1YIUymdUAE7e_tckwiAlU-fkh4XE2WU3pnS1UCbvD2Dp8Tudp2SWqSTXrANk_RMImySYWLPe_5N5FvMGwtQ0-aPEmWbRZRSszAxjk0QnO0TbqkwMI6oNs3/s640/blogger-image-809855272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDae7sZmxbiFIvJ9d4igVudvU-MAckwYUel0gZq6CCAoiKejuiOG4RVgFr_Vo_7rSM3SkXag-qFdgM-DQ4DwUXPXA8ib4S6BK9OD26it78MSMLGq7TFkPHWv9uCdeV8bVHryXaNlnYp5F/s640/blogger-image-837557861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDae7sZmxbiFIvJ9d4igVudvU-MAckwYUel0gZq6CCAoiKejuiOG4RVgFr_Vo_7rSM3SkXag-qFdgM-DQ4DwUXPXA8ib4S6BK9OD26it78MSMLGq7TFkPHWv9uCdeV8bVHryXaNlnYp5F/s640/blogger-image-837557861.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqCndgQfbJ6v06bGtR19kgA1YIUymdUAE7e_tckwiAlU-fkh4XE2WU3pnS1UCbvD2Dp8Tudp2SWqSTXrANk_RMImySYWLPe_5N5FvMGwtQ0-aPEmWbRZRSszAxjk0QnO0TbqkwMI6oNs3/s640/blogger-image-809855272.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ00BzBUDe3Fbnd2eo4043TP-zIM9_2_Fxejr3CDIcjkjfRnZa2hF7OMErcrRkTd0GBYsw8nvWwmEDq7WQh6FKqcmNl9Saz1PGL6TArkSZX-SQISKppPxEUiRKcw4Z4UizJot2ro3Q9w-U/s640/blogger-image-1912523132.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXOPH6tbRuSHbIzFYxwd0aEaJ2VtNpnsO-j0RM2oQt6niImcuO9RwLLm-eoskvlzCn7WQSB56DJSj94ybXt8qUrHCy8abHZQjTBhCLIGziAb5uw4N2PYl0GU-oWYH3cSV2q7kiOE80bey/s640/blogger-image-282967109.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPWItVqJ-oSqZtaD00U43JVih6JG2PRgGU6ZjcXK8JgJHSX4x8Z-8eNqZ0jSbW0XnJuB3sPstbSC0SAXJLeNBOA57XIaQRsRIid5C4xLI90xdCAL7EQHtn0g2JA9PEZbHkev2a80RpxY9/s640/blogger-image--1959130324.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7wVnmUvO-UOiKxHR-xpMB8VAJNKlGxOloYRqZ2wlDxltK7Jz1ft2N90FjYkYzc8IzAgOZP8EF8nzI3xpJXgvxp9sCqgbHJj6_mdI3YwN3P4PeuyCnTOcvCpEi0xa8cyOXpk4cJjchRY_/s640/blogger-image-1223392727.jpg"></div>Nakakamiss naman mahallies!</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">bakit malayo kayo? Grabe naman. Pero malapit na akong uuwii! 8 months nalang!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Haha I just reached my 10 months yesterday everyone...not that i'm counting or anything! *wink* hahaha JOKE LANG i've decided i'm just never gonna leave the phils because i love it here way too much. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week's been really amazing. My housemates are just about the coolest people ever (since we're all batch) and we've just been having the time of our lives out here in Golden City. As for cool things that went down this week, I've basically been swimming in a sea of mud for the last week because it's rain (flood) season. We got to serve a little old lady by cleaning her house and cracking open coconuts (i'll send pics about that next week aha), and we've been fighting off spiders the size of my face (and by we, i mean my companion...because she's matapang and I just can't handle). Our area's still pretty new, but we've found some families i KNOW are ready for the gospel. Their desire to learn and to follow God's commandments never ceases to amaze me.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is something different, something amazing, that happens when you allow God to change you. When you allow His gospel, His teachings, into your heart and not only learn to live the principles...but learn to love them as well. As we build our desire to become more obedient, we build our desire to be more like Christ. If you are unhappy now, following the commandments He has set before us, how much more unhappy will you be in the life to come? Those are the laws of Heaven! If we're struggling to endure through them, gritting our teeth, and forcing ourselves to give up what we want for what God wants...we're not living the way He would have us live. We were meant to grow, not just change our habits for a little while. This means we are meant to love with a Christ-like love, not just ignore those we find hard to appreciate. Our relationships carry over with us. We are meant to treat others with kindness, not because of the praise, but because we feel that they have divine importance. We are to live as daughters and sons of the Most High, because that is exactly who we are. Let us not degrade ourselves and fill our minds with ungodly contents - which includes bad thoughts.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Do a little more to be little more like our Savior this week. Love Him enough to see others as He does, and understand the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. Strive to be more obedient, and to love to follow Him...because this change of heart will change your lives. I'm grateful for this gospel, grateful for my Heavenly Father and His willingness to give up His Son for all of us. Grateful for my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and for His atonement. I'm grateful for the spirit that never ceases to enrich my life. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love you all, and I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They love you. The spirit will guide you - follow Him, and allow Him to guide you closer to Them.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May we always choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong and may we be ever willing to do His will instead of our own. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My love and prayers are with you always,<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KTvWy2Y9g7ziW_8kvDXRfM03cECjA5X33XUF0fwwMuBHPP95rHeT2cebJtnIuyz9Q3-xiZaZuf9d6chyphenhyphenRN5JO0HTRUodBmhWPw8KFqrDPO4M6GEe_Rx_7zeDvmsE1K1V4ij16bCJtSRu/s640/blogger-image--1658865661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KTvWy2Y9g7ziW_8kvDXRfM03cECjA5X33XUF0fwwMuBHPP95rHeT2cebJtnIuyz9Q3-xiZaZuf9d6chyphenhyphenRN5JO0HTRUodBmhWPw8KFqrDPO4M6GEe_Rx_7zeDvmsE1K1V4ij16bCJtSRu/s640/blogger-image--1658865661.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-75892724908700679862016-08-08T01:39:00.001-07:002016-08-08T01:39:50.664-07:00Serving the Lord in the City of Gold<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOsAztc0df8fkDH_xGsRdUL25B7hQo4-BDbj6kntKKgp3FNwKEW9Jua3qCMxcEYSUWwEaby8Lol1xXwov58dzj3zNGA9RCNqGsWJ6Lc9QBT1Kmo3f61UUi1EzpW_pQvM3wvV9JIxfJ0OT/s640/blogger-image--1470587972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOsAztc0df8fkDH_xGsRdUL25B7hQo4-BDbj6kntKKgp3FNwKEW9Jua3qCMxcEYSUWwEaby8Lol1xXwov58dzj3zNGA9RCNqGsWJ6Lc9QBT1Kmo3f61UUi1EzpW_pQvM3wvV9JIxfJ0OT/s640/blogger-image--1470587972.jpg"></a></div>Being sent on the Lord's errand is so rewarding. This last week, I'd been blessed to see the change brought to pass by the spirit in the lives of four special people: Rolando Ibardaloza, Harrold Torres, Robert James Ibardaloza, and Princess Ibardaloza. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If only you all knew the obstacles, prayers, and fasting it took to bring about this miracle. Brother Rolando changed completely, giving up all his vices, that he might be closer to God and one step closer to being forever with his family. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After 8 months, i'm finally saying goodbye to my beloved San Pedro home. I've been called to a new home - Golden City! I'm more than excited to serve the people there, and am so grateful for the opportunity to be His representative. Here's a voice recording for you all to update you on my week. and a song to bring the spirit, haha. hopefully you all feel uplifted by it. I love you and i'm grateful for you! </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJwx_Age-NmZbcrpjkPvXwuXFknvjvNGJuZf6lUgmJxgncZJBJiVhmzmihX7BgHiEPMOTsAntbMdHwy38oaXqKDDT06MYNSS4i7CW4gxO2jY80k3KdCWFkjQxfKvorjTQhKV-zJd47dJC/s640/blogger-image--1849732724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJwx_Age-NmZbcrpjkPvXwuXFknvjvNGJuZf6lUgmJxgncZJBJiVhmzmihX7BgHiEPMOTsAntbMdHwy38oaXqKDDT06MYNSS4i7CW4gxO2jY80k3KdCWFkjQxfKvorjTQhKV-zJd47dJC/s640/blogger-image--1849732724.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-50672253360198653572016-08-08T01:33:00.001-07:002016-08-08T01:41:56.330-07:00Golden City is Golden<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XefriguFmLrn0cbfyXHBnS42MsoaqmEIaYQxi8x53VqRx3wU7pcVkt0nXQivDeDlCP2UwJFf0HFpfJCkp8todOnWR9ym8o3agkKoJXKb3BPIzn55J7GP_As3r8HYLyZHbtwSHLxs6ljR/s640/blogger-image-980975548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XefriguFmLrn0cbfyXHBnS42MsoaqmEIaYQxi8x53VqRx3wU7pcVkt0nXQivDeDlCP2UwJFf0HFpfJCkp8todOnWR9ym8o3agkKoJXKb3BPIzn55J7GP_As3r8HYLyZHbtwSHLxs6ljR/s640/blogger-image-980975548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu2C4IzOQ-8iCFG_UMG0QKUjr-hgV5cx1dY97yUIu2StAh2fO4_T0dhevfSkNI-2a6Ibm6dpa4AcvUVBZmc6N46-JKYITYJDx8I5rvTM7_PBgG0TdbKHtSWTHv2H1JGta2vVHP3fV9CyL/s640/blogger-image-1545964735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtu2C4IzOQ-8iCFG_UMG0QKUjr-hgV5cx1dY97yUIu2StAh2fO4_T0dhevfSkNI-2a6Ibm6dpa4AcvUVBZmc6N46-JKYITYJDx8I5rvTM7_PBgG0TdbKHtSWTHv2H1JGta2vVHP3fV9CyL/s640/blogger-image-1545964735.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XefriguFmLrn0cbfyXHBnS42MsoaqmEIaYQxi8x53VqRx3wU7pcVkt0nXQivDeDlCP2UwJFf0HFpfJCkp8todOnWR9ym8o3agkKoJXKb3BPIzn55J7GP_As3r8HYLyZHbtwSHLxs6ljR/s640/blogger-image-980975548.jpg"></div>I'm livin' in the City of Gold, Mahallies, and I love it here.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was super bittersweet saying goodbye to San Pedro and all those I've grown to love (especially my companion, Sister Beltran) buuuut I am so happy to be in my new area! I know, without a doubt, that it has been prepared. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My new companion, Sister Basilio, is so willing to serve everyone she meets, is humble, full of gratitude, patient, and is so full of joy! It was so easy to feel comfortable with her, and we agreed that after only 4 days, it felt like we'd known each other for years! My new kabahays are tons of fun as well (Sister Table and Sister Verances). We bought a bunch of Filipino knick-knacks and they've been teaching me how to be a REAL filipino! Parents, if you're reading this, you'd be proud to know...I officially am a master of jack stone and chinese garter (haha not really, i still suck, but I'll work on my skills, and we'll play when I get home ahaha). </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As for the area and the members, people here are SO kind! And the scenery is beautiful. It's half city, half province. The members just want to stuff the missionaries with food constantly (which we greatly appreciate) and it's only been 5 days...but I feel at home already.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the last few days, I learned something very key to happiness: we should never suppress a generous thought. Whether it be a thought to serve,to say something kind, to listen to someone in need of listening, or to express our love for others...these small acts of kindness go such a long way. It says so much about our character, our love for our fellow man, and ultimately, our love for God.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">People call themselves Christians, but how often do they actually think of Christ? How often do their actions reflect His, and their words uplift, the way His would? We cannot be Christians by the title alone, but it is necessary that our Christianity be conveyed by thought, word, and deed. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Do you love God? Do you love everyone?</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">if the answer isn't the same, the first one isn't true. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Because if we really loved our Heavenly Father, we would love each and every member of His family, and seek to see their worth the way He sees them. We are each, individually, of infinite worth in the sight of our Heavenly Father. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for the examples of love and patience I've seen in my own life. My family members and companions are great examples of this. I'm grateful for every opportunity I've had to practice and develop charity. I know that as we strive to develop Christ-like attributes, such as charity, love, and a willing heart to serve, we can gain the joy and peace that comes from following in His ways. So...if you find yourself a little short on patience today, or have the prompting to do something kind for someone...don't hesitate to do the right thing. We are designed to grow, to develop, and to become someone better than we are. Heavenly Father cares a lot more about who we can become than who we were...so if you've struggled with the ability to love those around you, pray for help and push forward! Don't ever tell yourself you can't, because that's the adversary's biggest lie. Go forth and serve 😇 </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mahal na mahal ko po kayo, at alam ko ang Ating Ama sa Langit ay iingatan po kayo. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSrXRazTTdkw7VrxQrlXOIte7KvPTQWNvAwxW5ZB8EFrhFDUAKrxvOgj3RwteOt6TM9eU0rPD51VlnqDICG59sDkaenqo9q01qeZgPgmcb0x28cqZ7qTYGhXNLTW4nruCFCAfgDs6WnH0/s640/blogger-image-1255001861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSrXRazTTdkw7VrxQrlXOIte7KvPTQWNvAwxW5ZB8EFrhFDUAKrxvOgj3RwteOt6TM9eU0rPD51VlnqDICG59sDkaenqo9q01qeZgPgmcb0x28cqZ7qTYGhXNLTW4nruCFCAfgDs6WnH0/s640/blogger-image-1255001861.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-20866818809988543002016-07-25T07:31:00.001-07:002016-07-25T07:31:27.776-07:00Families can be together forever<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELtqUYt9F2cEwH4cSqnwp8d0mVcNRrYpS9o2OlgNKH3prYw1iN3aTerT55ahBpRQK3w-smtoAwOcu4nBRQk6xxQUkQN8QTRA-DThTJkWic7qW-IuMxFA6D5eOeTQ6xXxn44duoxOp_sli/s640/blogger-image-1198460029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELtqUYt9F2cEwH4cSqnwp8d0mVcNRrYpS9o2OlgNKH3prYw1iN3aTerT55ahBpRQK3w-smtoAwOcu4nBRQk6xxQUkQN8QTRA-DThTJkWic7qW-IuMxFA6D5eOeTQ6xXxn44duoxOp_sli/s640/blogger-image-1198460029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQMs5RCJytRE0ezxdVGOplBfX_fdh2yC_vEqNEw-eIh-M1YeUuJg-GW7ixVf8saWJts-16L5A0Po5X4AVNaj9yYTlcoZrDhag5zY_u73GvL5zfh-k6AGfutvwQmxvBeS7CZOzJVb437UZ/s640/blogger-image-1230581414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQMs5RCJytRE0ezxdVGOplBfX_fdh2yC_vEqNEw-eIh-M1YeUuJg-GW7ixVf8saWJts-16L5A0Po5X4AVNaj9yYTlcoZrDhag5zY_u73GvL5zfh-k6AGfutvwQmxvBeS7CZOzJVb437UZ/s640/blogger-image-1230581414.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELtqUYt9F2cEwH4cSqnwp8d0mVcNRrYpS9o2OlgNKH3prYw1iN3aTerT55ahBpRQK3w-smtoAwOcu4nBRQk6xxQUkQN8QTRA-DThTJkWic7qW-IuMxFA6D5eOeTQ6xXxn44duoxOp_sli/s640/blogger-image-1198460029.jpg"></div>Today, I just wanted to express my gratitude for the plan and opportunity given to each of us, to be with our families forever. This upcoming week, I will be able to witness the baptism of one of our investigators, Brother Rolando Ibadaloza. He is honestly amazing. He'd been taught by the missionaries before, but never felt inspired to REALLY learn and accept the gospel for himself until now. He'd been a heavy smoker, and would drink alcohol and coffee almost daily before...but since we'd started teaching him, his ability to give up his addictions doubled because of his faith and motivation to be with his family forever, even after death. He has been interviewed, and has been found worthy to be baptized, and will be, along with his grandchildren, on the 30th! </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I believe in "FOREVER" and I know that Heavenly Father wouldn't send us to learn to love and grow relationships with people that only have temporary importance. It is one of the most beautiful aspects of this gospel, that we can be with the people we love the most for infinity. And that even if we don't feel like we belong to our families, we are all part of Heavenly Father's family, and He loves us MORE than we even deserve. I don't think we gain His love...because if we could gain it, that would mean we could lose it. I believe that He loves us unconditionally, fully knowledgeable of all our flaws, weaknesses, and mistakes. It's the adversary that screams that God doesn't care, that no one listens to our prayers, and that we're alone...but I hope that you never fall for that sad lie. You are known and loved individually by our Heavenly Father, and there is no one in this world who could understand your struggles more than His Son, Jesus Christ. Our purpose in this life is to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and make our way back to Them. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some have forgotten this purpose, and have forgotten the importance of our Heavenly Home. But don't allow the distance and the short time away to sway you off the path back to them. The path is simple, but not easy to follow. Don't be distracted by the temptations of the world. He only asks us to do little things, but those little steps lead us to where we will spend the rest of eternity. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Being away from my earthly home (aka good ol' california) has proven to me that time and space really cannot overpower love. It only adds to it! SO, YOU LUCKY DUCKS, TELL YOUR FAMILY YOU LOVE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY! Pray for each of them by name, and seek to know them personally, and to serve them without murmuring. If there is anything I could ever do to serve you, please don't hesitate to ask. I miss you all more every passing day, especially my family, but as the saying goes, "<span style="line-height: 16.8px;">A missionary is someone who leaves their family for a short time, so that others may be with their families for ETERNITY". I am so blessed to be able to witness the Ibadaloza family grow one step closer to being a forever family!</span><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm grateful for what I've learned from each of you, and the opportunity I've had to apply those teachings out here with those I've associated with. I'm grateful for the Holy Spirit and the comfort I know it can provide to those who seek His presence. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve the people here in the Phils! The people I serve and the missionaries I serve with have def become additions to my family. I love you all, and I hope you continue to see the blessings of building family relationships! </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZlQO59NkDNTrZDFFf7Ob1C20aFD2_w2nonKuJ_lz7UmTSna0yuKT0gs6hxvywfG_rexEqHCD11MdJay2iKhIf4lnwJPBBZ5WR-1A71sbI519-p_lMkNSGZxyRQkEqJ-GBaEyb-064ob-/s640/blogger-image--2054106315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZlQO59NkDNTrZDFFf7Ob1C20aFD2_w2nonKuJ_lz7UmTSna0yuKT0gs6hxvywfG_rexEqHCD11MdJay2iKhIf4lnwJPBBZ5WR-1A71sbI519-p_lMkNSGZxyRQkEqJ-GBaEyb-064ob-/s640/blogger-image--2054106315.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-63745147824951404492016-07-18T01:02:00.001-07:002016-07-18T01:02:45.616-07:00Halfway there.<div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7RCrSP_Lww0ET6iIPpHAIna4C1j0VHW56AmzZ3at9sOhRQjPmaqOcsuc_zBWm-8463wlqd1MQ9_EVNZfF6SuUX02CJOtYujJk8fb_MfG3y4YErHmex93E_OI4a4ZiJ-s1gr0KfeFllZy/s640/blogger-image--471107556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7RCrSP_Lww0ET6iIPpHAIna4C1j0VHW56AmzZ3at9sOhRQjPmaqOcsuc_zBWm-8463wlqd1MQ9_EVNZfF6SuUX02CJOtYujJk8fb_MfG3y4YErHmex93E_OI4a4ZiJ-s1gr0KfeFllZy/s640/blogger-image--471107556.jpg"></a></div>Mahallies - the 14th made it official...I'm nine months closer to seeing all of you again! I'm halfway there! It's the most bittersweet feeling. I'm so excited to see you all, but simultaneously, the idea of leaving the Philippines and all these people I've learned to love breaks me. I feel like there are too many people I still have to meet, and countless people that need the relief and joy that comes from this gospel, and gaining a stronger relationship with God.<br><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week was more than amazing, Mahallies. Aha, and I realize, I probably say that every week...but that's just because the blessings are pouring at such an overwhelming rate, I can't help but stand in awe! <br><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I got to witness Maria (12) and Nina(14) Ellis, two of our investigators, get baptized this week! Watching them enter into the water was the most rewarding feeling because even though there were push backs and obstacles, I knew that they were ready and willing to take the name of Jesus Christ upon them and be washed of their sins. I could see how much they had grown in the gospel. Their love for reading the scriptures developed rapidly, and as they continued to read, their commitment to follow the commandments grew stronger. The Book of Mormon is a book with a promise - anyone who reads it with the intent to learn and to grow spiritually, and not simply to fault-find, will find themselves closer to God and showered with answers to some of life's most daunting questions. <br><br>I knew, watching them get baptized was only the start of their journey. People are to be baptized when they are 8 and older, because at the age of 8, we are aware of good and bad and are capable of making decisions knowledgeably for ourselves. We believe that all men are responsible for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression. Although Adam's Transgression impacted us all by making us mortal and capable of death, through Jesus Christ's Atonement, we will all be able to live again, as He did. He is Risen, and has overpowered the grave. (2 Nephi 2)<br><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Being able to be an instrument in God's hands is amazing, because as such, I am able to witness so many miracles. One was watching Maria and Nina's testimony of the Book of Mormon grow. I struggled with my own testimony of the Book of Mormon, believing my testimony wasn't strong enough because I had yet to finish it...but when I finally did, I realized something. There is a great sense of joy, relief, and achievement from finishing reading the scriptures...but you don't have to finish the whole thing to know that you have a testimony of it. (Let me clarify, this is not me suggesting NOT to finish reading) But all throughout, the spirit speaks to you, and little by little, helps strengthen your testimony. You don't have to finish it to know it's true - because you can see it every step of the way. Just as Christ is with us in life...He doesn't wait until the last day to prove to us of His existence. He is with us every step, revealing Himself in the most tender mercies or the smallest acts of kindness. <br><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. Don't be so quick to believe the thundering voice of the adversary when he tries to convince you your spiritual experiences aren't worth anything - be aware, and heed, the spirit's small promptings. I encourage and invite you, if you haven't already, to read the Book of Mormon, and to pray about it, and be aware of the Spirit. I promise that as you do so, promptings will come more frequently, and your relationship with the Spirit will strengthen. Your ability to choose right from wrong will also increase. I know these things to be true, from the very bottom of my soul. I know that you are loved and extremely special to our Father in Heaven. I leave my testimony and my love with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z-MQdoe9S9z5-UsfnvWrqLhkOFU7JxzGhyphenhyphentUHbBeJrG16whe-Zrjjw_3HtK3_u7A3LZYjWorXv1Ps0aG7_rxp9uxj1TZ1Ye2oHrtUY7ERgRbGIN9BxbTlRCd0YK-caBl_Xuryz2fLAOq/s640/blogger-image-617535597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z-MQdoe9S9z5-UsfnvWrqLhkOFU7JxzGhyphenhyphentUHbBeJrG16whe-Zrjjw_3HtK3_u7A3LZYjWorXv1Ps0aG7_rxp9uxj1TZ1Ye2oHrtUY7ERgRbGIN9BxbTlRCd0YK-caBl_Xuryz2fLAOq/s640/blogger-image-617535597.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-581758663557376332.post-47355074415609552892016-07-11T03:01:00.001-07:002016-07-11T03:02:00.109-07:00Smiles on high<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhftgcEh9ykhzEpdPPr-DSXO5fJwypsTb1OhLnOERSekzhQ3ETMAp72zEVqXSJSgHgdSP4orJh65hruBi48c9hbzY4HTt2EypxDYjA4GYYtNR5XJyK5uOho4MUgvLDo75hwzBejF8Fl7B/s640/blogger-image-844984324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhftgcEh9ykhzEpdPPr-DSXO5fJwypsTb1OhLnOERSekzhQ3ETMAp72zEVqXSJSgHgdSP4orJh65hruBi48c9hbzY4HTt2EypxDYjA4GYYtNR5XJyK5uOho4MUgvLDo75hwzBejF8Fl7B/s640/blogger-image-844984324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBQhCG4RFyAlZN90QGtFrWulox-gPtY4ToxqyT5V2DxTI9KEMiMn3rrI7kjqbJNtX875ZwhvIIosmFdFghci_XoHbyEPKexvm1U7mpiFHvVEv2WvDzsDEvEEiU_yhRjFfcuRJOClmdDXF/s640/blogger-image-1421852570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBQhCG4RFyAlZN90QGtFrWulox-gPtY4ToxqyT5V2DxTI9KEMiMn3rrI7kjqbJNtX875ZwhvIIosmFdFghci_XoHbyEPKexvm1U7mpiFHvVEv2WvDzsDEvEEiU_yhRjFfcuRJOClmdDXF/s640/blogger-image-1421852570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3r8VioW9UwtQY2w58rk8TjarLVxQiAIdAOvv4mUuvPIBUTwRN5EEWLB7RUy2ltlNeb1gfDgaVo5BTRN5aSzyUq9scZBNku2Fh3OzJLytevk08r6ySqWfY14Onf0lFKv4txicvELDHzlt/s640/blogger-image--1637511596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3r8VioW9UwtQY2w58rk8TjarLVxQiAIdAOvv4mUuvPIBUTwRN5EEWLB7RUy2ltlNeb1gfDgaVo5BTRN5aSzyUq9scZBNku2Fh3OzJLytevk08r6ySqWfY14Onf0lFKv4txicvELDHzlt/s640/blogger-image--1637511596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS_tITYJ_2qfURfeo2ZqqFp3hzZDi6kHbUIX_zueJ1CTVM71TgbRUajhiWwEXe0KnE68GxVSe-OZRFnTAopkFUxxHLZ-Mp7LODXqEdMJ_O3dYy_oDpEWXTh5w3MNOXAwXHjTmDCX4QNz7/s640/blogger-image--1004557134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS_tITYJ_2qfURfeo2ZqqFp3hzZDi6kHbUIX_zueJ1CTVM71TgbRUajhiWwEXe0KnE68GxVSe-OZRFnTAopkFUxxHLZ-Mp7LODXqEdMJ_O3dYy_oDpEWXTh5w3MNOXAwXHjTmDCX4QNz7/s640/blogger-image--1004557134.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3r8VioW9UwtQY2w58rk8TjarLVxQiAIdAOvv4mUuvPIBUTwRN5EEWLB7RUy2ltlNeb1gfDgaVo5BTRN5aSzyUq9scZBNku2Fh3OzJLytevk08r6ySqWfY14Onf0lFKv4txicvELDHzlt/s640/blogger-image--1637511596.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBQhCG4RFyAlZN90QGtFrWulox-gPtY4ToxqyT5V2DxTI9KEMiMn3rrI7kjqbJNtX875ZwhvIIosmFdFghci_XoHbyEPKexvm1U7mpiFHvVEv2WvDzsDEvEEiU_yhRjFfcuRJOClmdDXF/s640/blogger-image-1421852570.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhftgcEh9ykhzEpdPPr-DSXO5fJwypsTb1OhLnOERSekzhQ3ETMAp72zEVqXSJSgHgdSP4orJh65hruBi48c9hbzY4HTt2EypxDYjA4GYYtNR5XJyK5uOho4MUgvLDo75hwzBejF8Fl7B/s640/blogger-image-844984324.jpg"></div>It's been a week of miracles, Mahallies. </font>A typhoon has been headed towards Taiwan, but despite the increase in rain, the smiles haven't stopped shinning! 😁</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I really can't contain myself, so I'm just gonna tell you the best news first! MY LITTLE SISTER IS GOING ON A MISSION TO SERVE THE LORD. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><b><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sabrina Calica has been CALLED TO SERVE in the NORTH DAKOTA BISMARCK MISSION!👏👌👍🙌🙆👼 </i></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'd been waiting all week to watch the video of her opening her mission call, and honestly it was torture to wait! Even some of my friends out here in the Philippines found out where she was serving before me...and as soon as she showed me the video this morning, I broke down in tears (side note- don't do this in a public computer shop, it makes you look crazy) because I AM SO PROUD OF HER! I'm sitting her gushing with gratitude and appreciation for her courage to serve! ahahaha so all of you should go congratulate the NEW (and def. improved) SISTER CALICA 2.O</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WATCH OUT BISMARCK NORTH DAKOTA! TONS OF BLESSINGS ARE HEADED YOUR WAY. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In other news, remember that baptism of Maria and Nina that didn't go through? We'd been continuing our lessons with them, in hope for a change...and just this week, they got interviewed for baptism and are scheduled to enter into the water this <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0">upcoming Saturday</a>, the 16th! My companion and I were beaming from ear to ear, and our investigators, Maria and Nina, are so excited! They bore their testimonies to me and my companion yesterday, and I felt the sweetest spirit as I listened to them. They are so young, but their love of the gospel is so pure. Haha, Maria even told us that she'd already started to save up for her mission (she literally counted and made sure by age 19, she'd have like a million pesos so nothing could keep her from serving)! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week, I also met our new mission president & his wife, President and Sister Spiers. As he and his wife bore their testimonies to all the missionaries, something he said really stood out to me: "Eventually, we all have to question if our service was acceptable to the Lord". This statement doesn't just apply to missionaries, but to all of you as well. At the end of your lives, you have to question if the choices you made and the way you treated people were up to the standard He would have for you.So this last week, I'd been trying, at the end of every day, to pray and tell Heavenly Father of my day, and ask him if my work was acceptable. I invite you all to try asking Him for yourselves. For me, the answer was made known almost immediately - if you feel any ounce of shame or timidness while doing so, changes need to be made now. But that's why we have to do it everyday! To acknowledge that there is <i>still </i>room for growth. Prayer was never meant to be one way - it's supposed to be a conversation. So don't rush the spirit. Ask questions, not just for blessings, and then wait for answers. Because answers will come. Maybe not immediately, maybe not while you're down on your knees and feel you need it most - but in His time.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It may be discouraging to see that, despite our best efforts, we still feel unworthy or imperfect. But mistakes are no reason to stop trying. The best life we all knew never stopped. Despite the temptations and trials that came His way, He never stopped pushing forward.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"He was willing to live every day without making a single sin". Jesus Christ, our Brother and Savior, made it very clear that with God, anything is possible. So push to be more like Him, and love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father enough to try our best and stay away from sin. The speed doesn't matter - so don't compare. We're all different, and comparison is the thief of joy. But do push forward in the right direction, because eventually, even if it's by baby steps, you'll get there with His help. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have such a tremendous love for this gospel and the opportunity to be called to share it. I know that the Book of Mormon and the Bible work hand in hand, and are the word of God. These sacred accounts have been written for our day, and the messages within can still be applied to our daily lives. I know that these books are like maps to guide us through the maze of life. I know that the Spirit is strong and will enter into your hearts if you allow it to do so, that Jesus Christ is our loving and has experienced all of our pains, and that Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and knows what we need more than we do for ourselves. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Thank you for allowing me to share my testimony with you of these sacred teachings I hold so dear to my heart. I appreciate and love you, and leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="cid:ii_155d8eac04714c21" alt="Inline image 1" width="340" height="87"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here's a picture of me and my buds (Sister McBride, Elder Cook, Elder FanguFangu) with our new Mission President, Sister Beltran (My current comp.) and Sister McBride, The streets of San Pedro, and A PICTURE OF YOUR TWO (favorite) MISSIONARIES: Sister Calica #1 and Sister Calica 2.0!!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3y1XBkcL6NRjW9qzGFK3HfIG_zjN0CNBOxjpmEyoSdmPL0zal0tYUsA65nhEZrHOF-PIBaeWCGCW-vEcyA_43Zg62s3xEVySciqnZ2k6oxniHqNiEE4eWpDpZVPGUFyWF1he6MoQpTjD/s640/blogger-image--434667094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3y1XBkcL6NRjW9qzGFK3HfIG_zjN0CNBOxjpmEyoSdmPL0zal0tYUsA65nhEZrHOF-PIBaeWCGCW-vEcyA_43Zg62s3xEVySciqnZ2k6oxniHqNiEE4eWpDpZVPGUFyWF1he6MoQpTjD/s640/blogger-image--434667094.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Sister Kayla Calicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11787805325975525541noreply@blogger.com0