Bagong area at kasama!

My new companion, Sister Aquino!

Hello again family and friends!!  

All is well here in Tayabas! I love this area. It is sooo pretty and reminds me a lot of Pakil. And my companion, Sister Aquino, is the sweetest. She goes home the end of May so we are going to keep her fire burning and finish STRONG! She's the best and I love her so much already. 

Beautiful Tayabas!

And no worries about my health, I am feeling back to 100% and like I was never sick! The hospital was an awesome experience. It made me realize how adjusted I am to life here haha I am finally starting to feel like a more seasoned and mature missionary. Not just a greenie anymore! But with that said, I still have soooo much to learn. Especially Tagalog ah I wish I could snap my fingers and be fluent already. But I am staying patient and it really has come a longggg way. I didn't really get to say a proper goodbye to Pakil because of the hospital stuff but I miss it! It will always have a special place in my heart. 

I just want to share some thoughts that I've been having about obedience this week. Something I've really learned on my mission is that the commandments and standards God has given us are for our happiness!! I think one of the reasons I am so happy on a mission is because I am striving to be exactly obedient and please my Heavenly Father. And He has seriously blessed me!! Even though I am far from perfect and I have had a lot of challenges and confusing and hard times, when I am being obedient and pushing forward with faith, I feel my Heavenly Father's love and see so many tender mercies. My companion shared with me some really cool insights this week and said that Satan is sooo real. He is always there trying to make us take a step away from our Heavenly Father and move closer to him. We have to constantly be on guard! We have to decide every day, every hour, to choose God! Choose obedience and happiness not disobedience and confusion. Shoutout to all the future missionaries- decide NOW to be an exactly obedient missionary! I love you all so so much and I love being a missionary!! 

Have a happy week!!

Love,
Sister Giles

With the Sister Training Leaders