Return to Lucena!

Tayabas!

Visiting Pakil Again

My cousin Elder Tanner Leavitt is now serving in Pakil, fun to see him!

Saying Hello and Goodbye

Here is an overload of pictures from when my parents came to pick me up.

Seeing Sister Trina Pajaro in the Philippines, the last time we saw each other was the day I left in Mesa, Arizona when she was serving here!

RM friends from the mission who came to do a session with us!

This is it!

Well, I guess the time has come..honestly I don't really have the words to describe how I'm feeling about going home in 1 week. Ah! I am so excited to see my dear mother and father in 1 short week!! You will LOVE the Philippines :)) 

I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you for your support and prayers. I LOVE this work, the power and authority I have been able to carry and these amazing, humble, soft-hearted Filipinos. A quote by Elder Holland describes my feelings about my mission pretty well, "Everything I hold dear, everything I cherish in one way or another, I owe to the experience that converged from my childhood, my lovely parents, and my good home. Converged and passed into my soul on a mission." 

My heart is just so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father who loved me enough to send me to the Philippines, cut me down, then rebuild me into the person He needs me to be. I will forever cherish the 18 months I've had to serve my Savior. I am thankful for my family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ that holds us together.

I now understand more fully the meaning of the word sacrifice. And it is so sweet to me! I also now understand more fully that we will never find joy through worldly or temporal things. True joy comes from following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He has laid a perfect path for us to follow. I have come to know my Savior here in the Philippines. This island will always be sacred ground for me! I know this church is true!! I know we have a living prophet and apostles and they receive revelation that we need to follow. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is my strength and my guide every single day. Read it and you will feel its power! 

I am so sad to leave but I know that it is all onward and upward from here!! This is going to be the best week ever :) I will cherish every day I have to wear this name tag and preach the beautiful restored gospel of Jesus Christ!! We will finish it off with a baptism of Brother Vernond and then mom and dad will get to see my bff Sister Claire be baptized next week! Woohoo! Mahal na mahal ko kayoooo!! :)

Love, for the last time, 

Sister Giles 

Abby will arrive on March 29th at 5:30 p.m. in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor. Her Homecoming talk will be on Easter Sunday, April 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the Old Gilbert Building, 2424 N. Old Gilbert Road, Mesa. Thank you for sharing this journey with us and for all the prayers and support!

Today is the DAY!

Hello po everybody!! 

Busy week with zone conf, interviews, and 2 exchanges! Sister Soriano and I are having so much fun and seeing lots of success. She loves to cook so I am definitely gaining weight hahaha but I am enjoying rice and Filipino food for as long as I can! She is so full of life..love my kasama (companion). 

The Haroldsens!

Sister Howard!

Zone Leaders and STL's

We have some upcoming baptisms woohooo! Brother V will be baptized on the 18th and his family will be a completed family!! :) Please continue to pray for him. He is so awesome. He always quotes scriptures from the Bible and sometimes he asks us super hard questions then we try to answer them and then he starts laughing and says he already knows the answer he just likes to see us struggling hahaha. Exchanges were so much fun this week!! I love working with so many different cultures. They honestly teach me so much! I worked with Sister Helu from Tonga and Sister Batiou from Kirabati and we set out with faith to find and found close to 20 new investigators this week! They are power houses! I feel so thankful everyday for the amazing Filipinos and their willingness to listen to anything about Jesus Christ. 

With Sister Helu

With Sister Batiou

President Mangum talked about the talk "This Day" by President Eyring this week and I loved it so much. He said we need to stop saying someday and start to say TODAY!! When is the best time to plant a tree? Well, 20 years ago. But if we haven't planted any trees lets start today!! If we want to change or if we have goals and dreams, what are we waiting for? I have been so enlightened this week as I have prayed to know "What lack I yet?" and the Spirit helps me know things I can change this very day! 

Love you all sooooo much!! Even though the days are counting down, I still have a full tank of energy and love for this work. Thank you so much for your prayers. Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Giles 

It's almost March!

Hello po family and friends!! 

It was a busy week full of miracles like always!! Brother V gave a talk about the power of prayer and did a great job. It is so fun watching them progress and grow stronger as a family. Brother J also passed the sacrament!! I am so thankful for my 7 months here in Lipa because I have been able to see the Gospel truly convert and change the lives of so many recent converts. 

My dear friend Sister C who has broken my heart so many times is now SO committed to be baptized on March 25! She has a new job thanks to the members and is seeing so many blessings from her obedience. Every single day my testimony is strengthened that OBEDIENCE=MIRACLES!! I see it over and over in these peoples lives and the most in my own. I still don't know how I was so blessed to be sent to the Philippines and learn so many lessons from these humble people. 

Sweet Sisters in Santo Tomas on exchanges

We had exchanges on Tuesday and found 2 new families!!! Prayers answered! One of our investigators, Sister C, dropped us a while ago because her husband was working away from home and didn't want her listening to missionaries. We didn't give up on her though and occasionally would go by but she was never home. But on Tuesday the Spirit told me to try one last time and she and her husband were both home!! Brother K has been transferred to the office here in Lipa and we taught such a powerful lesson on the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They both are searching for a church that will bless their family and they both accepted baptismal goal dates!!! I KNOW the Lord leads His missionaries to prepared families if we have the faith to find them. I love my companion Sister Soriano and all the amazing sisters I get to work with here in Lipa Zone.

My companion, Sister Soriano

Elder Bednar visited the Philippines and we got to watch a broadcast where he answered questions with his wife. It was so great. Every single one of my questions and concerns was answered by the Spirit and one of God's chosen apostles. I know with everything I have that this church is fully restored and the heavens are again opened!! He talked a lot about "pleasing the Lord." Sometimes we ask ourselves if we are doing enough or if the Lord is happy with us. I know I've asked that many times haha and Elder Bednar taught that if we are improving every day and if we are holding fast to the iron rod (reading our scriptures :)) then He is happy!! Of course God is happy about our worldly success like straight A's or a good job but that's not what "pleases Him." Our obedience and determination to follow His will is what truly brings Him joy!! Our eternal salvation is what He is worried about! 

I love you all sooooooo much!! I have never had a more thankful heart for all of my many blessings. Especially my dear, dear family. Thank you for everything. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior and I LOVE doing this sacred work. Have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Giles