Week 5 – Adapt to the Culture (East Pasadena, CA)

This is my 5th week in the US and I am so excited to share what happened this week.
We tried to look for new friends to teach but it’s really hard for us to find someone because our Mission President just announced that we are not allowed to do street contacting and knocking doors anymore 😥. Instead, he told us to focus on working with the ward members. We are trying our best to text them and visit them but they are all busy or very hard to approach. We are kinda sad about it because we think that this area is really hard. And we’re hopeless! 😭
I also talked to the other Sisters here in our apartment. We are currently living with the El Molino Hermanas (They are both from Utah) I told them that this is a very hard area but I think I am just telling that to them because this is my first area.🤣
“Remember to not judge an area beforehand. Give every area your best effort and a chance to be a great place even if it hasn’t been in the past. I see that all the time. Faith is the first principle that sets everything in motion. “
My companion thinks that the members here in our ward don’t care about missionaries. We are also struggling a lot in our Area Book Planner because there’s a lot of former friends here that didn’t get baptized and there are also lots of less active members and we are so hopeless because we are waiting for member’s referral.”
I quoted this from President Wells’ email and it helped me a lot to adapt to the culture of the people here. I complain a lot and murmur a lot as well. But, this is not about me. This is the Lord’s work and I am one of His instruments to hasten His work. ❤
But the thing is we got two new referrals! And we’re so excited to meet them this week.

I love Missionary Work❤ But I am still adapting to the American Culture because I always keep on comparing the US and the PH. 🤣

We have lots of Dinner Appointments, too, and we’re so happy about it. And it’s not because of the free food. It’s because we want to get to know the members more and to seek help from them to work with us and or to lead us to their friends who wants to listen to our Message of Hope.

Did you know that I cooked White Rice and Sister Bayles gave me assorted Filipino food and I’m so happy! Very very happy! Sister Bayles is Sister Robinson’s friend. Sister Robinson is a Senior Missionary who’s currently serving in Laoag Mission. Sister Bayles took us out for a Brunch in Corner Bakery. ❤ She is very sweet and very awesome! I love her so much. ❤

Last Night, we had Dinner with the Riveros Family and they are very awesome! ❤
Sister Riveros has a friend who’s currently working in the Disney Studios. And Her friend is one of the illustrators in the Frozen 2 movie and Zootopia. She told us that the Frozen 2 movie is amazing and the Soundtracks are also amazing. But the Let it Go is much more better than the new song there. 🤣Their family is very cool and awesome and you know what??? I’m starting to love Salads here. 😊

Well that is for now, and please do email me too! I miss you all and love you all! 😘

-Sister Zabala

CHICK-FILL-A is amazing! I wish there is also Chick-Fill-A in the Philippines! 🤣

😍Sister Bayles With Filipino Food Treats😍

🤤Bibingka, Biko, Empanada, Puto, etc. What more can I ask for!!!🤤

Peacocks and Squirrels and Orange Tree

Welcome to our Area in East Pasadena!!!

Random Selfies during my pastime

Week 4 – California Arcadia Mission Arrival

Hello! How are you? 🥰

I arrived safely here in California Arcadia Mission last week. And my first area is East Pasadena!❤ I am so grateful that I am already now starting my journey as a missionary and it’s really hard for me to adjust and adapt new things here but I know Heavenly Father will help me, and will guide me throughout my whole 18 months here in CAM! 😊

My trainor is Sister Smith and she’s from Wisconsin who here for 6 months already. She’s very nice and she trains me really well. I’m her first baby hehehe. Her former trainor was Sister Beltran, who’s also from the Philippines. ❤

I’ve been struggling a lot with the culture here. But I know that Heavenly Father will help me and will guide me. My source to gain strength and courage is by reading the Scriptures. And writing in my journal. It helps me to relax a bit while I write my thoughts and feelings everyday.

We had several dinner appointments with the members and we are really trying our best to work with them pero sobrang mahirap talaga. But I know that through us we can help them to work with us because we’re all missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Being a missionary is not an easy job, but if we keep on praying for the people that we’re going to teach, it will help us!

I miss you all! Please send me emails too! ❤😊

PS: Peacocks are everywhere here!!! It is the icon of Arcadia which symbolizes Eternal Life. 🦚❤

A pose with my Mission Parents. They are so kind and very loving. I am so glad that My Heavenly Father assigned me here in California Arcadia Mission

A pose with my MTC Batchmates – Elders Parker, Dussenberry, Welling, and Baroows.

A delightful experience to finally arrive in my new area with my CAM Family

My Trainor and First Area – East Pasadena

Meet Sister Smith my trainor who is from Wisconsin! We use a car and a bicycle! Sounds Fun huh!

My New Home in Pasadena with Peacocks running around the Yard

Last Monday in Utah (Provo MTC)

Before leaving the MTC, I was granted to visit Temple Square with some of my fellow International Missionaries. We prepared early and rode via train. It was very exciting because it was my first time to ride a real train ever.

With Sisters Taofi, Mateo, Apriou, Manarin and Agustin

You know how frustrated I was when I got declined at first to join this group of missionaries because I belonged to the American District. But after several prayers asking Father in Heaven to grant me His approbation, I was prompted by the Spirit to reach the scheduler and ask if I could be given permission to attend as I was leaving the MTC soon.

To my surprise, I received an email granting me to go to Temple Square in Salt Lake City! Praise be to God!

I shared cabins with Sisters Taofi, Mateo, Apriou, Manarin and Agustin! We are all so excited.

On the Way to Salt Lake City via Train . . . YAY! 🤗

I Brought My Family in Salt Lake Temple

First Stop – The Christus @ Visitor’s Center 😍

Church History Museum 😇

Conference Center @ Temple Square 😘

Church History Library

The Tabernacle @ Temple Square

My 3rd and Last Week here at the Provo MTC!

Hello everyone! How are you guys feeling?

Last week, my companion and I were called as Sister Training Leader Missionaries. I was quite nervous and scared when our Branch President extended that calling to us because we barely know all the Sister Missionaries here.

At first, it was really hard for me and my companion to adjust and do all the duties of an STL. Especially when new missionaries arrived here at the MTC! 😭 Sister Torres (My Companion) and I would always receive calls from the front desk to pick up and assist the new sisters even though they’re not part of our district. One of our responsibility is to keep the new sisters safe as we bring them to their temporary room assignments and to get their dinner. We do that every single hour! We are in the service of the LORD!

I felt so tired and exhausted in running and helping them carry their bags. Wow! I cried that night because I felt it was tiresome and very struggling, but I am so glad that my companion comforted me and made me realize to deny myself and serve the Lord no matter what. I am so lucky to have a companion like Sister Torres. She always guide me here and there.

Furthermore, our TRC experiences has been great, when we first met two interested persons, they were kind of don’t want to listen with our prepared lesson for them. When Foster (one of our interested person) answered the survey, she said that our lesson was boring and she’s not really paying attention. Likewise with Michael, he always ask hard questions and it’s really hard for us to answer. We did our best to find for answers by relying to the promptings of the spirit. But we nailed it.

I thought that my last week will be worse. I thought I was disappointed and discouraged. But I was wrong. I was enlightened when we attend the Tuesday evening devotional with Elder Terrence Vinson and Sister Kay Vinson and they talked about of relying more to the spirit.

“The Spirit won’t prompt you if you are not ready.” -Sister Kay

When I heard that phrase, I cried! . I really don’t know why but I know that the Spirit touched my heart. And I did pray for the things that I’ve been to. And I realized how Heavenly Father blessed me so much this week!

1st, some of the missionaries here in our branch helped us in assisting the new missionaries!

2nd, Foster and Michael listened to our lesson (The Gospel of Jesus Christ) and their response were really awesome!

3rd, the spirit prompted me to go to the scheduling office to ask them about my tour in SLC Temple! And I got my email and I will be going there on Monday!

4th, Our new sisters told me and my companion are great leaders! And they told us that they will follow our examples!

5th, I will be going on my mission field next week! ❤

I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of His Children! And I know that if we follow the commandments and be obedient, Heavenly Father will bless us!

It’s not easy to become a missionary but it is a great privileged. We may have sacrificed lots of things but as I recognize my purpose as a missionary, I know that Heavenly Father will bless me always.

If we keep on working hard, great blessings will be granted to us by Heavenly Father unexpectedly. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love you all and I miss you all!

-Sister Zabala

Krispy Kreme

Another treat from Brother and Sister Nelson with a dedication that goes like this:

“Your MTC time is going fast!! Learn as much as you can!!

Have a fun week. We love you tons!! “
💖 Brother and Sister Nelson

Thank you to the Nelsons!

A Journal – Cookies – Cornflakes

The Nelson are full of Surprises. They never failed to make me happy while I am here in Provo MTC. My Family is so blessed to have them in our lives. Their kindness and love is a reflection of the pure love of Christ. I love them so much and I know my family back home are happy and they love too!

Here is the dedication written on the Journal they gave me:

Sister Zabala,

I’m so excited for you as you start your mission. I’m so sure that Heavenly Father has so much in store for you!! Remember that you were sent to California to share your gifts with them – You can make a difference!

Keep a record of all the wonderful things you learn. We’re cheering for you and your success!

We love you,

The Nelsons

Quote from Pres. Spencer W. Kimball –

“Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.”

💟

Thank you once more Brother Stewart and Sister Jamie Nelson!

EMILY COTRELL

After some chats . . . she fulfilled her promise! She really came to see me and to pay a short visit! So wonderful to be see her again after serving Laoag Mission!

The Philippine Flag

It is so funny that after nearly three weeks here in Provo I finally saw our Flag in the MTC!!! I feel proud to be a Filipino.

My Last Temple Sessions in Provo Utah Temple

I got my Personalized Scriptures & Hymnbook!

Thank you MTC for this gift! I can now restart my scripture reading especially with the Book of Mormon! I am going to feast on the words of eternal life anew!

P-Day is Preparation Day and Packing Day 😂

My Selfie Gallery for the Week 😊

My Second Week in Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center)

Hello everyone! Kamusta na kayo?

I don’t know where to start but this is the best week that I ever had. My companion and I are really blessed to teach Cindy in our TRC. She finally accepted our invitation to get baptized! 😍 But the sad thing is, we wont be able to teach her again. 😭

But that’s okay!

I’m so happy because I am now feeling a little bit better than my 1st week because I defeated my homesickness. But guess what? Being here in the Provo MTC taught me how to apply Christ-like attributes! To become a better and a more improved version of Sister Zabala. It’s not easy to become a missionary, but upon thinking of what Jesus Christ did for us it makes me stronger and I know I can do this! I shall bring to pass His eternal purposes.

Earlier, Sister Hayden (our substitute teacher) granted us permission to roam around the T3 building where the big murals are located. She let us do this to reflect on each Murals depicting the life and ministry of the Savior and of the restoration. Glancing and pondering upon each of the murals of Jesus Christ I was really caught up with the Mural of Jesus Christ sitting with a little kid.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:4

That mural made me cry. I really felt how the Spirit touched my heart and experienced an overwhelming feeling.

I remembered being with my little sister, Lavane, teaching her how to be kind to others and to be humble even though our other siblings are making fun of her. 😭😍❤

——–

I have mixed emotions right now, but I am so thankful and very grateful for being called as a missionary of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I love you all! And I miss you all as well!

– Sister Zabala

The Greenie Package from the Nelsons

The Nelsons, Brother Stewart and Sister Jamie, are the best!!! They are the sweetest couple ever here in Utah! They surprised me with a treat that says:

“You may be young, you maybe new – but you’re ready to show what you can do. Countless experiences are just around the bend. The shepherd’s lost sheep you are called to tend. So enjoy this package every last green treat. Now you get excited, you have lost souls to meet!”

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GREAT LOVE TO ME NELSON FAMILY!