Merry Christmas!

Dear Family,

Merry Christmas! It was so good to see you and talk with you this week! I love you all so much! It was crazy to see how much you have all changed physically. Isaac is a giant! And his voice is so deep! 

Well, because we skyped I don't really have much to say. For Christmas we went to the Branch President's house and they fed us a christmas dinner. It was fun! But the best part was having our Christmas Skype, haha! 

Our invesitagtor came to church for the third time in the row. She is really progressing and I have faith that she can be baptized next transfer. I am so happy for her! 

My companion went to the mission home this Sunday. It was really sad to see her go, but I know that we all have our times and seasons. She is so great and she really changed my life and this area. 

The last bit of news is, I was transferred to Lipa. Yay! My new companion is Sister Dedevias. (Day-Dee-Vus.) She is Philippina. 

Love you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

-Sister Beaumont 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go..." 

Each night here in the Philippines we've had cute little kids come a caroling for a peso or two. We unfortunately can't give them anything as missionaries, but it's cute to here them singing. There is no snow here in the Philippines, (of course) but it's been really cold and rainy, close enough right? And we've had some wonderful Christmas Presents. They didn't come wrapped in cute paper or found in our stalkings.... Instead, it was found in the fact that we now have 5 baptismal goal dates, three new investigators, and best of all, even though we went to Cabayao this weekened because Sister Finau is going home soon, our most progressive investigator attended church and the Christmas party, even though she knew we wouldn't be there. The best Christmas present ever! :) I was so happy!  When an investigator is able to come to church with out you, it really shows that they are converted to the gospel, not the missionary. 

Well, what else? Sister Finau goes home in 5 days... I can't believe it. I am so sad and I will miss her so much! We have had such a good companionship this transfer and have seen many miracles in the work together. She has changed my life for the better! But I know that all things have their times and seasons... so I'll miss her, but I know her time has come. Speaking of time, can you believe that my MTC batch has one more transfer left in the field? They are going home in a little over a month. It is so fast! I'm so excited to see what Heavenly Father has in store for me in the time that will lapse. My dear companion, Sister Feinga is also going home with Sister Finau's batch. I got to see her this weekend for the last time. (We got to meet up while travelling to Cabayao) It was so good to talk to her one last time! I love her so much! I can't believe it's been a year since we were companions. Crazy! 

But it's okay. I'm planning to go to Tonga after my mission, (and after I've gotten some money hehe,) and visit them. I'm trying to pick up a little tongan before I go.... Sister Finau and I have been singing in Tongan this whole week. The tongan hymnbook has more hymns/ additional hymns that aren't in the English hymnbook. 

We had our Zone Christmas Party this week. It was so fun to experience! We had a lot of games and of course some really spiritually uplifting talks. I was asked to play the piano for the hmyns, and then I also accompanied a musical number, and sang Homeless with my companion. Dang, I felt like I barely sat down in that meeting before getting up again, haha. But I really encourage my brothers to practice the piano. I was the only person in the whole zone christmas that could play the piano. Even if you think the opportunity won't come, it will! Promise! 

Well, I'm so excited to skype tomorrow! Love you all so much! 

Merry Christmas! 

Remember, the reason for the season is the Savior Jesus Christ. Like an apostle once said, "There wouldn't be any Christmas if there wasn't an Easter." 

Rejoice, the Savior is born! 

-Sister Beaumont 

Short and Sweet

Well, I don't have too much time left! Sorry! This is going to be super fast.

First, Our investigator came to church again! We were so excited! And this time she stayed the whole time! 

She said something really interesting afterward that I just loved. She said, "When I attend other churches, I leave feeling hungry. Not for food... but I just feel empty. But when I left this church, I felt so full. I guess that's the spirit, right? This really is the true church." It reminded me of the scripture in Amos 8:11-12 about the apostasy Astig! 

Second- This week I had a lot of firsts. 

A woman across  the aisle on the jeep pinched my nose and said, "Wow, long and beautiful. I want one."

I saw 7 shooting stars, 5 fireflies... 

and I got my first sunburn in the whole time I've been in the Philippines. 

That's all for this week! Love you! 

-Sister Beaumont 

Buhay Pa! (Still Alive)

My dear family,

 No need to worry, all is well here in Barra, Philippines! The storm that was supposed to be a super typhoon was the slowest storm ever to landfall, (probably not actually, just exaggerating) and so by the time it reached us, it had died down so much, that it was basically no more than a strong rain storm. It took 4 days to finally hit and meanwhile we experienced really strong wind, but nothing more.When it did hit, it lasted for over 24 hours, (again slow storm), but we are okay!  As far as I know, there was no damage, but we haven't gone to our area yet to check on the members. They were all evacuated from their homes because of the storm and brought to the chapel to be safe. Poor things, they were there for at least 2 days. Can you imagine being stuck in the church building for 2 days? With little kids running around? And no soft chairs or anything?  Anyway, I think they are well on their way home now. They are up against the ocean and so I'm expecting that they will have had some flooding and maybe some minor damage, but we hope and pray that nothing beyond that. 

Because of the storm though, we were unable to go out and work for 4 days straight. Dang! I was so sick of staying indoors!  I just wanted to go out and teach some people the gospel! I finished my Book of Mormon and got clear to I Nephi 20 again, read 1 chapter of Preach my Gospel in Tagalog... and an entire Liahona all in just one day. Yep, there is a reason we are called to labor as missionaries. Staying at home is so boring! :) Okay, so it really wasn't that bad. But I'm more than a little excited to go out and work this week! 

I did get your package this week! I was so, so excited to Elderberry Jam and the chocolates. My apartment mates and I have already eaten one bag! (But I think that's because we had nothing else to do...) I also loved all the cute window art crafts, they are so cute! And I'm so ecstatic to teach everyone how to play don't eat the snowman. We are going to use it in FHE one of these days. I will hopefully send off the last of my christmas package today, if all goes well and I find everything alright. :) It might not get to you until after Christmas though, sorry! 

I am so grateful for all the prayers and fasting in behalf of the people here. I have really thought of how amazing it is that the storm hit on fast Sunday and that it hit us so slowly. I know that Heavenly Father really heard the prayers of his people in that time before the storm and caused it to decrease before hitting our mission. We even saw some miracles because of the storm. Of Course, the biggest one was that the storm really broke down before hitting us. Another one was that as a companionship we have been praying hard that our less actives will open their hearts and receive us. (All of them refuse to be taught and ignore us when we come) When we fasted this week, we fasted specifically for  the less actives,that they might open their hearts. We fasted in particular too for the husband of one of the less actives, who is not a member and will not let us even come in through the gate if he's home. On Sunday, after our 30 minute sacrament meeting (because of the on coming storm we only had church long enough to take sacrament and it was canceled in Barra so we went to the stake center,) we went to Barra to warn our investigators that they could move to the chapel if needed. While there, we passed by this less active's home and we both felt prompted to stop and speak to them. To my surprise, the husband actually invited us in. His wife seemed so happy to see us and told us that she would be going to the church with her husband and children. As soon as she said that, I realized that this would be such a great opportunity for him to meet and speak with members and see the light that this church has to offer him. I could see the hand of God was in this and was so amazed at the small and simple ways that he accomplishes his work. 

Our investigator has the same problem with her husband and he also went to the church. I'm excited to see if their hearts were opened at all in that time. We have been praying hard. 

Well, it's time to go. I love you all! 

Thanks again for your prayers. A miracle was truly brought about through the strength of prayer and fasting this week. 

With all my love,

-Sister Beaumont 

I Wasn't Able To Work In Barra Much This Week

Happy Happy birthday, Daddy dear, happy wishes to you from me... How does that song go? Haha! I really don't remember those things anymore.

Especially in English. I speak Tagalog so much now, I feel like I can speak faster and easier in Tagalog than my own native language. 

I actually noticed today as we were practice teaching in English that I start out thinking Tagalog and translated in my head what I want to say from Tagalog into English. 

How strange.  I really hope I can speak English to you when we skype in 25 days! ;) 

I also feel like I'm forgetting that I'm American. I've had non-American companions ever since my first transfer and the last two transfers I've been the only American in the apartment. 

When I look at myself in the mirror, I get a little weirded out. I'm all like, "Why are you white?" Haha, but I love it. I love my companion so so much and I love the other sisters too! We 

have a party all the time and laugh and joke in Tagalog. 

So this week, we didn't get to go to work very much. We only worked two full days because Sister Finau went to Manila for two days, and then when she came back she was so tired because 

her travel was 8 hours one way on a bus and she didn't sleep at all that she slept from 2:00 p.m to 6:30 a.m the next day. Poor thing. So then the next day we went shopping for her because she missed P-Day and we went to pay the bills, which ended up being a 4 hour ordeal. Whew. So we didn't have the opportunity to teach. We taught on Friday though and it was really good to get back out on the streets of Barra. I was starting to really miss it! Unfortunately, Saturday it rained and flooded in Barra so 40 minutes after getting there, we had to turn around and go back. We had just enough time to help a less active do some laundry. Then Sunday we had meetings and a members Birthday gathering to attend... Anyway, I'm really excited this week to work a full week! 

While Sister Finau was in Manila, I got to do a mini exchange with another Sister named Sister Krisubanu. She is so cute! She is from Indonesia and we had so much fun working together. She is only in her training still, but

I felt like she was as good as me in Tagalog and teaching, if not better. What a fast learner! 

Anyway, I've got to go now. I love you all! See you in 25 days! 

Mahal na mahl kita! 

-Sister Beaumont 

New Companion

Emilee didn't explain these photos so I am guessing she found these on a wall in their apartment or in a book somewhere?  I will have to ask her about them.  I just thought it would be fun for these missionaries to see that they are still there being read by current missionaries.

Emilee and her new companion Sister Finau.

Dear Family, 

You'll never guess. I have a new companion.... and she is Tongan! Again! I love Tongans so so much and when I found out I was going to have my third Tongan companion, I was literally jumping up and down with joy! 

So, her name is Sister Finau (Fee-now) and this transfer is her last transfer. I'm going to "kill her" as we say here in the San Pablo mission. She is a very, very social and outgoing person. She is very humble as well and loves everyone. I have done more service with her in these last 5 days than all my other companions put together. If she ever sees anyone carrying buckets of water, or doing laundry, she immediately drops her bag and starts doing it with them, whether we know them or not! She promised me that she will NOT get trunky this transfer and I believe her completely. I wouldn't know she was going home this transfer because of her hard work, enthusiasm and diligence. 

I had an interesting dream before she became my companion. To both the Tongan and Filipino cultures, dreams are a really big deal and they often foreshadow things that will happen. So, of course, after 11 months in the Philippines and 3 Tongan companions, it's about time I have one! I dreamed that Sister Vaka and I were proselyting, just like a normal day, and then suddenly Sister Vaka turned to me and said, "It's time to go." So we went to get her luggage and once we had everything packed, we got into a tricycle. We dropped her off and I picked up my new companion. I didn't see her face in the dream, but I knew she was shorter than me. ;) Haha. Anyway, as we were getting into the tricycle, I looked back and there were 3 Tongans waving at me. Two of them were Sister Feinga and Sister Vaka, and the other was my new companion! Cool, right? 

I also wanted to share with you an amazing story that Sister Finau shared with me about her life. She told me that she always wanted to serve a mission, but when she got into high school, she started to become "pasaway." (Disobedient in tagalog.) She never did any serious sins, but she ran away from home and for 6 months, she never came home. After 6 months, she went back to her house to get something in her room. The door was hard to push open, but when she finally did, she opened it and found so much food everywhere. On her dresser, on her bed, everywhere. She was really mad, because some of it was rotting and stunk. She turned around and went into her room to confront her parents. When she came in, she found her dad, lying in his bed, nearly dead from illness. She said though, that it didn't really faze her and she demanded, "Why is there all this food in my room? It stinks!" Her mother, in a quiet voice said, "When are you going to come home? When are you going to come home? Every night we save you some food and put it in your room, hoping that you will come home." She said she immediately went outside and told her friends to leave. From that day until her mission, she never left her parents. I loved that story and cried when she told me it. 

Well, we've had a really successful week. We have a new investigator, who is the husband of one of our other investigators. Commonly, we have a problem where the wives are really interested, but the husbands are super against us. But in this case, the husband is so interested! Yay! He had many questions for us. His son, a 15 year old is a really hard debater and really knows the bible. He often uses it to try to make us trip up in our lessons. But his father had so much confidence in our message, despite anything his son was saying. After his son pulled out scripture after scripture trying to prove that there couldn't be prophets today, his father just shook his head at him, and then told us, "I believe we still need Prophets. Why would they just stop after Christ?" Anyway, I can't wait to teach him again! We left him a book of mormon to read and pray about and I'm excited to see how it went! 

Also, our very first investigator here in Barra finally came to church. We've been struggling each week to get her to come. Despite it being sort of close to her house, she hasn't been able to come because of one reason or another. But this Sunday, right in the middle of passing the sacrament, she came! Sister Finau and I both rejoiced when we saw her! Missionary work is so wonderful!!!!!!! 

This week, I wondered who the Happiest person on earth was. I realized, of course, it would be the most perfect. Jesus Christ must have been the very happiest person on earth and his whole life, everyday was spent in the service of others. Let us all strive to be like him and follow his example! 

I love you! 

Remember to share the gospel with everyone through your example! 

Fear is not worthy of a child of God! :) 

With Love,

Sister Beaumont 

11 Months In The Field

View from our apartment

Me and My Companion

An awesome restraunt we ate at which is filippino traditional native food and culture! 

It played michael buble music and I was at home! I loved it so much! :) 

So, another month mark is coming up! Tomorrow is my 11 month mark in the field. I can't believe time has gone by so fast! I feel like it's only been weeks! I remember my first week emailing home, feeling like, "This is the beginning of 18 more months!" Now I feel the end is coming! I just want to be a missionary forever! Maybe I'll extend, haha! :) 

Well, I have some great experiences to share with you from this week! 

First we have 2 baptismal goal dates now, not just one! Yahoo! We are so happy!  We have 6 investigators instead of the one we started out with. All in all, a happy ending to this transfer. We are so excited to see where things will go here in Barra! 

Well, This week we had stake conference.  Saturday night nobody really showed up. It was 20 members and the missionaries. For the whole stake! So Sunday morning, we weren't really thinking and left at 9:20 when it started at 10. We got there to find the place packed! We found a member to sit by and she said that she had been their since 8 but she was clear in the back! 

We were in the overflow, on the 4th row to last. We were okay though, because we could still see... but as soon as the meeting started, we realized the speakers in the back didn't work, so we couldn't hear a word. After an hour of members chitchatting in the back and children running around like crazy because there was no sound, they set up huge speakers. So then we could hear and just in time too, because our President was next to speak. Before they let him speak though, they took the mic attached to the big speakers and tapped it against the puplit speaker. It was so loud and we all laughed. What a crazy experience! 

I finished the Book of Mormon in Tagalog this week! All 777 pages of it! Whew! Now I reading Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. I'm finding that I understand most of what is said now I'm pretty happy! :) 

I also taught Sister Vaka Yoga and Singing. As if I know how to do either of these, haha. But she asked me to teach her what I knew, so I did. It was fun and we sung the Sound of Music song to learn. (We got rained in one day and because it was flooding in Barra we were stuck in doors almost all day so that's how we spent it.) 

This week I read Jesus the Christ and learned that Christ also had to go through the veil of forgetfulness! He, just like us, had to learn through the spirit and gain through the spirit the knowledge of who he was before. He was tested and tried just as we were, but unlike us, he never made a mistake. It's more incredible to me now than ever that he came to this earth, and although he had the veil of forgetfulness over his mind, he preformed the atonement! I am so grateful for my savior and his perfect life and example for all of us! 

There are many cultures here on this earth! ( Philippino, American...) But we all share one common culture- the gospel! Christ is our savior and through him, we can be perfected and return to God.

I love you! Keep smiling and sharing the gospel through example and word! 

-Sister Beaumont 

3 New Investigators

My dear family.  What a week! We've had some crazy experiences here in Barra! Somethings have been really good and others have been really weird to say the least. 

The good news, we have 3 new investigators! We are so happy for them. They are all former investigators and we are so happy that they are opening their hearts up to us. One is this wonderful family. They have been taught 3 times before, in each of the places they used to live before moving. They are now in Barra and we have found them! I fell in love with them as soon as the mother said, "I believe that your church is true. Why else would God keep putting missionaries in my life?" We are going to follow up with them about praying to receive an answer. I'm so excited to see their progression. 

We also found another former investigator that just shines with the light of Christ. I love her so much and I can't wait to see her growth in the lessons. She invited us in before she even knew who we were and immediately fed us. I remembered what you told me dad, about the house of Israel. I looked on her porch and sure enough, flowers! So that's exciting! Her husband is less active so we might be able to hit two birds with one stone. 

Our first investigator is doing great as well. She is clear in Mosiah! I'm so happy that she loves the book of mormon! She reads it everyday while her children do their homework. Our only challenge is getting her to come to church. She feels overwhelmed with her children and her husband. (He doesn't like the church but allows her to go and is okay if she is baptized.) Anyway, we hope that all will go well with her and her family. 

Well, like I said, we had some weird experiences as well. We arrived in Barra on to find EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE at the basketball court. One of the popular radio stations here in the Philippines was doing a big raffle, singing contest event. It kind of put a damper on our plans if you can imagine. No one was at their houses for us to teach. We finally sat down on a ledge and started to talk about what we should do. That's when a woman came up from behind us and said, "Mormons?" We were so excited. This was an answer to our prayers! Or so we thought. We started to talk with her a little and she asked us what we believed. Even more eager, we began to share. She seemed really receptive, until suddenly we realized she was crazy. Like, literally, she was crazy. She tried to show us a mark on her leg by pulling down her pants and kept talking about how beautiful I was because I looked like the people on tv. Then she ranted about Elizabeth Taylor for a while and told us her whole history. Every once and a while she would laugh like some insane woman. 

I guess Heavenly Father knew we just needed a laugh. 

Anyway, I love you! Thanks for your support and emails! 

I pray all is well with you back home! 

With Love,

Sister Beaumont 

Halloween in the Philippines

Hello my dear family! Sorry about the short email last time... I can always trust my mother to remind me when I need to make my emails a little longer. 

Well, Halloween here in the Philippines is a very different experience compared to America. 

I felt like I was walking through a marte grade parade all day long. 

There were tents and canopies all over the cemeteries and people were literally having picnics ON TOP of the tombs of their loved ones. 

I guess it's some sentimental way to share lunch with the dead. We set aside that day to contact people only because we had an early curfew. 

Some people were really chill and nice, others were a little irritated. The main road was closed down and there were dozens of souvenir stands everywhere. 

The only taste of American style Halloween that I saw was a booth that was set up to look really "Halloween-ish" with people that held axs and sceletons. 

People would pass by, take a picture at the booth and then move on. All in all though, it was a good day. 

We were actually really grateful for our early curfew, because on the way home, the other sisters in our apartment saw someone murdered. 

It was really scary for them. (In case I haven't told you before, the two other sisters are Sister Japus and Sister Oldem. They are both Filipino and really cute! I love them so much!) 

In answer to your question, I have been switching off with another girl who plays out of the easy hymn book. 

She is learning piano and she does really good! I almost taught piano once, but the appointment was cancelled because they never showed up. 

I have never taught English but I always wish I could. It's sounds so fun! 

Well, this week I saw many miracles in the work.

We found some wonderful investigators and one even came to church and brought her husband with her! It was such a happy surprise. 

We also got to have a special meeting in San Pablo with Elder Robbins from the Seventy. 

He talked mainly on taking responsibility. He said that if we have 100 percent agency, then we also have 100 percent responsibility. 

It was so great to have him in our mission! We also got to see a broadcast with Dallin H. Oaks where he spoke to the whole Philippines. 

He talked about how the Philippine Culture is wonderful culture of Beautiful smiles, Modesty, and family centered beliefs. 

It's all very true! Everyone is so friendly here and smiles at you, even if you are strangers in passing. 

They are very modest and hardly ever do I see cleavage or other parts of the body that should be covered. In fact, if ever a girl bends down, 

she will hold her shirt to her chest with one hand just to make sure nothing shows. 

And despite the attacks on family in many parts of the world, the Philippines is so strong in their desires for a good strong and happy family! 

I just love these people! 

Well, that's it! Times up! 

Love you all! 

-Sister Beaumont