Arrived Safely in Colombia :)

HERMANA SANTECO has arrived in Colombia safely :) 

She says: 

Aloha my family! Hola mi familia! How are all of you?! I am in Bogota and its beautiful here! The weather is so nice and cool just like winter in Hawaii without the bipolar sun. Its not even humid. I actually traveled alone the whole time. It was disappointing to see no misioneras at every gate I went, but hey I traveled all by myself!!!!!!! And guess what? The first flight, I sat next to an old couple who happened to be from Colombia. When they found out that I was from Hawaii and also going to Bogota, they asked more about why I was going. They even mentioned PCC and when I told them I danced there they got so excited that they gave me their phone number and address. So hopefully I can see them before I leave the CCM (MTC). I am slowly being comfortable in using my spanish since its my only way to survive here. The CCM is really small, but I love it because the district and the misioneras here are so intimate and loving. Im the only Asian Hermana here! They always ask what kind of Asian I am and when I do, they are amazed how mixed I am. They also love that I'm from Hawaii. I met a sister here from Hawaii, too! Her family lives in Hau'ula. She is actually serving the Bolivia Santa Cruz mission. She graduated from BYUH in December. She looked very familiar. Thank you guys for everything. Also tell uncle Runnel thank you. I cried reading his card because of his comforting words and testimony. They took all our food and our cameras. They laughed at how much food I brought...especially the Spam. They said that you guys must really love me to give me so much food from home. President Hafoka's advice about D&C 84:88 really helped me. I read that scripture all the time especially during my flight. Since I was alone......very alone. The others flew together and met in Atlanta. I arrived early so I waited an hour and a half with the CCM driver at the airport. Got home at midnight. Our CCM president has the same name as our Bolivia mission president. They are both the Dyers. They both happened to be companions during their missions, too. Small world. I feel the spirit here all the time. I miss you guys so much. I am so happy to be here because I can really focus on the work and my purpose here on earth. Please go to the temple as much as often for me! The temple here is closed for two weeks for cleaning so I wont be able to go for awhile. This keyboard is so different so excuse my grammar. I have so much to tell you, but so little time. The Lord really prepares people for us to teach. Dont send me any packages. I have too many things already. I'll let you know If I need anything. I just want to bear my testimony that I know that God lives and our Lord, Jesus Christ loves us so much that He has us communicate with Him through prayer for us to receive the guidance in our lives. I feel so at place here. We are actually getting our nametags soon. Very soon. Don't cry that I'm gone please. Unless they are happy tears then that's fine haha. I try not to cry, but if anything I just tear up because I am happy to be a misionera. I pray for all of you all the time. Please write me. I want to hear from you. I miss you mucho. I am so happy. Love you mucho. El evangelio es verdadero. 

I'll email on P-Day!!! 

until then. siempre,

Hermana Santeco 

These were our "hasta la vistas" at the airport. 

She is doing wonderful! :) Until next week!!!!

Thanks to all of those who came to eat and say farewell to Riss before she got set apart and left to Bolivia :) It was great company!

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Its really here. I'm getting set apart tonight by Stake President Hafoka. The time went by so fast that I can't even believe that I will be sleeping in my bed for the last time tonight, this year and won't be back until next year in August. I hate goodbyes. I really do. Just as much as I hate packing. But I know this is something I need to do. As long as I remember my purpose as a missionary and keep a good attitude along the way. I need to trust in the Lord and be his BESTEST friend ever NOW and FOREVER. Here's my farewell talk which I gave a couple weeks ago in case you wondered what I spoke about. Enjoy!:

My brothers and sisters, Aloha.

Its so nice to be welcomed back to my own homeward which I haven’t been to for nearly a full year. I have been going to the Sunset Beach YSA branch while I was in school at BYU-Hawaii. But to introduce myself, my name is Marisa Santeco. I am the daughter of Iggy and Didi Santeco. I have one older sister, Marvelyn and two younger brothers, Gabriel and Jesse. I am called to serve the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission, reporting to the Colombia Missionary Training Center on February 26^th, and I am to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.

Bishop Kotobalavu asked me to share my desire and preparations to serve in hopes of inspiring the youth of this ward to serve also. Yet I feel that perhaps my message may inspire you all both young and wise to serve and to take part of the work.

To begin, I want to share with you of how I gained the desire to serve a mission. Serving a full-time mission was never a part of my plan in life. But from many different events in my life, it has led me to where I am today. Just like anyone, I’ve faced many trials. In short terms of what I was going through, things just weren’t going the way I wanted it to or hoped that it would in life. But I remember feeling so down on myself, feeling that God was testing me with more than I could handle all at once. Like He was trying to see how I would deal with my struggles and just trust His will no matter what. With all these problems constantly running in my mind, I kept asking myself, “Why me? Aren’t I living my life right? What did I ever do to deserve this?”

I remember one day after work, I wanted to go to the temple by myself. So I did. I wanted to find some peace. I sat at the very top by the water fountain.  I had my patriarchal blessing with me in my hands. I remember praying to God asking, "what now? What do I do?" While I was focusing on my own problems, I always remembered my mom telling me that it is by serving others; we become selfless and somehow forget our own problems. We can lose ourselves in the act of service. So I thought, “Okay, maybe I need to do more service projects because I haven’t done those since I was a youth”.  But then I kept reading my blessing over and over again. Said a little prayer. Then you know how you read your blessing and tend to just focus on the parts you want to know about? Such as what your future companion would be like or if you will have kids? I usually would skip to those parts and quickly skim the rest. But this time I read it thoroughly and from doing so I realized that three fourths of my blessing was all about missionary work and participating in the gathering of the House of Israel who have been scattered to the four corners of the Earth.

So after that, I walked down from the temple to wait for my dad to pick me up and take me home. But on my way down there were two sister missionaries walking towards me. I keep walking down and for some reason I just knew that that they were going to ask me if I was planning to serve a mission. Then when I got closer to them, they stopped me and then they asked me.. if I wanted to serve a mission. Now I didn’t say no and I didn’t say yes. I said maybe.

That night I prayed to God asking specific questions. In young women’s they taught us to prepare ourselves for general conference so that we would be able to listen with an open mind and heart. They taught us to write down questions that we hoped that general conference would answer for us.  That night I prayed, asking God if it was His will for me to serve a full time mission. Or what type of service would do just the job to bless my family and I. The next day was the October 2012 general conference and that was the day when President Thomas S. Monson announced the age change. When I heard the words come from his mouth that the opportunity to serve a mission was right before me, closer than expected, I could feel the spirit telling me that this is something that God needs me to do. Thereon I considered it more, but didn’t rush to a final decision. It wasn’t until I started my papers and really started to study the Gospel and His doctrine when I realized that His work is so real. That it is everyone’s responsibility to do His work. Which, one-way to do it was to serve a mission. It was because of the spirit and the love of God, which has brought me to desire to do so. I feel that it is His will for me to serve a mission and to teach the people in Bolivia in hopes of bringing them unto Christ. In John 15:16, it reads, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it unto you”. I know that He has chosen me and given me the responsibility to do His work and this I know because he has answered this to me in my prayers.

So what have I done to prepare? As mentioned slightly before, its important you take advantage of what you learn in the youth program. I learned a simple thing to do for general conference and it has blessed my life. To ask questions, to pray about it, and to be willing to receive revelation. As I reflect back on my life as a youth, I know that the things I’ve learned in Sunday school or seminary didn’t make perfect sense to me at that time, but now it’s beginning to. It requires obedience and trust in the Lord that we will gain the proper knowledge for us to return to our Heavenly Father.

Another thing I’ve done was to learn to love others as God does. A quote from Elder Neil Anderson's general conference talk really stuck to me for a long time until this very day. It reads, "If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.”We are all sons and daughter of God and it is true that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. Keeping that perspective has always helped me to learn to forgive others including myself. When love is present, you find yourself in a state of humility of wanting to help others with their trials even when you are already struggling with your own.  

I was reading an article by one of the members from Imagine Dragons, an American alternative rock band. Dan Reynolds, the front man of the band is also a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is a returned missionary. In this article he expresses his appreciation for serving a mission. It reads, “It was such a growing experience for me, and it humbled me and made me realize that the world’s a lot bigger than where you’re raised. There are people dealing with so many more problems than you, and it makes all your problems seem really small. So you just forget all about yourself”. This sums up of what I love about service. Forgetting yourself. Just as President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “Forget yourself and go to work”.

Third is to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. From that you can gain a testimony of its truthfulness and Joseph Smith’s restoration of the gospel. I was able to read the Book of Mormon completely for the second time within 53 days. If you read 10 pages a day, you can finish it in about 2 months. Reading it will increase your gospel knowledge. Read it keeping in mind that you will be teaching it to others.

Fourth, gain a relationship with God. This can be done by praying always. Keeping Him in your thoughts throughout the day. I came a point in my life that I know that

I can’t do anything without God and His Son Jesus Christ. They have become my best friends who will never forget you or hurt you, but simply love you no matter what.

Lastly, the biggest thing is to do nothing that will keep you from entering the temple. When I was a little girl, I made a promise to myself and God that I would never make a choice that leaves me waiting outside the House of God. Now that I am able to go inside as I stay true to my covenants and remain worthy to enter, I know that the temple is where we can receive revelation and to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father. The temple is one of the greatest blessings we have here on earth. When you are feeling sad or lost in the world, go to the temple and receive the blessings He wants to give you. Our Father in Heaven wants to bless us because He loves us. I will never forget how I feel when I go inside. You feel nothing but peace and so much love. I testify that He can heal you in there for He has healed my troubled heart. He has strengthened me in so many ways and I am ever so grateful.

In closing, I just want to express my love to my family. My family means the world to me and I will miss them so much. But I know this is something I need to do. I have wonderful parents who aren’t perfect, but have raised me well to value the gospel in our lives. I wouldn’t be who I am without my mom and dad. They have done so much for me and my brothers and sister. I love you guys so much.

I testify that He lives. We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson here on earth with us to guide us in these latter days. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel. That he saw God the father and the son in a vision. I know that this church is true and has the fullness of the gospel that we need to return to our Father in Heaven. Book of Mormon…Temple..Bolivia is where I need to be.(Testimony).

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

My lovely friends...

brothers and sisters….I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve our Lord for the next 18 months and the rest of my life here on earth. There is so much work to do and I am excited to be a part of it. Please write me if you can. I would love to hear from you and to receive words of encouragement. Its gonna be tough, but so worth it. I love you all very much!

La iglesia es verdadera. Yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero también. Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios. Yo se que el templo es la casa de Dios. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. (lo siento if my Spanish is bad hahaha, it'll get better)

Siempre y until then,

Hermana Santeco

El templo es la casa de Dios

 Now that I have a little over than a month left until I report to the Missionary Training Center, I have to really buckle down and get things done. One of the major things that I have to do is go through the temple to receive my endowments. I've talked about it with my Branch President Ethan Lee and asked him what I needed to do before I do go. He told me that I needed to go to temple prep-to receive all the 6 lessons before getting my recommend. I explained to him that I desired to go as soon as possible during January and he told me that our senior couple missionaries would be able to teach me all the lessons accommodating my schedule.

Sunset Beach YSA Branch Temple Prep Class

Elder and Sister Wright, from Idaho are amazing. They were able to teach me all six lessons within one hour and one sitting in their lovely home on a sunday evening. I was able to receive a couple of them during church, and the remaining in their home. Elder and Sister Wright successfully prepared me to go into the temple and I am absolutely grateful. Unfortunately they won't be in Hawaii anymore when I return from my mission, so I told them that I have to visit them in Idaho someday. :)

While I was preparing to go in, it felt like it was taking longer than I wanted it to be. I just wanted to go in….but it required of me to be patient and to follow the counsel of my branch president. From actually taking temple prep and being patient made me realize that it was all God's timing. It was only within 2-3 weeks of temple prep and interviews for my recommend then I was able to enter the Lord's house…when I got my first interview with my branch president completed, I didn't know that I would be able to get my stake interview done on that very same day, too…and that I did. I called the temple within a few days after getting my recommend and when the temple was now opened after the new years vacation. Right there and then I found out that they were available for appointments for the whole entire week. I scheduled it to be the the very next day and then I realized that it was happening fast. 

On Wednesday, January 15, 2014, I was endowed in the Laie Hawaii Temple. 

My mom was my escort and my dad was able to accompany me during the session. I was blessed to be assisted by many sisters in the temple, Sister Dianne Neal, Sister Takomoto, Sister Pinky Farley, Sister Aiu, and Sisters who I know not their names. Elder and Sister Wright, Branch President Lee, and one of my best friends, Janzelle Beaver were also very kind to be there during the session. I was able to meet a sister who has a daughter who is currently serving a mission in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a blessing to meet her especially when she had realized that my mom is also from Bangkok. She told me that, "It is meant to be for us to meet at this very time and very place in the temple." My mom took down this sister's contact information and we hope we can have her meet our family in Thailand. 

It was the most wonderful and beautiful experience I had thus far. I was scared and excited before entering, but once I was inside I felt nothing but peace. When I finally reached the Celestial room, I went inside to sit with my parents and saw that my dad was in tears. It was a little taste of heaven…of the Celestial life. Entering the temple meant that I finally had greater knowledge of the gospel. Can you imagine this to be the Celestial life? When we are resurrected and entering the Lord's kingdom can you imagine everyone you love there, dressed in white? Everyone greeting you with overwhelming joy, saying "You did it! You are here and now we can feel of His love and be at rest. We are now in the presence of God!"? I imagined preparing to meet God for the first time while I was in there and felt nothing, but peace. It was the first time where all my worries were out of reach inside of my mind. I could no longer feel anything negative. I forgot all my sorrows and all the things that made me feel inadequate. It was feelings of love and comfort. It was full of light and calmness. That is what heaven is all about and that I can't wait to feel again.

What also makes January 15, 2014 to be extra special is that my grandfather, my mother's father, Toontum Jirapoomdech was also endowed at the very same moment as I was, in the temple. My dad was able to get his work done while mine was being done, too.

March 7, 1938-July 23, 2012
Forever in our hearts and never forgotten 

My grandfather is a wonderful man who is well known for being one of the hardest workers in our family. He is highly praised by my uncles, my aunt, and my parents. He was diagnosed with colon cancer and has reached it final stages. When we left Thailand, we knew that it would be the last time we would be seeing him here on earth. I only knew him for so long before he passed. I grew to love him within a month when we visited him. Although we left knowing we wouldn't see him for awhile, we knew we were going to see him again in the eternities, the life here after earth. He passed away on July 23, 2013 and on January 15, 2014, he was able to have his work completed in the temple.  

With the Grandkids

My siblings with Grandpa

My overall experience was amazing. I am truly humbled by it all in knowing that His work is real and the Plan of Salvation is real. It is perfect and created long before we know just for us to live by to this very day and the next life to come. I have a wonderful family, parents, and gospel in my life. I am truly blessed and I hope many who are seeking truth in their life, may find it soon, and if you need help finding it I am willing to share it with you :)... because well…I have found it and now I love it even more than ever.


Sincerely yours,
Rissy (Hermana Santeco)

I am Mormon and I love it.

My name is Marisa Jirapoomdaje Santeco and I am Mormon. 
       I didn't quite want to keep a blog for my mission in the first place, but I felt that it would be nice to have an online journal for others to read and perhaps feel inspired from my stories.. or just for them to see what's going on in my life. So here it goes..

I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu in Hawaii. I have been here all my life. I was raised in the church and I love the gospel more than ever. My parents were international students attending at BYU-Hawaii, where they have met. My father is originally from the Philippines and my mother is from Thailand. My mom is a convert. She got baptized while she attended BYU-H. My dad's parents were converts, but only my dad and one of his brothers became members of the church. I have one older sister and two younger brothers. I guess from our own understanding is that our family including my grandparents on my father side are the only active members of the church, but I'm pretty sure I have distant relatives that I have not met or know of that are members of the church.

My dad is the only one in my family who has served a mission. He served the Philippines Manila mission. From his example and his faith, I have to say that if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have consider serving a mission as much as I do now. I love my daddy!

On November 5th, 2013, I received my mission call in the mail. My mom recorded my whole reaction when I opened the mailbox. It's embarrassing. So just look at this picture :).

Then on November 8th, 2013, I opened my call and found out that I was going to serve a foreign mission…the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission. Spanish speaking. Reporting to the Colombia Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. My reaction?

Well besides the fact that I couldn't even pronounce "Cochabamba" (now I can), I honestly didn't know where on earth Bolivia was….until my family had to ask our good friend, Google…hahaha. Then I finally remembered studying the south America map in one of my art history classes at BYUH. Yeah….I'm going to south America….which I ironically said before opening my letter that I hope that I don't go to south America…But the Lord knows where to send me and that is to Bolivia. 

The fact that I was going to a foreign place kind of made me feel scared, yet excited. I have prayed constantly (still am) to try to understand why am I being sent to Bolivia when I could go to the states and speak my native language, English. I just knew that it is going to be hard and that is what just scares me. But from humbling myself numerous times, God has reassured me that He will always be there with me during those times of hardship…plus with God, all things are made possible. 

I am the first missionary in my immediate family besides my dad…so I guess I am second? But you get the idea (right?). My family is just so new to this, but at the same time so excited. My family has been so supportive with my decision to serve a mission and I am so grateful. 

Now I swear the last time I've checked how many days I have left until I leave, I had 101 days left, but now I only have 43 days?! The time goes by quickly that sometimes I wish it could just all slow down. I only have so many days to be with my family before I have to say "Hasta luego". 

I just want to express my gratitude for all the amazing people in my life for guiding me and shaping me into the person I am today. If it weren't for the gospel, I wouldn't be this happy. Because of this gospel, I have felt so much love from everyone, including our Heavenly Father, and Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I know that God has restored His church on earth through His Prophet Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon to be true. And through this gospel, we are given the proper authority to perform the ordinances which we need in order to return to our Father in Heaven. We have the restored gospel here on earth and because of that, I know that my family can be together forever. I love my Savior and my family so much. I am so grateful. 

En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen. 

Con mucho amor!

-Rissy (Hermana Santeco)

PS: To my readers, I hope you all are able to feel of God's love for you and know that His love is never changing…it is infinite and divine.