Hellooooooo over there!‏

Written 11/24/13

Hello my loved ones!

What a lovely week its been! A couple days this week were "chilly"! It was the best thing ever. Instead of sweating buckets, I only sweat cups. So that's cool :)

First of all... I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK. It's the best thing ever. We had a couple rough days this week and got punted all day on Thursday, but okay lang! We had members come with us this week almost every day... Part of "Our Vision" here in Bacolod is harnessing the power of the members in missionary work. I'm really seeing the blessings from it. Our lessons are so much more powerful when we have a member testify and share parts of the lesson. 

Wanna know the best part?? Our amazing investigator T. has stopped smoking and is living the Word of Wisdom so he can be ready for his baptism on Christmas. I wanted to scream and jump for joy and cry when he agreed to live it and when he made his plan to quit smoking. Seeing someone change their life for the Gospel, through the enabling power of the Atonement, right before your eyes is something indescribable. He's always our last appointment at the end of the day, and it's crazy to see how much he grows day by day. On Friday we had an activity at the church and we watched The Restoration movie. T. came and just loved it. He came to church again this week too, and even prayed at the end of Sunday School. I can't wait for him to get baptized :) 

This week I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in my mission, actually the day before we watched The Restoration. I've been reading in Preach My Gospel about using the Book of Mormon in lessons and it's essential role in conversion. It's amazing how much it really is the keystone of our religion. It's what sets us apart, gives us evidence of Joseph Smith and most importantly, testifies of our Lord and Savior, the fact that Jesus is the Christ. I completed Moroni's challenge and once again had such a strong confirmation that the Book of Mormon is just SO true. Right!? The gospel just makes so much beautiful sense.

On Thursday we decided to buckle down and find this referral we had for a couple days. It's so hard to find referrals out here since no one really has addresses. We had her street name, and spent an hour walking from house to house on that street asking if anyone knew her. We were out in the boonies like... boonies GID and were about to give up... We'd checked every house! We were about to go back when a seven year old beautiful little Filipina came up to us and said that her mom was V., (our referral) and to follow her! We ran back to her house with her and taught the family. They were absolutely golden. The mom and dad and four kids were Seventh Day Adventist, but not super active. They said they were confused about where the truth was and where to find it. It can't get any better, right? We taught them the Restoration and the Spirit was rockin' it. Can't wait to return.

Sister J.R. and Sister K went with us on member exchanges yesterday. I went with K into the Elder's area to visit some less actives and Sister Fitz went with J.R. to our area. It was amazing to meet people I've never taught and try to discern their needs and teach according to them... But the Spirit knows everything. It was so cool to be able to feel the influence of the Spirit, as we asked what to teach them in our hearts, and were shown directly where to go. What an indescribable thing, no? I love when you can see the Spirit working on people right before your eyes. I've never been able to understand so much Ilonggo as I did yesterday at our last appointment. I actually could respond to their questions... By the end of the day, I feel like my brain has mushed and I have a nosebleed from trying to speak Ilonggo, but I love it, and It's coming. I have the words when I truly need them, and that is enough. Just gotta keep working!

I definitely broke through an investigator's bamboo floor.... Awk. Sister and I sat on the couch in his hut, and as the member with us sat down, we started to crash through the floor! Ahaha. It was funny and freaky all at once. There was already a hole in the floor where the couch had been though... So he said it was okay, and he needed to fix it already. I felt bad... But he laughed with us. Those darn huge, heavy americans... :)

Okay, cool-things-Sister-Luke-sees-In-the-Philippines time. I SAW A GOAT GIVE BIRTH!! Like, literally, i saw it give birth. It was the coolest thing ever. If I can send pics later I will. It was the tiniest thing and made all these cute squeaky noises. Man. It was sweet. Also, my feet got pecked to death by ducks during an appointment the other day. Gotta love all the animals in the Philippines. :) We came home the other night to 6 cockroaches on our counter in our kitchen. We've recently taken up a collection of them. We have a small graveyard corner for their bodies. I'm learning how many different kinds there are. :)

Also, where has schwarma pizza been my whole life?? We started doing "Schwarma Saturdays" in our apartment, and man. It has to be my favorite food. It's not even strictly Filipino! So go home and try some. Delish.

Um.. Sorry this is sort of a throw up email. Read 2 Nephi 26:24. Remember why we're here and how much the Lord loves you. So much that he sent his own beloved Son to atone for even you. We may be apart, but my heart always feels close to family. Especially with the Holidays approaching, (HOW IS IT ALMOST DECEMBER??) I love how close I can still feel to you, even when I'm so far away :) Thank you for your support and prayers! 

Love you all the MOST,

XOXO

Sister Luke

P.S. I've become addicted to peanut butter since arriving here. My condolences to the missionaries in Brazil, where I hear they don't have peanut butter. I feel like the phrase should be changed to, "Eat your food, there are starving missionaries in Brazil without Peanut Butter." 

Ahaha. I've gotten weird. Have a lovely week, family!