Bruised hands and happy hearts.‏

Written 3/9/2014

 

Hello my loved ones!

I literally have a bruise on my hand from shaking hands at church. I'm proudly a missionary :)

It's been a good week. One of a lot of growth. I've noticed that Heavenly Father gives me these little glimpses sometimes of how much I really have changed. Sometimes it's hard to see our personal growth, and sometimes I question if I really have grown. But the tender mercies of the Lord are over us all. Allow me to explain....

We got to meet with Sister F. and her husband, (She's the one that backed out last week) and we shared with them in Ether 12:11, about the Lord preparing a "more excellent way" for them and that "it is through faith that it is fulfilled". We related that to her right now... She is living the commandments, going to church, and reading scriptures, but there is a higher way, a better way; the Lord's way: which is baptism. We talked about having the faith to take that leap and be baptized. She had been nervous and had thought that there were multiple interviews before she was baptized, so as we thought we had cleared up her concern, we invited her again to be baptized that weekend. It was a powerful and memorable lesson. The next couple nights we followed up with her, and her husband as well. We reviewed again what the Book of Mormon was with Brother F., and he really seemed to understand this time, and committed to start reading. 
Then Saturday came. We prepared the font, the programs, the room; everything was ready... Except no Sister F. Finally we went to her house and found her outside. After a lengthy discussion (with her husband in and out) it became clear that the baptism was not going to happen.... Sister opened up to us that because Brother hasn't come to church yet, she's afraid that if she is baptized now, he will never follow. She shared that she doesn't mind being baptized before him, but she wants to know that Brother really will support her and come with her to church. Brother kept telling us that she wasn't prepared, but really it's him who is not prepared for her to be baptized. It was heartbreaking to hear, because as we were trying to resolve her concern and help her see that she has the faith to be an example to her husband, I could also understand that she wants her family to be united in the gospel. Brother is a lot of "talk" and not a lot of "do". He's 41 and she's 24, so she is a little intimidated by him and his opinions. We all got on our knees and said a prayer to our Father in Heaven that He would show us all a way that we can help Brother F. come to church. We are united with Sister F. in continuing to help them as a whole family so that she can be baptized.

SIGH. 

Sister De Castro had a hard time after that. Surprisingly I was okay. Of course I was devastated... But I really felt peace and patience from the Lord. We returned to the church to let them know it wouldn't be happening, and to pick up my laundry. (We take our laundry to a recent convert in one of our areas so we can pay her and so she can have money to come to church.) Sister insisted that we just go and drop off the laundry and go home, because she didn't want to teach any more that night. She told me she didn't have the Spirit with her. I insisted that we finish out the night, and took her into a small room in the church so we could pray together. We both said a prayer, and as we both stood up with tears in our eyes, the Spirit was strongly present. It was still a heartbreaking situation, but as I hugged Sister De Castro I knew that the work just goes on. It will continue and we will continue no matter what Satan tries to do. We went and taught a couple more lessons that night and although we were exhausted spiritually, we were strengthened and had some really sweet experiences. 

That night we taught our Recent Convert, G. She is so solid... Sort of like a female T. Her husband just left last month to go work abroad, maybe for 6 months to a year. I can't even imagine. Anyway, we were teaching about the Book of Mormon- what an example she is of a strong and dedicate mom. She knows the power of the BoM and I LOVE seeing it affect others lives. There is tangible power in that little book. It's the MOST TRUE EVER. I love it. Go share it with someone, it rocks.

Last miracle: E. came to church! And he was wearing a black Taco Bell shirt and I love it. I love it because the ward was awesome in fellowshipping him and we had an awesome lesson with him last night. We again reviewed the purpose of the Book of Mormon and how he can receive a witness that it's true. He committed to start from the beginning (he's been reading a little randomly throughout the book) and to pray about it. I don't know why, but it seems that getting people to pray is like pulling teeth! People are "huya" (shy) and grumpy and they simply don't understand their true relationship with their Heavenly Father. If they did, they would want to pray all the time! I don't know why the easiest thing to do is the hardest commitment to keep for them. Many of our investigators will read, but not pray. I think Satan makes the little things (the most important things) the very hardest to do, because he knows just as well as we do the power that is in reading and praying. He knows that by these small things are the great things- or conversion- brought to pass. If he can keep our investigators from communicating with our Father, he can stop them in their conversion. Our job is to help them understand their true relationship and the true nature of our Loving Heavenly Father.

P.S. Anyone know what Ash Wednesday is all about? 

All in all, it's been a week of testing and growth. Exciting things. :) Whew. I'm all outta words. Sorry for a hefty one. I tried some Suman this week- this delicious sticky rice with ginger, banana, and calamansi (That lime/orange mix fruit) and some Lugaw- a kind of coconut/rice/kamote (sweet potato) soup stuff that is so good. I think Filipinos put crack in their food because I love it. 

Welp friends, that's about it. I love you all, and the gospel is so true. The Lord is loving. 

Can't believe I'll be on a plane ride home on this day next year. Don't let the time get away from you!

Loves,

Sister Luke

This picture is in honor of Meg's birthday next week. Its a random wall that I found... Reminds me of you megs! Also, no one here knows what St. Patrick's day here is. They think!