My weekly throw up.‏

Written 2/23/14

Hello my pretties!

Wow, well it's been an up and down week. Our baptismal candidate, C., (20 years old and so sweet) texted us the morning of her baptism on Saturday and told us she had decided that she wouldn't be getting baptized. We were so devastated. In the lesson we had held with her the day before, she had told us she was leaning toward no, but we committed her to pray again about it before deciding. She's been struggling these last few weeks... She doesn't have the support of her family, and she seems to be lacking a deep and abiding testimony of the truthfulness of the church. We will continue to teach her and try to help her develop her testimony... But it was so sad to see someone so close to the beginning of the most important journey any of us will ever make... only to back out moments before. It was manifested to me this week how real the influence of the devil is in our lives. We often talk about the blessings of keeping the commandments, but too often, I think, we skim over the consequences that follow when we don't obey. The effects of our sin, as PMG puts it. We learned in our Mission President Training this week with President Lopez that so often we forget that if we are not choosing "liberty and eternal life", there is only ONE other choice for us to choose (no fence sitting here): "eternal captivity and death". If we choose to live the commandments, we are choosing Christ. If we are choosing to disregard the commandments, or heaven forbid DISobey the commandments, we are literally choosing the devil. It's as simple as that. Crazy to me, how when thrown into stark contrast like that, our small choices seem to have so much more weight. When we don't read our scriptures on any given day, we are choosing to let the devil win. 

Sorry, off my soapbox :) We taught the P. family again this week, we had a really special lesson on Temples planned, but when we got there, W. wasn't there which was a big bummer. But we went back later in the week and had an amazing experience. W. told us that he feels with his whole soul that what we're teaching is true, and that he wants to be baptized. Bam. Just like that. The Lord is amazing. More to come on this story, I'm sure.

On another happy note, our baptismal candidate for this week passed her interview with President Lopez! We were stressing a little about her.. The first interview we set up with her was on Tuesday, and we waited WITH President at the church for her for about 20 minutes... Then we went to her house... and still couldn't find her. She never showed up, but we found out later she had to go buy medicine for her mom. We rescheduled the interview (with much anxiety.... Neither of us wanted to have president come all the way here again and have her not show up...) and she passed on Saturday :) Her baptism is all set for saturday, and hopefully her husband will be following soon :)

P.S. I've been craving Cafe Rio this week, so you all go enjoy some for me.

Also, one last little tender mercy from this week. Sister and I got crazy punted in the city on  Wednesday. It was such a long day, with hardly any lessons until we took a bus out to one of our far areas, Bagol. We randomly (or not so randomly :)) met this 17 year old, R., and Sister asked if we could teach him. He said that a few years ago sisters used to visit them, but then they closed the area. Sweet! We shared with him some of the first lesson, and at the end, we asked if he had any other questions. His first response was, "Yes. When are you coming back?" Ahaha. That was awesome :) We haven't yet had the opportunity to teach him again, but that was a true tender mercy of the Lord. I love finding solid new investigators. The Lord is so real.

I've been reading lately in the late Alma chapters in my personal study, and MAN, those men are cool. Moroni, Teancum, Lehi, Helaman, Amulek. They got it goin' on with the missionary work. Let's all follow their example. Wherever you are, do everything you can to support the missionaries in your area! Give them a call and ask when you can teach with them, give them a referral, or just write a thank you note to them. I promise you won't regret it... Being a part of missionary work is the most best in the whole world :)

Okay, to end this huge novel.... Jared and Bekah. Thank you for your temple marriage. I take around with me a picture of my family always, but I also carry around the picture of Jared and Bekah- the one on their wedding day when they are first walking out of the doors of the temple. I've looked at it countless times, and I use it all the time in my teaching, because you can literally see the glow on their faces. Not just from happiness, but from the knowledge of the covenants they've made for eternity with the one they love. It's my favorite to show investigators, and whenever I do, they always go quiet for a sec when they see how happy you guys are. So, just know that a bunch of Filipinos are looking at your picture every day :) Thanks for being who you are.

Also, does anyone know why on the Mount of Transfiguration, when Elijah appeared to give the sealing keys to Peter, James and John... Why didn't the Lord just give the sealing keys? Why did Elijah need to appear when the Lord could have done it? I haven't figured this one out yet... If you all have any ideas, feel free to enlighten me :) 

Also, big thank you to Megan and Mom :) I got your letters and mom's package with all the Crystal light in it, and the chocolate covered cinnamon bears (which may or may not already be gone :) ) It was a huge bright spot in my week :) Okay, sorry for the novel. I love you all! Keep marching on.

All my love,

Sister Luke

 

Also, today is transfer calls, but probably Sister and I will be staying. We're both new to the area. But we'll see!

1. Okay, SO cute. They play what's called "balay balay" here, which directly translated is "House house." They play HOUSE, like all girls (especially Megan and I) do back home! It's adorable. I had to take a picture. This is RM and... I forgot the other little one's name. (Temporarily :) ) They are the kids of the M. family, one of our recent convert families :) Sister Tamang (my MTC teacher) was one of the ones that taught their family way back when. Cool stuff.

2.Me and my cute companion.

 

 3. L's kids. (L's the one who just passed her interview) and her kids are the CUTEST. MG [the little girl] sits by me in church and in the lessons and plays with my hair. I LOVE THEM.