Nearer, my God, to Thee.‏

Written 3/16/14

Hi family!

Happy St. Patty's day! I will have you know I am wearing green.

How are you all? The subject line of this week is a simple one: reading your emails every week makes me feel closer to the Lord. I always know he is watching out for me when I hear from you. 

I hit my 6 months this week! What is life? I don't know. The time has gone slow at times, but for the most part it's flown. Bacolod seems like a lifetime away now. The night of my 6 months, Sister Davis and Sister Ulussasa scaled our apartment building to drop down at our back door with a baby chocolate cake and oreos with a candle to sing "Happy 6 months" to me. I love that sister with all my heart :)

It was made manifest to me this week how much the Lord watches over his missionaries! Sister and I were in a tricycle this week, riding to a farther area, and crossing a bridge. The bridge is only narrow enough for one car at a time, and as we were exiting the bridge, a car zoomed right past us, causing us to hit the side of the bridge and to skid a while down the road. So that was a nice adrenaline rush. So glad we have the protection of God with us, and that our tricycle driver knew how to handle the situation and didn't flip out. Tender mercies, my friends.

I was also given a gentle reminder this week that the Lord is aware of my prayers. I've been praying recently to feel the Spirit more in my daily life and to be able to recognize promptings this week. It was proven to me this week that the Lord hears our prayers as sister and I were walking in one of our areas on our way to teach a recent convert family. A thought popped into my head that we should stop by a less active family first, (they have a recent convert daughter as well who I LOVE. She's 9 and the cutest little thing you ever did see.) We turned right around and went to their house, where they let us in. Just as we were preparing to start the lesson, in walked their dad, a long time less active, and who is rarely there for any of our lessons. I've only met him once previously, but the mother and him have been having marital problems for the past couple years. Sister has shared with us that she wants her husband to be the one to invite them back to church, and to lead the household in faith. As we sang with the family, the Spirit entered very tangibly. Sister De Castro shared in 1 nephi 1:1 about Nephi's parents being leaders in his life, and how they taught him from his youth to grow in the gospel. It was 100% by the Spirit. I testified that this gospel is for families, and that his children and wife needed him. At the end of the lesson brother said that he and his family would come to church this Sunday... That it was time for them to return and he wanted to go to church to partake of the sacrament. It was so filling to feel that our lesson had done it's job. That we had led him to make a commitment with the Lord and to increase his faith. Missionary work is the bomb. And the Spirit is so real.

This week has been challenging, but has also sped by. Sister and I made a goal to not leave an area until we've found a new investigator there or OYM'ed someone. We were blessed this week with 19 new investigators, and I know it was all because the Lord is preparing people. We just have to set our sights high enough that we can accomplish His plans and His goals.

That's about it for this week. Zone conference was amazing...I wish I could just wear google glasses all the time and you all could live this life along with me. I guess you'll just have to settle for my emails. Love you all the most!

Love,
Sister Luke

Ps the pictures arent loading.. I had all these pictures to send to megan in celebration of her b day and St. Patty's day. :(