Happy Mother's Day indeed!

Written 5/11/14

Hi family!

Seems like I just talked to you yesterday.... :) Ahaha. I think I'm funny. I'm not. The Filipinos remind me of that every day... Sometimes I try to crack an American joke at them and it just doesn't really work. Language barrier, you know? Sigh. I digress :)

It was SO fun to see your beautiful faces! What a wonderful thing technology is. This week was so the best! We worked really hard and saw a lot of progress. We got Zone training in Cadiz on Wednesday and had  A.M.'s baptism on Saturday. So good! The BN.'s also came to church- a part member family with a date for the 31st of May. The mom and daughter are nonmembers and the dad is a returning less active. I really have a testimony of finding and teaching and baptizing through the less actives. I love seeing families completed through ordinances of the gospel!

Our funny (and slightly traumatic) experience this week: Being kissed on  by a 70+ year old man. He was outside our gate one morning and i was talking to him as I unlocked the gate. Then he suddenly came close and despite my firm words said, "Just one kiss!" and laid one right on my neck. 

 Sister Oquias was busy talking to someone in the house next to us and the dog was barking so she didn't hear my cries of alarm. But lets hope thats the first and last bit of action Sister Luke sees in the mission field. ;)

One thing I loved this week from our Zone Training was a scripture from the creation story in Genesis. I'm slightly obsessed with studying Plan of Salvation, especially Adam and Eve and the creation. But this thought hadn't occurred to me before. Our Zone Leader shared in Genesis 3:9- when the Lord says to Adam, "Where art thou?" Of course, this is when Adam and Eve have just partaken of the fruit, and hid out of shame. As our Zone Leader shared, I thought immediately that of course, the Lord wasn't asking geographically where Adam was. He knew, as he does all things. He was asking an inspired question: Where was he spiritually? It brought some good self reflection to me: Where art thou, Sister Luke? Are we standing in holy places, saying holy words? Are we participating in activities that we could be found giving a positive answer to the Lord when he asks us, "Where art thou?" Are we prepared to face the Lord at any time, when he turns to us as asks where each of us is? It's become a favorite scripture of mine this week, and inspired a lot of self reflection. The gospel is so cool. The more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn and how little I do know. But that's the beauty of it!

That's it for this week, my loved ones. Please enjoy these pictures :)

XOXO

Sister Luke

1. I've never been so scared of a child. 

2. Happy Baptism to April May! 

 

3. 8 months, ya'll!