Written 7/13/14
Maayong aga sa inyo! Kamusta ang Dominggo nyo?
Happy birthday and baptism to Hunter this week!! I'm so proud of you! I sent a letter to him a couple weeks ago, hopefully it arrives before his baptism :)
So this week has been a stressful one. But when is life not stressful, right? It's still had some really good days. It's true when they say that you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows here in the mission. Lets start with the highs, shall we?
The Spirit protects the missionaries, even the clumsy ones. This week I took a nice tumble coming back from one of our far areas across the river. There's a really steep trail to get to all the houses, so steep there's a rope to hang on to, like a handrail. As we were descending, the thought popped into my head to hold the rope a little tighter, and just as I did, well... You know me. I slipped down the rest of the trail (gracefully, of course). Luckily I wasn't hurt at all because I had one hand on the rope, but it was a good tumble. One of our ward missionaries, J.R., was with us and we couldnt stop laughing... I may no longer have my pride, but I do have good memories. :)
L., our new investigator (from V.J.) said in our 2nd lesson with her, "Sisters, pwede ko magpatudlo sa inyo magpangamuyo?" (Sister, can I ask you to teach me how to pray?) She even came to church by herself this week, and brought a friend with her. Golden? Golden.
We taught F. about the temple and family history this week. His first question? "Sister, I remember all my relatives names and information except my grandmother's birthday. Can you help me submit all of them to be baptized in the temple?" Um. Yes. His question at the end of the lesson, "Sister, about Tithing. When can I start paying that?"
Golden? Golden.
C. Our wonderful C. We talked to her about her and her boyfriend getting married and we now have a date for August 16! Marriage is unbelievably hard and expensive here, so no one gets married anymore which understandably makes missionary work very hard. But we basically just walked into a perfect situation:
C. is the (will-be) daughter in law of a really active member, who has the funds to help them get the legal requirements they need for marriage, and! Get this! She sews, too! The member. So she's going to make C. a beautiful dress. Its literally like they've just been waiting for someone to invite them to be married and baptized. Which they have. She even put her Ang Libro ni Mormon in a plastic protective cover. Who is that cool? These people are. Golden? Golden.
The lowest of lows this week? Some of our Recent converts. There's 6 of them all in young men who used to be so strong, but in the past few weeks have been struggling and returning back to their addictions from before. We had a good week with some spiritual lessons with them and we thought they'd all be there at church. But come Sunday, not one of them showed. We went the that area after church on Sunday to teach some other instigators, and seeing those recent converts was seriously like being dumped. It felt like being dumped! Only worse. Totally heartbroken this week over those boys. It's been the hardest thing to watch on my mission; seeing members and investigators that know, but don't act.
The funny experience from this week? Sister Oquias and I and L. and Apple locking ourselves in a bamboo hut (where we were teaching), forcing the door closed against an angry 5 year old with a big rock, while he's trying to beat us and the house to death. I'll save a more in depth explanation for another day. It was the most terrified I've ever been of a 5 year old, while at the same time laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.
I know God lives, and I know the Atonement changes us. I know we can overcome anything, truly, anything, if we have Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that miracles are wrought, that people are changed and that hearts are sanctified. (Take a look at Helaman 3:35 and Hebrews 13 this week). I know this because I've seen it, I've felt it, and because the Holy Ghost has borne witness.
I love you more than a rich man loves a peso.
Get work done.
Sister Luke
Happy birthday and baptism to Hunter this week!! I'm so proud of you! I sent a letter to him a couple weeks ago, hopefully it arrives before his baptism :)
So this week has been a stressful one. But when is life not stressful, right? It's still had some really good days. It's true when they say that you experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows here in the mission. Lets start with the highs, shall we?
The Spirit protects the missionaries, even the clumsy ones. This week I took a nice tumble coming back from one of our far areas across the river. There's a really steep trail to get to all the houses, so steep there's a rope to hang on to, like a handrail. As we were descending, the thought popped into my head to hold the rope a little tighter, and just as I did, well... You know me. I slipped down the rest of the trail (gracefully, of course). Luckily I wasn't hurt at all because I had one hand on the rope, but it was a good tumble. One of our ward missionaries, J.R., was with us and we couldnt stop laughing... I may no longer have my pride, but I do have good memories. :)
L., our new investigator (from V.J.) said in our 2nd lesson with her, "Sisters, pwede ko magpatudlo sa inyo magpangamuyo?" (Sister, can I ask you to teach me how to pray?) She even came to church by herself this week, and brought a friend with her. Golden? Golden.
We taught F. about the temple and family history this week. His first question? "Sister, I remember all my relatives names and information except my grandmother's birthday. Can you help me submit all of them to be baptized in the temple?" Um. Yes. His question at the end of the lesson, "Sister, about Tithing. When can I start paying that?"
Golden? Golden.
C. Our wonderful C. We talked to her about her and her boyfriend getting married and we now have a date for August 16! Marriage is unbelievably hard and expensive here, so no one gets married anymore which understandably makes missionary work very hard. But we basically just walked into a perfect situation:
C. is the (will-be) daughter in law of a really active member, who has the funds to help them get the legal requirements they need for marriage, and! Get this! She sews, too! The member. So she's going to make C. a beautiful dress. Its literally like they've just been waiting for someone to invite them to be married and baptized. Which they have. She even put her Ang Libro ni Mormon in a plastic protective cover. Who is that cool? These people are. Golden? Golden.
The lowest of lows this week? Some of our Recent converts. There's 6 of them all in young men who used to be so strong, but in the past few weeks have been struggling and returning back to their addictions from before. We had a good week with some spiritual lessons with them and we thought they'd all be there at church. But come Sunday, not one of them showed. We went the that area after church on Sunday to teach some other instigators, and seeing those recent converts was seriously like being dumped. It felt like being dumped! Only worse. Totally heartbroken this week over those boys. It's been the hardest thing to watch on my mission; seeing members and investigators that know, but don't act.
The funny experience from this week? Sister Oquias and I and L. and Apple locking ourselves in a bamboo hut (where we were teaching), forcing the door closed against an angry 5 year old with a big rock, while he's trying to beat us and the house to death. I'll save a more in depth explanation for another day. It was the most terrified I've ever been of a 5 year old, while at the same time laughing so hard I couldn't breathe.
I know God lives, and I know the Atonement changes us. I know we can overcome anything, truly, anything, if we have Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It's through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that miracles are wrought, that people are changed and that hearts are sanctified. (Take a look at Helaman 3:35 and Hebrews 13 this week). I know this because I've seen it, I've felt it, and because the Holy Ghost has borne witness.
I love you more than a rich man loves a peso.
Get work done.
Sister Luke
1. Happy 10 months to me!
2. I am Katniss Everdeen.
3. The farthest left is L. The guy on the right is our ward missionary J.R.
4. This is me and Sister being Charlie's Angels
5. And this is how long my hair is. Just thought you'd like to marvel. :)
6. This is one of the streets in my area
7. This is my everyday headdress.
8. Our cute little bird friend.
9. All the single ladies!
10. This is last night's sunset. SO GORG.
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