Then Sings My Soul: "Jesus is Real to Me"

Written 7/20/14

Hi guys.

I just got done watching that video of Charlotte singing at Hunter's baptism and bawling my eyes out, so forgive me if I'm a little sentimental. I've been thinking all week about the baptism and I kept telling Sister Oquias, "Only _ more hours till my nephew gets baptized!"

I had a really sacred experience this week. I was thinking about Hunter and his baptism a lot, and I remembered Hunter's favorite primary song he always sings for Mom. Which is the song you just sent me in the video of Charlotte, "I Know that my Savior loves me". Sister and I had a really really hard night on Friday, sort of the straw that broke the camel's back with our young men recent converts. Sister and I both left that area with tears, feeling super discouraged. We reminded each other that discouragement weakens our faith and that we can't give up, but I felt like Nephi when he said, "For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry."

That night as I was going to bed, Hunter's primary song filled my head and I echo the lyrics of the song; "...The love that he felt for His little ones, I know He feels for me. I did not touch him or sit on His knee, yet Jesus is real to me.....Wrapped in the arms of my Savior's love, I feel His gentle touch..... I know He lives! I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him.I know that my Savior loves me."

I testify that Jesus is real to me.

This week didn't bring too many crazy experiences, but sister and I did have a really faith building experience on prayer. We were the MOST punted I've ever been in my life, we had NO one to teach and we couldn't even find a person outside to talk to. It was raining and we were exhausted and it was only like 2 pm. Sister and I sat down, weary, and the thought came to me to pray. I suggested it to sister and she gave a nice prayer, asking for guidance on where we should go. At the same time, sister and I both suggested that we should go to Sister G., an older Pioneer of the church here in Manapla who's been sick the past few weeks. Well folks, here we have a classic Ensign story as we visited her and found out she'd been waiting for "her missionaries". She cried as we sang with her, and was so grateful for our visit. I'm so grateful for the Spirit that guides this work. Tender mercies are everywhere.

I've had to learn to say "But if not" here on the mission. I don't know if you remember that talk from conference a few years ago, but it's so good. Look it up. Anyway, with this whole recent convert issue we've been dealing with, and wanting to see people progress but having to wait... I've really had to put my trust and Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is an excerpt from that talk that explains how I feel and what I've learned about Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:

"Centuries ago, Daniel and his young associates were suddenly thrust from security into the world—a world foreign and intimidating. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to bow down and worship a golden image set up by the king, a furious Nebuchadnezzar told them that if they would not worship as commanded, they would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. “And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
The three young men quickly and confidently responded, “If it be so [if you cast us into the furnace], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand.” That sounds like my eighth-grade kind of faith. But then they demonstrated that they fully understood what faith is. They continued, “But if not, … we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” That is a statement of true faith.
They knew that they could trust God—even if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped. They knew that faith is more than mental assent, more than an acknowledgment that God lives. Faith is total trust in Him.
Faith is believing that although we do not understand all things, He does. Faith is knowing that although our power is limited, His is not."

I testify that even when things don't happen the way we want them to, even when we don't understand, it's enough that the Savior does. My God is certainly able to deliver us from our trials, but if not, I will not turn from him. I will not give into the temptations of the devil and become discouraged or slow down. Faith truly is total trust in Him.

It's been a good week of learning. I love you and miss you all, but I'm so happy here. Jesus is real. I know that my Savior loves me, and you.

Go find some missionaries and give them food, they love it.

All my love,
Sister Luke

1. I had a fiasco with my memory card and nearly lost all my pictures from my mission. But thanks to the heroics of Sister Oquias' brother, here they are again. Belated 9 months photo. :) That is ice cream. Mango, ube (the purple) and chocolate ice cream.

2. The cutest. They dye the baby chicks here. Don't ask me how. I just care that they are so cute.

3. I ate this. And 2 two more. Also I tried Octopus this week. The head. It looked like a baby alien and was not my favorite.

4. I shaved my legs with this. [She didn't actually. I had to ask her cause I was certain she'd die of Tetanus] [Whatever that is] [I just know you get it from old rusty things]