Cheesy, Cliche, & Converted‏

Written 9/14/14

Darling ones-

The destroying angel of transfers can only pass by for so long.

Sunday after church we got a call from the AP's that the long and wonderful 5 months of mine and Sister Oquias' companionship are up. SO devastated to be parted. I won't lie. But my new companion is Sister Reid, she is from Montana (Missoula) and goes home in December. We've seen each other from around the mission and I'm excited to be with her :) And thus ended the days of "Loquias".

I feel like everything I was going to write has flown from my mind because we haven't had time to do anything today except wait on the road for 2 hours for a bus and come to Bacolod. So. This email will be lame.

As for my subject line, this is a description of a missionary. We laugh at dumb things, probably sound cliche sometimes, and experience a mighty change of heart. I've really seen on my mission that even though our job is to help others experience conversion, we are the ones that experience it just as or more deeply. (How many times have you heard missionaries say that? I told you.. Cliche. But it's true.) Its a wonderful day when you realize the gospel isn't just something to be taught and repeated- it's different when it is actually applied. You find out all the stuff they told us in primary was true, and you begin to feel the converting power of the Holy Ghost.

This week was great. V. and F. L. stopped smoking completely. Its inspiring to see how much a person can change if they work with the Lord and really have a desire. Our recent convert young men have set goals to be worthy to pass and bless the sacrament again, and it's so great to see them doing better. Our Recent Converts bawled with Sister Oquias last night, and we ate dinner with the Romero's and they cried too. It's always so hard to say goodbye.

I literally can't remember anything from this week. Not even the funny stuff. Ahaha. Sorry :) I'm trying a new tactic of developing Christlike attributes. Especially the attribute of Charity. In Moroni it lists all that charity is;

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatestof all, for all things must fail—
 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

There are 13 total. I decided to take the next 13 weeks and develop that kind of charity. Last week I focused on being long suffering and patient. I prayed for opportunities and boy, there were many given. But I indeed learned some good lessons on patience. This week is kindness. I'll keep y'all updated. Charity is definitely the natural by-product of Faith and Hope.

I know this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know we have the priesthood restored here on the earth and we have living prophets. I know that through that power we are able to be sealed as eternal families to become eternal beings, and stay with each other to never be parted again. We will be resurrected and never feel pain or sickness again because the Savior was resurrected. He lives. He is real. He invites us to have hope and repent and become better. I know these things to be true.

Love you all. Stay tuned after these messages.

Sister Luke

 Happy 1 Year!