Hi Fam-
Sorry, it might be a long email this week.
Remember that time I really wanted to be called to France on my mission? I take it all back. All of it. If there was any doubt in my mind about where I'm supposed to be it has been burned and destroyed. I never want to try and teach the gospel in any other language except Ilonggo. I will tell you why.
My life here somtimes seems to be one big facepalm. Ahaha. Filled with embarrassing and awkward (and wonderful) experiences. On Tuesday I had to teach 5 French speaking (sort of English speaking) investigators. They are students from Paris working on building a bakery in one of our areas to help the Filipinos here, and their cook is our Primary President. One of them asked Sister A. (the president) where she goes Sunday mornings, and then they had a brief discussion on how our church differs from the catholic. She invited them to listen to the missionaries, which we were excited about, but I didn't know till I got there how little english they spoke. Oops. Turns out I'm really not talented at teaching the gospel in english. I felt like I had a size 28 men's foot stuck in my mouth. Also, they returned to Paris last saturday, meaning we only got to teach them twice. What do you teach to French people who understand only a tiny bit of english, who have never had contact with Mormons before and who can only listen to you twice?
I'll spare you all the painfully awkward details, but needless to say Sister Oquias and I got our fair dose of awkward. Also a good dose of those small miracles that the Lord gives us every day. There were 3 boys and 2 girls, all around my age. One of the girls was pentecostal and one.. Atheist. So. That was another layer of difficult. But we cobbled together a little bit of lesson one and letting them know our purpose as missionaries and we were cut short because they needed to get back to work, but we set a return appointment with them that following Thursday.
As sister and I thought and thought about what we would teach and how we would teach it of course only one thing kept running through our minds: The Book of Mormon! Our unique message to the world that can answer all your questions. We felt prompted to write a short message in the books and give them the church websites. As we arrived, all nerves, on Thursday, we were at first disappointed- they had just fallen asleep because they'd been working all through the night and into the morning. Shoot. While we were there though, we ran into their Filipino partner working on the bakery with them, and as we got talking with him found out that he is a former investigator and was nearly baptized years ago. A tender mercy, because as it became clear we weren't going to be able to teach as we'd planned, Heavenly Father placed someone in our path to whom we could give the Book of Mormons and trust to give them to our French friends.
I'm so glad we felt prompted to write in the books, and I really know that no effort is ever wasted. Even if they meet the missionaries in the years to come or don't, no effort is wasted in missionary work.
The other miracle we experienced this week: L.. She's 13 and is so excited to be baptized. The only thing we were worried about was speaking to her mother. We wanted to go talk to her on Tuesday, but as we approached, we saw her right in the middle of a lot of people gambling, barbecuing and taking their orders. Awesome. As I saw her I said a silent prayer that Heavenly Father would bless us with an opportunity to approach her. A minute later it started pouring, so we found refuge at a less active's house, right outside her tiangge. The Spirit definitely led us there, because less than 2 minutes later, L.'s mother walked in. She immediately struck up a conversation with us before we could even greet her, and was so friendly. It was a perfect opportunity and a few minutes later when she left, she'd gladly signed L.'s consent form, and hopefully we'll be visiting the whole family tomorrow.
The disappointment this week came from C.... We followed up about her cenomar and wedding preparation and she told us her "husband" wants them to wait until December to get married. We were really sad... But we felt like we had to respect the husband's wishes and their decision as a couple. But she still came to church on Sunday and is reading the Book of Mormon.
It's the best feeling to hear RC's bear their testimony to us. F. told us this week as we were reviewing the restoration with him that he used to feel like Joseph Smith, and then he found the truth in this church. He always, always reads, and brings his Book of Mormon everywhere he goes so he can read in his spare time. I love this awesome Lolo.
The Elders have been rocking it in Central Manapla, the super super far away area. The've been holding special sacrament meetings on Sundays, and attending on Sunday was such an uplifting and encouraging experience. 76 in attendance! 24 nonmembers! Now that's hastening.
Sister and I made a goal to invite every single person we talked to this week to come to church, and we saw another miracle from it! A couple weeks ago we met a less active YM who'd been baptized in Sagay and then moved here and was lost. We taught him and a group of all his friends and invited them to church. Finding through members is SO much more effective than anything else. On Sunday, guess who showed up? All 7 of them, with the Less Active young man leading the way. I love the influence of the Spirit.
The purpose of missionary work is, of course, to invite others to come unto Christ, but it is also the mantle of a missionary to eat whatever is placed in front of them. A mantle which I definitely do not resent. :) See the pictures for a look at my "mantle" this week....
I love you all. The work is real. The Atonement is real. Change is exciting.
Love,
Sister Luke
PS Please excuse the subject line, I can't help myself.
1. My favorite of all- Uga. Dried fish, then fried. (I'm totally serious, this stuff is addicting and delicious.)
2. I love living next door to neighbors. Excuse my nightgown.
3. My other favorite... Lugaw. Its a sweet soup that I can't get enough of
4. At mission presidents training.
5. Read em and weep.
6. This is how they dry their fish. I like the bigger fish though. And sometimes they cut them upon down the middle and then dry them. There are countless ways ;)
7. The special sacrament group.
8. The kids. Dont you just want to eat them up?
9. The MOST food everyone gives us. More lugaw, snickers, santol, sack lunches sister Lopez gave, and the cake later that night.
10. I can't help myself.
