Hi family.
Isn't it funny that the things we always really, really, really, don't want to happen at the exact wrong time always seem to happen at those exact moments?
My email is late today because we got a call from President on Sunday that Sister Santos and I are getting pulled out from Inayauan, and I will be called as a Sister Traning Leader in Sagay. All this after a really amazing week of miracles and seeing the area progress so much. But that's how it goes right?
The mission has a LOT of missionaries going home this transfer and only a small number arriving... Meaning we have to adjust the number of missionaries in the branches and wards. Sister Santos and I were SO sad to be spending Christmas not with each other in Inayauan like we thought. But I feel like we accomplished our purpose in Inayauan, and even though we won't see the people we love so much, I know the Elders will take good care of the area.
Sunday was the most insane day of my mission. We were trying to get Elder Pack (the new elder who's been in Inayauan for 5 days and has a companion going home this week) familiar with our area, visit our recent converts and investigators, clean out our whole apartment and pack all our things, and leave by 3 am Monday morning. Then the 6 hour bus ride and yada yada... The point is, now I'm here in Sagay 2nd ward. I left from the most southern zone in the mission to the most northern. I saw the whole island in one day. But hey, how many missionaries get to say that?
I can't even think of everything that's happened this week. My brain is a little mushy feeling. I do remember in my studies this week that I have felt prompted that I need to be a lily of the field. Accept the Lord's will for me, whatever it may be. I've pondered on Jared's faith shown in Ether 1:38:
"And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance."
I love his words. I'm looking forward to the challenges and experiences ahead here in Sagay, with my new companion Sister Turtal. We both go home in March, and she is the cutest little Filipina you ever did see. The area is in great shape, and I can't wait to dig into the work.
I saw Sister Fitzgerald, Sister Foote, Sister Reid, Sister Char and Sister Oquias today as we said goodbye to the first three who are going home THIS WEEK. Where has the time gone? It was the best to be able to see these faithful and amazing sisters I love so much, whom I've grown so close to, and with whom I've had the opportunity to work so closely with.
This week Sister Santos and I talked with SO many people about "The Gift" and I have never felt so... Christmas-y. It's a wonderful feeling to know you are giving people a priceless gift, even if they don't recognize it at the time. Sister Santos put it well when she said it's like the members of the church are holding candles in a dark world... And each time we share our testimonies or "The Gift", we are lighting other's candles and giving them the light to see the pathway back to our Heavenly Father.
I would appreciate your prayers this week, and know that you are always in mine. Only 10 more days till I get to see your beautiful faces. Merry Christmas :)
Love,
Sister Luke
*A note from the editor: Amy's companion forwarded an email that had EIGHTY ONE pictures of them together, so I just picked a few that showed the area. She took pictures of their house, which I thought was fun to see.
