My dear ones,
They tell me that the last transfer sees the most miracles. True. It also sees the most temptations and a lot of disappointment. But the good always overcomes the evil, as I've seen again this week.
I lived the "itsy bitsy spider" song this week. I was in the shower and opened my eyes to the wall- that minutes before was completely blank- and saw a huge, very NOT itsy bitsy spider staring back at me. To my credit, I didn't scream because I was pretty much in silent terror, (I don't think that will ever change) but luckily someone came to my rescue and drowned him.... never to "climb up the water spout" again.
MLC was just one of the many revelatory experiences I had this week. I came with a list of questions and left with plenty of material to study about the answers. I love that the gospel is so personal like that. And planning our training for the Zone afterwards was a huge, wonderful learning experience. I testify that the teacher really does learn more than the learner. This whole week I've been humbled to learn so much from Sister Generalo. She amazes me... Skills that I took forever to learn and apply are the skills she arrived here with. The Lord is hastening his work, meaning all the missionaries that arrive are just getting better and better. Sometimes I feel like I'm the one being trained. We went on member splits yesterday evening and I love that she is so fearless.
Our sad news this week: our really golden investigator, G., the seventh day adventist, dropped us last Wednesday. Her family found out she was investigating the Church and the had a big argument. G.'s family are the ones supporting her schooling here while they live in Cebu, and so she felt that she couldn't continue. It was a really disappointing night, but I know that the time will come for her.
The expression, "When one door closes, another door opens" came to my mind this week, because despite investigators dropping us and monster spiders terrorizing the apartment, we saw so many miracles. Lets take a quick inventory:
1. W. and R. decided to get married. These have been investigators for over a year. W. is the daughter of our recent convert, and we've been doing everything we can think of to help them make this decision. After a lot of temptations, problems, and prayers, they finally decided to be married and baptized.
2. J. N. Imagine a 16 year old T. (T. from my first area.) He is a referral of a recent convert, and we met him 2 weeks ago when he came to church. We met with him, gave him a book of Mormon, and in our follow up visit he had already read the all the way from the beginning to chapter 5 in 1 Nephi, in just one day. (Sort of unheard of in the Pines with new investigators.) Then, when we taught word of wisdom, he told us that he'd given up coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes 3 weeks ago when his recent convert friend had taught him about the word of wisdom. He is the most humble and pure hearted kid I've ever met... I could go on and on about him.
3. E. is preparing for her baptism this week!
4. I get to go to the temple this Friday. I have to go to Manila to get some requirements for my visa, and we all get to visit the temple while we're there. The only analogy that comes to mind is a dehydrated man in the desert finding a drinking fountain. SO EXCITED.
I've learned a lot this week about Charity. When I got to talk with Sister Char this week the night before MLC, we got talking about my subject line today: "Eat the Rice". If you'll let me explain a bit...
This sentence probably speaks volumes to every sister missionary who has ever served in the Philippines. As American sister missionaries, we are (overly) conscious of the fact that we get fat when we eat rice. A lot of the sisters go to extreme lengths to avoid eating rice at all costs. Sometimes these costs are offended members, offended companions, lack of unity, lack of understanding or appreciation... All stemming from not eating a little rice. It seems silly, right? Big concerns arising from such a small issue. It's due to mismatched cultures and different habits. But as Sister Char and I talked, we realized so many of the problems these missionaries face in their areas and companionships could be solved if they laid down their pride and their vanity to just "Eat the rice".
But the principle isn't just applied to Sister missionaries in the Philippines eating rice. It applies to all of us... It relates back to charity, as explained in Moroni: "Charity seeketh not her own." We change habits, shift paradigms, and sometimes something as simple as what we eat to fit greater purposes. We humble ourselves and sacrifice our vain desires (not wanting to get fat) and we "eat the rice" for a greater purpose (achieving unity, showing love or appreciation). Because there, in the small things, people feel our love. We see that our sacrifice is small, in the scheme of things. We seek no longer just for our own good, but for the betterment of others. I've found out that this work truly must be about others.
I hope we all look for opportunities in our lives and relationships to just "eat the rice". To stop thinking about ourselves and be willing to change and give up our pride for others.. So they feel and see our love.
This work is the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm the happiest I've ever been. :) Our new mission President, President Ferrin, is called by the Lord. And the work goes on!
Loves,
Sister Luke
