Mom is always right.‏

Written 5/4/14

Maayong aga family!

Let's just say that Mom was always right about everything and anything. I can fully admit that now. Allow me to explain:

When I was in high school and was having a stressful night, Mom would always say, "It always looks better in the morning. Go to bed, and things will work out tomorrow." I would refuse to believe her and I would spend more time than necessary worrying about the next day, sometimes wasting tears or exerting excess amounts of stress.

 Then I would go to school the next day. And whatever the problem was... Well, it would just work out. Just like mom said. Plus our teacher would bring us donuts or something lucky like that. 

I've come to see that transfers here are the same way. I worry and wail and don't want to leave my old area, lacking the faith that any other area could possibly be as good as the one I was leaving. Then I grudgingly give in, we transfer, and things just... well... Work out. And I discover that the new area is better than I thought it would be. (That's the "teacher bringing donuts" part of the analogy.)

Moral of the story: Always listen to Mom. 

2nd point of the story: I LOVE my new area. It's almost as north as you can go on the Island of Negros, in the Cadiz zone. My area is called Manapla, and if I thought Silay was a small town... Well... Silay has got nothin' on Manapla :) We're right by the sea, (you're allowed to be jealous) and I get to walk by the ocean every day. Yes.. It's completely gorgeous.

My new companion is my "Batch mate" meaning we arrived in the Philippines on the same day. LOVE her. Her name is Sister Oquias and she's my favorite little Filipina. She's super good at teaching and I love learning from her every day. Last monday we went to transfers at the Mission office, and then got lunch and went straight to the mission home for Mission president's training that night. (I was nearing the end of my selection of clothes because i had so much laundry to do and didn't do it on Monday because of transfers... So that was fun, getting to go to the mission home looking like a little ragamuffin. Hi, President!) That night was SO good with the training, and then I actually stayed at my first apartment in Bacolod that night. That was so weird to be back in my first area.Man, there's just so much that has happened the last week! Bear with me here. (That's such a Mormon expression.)

A little more about my new area. Sister and I go jogging every morning together, and I've never been so hot in my whole life. But it's okay. All the roads here slant UP, and so we're walking uphill a lot of the day. We used to ride tricycles a ton in Silay, but here we do a lot more walking, which I like a lot more. It's a good thing, too, because we have 5 dinner appointments a week. 5! We always eat with Bishop on Fridays, and then Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday we're at the R.'s house. They feed us a ton of dried fish here, which believe it or not, is delicious. Yes, Sister Luke has learned to like fish. Dried fish. You just have to not look at it too closely when you eat it or you'll get grossed out.

I've already fallen in love with the R. family... The mom is LDS and the dad is (currently) not, (but we're hoping to sneak in there and baptize him. Bam.) and they have a daughter serving in the mission right now. Which explains why they always feed us. :) Then they also have their son and his wife, Ro., who is the one we interact with the most. Ro.'s baby sister, A.M. is our baptism this Saturday :) She's 13 and the cutest thing you ever did see. Ro. and her husband were just sealed recently in the temple, and they have the CUTEST little boy in the whole wide world. I've never see the show Frozen, but I know the song "Let it Go" probably better than all of you back home because it's like the ONLY song people listen to here. Anyhow, this little boy is 4 and can sing the whole thing complete with actions and facial expressions and costume changes. (Mostly meaning he wears layers of blankets and casts them off one at a time. The most entertaining thing ever.) Anyway, they are already like our 2nd family.

The youth here in Manapla are super strong, and we have a lot of recent convert Young Men who are like mini T.s. They are the coolest, and it's so fun to help them get excited about serving missions. 

The area rocks, and Sister and I had such a good week. We're really going to fulfill The Vision of weekly baptisms here in Manapla, starting this Saturday with A.M. 

The funny experience of the week: The R. family just got a new tricycle this past week and wanted the missionaries to come... I don't know what you call it... Dedicate it? That sounds so sacrilegious. Just like, say a special family prayer that it will be safe etc. Of course they ask the blonde white American girl to say the prayer. No pressure. So last night I prayed over a tricycle. That's probably the most filipino/Mormon thing I can think of :) Ahaha.

Just lovin' it here in Manapla. I want to close with my testimony: In 2 Nephi 9 (one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon) verse 41 we learn that "the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel, and he employeth no servant there". I just want to add my witness that Christ is indeed the keeper of the gate. He knows us perfectly and He is always, always there. He is pleading with us to repent, and to stand worthy at the gate so that He may grant us His grace. We must answer to no one but Christ, He is our light, our joy and our strength. This is His work, and I have come to know Him so much more because I am doing His work, and striving to walk in His footsteps. I testify that when we are pure before Him, it is the that our confidence will wax strong. 

The most filipino love coming to all of you-
Sister Luke

1. I ate this crab. It was the most delicious thing ever.

2. My new paradise. Gorgeous right? Bekah- imagine the sunset. (I bet you don't have to dig too deep for that. Lucky duck.)

3. My cutie Sister Oquias. (oh-key-us) She rocks.

4. A.M. (who will be baptized on Saturday) and the YW president here. Isn't she the CUTEST??

 

5. Buko! (Coconut.) I've been wrong my whole life. Coconuts are GREEN when they are on the tree. The brown ones are just really old coconuts. Children are mislead in Utah about the true nature of coconuts.

 

6. The R.'s little singing boy. Funniest little guy ever.

I'm sensing a pattern here...‏

Written 4/27/14

 

Hi Family-

This has been the BEST week ever. So awesome and wonderful.......and then I got a call at 6:35am this morning. This was my conversation with President:

"Good morning, Sister! Is this Sister Foote?"

"No, President, this is actually Sister Luke." (trying to put on my "I didn't just wake up 5 minutes ago voice".)

"Oh, Sister Luke! How are you?"

"Great, President, how are you?"

"I'm wonderful. I'm sorry it's such short notice and I couldn't delegate this to the assistants, but you're going to be transferred. Today. So meet at the mission office at 1pm. Thank you sister!"

........ So there we are. I'm transferring later today. I wish I could be super upbeat and happy about it, but to be honest I'm devastated. Sister Foote and I saw SO many miracles this week, and yesterday was the best Sunday I've ever had here in Silay... and now I'm transferring. But I dont want to go on and on about it, so lets talk about the miracles this week.

Miracle #1: Sister Foote broke her toe on Wednesday. Ahaha, that's not the miracle part, by the way. The miracle is that we got to organize member exchanges, and by Saturday she was as good as new. So we didn't miss out on the work.

Miracle #2: The C. family. I want you to all imagine 8 T.-like investigators. Yes. They are the most amazing family I have ever met, and I love them SO much. L.T. (Grandma) is one of them, and she's the coolest 80-year old I've ever met. She showed up at church yesterday before anyone else... Before the gate at the church was even unlocked, and she was wearing this fantastic brown flowered suit thing that i just love. I just wish you could understand how amazing and cool this family is. We introduced the Book of Mormon last night and reviewed Joseph Smith with them, and it was one of the most memorable lessons I've ever had on my mission. Literally, all 8 of them (parents, and one of the mom's brothers, 2 couples, and grandma) were involved in the lesson, asking good questions and then explaining and answering their own questions to each other. They all looked at their Book of Mormons with such interest and excitement, and wouldn't let us move on in the lesson till they ALL understood what we were teaching. It was so, so, SO COOL. Missionary work is indescribable. 

Miracle #3: 7 investigators showed up to church. And we only picked up 1 of them! 

Miracle #4: The investigator we DID pick up for church is named R., and is the sweetest 17 year old I've ever met. She's also deaf. Sister Foote knows sign language a bit from College, but this is one of those times I wish I had my trusty cousin Janine with me to help us teach and translate. But the people at church were amazing. We have a boy at church who signs, and even the youth who don't sign, but typed out messages on their phones for her to read and respond to. The youth in this ward were amazing. 

Miracle #5: The M. family showed up to church. They are our recent convert family (my recent convert R. is their son?) that has been sort of less active for a month and a half... and we've been working a ton with them these past few weeks. We've missed them at church for a long time now, but we had a really good lesson with them on Tuesday, and Sister M. told me, "Sister, I don't know if R.S. [her neighbor she normally goes to church with] is going to church, but I'M going to church this week no matter what."

The sweetest words I ever did hear. 

And then she actually DID! And she brought her kids! Sister Foote and I were walking on the sidewalk just a ways from the church and heard someone from a bus calling our names. I looked and waved, and then realized that it was the whole M. family, sticking their heads and hands out the window and waving at me. I've never seen a more beautiful sight. I started jumping up and down and waving at them... I couldn't help myself!! I've never been so happy. Sunday was so, so lovely.

Our week was just too filled with awesomeness. Hilarious experiences- I hardly ever stop laughing with Sister Foote, and such miracles. I've LOVED this area, and I'm so sad to be leaving. I'll definitely be leaving my heart here. But I'll go where He wants me to go.

I'm feeling a little flat today, and our time is really short to email, so sorry for this cobbled mess of an email, but what can you do. This first picture is me and Sister Foote at the Ruins in Talisay last monday. The second is the C. family- Grandma is on the right. (I think you could fit a whole cup of water in that collar bone chasm of hers.) The one closest to the front is the Mom- J. LOVE this woman. The third picture is mine and Sister Davis' feelings this morning on the transfer. 

Love you all! Can't wait to write to you next week about my new adventures. Pray for Sister Foote- this will be her 14th companion, and she's only been out just over 10 months. 

The most love coming your way!
Sister Luke

P.S. Mom, I got your package. You are the best!! Happiest birthday to me. And Becky Vogler's package came! She's the best ever. Me and my companion are addicted to that Crystal Light :)

PPS I just got a call from the AP's and the transfer might actually be tomorrow. Okay, not that that actually applies or matters to any of you, but I thought I'd at least share the news :)

Happy Easter!

Written 4/20/14

Maayong Aga, ang mga langga ko!

Hello! What a week. Ahaha I think I say that every time. My birthday was the BEST ever. Because of my awesome companion. She just rocks. We found a restaurant with a BURRITO. In the Philippines. I can't even find flour tortillas here... But somehow there is a restaurant that has a burrito. So I ate the most awesome food on my birthday. Also, because the awesomeness of Sister Davis is unending.... Her and Sister Javier, our other STL, snuck into our house while we were gone and bombarded my bedroom with decorations and balloons. Who is the best? They are. I don't know why I got so lucky to have such awesome people surrounding here, but I am a very "yucky girl." :) 

Other funny happenings this week: The craziest rainstorm ever on Tuesday when I was on exchanges with Sister Javier. We got absolutely soaked to the skin. Can't wait for rainy season :)

Last night as Sister Foote and I crossed the river on the balsa (raft thingy), we got into quite a predicament. Long story short, I got sunk in the mud up to my knees in (what sister foote claims to be quicksand) and nearly lost my crocs in the sludge. (That is a sentence I never dreamed I would have reason to type...). I had to cross this muddy, quicksandy place to tie the raft to a stick so it wouldn't float away... But just as I got back through the muddy place, someone arrived on the other side of the river, so I had to cross back through the quicksand and untie the raft to send off to the other side... Needless to say, Sister Foote and I had the worst case of the giggles I've probably ever got, and I nearly wet my skirt. (TMI?) I'll attach some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Sister and I have been frustrated with our lack of progressing investigators recently, so we set some goals and got to work. This week we found 44 new investigators. I have never been so exhausted, but it was the best. I love missionary work. The Lord is right there with us in all things.

The lesson I learned this week was about obedience. I may have mentioned this before.. I probably just repeat myself in emails every week, but oh well :) I've been reading in 1 Nephi again which is so much about obedience. I've been the MOST frustrated with our peeps here lately that have been participating in what Sister Foote and I have dubbed, "Convenient obedience". And I'm so tired of it. Which makes me realize how patient Heavenly Father is. 

We hear so much here, "Sister, it's okay that I didn't go to church. As long as I don't lose prayer in my life. I always pray." 

We do not get to set the terms of our obedience and blessings with God. It reminded me of Elder Hollands talk from last conference, "Talk about making God in man's own image." A God that doesn't demand much. But that is just not the case! This quote (again, from Elder Holland) explains perfectly the concept that I feel was cemented in my head this week: 

"We must live the gospel at all times, not just when it is convenient, and not just when things are going well. Indeed, the real test of our faith and our Christian discipleship is when things are NOT going smoothly. That is when we get to see what we're made of and how strong our commitment to the gospel really is. ...That is a hard thing to ask, when we're hurting or have been offended, are tired or stressed out or are suffering innocently. But that is when Christian behavior [and might I add, obedience] may matter the most."

So true. I simply testify that sometimes the Lord just asks us to square our shoulders and do it. Salvation is not a cheap experience. We cannot expect to pick and choose at the spread of commandments and then have God on our side when we need him. Daily commandment living and covenant keeping are what give us the spiritual stamina needed in our times of desperation. We build up, bit by bit, week by week, our armor of righteousness so that when temptation and hard times come, we don't have to go running back to our Father in Heaven, because we never left His side.

I love you all so much. I love this work. It's hard and it's hot and it's a heavy load, but we don't carry it alone! Man, this gospel is true. I love you with all my heart! Keep being obedient. The blessings are coming!

Love Always,
Sister Luke

 

1. The lovely muddy quicksand sludge...

 

2. A close up

 

3. I love everything about this picture. The children.....

This is L., a Recent Convert in the ward. Love her.

 

4. You can all feel free to be jealous. I love this little thing.

 

 

5. My amazingly photogenic companion :) Love this girl.

6. Birthday balloons! 

"It's my birthday gift to me!"‏

Written 4/13/14

Dear Loved ones-

The subject line? Movie movie. 

So, that's it kids! I'm out of the teenage years for good. Can't say I'm devastated but I also can't promise I'll ever really stop being a 12 year old. 

Transfer time! Sister De Castro moved on to become an STL (and her new companion is Sister Nielsen, my last companion! Small world.) and Sister Foote is here with me in Silay! We were both in my very first district together in Bacolod, and needless to say I am STOKED for this transfer. I was sad to see Sister De Castro go, but I love Sister Foote already. We've already had some ridiculously fun times together. Wanna hear?

1. We were sung to- a COMPLETE song about Jesus and the resurrection- by a new 60+ baptist investigator, who burst into song for a full 2 minutes and then afterwards straightfaced asked us, "Do you know that song?" as casually as if he had just mentioned the song title, and not sung the WHOLE song to us. I now know what it truly means to hold back the giggles.

2. A miracle: We were walking along a dirt road when a pickup truck ( A real pickup truck!) pulled up next to us and the guy asks, "Are you Mormons?" and then the sweetest sentence I've ever heard, "How do you become a Mormon? I wanna know." We gave his number and address to Sister Davis and Sister Javier and I can't wait to hear how that one turns out.

3. I cannot physically teach the gospel in English right now. I tried. I found an American from West Virgina (thanks Adam, for living in Virginia and giving me a talking point) and gave him a pamphlet... In the most awkward english ever. Something like "Here in this pamphlet you'll learn.. like... You know, there's a lot of simba.. I mean, Churches here in... the whole world right now, right? And when Jesus Christ was here still on earth he...." 

Yeah, I'll spare you the rest of the painfully awkward details. It was a source of even more giggles for the rest of the day. But he was really nice, and come to find out, the missionaries had visited their home in West Virginia twice already before they had left for the Pines! The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Okay. General Conference. Can we just talk about that for a sec? Man, it was so, so, SO good. So much good.I felt like the talks all tied back to obedience, pressing forward, and keeping covenants. Some favorites were from Elder Zwick, Elder Christofferson, and of course, Elder Bednar. Also from Elder Holland, that the path doesn't have a lot of latitude, but it can be thrillingly enjoyed. God is not made in man's own image... He is not man made at all. He sets the terms of our covenants, our blessings, and we either choose to accept them or not. We do not get to pick and choose when it comes to obedience. Pres. Eyring's talk was also fabulous, but I had a special experience while listening to Pres. Uchtdorf. 

We had one of our investigators (one who was almost baptized, then backed out) finally promise that she would be attending General Conference, and we even made sure there would be someone there at her house to watch their tiangge (store). She text us 15 min into the first session and told us she wouldn't be attending, because she was watching her sister's baby. I lost patience then, and in exasperation, chucked the phone into my bag. Just as this happened, I returned my thoughts back to conference only to hear Elder Uchtdorf about having gratitude, "Even when we think, 'What in the world do I have to be grateful for?' ". Well, that was certainly what I was thinking. But that was a good and immediate (and needed) chastisement from the Spirit. His talk was life changing, and I feel like it was directly to me. Lately I've been feeling like I've been failing in this area- our RC's are going less active, our investigators aren't progressing... But I've realized now what I need. I need gratitude, and i need obedience. My resolve and faith was strengthened immensely this conference. Today I'm turning 20. What better time to set goals such as these? 

I've learned here on the mission that our testimonies aren't to be changed according to the weather or conditions in our lives; it is in fact our testimonies that change us instead, no matter what the weather or conditions. Let us not fall into the trap of "convenient obedience". Let us not be "fair weather" saints. Let us be grateful, and let us be obedient.

He also had a couple other thoughts I fell in love with: 

"Let us put down the bottle of bitterness and take up the goblet of gratitude." 

"Why is there something in all of us that hates endings? Because we are made of the stuff of eternities. Endings are not our destiny; there are no endings in this plan, only everlasting beginnings. Have we not reason to rejoice?" 

I can't say it any better than that. Thank you all for the birthday wishes, today has already been a fun day :) It's my favorite weather right now- cloudy and simply pouring, and not too hot. It's the little things. 

Love you all so much. I have the best family in the world- I am more and more convinced of that every week!

XoxO

Sister Luke
Captions for the photos by Megan:

 

Birthday Princess!

 

New Companion! Sister Foote

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Written 4/6/14

Hi family.

Where to start?

First of all, I'm STOKED for Conference. From all your comments and everything it sounded as good as I dreamed it would be. Literally, I dreamed about General Conference in case you wonder what the dreams of missionaries are. (They're pretty much exactly what you'd think.)

In funny news this week, I got pick pocketed! Yep! As we were getting on a bus my plete (traveling money) pouch got stolen. They probably thought I was a rich american with a lot of moneys, but jokes on them! I had like, maybe 50 pesos in there. That's about a dollar in American money. So there's that. I'm grateful for the Spirit directing us... Normally I carry around my camera with me, but that day for some reason I took it out of my bag. I was also going to grab some more cash from my wallet for plete, but decided against it as well. The Lord watches over us!

Also, I love the language barrier. Its so funny. Earlier this week Sister was trying to explain to me some ingredients in a Filipino dessert. She kept saying "gray ham bread" and I kept asking her what that was. After about 5 minutes I realized.. "graham". Graham crackers. Ahahaha. I cracked up.

This week has been the MOST HOT. Summer is here in the Pines, folks. My tan lines are getting pretty rad. It makes the work a little harder, but I also morbidly love it. I'm just walking down a dirt road in the ridiculous heat and thinking, "Yes. This is legit missionary work." As my dear sister Megan said, "There is just so much more happiness in life when the gospel is what you do." Isn't she wise? And so right.

My friends, agency is a frustrating principle. We had so, so many awesome, spiritually filling lessons this week with C., Sister F., and many others. They really committed to come to church.... But Sunday came, and they didn't. I spent a lot of church yesterday feeling devastated, inadequate, and wondering what in the world I was missing, and what I could have done better. I felt so empty, after a week of putting my heart into the work only to find that they didn't come to church. 

As I studied today in Moroni, I read Mormon's words to his son, about the Nephites and Lamanites he was teaching. He spoke of their wickedness and hardheartedness and that they were not accepting his message. The thought came to my mind that it wasn't Mormon that was lacking in the Spirit... It was those he was teaching. I'm sure Mormon was a powerful missionary, and dedicated and taught with the Spirit. But those Nephites and Lamanites still had their agency- and despite his best efforts, they still chose to reject his words. As I read this, feeling still rather downcast, I continued on in the chapter to verse 6, where there I found the "moral of the story" (for lack of a better term). Mormon says that despite these wicked people and their horrible abominations, that we shall not cease to labor, and labor diligently, because otherwise we will be brought under condemnation. The Spirit washed over me as I read those words, and I realized that even though our investigators will not always exercise their agency to choose the right (even though they may  not be as wicked as those Nephites and Lamanites), we do not cease to labor diligently. We continue, we strive, we do the very best and the very most that we can because that's what the Lord asks of us. Sometimes, like my dear friend Aubree said, all the Lord asks is that we push on the stone he puts in front of us with all our strength, even when the stone doesn't move,(even when the stone is not intended to be moved), because that is the way that we develop strength. It's not always about the rock, but it IS always about our effort and what the Lord requires of His servants. 

Agency is indeed frustrating sometimes, but so necessary. For when we do choose the right, it makes it that much sweeter, because we could choose the opposite. There is true sweetness in the phrase, "Opposition in all things". 

It also helps me realize more and more how frustrating I must be to my Father in Heaven sometimes when I don't do the things I know to be right. Just like me: We have these great, spiritually filling lessons with our investigators, they promise to come to church, and then they don't show. I've had these great, spiritually filling experiences with my Father in Heaven, I've made promises and covenants to him, and I still sin and fail. What a marvelous perspective has been brought to my view.

Earlier this morning, I finished reading the Book of Mormon again. I can tell you with full surety and all my heart and soul that through the Book of Mormon we can know that Christ is our Redeemer. I read the last verse in Moroni 10, and as I finished, the first thought in my head was the hymn, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." I have an immovable, solid and  unshaken testimony that the Book of Mormon is the witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is evidence that Joseph Smith was the Lord's consecrated servant in this work, and it is the one and only way for us to gain a knowledge of the truthfulness of this gospel. I just want the whole world to know that I know the book is true. Add my voice to those voices you all heard this past weekend at conference. List my name along theirs as a witness that this church is true. If you don't have a testimony, lean on mine. Because I can say with all my heart that I know. 

I've learned a lot about myself this week, and the flaws and weaknesses I see in myself. But one thing I also know, is that we can always "Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him." We can, through His grace, become perfected, complete, whole, and healed. I know these things to be true. On his mission my good friend Tanner said something that'll always stick with me, and I want to echo now:

 "Christ did die for us, but isn't the greater miracle in the fact that he lives, and lives for us?"

My lovely family, I know that my Redeemer lives.

Love,
Sister Luke

Carry On, Carry On, Carry On!‏

Written 3/30/14

Hey family!

It might be a shorter one today, running behind on time. You all are so awesome and email me so frequently that I always have so much to read! :) You are great.

This week was hard but good. We scheduled a ward missionary to work with us every day this week and were SO excited to finally have a schedule worked out... and 5 out of 7 cancelled on us. So that was disappointing. But we still worked very hard and met some awesome people.

This week has also been a crazy one because of emergency transfers going on. Last week the Cebu mission absorbed two of our areas here in Negros, because they are Cebuano speaking areas... Meaning that 45 of our missionaries (mostly elders) assigned in those Cebuano areas had to be transferred back into other areas! Crazy. The "Silay Sisterhood" no longer exists here :) (before, we had 8 sets of sisters here in Silay.) The good news? We have Elders in our ward again! And Elder Henson is back! He was my Zone leader in Bacolod and he served in Bacolod 2nd ward with me. So fun to have familiar faces.

I also finally got all the letters that the office has been hoarding all month! 2 from mom, one from Megan, and a Dear Elder from Heather (very entertaining reading!) so a big fat thank you to all of you :)

We had some really good experiences this week with some investigators, and some surprises too. Brother E. still texts us, but we haven't been to visit him yet. One of our really awesome investigators, C., we found out is actually a long time less active. She's only 14, but she was baptized a few years ago probably when she was 8 or 9. Haha as we extended the baptismal invitation to her, she said, "How do you guys baptize in your church? I think I'm already a Mormon..." Hahaha and indeed she is. But we're excited to start working with her family and get them active again in the ward.

I just want you all to know that I love this work. The gospel is simple and clear. I am so happy, even though things get tough. As I was studying sacrifice this week, and thinking about the sacrifices we make in our lives, I was reminded of the story of Cain and Abel, and the importance of our attitude in sacrificing. Abel was obedient to the Lord's commandments, and willingly gave of the firstlings of his flocks a pure and unblemished lamb. Cain gave a sacrifice too, but it was the fruits and vegetables of his crops. Both sacrificed, but only Abel's sacrifice was acceptable to the Lord. Why? Because Abel gave exactly what was asked of him, and he did it with a willing heart. Sometimes we try to set the conditions of our sacrifices with the Lord, but we don't get to pick and choose when it comes to obedience. Obedience requires sacrifice, but we must be willing to sacrifice according to the Lord's commandments. Take Tithing, for example. The Lord asks 10 percent. Not 9 percent, and not 12 percent, but 10. We don't get to pay 9 percent, and recieve 90% of the blessings... It just doesn't work like that. We either pay the 10% or we don't get those blessings. Does that makes sense?

 I guess the point is: a lamb cannot be reproduced in fruits and vegetables. No matter how much you try, wish, and pray for those vegetables to be a lamb, or to be acceptable to the Lord, they will never be enough. Moral of this rambling paragraph...always give what is required of us by the Lord, and never substitute. I promise we will receive the blessings upon which that law is predicated.

I love you all, keep goin' strong. Kita aye kita!

Sister Luke

 

1. Carabao! I think in english its a water buffalo? Pretty sweet.

 

2. Our cute things from Sister Davis' mom. :)

3. Sister P.U., my second mother here in Silay! She's a returning Less active who feeds us a bunch, and we went to her house last night to eat and say congrats to their graduate :) LOVE her!

Palangga ko kamo!

Written 3/23/14

Helllooo!

Hi. I don't know what's happening to me, but air conditioning makes me really tired now. Haha and there's air con in this email shop right now, so I'm feeling rather lethargic. The Philippines does weird things to you. Also, excuse any typos... This keyboard is not the finest. (I'm having flashbacks to reading that exact sentence from my brothers as missionaries....)

Well, this week was good. And a little frustrating too. Sister De Castro has been suffering from migraines this week and so we were inside again for 2 days. It was reminded to me again that "an idle mind is Satan's playground". I know how Satan gets at us when we let ourselves get lazy or stagnant, so I made myself clean the house, wash garments, write letters, write in my journal, study and sing hymns. Despite the frustration that we couldn't go out and visit all our peeps, I decided to make the most of it and stay positive. And I didn't go crazy! The Lord blessed me to keep my sanity and my positive attitude. I also decided to make a list in my journal of all the things I have changed about myself in the past year. I've had a hard time lately recognizing growth in myself, so I decided to list it all out (an idea from my dear friend Davis) and take a look at it all. I would encourage you all to do the same! It ended up being a real eye opener to me of the hand of the Lord in my life, and His role in helping me become who I should be. I recognized that I have changed, and the Spirit showed me even more areas that I can continue to improve. That was definitely a tender mercy this week.

A rather unexpected experience from this week.... We got a text from Brother E. the other day that said, roughly translated, "I must tell you frankly, Sister Luke. I've fallen in love with you."

So. There's that. We haven't been able to visit him this week because of sister's sickness... But we aren't sure if we can go back. he sent a few more texts edging on the creepy side of things, and I've felt just awful about it for the past few days. Pray for the Brother. He's slightly crazy but has so much potential! And the gospel is for the crazy people too.

If any of you have a Preach my Gospel, go read page 221, "The Commitment to Stay Active in the Church." I just finished 4th Nephi this morning and watching the Nephites go from being so righteous, to falling into such wickedness little by little was so devastating! It reinforced in my head my own personal commitment to be active in the church, not just a few years or for my mission. Sometimes we get asked here what we as missionaries do when we go home. Sometimes we have to explain to people that we still go to church, we still do all the things we are telling them to do right now. The gospel about us ALL staying active till the very end. It's not enough for a person to be active for just a while... It doesn't matter how long a person stays active unless it is for eternity. When looking at the gospel with that perspective, it shows us how we don't try to fit the gospel into our lives... We must fit our lives into the gospel. We must be active with our heart and mind and actions in the church ALWAYS, if we are to gain salvation. That perspective has helped me a lot when facing trials or hard times. It's given me patience and helped me feel the love that Christ and Heavenly Father have for me.

The language mishap of this week: "Nalibugan" in Ilonggo is "confused", but in Tagolog, I found out this week it means "aroused" which is infinitely more awkward. It's correct to say that Joseph Smith was confused using "nalibugan" in Ilonggo, but there are a lot of Tagolog speakers here in Silay. So that was a fun realization to realize that for 6 months of my mission I've been telling people that Joseph Smith was.. Well. Good thing I know better now and that the Spirit is the real teacher anyway.

The gospel is the most true, even when you're sick or healthy, happy or sad. Isn't it nice to know we have that constant? Never forget that  I love you all and I pray for you.

All my love,
Sister Luke

1. Our trip last week to this sweet place called Belaring. There's kilometers and kilometers of bamboo bridges that are the coolest (and scariest) things to walk on. We got to climb one of the towers there and see the ocean. So pretty!

The pictures are taking FOREVER. So I guess just this one today. Sorry its not an especially cool one!