Ain't Nothin Like a Southern Girl

Written 9/28/14

Hey y'all-

I've gone south for the winter! I got transferred last week (no big surprise, but still heartbreaking), and I'm now in the most southern zone, Sipalay. My new area is Inayauan. Figure out how to say that one :) I'm still struggling with the pronunciation, so don't ask me.

I'm torn between feeling like a southern belle and a mountain man. This place looks like everything you ever thought the Pines would be. If I look to my left, I have a huge, jungle-forested mountain. If I look to my right I have a glorious sand beach (where we proselyte every day) and if I look straight ahead I see rice fields for miles. My new favorite color is green. We trek daily through the mountains. It's wonderful.

Thanks for the package of letters from the Luke reunion, mom, you all kept me company on the 5 hour bus ride here from Bacolod :) I've seen plenty of.... insects here, being this far from the city. Don't ask me the details... "Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head...."

So, yes. It was really hard to leave Manapla. We all tried to be rational, but lets be honest, we cried a lot. But the Spirit is wonderful. It means so much to me to have his constant companionship. Speaking of companions, my new companion looks like a mix of Jasmine and Mulan. So... Gwapa :) Sister Santos is about 6 months into the mission, and so far we've really enjoyed ourselves together. She's from Quezon City in Manila and 21 years old.

Inayauan is not yet a ward, just a branch, but we really are looking forward to kicking things in gear. We had a wonderful District Conference in Sipalay (you might have seen pictures from that online) and President made me demo in front of everyone in Ilonggo how to place a pamphlet, so the members could get an idea. As I sat down, President said to the congregation, "Did you enjoy that? I did. She did not enjoy that." Ahahah. Talk about pressure.

I don't have much to say. The area is new, so it's all about getting to know the members, investigators, planning, and working things out. It's a good opportunity to exercise faith and rely on the Lord. This week Sister B. was baptized, a wonderful woman, around 50 and such big faith in the Lord. It's been so wonderful to teach her and see her example to her friends and family. There's also a 99 year old member here who still comes to church every week and has the strongest handshake ever. I have a feeling I'll like this branch :)

We are literally in the boonies, but I love it. I'm looking forward to getting down to business (sing it... to defeat the huns) and as hard as missionary work is, I know I am not alone. The Lord is at my back, He is at my front, and I've got my companion in my left and the Spirit on my right. And a book of Mormon in my hands and words of the restored gospel in my mouth. What more can a missionary ask for?

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it be so that you keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." 1 Nephi 17:13

Love you all. Carry on!

Love, Sister Luke

 

1. Just a taste. More of this to come.

 

2. Sister Santos. See I told you, Disney Princess

 

3. Sister B.

 

4. On to the Next Appointment!

Warm Fuzzies

Writte 9/21/14

Dearest Children-

My companion is wonderful. Sister Reid and I have had a wonderful week, and I've spent the time asking Sister Reid every question in the book and gleaning from her long time wisdom from the mission. We've had a great week.

C. and N. were baptized on Saturday at a really special service. I love baptisms!! I've never seen N. so serious when he bore his testimony, describing his feelings like "he was in the kingdom of God." Looking out at the congregation as I was leading the song "Beautiful Zion Built Above" and seeing recent converts, investigators, and my beloved members of Manapla ward, I really felt like I was in my personal Zion. That's probably what the Celestial kingdom will be like, right? With all of my recent converts and I living next door to each other.

Sunday was the best Sunday I've ever had here. I couldn't help the tears as I watched our recent convert J. up at the sacrament table in his white shirt and tie bless the emblems of the sacrament. After everything we've watched these recent converts go through, it was a miraculous moment to see the physical result of the Atonement of Christ taking effect on that amazing young man. Almost all of our recent convert young men came to church, and I know they are being watched over by the Lord.

Another amazing part of Sunday was the 2 less active families we've been working really hard with finally came to church. Our young women president actually jumped for joy with tears in her eyes as they entered the church. It's wonderful to see the ward welcome them so warmly. The Spirit works wonders and really makes up for our weaknesses. It's the best to feel like you've been able to help others exercise agency for righteousness.

We found a new family this week we've started teaching and they are just golden. The spirit is so tangible in the lessons and the Dad is the most receptive, which I've normally found to be a rare case. It's a different feeling teaching individuals, and getting to teach families the blessings they can receive as a whole. This gospel is really for families.

Our funny moments from this week were getting absolutely SOAKED in the storm on Tuesday, finding a HUGE spider in Sister Reid's shoes, and Sister Reid explaining to me that, "God loves us. So he makes the Elders go bald and the Sisters fat so we don't want each other." Ahaha.

I got told this week by a less active that he has an allergy to all foods and gets rashes when he eats, but when he drinks gin it all goes away. Ahaha. Don't try that at home.

Other than that it was a wonderful week. I bet the re dedication of the Ogden temple was amazing, I loved hearing all the details from your letters. I was reminded this week how great the book of Daniel is. A favorite scripture from there:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods."

Don't give into the adversary. He only has as much power as we give him. Think of 2 Nephi 25 and remember, when we see the Devil:
 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider thee,and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

Our God is infinitely more powerful than he. I've seen it. I love the Lord, and I love being in His service. Have a wonderful week, tots.

Love,
Sister Luke

 

1. The Baptism

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!

"Sometimes, I just want to look in the Lord's planner."‏

Written 9/7/14

Hello darlings.

My subject line is a sample of the daily wisdom I hear from my lovely companion. :)

It feels like I just wrote to you like 2 days ago. I mean, I'm not complaining. But time just goes too fast here. Happy 1 year to me this week on Thursday. Don't ask me how I feel about that one. My life is weird. I do the same things every day, but somehow I feel excited every day. I love jogging, I love studies, I love work, and I love eating. So it's like every part of the day is my favorite.

So. The work this week. We found out this week that V. (who we thought was a Less Active) was never, in fact, baptized! So we set a baptismal date for October 4th and he's successfully quit smoking. Atonement is real, guys. Another highlight this week was seeing B. pass the sacrament. We have V.J., B., and L. who all have the priesthood but have been too shy to wear their white shirts to church and pass the sacrament. It was a wonderful moment to arrive at church and see B., smiling and excited wearing his white shirt and waiting to pass the sacrament. It's so true that the Lord makes up the difference of our imperfections and weaknesses.

Almost all of our young men RC's we've been struggling with this week came to church, and J. is working towards his goal of baptizing our investigator N. on the 20th :) A., our completely awesome and prepared little 11 year old doesn't have permission yet to be baptized. Keep her in your prayers, if you will. I've never seen a child with such a huge desire to be baptized.

We had a really awesome Zone Training on Thursday where I got to talk to a sister that just transferred from Silay. She told me C., a 15 year old that Sister De Castro and I met and taught, got baptized! And a lady named M. we had contacted on the street once recently got baptized too, and is paying her tithing. Man, it's cool to see the effects of the work. You never know what role you might be playing in someone's conversion!

It's amazing how hard it can be sometimes to overcome natural man tendencies. Even as a missionary, there are always plenty of temptations (contrary to what I thought before my mission haha). For example, we were sitting in a lesson this week with F. and the idea came into my head to go follow up with the family next door to him that we'd given a pamphlet to last time we were in that area. I immediately thought of excuses not to go- I was tired, we had appointments, etc, but as I opened my scriptures it fell to Alma 60. I read verses 20-24, and if you liken it to missionary work...

20 Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? ... Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies [or out of temptation]?
 21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us [or help us with the work], while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?
 22 Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands,who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword[of sin], yea, wounded and bleeding?
 23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.
 24 And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done [or procrastinated], and begin to be up and doing......behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with [Satan] until we have first cleansed our inward vessel....
 So, that. It was a good Spirit slap. Needless to say, we went back to the family. I'm grateful for a Father in Heaven who deals with my human weaknesses and reminds me often that He is in charge.

Sorry for this novel of an email. Well, sorry to everyone but Mom. I know she likes me even if my emails are nonsense :) Just a few funny things from this week:

1. On our way to an appointment it was pouring and as I stepped on the cement I didn't realize it was slick with mold. I pulled a classic pre-mission-Amy move and was grateful that somehow I didn't end up on my bum. A new understanding of the scriptures "Angels round about you to bear you up" :)

2. Filipinos don't seem to know the meaning of the colors on the stop light. While teaching two primary aged recent converts and an 8 year old member "Obey and honor the law" we reviewed what the lights on the stoplight meant.
"Red?" we asked.
"STOP!" they shouted back.
"Yellow?"
"The SUN!" the little 8 year old screamed.
"Green?"
"LEAVES!" she yelled.
Ahaha. I love kids.

3. You will all be glad to know that I have truly conquered some fears here on the mission. If you know me you know that I struggle with feet and with sponges. I have found from being on the mission almost a year now that there are far worse things. I am pleased to report that I've successfully overcome those fears. (And probably developed new ones.)

I miss the temple a lot. But at the same time, this work is the same redemptive work we find in the temple, and beneath all the stress and exhaustion of missionary work there is a thick layer of delight and lasting happiness. There's definitely a glow about this work.

Love you all so much and I know you had as great of a week as I did because you all got to hold little baby Macie (no, I'm NOT jealous...). Give her a little kiss for me and tell her I'll be home to spoil her in 6 months.

Love,
Sister Luke

 

1. Because I love my mother. 

 

2. B. in his white polo on Sunday :) Stop getting mad that I always wear the same clothes, because I know you all notice. 

3. I just can't stop myself from including these. Sister and I discovered a new part of our area with amazing hills and as we walked up one I had a nice Julie Andrews moment with "The hills are alive!" ringing through my head and the urge to fling my arms out and twirl aroud. Flashback to Sound of Music (over a year ago!) :) We attempted to take some jump shots which resulted in the following pictures and eventually gave up due to the lack of success. But as I glanced through the pictures later I couldn't stop giggling. I ended up with a lot of awkwardly awesome poses, like I'm dancing, needing to go to the bathroom, or rejoicing in the trees. Just sing the Sound of Music in your head as you look at these and I hope you can laugh as much as I did.

Nanay, Tatay, Gusto ko tinapay! Ate, koya, gusto ko... Milo!‏

Written 8/31/14

I can't figure out how to creatively greet you all anymore, so I'll just start right in, shall I?

Happy "ber" months everyone! When it gets to the September, October months etc.. It's basically Christmas here. So Merry Christmas. Also, happy birthday to Tanner, Adam, Charlotte, and hopefully new little Macie Susan this week :)

I learned a Tagolog sort of patty cake hand game this week that I'm so teaching to all your kids when I get home. That explains my subject line :) I think mom would have been pretty proud of me this week as Sister and I desperately made up on-the-spot actions for the 10 commandments to the kids we were teaching. What can I say? I am my mother's daughter.

Also, I was offered coffee and cigarettes for the first time in my life this week. I'm not sure why this happened. Ahaha. I will forever be confused by the people here in the Pines.

Sister and I calculated this week that here in Manapla we walk about 6-8 miles a day. It's a good thing I didn't know I would be doing that much walking before my mission or maybe I wouldn't have come. Ahaha. Just kidding. But really.

L. made my day last Tuesday. She's already started on her Personal Progress and she shared with us on Tuesday that she had had a goal to memorize the Young Women theme (in English) so she could say it with the other Young Women this Sunday. On Monday night she prayed before she tried to memorize it, and worked on it till she knew it by heart.Then she recited it for us on the spot :) We were so proud of her.

Brother A. was baptized on Saturday, and it never gets old to see investigators baptized. Even when they are baptized 5 times on account of floating limbs. :) As I led the music during the baptism and as I looked at those in attendance I realized I was looking at 7 of our Recent Converts and 2 investigators all in the same room. It was a sweet spirit. F. was supposed to be the one to baptize A. but as you can see in the picture A. was a little tall to be baptized by someone as small as F. In the end we had to have Elder Ackerman step in to save the day :)

I pondered this week on the many miracle experiences I've had on the mission, and lately I've been asking myself why these miracle experiences don't always yield visible fruit. Example: teaching an investigator a really wonderful lesson where we felt like the Spirit gave us exactly the words we needed to say. But then come Sunday, the investigator still doesn't come to church. Or maybe we met someone that seemed really prepared in a miraculous way, but then they end up not progressing. I asked myself why these amazing experiences get our hopes up, only to dash them again when the investigator or less active still doesn't change.

My conclusions? I'm sure the Lord has many reasons. But a couple in particular... 1) People will always have their agency. Which can be a frustrating thing. But we cannot take that away. And 2) often times these experiences are more for us than they are for those we meet. As Sister Andrus taught me, God doesn't always expect us to move the big rock that he's set before us. Sometimes He just expects us to push. And as we push, we find that instead of the rock moving, we get stronger. Looking back on past experiences I see that as we went back, and back, and back again to less actives or investigators who, to this day, are probably still less active or not yet baptized, it may not have been them that changed, but it for sure changed me.

I just want to share my testimony that Christ lives. Every capability, every blessing, every hope and every ounce of faith we have is only because of one truth: Christ lives. In just two words, we have so many restored truths. Christ lives: He died for our sins and sorrows. Christ lives: He was resurrected. So will I be. Christ lives: He directs His church. Christ lives: He still loves us and communicates to us through living prophets. Christ lives: He is unchanging. Christ lives: He is not some foreign, uncaring being who sits and watches us from above. Christ lives: He has a body like you and me with emotions and desires for us to return to Him. So many truths stemming from the fact of his resurrection. I know He lives.

Love you all. Keep workin' on that dutch. (Movie movie.)

Paalam,

Sister Luke

1. Red friends.

2&3 A. and F.

4. Yellow friends!

No Empty Chairs

Written 8/24/14

I've been thinking over and over about a quote I once heard, "The world tries to change people from the outside in. The gospel changes people from the inside out."

I was also pondering on the scripture in D&C 18:38 "And by their desires and their works, ye shall know them." The challenge of this life is overcoming the natural man, or in other words, changing not just our behavior to match the commandments, but changing our innermost desires. I thought upon examples in the scriptures of the gospel changing our desires and changing us from the inside out. Take Enos, for example. Enos experienced an "inside out" change. He said that as he was out doing everyday things- in his case, hunting wild beasts- he remembered the words of his father and they sunk deep into his soul. His "soul hungered" (to be forgiven of his sins) and he knelt and prayed. His simple desire, planted by the Spirit, led him to righteous actions, which led to significant spiritual results. His faith became unshaken. He became a great missionary... here we see how life shaping our desires turn out to be.

Compare this to Alma 30- Korihor, the anti-Christ. He had desires to become popular and powerful (desires placed on worldly things) which led him to preach false doctrines pleasing to the carnal man- bombarding the people with wickedness and temptations until they believed Korihor that every man "conquered according to his own strength" and "whatever they did was no crime", and believing there was no life after death- which bombardment eventually led them to "lift up their heads in wickedness" and giving in to devilish desires. Here we can see the stark contrast that the way of the Lord is to invite and prompt- inside out. Whereas the way of the devil is to tempt and persuade- outside in.

The hard part about these changes is that giving heed to the promptings and being changed from the inside out is a process that requires patience and humility. We must choose to yield to the Spirit. The way of the devil is much easier. All we have to do is be passive and comfortable and give into the "natural man" desires we already posses. I know that replacing those desires with Christlike desires is not easy, and I'm not perfect myself, but I know it's the only road to lasting and true happiness and peace.

Thanks for indulging my rambling. The work is going on. I was so sad to hear about Mamo passing away, but I do know that what I teach my investigators every day about the plan of salvation is true: We will see her one day with a perfect and complete body, never again to feel pain or sickness or exhaustion. Death is one part of the plan we must all experience, so that we can see each other again in celestial glory. The Lord comforts those left behind. On Saturday we had the chance to attend a funeral service of one of the members here in Manapla. Death always brings home the need for repentance and preparation to meet our God. I echo Aunt Laura's words, and I take peace in knowing that all of us are living worthy right now so that at the last day, there will be "No empty chairs in Eternity."

Love to you all,
Sister Luke

 

1. A recent convert. This is what they wear when they wash clothes here.

 

2. Happiness is... Krispy Kreme donuts.

3. I hereby dedicate this picture to Sister Andrus. Found this little guy while hanging up my laundry outside and went through quite the ordeal to catch him.

Manang Pula, Manang Puti‏

Written 8/17/14

The destroying Angel of transfers passed by our door this past week- surprisingly- seeing as Sister Oquias has been here for 4 months and I'm only 2 weeks behind her. But as President likes to point out, you can never guess him. It could happen any time.. But for now, we're grateful to have more time together here in Manapla. :)

Happy Fiesta here in Manapla! It's the craziest and coolest thing I've ever seen. Parades, pageants, street dancers... Picture the Utah Arts festival, Filipino style, times 3. I'll send you a picture of one of our members dressed up. Some of the boys here are more gwapa than I am. If you know what I mean...

We ran into some Jehovah's Witnesses this week who flat out told us they just wanted to debate with us.We only talked with them for about 10 minutes, but it made me so glad we know the truths that we do. We shared with them our purpose- that we aren't here to debate etc... and I shared my testimony that we are called of God to invite others to come unto Christ here in Bacolod, and he told me, "Oh yes, God used to call His servants in Bible times, but He doesn't talk to man anymore. You're just called to his work if you have love for him."

For some reason, that really got my blood boiling. Not with anger, but with a surety that I AM called of God. We have living, breathing and speaking Apostles and Prophets in our day, and God is not silent. I knew that with more surety than I ever have... It's really true that faith tested is faith strengthened.

He said a lot of other false doctrine and sort of yelled with us without yelling at us (if you know what I mean). We just bore testimony, thanked him for his time, and left it at that. As we walked away from such a nasty experience, I said a prayer of gratitude that we have the restored truth.

I've really learned that the influence of the members is way more powerful than the missionaries. We had an investigator tell us this week she isn't interested in us anymore, because of a bad experience she had in the past with some members. She told us that she didn't know why she should keep learning about a church with members who don't live what they learn. She said that if this was the true doctrine of Christ that we teach, it would change our member's behaviors. Ouch. That was a tough lesson.

On the flip side, we have a member who is struggling right now with some word of wisdom issues. He's had earrings in the last few times we've seen him, but this last lesson he was doing a lot better and had removed his earrings. He said it was because he's been spending a lot of time with a member who has been encouraging and helping him along the road of repentance. I'm so everlastingly grateful for the good example of the members. You all have so much more power than you can imagine.

Last experience here, something that happened last night. The best ever :) Last night our investigator A. and our recent convert L. told us that THEY were going to teach US (Sister Oquias and I and Liezel's referral, C.C.) the message of the Restoration! We readily agreed and couldn't stop smiling as they told us all about families, prophets, priesthood, Christ's ministry, the Apostasy and Joseph Smith. They even bore their testimony and offered a commitment to C.C. to pray about Joseph Smith. L. is only 12, and A. is only 10, but they said to each other after, "Pwede na kita mag-Sister!" or basically, "We could be Sisters now!" :)

The Elders baptized in the most gorgeous river this past week in their far area. We got to attend and it was the coolest thing ever. "Here are the waters of Mormon. And now..." :)

Lots of good stuff happening! I never get sick of missionary work.


Palangga ko kamo tanan!

Sister Luke

1. The waters of Mormon

2.& 3. Always enough rabies to go around! Just kidding mom.

 

4. L. and A. playing Sister.

5. Happy Fiesta!

6. Street dancing

7. Parade

8. Recent Converts