Oh what a Beautiful Mornin'!‏

November 17, 2013

That tagline is for you, momma dear :) Although of course I'm not singing Oklahoma in my head because I am a a missionary.... :) I can't send pictures here, but I'm getting some printed later today that I'll send home, sige?

Kamusta, friends!

This week has been a great week. We set new zone goals at our zone training last week before the storm, and they were pretty high, so during our weekly planning this week we really got down to details about how we would go about reaching those high numbers. We planned in good detail (and we had plenty of time during that storm....) and had a lovely week. We found 16 new investigators and our cutie companion Sister Dean went with us all week (hence her sending all those pictures to you mom...)! We saw a lot of success and it's an amazing feeling to see the gospel making a difference in people's lives. I had a lot of growing opportunities this week, and the more I grow the more I see where I need to improve, no?

We had exchanges with the STL's on Thursday, and I was a little nervous about it. Sister Sanders is going home in a week and is sagad gid at the language. (Very good.) But it was the best! I had to lead in lessons and in the area since she didn't know anything about where we were going or who we were teaching, but it showed me that I know more than I thought about where places were and how to speak this crazy language. We definitely got lost a few times, but the kids here are super willing to help. I learned so much about teaching from Sister Sanders and after exchanges I was just way more pumped to go out and work. The two really bumming things about that day was that we found out that Sister C. (we've been teaching her since I got here) has a baptismal date set.... WITH THE BAPTISTS. Agh. So that was a blow. We've gone over priesthood power with her so many times, and pleaded with her to pray about her decision before she sets a date. Darn. We also found out our amazing, golden little 13 year old investigator cant be baptized right now. Her grandmother supports the family and is totally against it. J. is so ridiculously prepared though. When we ask about her reading she tells us with excitement all about Nephi and the stories she's reading, and she understands SO much about the gospel. I love her and I learn from her every time we teach her.

Sister and I went back to Sister C. on Friday to follow up with her about her other baptismal date (*facepalm*) and went back again to teach her on Saturday. On friday night she had had some concerns about people actually seeing Christ and God anywhere else than in a dream, and claimed that nowhere in the bible does anyone see them as physical beings. (I'm not sure where this idea comes from. Like... What?) So we went back on Saturday and talked with her about Stephen, Moses, and a few others in the bible, and shared Matthew 5:6. She asked some good questions and we were starting to resolve her concerns when her husband entered. Goodness. He started going round and around in circles, and had a lot of weird ideas about mormons. He took out his Ilonggo bible and started reading from the very beginning and checked to see after every verse if ours was the same. Ahaha. We tried to get our lesson back on track and out of Bible-bashing land but to no avail. I've never felt the Spirit withdraw from somewhere as apparently as I did there. Sister C. kept trying to defend us, and when we finally got a word in edgewise we just left a pamphlet with him about the restoration and left. Sis C. was worried we wouldn't ever come back after that, but she asked us to return next week when her husband wasn't there. It was sad to see that her husband had such dominion over the home, but I really feel that she has faith in our message and in the restoration. Pray for her and her family, will you?

Our other positively GOLDEN investigator T. is just more proof to me that the people of the Philippines are so prepared for this gospel. The other sisters in our apartment, Sister Davis and Sister Smith met him where he lives, right outside our neighborhood, and referred him to us. He had read the whole restoration pamphlet by the time we got there later that week, and said he believed it was the word of God. I think I told you this in my other email.... Anyway... We've been teaching him and he is eating it all up. We gave him a book of mormon and he's been keeping all his committments, which, if you've been a missionary, is the MOST BEST thing ever, no?! Ah. I love when we come and they've read. Most of the time we hear, "Oh, indi ko nagbasa, Sis...." combined with what I call the Filipino Pouty-Face. Ahaha. I love it, but I don't at the same time, because if they're doing that face that means they know they didn't do what they were supposed to. Anyway, sorry, tangent. We taught T. last night and committed him to be baptized on Christmas!!!! White Christmas here in Bacolod. It's the most amazing, joyful feeling to see someone being taught by the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and accepting the gospel in their lives. I can't even explain the joy and happiness we all feel during those lessons with him. He got so excited about being baptized on "Christ's birthday" as he called it. (Maybe we'll let him get away with that one...) We're doing a "Stake Baptism" that day, and our goal is to have 20 baptisms. White Christmas, indeed :) 

One funny experience from this week.... We were teaching SJ in his bamboo hut that's pretty far above the ground. Sister Fitz, Sister Dean and I went to go sit on his couch, and when Sister Dean sat down with the two of us on the couch, the bamboo floor broke! We nearly fell through the floor on the couch. Ahaha. It was definitely one of the scariest and funniest things all week. SJ laughed with us and said it was okay.. We felt pretty bad, but he said it would be okay to fix. It was like a movie. 

Anyway. I'm loving it here in Bacolod 2nd ward. The ward was so welcoming to our investigators at church on Sunday and are great fellowshippers. My hope for all of you is that when less actives, recent converts, and investigators come to your wards, say hello! Introduce them to your friends, the leaders in the ward. I never realized how much help a simple smile and interest in their lives can be. It's so disappointing when investigators or others don't want to come back to church because they didn't have the experience they could have had, if they had felt more friendship there. I love that no matter where you are, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is always the same. You always have a family there, and what a privilege we have to be there for each other. Christ said in D&C 81:5 ,  " Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

It's my prayer that we will do so. I love you all so much, and I think of you often; of your examples, your love, your prayers, and how awesome you all are. I am extremely blessed to have a family like you. Keep sharing your testimonies, they have a profound effect on others. Much love!!

XOXOXO

Sis Luke

P.S. I LOVE that everyone here calls us Sis. The kids, adults, whoever, and I love it. It reminds me of my calling, and that I get to be here as a missionary :) I'm the luckiest in the world.

Also, this email is a hot mess. Sorry. :)

This is a picture of the little lizards that are all over our apartment. 

For Hunter and Aiden especially!

More Fun In the Philippines.‏

November 10

It is truly a beautiful morning family, and I am so happy to be here to tell you I'm here, I'm okay and still myself :)

Yolanda was definitely a huge storm, but we were blessed in unbelievable amounts. We had Zone meeting on Wednesday and they announced that we would have to stay indoors due to a storm. We spent the rest of that day helping the bishop tell all the members about the storm and that they could go to the church for food and water and safety.The missionaries had to stay indoors from Wednesday afternoon till Saturday morning. Did I go slightly crazy? I'll let you guess.

 The winds and rains got pretty crazy, and it was crazy to see things flying around outside, but our apartment was very safe. We actually had a really great couple days together, Sister Davis, Sister Smith, and Sister Fitzgerald and I get along so well. It was weird to stay in, but we took advantage of it and had a lot of fun, too. We studied, exercised, talked, laughed, sat on the floor, made food, melted straws by candlelight, had a sleep over in Sister Davis' and Sister Smith's room and made scripture cases. It was a weird feeling not to have anywhere to go, any appointments or certain lessons to prepare for. We had a lot of planning for Weekly planning though! Which was good. It was a little scary, but we were very very safe, and we didn't even know it was "the biggest storm to hit the earth" till after it was over. Probably that's a good thing. We got texted updates every hour or more, and we were always in contact with our Zone Leaders and District leaders. We have really responsible Elders in our district and Zone, so that was very comforting. We lost power around 11 Thursday morning during companionship study, so we definitely did it by candlelight. Legit, right? We ran out of running water soon after but we had plenty of drinking water. We did bucket showers Friday night because we were so gross. Ahaha. Biggest surprise here: I LOVE bucket showers. You just stand there with a big basin of water and take a ladle and basically get yourself clean that way, but its my favorite. Basically what I'm saying here is: Don't worry Mom, and Dad. I'm safe, intact, and still loving life. :)

We finally got to go out Saturday, and it was a mission wide Community Service project. We were out in jeans (SO weird) and got to help a few families. I was shocked that there wasnt too much damage. There was plenty to clear from the streets, but peoples houses were fine, for the most part. We helped Sister D. fix her CR (bathroom) because her structure outside pretty much got destroyed, but her house was okay, which was a huge blessing. Mom, I got to chop a tree in half with a machete! It was the most legit experience. I felt like a true Amazon woman. I'll see if I can somehow get the pictures from Elder Malit, but I dont have them now. Just imagine it :) It was sweet to be able to help and share messages with so many, especially since they are all feeling so grateful to God for sparing us from the storm. I pray for Tacloban. The damage there is shocking, and I hope so much they get all those missionaries accounted for. We truly were protected. Its a paradigm shifting event... coming so close to such a storm. People can be stopped, but nature is something beyond our own control. It was hard on Saturday, because so many don't want our help, since we are girls, and white, but we helped where we could. Our water is still out at our apartment, but we have power now.

We only really proselyted 2 and a half days this week, since Wednesday we spent all morning telling the members about the church being open for protection and helping them prepare. On Monday night, we had Sister Buban with us to go teaching. Her and another sister stayed with us (they are Sister Trainer Leaders) and were preparing for a training with President the next day. We went to a less active, Brother G., who has never really been receptive to us. He's been taught for years, but hasnt come back to church. He even served in the Bishopric at one point, but has since fallen away. Its sad, but hes so hard to teach, because he has a snide attitude toward us. Sister Buban really clicked with him and got pretty bold with him. He responded to her though, and turned to Sister F and I and basically told us that we weren't good missionaries, that Sister Buban really knew what she was doing and that Sister F and I didn't know how to teach. So. That rocked. I left there feeling pretty low, but I went home and thought all night about what i needed to be doing to ensure that his words weren't true. I prayed and studied and it was a good learning experience for me. Seeing someone as fluent as Sister Buban in the language and her ability to connect with those we taught was a good motivator for me. Sister F and I are still both struggling for people to understand us and teach with power and clarity, but we're working and progressing. I've progressed more in the language, but there is SO much room for improvement. Every time I read in PMG and the scriptures I see something new I need to work on. Missionary work truly reveals every one of my weaknesses and exposes them for me to see on a black background. But it's okay! Because that's why we have the enabling power of the Atonement. I can't be perfect, but I can be the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I can't do anything except through the grace, mercy, and power of the Master. Every success we are experiencing here is because the Lord allows it to be. We had an investigator show up to church on Sunday who we had only met with briefly, but had invited him to church LAST TUESDAY and we weren't able to visit him more because of the storm. He just showed up on his own and we got so excited. We found him a friend and he seemed to really enjoy church. I love the work, I LOVE seeing less actives come to church and partake of the fruit there. To be spiritually filled is something indescribable. Our fast was definitely a fast of gratitude this week for the miracles we were blessed with. Definitely gratitude for our safety.

Today is my two month mark! I can't believe it's already been two weeks. It has been a long week, but somehow I feel like I was just here emailing yesterday. The weeks are flying, and its scary sometimes how fast it goes. I love this. I love what we're doing here... The work is working, and the Lord is hastening his work. I'm so excited for you both, Jared and Bekah! Your new callings give you such an opportunity to help the missionaries. Sometimes we have a really hard time here getting members to come work with us and teach lessons. ALL OF YOU! Ready? Call the missionaries this week! Offer to go with them, even for just an hour! I promise they are grateful, and this is our chance to help in this great work. It's not even hard. Its just awesome. And I promise that when you do, you will feel the blessing it will be in your life. The Lord will grant you missionary opportunities when he knows you will follow through with them! When he knows you will open your mouth, he will give you opportunities to do it. I love you all so much, and I appreciate more than I can say the prayers in my and the Filipinos behalf. I am seeing amazing things here every day, and I remember my loved ones at home in every prayer. I'm grateful to Heavenly Father for protecting us all here, and for comforting you at home. We kept saying in the apartment in those few days we were stuck inside, "I hope our families know we're safe! I hope they know we love them and I hope they know we're not scared!"

I hope I answered most of your questions and quenched the thirst for knowledge of what happened! Keep praying for those in Tacloban.

The MOST love goes to all of you. From me, and even more from the Lord.

XOXOXO

Sister Luke

How disgusting we got before we showered Saturday night. 

I have seriously never sweat so much in my life. Ahaha. I love it.

We enjoy our disgusting selves

2 months na!

Real Amazon Woman

I hate thinking up a clever subject line.‏

November 3

Maayong aga, my loved ones!

How the heck are ya'll? I'm doing so great. They often talk here about the first 90 day adjustment, how awful it can sometimes be and how difficult to adjust to so many different things but the Lord has been blessing me more than I even can comprehend. I haven't felt homesick, I haven't gotten really sick, and I've been enjoying the work here, even though it's hard. We are having a hard time with investigators keeping commitments, especially working with less actives, but we are doing our best to let the Spirit work through us, and that is a satisfying feeling.

It's always hard to know where to start in these emails, and they end up being so scattered, but that's okay. Letters and Dear Elders seem to come through in a couple weeks here, and everyone I've talked to has been fine with getting all the packages their families have sent, even within 3 weeks, so the mail is more reliable than we thought. (That is not a hint to send packages, just thought I would let you know :) )

It's hot here but its better that I never know what the temperature really is. Its just hot and humid all the time, but at nights lately its been cooler. Surprisingly it's only rained like 3 times, but I love when it rains. Elder Andersen coming was SO cool. Elder Whitney Clayton came too, and it was a few days of awesomeness. Yesterday we had a stake conference with Elder Clayton and the day before was when we met with Elder Andersen. So much to learn! He suggested to President Lopez that the First Presidency now wants missionaries to stay in their areas for longer amounts of time, with companions for a longer time in order to build the church. It's true! Building less actives, working with investigators, and building testimonies takes time. Even people we're meeting now I'm hoping to stick around long enough to see them enter the waters of baptism. We're working for our Weekly Baptism goal, but since it was just 2 transfers ago that Sister Fitz and Sister Bendoy (her last comp) whitewashed the area, we haven't had a ton of progressing investigators. Which means we get to do a lot of finding! It's fun. On Friday they celebrated "All Saints Day" which means they all go to graveyards and set up tents and food and picnic and party all day there. Think Utah Arts Festival, and that's sort of the atmosphere there. It sounds creepy, I know, but it's really cool. They celebrate their dead relatives lives and light candles on the graves. Its beautiful, and we talked to a lot of people about the Plan of Salvation and the Restoration. A really good finding opportunity. We got a few solid referrals and handed out a lot of pamphlets. We also got FED the MOST. Like 4 times, 4 full meals in 2 hours. Aye. But I had a few classic Pinoy foods and they were all DELICIOUS. I've been eating mostly a college diet since neither Sister F or I know how to make food with the ingredients available here but we have a healthier list this week! We'll be going to the market later. 

We also got PIG from a member! She's had this pig she's been raising for like a year, and on November 1st in the morning we went to her house and they slaughtered it and gave us a bag of pork. So. That was real. We have yet to cook it but I have a feeling it'll taste pretty darn good.

We just found the E. family a few nights ago using something Pres. Lopez likes us to do called Finding Through Prayer. I know Aubs uses kind of the same thing in Georgia. Basically you go talk to the people, get to know them, and then ask if you can pray for them and their family. Usually it leads to a lesson, and sometimes it just leads to some awkward staring contests, but such is the life. Anyway, they (mom, grandma, and daugher, about 9 years old) were outside their house by another house of one of our investigators, and we asked to pray with them. They invited us in and we gave a short message about the resoration and a pamphlet. We told them we'd return and talk more with them. When we went to the graveyard later that week we ran into the little girl, and she said she'd read the whole pamphlet! We went to their house last night and taught the girl, her mom and dad. The dad asked a LOT of questions and sort of rambled a lot, but we got most of our message across. I'm supposed to go on exchanges tonight with the STL's and we'll teach them again. It's an amazing feeling to feel the Spirit testify through you, and and even more amazing feeling when you realize they are feeling it too! We found another family and the mom A. and her husband are especially receptive. We find a lot of uniterested people, but there are truly so many prepared. We have high hopes to get them progressing. That's the trick! We find a lot of people, but it's hard to help them understand the importance of keeping commitments. 

Our little 11 year old investigator, J., is the sweetest little thing you'll ever find. She wants to be baptized so bad, but her dad isnt too excited about it, but we're praying that the Lord will soften his heart. Seeing such a strong testimony in such a small person is inspiring. There is so much I still need to learn. The Lord shows me that every day. 

I love you all so much. I am going to try to send pictures on here, I hope they get to you. The sunsets here are amazing, I'm blessed to be in a beautiful place, with beautiful people. The weeks are already speeding by! The MOST love to you, and remember, the work is working!

Sister Luke

P.S. 3 Nephi 13:21- My treasure is here! My treasure is in the Philippines, teaching the Restored gospel to these treasured people. My heart is here! 

Laundry by hand!

Sister Fitz and I before Elder Andersen

Our baptism

I Made It!‏

October 27, 2013

Maayong aga family!!

Sister AmyLuke 

Philippines Bacolod Mission

PO Box 660

Bacolod City

6100 Negros Occidental

Philippines

I'm here. I dont even know how to start, especially since I took a lot of time reading all the emails in my inbox! Mom, Sis Fitz said she's gotten letters in about 3 weeks and packages in less than a month too, so that's cool. But dont send packages, its not worth it.

Okay.. WEll! It's crazy here! My first flight was awesome. Nagoya Japan was sweet too. Sister Char and I gave out a bunch of pass along cards on the flight and in the airport. All the people we flew to Manila with are so nice... All the filipinos are amazingly nice. Everyone here smiles and says hello. More on that later. When we FINALLY got to Manila it was like jumping into a swimming pool and I haven't gotten out since. So that's cool :) I think I've sweat enough to fill a small dam. Thats just the life here! But i have a cute handkerchief to wipe the sweat away so it's all good ;) I love it. I love the people and I love talking to them even though I have no idea what they are saying. In lessons I can get about 30% of it. Mostly all Sister Fitz says, but in real life it's only a word here or phrase there. But the "overwhelming" feeling hasnt really hit me or anything. I know if I do my part the Lord will help me get the language. They speak a lot of English and "Ilonggish" here too. We taught a man in English last night, too. Pres Lopez likes us to teach in English where we can, but R. and his wife have been the only ones so far. It was nice though. We found his wife last night on our way home and stopeed to talk to her before she went inside. We asked to pray for her and her family inside and when we sat down andtold her husband we were missionaries he said, "Well then, where do we start?" haha. It made me laugh. He is a devout baptist... But i'm really really hoping we get to teach him again. He asked a lot of questions and we talked about the restoration. Mostly he wanted to know what the differences were between our beliefs, but I hope weget to talk more with him.

So we got here Tuesday night (I htink?) and we stayed at the Manila hotel near the airport that night. NICE hotel. My last hot shower :) The food was good too. Lots of rice and meats and yummy fish too! We slept for like 4 hours and had to get up and go to the airport. In like 30 hours of travel i Had about 8 hours sleep. Whey. I'm still trying to catch up. My first night here we had a meeting with the bishopric and mission leader and it went on and on in ilonggo... Defs fell asleep and they made fun of me. Great to know I make such good first impressions. Sorry for all the typos... This keyboard is struggling. Or maybe it's user error.

SO we had lunch and training at the mission homeand pres lopez is AWESOME. So good. KNows what he is doing. Our goal here is weekly baptisms, andthis week we met it! Haha although I can't really call it "my baptism." His name is A., and he is super old and frail (I was afraid he wouldn't comeout of the water) but it was so good. The baptism was scheduled for 2 but didn't happen till like 4. We had to wait for the bishop for about an hour.... Definitely Filipino style! But okay lang.

Sister Fitzgerald is AWESOME. Been out in the field only 12 weeks, but is great at the language and at teaching. She's from WA. We get along really well and have a lot of fun together. I do what I can in the lessons but mostly that's just testify. The people and children here are really nice andtell me my Ilonggo is very good, and myaccent is good... But i know they're just being nice :) My area is Bacolod Central stake... Pretty much staying in the city. Our apartment ispretty nice too! We have running water, and my cold showers in the morning are the best part of the getting ready process :) You're pretty much wet all day anyway but it's nice to be COLD wet instead of hot. I freaked myself out: it's SO hot, but less hot that I feared. THe humidity is awesome.

They ride in Jeepneys here, which is like a bus type of thing, or in these little side car things attached to a motorcycle or bike called a tricycle. The poverty here was shocking in some ways. They literally live in cardboard huts and we teach on wood benches with their laundry hanging above myhead, and they are still some of the happiest people I have ever met. It's inspiring. Some people here are just so ready to share the gospel. We have a hard time finding members to come teach with us... Please, anyone reading this, call up your missionaries in your area and offer to host or go with them to a lesson!! It's an easy way to contribute to this amazing and desperately important work. 

Everyone here, EVERYONE, young or old stares at us like nobody's business. They call "Kagwapa!" out from busses or the side of the road... haha if anyone needs a self esteem boost... Come to the Philippines. In no makeup, sweaty faces and hot clothes...Doesn't matter! They will call you beautiful. Haha. 

I love it here. It's hard, but I'm adjusting really well, it feels like. I hope i answered most of your questions... WE havent eaten with any members yet, but they have good food here from what we;ve made. Elder Anderson is coming to our mission on SATURDAY! SO stoked about that. So good to hear from all of you.. I'll try to send pictures but I dont know if I can here.. SO sorry. But you saw the ones on Pres Lopez's page so there. Dear Elders take about a month ish to get here, depende, so maybe just try them and see? I would love to hear from all of you! Love you SO much... Don't know what else to say. Remember that we are saved in and through Christ only after all we can do. When all is said and done here, I want to be able to face my Savior with pure hands, and to be able to say I placed everything on the altar of sacrifice for this work. 2 Nephi 25:23. I love you all so much, and Happy Birthday today, Daddy and Krista! Hope you all have wonderful weeks... Can't wait to hear from you. 

Keep on keeping on!
XOXO

Sister Luke

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Amy sang this is the song for her farewell. I made her record it the night before so we could have it to listen to while she was gone. :) I'm no professional record-er. So it's probably not that good, but at least you can hear her. And our fabulous Aunt Diane accompanied her. She is amazing. Enjoy!

(The blog and youtube would NOT upload my file even though the type of file is supposed to be supported on both.... so now to make it work, it sounds even more not professionally recorded because I had to record my recording. Hmm. Oh well. You still get the message. ;) )

-Megan

The 5th week (?) Nobody knows.‏

October 17, 2013

Maayong Hapon, my loved ones!

First off... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to so many! Happy birthday this week to Spencer, Next week to Laila bug, to Dad and Krista on the 28th and to Drew in a couple weeks! Yay for getting old!

What a week it's been. We finally got our flight plans! We fly out of SLC at 7:30 am on Monday morning going to Detroit!! (Gerber's country! woo hoo!) which means we get up around 1 or 2 in the morning..... All nighter? ;) Joke-lang. I'm PUMPED. The MTC has been awesome but I cannot wait to be in the Pines. From Detroit we fly all the way to Manila! We won't get there till 10:55 pm on October 22nd. 9:00ish am here in Utah time. Whew! A 19 hour flight.... What a rude awakening for a virgin flyer. :) I've heard rumors we'll stop in Tokyo to refill though... Wouldnt that be a treat! I'll see if I can send pictures.

I can only get mail up until Saturday at 2 pm so don't send anything after that or... I don't actually know what will happen... But it won't reach me :) I'll get you my new address asap! But just know that letters are estimated at around 6 week delivery and I haven't heard too many good things about Dear Elders being reliable, but try, and we'll see how it goes. I think I'll still have only an hour on Pdays in the Philippines to email, so if I don't get to everyone don't lose your testimony. 

Another funny language mishap from this week (with Sister Ribelin again :) ) She was teaching me the word of wisdom in a role play, and at the end, I'm still not sure what she was trying to say, but it ended up coming out, "Gusto ko ang lawas mo!" Which is basically... "I want your body." I've made a mental note to never say that sentence :)

Probably better that it happens here rather than the Pines! Ahaha. 

That package from you, mom (and Megan, and Cliff and Julie) couldn't have come a moment too soon! Those journals were a blessing! Wanna know why?

ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS came and did our Tuesday Devotional!! Pinaka Maayo!!! It was the MOST best. So good. And my other journal was already filled up... So when I opened that package right before we left for Devo, and it had those journals I was so happy. My first entry is Elder Oaks and his wife. It's the little things :) He talked about missionaries having the challenge to 1) Change, 2)To receive gifts of the Spirit and 3)to Become. So, so good. I wish these were available to everyone, but having them special for missionaries is so good too. He also talked about how ours is the True and Living gospel because we have 1) The Fullness of the Gospel 2) The Keys to the Priesthood and 3) A Unique testimony of Christ because of our knowledge of our relationship to Him. Ah. Spiritual bombing much?! Prophets and Apostles are truly the mouthpieces of the Lord. If you ever doubt that, then lean on my testimony, because the Lord strengthened what I already thought to be a sure testimony of Prophets and apostles of God. 

This week I had sort of a "clunk" moment in my brain. You know those moments where things just finally clunk into place and you're like, "Oh, duh. I should have gotten this sooner,"?

Well, I had one of those. We were talking in class with Sister Tamang, and I was sharing a thought I had earlier last Pday in the temple, which was that the Temple is all about missionary work, and since the Temple is one of our ulitmate goals here in this life, it follows that Missionary work is also one of our ultimate goals! Everything we do; missions, having families, TEMPLES, all leads back to our purpose as missionaries, (our purpose as children of God, really,) which is "to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel." When we build families, have children, go to the temple, we are bringing souls unto Christ through the gospel! Missionary work is everything. In some form or another, it takes center stage here in this life. It's simply not enough to have it. We get to share it with the world! This is the best part. What a wonderful time.

Adam, Spencer and Jared... I thought of you all as I read in Alma this week.... A funny text conversation seemed to come to my mind as I read Alma 52:29 and 36. Hopefully I don't get struck down because I laughed to myself.

Welp, I'm alive and well, and praying to be so again when I email ya'll probably sometime around next Monday. It'll be a long week and a half, but I appreciate and feel all your prayers. I hope you feel mine... You are in my prayers all day long. Keep telling me about your missionary experiences, I love it! Thanks for sharing, Adam. You are all examples to me and I think of you often doing this great work with me. 

One last thought: Sister Oaks told us in Devo when she spoke to remember that "[You missionaries] Go forth under the banner of the Lord. His angels go before you, His angels go behind you, and they are on your right and on your left." This was said to all of us set apart missionaries, but we are all working as member missionaries in the church to push forward this great work. What are we afraid of? Put your fears before the Lord and I promise He will replace them with courage. The angels are surrounding us! I love you all so much, and I am humbled and overwhelmed daily with the help and the family that the Lord has blessed me with. I bear testimony of the reality of Joseph Smith. This week we taught a few of our investigators the Restoration, we sang Praise to the Man in our Tuesday Devo, and i watched the Restoration movie on Sunday night. This week has provided many opportunities to help me grow my love for the Prophet. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity! Sometimes I honestly can't believe I am so blessed. I can't wait to tell you more about my adventures on my way to the Philippines, and what happens when I get there. The gospel is so true! My love goes with you.

XOXO

Sister Luke

1. I ran into elder Matua! I knew him in high school. Yay!

2. Loving our temple walk in the pouring rain! Just prepping us for the Pines :)

3. Sopping wet friends.

4. We made a trip to the outside world to go to the optometrist for Sister Haun.

5. This picture is for Carly... make sure to send it to her, mom :). Sister Char has the same lotion and perfume that Carly uses... i put it on in the morning and it makes me happy! Now our room always smells like carly. :) (That's a good thing..)

6. Just lovin it!

The 4th week!‏

October 10, 2013

Kamusta pamilya!

Crazy crazy week again. We got notice Tuesday night at 4 pm that we were moving BACK to Main Campus at noon the next day. Ahaha. So here I am, at Main Campus once again. We live in the same building, but different floor. We have a corner room, which means it's bigger than the one he had here before, so that's cool. It's been good practice to keep moving every 2 weeks we've been here... Now we're really good at packing :) Thank you to Cliff and Julie for the package, Megan for the amazing and beautiful calendar, Drew, and Megan for the packages!!! They are much appreciated! :) Thank for for the mail and support. My new address (sorry... AGAIN) is:

Sister Amy Luke

OCT 23 PHI-BAC

2011 N 900 E Unit 260

Provo, UT

 84602

So... Conference!! RIGHT?! So amazing. The Most amazing. Love. I love watching conference anyway,but watching it at the MTC with so many Sisters and Elders is inspiring. The Spirit really resides here, and hearing from so many amazing speakers and our beloved prophet was an experience I'll never forget. That Sunday night for Devotional they had Vocal Point come and perform and do a fireside! Wowza. Pretty much as close to a concert as you can get here. They were amazing to listen to... I really have missed music like that. Speaking of which, I just got back from Auditions to sing here at the MTC and they said they'd send me an invitation in the next few days to sing at a meeting they'll pick. So that's cool. 

Rumor has it that someone "big" is coming for Devo next Tuesday night... The Devotional is getting broadcast to all the MTC's Worldwide, so... I'll for sure keep you posted!

This week our whole branch left. It was sad... and sort of lonely. Those elders and sisters were for sure powerhouses. It was bittersweet to say goodbye! I'm so happy for them. That will be US in nearly 10 days! We are supposed to get our flight plans TODAY which is pretty much like your whole district's second mission call. We get to open them all together and I cannot wait :) We got our new intake of missionaries yesterday and I love them! 5 new districts. Wow. Good thing we're over here at Main Campus with them so we can show them the ropes!

I'm loving my experiences here. I can feel that I'm growing leaps and bounds. Can't wait to do more. The language is as good as it can be, although I know I'll be pretty much back to square one by the time I land in the Philippines but it's all good! Heavenly Father knows us. 

I loved that Conference was all about all kinds of missionary work. It's no longer enough to stand idly by and simply enjoy the gospel in our lives! It's our duty as members and missionaries alike to share the gospel in any and all ways that we can, and where the Spirit directs us to. I challenge anyone reading this to find a friend to invite to church. Invite others to Christ, everyone, everyone's lives can be improved by the gospel, it doesn't matter how happy their lives may already be. The gospel makes bad men good and good men better. Sorry, off my soapbox :) 

I also loved that the women were spoken to a lot, and that commandments and covenants were emphasized so much. We must stand tall in the gospel. As President Monson said, "Shall I falter, or shall I finish?" 

Okay, some conference highlights for me (although it's very impossible for me to pick a favorite talk. Don't even ask.) :

I loved that Sister Stephen's and Elder Christofferson's talks were about woman and womanhood. I loved how much Elder Christofferson addressed the moral influence of women, and gently urged us to step up in our callings. Step up our level of virtue and make sure we are sharing with others that strong moral influence we are blessed with.

President Eyring's talk... AMAZING. Just... Read it. "Man's laws cannot make moral that which the Lord's law has declared immoral.  .....Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God." You just can't cheat the commandments! They are there and they are solid and immovable. I love that.

Neil L. Anderson's talk on the Priesthood and blessings. Lovely stuff.

Terence M. Vinson said, "Give the Lord your heart." I love that! Give your heart to Him.. Our hearts will alwaysbe safe in the Master's hands.

Elder Nelson's talk was one of my faves. Each day is a day of decision. We are "never too young to learn, never too old to change." We are eternal beings, therefore, progressing eternally. Change is repentance... and repentance needs to be constant. "Freedom from self-slavery is the ultimate liberty.... Self-mastery: the strength to place reason over appetite." When we master our natural man tendencies and appetites within the bounds that the Lord has set, we can enjoy greater love... What a tender blessing! and my last favorite quote from him, "The Doctrine cannot be changed by man, just because it is legalized before God." The gospel is not ours to change... it is ours to maintain. I know that the gospel is the only thing here on earth that will bring enduring happiness.

I'm running out of time as usual but Elder Bednar's and Elder Holland's talks were amazing (0f course) "Though we be a broken vessel, we are a vessel in the hands of the Lord".

 President Uchtdorf, and Timothy J. Dyches had some really solid, awesome stuff in their talks. 

May we all carry on in the work of the Lord! I love being a missionary, I love you, and I pray for you every night. I invite you all to read Elder Ballard's talk and write me and tell me your thoughts. Tell me who you will reach out to by Christmas this year, and how you will do it! I love to hear about your missionary work. I love you so so much, Keep on keeping on!

Sister Luke

1. After our long walk in the brisk morning air back to Main Campus to watch General Conference! It was quite like the walk one makes down the stairs to open presents on Christmas Morning.

2. Distrito ko. The Bomb.

3. Our amazing temple walk and the beautiful fall day! God is amazing.

4. Saying goodbye to our French Canadian friend who speaks 5 Languages and is learning Mandarin! Wowzer

5. Goodbye to Elder Hosch and Elder Heimuli! Love these Elders.

6. Saying farewell to our smashing Sister Training Leader's, Sister Wolfe (short one) and Sister Sears.

7. Look who I ran into walking home from Devo!! So fun so see a familiar face! Love you, Ryan!

8. I'm pretty much a rebel. Even the signs say Sisters and Elders for the bathroom! I Love our titles. 

9. .....Surprise! We moved again! Got notice at about 4 o'clock on Tuesday that we were moving at 12 the next day back to main campus. So... Coming to you live back at main campus now!