"We Ate Spaghetti At Our House 3 Times Last Week"

Written 11/30/14
I hope at least one of you can name the quote in my subject line. Tanner, that's probably left up to you.

So I had an internal conflict with this when I read it in President's email today, but I guess it's against the rules to "chat" while emailing. Which I will not lie, totally kills me, but exact obedience is either all or nothing. And I can't exactly look my investigators in the eye and tell them to follow a difficult commandment when I'm not following the mission rules myself. So. Please don't chat with me anymore. (I still love you.)

This week the Elders ran out of water in their apartment and had to come get buckets of water from us at 10 at night. So I spent Tuesday night singing "I will go and fetch the water..." while we ran buckets out to them :) You can never guess life here in the Pines.

Also on Tuesday night, we found out Rattigan is actually new Mother Rattigan. 10x more fun :)

I ate goat this week. I didn't throw up. That is a miracle in and of itself.

And the highlight of the week (and really of my entire mission)... I was reunited with Sister Char in exchanges, Wednesday afternoon till Friday morning. And I wish I could contain in words in an email how amazing and God-sent that exchange was for the both of us. She is hands down one of the most amazing missionaries I have ever met, and if you know me (or her) our mouths didn't stop going from the time she got off the bus till the cows came home. I got to spend thanksgiving with her, and though there was no celebration, I have never enjoyed the work so much, despite the pouring rain. I have never learned so much from one person in a day and a half.

Rose's baptism was postponed to December 6th. Sister A. and her husband accepted baptismal dates for December 25th. We found this amazing 18 year old, J., last night, and I can tell you, It's amazing how when someone walks in a room you can just feel the Spirit telling you, "He's next, he's next."

Our other miracle this week was Sister M.'s husband and Sister C.'s husband coming to church. We've been working with them since I got to the area, and A. and J. both attended all meetings and the Priesthood totally fellowshipped them all day. Miracles are so real, and patience pays off.


As I pondered on my goals for the next 3 months of my mission, I thought about what has already happened in the last 15 months of my life. I pondered on Alma 5... My favorite verses there are 14, 19, and 26.

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Here, Alma is talking to those of the church. Have we experienced this mighty change he talks about?

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

Then in this verse, he goes even further. Is our change of heart manifested in our repentance? Do we plan to stand without spot before the Lord? What are we doing to ensure this happens?

26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Then, last of all, Alma asks us that if we've felt that change of heart before... If we experienced all these righteous desires and felt the Atonement active in our lives.... Do we feel all that today? That is the test. Has our conversion endured? Was the change of heart permanent?

I know we all need to reflect to check if we are all spiritually updated. If we only felt the influence of the holy ghost yesterday, but we don't keep Him with us today, it profits us nothing. Our obedience acquires worth as it becomes not only a one-time-thing, but a daily quest.

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. Its my favorite time of the year right now, and I hope we all take advantage of this time where it is easier to share the gospel with everyone! How easy is it to just share our testimony of our Savior? I love my Savior. I've come to know Him as I've walked a ways in His shoes. I don't know everything, but I know that my Redeemer lives.

Merry Christmas! (Maayong Paskwa!)

Love,
Sister Luke

1. Ladies and gentleman, I give you Sister Char.

2. I can't stop myself.

3. Effects of Queenie. (Two tornadoes.. although somehow their house is still standing. Apparently Filipinos know how to build houses stronger than decades-old-trees. Props.)

Hi Friends.

Written 11/23/14

Hi friends. Let's count the cross stitches in my apartment.

The indian one is my favorite. And we aren't done yet! See the other amazing pieces of artwork in the pictures attached below. So much talent here in the Philippines ;)

I don't know why I'm the last one to find this out after living for 14 months in the Philippines, but cockroaches have wings. And they fly. At your face. I've found out here on the mission I'm more of a "flight" person when it comes to the fight or flight reflex.

This week on Wednesday I get to do exchanges with one of my favorite missionaries Sister Char and I think it's safe to say she and I are both trying not to wet our skirts with excitement :) More deets on that next week.

This week Sister and I ate some sort of soup that did NOT sit well and left us flat in bed for a day. So this week was stressful to make sure we contacted and taught everyone we needed, but the Lord was very helpful, as he normally tends to be.

C. left for Manila this week for her work, so we're working on getting her records transferred there. It was so sad to see her leave, but we're working with her husband right now and I know he'll follow. It's just taking some patience.

M. was baptized last Saturday at a really really nice service. We tried to really hard make sure our speakers felt prepared, we had members attending, and that M. felt our love. Our recent convert and fellowshipper of M., Sister B., had asked us in a lesson with her last Tuesday how she can be more prepared just in case she's called on to give a talk in church. (Yeah, these are the questions she always asks us. Is she great or what?) We seized the opportunity and invited her to speak at the baptism, which she accepted. She gave a wonderful talk based in 2 Nephi 9:23-24 which she found all by herself :) Our relief society president was also there to give support and the members did a really nice job at making M. feel welcome and safe at church. We taught M. directly following the baptismal service at the church with our Branch President and Sister B., and taught her about setting her sights on the temple and going forward, keeping her baptismal covenants. She is so committed to the Lord's way, because she's seen that she is not happy living any other way. I'm so glad she has the church, because if it weren't for the gospel, she wouldn't have much of anything.

Lots of other stuffs happened this week but my fingers are tired of typing. Hahaha. I just want to share a couple things from my studies the past week. I've been in 3 Nephi.. One of my favorite places to read. I would read a thousand boring books just to read 3 Nephi once. I was pondering a lot about the sacrament, and some things I learned from a talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks about taking upon us the name of Christ.

He pointed out when we take the sacrament, we are only witnessing that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, implying that something else must happen before that is to occur. He referenced D&C 109 from the dedicatory prayer at Kirtland where the prophet says , "And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them; ...That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house;"
Christ gives His authority for His name to be used in the temple. Thus, there the Lord puts His name upon His people. Meaning that we witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple when we take the sacrament. Also signifying we are willing to keep the commandments and make every sacrifice to get to the temple. I appreciate the words in D&C 19:18-19,
"Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. "

Christ lifted the bitter cup so that every Sunday I can life a sacrament cup and renew my, as Elder Oaks said, "declaration of candidacy for exaltation".

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I am grateful for all of you! Your support means more than you can ever know.

Have a blessed week,
Sister Luke

1, 2, 3, 4- The endless artwork in the house. The last one reminds me of you, Carly :)

 

 5. Goodbyes to C.

6. More lovely sea.

7. B. and M.

 

8. The addiction builds...

Reunions

Written 11/16/14

This has been hands down the best week in my mission. Even though we weren't out proselyting for almost two days. The time we were out was amazing. I'll tell you more later, but lets start at the beginning. Get ready for a short novel...

First off, the rat in the apartment is back. It makes me sing in my head, "Oh Rattigan! Oh Rattigan!" From Disney's the Great Mouse Detective. Or Betect Mouse, as I once called it.

In Preach My Gospel it counsels missionaries countless times to "Do all you can". This week we made a first contact with a less active who was baptized in Bacolod when he was young, and has since moved here and "returned" to Catholocism because his wife is Catholic. We ran into him at a part member's house, just about to drink a shot. I found an effective method to stop him from drinking: Ask endless questions. It goes like this. (English translation for you Murican citizens.)

*lifts shot to mouth*
"So, where are you from, Brother?"
*pause*
"*mumbled reponse*"
*lifts shot again*
"Oh, I'm sorry, what was that?"
*pauses again*
"Magsungay."
*lifs shot again*
"Oh so how old is your wife?" [Stop judging my questions. I was just popping them out]
*Pauses again*

This interaction went on for a few minutes before he left, wishing, I suppose, to drink his shot in peace around the side of the house, but you know. "Do all you can". Even when it means talking irritated people's ears off. Ahaha.

Okay. So mission tour was AMAZING. The 6 hour bus ride to Bacolod was NOT. But mission tour made up for it. Just to clear things up for the confused:
Mission tour does NOT mean that I go and tour my whole mission. Haha. it means that the Area President of the Philippines (Elder Ian S. Ardern) selects a few missions to visit and the trains the whole mission. He gave an incredible training, and it was really a revelatory experience. Just a few of my favorite notes:
- Being "humble up" is just as or more important as being "humble down"
- Establishing the church is important, and is accomplished as we establish the church in the person.
- The blessings of sacrifice manifest themselves in others, not in you.
- Feasting on the word of God is important, but is useless if we do not also digest the word of God. It doesn't matter how many times we've gone through the book of Mormon, but how many times the book of Mormon has gone through us.

Those are just a few of the many gems. Since our area is farther than Hades, we got to sleep in Bacolod the night before the conference. I got to sleep in my first area, where Sister Foote (my old companion, if you don't remember) is serving right now. And the biggest miracle/tender mercy of my life, was this:

I got to see T. again. My beautiful, amazing, 23 year old recent convert from my first area.

The day was almost exactly a year from the day we began teaching him, November 12. There are just some things on a misson that you can't describe, no matter what words you use.

 T. is serving in the ward in the Young Men, and he baptized his best friend, Jake, last Saturday. He showed me his beautiful scriptures, which are marked with colors and flags to his favorite scriptures, and he expounded scriptures in the lesson to his two friends that sat in with us. He has set a goal to serve a mission when he is 24, and told me that he's also set a personal goal to go to the temple. I was not surprised at his spiritual self reliance, but I did sit in awe as I looked at this spiritual giant of a recent convert and the Sprit testified to me that there are prepared people waiting for the gospel. I did not bring about his conversion, neither did Sister Fitzgerald, Sister Person or any of the other missionaries who have taught him... He did it all with his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We simply invited, and he went and did. God is so good.

Sister M. passed her baptismal interview this week and is so looking forward to being baptized. She is a single mother with 6 kids, around 53 years old, and she works every day just so they can eat. She shared with us how much the example of the members helped her desire to go to church. She always saw one family, the Soronios, always going to church, walking by her house on Sundays and that she always thought , "I want that." And now, here she is. Set to be baptized on the 22nd of November :) Members make such a difference. There are always unseen eyes watching us.

C.s baptism was amazing. So, so wonderful. She gave a powerful testimony that she knows she's found the church that can change her and her family, and she will never forget what she has felt here. She has such a strong determination to endure to the end. Our other RC, her aunt, gave a wonderful talk and at the end, added, "Even though I don't know how to speak English, I do know that this church is true, and it's the only way for us to make it back to the kingdom of God." It was so sweet and sincere.

Another miracle this week: E. SA. She was invited to church one time a few weeks ago, and finally came to church randomly yesterday. When we went to her house later in the day to get to know her better, we found out her story. She's gone to a lot of churches, searching for the truth. She told us about a dream she had when she was 22 years old, (now she's past 50) wherein she saw the Lord, and knelt at His feet and worshipped him. She told us in all the churches she's gone to, she's never seen a picture that reminds her of her dream with the Lord. But when she was given a Restoration pamphlet, it was there that she felt the stirrings of the Holy Ghost and remembered the Lord's face in her dream, as she looked at Christ holding the lamb. Golden? Golden.

R. is set for a date on the 29th of November. She's also doing wonderful. She's another testimony to me that the Lord leads us to those who are ready to be led.

In my studies today and this week, I've been thinking a lot about light. Jesus often speaks of Himself as the Light of the world. In 3 Nephi 8:22 we learn that when Jesus was crucified, there was no light for 3 days in the Nephite lands. I love the symbolism and the literal evidence that Jesus Christ is the light. The light returns to the world only when The Light is resurrected, in chapter 10 verse 9. In 3 Nephi 9:18 and in 11:10-11 Christ introduces himself as the light of the world to the Nephites, and later in 3 Nephi He challenges us all to let our own lights shine before men.

But as I studied about these things I ran across D&C 88:6-13, which explains that Christ is literally the light in everything. I'll just insert the verses because paraphrasing just isn't enough.
He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made .
As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand .
And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings ;
Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.
This, to me, explains why in 3 Nephi 8:22 it says, "And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. "

How could it, when our Light was gone? In periods of apostasy or in these 3 days of darkness after Christ's death, or in times of spiritual darkness in our lives, we see that whenever Christ is absent- either physically or spiritually, or in the life of a single person- there is an excess of confusion, darkness, fear, and uncertainty. When the Light is present, there is trust, love, knowledge, enlightenment- all things good. I testify that we must choose to yield to this great Light of all things, who has the power to bring the light back into our lives and bring us to the power of the Atonement. I see it every day. I see the light in these people, the light in my companion, and the light in the work. How grateful I am for The Light that makes this all possible.

Have a lovely and blessed week, filled with The Light.

Sister Luke

1. Happy 14 months.

2. Sister C.

3. The three turkeys all parading for one female. It's like a turkey pageant.

4. Sister M.

5. Sister R. and company.

 

6. Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.

 

7. How I feel about my watch face breaking.

PS I'm dying because my pictures of T. and I are not loading for some reason... We'll try next week.

My Own Princess Pammy

Written 11/9/14

**Disclaimer/Just an explanation from Megan: Princess Pammy is the title of a series of made-up stories that Grandma tells to the grandchildren in our family. This would be the reason for the subject of this email.

Once upon a time there was an 80 year old man who bought Sister Luke and Sister Santos ice cream when they tried to talk to him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then he told them all about his multiple girlfriends in many lands, and Sister Luke shared with him the Law of Chastity.

Once upon a time Sister Santos and Sister Luke were walking in the mountains when they heard what sounded like a really sad kitten. Little did they know it was actually the call of a bright yellow frog, being eaten by a green snake.

Once upon a time, Sister Luke's batchmate and BEST friend in the Bacolod mission, Sister Char, became her new STL. Sister Luke felt like Alma when his strength was exhausted because of his happiness. Then Sister Luke got to listen to Sister Char give a wonderful training on Friday.

Once upon a time Sister Luke found out that her recent convert, T., became the young men's president in Bacolod 2nd ward. Her joy was again, so much that her strength was exhausted.

Once upon a time, Sister Luke started her 11th transfer in the mission field.....

So that was some of my week. My past companions THINK they can die here in the mission. Sister De Castro is now officially an RM, and Sister Fitz and Sister Foote are next to die. Also, my past companions all THINK they can become companions! Sister Fitz and Sister Oquias are together and I'm SO happy. Plus with Sister Char here.... Life doesn't get too much better.

The area is finally seeing success. It feels so good to see the hand of the Lord blessing this area. J.P., the brother of a recent convert was baptized on Saturday, and this week C. surprised us by setting her own baptismal date on the 15th! Her husband is home now (he was working up north up till now) and he accepted a baptismal date for December 6th. We’re so excited for this little family. Brother M. is so receptive and willing to learn and supportive of C.

This week Sister R. showed up to church in a new skirt and bringing her four kids with her. She asked for a priesthood blessing for her oldest boy who had a raging fever, and it was amazing to see her faith. She’s already in Mosiah in her reading. M. is on track to be baptized on the 22nd with R.

Brother L., a husband of our RC, Sister B., actually took a book of Mormon this week! He always sits and listens skeptically to our lessons while he sews and we teach Sister B., but this past while he’s started asking questions and this week he asked, “Who’s Alma and why isn’t he in the Bible?” and other questions like that. We gave a brief explanation and Sister Santos bravely offered him a copy for himself. He took it, and said he’d read it in his spare time. I know the Spirit is not limited… It can work on anyone.

We had 10 investigators at church on Sunday and our mom investigators are all bringing their kids to church... Hopefully soon the husbands will folllow. That's our current project. Project Husband. Okay, that sounds bad for a missionary to say.... You know what I mean. I promise I'm focused on my purpose...

Speaking of, I studied about my purpose and the doctrine of Christ this week, and it blew my mind all over again. The way is really so straight. But in that, we really see the love of our Lord. If it was zig-zag and looping, the path would be much harder and more exhausting to follow. Because the Lord loves us, He made the way straight. I want to close with one of my favorite scriptures from 2 Nephi,

"O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the  keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he  employeth no servant there; and there is none other way    save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

I thank the Lord that the keeper of the gate is Christ. I know that if we live this gospel to the fullest, we will have what we need to be able to pass through that gate, and to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, to gain eternal life, and to sit down in His kingdom, to be crowned and glorified. Then we call all run up and down the stairs with Aunt Laura. I know she's just waiting for us :)

Hope your Once upon a time is as great as mine is right now.
 Love you all. Be good.

Love,
Sister Luke

1. Reunited. Sister Char.

2.  Wicked sunset
 

3. Cute J.P. or "Polpol"
 

4.  A piece of sugar cane. A question mark. A piece of art.
 

5. The feet of the missionaries...
 

6. Our addiction is getting out of control.
 

7. Sweet.
 

8. My new best friend the nun.
 

9. I'm a one cow woman. :)
 

10. "First you take a plastic bag, then you put it on your head..."
 

11. Our new pet. For Aubree.

Suman Overload

Written 11/2/14

No transfers for Sister Santos and I! Still here in the sticks of the sticks. And loving it :)

Also.

No one sent me pictures of my nieces and nephews in their Halloween costumes. I'm trying not to be miffed.

I know Dad and Krista's birthdays passed, but I need to add my bit on "Things I love about Dad" and "Things I love about Krista" since I wasn't there around the dinner table when this was discussed.

Dad: My favorite thing about dad is that he be's my bud, even when I'm 7,000 + miles away, he still emails me and says sweet things about Mom. Also that Dad has always magnified his calling in the church and as a father. Being here on the mission has taught me to appreciate that.

Krista: My favorite things about Krista is that she is a good supporter. She looks for ways to serve always, and is not wrapped up in herself. She's a good example of missionary work, and is good at laughing at herself and her mistakes, which I admire a lot.

I love you both! Did you eat German chocolate cake for me?

This week we celebrated "Kalag Kalag" the Filipino version of Halloween. Except it's on November 1. We go in the graveyards and proselyte and talk to the people there, which always makes for some good times. And some pretty awkward conversations, as you can imagine. I mean, we basically walk up to people sitting at the graves of their loved ones and say... "So... Who died?" I'm so tactful. I would not suggest this as a conversation starter.

We met a sister outside the other day that asked Sister Santos, "Pwede ko siya hicapan?" Or, "Can I touch her?" talking about me. I stuck out my hand to shake hands with her, but she wasn't satisfied, so she pinched my arm and my nose and got really excited and then walked away.

Another adventure was when Sister Santos and I were wading through the small stream on the way back from one of our areas and washing the mud off our feet. We were nearly finished when we heard a strange sound, and turned to look upstream to see a Carabao (Is that a water buffalo in america? I don't know) peeing, like, gallons of pee into the very water we've been cleaning our feet in. Sister and I ran away barely containing our giggles for fear of offending the owner of the Carabao. Ahaha.

Also, because of Kalag Kalag we were fed 5 TIMES... This sticky rice called Suman that every single family in the Pines makes on November 1, with coconut and coconut milk... It's delicious, but you get sick of it fast. And it's the heaviest food ever invented and by the end of Saturday I just wanted to throw up the 5 (filipino sized) (meaning HUGE) servings of suman with all the pancit and noodles and sprite that everyone else had forced us to eat.

Sorry, this isn't a very spiritual email. Let me see if I can do better.

On Sunday our baptismal candidate, J.P., passed his baptismal interview for his baptism on the 8th of November . He’s the younger brother of one of our recent converts and has been coming to church for a couple months now. We’re excited to see him baptized! On Sunday, Sister R. leaned over to me in gospel principles class as someone mentioned baptism and said to me, “I’m going to be baptized here. So...When?” M., our investigator around 50 years old is still working with us and the Lord on losing her coffee addiction, but she loves church and her faith is really growing. We had 7 investigators again at church and I really testify that even though things don't always work out during the weeks like we plan, the Lord steps in and makes up the difference.

This weekend with graveyard proselyting, we started out a little rough with some people that weren't interested at all in talking with us, but after a while they seemed to warm up. We ran into a mom named J., around 40 years old with 6 kids. She had met the missionaries a couple months ago when they talked to her outside her house, but must have never returned. She was really excited about the pamphlet we gave her and let us sing for her before we left and told us to come and teach her family. I love meeting receptive OYM’s. It’s really encouraging after other people run away and hide from us.

Don't have much more to say, except I know that my Redeemer lives, that He directs this work, and that this is His restored, true gospel here on the earth. One of my favorite lyrics I came across a few months ago about the Savior say this:

No creature is so lowly,
No sinner so depraved,
But feels thy presence holy
And thru thy love is saved.
Tho craven friends betray thee,
They feel thy love's embrace;
The very foes who slay thee
Have access to thy grace.

If Christ loved even those who mocked and spit upon Him, how much more is he able to love us, even in our sinful humanness, when we are willing to come to Him through repentance,acknowledge our weaknesses before Him, and work hand in hand with Him to overcome them. I know His grace is accessible to all, and because of His infinite Atonement and love, we can return to be with Him, and be like Him.

Have a blessed week,

Sister Luke

1. Gorgeous. This is a banana tree. 

2. Our Halloween Costumes and candy. We trick o' treated to each other. (I had to teach Sister about Trick or Treat general practices.)

3. The niece of one of our Recent converts. She loves my scripture case :)

 

4. The OKC fans here don't know how to spell Oklahoma.

 5. 3 of my favorite tots.

My New Best Friend

Written 10/26/14

I'm doing away with greetings at the beginning of my emails. I'm just not clever enough each week to think of a new one.

Happy Halloween! They don't have Halloween here. But it's one of my favorite holidays. They DO have a holiday called Kalag Kalag on November 1 and 2, which is basically all the Filipinos gathering in their cemeteries to eat on the graves of their loved ones. We get to go to the graveyards this week and proselyte while everyone is doing Catholic prayers, so this should be pretty fun. :) Weird to think I was new here in the Pines with Sister Fitzgerald this time, last year.

Happy Birthday to Laila, Dad, and Krista! In ilonggo they don't have a way of saying happy birthday. They just use English. Kind of disappointing, right?

I'd like you all to meet my next door neighbor, my new best friend- in the first picture attached to this email. Don't worry mom, when I took this he had just finished eating a live duck, so it was very safe. :)

This week we had Zone Conference in Sipalay and it was amazing. Bacolod Mission baptized 590 souls in the month of September. Is the work hastening or what?? Seriously. I was astounded. I feel like Edna from the Incredibles: "Fight! WIN!" complete with the crazy eyes and fist pumps. That's totally what it feels like to invite people to be baptized every day.

Our mission is working on submitting pedigree charts for all our recent converts in the branches and wards here, and I've really enjoyed it, even though it's crazy and chaos to try and get people to remember dates, names and places. It's so fun to see them run into their house, search for marriage certificates, birth certificates, pictures and the like as they look for their ancestors dates and names. It really brings a great spirit and unifies the families we've taught. They start to discuss old memories and get excited about doing work for the dead. Except in our recent convert's house... R. (about 20 years old) was helping us fill out his pedigree chart, but he couldn't remember too many details. He kept returning into his house to ask his mom names, dates, etc, and apparently she was a little exasperated with his endless questions. It went like this: we'd send him inside to get a birthdate, hear the ensuing shouts from his mom, R. would come out, tell us the answer, and reluctantly head back in with more questions. Ahaha. Louder shouts would follow. This escalated until all their family records were committed into our hands and the mom told us to leave her in peace. Ahaha. What a rousing Spirit of Elijah.

We've had an investigator named M. who has come to church for the past two weeks. She's been taught for a couple months but only now have we seen major signs of progression. She told us she knows now that Sunday is a holy day, and will never work on Sunday again so she can go to church. She's working towards baptism in November, and told us in a lesson "I just want to know everything about your church so I can be a part of it." She loves Gospel Principles class and is always early for church. She stops her work anytime we pass by so we can teach her, and in our lesson yesterday about the Word of Wisdom, she told us she will stop drinking coffee, no questions asked. She is wonderful! She even invites our less active members to go with her to church.

We had a really nice experience this week with an investigator named P. referred by a member a couple months ago. The past month we've tried to visit we've found no one home, but this time was different. We were in a tricycle on our way to that area where she lives, and instead of stopping by her house first, just happened to go past her house and visit a less active instead. We stopped by some other appointments in that area, and then finally decided to head back down towards P.'s house. As we got there, we found some opportunity to give service, and it was a good way to introduce ourselves, as we hadn't previously met her. Just as we started the lesson, the member who originally gave the referral, Maricel, showed up randomly at the house. She told us she was washing clothes and suddenly felt the need to go faster so she could come visit Sister P. She arrived at the perfect time and gave a beautiful testimony of the power of prayer and the Book of Mormon. I have no doubt the Spirit knew where she needed to be, and I'm so grateful she was listening and worthy to receive the promptings of the Spirit.

We worked our tails off this week to reach our goals and saw so many miracles every day. On Sunday, we had 7 investigators at church, and even Sister R. came. We lost contact with her for about a week but started teaching her again and she stayed for all 3 hours of church with her kids and seemed to really enjoy it. My planner is now full of purple marker, compliments of her 5 year old daughter J. :) That's the real purpose of missionary planners.. To keep the small children entertained while we teach the parents.

Last of all, I had an epiphany this week I'd like to share with all of you.

 Gratitude is the antidote for comparison.

Lately I've become more fully aware of how awesome my life is. How many amazing people are in my life right now and what they have done for me and being here in the mission with the everyday miracles that are happening... How can I not be grateful? And I've realized in the journey to be full of gratitude, I've thought a lot less about myself and how I compare to others. I can overcome comparison because I'm focusing on what the Lord has done for me, instead of focusing on what I see that might be missing. Think about it... Comparisons, thinking "Man, I'm not as beautiful or talented or patient or [insert personal concern here] as so-and-so" is just another way of disregarding completely the things the Lord HAS blessed us with. How ungrateful and prideful of us. But this past month I've really felt the healing power of gratitude.

That seems to be about all, folks. The work is working. If this isn't hastening, I don't know what is. You better join quick, or you'll get left behind like the pooper-scoopers in the 4th of July parade.

Love you!

Sister Luke

1. Our friendly neighborhood python

2. If there's ever been any doubt that I'm a cat lady...

3. This is our addiction. Chuckie chocolate milk.

4 & 5. I'm just not good enough at teaching to keep the kids awake. 

6. This is called a c-cad. Only 7 pesos for a ride! :)
 

7 & 8.  Our birthday glowstick celebration for sister Santos.

Green is My Favorite Color

Written 10/19/14

This week I met Aragog's pregnant wife. Pictures attached. Sister and I agonized a full half hour before achieving his murder. He was right next to my bed. The Lord loves those whom He tests...

This week a child was following his older sister in what he should say in his prayer... We ended up with this: "Bendision mo ang mga Sisters sa.... Ano? Sa pagpabunyag... uh, sa pagpanglupot nila...." Which eloquently translates to "Bless the Sisters in their.. what? In their baptism.. Um, I mean, in their diarrhea.." Ahaha. Bless us in all that.

We went to teach a recent convert at his house on Saturday and to our shock and dismay found his drunk, 60 year old father in a pair of very brief briefs, standing right in front of us talking as if there was nothing amiss.... To quote Mulan, "I never want to see a naked man again."

This week we have seen the hand of the Lord. I have no question that He directs this work because of the tender mercies and small miracles we see every day. I know I say this all the time, but God is so in charge. Lots of "right place, right time" experiences this week. This work is picking up speed and the members can feel it. We had 3 members this week come up to us out of the blue and say, “Sisters, we have a referral for you!”

We helped Sister De Asis (a member) talk to her referral, Sister V., a young mother with 6 kids. V. had her latest baby 2 weeks ago, and hours after she gave birth, went right back to washing clothes so they could have rice to eat that night. She is tirelessly hard working, and receptive to the gospel. Sister De Asis was so bold in sharing her testimony and in inviting Sister V. to church. I love the members here so much. It’s inspiring to see their desire to share what has blessed their lives.

I was delving into the old area book in our apartment and found the teaching record of our Recent Convert, Sister B. She almost completely rejected the missionaries before, only grudgingly accepted the commitments the missionaries offered, and she never kept them. She hid from the Elders and never came to church. I compared it to the B. I know now, and I have no doubt in the power of the Spirit. Right now, B. can’t wait for us to visit each night, and we often come to her house and find her reading. She even read to her husband and his friends while they drank, reading in Jacob about what will happen to the sinners. Ahaha. So brave, and unapologetic about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

C. is so ready to be baptized, but she told us her husband won’t be home until November 5, and he wants to be baptized with her. So she's on hold for a sec. But still progressing.

We had 5 of our investigators at church. We were excited to see them exercising their faith, especially our 50 year old investigator M. who specifically got work off to come to church. R. got sick Saturday night and wasn’t able to attend… meaning we had to change his date in November, but he’s completely quit smoking and is reading the Book of Mormon every day.

Something I've especially noticed and felt this week is expressed well in a quote from President Uchtdorf from the General Women's meeting:

"You are loved. You are dear to your heavenly parents. The infinite and eternal Creator of light and life knows you! He is mindful of you.Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad habits. He loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you.

"And God knows of your successes; though they may seem small to you, He acknowledges and cherishes each one of them.He loves you for extending yourself to others. He loves you for reaching out and helping others bear their heavy burdens—even when you are struggling with your own.
He knows everything about you. He sees you clearly—He knows you as you really are. And He loves you—today and always!"

Hope you've all had a wonderful week. I have. I testify that God's love is there for us when we fail, when we fall, when we are weak, and even when we are forgetful. His love doesn't excuse us of repentance, but on the contrary, it motivates us to do everything we can to be able to feel that love eternally when we return to live in His presence. I know the true miracle of the Atonement is not only that we can live eternally with God, but that we can live comfortably in the presence of our Creator. Because we have been washed clean in the blood of the Holy One of Israel. Aubree shared a couple weeks ago a quote from Elder Scott- that we must remember always that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than he does rebellion. "Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will always bring punishment, when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy."

Let's not be too hard on ourselves. Let us give all our effort to living the gospel and trust in the grace of God to make up the difference.
Love, Sister Luke

1. Aragog's Mrs.

2. Fun in the sun.

3. It's Fall here too!

4. Glorious rice fields. Green is my favorite color.

5. This is not a drill. Real bird.

6. Crystal clear.

7. Not filipino candy like I thought. Frog eggs.

8. Beauty queens.

 

9. For Fun...