Week 92

Kamusta! Kamusta kayong lahat?

Yeah, that's Tagalog! We met a Filipino family this week and that's literally all they taught me from Tagalog so I am now officially trilingual. This week was a really busy week! I honestly feel like I say that every week... oh well! We have been doing some great work here in the area and I have been so grateful for how much the Lord has helped us out. We have depended a lot on prayer and the power that comes from it is INSANE. Literally every second that we can, we pray. It just is so helpful and let me tell you, that guiding hand in my life really helps.

This week we put our friend Crystal on date! Unfortunately, I wasn't there myself but my companion and another elder went by and had a great conversation with her and she expressed the desire to make a covenant with her Heavenly Father! So crazy because the work is just moving so fast. It is one person after another that is just prepared to receive the Gospel. It really isn't me that is doing anything. I know I said a few weeks ago the good smelling cologne has done the trick, but I have humbled myself and admit that it is all the Spirit that does the conversion. Crystal is a single mom and her mom was baptized earlier this year. Hilda, her mom, has been such a great resource in helping Crystal become more faithful and reach out to God in times of need. She is doing great and she is currently on date for the 24th of June! Keep her in your prayers that she can continue to be motivated by the Spirit and the joy that comes from the gospel.

You know how the mission goes... there is always something goofy happening in our areas. The other day we talked to this woman who claimed to be a Satanist. I explained to her that if she believes in Satan, then she has to believe in God too. She came up to us and exhaled very loudly and told us to never come to her apartment again. Epic. We also watched a solid 10 minutes of Karaoke from the Filipino family we stopped by and we also were offered some whacko food. Shout out to all my homies serving in the Philippines, y'all are some champions because that food was gnarly. We also met this kid with a puppet named Jeffy and we may or may not have tried to offer this puppet a Book of Mormon. We are taking everything that we can get out here.

Just last week it was my Mission President's last MLC. I really enjoyed what he had to say and the counseling we did together. I have realized more and more how much I respect and love him. We have our new Mission President coming in soon and it gets more and more nerve-wracking. It will be a lot of changing but it will be worth it. 

In all seriousness, the mission is transforming. I have come so far and I have learned so much. My understanding of the gospel still lacks in the terms of eternity, but right now I can say that my understanding has easily tripled what I had back home. Personal studies have become a crucial part of my daily routine and are necessary for Personal Revelation. I have been reading in the New Testament a lot and especially in Matthew and I am just impressed by the amount of Exhortations and Promised Blessings the Savior says. We are promised so much in this life and I don't want to forget that. We are so fortunate to be here!! Man, the mission is so epic.

God is good. He is watching out for me and you. I always love to see the smiles on the faces of those who have accepted the Gospel. If you haven't and are reading this now, consider hearing out what the Restored Gospel has to offer. It will change you forever and I promise you that you won't regret it. Have a good week all! I can't believe I have only 9 more emails to send. I will make these count! Magkaroon ka ng magandang araw!

Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled