This week has been a week, but a good one for sure. There have
definitely been some hard days though.
I had a 102' Temp Friday through Saturday evening. I had a
couch, congestion, headache, fever, sore muscles.. you name it haha. I
literally could not sleep either due to my coughing all night. I felt like
death on Saturday, but I wanted to work so bad. We went out in the morning, had
a really good lessons, talked to some people on the street, came back and my
fever was almost to 103' lol. We had the Elders come give me a blessing. I
rested for like a half an hour and said, okay lets go out haha. I can testify
to you that Priesthood blessings are so powerful! And if we have faith we can
be healed, or be strong enough to fight the sickness and do what we need to. I
am still couching now, still sniffling, but I can tell you the Lord has blessed
me for giving my all, and working hard through this sickness (again- I am
starting to think that my immune system is not liking Lagonoy). But I just keep
thinking about what Elder Holland said once, " When you come home from
your mission, you should have had worked so hard that there will need to be an
ambulance there to pick you up." Not exact word for word, but something
like that.
It was also quite funny yesterday. We were sitting in Gospel
Principles class yesterday and the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric peeked in and
said I was going to be the speaker in sacrament meeting.... uh with 20 minutes to
prepare......and I was coughing, sneezing, and sniffling like crazy. But it
went well (: I talked about the Holy Ghost, and His role in our lives. It just
made me laugh thinking.... okay this sickness, giving a talk, training,
learning Tagalog... I am becoming one stronger person here. Just have to keep
working hard, and doing my best.
Monday we had an FHE with a recent convert family and it was
such an amazing experience, because I felt we were in the right place at the
right time. The mother started crying and telling her concerns for her
children, and all that she had been stressed about, and we were able to help
her focus on how she can turn to the Lord through the hard times, and through
prayer feel His love, guidance, and care. It is hard to put in words the
experience but it was so great.
So on Tuesday we felt we should teach a less active member about
missionary work, and ask them to pray specifically for someone to introduce to
us, invite to church, and be given the chance to enjoy the gospel of Jesus
Christ in their lives. Last night, she told us, " Sisters my friend wants
you to teach her! She wants a Book of Mormon and said she wants to come to
church also". So we have a lesson with her tonight, and I am so
excited!
Friday we were punted like no other (meaning no one was home, or
they hid from us.... no joke 2 people hid from us lol- but its all good). It
just so happens that we were in our farthest area that day, and had to take a
tricee to get there, but we decided to use our time effectively and talk to
others around us. We saw some people moving the material for their roof so we
joined in and helped them carry it all, talked to this woman who was walking by
us, and visited other less actives we hadn't ever been to. The coolest part of
the day was when we got a text from Sister Morales telling is that a member in
her ward asked if we could go visit her inactive sister. So we decided to find
her, since we were in the area she lived in. We asked around, kept walking,
asked more, then finally we were led to this house in the middle of a rice
field. By this time is was 7:30, so dark, and we were a little hesitant, but I
was pretty determined to find this woman (: so we went there. Turned out...
wrong house.... but we met this amazing woman who welcomed us in, and was so
excited to hear what we had to say. We testified of the Restoration of the Gospel and that we
have a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. She wants us to come back,
and I am looking forward to going there again.
I really love training Sister Baluyot and she has been so
willing to step up to the task and become a more obedient, stronger missionary
alongside me. I really love this area. It is not very progressing investigator
wise, but slowly we are adding to our pool. I have high hopes! We have had some
really neat experiences this week, and little miracles.
I have been reading in 1 Nephi 8 a lot, about Lehi's
vision of the Tree of Life, and I really like these verses:
"5 And it came to
pass that I saw a aman, and he
was dressed in a white brobe; and he
came and stood before me.
8 And after I had traveled for the
space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto
the Lord that he would haveamercy on
me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the afruitthereof;
and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea,
and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the bwhiteness that
I had ever seen."
I don't know if this will copy right, but I bolded and
underlined " after I had traveled for the space of many hours in
darkness".
I have been thinking so much lately of how I need to be willing
to walk in the darkness and follow the Lord, trusting in Him that He will lead
me safely through this life, that He can bring me to where I need to be, but I
need to be willing to go through trials, to face the hard times on my mission,
to be able to taste the fruit of eternal life one day, and enjoy the greatest
happiness I will ever know. The Lord expects efforts on our part, and we need
to show Him we are willing to do what is needed to return back to Him.
My brothers and sisters, if you feel you are in darkness or
facing many trials, turn to the Lord. He will bear you up, lighten your load,
and help you see your life through His eyes. I know we are all far from
perfect, but we have a perfect example to follow, our Savior Jesus Christ. I
love Him so very much, and I am grateful to have the privilege to testify that
He lives everyday. I love this gospel.
Hope all is well, and keep being strong through the hard times.
xoxox
ps... I ate balut again aka the picture hahaa
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