Maayong buntag! 6 more weeks! Almost done.. Here's my letter for the past week and a half!
July 5th, Tuesday: Today Sister Paget and I visited the Pocong family and taught the mom first. We taught her about agency and how we're responsible for our own mistakes and to not blame others for the life that we have. She usually likes to blame her family for the kind of life that she has so we thought it'd be a good reminder to her that we all have agency to make decisions that will affect our future. After teaching her, we turned around and taught her sons, Brother ArAr, and Brother Arnie. We taught them about how each of us has weaknesses that we can overcome if we trust in the Lord. Brother ArAr is 17 years old and wants to serve a mission, but is nervous because he feels like he needs to be perfect before serving a mission. He's such a cool kid. I love the Pocong family! After that, we taught Brother Rodel (investigator) about The Plan of Salvation, and mainly focused on using agency to choose the right and go to church because he's kind of struggling with going. We then visited the Olivida family and had a small FHE with them and did this demonstration with cornstarch and water, that demonstrated our testimonies. Brother Olivida is so cute because he loves to share his testimony to everyone and always gives this smile with squinty eyes when he's satisfied with what he shares. They're such an awesome family!
July 6th, Wednesday, Sister Paget and I traveled to the Mandaue church because we were having a "meet and greet" with our new mission president, President Maughan. We discussed the Preach My Gospel book for missionaries and how it can help us to teach people if we apply it and use it. I loved being able to meet them. They're so sweet and funny! Everyone seems to like them already. After the meeting, we went and visited Sister Brina and taught her about the Holy Ghost and His role in our lives, and the importance of being worthy in order to always have Him dwell with us. Afterwards, we visited Sister Rosalie and shared about our purpose here on earth and the importance of receiving the Gospel now before it's too late.
July 7th, Thursday, Sister Paget and I visited Sister Sacnanas and shared with her about spreading the Gospel. She's a good member. Always willing to help out. After that we visited Brother Elmo and shared with him about God's love for each of His children. We then visited Brother Ben and Sister Flora and taught them about the Restoration. They were pretty receptive, but at the same time, I'm not quite sure if they're just thinking this is a "Bible sharing" moment. haha. After them, we visited Brother Juwarsi and taught him about the priesthood. We mainly focused on the attributes to possess if you have the priesthood. Brother Juwarsi really wants to become a member and get the priesthood. He's so awesome!
July 8th, Friday, we visited a part member, Brother Juanies Pocong, and taught him about prophets. He's such an awesome guy. He told Sister Paget and I that he was never interested in listening to all of the missionaries that taught his family/girlfriend before, but now he's interested and wants to change/learn more about the gospel. We thought it was awesome because we knew that the Lord really changed his heart/mind to want to become a better person. After that we visited another part member, Brother Robert, and also taught him about the prophets. He's a little slow and it takes time for him to understand, but he's pretty cool and seems interested in our messages.
July 9th, Saturday, Sister Paget and I visited Sister Renalyn and taught her about the plan of salvation and mainly focused on our life on earth. We shared about how our purpose here on earth is to prepare to return back to God and so we need to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow His commandments or we aren't prepared to go back. We then visited Sister Brina and retaught her some convert lessons. We shared about enduring to the end and continuing to pray and read throughout our life, not just before we're baptized. She's awesome. She loves the Gospel and loves to learn! We decided to stay in their home and share with Sister Ana, (Brina's younger sister). We shared about Lehi's Dream and the four groups that are in his dream. Sister Ana is really smart and loves the Gospel, but is struggling with acting on what she knows.
We then shared with their older sibling, Brother Gino, about spiritual goals. He hasn't been coming to church and so we decided to just ask him a bunch of questions to really get him to think about his future and what he wants in his life. The best part about this day, is that after work, Sister Jeanette, (a member) came over and delivered us food! She told us that she knows what its like to be a hungry missionary away from home. She brought over some BBQ, mashed potatoes, carrots/corn, AND the best part . . . sparkling cider! It felt like we were eating in America. haha. Lami!
July 10th, Sunday: Today was kind of short because we had nobody to visit except Sister Anjie. We shared with her about putting God first and always choosing him over other things/people. She's such an awesome convert. She's so smart and loves the Gospel. She's the only member in her family so it's pretty hard to keep going to church when she's the only one . . . but she does it! She's awesome.
"Stand alone if you must . . . but stand!"
I love you all! Amping kanunay!
Love,
Sister Johnson