The Best Christmas Present Ever!

December 25, 2011

For Christmas this year, I got the best present ever. I got to see Tatay David be baptized. He was baptized on Christmas Eve, what a memorable day. You might be thinking, how is this any different from all the other baptisms that I've written about. Of course, each baptism is important, unique, and very special to me. But this one is a bit different, not just because it was December 24th.

One thing that made it so special is the change that I've had the opportunity to witness. Tatay David initially started listening to us because his daughter, who is a member, wanted him to listen. He had listened several times before, always at her request, and had always turned away the missionaries. At our first lesson he told us that he wasn't willing to believe anything that we taught if it wasn't specifically in the Bible. While we do believe in, teach from, and love the Bible, we also believe in the Book of Mormon; Another Testament of Jesus Christ and modern day revelation through living prophets. Tatay David had no desire or interest in accepting these things. At the request of his daughter, and because he said he was willing to listen, we did our best to help him open his heart.

For the most part, we expressed our love and care for David. We let him know that we wanted to teach him if he wanted to learn, and not just because his daughter wanted it. We bore testimony and shared how we had come to know and accept the things that we were teaching. I don't think that I will ever forget the day when he looked at us after a lesson and said, "I want to be baptized. At first, I wanted it because they wanted it, but now I want it. I want it because it's right." A few weeks later, as we finished a lesson, he looked at me to say thank you, apologizing for being difficult at first and expressing deep gratitude for giving him the chance to be baptized.

He started as someone who did not want to listen, and now he wants us to visit every day. He didn't want to believe; now he knows it's true. Best Christmas Ever!

Oh, That I were an Angel

December 18, 2011

A few scripture verses I read earlier this week in my personal study:

"Oh, that I were an angel, and could have the wish of my heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me." Alma 29:1-3

My personal rewrite to apply the verses to my own life:

"Oh, that I were an elder, and could have the wish of my heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God for two whole years...But behold, I am a sister, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the eighteen months which the Lord hath allotted unto me."

Just something kinda funny that I realized this week. Sister missionaries are assigned to serve for 18 months, while elders get 2 years. For much of my mission, I was honestly jealous of the elders and the extra 6 months that they get to spend as a missionary. After reading these verses though, I realized I must be content with the time that I have and just use it as best as I can. Besides- my mom would probably kill me if I told her I was staying for an extra 6 months.

On another note. This week was totally amazing. We had several wonderful lessons and were able to find many individuals that we had been looking for. One thing I really love doing in each area is getting to know the people who are already members of the church, especially those who haven't been able to attend in a while. Sometimes these people are very difficult to find, I can't just see them at church and ask where their house is. My companion and I set aside a few hours this week to try to find some of these people and get to know them a little bit better. We headed out with a prayer for assistance and faith that we would be able to locate them.

The first people we asked directed us to a nearby tsunggi, telling us the tag-iya might know where they live (definitions: tsunggi- small store, tag-iya- owner). The tag-iya didn't know very many of them besides the one who happened to live next door, but sitting in front of the tsunggi was a sweet old man who walked up to me and said, "I'm a member" (yes- in English). He was really excited to see the missionaries again, showed us where he lives, introduced us to his wife, and then his wife came along to show us where some other members live. It was so much fun. The wife even came to church this week! They are a sweet old couple. I love this work; I'm so very grateful for my chance to be a part of it.

Ingat, Halong, Andam, Dahan, and Take Care.

Another Zone Conference

December 11, 2011

For the Christmas season, we had a combined zone conference with the Iloilo North zone, complete a with Christmas presentation, gift exchange, and typical missionary training. It was a wonderful experience.

In President Pagaduan's opening remarks, he taught about how important it is to pick what we listen to and not just listen to everything that is offered to us in this world. As individuals, we are surrounded by voices that guide us, teach us, and encourage us to do better. Unfortunately, we are also surrounded by those who desire to do us harm, to lead us astray, and those who are ever telling us that we are insignificant and incapable. Those who sit back as impassive listeners and allow every message to enter their thoughts often end up confused and uncertain. We must choose which voices really matter to us, which wants we want to hear and which ones we want to ignore so that we can be guided to where we desire to be. We must also make an effort to be the sort of voice that can reliably be listened too. Are we harshly criticizingly those around us, telling them they are of no worth? Or are we doing our best to lift and help those near to us, even through a medium as simple as what we are saying? Words really are so important. For example, each of you takes time out of your day to fill your thoughts with the words I write, just little black words, but they are important enough that you keep reading. I hope that I'm doing my best to lift you up.

These thoughts bring back a memory from a few months ago. As my companion and I were waiting to meet with someone, a lady pulled up in her car. The windows were rolled down and her radio was blaring to loudly to continue conversation. I've honestly never heard a more degrading or vulgar song, let alone one being played loud enough to hear from miles away. I did my best to avoid listening to the song when I noticed a child- 4 or 5 years in age- singing along with the song, familiar with the words and tune, it was obviously a song that they had heard many times. There are so many children in our lives, and they are so greatly influenced by what they hear. Unlike grown adults, they have little control of what they are listening to and how it effects them. Sadly, there are individuals who choose to listen to that which does not lift and inspire us and expose these young spirits to all of it.

We are living in a world where the television and the radio are ever increasingly screaming messages that take us away from that which is good and beautiful. Some day, probably not too many years in the future, I will have young children of my own, exposed to all that the world has to offer. Many of you may as well. Do we really want our children living in this world where that which is good is degraded till it becomes nearly disgusting and that which is vulgar is posted on walls and played on the radios? I don't. Yet what can one girl do against the world. I'm really not sure... but it only takes one to make a difference. It only takes one to stand up, and maybe some of you will choose to stand with me, and maybe the world that lies in our future can be better than the one we currently have, instead of worse. What are we willing to do?

Kun magtawas kita sa pagtindog, basi may magbago...

Transfers Again!

December 4, 2011

I'll be completely honest with you, I don't really like transfers. They make the time feel like it's flying by ever faster and it often takes away from me that which I love. I either lose an amazing companion, or I leave an amazing area. No matter what, something which I love is no longer with me. Friday was a transfer day and my companion and I were nearly certain that she was transferring. As the day approached, the words to a song ran through my head almost unceasingly- it's one of those songs that really applies to the life of a missionary.

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before.
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war.
Pick a star on the dark horizon and
Follow the light
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye.
You'll come back when it's over
No need to say goodbye.
(From "The Call" by Regina Spektor: Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian)

How does this apply to transfers and missions? In this last transfer, everything changed, Sister McBride and I are no longer companions, she is no longer here. It was like that before however, because before September we weren't companions, and before June she wasn't in Antique. Missions sometimes really feel like a war. We don't have guns or swords, but we fight against the forces of the devil as we try to help others to come unto Christ. The one thing that helps most is to know who your friends are, to know that there are people at home who love you and pray for you, to know that- though you'll be separated- you and your previous companion will still be friends, to know that there are people standing beside you and fighting with you. Finally, we are blessed with a light to follow, a star on the horizon, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He leads this work and he promises us that we will never be left alone in the dark. As my companion left, we did not say goodbye- we said see you later, because after this is all over, we'll come back.

Part of life is the changing, the moving on, the growth. We pass the test and we head on to the next grade, one step closer to graduation and going home to the Father in Heaven who loves us so very much. Along the way, we meet friends who stand beside us and with us. One of those has just left me, and God has blessed me with another in her place. My transfers race by faster than I can think and my heart breaks as I realize that I only have 4 left. I avoid thinking about it and pray that the time will slow down so I can breathe before I climb on that plane, everything changes, and so many things go back to being the way they were before.

Halong Kamo