So, here I am
back in an internet shop in order to finish my email and email my Mission
President.
Soooo, I have much kwento about the past few hours :) :) :)
Well, we
picked up Sis. Alice and took her to the mission office by taxi…110 pesos from
our area...grabe! (Oh my goodness!) Haha!
Ayos lang. (It’s
okay.) Anyway, on the way over, I
was talking with Sister Alice and how she's been feeling about her interview
with president.
So, let me
give a little more background on what's been going on. Sister Alice has been an
investigator for 9 months so far. She first heard of the church and started
taking lessons in Makati City and has been through a lot since then. She has a
2 year old son, Mateo. Remember how I said that I thought she was 23 or 25?
Well, she's actually just turned 20...haha!!! But it makes the story even harder
for her. Let's just say she's been through a lot and she's moved out of her
family’s house and is living with a friend. She just made things up with her
family and now they are against her again...long story short, it's been a long
and arduous journey for her as she's struggled to find the Church. Pero, good
news, she's read through the Book of Mormon twice :)
Last month,
she went to see president for the first time to get baptized. But she was put
on probation because she told president that she felt that she's not ready.
Good for her to be strong enough to realize this fact. Because the thing was,
she really wasn’t ready and she didn't want to be a part of this church she
knows is true unless she was ready. So
for the last month, Elder Peralta and I have been working with her in her
repentance process and be ready for baptism although we've only met with her 2
times at her house. Thank goodness for the Spirit telling me exactly what to
say to her in those times because it was not until today that I understood her
actual situation. All I knew was that
God loved his precious daughter in front of me. Looking back, I know that the
words I’ve been speaking to her can ONLY be from God because I did not realize
how perfect for her the messages I have given her…in the order they were given
and in the way it was spoken.
Well, as we
approached the mission office, she was feeling really depressed without the
support or love of her family. She was in need of something good in her life,
in order to help her support her son, Mateo, without her grandma to watch him
while she's at work. I was feeling for her, and wanted to help so bad but knew
not how to. But when we got into the office, it was a very friendly and happy
atmosphere with other missionaries also getting interviews. I'm thankful to the
missionaries who were so friendly to her and made things more comfortable for
her. The AP Elder Kinikini was a great help to us. I even saw a sister from my
batch back at the MTC. She told me that she and Elder McCoy made it to the PHI
on Wednesday!!! YES!!! I'm glad he's doing well. Anyway moving on, so she was
feeling quite nervous but I was talking to her and giving her comfort the whole
time. I suddenly got a thought to pray with her before the interview, so I
asked if she wanted to go outside with Elder Peralta and I and we could offer a
prayer for her. So we went outside the building and I offered a prayer for her
and for God to give her comfort and bless her with the Holy Spirit to guide her
and watch over her in the interview. And after that, we got a text from our
housemates that they were praying for her too. ^_^ Wow, I showed her the text
and let her know that she has more support than she even knows. I think that
was very comforting for her cause she relaxed after that.
So, then she
went into the office of President and we began to wait, hope, and pray for
her. And to whoever may be reading this,
I can testify to you that God does answer prayers. I know this is true, because
Sister Alice came out of that interview and she said she was cleared for
baptism. !!!!^_^!!!! After 9 months of missionary after missionary work, Elder
Peralta and I were the ones to help her get to that final point. President
Delamare seemed really confident in Sister Alice and her process of repentance
that she's been through. I already knew she had truly repented because I could
see how she's experienced that Godly sorrow and humility. My family and
friends, I have seen the Hand of God lift a young women from the depth of
despair and brought her to the young woman I saw walking out of the office
jumping up and down telling us that she is finally able to be baptized. The baptismal
service of Sister Alice will be held this Saturday at 7pm.
She couldn't wait so we scheduled it as fast as we could. haha!!! A good friend of hers will be baptizing
her.
For the first
time on my mission I have felt the true happiness that only a missionary can
feel. This is the greatest happiness I think I’ve ever felt. But it's a
different kind of happiness from anything I’ve ever felt before. I can't
describe it except for that it felt like God lent me some of his happiness to
see his prodigal daughter come back to him, after knowing how hard she's
struggled to get there. I feel honored, so honored to have been able to help
her return to the blessing and comfort of her Father in Heaven. Although I
cannot take most of the credit, for 9 month’s worth of missionaries in many
areas of the Philippines have helped her get here. I was lucky enough to see
her through to the end.
 |
| Celebrating with Sister Alice after her interview... |
Above are
some pictures we took at the mall celebrating with ice cream and many high
fives!!! (resisted giving her a hug like I would if not a missionary).
So is this
mission worth it?
You bet, 2
years is hardly enough time to give if I could feel that Joy again and again
and again. I'm sure that there are many others like Sister Alice that need us
out there, so for them and for God, I will continue my journey and rejoice
(D&C 100:12)
Am I sure
this is my purpose in life?
I've never been
more sure of anything in my life than this mission. I can honestly say that
now. I have tasted of the fruit of the tree of life and i want all to partake.
That is the
best I can give you with this weekly letter, I cannot add more because nothing
can compete with the experience I’ve had today.
Wow, what a
P-day ^_^ haha!
However, know
that just because I’m a missionary, doesn't mean that you cannot also feel the
joy that I have. I know for a fact that there are sister Alice’s around where
you are right now looking for a way to escape their pit of despair. Give them
the light, show them the way back to Christ. Pray for missionary experience
with real intent and I know that the Lord will put people into your life that
will need the knowledge that you have about the Gospel and your experiences.
The Lord knows where his lost sheep are. I know that you can bring them back to
the fold. If I knew then what I know now,
I would have shared the Gospel with everyone I knew back home XD. Cause this is
the greatest feeling!
Haha! Okay, well that's my day and the highlight of
the week, all the stresses and problems before do not matter now. And I’m about
as excited as a newborn puppy! I'll have many pictures next Monday!!! I love
you all, I pray for you every day, so I know you'll be fine. Do what the Spirit
directs and you'll never be wrong, and the powers of darkness will never be
able to lay a finger on you! Alam ko po na tooto ang Simbahan Ni Jesucristo ng
Mga Banal ng Mga Huling Araw. Alam ko po na, Mahal Tayo ng Dyios. I know this
is true because I’ve seen the Lord touch the lives of many people and have even
saved those who have the need and the desire to come unto Christ. And bear
witness of God's love and works for his beloved Children and I am grateful for
the wonderful Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ so that we may be able to
return to him and become clean from all of our past sins and mistakes through
his Atonement. I know that when thou art in darkness, if you cry unto the Lord,
he will show the light and show you the way. In the Name of Jesus Christ,Amen.
Doing you Proud,
-Elder Froude
^_^
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