Kumusta po kayong lahat! Magandang tagiinit! Happy summer! April is actually the hottest season in Luzon (north Philippines) so it's summer here! Even though I hear it snowed this week back home hahaha. It's killer hot in the lowlands but I'm just fine up in Baguio -- perfect temperature right now and rainy season (tagulan) doesn't start until June or July
This week we got to work with the youth and they came with us to hand out Book of Mormons to people on street! It was probably the best activity I've ever had. I was in charge (just me) of a group of 15 year old girls that were so excited to share the Book of Mormon and their Tagalog was perfect and mine was not so great haha. But they would run up to someone on the street or in a tindahan to share the gospel but then they would freeze because they were so nervous. So I got to help them share the Book of Mormon and show them to not be afraid to share. I thought it was hilarious that this Americana was showing all these native teenagers around and speaking for them hahaha. They all want to go on missions now!
This week we met a less active 22 year-old named Jonathon. His family is active in another part of the Philippines but he had to leave his family to come here. We had no idea he was a member and he had never been on any of the less-active records we have seen. I hope that we were led to his house for a reason. It was amazing to meet him -- he had forgotten so much but is clearly looking for something missing that he once had.
Prayers for one of our investigators that wants to be baptized in June and has done everything she possibly can to change and align her will to God's will -- is being physically forced by her friends to do wrong. It hurts so bad that she is being hurt and Satan is trying to discourage her.
I learned a ton about faith and grace this week. I just want to accomplish so much and I feel like my skills are so inadequate and often I have no idea what to do.But I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Helaman about how despite trials, the Lamanites were FIRM and STEADFAST in the faith. It really stuck out to me although I've heard that phrase hundreds of times.
Faith in the Bible Dictionary:
The Lord has revealed himself and His perfect character, possessing in their fulness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other, needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in Him WITHOUT RESERVATION. Strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Alma 32:21 -- faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore, if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
We do not know our future or exactly what's going to happen in our lives. We may not understand why we are not like this or that, why something horrible is happening to us or others, why our expectations are not matching up to reality. But we can place our trust WITHOUT RESERVATION is someone that has our best interests in mind, someone who is PERFECT in all understanding, all knowledge, and has perfect love for us. Everything will work out for those who love God.
Grace is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we have faith in the Atonement, we will have help to do good works that we otherwise do not have the ability to do. It is a promise that all we have to do is ask Him and then proceed forward with faith. Things will work out even if things are hard now. By faith all miracles happen. Just keep acting and trying to follow the Spirit and I believe miracles will happen but sometimes we have to wait on the timing of our Father in Heaven/.
I love you all so much! Magkaroon tayong mas pananampalataya kay Cristo! Siya ay liwanag ng lahat ng mundo. The Savior is everything! I feel the prayers of you all!
All the love,
Sister Porter
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