Madison on a Mission

Family Home Evening with the Abat family

KUMUSTA!?!?!? Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Another good week here in San Fernando. SOBRANG MAIINIT. So so hot this week the weather just switched from raining every day all day to being super hot again. It's typhoon season so it's normal haha. I got to see my first mini typhoon a couple weeks ago -- it's called a bagyo here.

Basically, missionary work is the best work in the entire world and nothing makes me happier. SERIOUSLY. Nothing is better than teaching the Restoration to investigators and serving them. NOTHING. Please please pray for our investigators --- they need all the support and help possible!

It's been another good week in Lingsat! Sister Daban and I are trying our best to help our investigators. This week we are especially grateful to the faithful members of our ward that are so devoted to missionary work. We got help from the young women, the ward mission leader, the relief society president, the high priest's president, primary and of course, our district and mission president, in visiting our investigators. Sister Flora helped us teach Sister Lenie Castigo, and the young women came with us to teach a less active youth, Mark Joseph. Sister Mendoza came with us to visit the less active Galvez family and recent convert Sister Amy Magbanwa. We got to go with a lot of members of the ward, including Bishop, to the Benidez family this week too. Over all, it's been a great privilege to work with the members.

A highlight of our week was FHE of course with everyone at the Abat family. It was amazing that everyone came together to show love and support to this family. They came to church again this Sunday as a family, and except for Brother Abat who has work, the rest stayed for class for the first time. We know that it is so important for investigators to have constant support and friends, to feel important and that people care for them in the church. It helps them stay strong in the gospel and understand more fully the love the Savior has for them. We believe that blessings truly are promised from following the Lord.

Sometimes we can't control everything that happens in the week, but we just have to do the best we can with what God has given us. I know I don't handle every situation perfectly and I have a lot of faults and weaknesses. I wish I always knew what to do and say when I teach, or was perfect in the language or handled every situation perfectly. But I truly want to serve the Lord and be obedient to all his mission rules, and that's what I try to do every day. Sister Daban is such a blessing to me and seriously she's been just an incredible companion. She lets me exercise every day and is so willing to work hard. She is so kind, so much fun to be around, and is truly dedicated to the work. She is such a blessing in lessons, teaching with confidence and clarity according to promptings of the Spirit. She truly was is tune to find some wonderful investigators too. She is an amazing missionary and a great friend.

We have an incredible new investigator, Sister Bing Aquitana. We met her about a week and a half ago, and she is an elect lady. She understands the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, and she already believes that this truly is the Church of Jesus Christ. We love her so much and have the highest of hopes for her. She's amazing and such a blessing.

We have another investigator, Carl Erikson, that is the sweetest little boy on the entire planet and is like my little brother. We love him to death. He is learning so fast and is 12 years old. He is so smart.

I've been studying more deeply the lessons in Preach My Gospel. I focused on the Apostasy, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon this week, and my testimony truly has grown about these principles. Truly the fullness and clarity and beauty of the gospel was lost over time as the Apostles were killed and the world lost the authority from God and the prophets, and revelation. People began to teach according to their own understanding and denying the power of God. Many churches arose and their understanding of the commandments, the Bible, and the nature of God completely changed. Their purposes were different. The truth was lost from the earth and we truly needed a Restoration. I love to share that message with our investigators. God is the Father of us all, then why are there so many churches and different interpretations of the commandments. Isn't he the same yesterday, today, and forever? Shouldn't baptism, faith, and the commandments and ordinances be the same and constant for each of His children? I know that Joseph Smith asked of God to know the truth, and became the prophet to start the dispensation of the fullness of times. This is the Church of Jesus Christ restored to the earth again. The same one that existed before. The salvation of men is in Jesus Christ and the principles and ordinances of the gospel that are the same now and forever. I believe it with all my heart. OUR SAVIOR LIVES!!

Sister Porter

Doctrine and Covenants 1

17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;

18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—

19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—

20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

21 That faith also might increase in the earth;

22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;

23 That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.