Even though Christmas was a little crazy and many people
have been out on vacation, we are trying to be more of a strength to our
branch. The little branch is struggling with the amount of members coming to
church, putting a lot of stress on our local leaders. We are going to assist
them in mapping out nonmembers so we've been using our ward directory. It's not
easy but it's what the branch president has asked the ward to do and we hope it
will help us find part member families. We are trying to put into place a way
to work with the home and visiting teachers to help them find the less active
and part member families in their area. And we have been focusing on visiting
members and asking for referrals by giving them Book of Mormons. The great
thing is, every member said they had a friend, kapitbahay or family member that
has been on their mind to give a Book of Mormon too. We plan on following up on
it every week until we get referrals and to ask more members too. Hopefully
that will get us more investigators that have members involved in the work.
Brother Nuevo is doing fantastic. His countenance is
changing. He has repented of his sins, and avoids the situations that tempt
him. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and always comes to church. The
gospel is blessing his life and I know that if he continues he will be ready
for baptism in just a few short weeks.
Brother Arnold is a new investigator of ours. He felt drawn
to the Book of Mormon and is truly interested in knowing the truth. We taught
the Restoration so powerfully and I am excited to follow up on him. He really
has the desire to read and go to church so we are extremely hopeful. He has a
family too that isn't too interested right now but hopefully by Arnold's
example they will join. He had a dream when he prayed to know about the teachings
of the missionaries-- that he was looking at tons of photos of Jesus Christ all
with different faces and appearance and he ended up choosing one. When we came
and shared the photo of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon that was the one
that Arnold knew he chose in his dream. It was a cool experience. I'm excited
to teach him.
Rhenier Soriano and Arsenio Mendoza are the best recent
converts. Even though Arsenio got baptized last week, he immediately wanted to
go on the branch temple trip and he went! Rhenier did too -- and although he is
only 15 I feel like he is a very very special young man. Ever since he started
reading the Book of Mormon and was baptized he has devoted almost all of his
free time to the gospel. He even works with us. He went to the temple and is
trying to do family history work for his dad that he feels a special connection
to. He tries to share the gospel to everyone -- he tries to share it to his
whole class at school, all his family, and all his friends even though he has
been rejected and persecuted. He has dreamed that he will receive a mission
call. I know that the Lord has a VERY special calling for this boy who found
the gospel by himself and is converted. I have felt such a privilege to meet
him and know him. I almost cried when I saw all that he studies and does to
share the gospel.
I've been really really studying the Atonement. I've been so
impressed with the story of Alma the younger in Mosiah 27 and Alma 36. I really
have been wanting to understand what it means to be born again, how to tear out
the natural man and become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ.
Something else that I've been studying is opposition and
weakness. I came across a paragraph in my language study book that said that
there are 2 types of learners of a language -- those that are successful and
those that are unsuccessful. Those that are unsuccessful are those afraid to
try because they know they will make mistakes if they speak. They will only
speak if they know what they are going to say is perfectly correct. The
successful ones are those who are not afraid to act and speak all the time,
even if what they say is balubaluktot and crooked and simple like Ako and ikaw.
Those are those who eventually succeed.
I think that is not just for language but for life too. If
we want to learn anything, especially how to be like Jesus Christ, we can't be
afraid to fall and make mistakes. We have to try and try and get up and forgive
ourselves. I guess that is what I am proud of in myself. I know that to some I
may not look like the most successful -- I fall and make mistakes. Things don't
always work out the way we plan. Often we can't get everything we thought we
could do done. Sometimes we have to be patient with others. But what I've been
telling my investigators and myself is that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan
for all of us even if we don't understand what and he will help us know where
to go. But I know where my heart is -- it's to be a good missionary and to help
others receive the gospel. Sometimes I don't understand how and I feel like I'm
stumbling around in the dark. My desire is to be exactly obedient and I get
stressed about everything I'm not doing and it's hard to handle seeing where I
fall short. But I know who I have to trust and I hope that someday everything
will make sense. I hope that you will be proud of me and Heavenly Father will
be proud of me. I will never stop praying about it -- I've been praying for a
year. All of the baptisms in our area have never been because of my efforts --
it's God's work and not mine. But I haven't given up and as hard as it is
sometimes to not give up, I won't because I love this gospel and I love my
Savior and others.
This year I want to talk to as many people as I can. I know
that Heavenly Father places in our path people to teach.
Sister Porter
Zone Activity! There ya go -- traditional Filipino food and
eating
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