I know that it was revelation from God for me to stay here in Naguilian for a little bit longer. I am so so grateful. This week I saw incredible miracles. Last week I was hit with trials because things didn't work out right and I felt like I wasn't doing enough -- I felt surrounded by darkness. But so did Joseph Smith before the First Vision. At the very moment when you feel like you feel like you must abandon yourself to destruction or sadness, if you keep praying, the Light comes. And it came!
This week we worked so hard -- from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed we are still working. We planned, we prayed, we trusted in God that he would give us words to say. And He did!!! We have the best investigators!
We are teaching a new family that was a referral from our recent converts. The Flora family is SO prepared for the gospel. The Spirit is working with them so much. The Spirit helped us teach one of the most clear and understandable lessons of the Restoration I have ever had. Their little 9 year old son has a sweet connection to the Spirit that he begs his family to come to church -- he's the first one ready every Sunday! They were touched at testimony meeting this week, started reading the Book of Mormon as a couple, and even though they are still confused about Joseph Smith they prayed to know if this is the right church for them and they said they received an answer that this is the right path for their family. In just two weeks they told us their family is changing little by little. They were thinking about another church to join but that was when they met the missionaries and they realized it was a sign from God. We are so so excited about their progress Sister Umpad and I were overjoyed last night.
Their neighbor Sister Gida, was the lady who stopped us on her motorcycle, who has been searching for a real family because she was abandoned when she was a child and now helps abandoned children. She has been working so hard ever since she was young to build a living for herself. And we knew their was a reason we met her. This week when we came to check up on her she has changed. She grabbed her Book of Mormon, explained to us that she had met with her pastor and asked about Joseph Smith. He told her that even Satan can appear and deceive people. So she explained everything to us and told us she was confused but she wasn't quite convinced by his words. She told us she felt she needed to read the Book of Mormon and she started reading the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith at the beginning. After that I believe that Sister Umpad and I were filled with the Spirit and knew what we had to say. A scripture popped into my head - 3 Nephi 14: 16. And we told her that the Book of Mormon invites others to come unto Christ and nothing this good that brings forth such goodness and eternal life could ever come from Satan. Satan tries to counterfeit goodness and confuse us, but everything he does eventually leads us to be miserable like he is if we follow him. The Book of Mormon has the words of Christ and is the evidence that Joseph Smith was inspired by God. We then read 3 Nephi 14: 7-11 and promised her that because she was seeking for truth that God would answer her and bring her goodness. She came to church yesterday.
Brother Arnold is so excited to be baptized that he wanted us to move up his baptismal date. He said he would be active in all activities and even came to branch council. Brother Nuevo is such a great fellowshipper to him and to our investigators. He drops everything to work with the missionaries or come to an activity or meeting. We are going to try to finish he lessons this week. We have some commandments to finish but he is doing so good. He is giving up his old ways and starting new ones. Their baranggay is buzzing with news of how people are changing because of the gospel. That's why almost all our investigators are in that baranggay it's pretty funny.
Sister Erlina came to church too. They are getting married this Thursday. She is 20 years old and we brought the YSA to visit her and they loved her. After the lesson they came back the next day to learn how to make Baguio headbands. Sister Erlina felt so loved at church. They are a very poor family but prepared. We are teaching her more simply but she felt the Spirit when all the youth testified of the blessings of the gospel. She begs the missionaries to come back to her.
Sister Emilia is a long term investigator but when we first met her she wasn't ready to be baptized. She still has things she needs to do but she has started reading the Book of Mormon seriously for weeks and the scriptures are talking directly to her and helping her change. The Book of Mormon is a miracle!!!!!! We feel the Spirit every time we read the verses she highlights with her and liken it unto her.
Sister Rina that President allowed to come and research the missionaries, is 100% prepared by God to hear the gospel. She has been studying us and is so curious. After her survey we did EDPER in district meeting and Sister Umpad and I got to teach Sister Rina about the Book of Mormon and the First Vision. Afterward she got so curious that she testified to our zone that she felt something new -- she doesn't know it is the Spirit yet -- and said she was ready to meet with the missionaries. Hopefully the office got the referral we sent with her information.
We fasted with the leaders of the branch this week for our investigators and miracles happened at church. It was amazing. Brother Zaldy and Brother Arsenio blessed the sacrament today and did an incredible job. Brother Wally's girlfriend is leaving on a mission -- who knows what brother Wally will choose to do? (Hopefully he will serve too) I love the faith of the leaders here and I love Naguilian so much. I am so grateful for the counsel that the leaders have given me here -- they helped me feel peace and happy. I am actually learning that I like to plan and all the branch goals and meetings. I know that I stayed here for a reason. This week saved me because it brought back the peace that I was looking for that maybe I wouldn't have had otherwise because I see the fruit here in Naguilian. Truly the field is ripe and ready to harvest.
I know that there are still trials to come. I still feel inadequate because I make mistakes everyday. I have a lot of weaknesses. A ton. But everything that has happened here has been a gift from God and never because of our efforts. We can see that this is the Lord's work and not ours. That He knows His children and won't let them perish if they believe in Him. I, despite my innumerable weaknesses, believe in Him and keep praying and reading the Book of Mormon, and so I know He answers my prayers and gives us what we ask if we ask in faith. We have to be patient with the Lord's timing. Something I read from Jeffrey R Holland in (Tomorrow the Lord will Work Wonders Among You) is that the Lord knows the desires of our hearts. I know that I have struggles and I know they will come back. I know my weaknesses and I have a ton of things to improve. But we are being obedient and me and Sister Umpad are very happy. She is one of the best companions I have ever had because of her testimony, she makes me laugh and truly happy because of her conversion of her and her family, she is so humble and so bold and patient with me and our investigators.
In my personal study I read John 21, and know that after my mission I can't go back to my old life either. I am not successful without the Savior, just like the disciples caught nothing when they went back to their nets. Christ is the one that gives success. Our work is nothing without Him, but we find strength and miracles beyond our capabilities. But more important is that Christ called us to feed His sheep. He can get fish is he wants -- but He wants us -- ourselves -- He needs disciples forever who will covenant with him to sacrifice our time, talents, to build the kingdom of God. I made that promise when I was called as a missionary and now I must be His disciple forever.
Sister Porter
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