Madison on a Mission

Another Week In Bauang

This week went by fast -- it was a good week. I had some struggles the previous week, but I know that Satan really tries to attack missionaries because he knows the weight of our calling. I realize I have many weaknesses -- I'm not a perfect teacher for example, but I am learning to just keep going and trust that Heavenly Father will bless us if we do our best to follow Him. THANK YOU FOR ALL PRAYERS AND FOR GOING TO THE TEMPLE FOR ME AND MY INVESTIGATORS.

We felt a sense of urgency this week. I can see all the people that have not heard the Restoration and we feel a tremendous sense to teach everyone we can. Every time an appointment fell through this week, we used it as an opportunity to talk to people on the street and teach on the spot. We taught the Restoration on the spot to all of them and asked them all to be baptized. Many of them were prepared. One mother, Sister Arlene, listened to us so intently when we shared the Restoration. She was supposed to go to the market with her kids but she decided instead to listen to us. She was surprised by our message and accepted our invitation. We met some young single adults yesterday when an appointment fell through and asked to teach them a lesson. When we asked them why they let us teach them, one 19-year old young man (Von) asked why there were so many religions and what was right. We were so excited we taught him the whole Restoration right away.

The Young Single adults are so active in the ward. They are running the ward and missionary work here in Bauang 2nd branch. They are so faithful -- even when they have board exams the next day, or tons of work, or school, they take the time to come work with us, even if they only have time for a couple appointments. It's actually really funny because we've gotten a couple referrals for the classmates of some of the returned missionaries in the ward. It made me laugh because they can see in those classmates potential people to date and become their eternal companions. We met one of them yesterday and she was very receptive when we shared the Book of Mormon -- she felt the Spirit testify that she needed to meet with the missionaries.

Angel and Alex are going to be baptized this week. It has been such a blessing to teach them because they are such sweet and humble daughters of our Heavenly Father. They brought such a sweet spirit into the lesson. They are a part member family. Sister Tobias and I love them so much.

We have some investigators that are very strong in their faith. Sister Marylou is a strong Baptist but has been listening to us. We just read the Book of Mormon with her with faith that if she reads it she will feel the Spirit. She feels it when she reads but when she doesn't she forgets what she learned and goes back to her original beliefs. But she prays to know when she is with us so we have faith that if she reads she will know in her heart.  All of her kids are members.

Sister Shiela is such a sweet and humble mother. She still has a lot to learn but she wants to come to church and we are hoping and praying for her! She has been very receptive to what we have taught her especially because her son died when he was 11 from malpractice, and she feels that he is telling her to listen to us.

The Calica and Bacolcol families are still struggling, but we have been trying to pray to ask what we should do and on Friday we received an impression to go to the Bacolcol family and teach them to pray. We did and we only taught Sister Angie ( the mother) about receiving answers to prayer. Then we prayed and Sister Angie gave a sweet prayer to ask Heavenly Father to help her husband. Then we paused for a few minutes after the prayer and we know that we all felt the Spirit. We are excited to follow up with Sister tomorrow. The Calica family is struggling with money and they haven't built up the faith yet that God can help them. But Sister Marylou asked us last night that we can pray with her to overcome temptation so she will read the Book of Mormon and go to church, because she told us that she wants to know God's plan for her.

Those are the highlights of the week. We also have days where things don't go the way we plan, we have struggles about our imperfections and weaknesses, but I'm so grateful for the chance I've been given to learn how to love. I've been realizing my mission is teaching me how to think of others and their needs before mine. To truly love them. Sister Tobias has a strength there and that is something I've learned from her. I'm praying now for charity. Sister Tobias loves who we teach and sees more in them than they do of themselves. That has taught me that's a gift I want too. Sometimes when I'm frustrated when someone is acting a certain way, I realize that actually those people need love and are looking for the gospel.

Sister Tobias has been an incredible companion. She is so hardworking, and so wants to improve her teaching and every aspect of our work and to help each family we teach individually. She is such an effective worker and never wastes a minute of her time. She is a great companion.

Sister Porter