Trials and Faith in Lingsat

This week we were so surprised and so happy about the amount of opportunities that have been given to us to help those in need. I have been really so happy sharing the gospel every day and loving the people we teach. I'm learning a lifestyle that I want to continue for the rest of my life, being happy and serving and loving the people around me.

First of all, we were so grateful for the idea to get a stroller for Harvey. We are so grateful for my mission president’s help and the help of the Seymours to show an act of pure love to the S family. Seeing all the members show so much love to this family has been so inspiring to me because it lifted me up to a higher plane of thinking -- striving more and more to think less about myself and looking more and more for the needs of those around me and then filling that need. Harvey's condition has been incredibly difficult for this family. In February Harvey came home from school with internal bleeding in his head, that grew bigger and bigger until they took him to the hospital, but it was too late; he was diagnosed with viral meningitis-- that has quickly affected most of his brain. He was in a coma for a month, and then when he finally woke up, he couldn't move; he couldn't feel; he couldn't digest his own food ( he has a tube that runs from his nose to his intestines where he can only have liquids); he has a seizure about once a week. He can only lay there on a tiny wooden bed and look around the room and sometimes cry. His parents are so loving and are so so concerned for him; they've spent everything they have taking him to the hospital. Brother has to take time off work, and they really don't have money to eat or anything. What's more they have 5 kids, one of them being a 5 month -old baby. Despite all these hardships, we were incredibly humbled by Sister's firm faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the missionaries first started teaching her mother, she would always hide in another room. But it turned out she had been listening to every discussion, and finally she joined a lesson and expressed that she had felt the Spirit and knew everything they taught was true. She loves our reading assignments from the Book of Mormon. She told us this week that no matter what happened to Harvey, she trusted God and would NEVER ever give up hope and she has felt the Atonement of Jesus Christ strengthen her to bear all her burdens without complaining. When the Seymours showed up with the stroller on Thursday, it was such a sweet and tender experience because Sister Seymour shared her experience with her children and grandchildren and the two women just wept and comforted and prayed for each other. What amazing women of faith! What's more, Brother has started joining in on the lessons and admitted to us that he knew it was true what we are teaching. We taught them the Restoration together on Saturday. It was wonderful and we are fasting and praying that despite Harvey's serious condition, we will get a way to get them altogether at church.

Sister V is truly prepared of God to listen to the missionaries right now. She has a sweet young family and she knows so many members. She had been going through a rough time a couple weeks ago and prayed for missionaries to come to her house and not long after she knows we were impressed to talk to her at her house. We taught with Sister Mendoza last night and taught the Restoration and shared our testimonies about seeking for the truth and gave her a baptismal date. We are hoping and praying for her progress.

KC and Jarwin have been out of town for a little while and we could tell there was something going on. We got to teach them yesterday and KC started crying and told us that her mom was working abroad in Turkey but that she is having some major health problems and is going to have to come back her to be operated on. The operation is going to take a lot of money and KC is going to have to take her place working abroad in Hong Kong around September. They want to get married and said they would be baptized by now if they had been married already. But she has family members that they want to get permission from and want to come to the marriage and her family is worried about their financial future. But I know that we were impressed to share about prayer in Alma 37:37 and then I know the next things I said didn't come from me -- because I'm not always so clear-headed. But we told them that since they knew the gospel was true, but that they didn't think about getting married at this time, then when they have to go to Hong Kong they won't be able to get baptized and their temple sealing could get delayed for who knows how long. We told them that as a couple they needed to get on their knees and counsel with their God for help to know what to do. We left with a peaceful feeling. We are fasting and praying that the right decision will be made. But we are open to any suggestions about what to do.

We taught Sister V last night about family history. Her mom's birthday is coming up and we told her how she could give her the best blessing by doing her temple work for her. Sister V is so so converted to the gospel and wants her whole family to come into the church. She told us this week she had a dream that she was hugging her mother and she felt it was a confirmation that we needed to do her work.  We are so excited to have a family history night with them later tonight with the Seymours.

We have another 18-year old that we are teaching. We met her because she often stays at the home of a recent convert that we teach. She has been joining in on the lessons. She loves the feeling of going to church and being with the missionaries. We learned that her whole family are members and her grandmother was a very active member of the church 5 years ago before she died. Her dying wish was that her granddaughter would come to church. But we learned that she lives in a super abusive situation because her mother had a young pregnancy, was left alone, and turned to drinking, has no job, and since her daughter was little has been yelling and abusing her. We heard it happen one day on the way to teach her.  They have no relatives that want to help, and it's the saddest thing. We aren't really sure what to do but we plan on telling Bishop right away and letting him know the situation.

We have been doing lots of little acts of service for our investigators. We are running every day, and we love missionary work. Of course there have definitely been things that have not gone the way we planned or hoped -- some investigators getting some cold feet about moving forward and showing faith in Jesus Christ. It makes us super sad. Sometimes I'm not always sure what to do and say, but I will keep striving to listen to the Holy Ghost and make the right decisions.

In the Book of Mormon I learned that God is mightier than all the earth and we have been blessed with so many spiritual experiences that tell us there is a God and that he loves us. My mission president’s interview with me was such a special blessing to me and I will never forget it. It really told me that God loves me and knows my heart and my efforts. How can I doubt my inspired leaders?

1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh ​did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.

3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.

I'm so grateful for my wonderful companion and for everything I am learning in Lingsat.

Sister Porter

Miracles

This week was full of miracles. Little miracles that really helped me see why life, the gospel, and being a missionary is so fantastic and is the sweetest way of life I could ever ask for. What a blessing it has been for me to see how I want my life to be -- service to my fellowmen and sharing to them the joy of the gospel.

There are hard times -- yes. Things don't always go the way we hope or expect them to go. We are imperfect people. But I am learning that if we just do what we can and show love to others and trust that Christ can make up the difference, things go okay. I am so so grateful to have such a fantastic companion in Sister Jensen. She is the brightest, optimistic, and loving missionary you could ask for! She treasures every sweet miracle that the Lord gives us, and she has taught me how to do that too! It makes our area so much fun to work in -- and we are sure that the Lord gives us people that need us desperately. These people to love were all gifts from our Heavenly Father to us.

We are enjoying thinking beyond what is expected of us and thinking of extra ways to serve our investigators and show our love for them. Small and simple things. And oh how I've learned how much people crave and need love, and how love is not expressed enough in this world. We went to Sister L's house on Saturday morning, and her 5 year-old son is getting worse -- to the point that he's throwing up what he eats, is constantly having seizures, and can't function. Sister L's faith and strength is OUT OF THIS WORLD. She won't let her son see her cry, she is patient with her husband, and she refuses to give up hope and gives everything she can for her son, even if she can't even pay for food for herself. I've never seen such incredible strength that comes from hope in God. But as we sang How Great Thou Art in Tagalog to her, she broke down to us and it was heartbreaking but I just felt so much love for her at that moment. I am so grateful for the chance to be there for her. She really wants to be baptized and reads and understands the Book of Mormon, but every time she tries to go to church she has to take her son to the hospital.

Another time were teaching a new contact, Sister E, and she is a single mom because her husband got killed (he was a security guard). She has 4 kids, and her house just collapsed on itself. We brought some missionaries and ward members to come check out the house to see if we could help out. As we were talking we could just see Sister E growing quiet and her eyes turning red. That's when me and Sister Jensen came and gave her a BIG HUG! She was so happy and she just yelled -- Ang Sarap!" and then broke down crying, telling us how hard everything has been for her. Just little acts of love mean the WORLD to people.

We fasted with Sister V for her and Brother V this Sunday. We knelt down and Sister Jensen gave the most beautiful prayer to open the fast. Brother V heard it and knelt down with us, even though the past few weeks he has been really struggling. Then he came back to church! We were so happy.

Sometimes we get little acts of love in return. Tatay B is a man that was a complete drunkard before he met the missionaries. He started reading the Book of Mormon that Sister Tanon and Sister Jensen gave to him and he read it and changed on his own. It was only when he was in Alma that the Sisters started teaching him. He has given up all his bad habits and goes to church in a polo and slacks. Every time we go to him he gives us 2 bottles of 2 liter soda (which we have tried to refuse so many times haha) but every time they are ready for us. When he apologized last Saturday that he hadn't prepared the soda we told him not to worry about it -- but he interrupted us and told us how much the missionaries have changed his life and that soda was the only way he could afford to show his love and appreciation for us. That touched our hearts so much.

The other day as we were walking I suddenly decided we needed to talk to more people about the Book of Mormon. It was raining so Sister Jensen asked us where to start. I pointed to the nearest store and marched straight up to it and talked to an older man and his middle-aged daughter and showed them the Book of Mormon. The daughter immediately recognized the book, because her best friend in college was Mormon and used to take her to institute, which just happens to be one of our members in the ward. She asked for a copy right away and asked us to come back. We were more than happy to come back yesterday. She opened the door for us, found out they are an extremely sweet young family, and that she is so interested in what we have to say. She said she had just finished a prayer asking God to send her messengers because she is in a spiritual crisis because of all the hard things that have happened to her family. She cried and thanked us for being an answer to her prayer because right after her prayer we came to her door. We were so excited that God had used us as his instruments. Her name is Sister S. We know she is prepared by God for this time.

We have been still teaching Grace and Chrystal, who are 2 teenagers that are in serious need of love. Grace is living with the A family, and Chrystal's family used to be active in church but now they have had tons of family issues. They love the missionaries coming over. They both came to the baptism of the elders last Saturday and loved it, and wanted to work with us because they already want to serve others! Grace came to church and is really smart and understanding the doctrine. We expect her to be baptized next month. 

We went back to a contact named Sister J this week. Before she had been super kind but kind of had a hard time latching onto the gospel. But when we came back she was so happy to see us, told us that she had been reading, been feeling a good feeling, and wanted to come to church. We were pleasantly surprised that something had changed her. Of course the Spirit. We are excited for her to start progressing now. She came to church yesterday and it seems like she really enjoyed the feeling there with the other members of the Relief Society.

I read A Summer with Great Aunt Rose by Elder Uctdorf this week. Aunt Rose had a lot of hard things happen in her life, but she was one of the most joyous and happiest people on earth. When her niece Eva asked her why, this is what she said.

“There is enough that doesn’t go right in life, so anyone can work themselves into a puddle of pessimism and a mess of melancholy. But I know people who, even when things don’t work out, focus on the wonders and miracles of life. These folks are the happiest people I know.”

“But,” Eva said, “you can’t just flip a switch and go from sad to happy.”

“No, perhaps not,” Aunt Rose smiled gently, “but God didn’t design us to be sad. He created us to have joy! So if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright, hopeful things of life. And sure enough, the world will become brighter. No, it doesn’t happen instantly, but honestly, how many good things do? Seems to me that the best things, like homemade bread or orange marmalade, take patience and work.”

Eva thought about it a moment and said, “Maybe it’s not so simple for people who don’t have everything perfect in their lives.”

“Dear Eva, do you really think that my life is perfect?” Aunt Rose sat with Eva on the overstuffed sofa. “There was a time when I was so discouraged I didn’t want to go on.”

“You?” Eva asked.

Aunt Rose nodded. “There were so many things I wished for in my life.” As she spoke, a sadness entered her voice that Eva had never heard before. “Most of them never happened. It was one heartbreak after another. One day I realized that it would never be the way I had hoped for. That was a depressing day. I was ready to give up and be miserable.”

“So what did you do?”

“Nothing for a time. I was just angry. I was an absolute monster to be around.” Then she laughed a little, but it was not her usual big, room-filling laugh. “‘It’s not fair’ was the song I sang over and over in my head. But eventually I discovered something that turned my whole life around.”

“What was it?”

“Faith,” Aunt Rose smiled. “I discovered faith. And faith led to hope. And faith and hope gave me confidence that one day everything would make sense, that because of the Savior, all the wrongs would be made right. After that, I saw that the path before me wasn’t as dreary and dusty as I had thought. I began to notice the bright blues, the verdant greens, and the fiery reds, and I decided I had a choice—I could hang my head and drag my feet on the dusty road of self-pity, or I could have a little faith, put on a bright dress, slip on my dancing shoes, and skip down the path of life, singing as I went.” Now her voice was skipping along like the girl in the painting.

Aunt Rose reached over to the end table and pulled her well-worn scriptures onto her lap. “I don’t think I was clinically depressed—I’m not sure you can talk yourself out of that. But I sure had talked myself into being miserable! Yes, I had some dark days, but all my brooding and worrying wasn’t going to change that—it was only making things worse. Faith in the Savior taught me that no matter what happened in the past, my story could have a happy ending.”

“How do you know that?” Eva asked.

Aunt Rose turned a page in her Bible and said, “It says it right here:

“‘God … will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’”

Great-Aunt Rose looked at Eva. Her smile was wide as she whispered, with a slight quiver in her voice, “Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard?”

It really did sound beautiful, Eva thought.

Aunt Rose turned a few pages and pointed to a verse for Eva to read: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

“With such a glorious future,” Aunt Rose said, “why get swallowed up in past or present things that don’t go quite the way we planned?”

Eva furrowed her brow. “But wait a minute,” she said. “Are you saying that being happy means just looking forward to happiness in the future? Is all our happiness in eternity? Can’t some of it happen now?”

“Oh, of course it can!” Aunt Rose exclaimed. “Dear child, now is part of eternity. It doesn’t only begin after we die! Faith and hope will open your eyes to the happiness that is placed before you.

“I know a poem that says, ‘Forever—is composed of Nows.’ I didn’t want my forever to be composed of dark and fearful ‘Nows.’ And I didn’t want to live in the gloom of a bunker, gritting my teeth, closing my eyes, and resentfully enduring to the bitter end. Faith gave me the hope I needed to live joyfully now!”

And most of those busy, unhappy people have forgotten the one thing that matters most in all the world—the thing Jesus said is the heart of His gospel.”

“And what is that?” Eva asked.

“It is love—the pure love of Christ,” Rose said. “You see, everything else in the gospel—all the shoulds and the musts and the thou shalts —lead to love. When we love God, we want to serve Him. We want to be like Him. When we love our neighbors, we stop thinking so much about our own problems and help others to solve theirs.”

“And that is what makes us happy?” Eva asked.

Great-Aunt Rose nodded and smiled, her eyes filling with tears. “Yes, my dear. That is what makes us happy.”

I testify that even though I don't know everything, that even though everything doesn't always go the way you plan it, that hard times come into our lives, that sometimes we make mistakes, our Heavenly Father loves us. He designed everything for us to be HAPPY! He wants to be able to let things go and give it to the Savior. I testify of the Savior; I don't have a perfect knowledge of Him, but I got to know him a little better by serving others and showing the happiness of serving and sharing the gospel. Love is what people need in this world. Love can change the world, one person at a time.

Sister Porter

Funny Stories:

We tried to teach Sister V's father but he can't really hear us but he definitely likes to talk haha. When we left he gave us a big grandpa hug and shocked me and Sister Jensen because we aren't supposed to get hugs haha. But Maricel who was working with us just laughed so hard the whole time.

Cultural Note:

It Rains EVERY DAY here but that doesn't stop us from talking to everyone we can!

It's RAINY SEASON! 

I enjoyed this week. I've learned a lot from our investigators-- we are so blessed to have such special investigators here in Lingsat. They are what makes everything worth it. Feeling so much love for them as you teach them and wanting to be there for them in their darkest hours of need. I've noticed that God has sent us to people that desperately need love and hope and comfort. 

We continue to read the Book of Mormon every day and apply it to our lives.  I believe that it is key to helping us overcome all things. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” We will place more emphasis on it as we teach and help others come closer to the gospel. 

We taught the plan of salvation to Grace this week -- a teenage girl that has been abandoned by her parents and has been taken in by a member. As we taught her about her divine worth and what Jesus Christ has done for her, it was so sweet to see such a troubled teenager actually smile and say how beautiful it was to hear those words. I'm sure that no one has ever told her that in her life -- that she is important, she is loved, and there is someone who suffered for her and will walk with her every step on the way back to her Heavenly Father. That is such a special knowledge that we have that I know at times I have taken for granted!!!! As we hugged her at the end of the lesson, I just wanted to squeeze the life out of her I love her so much. She needs Christ and His love in her life. 

I've seen how that love has changed the life of one of our recent converts, Sister M. It's easy to see that her life has been so hard. They live in very poor circumstances and she doesn't have much support at home. She has turned to her friends in the past but that led to more sadness and misery. She tried many different churches to relieve the feeling but never find her. And that's when she met the missionaries -- who told her her worth and what God wants for her and the laws of God that would make her happy. It wasn't an easy road of change. There were times she felt like giving up. There were times that she was troubled. But she didn't give up. Little by little -- she transformed bit by bit. The Spirit started flowing into her life -- and especially since she has made the decision to be baptized -- she now just glows and radiates with happiness no matter what her circumstances are. She helps her siblings and loves them. She never misses church and always reads the Book of Mormon.  She works with us and testifies to all of the change that has taken place in her. She had a dream that in a few years after she graduates from high school that she is going to serve a mission. 

We absolutely love the G family. They are growing in faith little by little. We talked about their marriage the other day and they are making plans, but they said that their goal and their main plans were the temple in a year. We were so proud of them. They are growing stronger and stronger as a family as they hold family time and prayer, counsel as husband and wife. As we shared 1 Nephi 7 with them and told them that with faith they can break the old habits that have held them captive, Brother C committed to completely stop smoking. That made us so happy. 

Sister V is growing in her faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement. She knows with all her heart that this gospel is true. She had been searching and searching for the truth and has suffered much of her life but has rose over it and has used her whole life to defend and rescue others that suffer. We know she is and will be a strong member of the church. Her husband is struggling though. Of course that breaks our hearts, but we are holding a special fast for him with our family. We are so so grateful for the support that the members are showing in going to visit and fellowship that family. 

Ever since the missionaries have started visiting sister Lynn and her family, they have been hit with some of the sorest of trials. Their 5 year old son got infected with a virus that has spread to his brain, leaving him unable to even digest food for himself. But that hasn't broken Lynn's faith in God. She does all she can for him, never leaves him, does all she can to care for him. She loves her son so much. She is learning and understanding the doctrine and Christ from reading assignments in the Book of Mormon. She believes that the gospel is true. She is a beautiful example of unwavering hope. I know that the source of unwavering hope comes from Jesus Christ -- who because of him we can hope for a better world and help from burdens and sins. He is sure and steadfast and unwavering. As Lynn has had to suffer in her circumstances, she testified to us that the Lord is lifting her burdens to bear them with ease.

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. 

KC and Jarwin are growing in their faith. KC is very bright and loves to read everything she can. She finds hope in this gospel and wants to learn. They also want to be married. We are hoping that they can get permission from their family so that we can have it sooner rather than later.

I have noticed that it has been such a blessing to learn how to sacrifice our lives to serve others. That's what I want to do with my life and what I know brings true happiness in our lives no matter what. Somethings don't work out exactly the way we plan, but we will never be disappointed in ourselves, we will see the world as beautiful, and we can face anything as we come to learn our relationship with the Savior and learn of His love and share it with others. That is what I want to continue to develop. I want to be rid of the natural man and become a Saint through the Atonement of Christ. I want to become what God wants me to be.

Sister Porter

Cultural Notes:

I had goat intestine soup the other day. It was pretty good actually:)

Me and Sister Jensen are having fun baking American treats for missionaries:)

It's mango season -- our investigators love to give us MANGOES:)

Learning Lessons

If there has been anything I've learned on my mission, it is that loving people is the most satisfying and wonderful thing. Serving others and showing them that God loves them is so wonderful. It is the thing I live for. Often I feel inadequate and weak, often I pass through much sorrow, but I told myself that it is worth it to be able to help someone else.

This week we ended up visiting some less active members and we were surprised with new investigators -- teenage girls that had been abused, cast out, and forgotten, but taken in by members. To both of them we had powerful lessons, just about how they have a Father in Heaven that loves them inside and out, and would never ever abandon them. They are unique and special to Him, they are so very important to Him, and He wants them to come home to Him. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, there is someone who understands us. There is a way to heal hurt, feel peace, and overcome our trials, our past sins, and our challenges. The countenance of those two girls changed when we said that. It was as if that was the first time that they had ever heard it-- it broke my heart to see what those two girls must have gone through. There is power in Christlike love and knowing that you are a daughter of God. By testifying that to them, I was able to realize that maybe that applies to me too.

Sister Maricel A is so converted to the gospel and so is Nanay V. Even though their families are really struggling, they stand strong in what they know is true and keep hoping, praying, and serving those around them. I see future valient missionaries and Relief society presidents in them in the coming years. Tatay is really combating his word of wisdom and making HUGE progress. But I think withdrawal and the large amount of work to change got to him emotionally lately and it made Nanay worried and sad. But we are going to all are going to keep fasting and praying for him. We know that miracles come through fasting and prayer.

KC and Jarwin are so so precious. Yesterday we taught them about the atonement and Brother Jarwin started crying for the first time. He said he remembered the pain he felt when he watched his little child pass away -- saying if he could do anything, he would take the pain away from his child and was willing to die himself for her to live. That was the most precious thing I have experienced -- seeing that love this young father had. How much does our Heavenly Father love us to send His Son; how much must Jesus Christ love us to take on all our sins, transgressions, weaknesses, pains, and sorrows?

I have been studying about the miracles of Jesus Christ. He forgave those who had sinned and healed all who came to Him in faith. I know of myself that I need the mercy and the love of Jesus Christ to heal and sanctify me -- whatever hardship we have to pass through. I am so grateful to see that love work with those we teach.

Sister Porter

Working in Lingsat

This week was a good week. I learned a lot, and I am happy in Lingsat. I am so grateful for the wonderful investigators here and for my wonderful companions. I feel like I have something to contribute here.

I really appreciate what we learned in zone conference. When I think about it it makes me feel like we truly are in the most important adventure story-- we are fighting the battle of good and evil. As messengers of Jesus Christ, we are the only hope for the world to prevent it from its own self-destruction. Truly only the gospel can fix family problems and make them ready to be together for all eternity. Only the gospel can bring hope in the darkest of times, even in death. Only the gospel can change the life of people -- even if they are the vilest of sinners. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring peace in a world of turmoil, war, and confusion. Satan is so very real; he will do anything to stop this work. He is the dirtiest and vilest of all enemies and all villains. But with Christ we can overcome all.  

Some of them, I am 100% certain, are KC and Jarwin. I love them so very much-- they are so very dear to my heart. They accepted the Restoration this week. We all were overwhelmed with the Spirit when they accepted that they had received an answer that this church was true. The room was filled with an indescribable feeling. Sister Tanon testified to them that they were so special to their Heavenly Father and that He heard the prayer of their baby who died that they needed to accept the gospel so that they could be together forever. We want them to be  baptized this month. So... we are trying to organize a marriage. 

The Gallego family is great too. Brother Gallego is making  great progress! They still need to go to classes and get married, but he is ready to be baptized. So that's marriage number 2 that we need to organize, hopefully this month too because Brother Gallego has accepted the gospel and needs to be baptized now to be able to receive the blessings that Heavenly Father has for him.

Sister Vergara and Sister Maricel were baptized this Friday and it was such a wonderful faith-building experience.  They both have strong testimonies that the Church is true. They are both so sensitive to the Spirit and felt that confirming witness. We are sure that someday Sister Maricel will be an instrument for her family and someday go on a mission. She worked with us on Sunday and shared the gospel. Sister Vergara is becoming an instrument for her family to accept the gospel. Her father and her husband especially right now are going to church and want to be baptized, so we are working with them and going to help them with the commandments that they need to keep to be baptized. 

We are exploring our new area and it's been a little bit of a rough start trying to find houses of less-active members, but we have found some less-active members to help. It was a blessing for me to be able to help my old focus- less active member, Tatay Lubiano, to come back to church. He has such a humble and strong testimony and we are excited about the progress he is making; we are hoping to teach his family that I used to teach last year.

I have been really studying about faith this week -- in more depth than I ever have had in my whole life. I am starting to understand that faith in the Savior is a firm belief that he is our Savior and Redeemer and the Only Begotton of the Father. Because of that belief we have a desire to obey Him, to trust Him, and to learn about Him, and to repent and change-- even though we don't have a perfect knowledge or can see how everything will work out. Because God is perfect we can put 100% trust in Him -- and that faith leads to miracles. That faith leads to salvation and can heal us. I have been studying all the stories in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon where the Savior healed people because of their faith -- what kind of faith we need to show.

I have a desire to share this gospel forever. I know that I'm not perfect, and I know that I get hungry or tired; sometimes I don't always know what to do or how to do something. But I desire to learn and grow and there is nothing more rewarding than being a instrument in the hands of God to bring someone to taste of the eternal joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are fighting for eternal life. I love to show love to others -- there is no better feeling than loving someone with all your heart and wanting to help them. I know that's only a taste of what Jesus Christ feels for us.

Sister Porter