Becoming

    Hey everyone!! I hope ya'll had a great week! I've been hearing our boys and girls both won luther so big shout out to them, you guys are crazy! And the JV boys won TriProv too, so big up's for Comet nation baby.

   This week I've been trying to focus on one of the Christlike Attributes in Preach My Gospel. It went really well! And it was a lot of just good solid missionary work. I know ya'll like hearing about those big crazy stories but it isn't always like that on a mission I guess. Sometimes you just put your head down and work. But that does not mean there aren't any small miracles. You'll see what I mean later. Lets get started.

     Tuesday we had 4 lessons that went so good. They were follow up lessons from some past findings. Later we had a sweet dinner appointment at one of the members house we met at church on Sunday. She's actually just visiting here and she currently lives in Toronto!! Her names Nanay Hora. Elder Coppieters, I told her when she gets back in April to find you hahaha. She lives in London but I think that's pretty far from you.

    Wednesday we went finding in the morning and also hit up a little thrift store on the wat back to the apartment for lunch. I found some sweet nike dress pants. Imma sell em off out to some American elder out here. In the afternoon we went to Bambang for exchanges with some other Elders. It was awesome to see the areas I need focus on. I also got to know one of the Elders in my district a lot better. Elder Anderson. He's from Eagle Idaho. It's right beside Boise. He's a beast at rugby and loves the work. He shared some things with me that he's been doing to become a consecrated missionary while he's out here. I'm putting the things he said into practice and I've felt a huge difference in my feeling about my commitment to learning Tagalog and really studying the Book of Mormon. 

     Thursday we finished off our exchanges around noon and returned to our area. We then walked to what we thought was a confirmed appointment. Unfortunately they were both working so we started finding. My head was still hurting from being dehydrated so my Tagalog was taking a serious hit. We stopped at this big house with a gate and called for the people inside. We saw a younger women start to walk out, then immediately turn around and walk away. We were about to leave when a little nanay came shuffling out. When I saw her all I thought was they had sent us their most devoted Catholic to scare us away. I decided I was just going to be bold. I just told her straight off that we have the fullness of the gospel and that our Church is the only true church upon the earth. She told us we can come back!!

    Friday went so good. Up until then, I had kind of been flakey about memorizing The First Vision in Tagalog. I kept telling myself I'd learn it but not today because I had other things to study. but I realized it would never get done with that attitude. In Preach My Gospel, it talks about how powerful testifying about and reciting The First Vision is. I sat down during my personal study and I started memorizing. By 9 pm, I had it memorized. This is one of those little miracles. A true example of efforts being magnified through the grace and power of a loving Father in Heaven

   Saturday I made a goal that I would say The First Vision in one of our lessons. It somehow lined up with the people that we were teaching that I got the opportunity! It was so crazy. I was pretty stressed to say the least. I said a prayer and the spirit helped me calm down. I was able to say it clearly. Our investigator was locked iiiin! So cool to really see the power of the first vision in action. 

      Sunday what the heck. I woke up to a message from the 2nd counselor telling me I have talk in church. In 2.5 hours. Hm. Well surprisingly it actually went really well. Probably because i said it in all English. But I actually loved being able to testify in English. Also 2 people we are teaching came to church!! One of the ladies said she was already baptized, but we checked the records anddddd she's not there. Bahala na We'll get it all sorted out.

    

    Scripture of the Week

Moroni 7:41,43

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.

43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

   Yessirrr! So this is Moroni quoting his dad Mormon. I love it so much. As I mentioned earlier, I've been trying to focus on the Christlike Attribute of strengthening my Faith in Jesus Christ. Essentially I'm trying every day to Become a better deciple of Jesus Christ. This scripture helps me see the importance of being humble. Without Humility, Faith and and Hope are unable to grow. Also side note. I love the Book of Mormon! If you guys have been slacking in your reading, I challenge you to get back on track!! The minute you decide to make prayer and scripture a special part of your day, I promise you will feel the Saviors love more deeply for yourself and for others!

      I'm sorry this was so long but I also know there is a small percentage of you who actually do read my emails, so this one's for you guys!! Keep letting your light shine for those around you! Let me know if ya'll need some prayers.

Peace 

Elder Baker