Tatay Na Ako

    Hey everyonnnne! First of all, I love and miss you all! Second of all, sorry for not emailing last week. I have a reason which I will talk about later in my email. The past two weeks have been full of so much good! A couple really cool things have happened here in my area, and just here in the Philippines in general. Alright, enough stalling. Lets jump into this!


    We're going to start right off with a bang. Last week we got transfer calls and I was very surprised to see a TR beside my name. So yes. I am now training! I traveled to the mission home the next day ( which is around 4 hours away ) and stayed with the office Elders on thursday night. Friday morning we trainers had our " trainers training ". Which I was not complaining about. I'll tell you all something. I needed this training. I felt very inadequate, and didn't know if I could measure up to this task. I had many thoughts along the lines of " I'm not fluent in tagalog, how am I gunna talk to him?" Or  " what if I can't be the trainer he needs?" . My worries were silenced however when our AP, Elder Guariña said this " We are not trying to make duplicates of ourselves.". In that moment I saw this new responsibility in a different way. My role is to first, try to help my companion to see his divine nature as a son of God . Second, help him to see the people we serve as beloved sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father. And third, to help him serve them, and bring them closer to Jesus Christ. Once I simplifed my role, it became very doable with the Lords help. When the trainees all walked in the feeling was so crazy. I was super excited and also nervous. I would say I ended up getting the best of the batch ( not cause I'm bias ) hahaha. In all seriousness though, my companion is so awesome. His name is Elder Montesclaros. He's from the middle of the Philippines in a region called Visayas. Such an awesome Elder. He's fluent in English as well! A tender mercy of the Lord! 
Funny enough though, he actually doesn't really speak tagalog. I know. What when why and how. Crazy stuff. It's more fun in the Philippines . 


    As for this past week. It's been an awesome time to see ways I can improve, and be a better servant in the hands of the Lord. We have been working really hard. We had a great plan for the week and tried to the best of our ability to execute it. One thing I have both felt both loved and grief for, is the gift of agency given to us by our perfect Father. This week we had somewhat of an awakening to the reality of the extent of this ability to choose. We taught one really nice Nanay. Nanay Sabado! and for some reason she ended up saying "all of my family has been Catholic and I'm going to follow. I will not be converted." In the moment, I can't say I was thrilled to hear this. But we respected her decision. 


    I have thought about Nanay Sabado and why we weren't able to spark an interest for her. During on of my personal studies, I had the thought, " agency isn't just the ability we have to choose Gods plan. It's also the option to not choose Gods way for us. And of course Heavenly Father knew that before He gave it to us! He knew some people would choose not to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. " This shows me just how unending Heavenly Father's love is for us all. I'm so grateful I have this knowledge about my Father in heaven. Alright. Back to Nanay though. Did she blow her chance...... Of course not!! During that same personal study, I remembered something Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said last Conference. He said God has a "cosmic timetable". I testify that this timetable does not just apply to Nanay Sabado's situation of accepting the Gospel. Just like she will have another chance to accept this message, we will all have opportunities throughout our lives, to recommit ourselves to our savior Jesus Christ! It's Never Too Late!


    As for the rest of the week, we were able to extend baptismal to 2 of our friends!! So awesome. We were able to get around 15 findings and 20 lessons which was awesome.


Spiritual Thought of the Week


Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 


"anything we can change we should change, and we must forgive the rest. In this way our access to the Savior’s Atonement becomes as unimpeded as we, with our imperfections, can make it. He will take it from there."


    I love this so much. When we do everything we can. And "forgive the rest", we have full access to the healing and redeeming power off Jesus Christ's Atonement.


   Love ya'll so much. Those of you who need some prayers just let me know! Pics in the next email!


Peace 


Elder Baker









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