Week 28

Hey everyone!

How are you all doing? School, work, sports? I hope everything is going well over there! Things are starting to calm down a bit over here from the super typhoon but there are still so many repercussions from the damage of the storm and the people who were killed :( One of the Elders in my mission found out both his parents were killed in the storm and that his house is gone. I can't imagine the pain and hurt he as well as so many of the people here are going through... please keep them in your prayers. But my companion found out her family is safe and she still has a house to go home to so we are very happy about that! So this week has been another challenging but great week! We got rejected pretty bad this week BUT sister Lariosa and I didn't let that get us down! haha we just kept trying and trying and we actually found some really progressing and truth-seeking investigators. And on top of that, I literally think I had the best day of my entire mission earlier this week! So who wants to hear what happened?? Well hope there is someone who ants to know because I'm telling you anyways haha. K so here's the story :D Last sunday our investigator Joy came to church and she said she liked it and we were super excited to teach her the next day, but something came up and she said we could come on Wednesday. We were a little worried when we began the lesson on Wednesday because before we had started she asked if she could just go to church and not be baptized. My mind was going everywhere while we were singing the opening hymn trying to think of what I could say to her to help her in our lesson. We opened up with a prayer and I just prayed so hard that my mind would be cleared and be able to listen to the spirit and that Joy would be able to feel the spirit in the lesson. As soon as we ended the prayer I asked her how her Book of Mormon reading is. Get this, she got the Book of Mormon on Nov 5 and by Nov 13 she was in Mosiah!!! She said she loves it and just can't get enough of it. She said every time she reads it she feels so much peace and happiness she doesn’t want it to end or put it down. I then felt prompted to ask a series of questions to her. The first was "why do you think you feel that way when you read the book of mormon?" She thoughtfor a couple seconds and then simply stated "because I know it's true. It is the word of God for us in our day and contains the fulness of the gospel." (all of this took place in Tagalog by the way haha this is just in english for your convenience) :) So then I asked her if the Book of Mormon is true, which she just said it was, what does that mean for her? Once again she thought for a second and then with tears in her eyes she said "that means God restored his true church back to the earth after centuries of it being lost after the death of Christ and his apostles through the prophet Joseph Smith because He loves us. It means Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. which means this church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true." The spirit was so strong and I seriously felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest it was burning so deeply and sister Lariosa and I could barely even speak. I told her yes, yes it is. We bore our testimonies to her and all 3 of us were crying and just feeling the spirit SO strongly, like it was almost tangible in the room. Then I asked her, "so Joy, if you know the church is true what must you do to be a member of the true church?" she just smiled and then whispered "be baptized". I am so excited for Joy to be baptized Dec 3rd and she cannot wait! I have not felt the spirit so strongly my entire mission and I have never felt so guided by the spirit orthat I (me, Sister Lowe) was truly able to help someone. On the days where it gets tough or I miss home, its moments like this that make it all worth it and more. I love being a missionary and sometimes can't imagine what it will be like in a year when I am not wearing this black badge. I love my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ and know they are very aware and mindful of us. I love you all and you are always in my prayers. Mahal ko kayo at ingat po kayo palagi!

Love always,

Sister Lowe  

pics

me and Sis Lariosa at zone conference

2 Sister Mack, Sister Garrett at me at Zone conference

 Zone conference