Balaan Espiritu ang Yawe

So many small miracles this week!

They taught me that the Spirit is the key to missionary work. The Spirit is the key to peace. The Spirit is the key to guidance in our everyday lives.

Of course, I knew that before. But sometimes you learn things on a deeper level.

I'll share one experience.

One, our area has many less actives, but I've been feeling like we need to reach out more and find more new investigators. So one day our appointments fell through early on, and right there in the yard of our punted appointment, we prayed that God would place in our path people that were prepared to receive the gospel. After the prayer, my companion looked at me like, "what now?" like she was expecting investigators to drop out of the sky haha.

Then I remembered a name from the area book I had read earlier that week. Veralio, lives in Pelaez. So we went to Pelaez. There was no Veralio. But we found one old Tatay sitting in his hammock under some palm trees. We talked with him and found out that his wife recently died and he is now taking care of his children and grandchildren by himself. We testified to him that God is aware of him and led us to him today. His eyes filled with tears and he agreed to meet with us later this week. We also went on to find a Nanay that works for a member, a 10-year-old boy from a part-member family who hasn't been baptized yet, and a whole family that was so happy to hear an American talk in Bisaya that they let us in to teach their whole family.

I know that when we actively seek and heed the guidance of the Spirit, we aren't alone in our efforts. We will be directed and guided for our good. Without it, we'll surely fail.

We have one investigator that is REALLY progressing. Once we forgot to give him a reading assignment from the Book of Mormon and he texted us later that night asking for one! He came to church and actively participates in all the classes. He even invited his girlfriend to join in on our lesson and now she's reading the Book of Mormon too. His parents aren't willing to let him be baptized yet though, so we are all just praying for their hearts to be softened, and that they will see how much happiness that gospel is bringing their son and can bring them too!

We had Zone Interviews this week, which happen every five months (I've already been here 5 months?) It was very edifying to talk with President Tanner, and get some aircon in the middle of our work hours!

I'm really loving spending a second transfer in the same area. It's wonderful to know the area, discover more people, learn quicker routes, and develop relationships with the members.

We have planned a branch temple trip to Cebu Temple in November, a branch FHE, and a Branch Christmas party this December!

Later today for P-day, we are going to a nearby beach resort for a bbque with the Branch President and his wife and a few of the members. They said it is their tradition to do that for their missionaries each year. So sweet!

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ayo, ayo!

-sister bertoldo