This weekend was a lot of note-taking, since we watched General Conference Saturday and Sunday and then had a Zone Conference yesterday! Feel gyud ko lamdagan. It was great- learning is a lifelong love!
Besides conferences, we saw a lot of amazing things this week:
1. We had a district activity hiking Cruz Daku, which is a giant cross at the top of a mountain. It was great- you can see half the island of Bohol from the top! Along the trail are various other cement crosses with pictures of Christ and quotes from the Bible...it was amazing!
2. While tracting in Albur, we stopped by an investigator's house we haven't been able to teach in a while. We said "Ayo!" and were answered by one small 4 year old boy who opened the bamboo door. He glared at us and had his hand behind his back. He said his sister and his mom were both gone for the last 3 days. Then his older brother, maybe 6-years-old, pushes his way out, smoking a cigarette that's much too big for his tiny fingers. Seeing his brother's example of "no shame" the younger came out too, smoking. A third boy emerged, same age. All three of them just smoking and staying in the house by themselves for 3 days. There's not much we can do- they aren't our kids....but me being me, I just had to say, "Makadaot ang cigarillo. ayaw ana. Dili na maayo sa inyong panglawas." They just laughed said some rude words and ran into the house. At least I said my piece! Seeing innocence lost so quickly is amazing to me.
3. Teaching Carla a lesson at the beach after she introduced us to her boyfriend. There is NOTHING so great as teaching the gospel on the beach, sitting in a little bamboo hut and staring out at the fishing boats, and the dagat! I love the Philippines. The ocean is amazing.
4. Teaching Carla a lesson with the rubble of her recently demolished home behind her. I told her with confidence that no matter what other foundations fall in her life, the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the "firm foundation" we can all rely on. Seeing her happiness from the gospel despite her trials in life is amazing.
5. We had a turning point this week with our dear sister Mel Luza. She is a less-active member with a very busy life and many kids. She is one of the most hard-working people I've met, working 3 jobs and maintaining the house and family. She has recently expressed some very difficult trials she's been through. For the first time since I arrived in Baclayon in December, she accepted my invitation to come to church with us this Sunday. We finally got to resolve with her her real concerns and she finally softened to the invitation to COME BACK to Christ. The look in her tearful eyes was amazing.
6. For lunch we just ate organic stir-fry, lemongrass juice, and homemade malunggay ice-cream from an organic cafe at the Bee Farm here on Bohol....that ice cream made out of leaves was amazing.
