Hi everyone,
This week has been really busy as always. We have been doing really well here in Maragondon. It's amazing to have the spirit with us to testify to our investigators and lead us where to go and what to teach. We were teaching a lesson this week to a new investigator. I was teaching the first vision of Joseph Smith. When I finished, she had tears rolling down her face. I know it was nothing I did. It was the Lord testifying to His children that this church is true. It is so great to be a part of the work. I know it's true and I know it's the Lord's work.
We were doing some finding this week but weren't having much success. My companion decided to just go down a random alley. We weren't finding anyone but decided to try the last house. The guy we found says he has been looking for a church for years but no one can answer his questions. He asked a lot of hard questions but it is amazing how the spirit leads me and my companion. There have been countless times where I would be speaking and my companion would open to the perfect scripture, or if one of us doesn't know what to say the other one easily continues where the other left off. I've had so many ideas and scriptures come into my head that I've never used or thought of before. It is a great experience having the spirit teach through us. One time I just opened the Book of Mormon and felt like I should read a verse, and it was exactly what we needed. Even with my bad Tagalog, our investigators understand. Then after teaching for that day the spirit tells us what we should teach the next time. It has been a great experience.
I love this gospel and I'm so happy to be a part of it! I love you all and pray for you everyday.
Love, Elder Smith
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Hey everyone,
It's been a busy week. My companion and I are staying really busy and finding a lot of new people to teach. The Lord has really been blessing our work as well. In five days we found 30 new people; the standard is 20 for a week. It's great seeing the Lord direct us to the people He has prepared. There were many times this week where my companion or I randomly went to a house or a talked to someone and they let us teach them.
We found a little girl this week and she is so ready for the gospel. When we came to teach her the second time she came running to us and hugged us because she was so excited. It scared me so bad because I haven't had a girl hug me in 5 months. She is only 11 years old but when we go to teach her she tells us about Joseph Smith and that he had the priesthood. We asked her to read Moroni 10 in the Book of Mormon. When we came back, she had read that plus she started reading the first few chapters of 1st Nephi. We almost need to teach her two times a day to keep up with her. One day we came to teach her and she started crying. We found out it was because she accidentally spilled a little water on her Book of Mormon; she loves the Book of Mormon! She sleeps with it and asks for a reading assignment in it even though we have a different reading assignment for her. But of course, Satan does all he can to stop the work. Her parents aren't too sure about her being baptized, but we will pray about it and we are working on that.
I'm so happy to be a member of this true church. I know it is true and I see so many blessings from the Lord everyday when I take the time to look. I love you all and you are all in my prayers.
Love, Elder Smith
It's been a busy week. My companion and I are staying really busy and finding a lot of new people to teach. The Lord has really been blessing our work as well. In five days we found 30 new people; the standard is 20 for a week. It's great seeing the Lord direct us to the people He has prepared. There were many times this week where my companion or I randomly went to a house or a talked to someone and they let us teach them.
We found a little girl this week and she is so ready for the gospel. When we came to teach her the second time she came running to us and hugged us because she was so excited. It scared me so bad because I haven't had a girl hug me in 5 months. She is only 11 years old but when we go to teach her she tells us about Joseph Smith and that he had the priesthood. We asked her to read Moroni 10 in the Book of Mormon. When we came back, she had read that plus she started reading the first few chapters of 1st Nephi. We almost need to teach her two times a day to keep up with her. One day we came to teach her and she started crying. We found out it was because she accidentally spilled a little water on her Book of Mormon; she loves the Book of Mormon! She sleeps with it and asks for a reading assignment in it even though we have a different reading assignment for her. But of course, Satan does all he can to stop the work. Her parents aren't too sure about her being baptized, but we will pray about it and we are working on that.
I'm so happy to be a member of this true church. I know it is true and I see so many blessings from the Lord everyday when I take the time to look. I love you all and you are all in my prayers.
Love, Elder Smith
Monday, February 1, 2010
Hello everyone,
It's been a short, fast week. Things are good; I really like my new companion, Elder Velasco. We get along really well and work good together. It's teaching me a lot also because I know the area and he doesn't. So, I plan all of our days and keep track of our work which is teaching me a lot and getting me more involved in with our investigators. I'm really excited about this transfer. Sorry there isn't a lot to talk about this week; we have just been working a lot!
I want you all to know that I know this is the Lord's true church. So many people try to find happiness in other ways but the greatest happiness is in the Lord's true church. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ really did atone for all of our sins. I know it is only through Him that we can return to our Father in Heaven. I know there is a reason we are all here on Earth. I know we willing came here to follow the Lord's plan, and if we do our part, we will receive the righteous things that we desire most in our lives.
I love you all and you are in my prayers. I know the Lord blesses us everyday and I hope you all see and feel how blessed we truly are.
Love, Elder Smith
It's been a short, fast week. Things are good; I really like my new companion, Elder Velasco. We get along really well and work good together. It's teaching me a lot also because I know the area and he doesn't. So, I plan all of our days and keep track of our work which is teaching me a lot and getting me more involved in with our investigators. I'm really excited about this transfer. Sorry there isn't a lot to talk about this week; we have just been working a lot!
I want you all to know that I know this is the Lord's true church. So many people try to find happiness in other ways but the greatest happiness is in the Lord's true church. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ really did atone for all of our sins. I know it is only through Him that we can return to our Father in Heaven. I know there is a reason we are all here on Earth. I know we willing came here to follow the Lord's plan, and if we do our part, we will receive the righteous things that we desire most in our lives.
I love you all and you are in my prayers. I know the Lord blesses us everyday and I hope you all see and feel how blessed we truly are.
Love, Elder Smith
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Hey everyone,
This has been a really busy week. I baptized someone on Saturday; he is 86 years old and he has a really strong testimony. When I pulled him out of the water he just stood there. Then he started telling me how grateful he was. Later, he said to me "Thank you for the blessings you have brought to my spirit." It was amazing! Knowing that I am doing the Lord's work and seeing the joy it has brought into his life. He seems so much happier since his baptism. After he was confirmed he went out working with us.
I got to teach the German man again. It's fun speaking in English. At one point he started saying things like "I just don’t know how some of these things can be true" or "People sometimes just believe not really know." As he was saying this, my mind was filled with exactly what I should say, and when I said it he knew I was right and said that I had a really good point. It was amazing! It was just like the Lord said, if we treasure up His word He will give it to us in the very hour that we need it. That is truly what happened to me. I can't remember exactly what I said but I remember the feeling and I know it was directed by the spirit.
I also got a new companion today. He seems really good; he goes home in 4 months but I'm excited to work with him. I love you all and hope all is well.
Love, Elder Smith
This has been a really busy week. I baptized someone on Saturday; he is 86 years old and he has a really strong testimony. When I pulled him out of the water he just stood there. Then he started telling me how grateful he was. Later, he said to me "Thank you for the blessings you have brought to my spirit." It was amazing! Knowing that I am doing the Lord's work and seeing the joy it has brought into his life. He seems so much happier since his baptism. After he was confirmed he went out working with us.
I got to teach the German man again. It's fun speaking in English. At one point he started saying things like "I just don’t know how some of these things can be true" or "People sometimes just believe not really know." As he was saying this, my mind was filled with exactly what I should say, and when I said it he knew I was right and said that I had a really good point. It was amazing! It was just like the Lord said, if we treasure up His word He will give it to us in the very hour that we need it. That is truly what happened to me. I can't remember exactly what I said but I remember the feeling and I know it was directed by the spirit.
I also got a new companion today. He seems really good; he goes home in 4 months but I'm excited to work with him. I love you all and hope all is well.
Love, Elder Smith
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Hello everyone,
Things have been good here, but not much has happened since my last letter though. The work is good at times but goes down at other times. We find people and they seem great and want to learn more but then they stop wanting to hear us. I don't know why but we are doing our best. I got to teach that German guy again. It was so awesome being able to say everything I wanted to. When we found him he told us not to get our hopes up, but some of the things we said really got to him I think. I think the spirit really testified to him about what we were saying; it was great.
Other than that not too much has happened this week. I'm just trying to continue to learn the language. I've been praying a lot about it and working hard and I'm blessed for it. There is sooooo much love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even in the worst circumstances we know we have a loving Heavenly Father and can find peace and joy in Him. I love you all and want you to know that I know this is the Lord's true church upon the earth.
Love, Elder Smith
Things have been good here, but not much has happened since my last letter though. The work is good at times but goes down at other times. We find people and they seem great and want to learn more but then they stop wanting to hear us. I don't know why but we are doing our best. I got to teach that German guy again. It was so awesome being able to say everything I wanted to. When we found him he told us not to get our hopes up, but some of the things we said really got to him I think. I think the spirit really testified to him about what we were saying; it was great.
Other than that not too much has happened this week. I'm just trying to continue to learn the language. I've been praying a lot about it and working hard and I'm blessed for it. There is sooooo much love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even in the worst circumstances we know we have a loving Heavenly Father and can find peace and joy in Him. I love you all and want you to know that I know this is the Lord's true church upon the earth.
Love, Elder Smith
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hey everyone,
It has been a busy week. We have had interviews with the zone leaders and President Howard. President Howard said there is a really good chance I'm staying here and will get a follow-up trainer. It's not set in stone but there's a really good chance that's what will happen. He also gave me permission to have a little keyboard to practice piano on. There isn't a lot of time to practice but 30 minutes every night before bed is good enough for me. It's really nice ending the day with a few hymns.
My companion and I went to a new part of our area this week. No one has been there in a long time. The first house we went to I started talking to him in Tagalog then my companion said to me "He is speaking English." I didn't even realize it; I tried to talk in English but I didn't know what to say. In Tagalog, I say "Maarri Makipagkilala" (can we have the ability to meet you) but that makes no sense in English so I was kind of lost for words; It was pretty funny. He is German but has lived in the Philippines for about 15 years. I've met so many people that aren't Filipino.
We also went to the Temple today; It was great! I love going to the Temple and forgetting about everything else for a while. It's so calming having the spirit and being in the house of the Lord. I'm so grateful to be a member of this true church. I see blessings from this gospel everyday. It's really sad seeing people without it. It has brought so much joy to my life.
Thank you all for your letters; I love you all.
Love, Elder Smith
It has been a busy week. We have had interviews with the zone leaders and President Howard. President Howard said there is a really good chance I'm staying here and will get a follow-up trainer. It's not set in stone but there's a really good chance that's what will happen. He also gave me permission to have a little keyboard to practice piano on. There isn't a lot of time to practice but 30 minutes every night before bed is good enough for me. It's really nice ending the day with a few hymns.
My companion and I went to a new part of our area this week. No one has been there in a long time. The first house we went to I started talking to him in Tagalog then my companion said to me "He is speaking English." I didn't even realize it; I tried to talk in English but I didn't know what to say. In Tagalog, I say "Maarri Makipagkilala" (can we have the ability to meet you) but that makes no sense in English so I was kind of lost for words; It was pretty funny. He is German but has lived in the Philippines for about 15 years. I've met so many people that aren't Filipino.
We also went to the Temple today; It was great! I love going to the Temple and forgetting about everything else for a while. It's so calming having the spirit and being in the house of the Lord. I'm so grateful to be a member of this true church. I see blessings from this gospel everyday. It's really sad seeing people without it. It has brought so much joy to my life.
Thank you all for your letters; I love you all.
Love, Elder Smith
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year everyone!
New year's was good. We did the same thing for new year's that we did for Christmas. We even got to see people setting off fireworks. We had to be in the zone leader's house by 6:00p.m. because it's too dangerous to be out working on new year's. There aren't any laws here about fireworks so a lot of little kids are in the streets playing with them.
Today for p-day we went with two other zones on a hike through the wilderness to a waterfall. It was really cool; I'll have to get you guys some pictures. We have been working a lot this week. It's been really hot but we keep working and we have found more people to teach. It's amazing to be teaching and have the spirit testify to them even though what I'm saying isn't perfect. Thank you all for your prayers; I have really been blessed out here. My testimony becomes stronger every day, and I know that this is the Lord's true church. I love this gospel, and it has blessed me so much and continues to bless me every day; I know it is true.
I'm glad to hear you are all doing well. I pray for you every day and hope the best for you; love you all.
Love, Elder Smith
New year's was good. We did the same thing for new year's that we did for Christmas. We even got to see people setting off fireworks. We had to be in the zone leader's house by 6:00p.m. because it's too dangerous to be out working on new year's. There aren't any laws here about fireworks so a lot of little kids are in the streets playing with them.
Today for p-day we went with two other zones on a hike through the wilderness to a waterfall. It was really cool; I'll have to get you guys some pictures. We have been working a lot this week. It's been really hot but we keep working and we have found more people to teach. It's amazing to be teaching and have the spirit testify to them even though what I'm saying isn't perfect. Thank you all for your prayers; I have really been blessed out here. My testimony becomes stronger every day, and I know that this is the Lord's true church. I love this gospel, and it has blessed me so much and continues to bless me every day; I know it is true.
I'm glad to hear you are all doing well. I pray for you every day and hope the best for you; love you all.
Love, Elder Smith
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