Hello family and friends!
The Lord is so good to those who have desires to serve Him! Yesterday was one of the happiest Sunday's I've had so far in the mission. We know that there is always an opposition that comes up whenever people are really starting to make a change in their lives for good and to follow Christ. Elder Claudio and I have seen that happening with so many people. But we've also seen how they've reacted in a positive way to strengthen even further their testimony of the gospel.
So we were a little worried about the Macarubbo family just because last week they had a lot of things to do at the house and decided not to come to church. Elder Claudio and I decided we were going to try and pick them up just so they would feel comfortable all coming together and entering the church. They rejected the offer saying that they would just meet us there, which made us a little more worried because you never know whats going to happen. But we were sitting in our PMG Class for our ward missionaries when 2 of the Macarubbo kids walk in! I immediately asked them where their family was and they said they were just outside! We left the class to see if they were really there and when we came out of the church THERE THEY WERE! Including Sister! They were in their Sunday best and waiting to come in! Many reasons why this was an awesome experience! 1) it was the first time that Bro. Macarubbo's wife had come! 2) They were all their as a family! 3) They were in Sunday best! 4) it was the first time they made it in time for Sacrament Meeting! And we have investigators come to church pretty often but this was just soooooooo incredibly exciting because it was the Macarubbo Family all together! All 6 of them! :) They had an awesome experience at church and this family is the buzz of the whole ward! :) Tatay Macarubbo even said he really felt something different in the sacrament meeting that he had never felt before. And as I looked over at him while they were passing the bread and water, he had his head bowed and I could tell he was praying! Oh I was prayin too that everything would fall in place for them to be baptized and eventually make it to the temple!
Another amazing miracle was at church as well! I saw a man all dressed up in a suit and thought this guy must be from Church headquarters or something! (because no one wears suits....#mainit.) He was teaching in the classes and just seemed like a regular guy! When I heard who he was it shocked me! It was Brother Pastores! A less active man who hadnt been to church in years! And we've been trying to get in contact with him in vain since I got here in Tuguegarao! But thanks to the prayers of his active daughter, he felt inspired that he needed to come back to church to be an example to his wayward son... miracle.
Yesterday was just an amazing day because just a ton of people came to church that we werent expecting! People we have been visiting for months with no results until now! It was an exciting day for sure!
Wow! Other than that we've had a lot of opportunities these past couple weeks in doing service projects! The cool thing about these service projects is that its not just for members but its for the actual Barangay! (or little towns is probably a close description) So people will walk by and ask us why we're cleaning up the place and who we are. And of course we are sooooo happy and proud to say, "We're Mormons!" :) Its brought up a lot of interest for many of the leaders of the Barangay!
And then today we had a zone activity to the Callao Caves again! You know you've been in an area a while when you have an activity in the same place 3 times haha. But was just a really refreshing experience! This country and this world is absolutely beautiful! God's creations are all around us and the beauty and complexity is breathtaking! Just like Alma's encounter with Korihor, I've come to know and feel that his statement is true, "Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." Another really cool thing we got to do was BOATING! WAHOO that was super fun! And the cool breeze and the cool water and the blue sky and the gorgeous mountains was just the best medicine to any kind of stress or mental fatigue! And also it was super fun to have an activity with some of my best friends in the mission!
I love the work of the Lord! I testify that The Book of Mormon is true and that it is the evidence to the truthfulness of the gospel in the Latter Days! The Lord will prepare a way for those who are seeking to know the truth and nothing will stop the work from progressing! :)
Hope you have a fantastic week! sorry this was long!
