Sorry I don't have a ton of time this week. We had a branch activity so our email time is a little less and I also spent a lot of time looking and Jens and Quincie's engagement photos. AHHHH THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. Wow congrats talaga. :)
This week... you know I got through it and that is that. haha I've never felt so much hardship on my mission before, but thats okay because I am doing it. One day, one step, one trial at a time. I am doing it. I know the Lord has called me to serve in puerto princesa branch one for a reason. I may not know the particular reason, but i know he wants me to learn and to grow, as well as to help others come unto Him and His Son Jesus Christ. It is hard and it is going to continue to be hard, but I realized that if I really want to truly change into the person Heavenly Father wants me to become I need to have faith, have trust, and endure, not only endure, but endure well. I know with His help I will be strong and I will be able to do everything He wants me to do in this part of His vineyard.
On Sunday I had the wonderful opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting about a change of heart and true conversion. It was really awesome because not only was I able to share how the Branch can change their hearts and come closer to Christ, but I learned what I need to do to come closer to Christ. I feel like whenever I have to prepare a talk, the topic is way more for me, rather than for the people I am speaking to. It's weird how that works. I also was able to say my talk and everything in Tagalog. I was able to express myself in TAGALOG. Ahhhh wow, how blessed I feel for the gift of tongues. I remember just a few months ago when I had to write a talk to give in Coron and how hard it was. I stayed up all night trying to figure out what to say and how to say it and now I prepared it and was able to say it and express what I wanted to from my heart. The feelings I had after I gave my talk were indescribable. Of course I still have a lot to work on to become really good at Tagalog, but it was nice to see that all the hardships I had at the beginning of my mission with the language are starting to pay off.
I know this area might be a struggle, but we were working with Sister Gladys (one of the members in our branch) this week and she told me about one of her experiences on her mission and said that she had a really hard area once while she was training. She cried all the time and it was really hard, but she said that she learned to truly trust that this is where the Lord wanted her to be. She was able to visit members and create long-lasting relationships. She then told me, that out of all her areas that one was her favorite. The one that caused her the most heartache and pain. The hardest one on her mission. That was her area where she felt she learned the most and grew the most.
It is always nice to think, the hardships I am having right now are all temporal hardships. They will be worth it to be refrained and become who I need to be. Looking back on my mission already I've seen myself grow so much. I know I can do this, with the strength of the Lord. It is going to be hard, but I am just going to have to work really hard and try my very best everyday. Because that is all I can do. I can do my best and give the rest to the Lord. So that's what I'm going to do.
We've already started to see miracles tho. All week we were looking for an investigator named Jessa. We couldn't find her anywhere. We literally looked for her for so long. Then BAM guess who was in sacrament meeting.. JESSA. I think I just needa chill and not stress out so much. Just enjoy my mission and be faithful even when I don't see any progress.
I love you all and I thank you for the words of encouragement. Salamat po para sa lahat. You are all my favorite and don't worry about me.. Im just gonna keep on going. Slowly but surely just like the turtle in that one funny story. haha Everyone be happy, ctr, and share the gospel because we know the truth.
Mahal ko kayo,
Sister Barton
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