So this week has been crazy busy, but full of
miracles. Wow the Lord is really pouring out blessing upon us right
now. I'm really really getting to love this area. But before I tell you
how great my week was... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TINA!! Hahaha Happy bday Mom,
I hope you have the best birthday and go eat lots of cake and things
:). You are a remarkable person and I feel so blessed to have you as a
mother. Thank you for all you do.
Also, Happy Thanksgiving.. (belated)
My
thanksgiving was one of a kind, thats for sure. I went on exchanges
with Sister Bellen. It was a really awesome exchange and we had a lot of
crazy experiences. She had a dinner appointment with one of the members
so we went to their house and they had like 3 huge dogs who were so
angry at us for some reason.. and wow the dogs here are insane. Man it
took us 20 min just to get in their house. Then guess what I ate for
thanksgiving dinner... SEAFOOD. My favorite... hahaha we had shrimp and
fish and some weird vegetable stuff. I actually like seafood more now
than I used to. I can actually eat it so that's one thing I can say I
accomplished on my mission :)
We had a really
cool experience of service this last week. So a little background of the
Philippines.. There are poor people everywhere you go here. Like not
poor like in Utah, but like poor as in they sleep in construction type
blocks for a bed because they have nowhere to go. A lot of the people
here literally have nothing. When I first got on my mission and saw
these people all around it broke my heart every time. Especially when I
heard we can't give them money because it isn't our money to give. So
instead I just give them food whenever I have any.
On Tuesday
night we had such a wonderful experience serving. We went to get dinner
by a shopping center and a mother probably around 35 years old was
holding a little baby and they just looked horrible. They literally
looked like they had just duggen through a pit of garbage (which a lot
of people do here) Anyway she had a broken ankle and her baby she was
holding had two swollen eyes with all this red stuff around them. She
came up to us to ask for money. We decided to talk to this lady and get
to know her a little bit. She didn't have a family, a job, schooling, or
a home. She said she lived behind this old warehouse and her home is
like a fort. She kept asking for money so she could buy some milk for
her baby. Sorrow filled my whole soul when we were talking to her. I
felt so sad for this cute little lady with such a bad situation. So we
decided to walk away and buy her things in the grocery store. We bought
just some simple stuff for her to make with some rice and bought her
baby some milk. After we bought everything, we headed back to give it to
her... but she was gone. We couldn't find her anywhere. So I prayed in
my heart that we would find this lady in need so that she could have
some food to get her through a couple days. Afterwards I was thinking
where I would go if I was her and needed money. So we walked to a couple
other restaurants and sure enough there she was. So we walked over to
her and gave her the bag of groceries.
The
look on her face was priceless. She was so beyond grateful. All she said
was maraming maraming salamat po. That's all she could say and she had
tears in her eyes. Man, it was such a great experience. Looking back at
my experience I just think in our eyes that was such a small thing. We
literally just bought a couple cans of food and groceries for someone,
but in her eyes it was a HUGE thing. She was so grateful. So I just
think, if we can do acts of service like that always how great would the
world be. Jesus Christ came to earth literally to serve us because he
loves us. During the Christmas season is a great time to follow His
example and serve selflessly. I read a quote the other day that said,
"Christlike service is when you serve for the person, not for the
reward" I really love serving, missionary service, regular service,
whatever it is it is all great in the sight of others and in the sight
of God. I'm grateful for the service I get to do and I invite all of you
to continue to look for opportunities to serve others.
Anyway,throughout
the rest of the week we just worked and worked and worked some more. It
paid off as well. We found this amazing family (picture bellow) They
are the Mesa Family and we talked to them on Saturday
and asked if we could teach them. So then and there we taught them
about how the restored gospel will bless their family and about the
beauty of temples. Ahh it was such a powerful lesson. Sister Vicky is
the mother and she has 9 children. 4 are already married and live above
her and 5 are still in their teens or younger. So when we taught we were
able to teach almost all of her children so there was like 15 people in
the house as we were teaching. It was such a powerful and spiritual
experience. And just another testimony builder that it is so important
to talk to everyone you see. Whether it is on the street, in a jeepnee,
on a bus, or really just anywhere to talk to them.
Then on Sunday,
I was asked to give a talk and we had a lot of investigators show up
and many members brought some friends. While the last speaker was
talking we saw Sister Niu and Sister Anau (our kabahays) bringing some
people into the chapel. I looked up and saw the Mesa family walk into
church, they walked in with a smile and a willingness to act on the
message they had heard. I literally was up on the stand with tears in my
eyes. Oh how grateful I am for the Mesa Family. I am so blessed for the
restored gospel and for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My whole heart
was filled with joy when I saw them walking into church. We were able to
have 11 investigators attend yesterday and its just a firm testimony to
me that Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers. One by one they
are choosing to follow Jesus Christ and accept the gospel in their
lives. The experiences I have on my mission are literally indescribable.
It is so hard for me to explain how I felt and how much every little
thing Heavenly Father does for me and for my people each and everyday
means to me.
Sorry for the long email...
hopefully you didn't get bored, but I had a great week. I hope all of
you have a great day and get ready for the most wonderful time of the
year... CHRISTMAS! 4 weeks and then I get to talk to youuuuu :) I'm so
grateful for you and for all you do. Thanks for being great examples to
all. Keep choosing the right, reading the Book of Mormon, and smiling. I
love you all.
Mahal ko kayo,
Sister Barton
No comments:
Post a Comment