This week has been one of the best weeks of my whole mission/ whole life! Seriously, the power, spirit, and all around greatness felt this past weekend has been truly unforgettable. I feel so blessed to have had the experience with Elder Bednar and to have really gotten myself physically as well as spiritually prepared before his arrival.
It was so amazing having Elder Bednar come and speak to our mission. On Saturday we were able to have a mission conference with the whole Manila Mission for like 4 hours with Elder Bednar. That night we were able to watch on a broadcast questions and answers with the area presidency and Elder Bednar. Then on Sunday because we are in Makati Stake, we were able to have a special Elder Bednar conference with the whole stake. So it was literally like a weekend with an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Ahhh it was honestly so spiritually great that I feel absolutely exhausted. After this email I am going to spend the rest of pday watching 17 miracles and sleeping hahaha but really it was so so great.
Being with Elder Bednar especially the first time when it was just all of us missionaries in the Manila Mission was so different. I kind of figured that he would just kind of lecture us and tell us how to be better and learn more and pick on people and do things like that, but it was so cool the way he did it. He literally talked WITH us, not AT us. It was so good. He started off by saying, "Okay Elders and Sisters, are you ready? Let's get to work." Then he literally had us talk to him and he asked questions to us and we asked questions to him and it was literally one of the greatest things that I have ever seen.
I have so many things I want to share with you from things I have learned over this last weekend, but one thing that really impacted me was to always be an agent and act by faith. He was talking to all of us and telling us how we aren't objects. People can't make us feel any certain way or make us do any certain thing. Because we have agency we are agents and we act for ourselves and we must always do so in order to learn and grow. He kept saying that as we chose to do the simple things in our lives like pray, read the scriptures, attend church services, serve, attend activities and institute, etc. we are acting. We are choosing to change and to always follow the will of the Lord. One thing he said that I absolutely loved was, "God will bless you to do things you'd never imagine." As we strive to do His will and be more like Him through our choices, he will bless us. He will bless us way more than we can or could ever bless ourselves.
He also helped us learn what acting by faith is and what it means. That when we pray and have the intent to act on the things we pray for it is way more predictable and way more powerful. He compared it to OYMing or "opening your mouth" aka talking to everyone. If we pray to have power and amazing words to say to people, but we never actually act and talk first, it will never happen. We must first act. We must first open our mouths to people and then our mouths will be filled. It was so good, because I've never thought about it like that. Even with things like getting a job. You can pray to have help to find a job and things, but if you just sit in your house and never act or go out and look for one of course God cannot help you. But as you go out and act and seek for a job, God will help you and lead you to what you need at that time. It was so good and I just feel like I received so much guidance and revelation for the rest of my mission and for my future.
As many things as I learned of the gospel and doctrines and things, the one thing I will never forget is the way I felt. The power and holiness of Elder Bednar was so amazing. I can literally testify and tell you that he is a man called of God. He is a true witness of Jesus Christ. I knew that before this past weekend, but actually having Him speak with us and seeing Him face-to-face and feeling his spirit just confirmed what I know to be true.
The Spirit I have felt this past weekend will never be forgotten. I feel so blessed to be a missionary for the Lord Jesus Christ, to serve him everyday, and to know that I am clean, pure, and worthy to do this work. As we embrace the gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can change each day. That is the greatest part. If we make a mistake which we are going to do many many times, we have hope. We have the chance to repent even for the smallest of things so that when the great day comes we can stand at that judgement day and know that we are clean and pure to enter the celestial kingdom. This weekend I felt celestial moments. I'm grateful to be in the Philippines and to continue to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. How grateful I am to be a servant of Him.
Mahal ko kayo,
Sister Barton
1.A selfie taken from Riveca Mesa hahahaha
2. LOOK HOW MANY AMERICAN SISTERS THERE ARE NOW!!!! When I started the mission there was literally just me and now there are 6 of us! ahhhhh it's so great :)
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