Pioneer 2/8/2015

We attended a baptismal service yesterday evening. The cute little missionaries who are assigned to the Malinro 1st ward had a young woman to be baptized. There was also a young man there also.

The person I want to write about, however is the older woman standing at the left of the photo. Her name is Sister Teofesto. I call her Sister Maganda (Beautiful). And I mean that in every sense of the word. She is one of the pioneers in the Philippines. Her and her husband were baptized in 1984. Remember that in 1961 when the country was set apart for missionary work by Elder Hinkley, there was only 1 member of the church that was a native Philippino. Her husband eventually served as a Bishop and a Stake President. Before he died, they served a mission together. When there 18 months was up, they were asked to extend for another 18 months. When that 18 months was done, they were asked to extend another 18 months. A total of 4.5 years. When I am around her, I am humbled to dirt. Her countenance reflects exactly what the Lord's gospel does to and for people. The light about her is wonderful. She is my hero.