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.

Lessons Learned. 2-6-2015

I would like to talk about a couple of things that I have experienced that have caused me to think some.

While we were still in the MTC in Prove, something happened to me that has proven. to be very important to me. Toward the end of the week, we went into the caffitiara to eat breakfast. The Senior Couples usually sat together in the same location. We were the first ones there. I sat down to eat when I felt someone put their hand on my back just below my left shoulder and push in a little. I thought it was one of our new found friends. I turned around to see who it was, but there was nobody there. I was startled some. I know what I had felt. It was still on my mind when we went to our first class. The first thing that our instructor did was discuss a scripture.  

D&C 84:88 "....I will go before your face. I will be be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your heart, and mine angles round about you, to bear you up". 

Here is the deal. I have never felt that the promises of the Lord ever applied to me because I was not good enought to get them. however, I know what I had experienced in the cafeteria. This scripture hit me with power. 

Since that day, I have come to know without doubts that His Spirit is in my heart and His angles round about me to bear me up. I know he has excepted me and my choice to serve. We are very busy, but happy. We want to, and feel we can make a difference in the lives of the people. I know we will be OK.

We also want our service to make a difference for good in the lives of our family and friends.

I do not wish to afend anyone or belittle any religion. But I had something happen that has cused me to think. We walked to an open air market close to where we live in Malino. Make shift booths set up everywhere. They were selling everything from fish and meat to fruites, cloths and every kind of rice known to men. I think you could ever fine the kitchen sink if you looks for one. The smells and atmosphere was something I had never experienced befor.

While there we were approached by an Islomic street preacher. He was very aggressive to the point of being rude. I looked into his face and I was taken back a little by what I saw. We work all day looking into the faces and eyes of the missionaries. These kids have a light about them that I grown to love love. And their eyes reflect light, happiness and love. I have grown used to seeing this. But I saw none of this in this man's face and eyes. No light, no love. What I saw in his eyes was anything but love. I know he does not reflect all members of the Islomic faith. Being kind and loving is a personal choice that any person can make.