A Quick Look at Last Week

We haven't had Internet for almost a week, so this will get us caught up through last weekend. Last Saturday afternoon we held a Book of Mormon fireside and eventually had about sixty attend, including several investigators. We had a box wrapped in gold foil on the table in front and talked about the operating instructions and blessings of the Liahona. Then we invited an investigator to come up and unwrap the gold gift box to reveal the special personalized Liahona we had for each person in attendance. After carefully unwrapping the box and several layers of wrapping materials, he reached in and brought out a copy of the Book of Mormon. We made a comparison of how they work.

 It was a fun event that made the members and investigators really appreciate the Book of Mormon and the precious gift it is to us in our journey to our promised land of eternal life.

When the fireside was over, and refreshments were served, we were informed that there was a funeral for a branch member at his home. We were invited to come and speak at the funeral. Many of the members boarded a member's jeep for a free ride to the funeral. I gathered my thoughts and prepared a few remarks on the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation. Once we got there, the chairs were arranged for family, neighbors and the branch members. I powered up the keyboard with the extension cord I brought for the fireside presentation and held the hymnal while Sister Lindsay played the prelude and hymns. A member of the branch presidency spoke, a young missionary and then I spoke. I tried to personalize my message to his wife, children and parents that were in attendance. We felt the sweet peace the Spirit brings as we reflected on the gift of the Atonement, the Resurrection and the great Plan of Salvation.

When the funeral was over we extended our condolences and departed. I got one picture of the jeep loaded with members leaving the funeral. It was wonderful to see the great love and support the members show to one another. Kind love, support and consolation are more precious than anything else one could give at this time. 

Thursday we were out all day doing missionary apartment checks. We love doing these checks because we get to meet with the missionaries in their homes and share a little treat with them and a few words of encouragement and counsel. We visited 11 companionships living in 9 apartments in the Rosales Zone. It was a beautiful day... blue skies, clouds and no rain to dampen the spirits.

 

This is Mount Balungao, located just south of the village of Balungao on our way back to Rosales. The missionaries like to climb this big hill on their P-day and because everything else is so flat they can see everything for miles around. It is surrounded by rice fields and a lot of open area.

Friday we went out to do some training and make some reactivation visits. This is a picture of brother and sister Narsisa and their son. She gave us some vague directions and we relied on the Spirit and a few locals to give us directions. As we got closer to her home, we could see her standing by the road waving to us. Sister Lindsay trained sister Narsisa in her Relief society duties and I talked with the men.

 
Sunday we attended the block meetings in Manaoag, our home branch. We are always warmly greeted by the members and the missionaries and often see investigators we have taught in their homes. Today was no exception. We were pleased to see some of those investigators at church today. After the services it was time to checked calendars, make appointments, do a lot of listening, smiling and committing members to pray and read their scriptures everyday.

We went home (5 minutes away) and had a quick tuna sandwich and left to meet our member friends that would take us on the reactivation visits today. On the way to Mapandan, a nearby town, we stopped by the branch presidents home and talked for a few minutes and then went on to meet the sisters that would show us the way to our family visits.

We met with a wonderful young family and encouraged them to make the commitment to attend church regularly. I know they will. He is a returned missionary, high priest, married in the temple to his returned missionary wife and they have two sons; John Melchizedek and Amulek.

We went to another family but the parents were not home so we visited with the children and will come back next week to visit the whole family. As I was leaving the family pointed out that I had a very low rear tire. I got it inflated and after several days it is still inflated fine. I think one of the boys enjoyed playing with the air valve.

Sunday, after the reactivation visits, we stopped by the district president's home. As you might expect he was at meetings, but we met with his family anyway. Sister Aromin gave birth to little Tina a week ago and we had to stop by to see her and her mother. It is always a delight to be with our dear friends and share the joys of life together.

 There is a precious story behind the birth of this little girl. We will tell you when we get home.

We enjoyed another beautiful sunset as we drove home from a full day of missionary work... no a full day of blessing the lives of our friends with the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is.