January 14, 2013

Hey all!!

Welllll, I have no idea where to start for this week. It has been really really great. I have learned soo so much this week. So first off we had a bunch of lessons with less active members this week. It's so great to be able to work with less active members and helping them to come back to church and to start reading the scriptures again. Elder Pugmire and I have really focused on helping them to just help them read the Book oh Mormon and gain that testimony that they once had back. It's hard to see so many less active members here in the Philippines but it is such a blessing to be able to be one of the missionaries that is helping them to come back. So Elder Pugmire and I are going to continue to help them read the Book of Mormon and hopefully they will begin to start reading it each and every day. I know that once they do that, they will come back . The Book of Mormon is true, and I know it can help every single person to come unto Christ and come to know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. This past week we also had our Area Broadcast where the area presidency talked and told us the new goals for 2013. The goals for 2013 are amazing and I know they can really help the Philippines to grow so much. One of the main goals is to help all members, active and less active, to "feast upon the words of Christ." That is having their own set of scriptures as well as reading them every day. Another big goal is to get more people going to the Temple and more people going to the Temple and more young single adults sealed in the Temple. the Temple is so amazing and I know if more people are able to go and get sealed in the Temple, they will be so much happier and the Lord will really bless them for it. Last year a lot of the goals were achieved but the area presidency has decided to keep the same goals with just a few additions to really help people come unto Christ. I'm so grateful that I'm going to be here all of 2013 to see just how that goes. This week I have also learned a ton about just trying to be better. A few things I have really tried to work on this week is being humble and loving, two attributes of Christ. I know that if I can humble myself and allow the Spirit to be the ultimate teacher, it will be so much better for the people w teach. Also, if I show y love to all those I teach, then they can fell the sincerity of the message that we share. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, I just can't thank my Father in Heaven enough! I love you all and am so grateful for all of your prayers and love. Write ya next week!

Elder Stephens