Hey there everyone!
I cannot believe it is already February. Well it's true what they say, time flies when you're having fun. I think that's how it goes at least. I, by the way, am having tons of fun here on the mission. We had a great week this past week and I just felt like I learned a whole ton. This month, President Stucki is trying to help us focus on strengthening our faith in out Savior, Jesus Christ. So this week we had a zone meeting that was all focused on exactly that. Strengthening our faith in Christ. I was also able to read a lot from Preach my Gospel, and a lot of conference talks as well, all on faith and how to strengthen it. It was wonderful because I just learned so much more about my Savior, and what He has done for not only me but all of Heavenly Father's children. The best one that helped me out was reading a talk given last General Conference about trials of our faith. It was really assuring to know that Christ is always there and sometimes He tests us to see if we really, truly have faith in Him. And when we show Him that we do and that we trust Him, He blesses us for it. It just helped me out a lot because the mission is tough sometimes and knowing that I am doing what Christ wants me to do at this time just helps me to press forward, with full trust that He will help me out. Another talk was awesome giving by Elder Bednar. I forget the title and the date, but it was about asking for Heavenly Father's help, and then acting after. 'Faith always leads to action' was the overall theme. We cannot just have faith in Christ without acting after and showing that faith to Him and to others. So it just taught me that when we ask for help, we have to ask in faith, and that means not only asking for help, but asking for what we need to do for that help. The example Elder Bednar gave was when Joseph Smith asked Heavenly Father about which church was true. Elder Bednar said Joseph Smith didn't ask which church was the right one, but he asked which church was the one that he should join. He asked Heavenly Father what he needed "to do." This ensured that his faith was going to lead to action. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers, that He is there whenever we have needs. If we just humble ourselves and ask Him, He will tell us what we need to do. I love this gospel and all the things I learned from it. This week we have a zone conference and I'm way excited to learn even more. I know this church is true with all my heart. I love you all. Until next week.
Elder Stephens
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Hey Everyone
Magandag hapon sa ating lahat! How is everyone? The Philippines is the same ol' same ol' Philippines. Still the absolute greatest place to ever serve a mission. this past week was such a wonderful week. We were able to have 3=20 lessons with just less active and recent convert members. Elder Pugmire and I didn't really realize that we had so many lessons with them until last night when we did our reporting. Looking back on the week though, it was a really great one with teaching less active members, because we got to teach so many of them. Our focus with the less active members have been to invite and help them to read the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and can bless the lives of all those who read and ponder the principles taught in the Book of Mormon. Anyway, one of the families that we were able to teach and read the Book of Mormon with were able to even come to church this last week! That was exciting and it felt great to see them there. and the return missionary, Tommy, has come to church for the third week in a row! We were talking with him about working with us this week and he was really excited. I think working with him has helped a lot because he says he feels the Spirit when he works with us and it reminds him of his mission that he loved. We also got to work with the YSA's and the youth this week in another great activity. We did the "One Day Missionary" activity again and this time it involved the youth as well. It was actually very successful! elder Pugmire and I taught a little lesson on commitments and how they play a very big role in missionary work. Out purpose as missionaries is first, to invite them to help people come unto Christ. We do that through the commitments that we give them. It was awesome seeing the YSA's and the youth to really get a deep desire to serve and to see them start preparing already by doing this activities. We also met two new less active members this week and taught them for the first time. One, Brother Camacho, is really awesome. He actually loves the scriptures and tries to read a much as he can, he just can't come to Church because of his job. It is tough but I know if he has faith it will all work out in the end. another one, Brother Cruzet, was really great as well. He says he wants to continue to meet and we are really excited to continue and help him to come back to Christ. I know he can. One think I have really come to realize is that faith plays such a huge role in this work. We really have to have a lot of faith in Christ if we are to be successful in this work. Without faith, none of this work is worth it. With that faith comes action. Or in other words, we really need to just ask our Heavenly Father to help us. We can't o it on our own, we need our Heavenly Father's help in everything that we do. Especially in this, His work. I love this work so much and the opportunity and blessing I have to serve. It's been a crazy 5 months and I have learned so much. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love you all so much. Keep writing!
Elder Stephens
January 28, 2013
To whom this may concern,
That being anyone who wants to read this email. This week was absolutely amazing! For some reason Heavenly Father has blessed me with the best area in all of the world. Transfers were this passed week and so I'm....still in Carissa and my companion is...still Elder Pugmire! Pretty coo,, right? I guess it doesn't happen a lot that the trainer is with the trainee after the 12 weeks but we get to stay together and continue to help Carissa out! So we are very excited. This last week we were really blessed to be able to work with a lot of members . Usually we work with the young single adults because one of the area goals here in the Philippines is to save the rising generation. So we were able to work with them, but we were also able to work with some of the leaders in the branch as well! We worked with Brother Geraga, our young men's president as well as the Elder's quorum president, Brother Contado. It was awesome. One of our big goals for this week was to get more people to sacrament meeting as well. So we involved some of the members to help out and it worked out! Brother Geraga was able to go to a member who hasn't been to church in years and help him to come to church. We have been teaching him for a while but he hasn't come, however when Brother Geraga stopped by in the morning to take him, he was very willing to go. So that was awesome. The returned missionary that we have been working with, Tommy, was also able to come to church for the second week in a row! That was very sweet because he really is trying hard to come back now, I can definitely see it in him. Another investigator we have been teaching for a long time now was able to come to church as well! He and his mom came to church yesterday. He came one week a long time ago and his mom came for the first time. They enjoyed church a lot and I know they really felt the Spirit while they were there. Last night we taught another investigator named Jovi. His wife Cherry is less active but she wants to come back and he wants to learn more. Last night when we taught, he explained to us how he knows that this is the true church. Also, how he is going to do everything he can to prepare himself for baptism! That was so wonderful to hear, especially because it will definitely help out Cherry as well. So we are going to help him out to really get him ready for baptism and he said once he changes his ways, he is never going back and he is going to stay strong in the church forever. I love him and his wife so much and I can't wait to teach them again this week. It sounds like this week was great for all of you! I know this gospel is true, I know it can change lives, and I know that Christ lives. I love you all!
Elder Stephens
That being anyone who wants to read this email. This week was absolutely amazing! For some reason Heavenly Father has blessed me with the best area in all of the world. Transfers were this passed week and so I'm....still in Carissa and my companion is...still Elder Pugmire! Pretty coo,, right? I guess it doesn't happen a lot that the trainer is with the trainee after the 12 weeks but we get to stay together and continue to help Carissa out! So we are very excited. This last week we were really blessed to be able to work with a lot of members . Usually we work with the young single adults because one of the area goals here in the Philippines is to save the rising generation. So we were able to work with them, but we were also able to work with some of the leaders in the branch as well! We worked with Brother Geraga, our young men's president as well as the Elder's quorum president, Brother Contado. It was awesome. One of our big goals for this week was to get more people to sacrament meeting as well. So we involved some of the members to help out and it worked out! Brother Geraga was able to go to a member who hasn't been to church in years and help him to come to church. We have been teaching him for a while but he hasn't come, however when Brother Geraga stopped by in the morning to take him, he was very willing to go. So that was awesome. The returned missionary that we have been working with, Tommy, was also able to come to church for the second week in a row! That was very sweet because he really is trying hard to come back now, I can definitely see it in him. Another investigator we have been teaching for a long time now was able to come to church as well! He and his mom came to church yesterday. He came one week a long time ago and his mom came for the first time. They enjoyed church a lot and I know they really felt the Spirit while they were there. Last night we taught another investigator named Jovi. His wife Cherry is less active but she wants to come back and he wants to learn more. Last night when we taught, he explained to us how he knows that this is the true church. Also, how he is going to do everything he can to prepare himself for baptism! That was so wonderful to hear, especially because it will definitely help out Cherry as well. So we are going to help him out to really get him ready for baptism and he said once he changes his ways, he is never going back and he is going to stay strong in the church forever. I love him and his wife so much and I can't wait to teach them again this week. It sounds like this week was great for all of you! I know this gospel is true, I know it can change lives, and I know that Christ lives. I love you all!
Elder Stephens
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)