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