Hey there everybody!
This week was absolutely amazing! We had a baptism this past Saturday for Brother Ernesto Ayade! It was a great baptismal service and he had a ton of support fro the baptism. he asked me to be the one to baptize him and I was so blessed. I could feel the Spirit so strong as we were in the baptismal service and especially as we stood in the baptismal font. I love "Tatay Ernesto" so much and I really can't wait for him and his whole family to be such a strong family in the gospel and in the church. They are all so great and I love them all so much. We were also able to have two more baptisms in the district this past Saturday! All the companionship's in the district had 1 baptism and confirmation each. It was a great week! We had a specialized training last week for the leaders in the mission and I was able to learn so much from it. We focused our specialized training on how the Lord is hastening His work and how we are a part of the hastening! I learned a ton about planning and how planning is such a big part of hastening the work because we have to use the Lord's time wisely while we are out here. We can apply it to real life as well. We all make goals, for example, New Year's "Resolutions" but usually we don't have a plan to carry out those "resolutions", we do it for about a month or so then we are don. That is what I really took away from the meeting. We have goals but we have to really be able to make plans so we can reach those goals that we have set for ourselves. I also learned a whole lot about obedience this past week. Our mission has a ton of new rules that have been given to all of the missionaries and some of them are really hard to follow and we don't completely understand why we even have to do them. I then looked to Adam's example when he was commanded to give sacrifices to the Lord. He was asked why he was doing the sacrifices, and he responded saying, "I know not, save the Lord commanded me." I know that the commandments and also the mission rules while here on the mission are important. I know that they are given from God which means we must follow them. Obedience brings blessings, just as President Monson talked about in the last General Conference. It is up to us to want those blessings and to be obedient. Well I think that's it. I will let you know about me week, next week. I love you all!
Elder Stephens
Sunday, June 23, 2013
June 17, 2013
Hello all!
How is everyone doing?! Hopefully there isn't a blackout while we are emailing again. This past week was a pretty great week! We had a wonderful branch activity here in the Aborlan branch on Wednesday because it was independence day here. We invited all of our investigators and less active members to the activity and some of them showed up! It was great because the members were able to have a fun activity and fellowship the investigators and less active members to really help them feel welcome. Some college students that we were teaching a little while ago came back this past week and we are teaching them again. They are Jason and Paugie and they are awesome. We had a great lesson with them this past week and we really saw their desire to come to know the truth. It is great when investigators have a true desire to know if the Book of Mormon is true, or if Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. It's awesome because I know they will do those things Heavenly Father wants them to do in order to know such as read and pray to find the truth. Elder Baniqued and I have also been learning a lot about working with members and leaders in order to really help the work grow. We have mad a goal to really work with the members a lot more and gain their trust in order to receive referrals and also to get them involved in the teaching. The members here in the Aborlan branch are so great and I know they love missionary work and as we continue to work with them, the Aborlan branch is going to grow so so much. I love this work and it is such a blessing to be here in the Aborlan Branch and able to work with these wonderful people and also with all the investigators and less active members. I know this is the work of the Lord and we as missionaries are only instruments in His hands in helping Heavenly Father's children to come unto Christ. That's about it from me!
Elder Stephens
How is everyone doing?! Hopefully there isn't a blackout while we are emailing again. This past week was a pretty great week! We had a wonderful branch activity here in the Aborlan branch on Wednesday because it was independence day here. We invited all of our investigators and less active members to the activity and some of them showed up! It was great because the members were able to have a fun activity and fellowship the investigators and less active members to really help them feel welcome. Some college students that we were teaching a little while ago came back this past week and we are teaching them again. They are Jason and Paugie and they are awesome. We had a great lesson with them this past week and we really saw their desire to come to know the truth. It is great when investigators have a true desire to know if the Book of Mormon is true, or if Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God. It's awesome because I know they will do those things Heavenly Father wants them to do in order to know such as read and pray to find the truth. Elder Baniqued and I have also been learning a lot about working with members and leaders in order to really help the work grow. We have mad a goal to really work with the members a lot more and gain their trust in order to receive referrals and also to get them involved in the teaching. The members here in the Aborlan branch are so great and I know they love missionary work and as we continue to work with them, the Aborlan branch is going to grow so so much. I love this work and it is such a blessing to be here in the Aborlan Branch and able to work with these wonderful people and also with all the investigators and less active members. I know this is the work of the Lord and we as missionaries are only instruments in His hands in helping Heavenly Father's children to come unto Christ. That's about it from me!
Elder Stephens
Sunday, June 16, 2013
June 10, 2013
Hey everyone!
Wow time is flying. I know we all say it but I mean, it is crazy how fast the time is going by. I feel like I was emailing yesterday, and the time before that was just 2 days ago. Well anyways, this week was great! We were blessed with tons of work again. We were especially blessed with the opportunity to continue to teach Jorald and he is super stoked to be baptized this week on the 15th! He loves the gospel and especially the Book of Mormon. it has made him a better person and has brought him closer unto Christ. I know that is so true because it has done the exact same thing for me! I have grown so much closer to my Savior because of the Book of Mormon and I know it is true with all my heart. We were also blessed with teaching another man named Brother Ayede! His family is awesome and almost all of them are members. There is one that isn't because they are in Manila right now and we don't really know the address to get the missionaries there. However, I know that when they come back they will be taught and come unto Christ as well. So as for Brother Ayade, he is just awesome and I love him so much. He is just tough as nails. He is a fisherman, and goes from way early in the morning to about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, then we come over and teach him. It really is great seeing him progress. He just wants his family to get closer together and he knows that the gospel will be able to help him with that. I have seen the gospel completely change families and make them so much happier and especially helps them to come closer unto Christ. I love this gospel so much and I cannot wait to see how the gospel continues to help the people here in Aborlan Palawan. It has already blessed the lives of so many people here and all over the world and it can only bless more and more lives. It is such a great opportunity for me to serve and I can't wait to get back to work!Well that's about it! Thanks for all the love and support!
Elder Stephens
PS. Last Monday we got a blackout right when I was about to send the email. Lucky me! So sorry this is late but I thought I should still send the email! Love you all!!
Wow time is flying. I know we all say it but I mean, it is crazy how fast the time is going by. I feel like I was emailing yesterday, and the time before that was just 2 days ago. Well anyways, this week was great! We were blessed with tons of work again. We were especially blessed with the opportunity to continue to teach Jorald and he is super stoked to be baptized this week on the 15th! He loves the gospel and especially the Book of Mormon. it has made him a better person and has brought him closer unto Christ. I know that is so true because it has done the exact same thing for me! I have grown so much closer to my Savior because of the Book of Mormon and I know it is true with all my heart. We were also blessed with teaching another man named Brother Ayede! His family is awesome and almost all of them are members. There is one that isn't because they are in Manila right now and we don't really know the address to get the missionaries there. However, I know that when they come back they will be taught and come unto Christ as well. So as for Brother Ayade, he is just awesome and I love him so much. He is just tough as nails. He is a fisherman, and goes from way early in the morning to about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, then we come over and teach him. It really is great seeing him progress. He just wants his family to get closer together and he knows that the gospel will be able to help him with that. I have seen the gospel completely change families and make them so much happier and especially helps them to come closer unto Christ. I love this gospel so much and I cannot wait to see how the gospel continues to help the people here in Aborlan Palawan. It has already blessed the lives of so many people here and all over the world and it can only bless more and more lives. It is such a great opportunity for me to serve and I can't wait to get back to work!Well that's about it! Thanks for all the love and support!
Elder Stephens
PS. Last Monday we got a blackout right when I was about to send the email. Lucky me! So sorry this is late but I thought I should still send the email! Love you all!!
Monday, June 3, 2013
June 2, 2013
Hey there everybody!
This week was a really great one! We had so many lessons and we were able to really help out a ton of people this past week to just come closer unto Christ and follow Him. I have really seen so many wonderful people change the lives because of the gospel and it really is a miracle to me. Children of our Father in Heaven changing their lives so they can live in accordance to His gospel. It totally blows my mind! (In a good way). This past week we had the wonderful opportunity of going to an investigator we have been teaching for a few weeks now. Anyway, he told us how super excited he is to get baptized and to follow the example of Jesus Christ! It made me so happy to hear that and I can't wait for him to enter the waters of baptism. His name is Jorald and he's 15 years old. His father isn't a member but said it would be okay for him to be baptized! And there are a bunch of members that all live really close to Jorald, the Paller family being one of them, and they all are there to support him as well. It was just great for me to see him progress so much, he was really hesitant at first and just seemed really shy, but last week when he opened up to us like that, it just made me so happy. Training and being a district leader here is pretty fun stuff. I'm having a lot of fun with Elder Baniqued. He is always trying to work on English and I never speak English to him. I think it's crazy that I spend every minute speaking in Tagalog. 9 months ago I could only say the real simple things like "thank you." I love this time I have to serve the Lord and I especially love these assignments as district leader and trainer. It has helped me to grow so much! I love this gospel and know it is true with all my heart! I can't believe I have the opportunity now to share it! I love you all! Keep me updated! I sure will do the same for you!
Elder Stephens
This week was a really great one! We had so many lessons and we were able to really help out a ton of people this past week to just come closer unto Christ and follow Him. I have really seen so many wonderful people change the lives because of the gospel and it really is a miracle to me. Children of our Father in Heaven changing their lives so they can live in accordance to His gospel. It totally blows my mind! (In a good way). This past week we had the wonderful opportunity of going to an investigator we have been teaching for a few weeks now. Anyway, he told us how super excited he is to get baptized and to follow the example of Jesus Christ! It made me so happy to hear that and I can't wait for him to enter the waters of baptism. His name is Jorald and he's 15 years old. His father isn't a member but said it would be okay for him to be baptized! And there are a bunch of members that all live really close to Jorald, the Paller family being one of them, and they all are there to support him as well. It was just great for me to see him progress so much, he was really hesitant at first and just seemed really shy, but last week when he opened up to us like that, it just made me so happy. Training and being a district leader here is pretty fun stuff. I'm having a lot of fun with Elder Baniqued. He is always trying to work on English and I never speak English to him. I think it's crazy that I spend every minute speaking in Tagalog. 9 months ago I could only say the real simple things like "thank you." I love this time I have to serve the Lord and I especially love these assignments as district leader and trainer. It has helped me to grow so much! I love this gospel and know it is true with all my heart! I can't believe I have the opportunity now to share it! I love you all! Keep me updated! I sure will do the same for you!
Elder Stephens
May 27, 2013
Hey there everyone!
I love missionary work! This has been a really awesome week. I met my new companion, Elder Baniqued. I have the wonderful opportunity of training him but honestly I feel like I am the one being trained because I have already learned so much from him! He is actually 26 years old and, like me, was baptized only a year before his mission! He had the desire to come out just as soon as possible to serve the Lord and help others to feel the same blessings that have come to his life. Sounds like someone else, no? The first day we were in the house he told me to help him out with his English because he really wants to learn. We have already had some great work in just a few days that we have been together. We have been really focusing on getting new investigators and giving out more baptismal dates so more people can come unto Christ and the Lord has really blessed us this week! We didn't have a huge number of new investigators but we really saw our baptismal dates grow. With the number of baptismal dates growing we also saw our number of progressing investigators grow with it. It is just a testimony to me that what is says in Preach my Gospel about inviting to baptism early and often is really powerful. Not only do more people come unto Christ, but you are really able to find those that are ready to receive the gospel. We are really excited for these next few months that are coming up. We are really going out and finding the elect and we know that many baptisms and return members will follow. I really love serving and especially the chance I have now to serve as district leader and as a trainer. I have already learned so much and I know there is just so much more that I have to learn. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again! Until next week!
Elder Stephens
I love missionary work! This has been a really awesome week. I met my new companion, Elder Baniqued. I have the wonderful opportunity of training him but honestly I feel like I am the one being trained because I have already learned so much from him! He is actually 26 years old and, like me, was baptized only a year before his mission! He had the desire to come out just as soon as possible to serve the Lord and help others to feel the same blessings that have come to his life. Sounds like someone else, no? The first day we were in the house he told me to help him out with his English because he really wants to learn. We have already had some great work in just a few days that we have been together. We have been really focusing on getting new investigators and giving out more baptismal dates so more people can come unto Christ and the Lord has really blessed us this week! We didn't have a huge number of new investigators but we really saw our baptismal dates grow. With the number of baptismal dates growing we also saw our number of progressing investigators grow with it. It is just a testimony to me that what is says in Preach my Gospel about inviting to baptism early and often is really powerful. Not only do more people come unto Christ, but you are really able to find those that are ready to receive the gospel. We are really excited for these next few months that are coming up. We are really going out and finding the elect and we know that many baptisms and return members will follow. I really love serving and especially the chance I have now to serve as district leader and as a trainer. I have already learned so much and I know there is just so much more that I have to learn. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again! Until next week!
Elder Stephens
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