Hello everyone!
Missionary work is the best, and I am just so grateful I have this 2 years to serve the Lord. This past week, Elder Limocon and I got to go to missionary leadership council again and receive a ton of new council for the mission. In MCL I really learned how important it is to take care of the missionaries in your stewardship. We have so many new missionaries coming in these days and they all are stepping into an exciting, but sometimes scary, new experience. As leaders we were told that we have to do all we can to help these new missionaries, and others as well if they are struggling, to know how important they are to this work. Every person has their responsibility and contribute so much to the mission and we really don't want to lose even one person out here. I realized just how much President and Sister Stucki love this work and all the missionaries involved in it. They really want all the missionaries to have a great experience for the next 2 to 11/2 years out here and they do a ton to see that it happens. I am so grateful for them and how much they love us! Elder Limocon and i are still helping Edwin and Wilma Pamulag to receive this gospel. They have come so far from the first time we saw them. they always had good hearts and always wanted to learn more, but from reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and coming to church, they have seen how important this gospel is and how important it is to receive it. I am so grateful that we got to teach Edwin and Wilma, and really help them to come unto Christ. They have really felt the Spirit and know that this is the true church and can't wait to become clean through repentance and baptism, then receive the Holy Ghost and become members of this church. I know this is the true church here on the earth, the only true church that has the authority to preach this gospel and baptize those worthy for baptism. I know Christ lives and He loves us. I know this is His work, and we as missionaries and members are only tools to help Him fulfill His work and glory!
Elder Stephens
Sunday, October 27, 2013
September 30, 2013
Hello all!
Elder Limocon and I had a wonderful week! We went out finding and the Lord really blessed us. We found a few families through referrals and finding along the way. Brother and Sister Vigonte gave us a referral this past week, the week after their baptism! It was awesome because they were able to come with us to Brother Vegonte's son and teach him and other members of his family. They bore testimony about their conversion and how much they have changed because of the gospel. It was so powerful! I am excited to see how Alex, Brother Vegonte's son, continues to grow in the gospel. we all had one great lesson with a sort of new couple we have been teaching. Their names are Edwin and Wilma. I don't remember if I already wrote about them. Anyway, in one of the lessons this past week, Sister Wilma expressed to us how her whole life she has been searching for more in terms of religion and how everywhere she has been she felt something missing. last week on the 22nd was her second time going to church, and in the lesson we had this last week she told us that after she came home from church, she knew this was the church she had been searching for her whole life! She made the decision that day that she was going to get baptized so we gave her a date for this upcoming October! Her husband has always expressed so much interest but he had a stroke about 3 years ago and can't really walk well. We were able to help Brother Edwin come to church yesterday with the help of the members! He loved it and also wants to get baptized along with his wife. They both were just so ready to listen to the gospel and accept it and I know it is because Heavenly Father knows them and has prepared them for this time. I love this gospel and especially love how the Lord has a hand in sharing it to these wonderful people. I know I cannot do it on my own and neither can Elder Limocon, or anyone of us missionaries. However if we put our trust in the Lord He will provide the means for these people to accept the gospel!
Elder Stephens
Elder Limocon and I had a wonderful week! We went out finding and the Lord really blessed us. We found a few families through referrals and finding along the way. Brother and Sister Vigonte gave us a referral this past week, the week after their baptism! It was awesome because they were able to come with us to Brother Vegonte's son and teach him and other members of his family. They bore testimony about their conversion and how much they have changed because of the gospel. It was so powerful! I am excited to see how Alex, Brother Vegonte's son, continues to grow in the gospel. we all had one great lesson with a sort of new couple we have been teaching. Their names are Edwin and Wilma. I don't remember if I already wrote about them. Anyway, in one of the lessons this past week, Sister Wilma expressed to us how her whole life she has been searching for more in terms of religion and how everywhere she has been she felt something missing. last week on the 22nd was her second time going to church, and in the lesson we had this last week she told us that after she came home from church, she knew this was the church she had been searching for her whole life! She made the decision that day that she was going to get baptized so we gave her a date for this upcoming October! Her husband has always expressed so much interest but he had a stroke about 3 years ago and can't really walk well. We were able to help Brother Edwin come to church yesterday with the help of the members! He loved it and also wants to get baptized along with his wife. They both were just so ready to listen to the gospel and accept it and I know it is because Heavenly Father knows them and has prepared them for this time. I love this gospel and especially love how the Lord has a hand in sharing it to these wonderful people. I know I cannot do it on my own and neither can Elder Limocon, or anyone of us missionaries. However if we put our trust in the Lord He will provide the means for these people to accept the gospel!
Elder Stephens
Septemeber 23, 2013
Hey there everybody!
this week was awesome! First off, we helped the Vegonte (Not Viguni, I have been spelling it wrong this whole time) family to receive the restored gospel, through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, we are helping them to endure to the end! We had a wonderful baptismal service for them and the confirmation went amazing as well. They were able to really feel the Spirit and I know they were so excited to receive baptism and confirmation. They are an amazing family and it was a great experience teaching them and helping them to receive this gospel! I know however that it was the Spirit who really helped them to know that this gospel is true, not us. Elder Limocon and I were just saying how we were so grateful for this family and especially how they were just so receptive to everything. Then we realized that it was because they were reading the Book of Mormon everyday, praying, and coming to church every week. In other words, they were able to feel the Spirit, and receive a witness taht these things are true, and not just because the missionaries said so. I love the Vegonte family a ton and I am so excited and happy for them to receive the blessings from the gospel! This past week I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Proudfit. He's a brand new missionary from Arizona who's being trained by one of the District Leaders in our zone, and I got to work with him for a day. It was awesome working with Elder Proudfit. It reminded me of the days when I was training and knew absolutely nothing! He was an awesome comapnion for a day though and even though he didn't think so, I was able to learn a lot from him. The think I took away the most however was just about being simple and powerful in the lessons. He would teach super simple because his Tagalog only allowed that, but everyone we taught were able to understand and feel the Spirit, and that is what's most important. I was happy to work with Elder Proudfit and hope I get to work with him again. I love this work and this zone. It is go great being in the Narra zone and being able to help these wonderful missionaries to fulfill their purpose. I know all these missionaries are great and i just pray they continue to be exactly obedient and diligent so that we can witness miracles!
Elder Stephens
this week was awesome! First off, we helped the Vegonte (Not Viguni, I have been spelling it wrong this whole time) family to receive the restored gospel, through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, we are helping them to endure to the end! We had a wonderful baptismal service for them and the confirmation went amazing as well. They were able to really feel the Spirit and I know they were so excited to receive baptism and confirmation. They are an amazing family and it was a great experience teaching them and helping them to receive this gospel! I know however that it was the Spirit who really helped them to know that this gospel is true, not us. Elder Limocon and I were just saying how we were so grateful for this family and especially how they were just so receptive to everything. Then we realized that it was because they were reading the Book of Mormon everyday, praying, and coming to church every week. In other words, they were able to feel the Spirit, and receive a witness taht these things are true, and not just because the missionaries said so. I love the Vegonte family a ton and I am so excited and happy for them to receive the blessings from the gospel! This past week I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Proudfit. He's a brand new missionary from Arizona who's being trained by one of the District Leaders in our zone, and I got to work with him for a day. It was awesome working with Elder Proudfit. It reminded me of the days when I was training and knew absolutely nothing! He was an awesome comapnion for a day though and even though he didn't think so, I was able to learn a lot from him. The think I took away the most however was just about being simple and powerful in the lessons. He would teach super simple because his Tagalog only allowed that, but everyone we taught were able to understand and feel the Spirit, and that is what's most important. I was happy to work with Elder Proudfit and hope I get to work with him again. I love this work and this zone. It is go great being in the Narra zone and being able to help these wonderful missionaries to fulfill their purpose. I know all these missionaries are great and i just pray they continue to be exactly obedient and diligent so that we can witness miracles!
Elder Stephens
Septemeber 16, 2013
Hey all!!
Elder Limocon and I had an awesome week! I got to go on exchanges with one of the district leaders in the zone and so I got to work in a place called Rizal. It is out in the middle of no where, the house they are renting doesn't even have running water! It was awesome though and the work is still going forth over in that part of the vineyard. I got to learn a ton from working with Elder Stroud over in Rizal. He was stoked to work and said he got to learn a lot form me as well so I was happy that I was able to help him out with that. We had a zone meeting this week which was a lot of fun. Elder Limocon and i were able to just teach about the Holy ghost in conversion and also some other things that we felt would help the missionaries in our zone. I talked about exact obedience with all of them and how i felt that we would have a lot more success as a zone if we committed to being exactly obedient to the mission rules, commandments, and basically just everything. Elder Limocon talked on accountability. As a zone we have been setting high goals but aren't quite reaching them, so he taught how we really need to hold each other accountable if we feel like we are going to set all of these high goals. I really enjoyed it and know all of the other elders did as well. The Narra Branch had a missionary fireside this past Friday! It was pretty good. Elder Gwilliam, Elder Vang, and I all got to share about past experiences of missionary work and we got to show a little part of the work of salvation where the whole family shares the gospel to friends as I shared my testimony of member missionary work, I could feel the Spirit witness to me that missionary work really is done through the members. I couldn't have received this gospel and eventually come on a mission without members of the ward there to help me in every step of the way. I am so grateful for that and now I am grateful I get to help the members here feel that same way to help those in Narra come unto Christ. They helped a lot with Brother and Sister Vigunti who are now ready for baptism! They will be baptized on Saturday, September 21, and confirmed September 22 (Sister Viguni's birthday). I am so excited for them and I know it wouldn't have happened without the members! I love this work so much and it is even better that the members are really starting to love it too!
Elder Stephens
Elder Limocon and I had an awesome week! I got to go on exchanges with one of the district leaders in the zone and so I got to work in a place called Rizal. It is out in the middle of no where, the house they are renting doesn't even have running water! It was awesome though and the work is still going forth over in that part of the vineyard. I got to learn a ton from working with Elder Stroud over in Rizal. He was stoked to work and said he got to learn a lot form me as well so I was happy that I was able to help him out with that. We had a zone meeting this week which was a lot of fun. Elder Limocon and i were able to just teach about the Holy ghost in conversion and also some other things that we felt would help the missionaries in our zone. I talked about exact obedience with all of them and how i felt that we would have a lot more success as a zone if we committed to being exactly obedient to the mission rules, commandments, and basically just everything. Elder Limocon talked on accountability. As a zone we have been setting high goals but aren't quite reaching them, so he taught how we really need to hold each other accountable if we feel like we are going to set all of these high goals. I really enjoyed it and know all of the other elders did as well. The Narra Branch had a missionary fireside this past Friday! It was pretty good. Elder Gwilliam, Elder Vang, and I all got to share about past experiences of missionary work and we got to show a little part of the work of salvation where the whole family shares the gospel to friends as I shared my testimony of member missionary work, I could feel the Spirit witness to me that missionary work really is done through the members. I couldn't have received this gospel and eventually come on a mission without members of the ward there to help me in every step of the way. I am so grateful for that and now I am grateful I get to help the members here feel that same way to help those in Narra come unto Christ. They helped a lot with Brother and Sister Vigunti who are now ready for baptism! They will be baptized on Saturday, September 21, and confirmed September 22 (Sister Viguni's birthday). I am so excited for them and I know it wouldn't have happened without the members! I love this work so much and it is even better that the members are really starting to love it too!
Elder Stephens
Saturday, October 26, 2013
September 9, 2013
Hey everyone!!
I absolutely love missionary work. I feel like I say that too much, but it is just so true! This past week we had another Missionary Leadership council. This one was great! It was the first one for my companion Elder Limocon and he enjoyed it. there were 2 other new zone leaders and both of them are my batch. One of them actually is Elder Ellis, an elder from my district in the MTC! It was awesome seeing them and now they are leaders in the mission helping out all the other missionaries to fulfill their purpose. In the MLC we really focused on how we can balance the work here in the mission. By that I mean teaching investigators as well as less-active members. As a mission we seem to have been focusing a ton on teaching investigators and the lessons with less-active members went down. So all of the leaders really talked about how we can help fix it. We also talked a lot about how we can be more obedient as a misson. As leaders, we first set the example but then we have to help all of the missionaries to be exactly obedient. talking about being exactly obedient made me think of one really important part. The reason we are exactly obedient is so Heavenly Father will bless the lives of those we are teaching. Being obedient isn't all about us, so we ourselves can receive the blessings. We need to show Heavenly Father how much we care about hose we are teaching, and we do that by working hard, relying on the Spirit, and being exactly obedient. Other people will receive blessings if we do our part, and that was what really hit me in MLC. I love missionary work so much and I especially love all the people that we get to teach at this time. elder Limocon and I are just tiny instruments in the Lord's hands so He can lead people to come unto Christ. I know this work is true and I can't thank Heavenly father enough that I get this opportunity to devote 2 years to His work and serve.
Elder Stephens
I absolutely love missionary work. I feel like I say that too much, but it is just so true! This past week we had another Missionary Leadership council. This one was great! It was the first one for my companion Elder Limocon and he enjoyed it. there were 2 other new zone leaders and both of them are my batch. One of them actually is Elder Ellis, an elder from my district in the MTC! It was awesome seeing them and now they are leaders in the mission helping out all the other missionaries to fulfill their purpose. In the MLC we really focused on how we can balance the work here in the mission. By that I mean teaching investigators as well as less-active members. As a mission we seem to have been focusing a ton on teaching investigators and the lessons with less-active members went down. So all of the leaders really talked about how we can help fix it. We also talked a lot about how we can be more obedient as a misson. As leaders, we first set the example but then we have to help all of the missionaries to be exactly obedient. talking about being exactly obedient made me think of one really important part. The reason we are exactly obedient is so Heavenly Father will bless the lives of those we are teaching. Being obedient isn't all about us, so we ourselves can receive the blessings. We need to show Heavenly Father how much we care about hose we are teaching, and we do that by working hard, relying on the Spirit, and being exactly obedient. Other people will receive blessings if we do our part, and that was what really hit me in MLC. I love missionary work so much and I especially love all the people that we get to teach at this time. elder Limocon and I are just tiny instruments in the Lord's hands so He can lead people to come unto Christ. I know this work is true and I can't thank Heavenly father enough that I get this opportunity to devote 2 years to His work and serve.
Elder Stephens
September 2, 2013
Hey all!
1 year is officially in the books. I know for a fact because just about every person who emailed me just HAD to remind me. It really is crazy though how fast it all went by. This past week we had a zone conference over in Puerto Princessa! It was so much fun and we learned a ton from all of our leaders, especially from President Stucki. We really just focused on being more diligent and expressing more faith as we go and do missionary work. I know President Stucki is inspired by God and that he is just a man of great faith. He puts all of his trust in Heavenly Father and lest the Spirit always do the teaching. Right in the beginning of every zone conference he always expresses he wants us to learn by the Spirit rather than just learn from the speakers. It really is a testimony to me that President Stucki is called of God to do this work. I learned so much about just putting trust in Heavenly Father while we do this work. I know I can't do it on my own and so I am just so thankful that Heavenly Father is there to help us and guide us to do this work His way. One thing that was really focused on as well from zone conference was harnessing the power of the members. We have to be one with the members in each of the areas that we serve and if we do that, the work will move forth so much faster! I have learned a ton this last year, and I really feel like I have changed a lot too. Looking back on who I was just a year ago right before going to the MTC and looking at myself now, I can't believe the changes I have made, and the best part is, they are all for the better. I love this work and I can't wait to finish this last half strong. I know if I just put my trust in the Lord, He will guide and help me.
Elder Stephens
PS. I saw Elder Schroeder at the zone conference in Puerto! he is doing great and loves being a missionary. Escondido stake missionaries, nuff said.
1 year is officially in the books. I know for a fact because just about every person who emailed me just HAD to remind me. It really is crazy though how fast it all went by. This past week we had a zone conference over in Puerto Princessa! It was so much fun and we learned a ton from all of our leaders, especially from President Stucki. We really just focused on being more diligent and expressing more faith as we go and do missionary work. I know President Stucki is inspired by God and that he is just a man of great faith. He puts all of his trust in Heavenly Father and lest the Spirit always do the teaching. Right in the beginning of every zone conference he always expresses he wants us to learn by the Spirit rather than just learn from the speakers. It really is a testimony to me that President Stucki is called of God to do this work. I learned so much about just putting trust in Heavenly Father while we do this work. I know I can't do it on my own and so I am just so thankful that Heavenly Father is there to help us and guide us to do this work His way. One thing that was really focused on as well from zone conference was harnessing the power of the members. We have to be one with the members in each of the areas that we serve and if we do that, the work will move forth so much faster! I have learned a ton this last year, and I really feel like I have changed a lot too. Looking back on who I was just a year ago right before going to the MTC and looking at myself now, I can't believe the changes I have made, and the best part is, they are all for the better. I love this work and I can't wait to finish this last half strong. I know if I just put my trust in the Lord, He will guide and help me.
Elder Stephens
PS. I saw Elder Schroeder at the zone conference in Puerto! he is doing great and loves being a missionary. Escondido stake missionaries, nuff said.
August 26, 2013
Hey there!!
I love missionary work! There really is nothing like it. Elder Limocon and I really just had a wonderful week this past week. We went out finding and teaching like crazy and we have seen a lot of success because of it! One thing Elder Limocon and I really focused on was extending baptismal invitations and dates to everyone, especially on the first lesson. It was awesome to see the Spirit work inside of them and they really could feel the message was true, they would then accept that baptismal invitation and it made me so happy becasue I know it will bless their lives so much. Baptism is an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, without it we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. As missionaries it is our duty to invite everybody to baptism so that they can receive these blessings of the gospel and ultimately the best blessing of all, eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. The Vigunti family are doing great, they have had a little bit of struggles lately, but because of their strong faith in the Savior they are not letting it get to them, but instead are just doing everything to receive this gospel. I love them so much and I am so grateful for their examples to me. They really have helped me so much and help me to grow my testimony as well. We also taught a new family this week. They are the Perol family and they are absolutely amazing. In the beginning they weren't too receptive but we just kept listening to the Spirit and we were able to help them resolve some concerns they had. They then accepted baptismal dates and exercised great faith by coming to church yesterday for the first time! I was so grateful they had the faith to come and experience the blessings that come form coming to church. They really enjoyed it and plan on coming from now on! I love this gospel so much and I know it will continue to bless so many more people. I have been blessed so much since receiving this gospel and hope everyone will receive it one day.
Elder Stephens
I love missionary work! There really is nothing like it. Elder Limocon and I really just had a wonderful week this past week. We went out finding and teaching like crazy and we have seen a lot of success because of it! One thing Elder Limocon and I really focused on was extending baptismal invitations and dates to everyone, especially on the first lesson. It was awesome to see the Spirit work inside of them and they really could feel the message was true, they would then accept that baptismal invitation and it made me so happy becasue I know it will bless their lives so much. Baptism is an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ, without it we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. As missionaries it is our duty to invite everybody to baptism so that they can receive these blessings of the gospel and ultimately the best blessing of all, eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father. The Vigunti family are doing great, they have had a little bit of struggles lately, but because of their strong faith in the Savior they are not letting it get to them, but instead are just doing everything to receive this gospel. I love them so much and I am so grateful for their examples to me. They really have helped me so much and help me to grow my testimony as well. We also taught a new family this week. They are the Perol family and they are absolutely amazing. In the beginning they weren't too receptive but we just kept listening to the Spirit and we were able to help them resolve some concerns they had. They then accepted baptismal dates and exercised great faith by coming to church yesterday for the first time! I was so grateful they had the faith to come and experience the blessings that come form coming to church. They really enjoyed it and plan on coming from now on! I love this gospel so much and I know it will continue to bless so many more people. I have been blessed so much since receiving this gospel and hope everyone will receive it one day.
Elder Stephens
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