August 25, 2014

Hey everyone!!
Well, this is it! Had a great wee to end the mission! We had some great work which means a lot of success for these wonderful companions I am going to be leaving. We had an awesome FHE last Monday that our ward mission leader put on for us. He invited some people I had taught and they bore their testimony in the activity because they knew I was leaving soon. That was special to hear people that I have taught and help come unto Christ go and bear testimonies of their own. I will never forget that experience. We had some great lessons with people that will be getting baptized here soon. one of the people we are teaching is going to be baptized this 30th! He is such a funny kid and he is awesome to teach. We helped their family come back into the church and now we are blessed to help their son be baptized. Another person we are teaching bore his testimony to us as well and told us how excited he is to get baptized. He doesn't know exactly when, but he does know in the future, and he even told us that he is excited to be married to his girlfriend when they are able to...in the temple!! I was stoked when I heard that one. We had a great lesson with the less active man who had been less active for about 10 years now and we found out his concern and helped him to overcome it. After helping him overcome his concern, he told us he was now ready to read the scriptures again and come back unto Christ! Last week we had some sweet things happen as well! Elder Obray got his license which meant he stated driving and I stopped which was a good break. Elder and Sister Northrup, the housing couple of the mission, gave us a sweet message about conversion and having success here in the mission, they also shared about pioneers and how we can be pioneers to help the people here come unto Christ. Elder Theler took us out for bratwurst Saturday. And a recent convert of ours and his friends took us to dinner at a sweet restaurant. My last Sunday was great, I had to say goodbye to a lot of these wonderful members but it was awesome knowing that I was able to serve well in their ward. They had a ward activity today, and they invited us to join and it was so awesome. They focused it all on the family and strengthening the family. I love the Philippines so much. I love these people. Most of all I love the Lord and the opportunity I have had to serve Him and His children here in the Philippines Manila Mission. I know this church is true with all my heart. I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and through Joseph Smith, the gospel was restored. I know, without a doubt in my heart, that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. Through Him we can be cleansed from sin. God, our Heavenly Father, knows each and every one of us and loves us too. His plan is perfect and if we follow the gospel we can return to live in His presence. Thank you all for your wonderful support, and all of your love. I couldn't have done it without you!

Elder Stephens