Hi,
I'm doing pretty well with staying focused right now. I
got 2 texts from my last Branch President in Bagabag, President Quinones, this
past Saturday. His 2 texts read as follows:
"Elder, nabinyagan na pala si bro. b. You plant,
they harvest."
Translation: Elder, Brother B was just baptized. You
plant, they harvest.
and
"Siya na rin ang bagong BML."
Translation: He is also our new Branch Mission Leader.
I don't know if you remember me telling you about V. B------
or not. He was one of my absolute favorite investigators on my whole mission.
He had a super strong knowledge of the bible, as in he could repeat chapters
from memory, and what’s more, in English. It was obvious he had been prepared
by Heavenly Father. He didn't just accept everything we said the first time we
taught it. But when we explained it and connected it to the scriptures, no
matter what it was, he believed it and followed it. Elder Valdez and I used to
refer to him in our studies as "Stake President" because we could
honestly see him achieving that kind of conversion and obedience and service.
He has an extremely high capability. When I was transferred out of Bagabag, V------
was in a slump. He was running for election as a public official, councilor to
the Mayor I think. We had already had to postpone his baptism twice, and just
before I left he pretty much said he was too busy and everything was going to
have to wait till after the election. We took away his baptismal date and were
visiting him, but really just waiting. Then this past Saturday I found out he
was baptized. After almost another 3 months of being taught after I left, he
was baptized. It almost put me to tears. I can't count the hours I spent
pouring my heart out to him and teaching this man and helping him change. And
he did it! He finally did it!!
This was a very good boost to help me keep focused. As a
result, I have this story to share with you.... :)
We are teaching a former investigator of almost 1 year
right now. We just had our 3rd appointment with him yesterday night. Our weekly
plans for him included teaching him about The Savior's Earthly Ministry, The
Great Apostasy, & The Restoration. During our companion study yesterday
morning, I told Elder Laxamana:
"Elder, I already have this lesson written in my
planner from planning on last Friday, but this is not the right lesson. It’s in
our weekly plans for E----. (the investigator), but I feel that this is
completely and utterly wrong for him right now. But I don't know what is right.
I don't know what he needs."
His reply was that he felt the same thing. It wasn't
right for E----, and he didn't know either what was right. A little background
for you: E---- lives in the house of our ward mission leader. Our WML is always
working though and is never home when we get to teach him. Yesterday after
coordination meeting we went home with our WML. He and his wife and niece all
sat in on the lesson. This time things went differently. We sat down and talked
for a while. We laughed and joked a little, then had the opening prayer. After
that, Elder Laxamana just looked at me for guidance. We still didn't know what
we were teaching and hadn't coordinated the lesson with the members since we
had just gotten out of coordination meeting... funny, no? Anyway, as I sat
praying my guts out a thought popped into my head, "show him why you are
here. Show him why you are teaching him." I just pulled out a Plan of
Salvation pamphlet and taught him being heavily guided by the Holy Ghost. I
handed the lesson after a little bit to Elder Laxamana who was thinking the
exact same things I was. He went off to the races with the lesson, as we had
spent the whole last week in our 12 week training for new missionaries
practicing and learning the doctrine of the plan of salvation. Then the lesson
got tossed to the WML to answer some questions, and it came back to me. And it
was just perfect. With the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we were able to answer
his biggest concern about the church.
Previously he disliked the missionaries because they said
this was the only true church on the earth and we have to obey the teachings of
Christ to be saved. E---- got it in his head that it means that nobody else
will be saved but members of the church. He was all like, what about everyone
else? What if they don't know that Christ is God and they have to obey him to
be saved? What about everybody else that is good and goes to church on Sunday?
The Spirit just taught us perfectly how to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It
was a very good lesson and I am excited to see how he progresses. :)
I am having a good time. I am happy. I know what I am
doing and I will not stop. The Lord is counting on me and I won't let Him down.
I love you. :* Have a good week.
Elder Lundy
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