Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Sa ibabaw bukid!

Ano ang maayong balita!! (What good news)

We had a great busy week!! We teach so much here it's incredible and everyday Heavenly Father places new people in our path that want to learn more about the Gospel. We usually teach outside and kids always come over and sit to listen. 

We had district council this week and we asked for help with one of the people we're teaching- Lonelyn. She is so receptive to everything but hadn't yet accepted the invitation to be baptized. Our district suggested we read Mosiah 18 with her. So we did! And then we invited her again to be baptized and this time she accepted! Miracles!

Also we're teaching Kristine- she's 11 and the rest of her family are members of the church but for some reason she hasn't been able to gain a personal testimony but we taught her the restoration last week- This week we went to teach her and at the beginning of the lesson she was really closed off and said she didn't want to pray and she just wouldn't really talk. We taught the Plan of Salvation and it was amazing to see her countenance change! By the end of the lesson she was answering questions and she said she wanted to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ so she could live with God again. We invited her to be baptized and she said yes! She wants her dad to baptize her. It was such a sweet tender moment! 

Another beautiful moment this week. We were up on the bukid (mountain) with Brother Lopez and we had a lesson with one of the people we're teaching and then tried to visit another but he wasn't home so we were planning on going back into Kabankalan but Brother Lopez said there was a less active member we should visit. So we did! Her name is Hermenia and she's taking care of her grandkids right now while their mom is working in Cebu. We talked to her about the power of prayer and faith and that if we ask of God he will help us and answer us. She started crying and opened up to us that she had a strong desire to be able to go to the temple. Because of her situation right now she doesn't even have enough money to get to church. Sister Aguda was inspired by the spirit and promised Hermenia that if she did her part to become worthy God would find a way for her to get to the temple. The spirit was incredible. 

I wish I could share every wonderful experience we have but it would take me all day! I just feel so incredibly blessed to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and to be blessed to be here in Kabankalan with the best people ever. 

I had a realization this week that I wasn't opening my mouth like I should be because I'm nervous that the people won't understand me or they will and then they'll answer me and I won't be able to understand them! I realized that this was a lack of faith. Heavenly Father has promised that if I open my mouth he will fill it. And I've seen it over and over again in lessons. I'm never left with nothing to say. So I recommited myself to trust him and to talk! Even if I make mistakes the spirit always helps me know what to say. I need to show that I have the faith to use what I know in order to be able to learn more. 
 
2 Nephi 28:30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

So have faith!! Your best is good enough for the Lord! If we trust him he will use us as a tool for good. But we have to do our part and try! 

I'm so thankful for the experiences I'm having here. I'm so grateful for the examples and testimonies of the people. I know Heavenly Father loves me and he loves you too! Just ask him to show you how much He really loves you and he will I know it! 

Love you all. 

Sister Zollinger

PS. We went hiking up the mountain to a crazy cave this morning with Brother Lopez and some awesome member missionaries and it was so beautiful! 
Also this week I saw a monkey, ate chicken intestines (yummy), and a lizard sat on my lap.
 





 


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