HELLOOOO! Another fantastic week here in Bulan!
We were challenged this week to reach 100 OYMs (or Open Your Mouth for you non-missionary folk) where we just pretty much talk to everyone and bear testimony. Sister Routhier and I completed the challenge as well as our whole district. It was such an awesome experience and it was definitely inspired.
One night we were just walking around doing street contacting because all of our lessons fell through and everyone goes to bed at like 7 here. The struggle is real. But anyways, we just go to this Tindahan (store - like a little stand that someone has on the street outside their house) and start talking to the lady and the man there. Emy and Reny. Turns out he knows a lot about Joseph Smith and he has a Book of Mormon in Manila but he's never been taught by missionaries. We talked for a long time then we came back the next night to teach them. They have so many questions and are really receptive. When we first met them, brother Reny asked me if I was a Filipino... haha. He said my Tagalog is really good. Basically I wanted to cry because we all know that that has been my number one struggle out here. The Lord blesses us, man.
On Saturday night we were walking home from the church after a baptism and were OYMing the whole way home. We randomly decided to go down this street that we've never been down before. We start talking to some people over there and I notice this man like listening in. So when we finish, we walk over to him and start talking to him. He said his name was Arturo and we're welcome to visit him anytime and to teach him. We got his information and invited him to church as an afterthought.
I was sitting in sacrament meeting on Sunday pretty upset actually because all of the people we had planned to pick up either were sick or backed out last minute. We had no one there. I was kind of steeming and just asking myself what I'm doing wrong and praying, asking our Father in Heaven to help me to be better. I turned around after the sacrament was over to start our Less-Active count and as I was looking around, I saw the smiling face of Arturo in the back. He attended all three hours of church and asked lots of questions and made comments in our Gospel Principles class.I can't even explain the joy. This just testifies to me once again that God has an absolutely perfect plan. He places people in our paths that we can help, we just have to OPEN OUR MOUTHS. Had we not gone down that street or had we not opened our mouths, he would've been passed by. I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has perfect timing and who loves us perfectly.
Lots of incredible things happened this week with the progression of our long-term investigators. New baptismal dates, teaching their whole families now, and them telling us they know this is true. I've learned and grown so much this week and I'm so so grateful to be a missionary. I'm so grateful to be a part of this great work. This transfer ends tomorrow, and I've got one left in the beautiful San Vicente branch. I'm so grateful for all I've learned here and for the people I've met. The next six weeks are going to be full of miracles.
