Hey dad.
So I gotta tell you. I laughed out loud when you told me that you met this Tongan lady that learned Visayan and Cebuano. hahaha. I don't think I've explained this well enough. Cebuano is Visayan but Visayan is not Cebuano. Visayan consists of all the dialects in the Visayan region of the Philippines. Its confusing. In fact, I'm not even sure if I understand how that works. But just suffice it to say that they are one in the same. But yeah. I love the Philippines. There are some things that really bug me about it but they come with the package and I try not to dwell on those a lot. Even though they are all up in my face alll the time.
The work is going pretty good. You know that girl Evelyn that had read all the Standard Works but refused to get baptized? Well we really urged her before we left that we wanted her to pray about it remember? Well Thursday we get a text from her that she got an answer that she needs to get baptized. YES!!!! So we finished up the lesson and went over there that night and taught her a great lesson. Then Friday I realized that she could get baptized on the 19th of March instead of the 26th! So she ended up texting us ask when her baptism could be and I said the 26th. Then she complained and said that that was too far away so then I told her that the 19th was also available and she accepted. Then we taught her on Friday and I felt impressed to commit her to the 12th instead. She accepted and then I told her that she would have an interview the next day to prepare. Then she freaked out. She started crying and telling us that she wasn't ready and that she wasn't sure if the church was true and all this weird stuff. So then once she settled down a bit I told her that she knew this was the truth and she just needed to act. So we go ahead and close and she says the prayer and just starts balling in her prayer. At this point I'm really starting to doubt if that was the Spirit telling me to commit her to the 12th or my own hunger for another baptism. You know what I mean? Of course you do. You were in my place before.
So we leave and call to cancel the interview. I felt so weighed down! I was like, "WHAT THE HECK!!! I did exactly what the Spirit told me and it failed." I was so confused Dad. I felt let down. So we planned and I went upstairs, showered, got ready for bed and then just kneeled down and let Heavenly Father hear it. I'm sure I sounded like a baby. "What am I doing wrong? Why did I fail? What do I need to do? Then I just poured out to him that I wanted to gain a witness tonight that it is true. Just give her that if its thy will." Then I prayed for her and for her to be sensitive to the answer when it comes. The next morning we are teaching a lesson and I get a text from Evelyn. It said, "Elders, sorry for last night. I prayed. I'm going to get baptized last week. Lets do the interview at four. This is the will of Heavenly Father." Yeah. Prayers are answered!!! So she got interviewed, blew away the interviewer and she is getting baptized this Saturday. She's lucky number 7 in Lilo-An.
Thanks for everything dad. Especially your example. It's always helped a lot.
I'll be home for Christmas.
Brandon
