Happy Easter, Mahallies!
So today is transfer day. Like I said before, I'm pretty convinced that I'm never going to have a companion past 6 weeks. I was super anxious this morning because i didn't know anything about my new companion or the new area I was going to be moving to. I figured I'd be sent somewhere really far since I've been in San Pedro for 4 1/2 months now...but little did I know, I'd only be sent a bedroom away (which is super awkward because I already texted everyone I was leaving when in reality I'm in the same church building, i just have different proselyting boundaries and a different meeting time for church ahaha). My new companion is my housemate, Sister Leon. She's been my housemate for the last 2 transfers. She's from Texas, sings REALLY loud to spanish music 24/7, and LOVES telling stories, but we've never worked together on the field before...so this'll be really interesting hahaha. It'll be GREAT! I'm so excited.
So in case you've never been to the Phils during Easter before, it's VERY different compared to Easter in America. Easter is SUPER huge here! People roam the streets with candles following big Saint statues. Some even carry crosses and whip themselves in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made. It's interesting to see the way different beliefs are reflected in different cultures, and although it was a little bit of a shock to witness, I was in awe that these people felt so strongly about their faith.
In the spirit of Easter,
I'd like to share my testimony with you today.
Throughout my life, I've felt Heavenly Father's love for me, and have felt the mercy of His Son, Jesus Christ and the comfort of Their love that comes by the Holy Ghost.
Jesus Christ lived and died for all of us. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating drops of blood from every pore, and was mocked, whipped, spit at, and nailed to a cross for each and every one of us. I know that after 3 days, Jesus Christ arose again. HE LIVES AND HE LOVES US. I know that He is our Savior, and that He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Knowing who we are - children of God - changes EVERYTHING. Knowing that a plan was made for us to return back to Heavenly Father, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, only leaves us to discover that Their love for us is immeasurable, because they wouldn't send us to Earth without creating a way to come back to Their heavenly presence.
This time on Earth is just a millisecond in eternal perspective.
If you could imagine,
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our lives are just a DOT in the perspective of eternity. Yet, so much of we do here - the talents we gain, the good deeds we perform, the relationships we develop - carry on with us later on. NOW is the time to prepare to meet God. We have SO LITTLE time, there's no point in wasting it! So get off of your computers and go SERVE. go LOVE. go SEEK GOD.
Often, I wondered, WHY. WHY, if the atonement of Jesus Christ cleansed me from all my sins, do I have to repent? Why, if I know I can be forgiven, do I have to do good here? Why does it matter?
In reality, we're all capable of being forgiven...but it's conditional. Forgiveness comes when we believe that Christ can heal us from our wounds, and when we're willing to allow those wounds to be healed through change. If we refuse to believe in Christ, we can't expect His sacrifice to be applied to us. It's not that HE doesn't extend the invitation to us, it's that we've rejected the opportunity to use the atonement, and have refused the opportunity to have our burdens lifted by Him.
"You can never do more for the Lord than He could do for you" so stop trying to do it all on your own! His love is free.
Rely on Him. Trust in Him. Know Him, and know that He knows YOU, loves YOU, and is waiting for you to call on His name. I've felt it for myself, and encourage you to seek to do the same!
I'm praying for you always, and I hope with my whole heart that you're doing your best to do what you would do if the Savior stood beside you.
I know He lives, and I leave these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Here are some pictures from this week!
I had my 4th and 5th baptism (Charisse Manay and Mari Vergara).
My companion, Sister Bricenio and I.
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