This week was overflowing with blessings!
Picture 1: I know it LOOKS like me and my companion love each other...but this is actually a picture of her choking me and trying to look good for the camera at the same time hahaha (just kidding guys, we get along great. Sister Bricenio's super hilarious)
Picture 2: My investigators, Kurt and Kian Guantia, got baptized this week! My companions and I have been teaching them since I first arrived in December. Their testimony blossomed so much - it was crazy to watch. Kurt (the smaller boy) is really shy and during the first couple lessons wouldn't even make eye contact with us. But as we progressed with the lessons, and they became more comfortable, they'd run to the gate yelling "ITS THE SISTERS!" and were increasingly more involved in answering and asking questions during lessons. Watching their testimonies grow, and then watching them step into the water filled my entire being with the Spirit. Kurt was so excited, he was giggling because he was so ready to be baptized! And as soon as he was brought up out of the water...it's like you could see how clean he was, because he was beaming the brightest smile I've ever seen on his little face!
Picture 3: This picture is of the elderly woman, Nanay Salazar, I wrote about before, that I got to sing to! She was really sick, but we've been visiting her every couple days to try and help out, and she's been getting better! Her husband was so happy - he told us every time we come around, she's gets stronger, and she's progressed enough that she can sit up on her own now (before they had to hold her up and spoon feed her)! We've had them pray as a couple, and it's been so amazing to how much they love each other and how much it has grown as they've grown closer to God.
In other news, this week I learned about the beauty of commitment. I've realized that when we commit to follow Jesus Christ, we're committing to be happy, because the Lord would never lead us astray. For us to receive the full benefits that come from following Him, we must commit with all of our heart, mind, mind, and strength. That means no excuses, and not only when we feel like it... but during the hard times too. It's not enough to just have "good intentions". Those good intentions must be followed by great actions, or they're really no good at all.
More often than not, I've realized that people only desire to follow His footsteps when they're at their lowest point - so far from the path, they can barely see it anymore. The thing is...we can't give into the temptation of walking on the easy road. Satan doesn't tempt us with huge, obvious signs. He does it with the little things, to throw us off course just a little bit at a time...but as soon as we realize that, we've already ended up in a different destination. The adversary tempts us because he knows how good we could be if he didn't do anything to stop us...SO DONT LET HIM THROW YOU OFF COURSE!
Our hearts should be so centered on Heavenly Father, so reliant on Christ's mercy and atonement, and so utterly malleable by the Spirit that the idea of straying away from Their love is not even an option for us. Put Them first, because They'll make sure to put you first. Whether it be work, a significant other, sports, whatever...put God first. Make time for Him. I promise you, it'll change your life, but you won't see the difference until you actually commit to changing.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, wheremoth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
I love you all, and I hope you take care always. You're in my prayers, and it's my deepest desire for all of you to grow closer to our Father in Heaven, to Jesus Christ, and receptive to the Holy Ghost.
Peace out from the Phils,
Sister Calica
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