July 5, 2010

Well Happy 4th of July... Yesterday i thought about everyone celebrating our independence day... it was weird not celebrating but i happened to be teaching a lesson to this family while i was thinking about this (cause we were writing the date on a pamphlet) and 5 min later a bunch of kids were lighting fire crackers... so i had a little bit of firework on my 4th of july... haha.

My area is awesome still! Mom, transfers are every 6 weeks so the next one will be in 4 weeks from today. The people here continue to help me with the language and many are impressed on how well i speak in just 3 months. This is encouraging me to be better and learn more. Everyone is always teaching me new words, i love it!

We are teaching some great people right now. We have 2 families and 2 couples and some others. We visit lots of less actives too. Our goal this week is to find people to teach. One thing that President Malit reminds us always is that there is no progress in missionary work until you find people to teach. We are going to ask everyone we teach for referrals and not take no for an answer. Pres. Malit has taught us some cleaver ways on how to not take no for an answer! President actually was in Albuera because we had stake conference on sunday in Ormoc, so he came to our apartment saturday night and visited with S. Barroca and I. He told us the new directions we will be taking in the mission and is super excited about it. So are we!! We are now focusing on the temple. Becasue of the new temple in Cebu its much easier to travel to a temple now.
As missionaries we help people come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. They cant endure to the end and make it to the celestial kingdom (which is the ultimate goal) without going to the temple and being sealed as a family forever. Stake conference was a lot about this and the importance of families. I want my family to know how much i love you!! So many things were said and i realized that i never want to be without my family. S. Malit said, "we need to always be striving to be worthy of the promises we make in the temple, so we can be with our families forever."

This week has been busy but great. I was sick but we still went out and worked and it felt great to be diligent! Our ward had a party at the beach on wed and i learned how to make some very yummy filipino food so be ready to eat a lot when i come home! We will continue to work hard and be worthy of the Spirit. I love when i feel the Spirit because i know you can only have the Spirit if you are worthy of it. So when i feel it i know that i am doing what the Lord wants me to do and im on the right path!!

Scripture of the week D&C 132:10-16

Well i love you all and you are always in my prayers! Thank you for your love, prayers and support!

Gugma
Sister Jones