Huge Shrimp and Other Adventures

 

The pictures are from a dinner we had last night with a member family. The shrimp were the biggest I've ever seen. :) Masarap!

 

Hello All!

We had such a great week because the gospel is still true and we were able to get 15 lessons with members present :) The members in the Manat Branch, especially the priesthood were really great about coming and working with us this week, driving us to our appointments in their trykes and sharing their testimonies with our investigators. Such a blessing!

We also had a great day at church yesterday with four investigators! Brother Roger, one of our investigators who is working towards baptism, was there, as well as Brother Ronell :) They are both going to be baptized and make great priesthood holders and leaders in the church someday. :) Brother Ronell is doing great with the word of wisdom. He used to drink with his buddies every night, as is the custom with most men here, but now he doesn't. When we asked him what he tells them, he says he tells them that he will go take a shower or read his scriptures instead of drinking :) He is great! 

Brother Roger is reading the Book of Mormon and is already most of the way through Mosiah! He brought his Book of Mormon with him to his vacation and read all the way from 1 Nephi to Mosiah! Reading and gaining a testimony is the key to a lasting conversion, so we are so happy to see him reading so much!

Something I've been thinking a lot about this week is how we receive personal revelation and how I can help our investigators to do the same. Receiving personal revelation and answers to our prayers takes a lot more than just simply asking for them. I've learned that He want us to exercise our faith by acting and keeping the commandments, actively studying out in our minds what we should do, and being humble and patient enough to accept His timing. Most revelation doesn't come in an instant and may not come as we sometimes expect. The miraculous heavenly visitations to Alma the Younger, Joseph Smith, and many others in the scriptures are the exception, not the rule. Most revelation comes slowly, quietly, and gently. I have seen so many times in my mission and in my life, the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost and my own experiences with keeping the commandments by reading the scriptures and coming to church are what add to my testimony. I want to learn to help my investigators do the same. Remember that He will always answer a sincere prayer, but in His own way and in His own timing, and usually it's not all at once. :)  Nephi had some great things to say about the keys to receiving revelation in 1 Nephi 15:11, "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said? If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with dilligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be make known unto you." I know His promise is sure! These things shall be made known unto you. 

That's all for this week :)

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Sister Gustafson 

 This picture is of a giiinnnormous cloud that rolled in while we were working one day. The lightning was so intense, but I really liked how the sun was setting and the giant cloud was overhead. the picture doesn't really do it justice!

 Sister Cory (member) <3 went to Singapore to work for two years :(