Hello ang aking mga minamahal :)
Wow, what a week. I was a little
confused about which names to write on our Progress Record this week because I
worked with 5 different companions :) After Sis Flores went home on Tuesday, I
was with the Villasis A sisters Brown and Aruwititi. On Wednesday I had the
privilege of hosting three brand new sisters from Samoa and Tonga and working
with Sister Toai until Thursday. We passed them over to their trainers on
Friday and I was happily surprised to hear that my new companion is Sister
Fuimaono, that 26-year old Samoan sister I told you about with a giant, loving
heart for everyone. She makes me feel so calm and peaceful and I just love her
humble, hardworking attitude. It is her first transfer as an STL, but already
she keeps telling me, "I just love the sisters so much!" She is going
to be a great loving friend and example to them and to me :)
New Sisters from Tonga and Samoa
We are so excited for Sister
"Lala" Melanie's baptism this Friday :) She is so ready and passed
her interview on Saturday with flying colors. She's attended so many different
churches in her life, but has never been baptized before because she says she
was waiting to find the "true one". And now she's found it :) It is
such a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God to help people find the
true church, true happiness, and the only way to return home to live with
Heavenly Father :)
Bro Rabara and his daughter are
doing great :) They're so ready to be baptized on the 30th! We'll be visiting
them nearly every day this week to finishing teaching all of the lessons they
need to know for their interview on Saturday. We love them so so much!
We have a new(ish) investigator,
Bro Bryan, a young dad who just has been a miracle. We met him one rainy
afternoon, cooped in the house with his two very active little boys, trying to
keep them entertained and out of trouble. We taught him about how the gospel
makes it possible for him to be with his wife (who is working abroad) and his
two adorable crazy boys forever. That's where he got hooked. He brought his
5-year old with him to church last week and then again yesterday. Last week
when I was working with Sister Toai, we invited him to be baptized on September
20 and he accepted! He is working to quit smoking, but knows Heavenly Father
will help him with his 10 sticks a day. He likes peanuts, so if Sis F and I
have to give him all the peanuts in Villasis to keep his mind off of the
cigarettes, we will :)
This week I've learned a lot about
companionship unity. Having worked with 5 different companions this week and a
lot more than that throughout this last transfer on exchanges, I have
definitely experienced all different styles and experience levels when it comes
to teaching. One thing that is always the same though, is the Spirit. This week
and this last transfer I have learned to trust Him as the true teacher. I've
learned that no matter if it's your companion's first lesson as a missionary
and they don't understand what the investigator is saying in Tagalog, or if
it's your companion's last day in the field, as long as their desire is to
teach the Gospel with the Spirit, everything works out okay. I've learned that
Tagalog and experience don't matter. What matters is the Spirit. HE is the real
teacher. People won't remember what we say or what we did. They will remember
how they felt. As long as they felt Heavenly Father's love and the Spirit, we
did our best to help them understand. Sister Flores once prayed, "If all
else fails, please bless that they will at least know that they are
loved." That's my job as a missionary, to just spread the love of their
Heavenly Father :) I'm so grateful to have that sacred duty!
Have a great week :)
Sister Gustafson
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