YOUR Book Of Mormon

Maayad Na Aga mga Tawo! That means good morning people because it is fact morning here. Wait wait wait I have another fun thing to say in Karay-a…. “Aswong ka!” That's like “you're a witch!” Or like a vampire or something.

It's been another week here in San Jose and things are getting real. Our interested people are progressing and at the same time we are getting rejected a ton as we try to find more interested people. But I'm really growing to love my area and the members here! Anyway.

ASWONG KA!

BRANCH FHE!

We had an activity this week as a branch and we had a great turn out! It was great to see some of our interested people and less active members start making friends in the church. And then because they felt loved and welcomed they came to church the next day! YOU KNOW! I've started saying that a ton here and idk where I picked it up from but it sounds like yuno most of the time.

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This is the Namit family. (for my ilonggo speakers- yes that is their actual last name). The boy with the glasses is Abuzar and he grew up in the church but has not been baptized and we have been teaching him and his friend Jovin!

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This is Sam (glasses) and Jhea (bangs)! Jhea is hopefully going to be baptized on the 10th!! She is hilarious and super sarcastic. She and Sam text in our group chat in Tagalog and use like abbreviations and stuff too so Sister Pecundo have to try and interpret what their texts mean.

FINDING

This week we have been really trying to follow up with people we met last week and find new people as well. Most people were not interested, hiding or not there when we came back. People hide from us like all the time and they don't even do a good job. Its like bruh I can literally see your feet from behind that tree. Or we made eye contact and then you ran inside. It's probably because Sister Pecundo and I are super intimidating. 

We went back to the beach to try and find the tatay there and shocker he was not there. We were asking everyone if they knew him and literally no one had heard of his name. We may have spoken to the ghost of a seaman- bound the beach to haunt his fellow fisherman. Anyway, the beach was still gorgeous, so here's a pic.

Or two

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MATCH MAKER

So we were talking to this nanay and I was trying to explain why there are so many churches on the earth and the conversation was going pretty well. And then suddenly she realized after probably 5 minutes of talking that I am in fact not Filipino. She was shocked. And then she told me she had many grandsons and I could marry any of them. She said she was joking so we laughed it off, but we were sitting near their compound so different grandchildren kept walking past us and each time she asked them if they wanted to marry me. That was cool. But then she bought us coke so that was nice.

I saw this barbie that describes how I felt.

WORK WORK WORK

Here are some more pics of us working and with some people we are teaching!

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Each of these people have such unique stories and they all want have a desire to grow closer to christ.

LOST AND FOUND

Heres the situation. We were in a trike on our way home for the night and we realized we did not in fact have our phone. So we asked the driver to turn around and we went back to our last appointment. The driver even called the phone for us but wa wa no phone. So the nice driver left us and we went back to the tyingge we have visited before our appointment. And we know we had it there last. But nope not there. So at this point we are sure someone stole it because so many people come and from a tyinggeweWe start talking to the owner and the people around and they let us use there phone to call our number and this time someone picked up! They said they were in like a completely different area. Anyway long story short. A supee nice couple with a motorcycle and a phone went and picked it up for us. Apparently some kids found it on the side of the road. Literally the nicest people.

Now before we go anywhere we check like 4 times that we have the phone.

THE BOOK OF MORMON

The Book of Mormon is one aspect of my testimony that has never wavered. I think I knew for myself if it was true in 9th or 10th grade. We share Moroni's promise from Moroni 10:3-5 almost everyday. That's because it's powerful and it works. If you haven't taken the opportunity to pray about the Book of Mormon and honestly ask if it's true I invite you to do so. Or maybe you've prayed before but you need a little refresher. I testify to the promise found in the introduction of the Book of Mormon, that it tells people what we must do to gain peace in this life. Reading the Book of Mormon quite literally reduces anxiety, clears the mind and makes space to feel the holy ghost. If you have yet to experience this feeling this is your invitation to try. Get a new copy of the Book of Mormon, a highlighter and a pen. Start reading and just highlight what you like or every time you find a reference about Christ. Make your Book of Mormon your journal. Let that copy be YOUR Book of Mormon. I started a new copy one of my first weeks in the field and it has quickly become one of my greatest treasures. The title is worn off and the cover is starting to peel but it is MY Book of Mormon. 

I invite you all to make the Book of Mormon yours. There is no wrong way to read the Book of Mormon. Just start. Read and read it often- everyday if you can. And I promise, as Moroni did, your life will be more peaceful, your mind will be clearer and you will have a greater desire to do good.

I love the Book of Mormon, I love my family and I love this gospel.

Sister Larson