No Less Serviceable

Who was going to tell me Liam Payne died. 

We biked past a group of burly construction workers listening to Hide Away by Daya. 

So basically here's the chica. I have never worked so hard in my life and seen so little results. Anytime one of our friends starts to progress, they last like 2 weeks and I get my hopes up a little bit and then they suddenly lose all their positive momentum. So yeah basically we took like 3 pictures this week. The work is still going but it's getting a little hit harder to be hopeful about my area. 

I've almost been here long enough to qualify for an Akeanon ID. Boom discount in Boracay.

COFFEE???

So by now I've written about the Bautisita family/ Tatay Benji many times now. We taught them word of wisdom this week and they told us they drink coffee. But then they were like “homemade coffee”. So we said huhhhh? And nanay told us she makes it with burt corn, dried ginger and the inside of a tree of mangustine fruits. We said 1. Thats not coffee. 2. We're gonna need to try some of that. 

UPDATE: The coffee/magic potion tastes like dirt, but healthy dirt.

We also tried to extend baptism to tatay again this week after he attended General Conference and he did not accept but committed to come to church again. Guess what. He didn't come to church. The heck brother.

COMPASSION

I don't think there are any baptists on my email list… but basically if you remember the Nidua family ⅔ of them are new members. Maya, the child, is the only one remaining. They are working towards the temple but it's gonna be a real bummer if Maya doesn't get included in the sealing. She comes to church consistently and wants to be baptized. But, she has what is called “compassion” from a baptist church. Basically it means they give her money for tuition and school supplies and in return she has bible study with them and can't join another religion. This has become quite the issue. I am not feeling compassion. 

We did a video call and got permission from Maya’s actual father and mother and its all good. Now it just comes down to the faith of our new member, Nanay Lilia. It's up to her to choose baptism and salvation or baptists and scholarships. Pray for nanay and for us as well.

(see pictures)

EXCHANGES

I worked with Sister Dela Cruz in Numancia this week and it was chill. We have exactly one photo. 

We were trying to find an inactive member family and we asked this nanay if she knew where they lived. She didn't really answer but invited us in. Then her granddaughter introduced herself as Liahona. We were like. I think we're in the right place. 

(see pictures)

PICTURE NUMBER 3

This is the second photo we have from this week. We had just biked up quite a large hill to get to one of our new members who lives in the middle of nowhere. But jokes on us tatay wasn't home. I felt so athletic though and all the men in trucks kept honking and yelling stuff at me while I was fighting for my life.

(see pictures)

TATAY JAYME

Just a quick update on Tatay. He is still recovering from a stroke but wants to be baptized. We talked to him and his wife (member) and they agreed to come to church if we could get the trike to come to their door. Ok, feeling special. JOKE LANG. But yah we literally brought the trike to their door and Sister was like “ just you guys go”. And then she tried to tell us tatay had left. And we were like sister, he's literally paralyzed we know he didn't go anywhere. So yah. We went to church with only the two of us in a trike and a really expensive fare.

NO LESS SERVICEABLE

This past week my only real comfort has been the Book of Mormon. I have been loving the story of Aaron. While Ammon was having near instant success with king Lamoni, Aaron, Omner and Himni were being rejected from city after city until they were finally imprisoned in Middoni. Not because they were less faithful, or less skilled but because “ as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people…” (Alma 20:30). Obviously I've not yet been imprisoned but that verse hit a little close to home. It's not until Aaron and his brethren are freed by Ammon and travels to meet Lamoni's father that he starts to see success. After Aaron teaches about the Plan of Salvation the king offered to “forsake his kingdom” and “give up all [his] sins to know [Christ]”. What a beautiful idea of “giving up our sins”. Once the king is converted he declares to all his people the truth and literal cities are baptized and converted to Christ. 

I think sometimes we overlook Aaron as we often focus on Ammon's incredible story. In Alma 48:19 Mormon describes the brethren of Moroni as “ no less serviceable unto the people as was Moroni”. My time in Numancia has not been an Ammon or Moroni kind of story but it may qualify as “no less serviceable.”

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I find so much joy in its pages. It testifies of Jesus Christ and helps us Come unto Him. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon yet, or lately, this is your invitation to start or start again. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church that Christ restored through Joseph Smith and in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

Sister Larson

Philippines, Iloilo Mission

August 2023- December 2024