Week 50 ~ The Field is White and Ready to Harvest

Hello Everyone! How's everyone doing? We are doing well here in San Andres. We had a good long week, at masaya ako na mag share sa inyong gabos (I'm happy to share to you). 

Baptism of the Boco family:

We had a baptism!

It's been awhile in my mission since I've had one, not saying that mission success is based on baptisms cause it's not, and these aren't my baptisms but the Lord's baptism, but let me tell you; it's been refreshing to have some success in this area. Especially since it's been awhile since this area has had any success so it gives the members something to be proud of.  

Their conversion: 

My companion and I have worked really hard and we've helped revive the success and hype here for missionary work. Of course it's all through the Lord, but it's like I think Alma said that "I boast not of myself, but of the Lord". Because miracles have really been done here. One of these miracles is the BOCO family. When I first got here, they weren't even on my radar of people who could be possibly baptized. They had gone to church 2 times the past year, and all that stood out to me was that they were a part member family. We visited them and at the start it was a rough journey, they sometimes came to church and sometimes didn't, and when we first brought up baptism they said they weren't ready. But we just kept trusting in the Lord and inviting and teaching until we extended the invitation to them again and they accepted. Of the 3, 2 of them ended up getting baptized, Mark and Princess. And brother Adrian hopefully will be baptized on october 11th, he just needs to overcome some word of wisdom challenges. So pray for them!!!

The importance of tithing:

I'm so sorry this is long but I have another story to share and the moral of this story is the importance of tithing to people in this part of the world. I often fail to realize that, for people here, it's a really hard life. I think of my 4 areas, this has been the most poor area by far. For some of our friends, they survive on maybe 1 american dollar a day. For some of our friends, The resources that the church has is the only way out of their situation. Take brother Cristion, a brand new member of the church. For example, he wants to become a nurse, and he is in his 3rd year of nursing. However he ran into a problem; He doesn't have any money left, and it's awfully expensive 3rd year. Luckily the church has the PEF (perpetual education fund) and that has provided him the money to continue to study a higher education. If he becomes a nurse, he will make enough to help his family's situation and help his sister be able to go to college. This is all through tithing money, so if you ever have a doubt how it's being used, know it's helping somebody, even if you can't see them or they are 6,000 miles away.

That's all, Mahal ko kayong gabus, Padaba ko kita!! Everyone keep rocking!!