Sister Danai Sirrine: December 1, 2014 An Amazing Week!

In Wakas. Aren't the houses cute? They are called 'Kubo' when they are made of bamboo and not concrete

Kamusta???

This week was an AMAZING week!!!! I had some of the best days of my mission this last week and I just really really love being a missionary!!!

First of all, Monday we had a FHE at the home of Delio and James. Delio actually invited US to come do an FHE at their house and he told us to invite the investigators that we are teaching just down the street. It was awesome!!!! I wish that all members would do that!! Usually we have to ask THEM. So on Monday we had an awesome FHE.

But maybe I should give a little background on our investigators. They are the investigators that came to church two weeks ago. One of them is named Vernie (prounounced 'bernie') and the other is Robin, and then Robin's sisters. So we've really been teaching Vernie and sometimes Robin as well. Vernie has been praying about if Joseph Smith is a true prophet, but it's been about 2 weeks and he said that he hasn't gotten an answer yet. But he's been killing the Book of Mormon! (on Saturday he was in 1 Nephi 19 and he's only had it for 2 weeks!!) So on Monday for FHE we watched The Restoration movie. You could tell he and Robin really felt the spirit while they were watching. When we asked what they liked, Vernie said he liked that Joseph really searched for the truth. Robin liked when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Delio bore his testimony about how he came to know that this church is true and it was such a strong testimony! Then Vernie and Robin asked me and Sis Lucillo how we came to know that it was true. I've never had an investigator really ask me that. So I got to share that with them.

FHE at Delio's house! We played a game with uling (charcoal)

our investigators: Queenie, Ann, Vernie, Robin, and Narding

With James Cayanan

With Sis Lucillo

The next day, we went to Vernie's house and he said that FHE was super great and he loved it. We asked him if he'd gotten an answer yet about Joseph Smith. He said not yet, but he felt close. Then I asked him how his preparation was for baptism. He said "Uhhh...No comment." Then we asked about his reading from the Book of Mormon. His face lit up and he said that he read his assignment (Nephi's vision) and three extra chapters. He said "I love reading this book! I feel so good when I read it and I just want to keep reading!" So then we told him that God doesn't answer everyone's prayers the same. We asked him where he thought the good feeling came from when he read the Book of Mormon. He thought for a minute and said, "From God." And we asked him if he believed it was true. He said "yes, I believe this book is true". So then we said, if the book of true, then Joseph Smith has to be true because he was the one that translated it. He nodded and then I asked, "Do you think that is the answer to your prayer if Joseph is a true prophet?" He was quiet for a second and then said "Maybe....yes!" and then looked really excited. We then talked about faith and what faith was. When we had him read in Alma 32, he said, "Oh so faith is just like this answer....believing without actually having proof." Then we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ sharing scriptures for every principle. We got to baptism and we shared 3 Nephi 11:33-34 that we all need to be baptized. And then in the same chapter that Christ gives authority to certain people to be able to baptize. We extended the baptismal commitment again to him and asked him if he would be willing to follow God's commandment and be baptized by someone who has proper authority. He said, "Because I know this book is true and believe what is written in it, yes, I will be baptized!" The spirit was so strong!!!! He finally recognized that he had been receiving an answer, he just didn't really know it. And, I saw the power of the Book of Mormon. It is true what it says in Preach My Gospel that the Book of Mormon should be at the center of our teaching because it gives validity to what we are saying and helps them feel the spirit. I know that Vernie didn't accept baptism because of us, he accepted it because he felt the spirit and the truth of the Book of Mormon. It was such a great lesson!!!

We just had such an awesome week. We had three days that had amazing lessons, the spirit was so strong and we WERE NOT PUNTED!!!! If we were punted, we knocked at the next door neighbor or talked to someone standing nearby and they let us in to teach them. Sis Lucillo and I came home every day so happy and excited to be missionaries. Being a missionary is so fun when that happens! Too bad every day can't be like that, but you do need opposition to be able to really enjoy the good days. Also, something funny happened; we were walking in one of our areas and there were a ton of kids there. As we passed by, I heard one of them say "Look!! It's Mama Mary! (St. Mary)" They think because I'm white, I'm St Mary. Kind of funny.

Thanksgiving dinner at the Whites'!!

The couple missionaries invited us over on Thursday and we had a Thanksgiving dinner!!! It was amazing! We had duck, chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, salad, vegetables, and Sister White's handmade a pumpkin and apple pies. It was one of the best meals I've had my whole mission!!!! Unfortunately, we were sooooooooooo full afterwards and then we still had to proselyte. That is probably the first day in my mission that I have really walked slow. It felt kind of weird. I was still full the next day. But it was delicious!! Can't wait to eat American food again!

I love being a missionary!!! Heavenly Father really blesses and guides His missionaries. Even though it is kind of hard sometimes, there are some really great moments when people really accept what you are teaching and sharing with them. And you can see the difference in them when they feel the spirit!

Well, hope that you all have a great week! Love you all!!!