Monday, October 27, 2014

Nagpapatul​oy ang Gapas

Happy almost Halloween from the Philippinas!
    I guess I should say All Saints Day. That's what is celebrated here instead of Halloween. I am not sure the history or yung dahilan (reason) why it is celebrated but people are making their plans to go to the cemetery where their family members are buried. This coming week I guess they will be camping or eating or doing something at their graves. Interesting di ba? (no?) Well this week the title of the email is nagpapatuloy ang gapas or "the harvest continues". I felt it was pretty fitting for this week considering the numerous times we visited people's homes just to find out na "nasa bukid sila" or they are in the fields working. It is harvesting time in the rice fields and everyone seems to be in the fields working morning til night! It's a really great opportunity for people to make money since very little of the farm work here is done with machines. Man labor is how it's done here!
     I also felt it was fitting since as missionaries, harvesting is a big part of our purpose and I was able to witness some pretty inspiring harvesting this weekend as the Sisters in our ward had 4 baptisms! It was such a beautiful service. There was an 8 year old boy who is the youngest of a less active family but his father was able to work things out to become worthy to baptize and confirm him! Then the daughter and son of another less active man who also was able to baptize them. Then Dominidor Orina whose his wife joined the church over 20 years ago. His progress went from threatening to cut off his children's feet if they tried to go to the mormon church, to now happily being baptized and bearing strong testimony of this church being the true church of Jesus Christ.
    The church is true! Dang I had a lot more planned to share especially for Jake. But I will just have to share next week. I am sorry this week was way short. But like the title of this email, the work continues and I continue to learn and grow each day! Sister Mhay and Brother Jomell came to church this week! We also found a new investigator who seems quite golden! This week we will really be able to see. We are kind of working through our teaching pool at this point and trying to really find those who will make changes needed in their life to fully accept this gospel. Nimpha continues to progress SO well in our lessons but once again couldn't come to church :( We were able to extend baptismal dates to the children of a woman who is a returning less active and they accepted! There were lots of starts or "planting" done this week and we will continue to see how the harvest will go. So let's hope I will have much more to share next week. I love you all! Have a great week! Until next week :)
Love,
Sister Sawada

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