So this week was holy week and i want to
share a little about what happened this week with the catholic beliefs
because i didn't know what crazy things they did until now. So Holy
week is when the worship the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and
they do a bunch of ceremonial stuff. they have what is kind of like a
parade of graven images and they do that twice in the week. the first
one was Wednesday and they just set up all these images of Christ, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the apostles and then they have the people walk
around and look at these images. they have the priest dress up like the
apostles and walk around to and then through out the road they have
these little stands again depicting the life of Christ and the graven
images that they have and they walk that like a parade. the main even
is when they have people walk around whipping themselves with these
metal things that have little tinny blades that slowly cut their skin
and many people do this and walk through the town so all and can see
them. then they walk to the ocean to clean with salt and don't shower
until Sunday to symbolize the resurrection. i got to see the end and
people are just crazy. the feeling in the air was so empty and i just
thought "Jesus Christ did that for us so we wouldn't have to why would
you put yourself through so much pain when you don't need to?" but it is
their belief and i respect that i am just glad that i know the truth
and can rejoice and not be saddened.
so on a better note we had some miracles this week. one that was
so cool was yesterday we went to contact some that we had only talked to
in a tricycle and he is born again but was catholic and has been
searching for the truth. after the lesson we gave him a book of Mormon
and then he said "when my dad told you that a foreigner and a philipina
would be coming to share about the gospel i remembered a dream i had had
a couple days ago about you two coming to my house and teaching me."
WAY!!? that was so cool to see that heavenly father is preparing people
and we need to make sure as missionaries that we talk to everyone
because you never know the ways of our father in heaven. through sister
Pati-on sitting on the back of the tricycle and talking to a tricycle
driver we were able to teach his son who was waiting to hear the gospel.
then we went to Nora again and this time we had a member. this was
going to be the make or break it lesson and i was scared. so we went
in and once again i wasn't feeling the spirit and i didn't know what to
teach. finally whatever our member said in the lesson the concern came
out. she was married before and then her husband was abusive so she
left and is now living with another guy. so she has committed adultery
so she said and it is just so heavy on her that she didn't feel like she
could enter in to our church because of it. i was so excited to tell
her that she could and that that heavy weight could be no more. she has
been living with this guy for over 13 years so by the mission rules she
can be baptized (because there is no divorce here in the Philippines
sometimes it is a problem) so i really hope that in the next coming
weeks we can help her feel happy again.
then we ran into a problem on Saturday for interviews for baptism.
we found out that two weeks earlier she was baptized into born again and
her mom didn't want her bouncing religions so quickly. so we lost that
right at the very last moment and i was a little frustrated. on a
better note, Rueben has really felt the effects of repentance and has
started to share the gospel with others around him by his good example.
he has also let go that he is not going to know everything and has
gained faith that through enduring to the end he will know that things
that that trouble his mind. he has really matured in a sense and i know
for a surety that he knows that this church is true. through Ruebens
example we have gained a family as investigators that want to know that
truth and most importantly want to be married, and baptized. the
husband wants to give up all of his word of wisdom problems and do
better and now it is just getting them to come to church and pray about
the church.
That is one thing that i have noticed is the importance of prayer.
people who really take it seriously and pray to know if the gospel is
true will find an answer through prayer but if there is not prayer then
they will never feel it. i know those that have taken the time to read
and pray to know and they usually have the fastest conversion. so i
encourage everyone even myself to really re-evaluate your prayers and
take time to talk to you father in heaven he loves you and i know that
with all my heart. i pray that you will all have a great week and thank
you so much for your support and love.
Until next week!
Sister Snow
