December
11, 2016 – White Christmas Baptism!
Maligayang
Kaspakuhan!
Christmas
is right around the corner! There is very little chance of getting snow when
you're neighbors with the equator, but we still had a white christmas! In
missionary terms, it means we had baptisms. In our whole mission we had 79
souls be baptized on the same day, which is such a joyous thing. 79 people
chose to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
after investigating the scriptures, the teachings of Jesus Christ, and their
very soul. It's really tough to make changes in your life, especially if your
71 years old, but that's what Christ asks us to do in His teachings. And that's
what Sis Lita did!
When we teach someone, we
make it as much as a discussion as possible. The best sort of lesson or message
to a person is where both parties are being enlightened by the Spirit in the
lesson, and are making small discoveries or huge ones that help us become
converted and understand our Heavenly Father more. One thing is, we as
missionaries have studied and prayed for countless hours about the doctrine of
Christ, so when we teach it we don't buckle. The truth sometimes isn't easy,
"the guilty taketh the truth to be hard". I'm so impressed by Nanay
L- because every time we taught her, she expressed what she has learned about
a topic from the last 71 years, then was open to learning new things. Even
though we are just young guys, she humbled herself and learned. It was a
privilege to prepare her for baptism.
This is Sister M-, from
the Sister missionaries' area, they were both so excited for today, it was a
beautiful moment. Truly everyone is called to Christ's church, men and women,
the children and the old.
Pictured here are the sister
missionaries of Bustos Branch as well as the couple (adult) missionaries, and
some fantastic members.
Brother A-, the priesthood
holder who performed the baptism.
Today
my spiritual thought will just be some thinking I was doing in the middle of
this week. When I first entered the mission field I had a 'greenie' mentality.
Everything was so brand new, everything was so cool. And, I thought about what I
would share with you guys all the time. Honestly, back then I probably would
have though "how cool!" if I got chased by a dog. I was happy to get
doors slammed in my face because it's part of the experience of being a
missionary. Now, I have more perspective, and I'm constantly getting more
perspective. When I first got here and saw and felt the destitution and poverty
in the city, I was so torn up over it. I wanted to help, and whenever I could I
did, but I have gained a little perspective about poverty. I especially enjoy
what one prophet, President Ezra Taft Benson said about poverty and about Jesus
Christ:
The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from
the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the
slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world
would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then
change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can
change human nature.
In my last area I wanted
to have more service opportunities, and I'm super happy because I've had way
more here in this area, but I've also gained an appreciation for the service
I'm giving by simply sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because, if one is
truly converted they will rely on Christ and work hard and make the very most
out of their situations, not to mention the spiritual and physical blessings
they will get. That's the best help I can give to the people here. Give a man
a fish, feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, feed him for a
lifetime right? Changing thinking from the selfish, physical man to the
thinking and teachings of Christ will cause a complete change. Instead of tooth
for a tooth, it's forgive and love. I can't even imagine the progress the world
would make in establishing peace and eliminating poverty if more people have
been "born of God" as one Book of Mormon prophet put it.
Thanks
for reading everyone, I love you all and have a great Christmas holiday,
remember Christ, live how He would have you live. How He lived. Until next
time!
Elder
Fish
