April 17, 2017 – Easter!
Kamusta!
I
hope everyone had a great easter! I sure did. Easter here has got nothing to do
with the easter bunny or pretty colors or eggs even (although they still sell
balut!). Actually it's a little more centered on the Bible and what we know of
Jesus, and it's a little more hardcore. On Palm Sunday, there were a ton
of palm leaves or leaf arrangements, that people put next to their doors. They
were being sold everywhere we went. On the day Christ suffered in the Garden, people
did the "sacrifice walk" where they walked from their house to a
Catholic church many kilometers away. Some of them are coming from much farther
away... and they are all barefoot. That started after dark, so they went to
church before dawn. The next day, there are people that make their own lashes,
then proceed to walk around and give themselves lashes. As in whipping their
own backs with thorns and rocks and leather. Yikes. I suppose it's these same
people who then proceed to be crucified. Yes. Crucified. I luckily didn't see
this, but I know which area it happens near here. I have at times praised the
Filipino people for being so extremely faithful and it holds true still!
I'm
so grateful for the sacrifice Jesus gave for us. That because of this, God's
plan for us can come to fruition. That we will live again, just as Christ rose
from the tomb. Although I am much more enthralled by the Garden of Getsemane,
I'm grateful still for the cross. And we don't have to literally be crucified
to follow Christ's example. We don't have to feel the guilt and weight of
mistakes, or not living up to God's potential for us. We can receive this great
gift, by repenting. Becoming more like Christ, in all of His attributes. I know
He lives, and that following Him is the only intelligent thing to do.
We
had a meeting with a group of missionaries where my companion and I set up an
amazing race type activity to find the pieces of the "Armor of God"
(Ephesians 6) Luckily we volunteered one of our office missionaries to don the
armor.
The
sisters in our zone of missionaries, after an easter concert. A lot of members
participated, and all in all I think there were 16 performances, including our
zone. It was very peaceful to watch videos of Christ's life, then listen to
songs that describe principles such as hope and repentance, it was very well
put together even though there was only 2 weeks notice. One of my favorite
parts was when when woman was singing a duet about Christ, and broke into tears
because the spirit was so strong. So that was our easter sunday!
Every
day we find. We look for new people who are ready for this message, and ready
to make hard changes for good. We got a lot of new great people to come with us
to church, which was a great experience. Later in the day we found out we have
a referral. A family of 7 went to church asking for missionaries to teach them,
and they don't know anyone there. So without any contact they found an LDS
church, but it so happens they went to one pretty far from their home, because
they actually live quite near to us. Needless to say, we will be visiting them
later today. It's amazing to see the spirit working in people. We are looking
for those who are prepared. Or in other words, we are looking for the people
who are looking for us. And sometimes they find us first :) I know the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church Christ established 2000
years ago, this is His church. I know He lives and guides us through the living
apostles and prophets. The message will roll forth, a stone cut without hands,
because it is true. Thanks for reading, have a great Easter!
Love,
Elder Fish
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