Hello Family!! Wow what a week. It has been a challenging one to say the least but that's what life is no? Full of challenges. We just have to put our faith to the test and overcome! I'm trying to realize what lessons Heavenly Father is trying to teach me.
Let me tell you about our baptism yesterday! We had 3 candidates that we baptized! Sister Josephine, Sister Shelynjoy and Brother Juli. Sister Josephine and Shelynjoy are best friends and are from our "far area" (Cabunbunan). They are so shy but are just two sweet 15 year olds. Brother Juli is 24 years old and is deaf. I tried my best to translate his testimony at his baptism from broken american sign language to Hiligaynon and it wasn't easy but Sister Rey are trying our best to learn sign language and are picking up on it okay! Brother Juli is also learning at the same time and takes a lot of "charades" but he is the happiest most smiley and joking person in the world! Oh how we always have good laughs with him. He (despite the discrimination from his family) chose to be baptized and has been working with the elders in the ward (our zone leaders) and everyone seriously just LOVES Brother Juli!! It is a challenge for Sister Josephine and Sister Shelynjoy to get to church because of how far they live but they have really proved their sincere desire through working odd jobs (on top of the responsibilities that they already have) and saving the little money that they receive each day to eat in order to go to church on Sunday. They have shared that their new favorite day is Sunday :) There are many young women in the ward- it is the most active auxiliary here so it's a relief and a joy to see them making this transition smoothly. Brother Juli- through him a less active member who is also deaf has now returned to activity. Her name is Sister Lorena and she went through therapy and school and can kind of talk and can slightly hear so she is a GINORMOUS help to us! And she works with us often :) Brother Juli rides his bike to church and also comes from very humble circumstances. He hopes to start school again next year and nearly every time we go to teach him, he's not at his house and we just check behind his house which turns into the beach and he is in the middle of the ocean fishing. He runs to the shore excited to see what he's fished out to eat that day. Every day it's something different and it's not much but that's how they eat each day! Brother Juli is CONSTANTLY joking and laughing and one of the most recent jokes that he finds all too amusing is to laugh at me every time I itch my nose. That's something that I learned is weird to the people here. They think there must be something wrong with my nose because it's about 5x bigger than the normal size nose here (but that I guess is more favorable here?) and I guess their noses don't itch. Well there are stray cats every where around his house so yes, every time we teach my "hanky" is in my hand and when I'm not signing to him (trying) (or even in the middle of signing sometimes.. haha) I'm itching my nose and I guess he can't take my seriously when I do that. haha So I have to be more aware in itching my nose in public here..
Oh how funny one of the recent convert's prayer was the other day. She is just a tiny little thing and I think she's about 10 years old. It's not "favorable" to be as skinny as her I guess so she always prays that she will get fat (nga magtambok siya) and I joked after her prayer that she could add asking if I could lose some weight (nga magniwang ako) and she was like "If you really want me to I will pray for you Sister Judd!" so every since then she adds that to all her prayers! Maybe I should be a little bit more diligent in working out in the mornings so that if I start to lose weight she will see how Heavenly Father truly answers prayers :) Let me just clarify that yes, I am fat here in the Philippines. But no, I am not fat. I am normal and I know that- I just enjoy the normal conversation from the people every day that I am "tambok". It's good for the self-esteem :) But that's normal here!
So this week Sister Rey and I have felt incredibly "worn down" from the problems of the people that we are teaching. I don't have the time to explain some of the problems... nor is it appropriate... but let me explain something that I have learned through this. FAITH. As disciples of Jesus Christ we need to be "filling our cup" each and every day through diligent scripture study, sincere prayer, and uplifting and faith-building activities that will leave "our cup" each day filled enough to "pour out to others". With out this daily preparation- sharing this "living water" is just simply not possible. As a missionary we give hope and build the faith of others so that they can overcome the challenges and trials of all kinds that they are facing in their lives. Well let me tell you all that it takes A LOT OF FAITH AND HOPE for me personally to testify and have the personal faith that these people can truly overcome these trials.. but I NEED that faith for myself in order to give it to other! Without that faith for myself it would be just an empty promise or dream that these people can receive the strength and see miracles through their faith and keeping the commandments of God. So for me, my faith is also tested each day when these people that I love and care for so much are having their faith tested to degrees in which I never thought I could fathom. It's a learning process for me to in that time that they open up and share their financial, health, and family problems and challenges with us, to turn to the scriptures, bear personal testimony and use the Savior's powerful words to promise them that His promises are true if we just continue in our faith. I never realized how much faith I would need to make that promise to others but I KNOW that ALL things are possible through Christ and that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. Christ knows what we are going through in our lives because he suffered and died for us and only in and through Him can we someday rest from ALL our troubles and cares. I love you all and I feel and am often quietly reminded that there are countless people at home (you all) that are praying for me and I receive true strength from that! Thank you again! LOVE YOU ALL!
Sister Judd
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