My best week here in Tarlac and maybe in my mission

Attention, the whole world!.....Or just whoever bothers to read this update this week--

Man, what a week this was! It was my best week here in Tarlac for sure and maybe in my mission. I seriously am just loving it. I’m working hard here, and I want to echo what F. Enzio Busche once said, “In thoroughness is satisfaction.” We were very VERY blessed this week, and were able to teach 48 lessons, which was an absolute miracle. We had 5 investigators come to church, which is a miracle as we had 0 not four weeks ago. We were about 100 in all for attendance at church; we have people excited and getting ready for baptism this coming March. We’re hoping for about 4-5 baptisms next month. Man, miracles are happening everywhere! I feel like I’m seeing the Lord’s plan for the people here in Tarlac, and the Lord has been providing a way to accomplish his designs here.

So! I just want to share some highlights. On Wednesday I felt like we weren’t doing our best and acting the best way to invite the spirit into our lives and into our lessons. I do believe that was true, but I now see that I was getting too hung up on little things. We talked about it during companionship study on Thursday, but it didn’t really do anything. We had a bit of an awkward feeling as we headed to our first appointment. We got spiritually slapped in the face. Our investigator had tons of really good questions about the Book of Mormon and its teachings, but we just didn’t have the spirit there and had no good answers. Thankfully he agreed to meet with us again, but it was a great lesson in that whatever we do as missionaries, if we’re not focused on helping our investigators, getting caught up on the little things won’t do a darn thing for the work! We were able to get refocused after that, and we had a good day and the spirit was in the lessons.

 Friday was fun as we had a district lunch after weekly planning, then we had another good day of work. 

Brandon and his distict at their district lunch

Saturday was just amazing, as I got to interview a man who truly exemplified the “Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit” for baptism. It was the most spiritual interview I’ve had so far, and his testimony was just beautiful. We went to an appointment where Maria Durian, an investigator, told us that as she went to read the Book of Mormon she fell asleep and had a dream in which she saw Moroni, the last prophet. She said he told her to read the Book of Mormon, specifically Moroni 10:27. (Read it, it’s pretty cool.)  She received her answer in a miraculous way that the Book of Mormon was true.

Moroni 10:27  "And I exhort you to remember these things: for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea; even as one speaking out of the dust?"

And she duly came to church for the first time on Sunday. The entire day seemed to be charmed, as we had 9 lessons that one day. 

Sunday was great, as we got splits from the ward to cover more ground. I got to work with our Ward Mission Leader, and our lessons were super spiritual and great. He also showed me to the houses of some less active members, which was great to know! When we met back up, we went to Maria Durian again, because we knew her husband, who has no faith in God or anything really, would be there. Along with a less active member who lives close by, we showed the Restoration video. It was absolutely beautiful, the spirit filled the room. We then testified, as well as the less active member, and even our investigator, that what we had watched was the truth. I then asked Maria’s husband, Durian, if he had any feelings about what he watched. His face looked a bit stunned as he said, “Yeah, right here,” pointing to his heart. I testified that that was the Spirit of God bearing witness that this message is true. I don’t know for sure, but I believe that that was the first time that man had ever felt the Holy Ghost. I was just blessed enough to be there and be a part of it. Well that about sums up my week. It was so fantastic, just beautiful.

Brandon setting up to show the Restoration video

I love you all so much.  I feel your prayers on my behalf. Just remember that without Christ, we are nothing. But in his strength, we can do all things. More than I thought possible happened this week.  We just need to have faith enough to trust God in all things.

--Elder Christensen

Playing basketball for P day!

Silly pictures with his distict!