Let's Get This Work Started

Holy smokes. I am tired. Many headaches, stomachs, and restless nights this week as we have worked so dang hard to get things started here in Libmanan. Although rather difficult to get things rolling here, our hard work is paying off as we were able to get a lot accomplished this week and I am starting to smell the amoy of progress heading this way.

Yesterday at church we had 17 less-actives attend along with 3 investigators. I guess you could say I was a bit happy.

Yesterday afternoon, us missionaries put on a fireside to get these members pumped up to share the gospel. (it was actually supposed to be Saturday but a solid 0 people showed up...including our branch presidency and other leaders) Kind of hard to help motivate the members, if there are no members in attendance to motivate...SO they moved it to after church so that hopefully more people would attend. It still was not the best showing of people I have ever seen but at least people came this time. Each of the 3 companionships of missionaries in our Branch took a topic and shared a short 20-minute part to the members. For our part, we talked about our calling as members and as disciples of Jesus Christ, to uplift and help others. We brought a bunch of balloons and had 2 of our elders try to keep the balloons in the air at the same time without letting any fall or touch the  ground. As they balanced them and tried to keep them all in the air, we continued to add more and more until eventually they lost control of all but 2 balloons. We explained that the balloons represent members. If just the missionaries visit the members and try to uplift them or to help them stay active, little success will come...then we had all the members stand and help uplift the balloons or the "members." Obviously it was much easier and none fell. The point was that if we all fulfill our calling to uplift our brothers and sisters, it is much easier, and even satisfying and joyful. We must all work together and do our part to uplift one another and to become stronger.

After the fireside we all split up and went out to visit some of the less-active families in our Branch. It turned out to be a really good, rewarding experience. The work is progressing here. Slowly but surely. 

Oh also, a typhoon is coming our way tomorrow. We have been instructed to prepare our things and head to the church to wait out the storm so please keep us in your prayers. Thank you. Love you!

Love you all! Take care always!

-Sister Roderick