Letter #96 (June 5th, 2013)

Hey all,

This week was kinda rough. The work hit a bump in the road. I was disappointed with the week. But I'm determined not to let it get to me... and at least we had some great successes as well. We had 12 members from Bagakay and Casoy come down for sacrament meeting! We were so happy to see them exercising their faith. And then yesterday when visiting with one of the members she told us how she loves going to church in Toledo because of the Spirit of the members. Its good to see the progress we are having with the members on Bagakay and Casoy.
 Despite problems, I had the most amazing spiritual experience last Saturday with a 10 yr old girl who I interviewed for baptism. E is the daughter of an active member mother and an non-member father, who live in difficult circumstances. She has been taught by the sisters for a while now and a great kid. She did great in he first interview I had with her but her testimony was lacking, or an understanding of testimony was lacking the first time I met with her so we postponed the baptism. Then this past Saturday I met with her again to interview her again, and I really felt like she was prepared to be baptized but couldn't get her to connect the feelings she had praying about the Book of Mormon with her testimony of the Book of Mormon. I thought about it and was impressed to invite her to pray again in the interview to ask if the Book of Mormon was true. She thought about it for a minute or so and then agreed. As we sat together and she prayed, I was also praying with all the energy of my heart that she would feel the Spirit touch her heart with the answer she was asking for, and she would be able to connect the feelings with her testimony. As she got to he end of her prayer, she simply asked "Amahan, tinuod ba ang Basahon ni Mormon?...(Father, is the Book of Mormon true?)" at which point she paused, and we sat in silence for almost 10 seconds. At that point the Spirit was so strong. She then closed her pray and slowly look up at me... At that point in time I knew, without a shadow of a doubt that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true. She tried without success o explain the feelings she had felt.. "Elder, ang akong feelings, morag, kwan man sila...morag gaan..." Then she smiled and gave a little laugh. Then I cried. I had never experienced anything like I did that night. And I will never forget it. I asked myself, "why can a 10 yr old girl receive such a powerful witness of the Book of Mormon, when a 19 yr old young man or a 40 yr old mother, or father cannot?..." Then it hit me... "becometh as a child..." It was the smallest impression but it pierced me. Then in my studies i found these two scriptures. 1 Corithians 2:14 cf. Mosiah 3:19 "and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." That was the key. This girl was willing to submit, and humble herself before her Heavenly Father to receive the answer, and spiritual witness she was asking for, and then even more than that, willing to be meek and patient enough to wait for the answer to come. This now is my favorite experience in the mission, above everything crazy and fun and exciting that has happened, I love this experience the most and will cherish it forever...
 Back to the area, I am really excited for the progress of Bagakay but I worry that the branch will not be able to support the group once it is formed, in terms of training and providing support spiritually and doctrinally. But I hope this next transfer we can help the branch to prepare themselves for that.

I am personally doing okay. My studies are great, and I am on top of things. I have been exercising a little more lately, and it has given me a little more energy too. Elder G is also doing really well. He really enjoys being able to practice teaching in our studies, and has been good to help him to practice his teaching skills. He continually asks lots of questions, so I know he wants to continue to improve as a missionary. He is always asking for scripture references as well, and we have fun finding new scriptures together. We have been able to stay on track with the 12 week program, so that has been good.

I am excited for this transfer. I really want Bagakay to become a group, but we will see how that happens. Maybe the Lord has other plans, but one thing I am sure, that we are here to help these members to really understand and live the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives and to help them to all gain stronger personal testimonies of the Book of Mormon, of the prophet Joseph Smith and of The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-Day Saints.

So lots of things going down this transfer... nothing for me and Elder G though... and they are changing things up in the mission, I think its actually worldwide... no more backpacks for missionaries is one of them. Either slingbags or shoulderbags... better prepare yourself Reilly. So that'll be interesting.

Well, that's all from me this week.

Miss you all,

Love you tons,

Elder Taylor Addison Cox