We are just getting
back from the temple, so this might be a little bit shorter than normal.
Everything is going
really well in our area. We are seeing a lot of miracles. I have been praying
for baptisms before I go, specifically this transfer. I knew it would be hard
seeing that some of the weeks have already passed by this transfer, but God
still found a way to make it happen. This last Sunday, we met a part-member
family who has been going to church for 2 weeks now – and we had no idea. We
went to their house, taught her for the first time, and she will be baptized on
September 15th – before the end of the transfer. It is amazing how
even in the times where you think that something is literally impossible, but
you still pray about it sincerely, and God shows His power and makes it happen.
We are now goaling for at least 7 baptisms in the month of September as a
companionship. I think we might even be able to hit higher than that.
These past two
transfers have been great. It has been fantastic to work in the area
consistently and to see the progress that has come from that. I enjoy the work
so much now that I am committed to seeing baptisms happen and helping those
around me become truly converted. I like the goal of weekly baptisms for the
rest of my time in the mission. I don’t know how likely it is, but like I said
earlier – it isn’t really a matter of how possible something is, just a matter
of how much faith you have in getting it and how much work you are willing to
put in.
Elder Cadayong and I
are doing really well. I think he is learning a lot about leadership. It is a
big adjustment, and I understand it is a lot at first. We still have to make
sure he is ready to deal with all the concerns of all our missionaries by the
time that I leave. We have to make sure he is mature and prepared enough to
take charge in a strong willed and tactful manner. One of the hardships of
being a leader in the mission is constantly communicating, delegating, and
solving problems – not just in English, but in Tagalog. The first time you
encounter a specific problem and need to give immediate advice in a different
language, is really tough. This is always a struggle when someone starts in
leadership in the mission; you have to be an effective diplomat in multiple
languages.
This week has been
really good. We had only a little bit of time to work in the area, but we still
saw the miracles; we still saw what God wanted us to see in the people around
us. Most of what missionary work is, is trying to look at people how God sees
them and focusing the most attention on those that want to become like Him. Our
eternal quest to come closer to God should lead us in an eternal track to
becoming like God. That means that the people we teach should have a desire to
change their lives to become more Godlike. That is one of the hardest paths we
can choose to take, but at the same time it is the most noble. We change, we
improve, we desire salvation, and we desire it as well for those around us.
Keep on working to
improve. Keep on putting up a fight. Hone your skills; if you feel like you don’t
have skills – find out what your skills are. There are lucky people here on
earth, but my definition of luck is a bit different now. Luck
is where preparation meets opportunity. If you never prepare, you will never be lucky. So go out there and get lucky, through
preparation. Whatever it is that you want to be – just go out and work for
that thing. Until you get it.
Go, Do, Fight, Win
Love you all
Keep it up.
Elder Faulkner
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