Week of March 14, 2016

Dear family and friends,

I had a week that I will remember for a long time. First, I want to tell you about a phone call I received Thursday morning at 2:30 AM. At first, when I woke up and saw the phone was ringing, I thought the person on the other side of the line must have called us by mistake. However, when the phone ringed yet again, I answered it. It was a 25 year old member in our ward, and she was sobbing to a point that it was very difficult to understand her, not to mention that I am still learning Tagalog. She told me that her mother, another member, was in the hospital dying, and there was essentially no hope. She desired that I travel to the hospital, to give her mother a blessing. Of course, being that it was 2:30, I could neither find transportation or could I leave the missionary apartment even if I wanted to. The only thing I could manage to do is share my simple testimony of the plan of salvation with this woman as she helplessly watched her mother pass onto the other side. I told her that I knew her mother was a righteous woman, and that she did not need to worry, as a great woman such as her would most definitely be bound for a place of spiritual paradise where neither worry or problem would ever reside.

The woman that passed away was Sister Corazon Malana. I had the great opportunity to teach this woman a few times, along with her nonmember domestic helper. We chiefly went over to her house to teach her house helper, but I had a lesson a couple of weeks ago with Nanay (Nanay means mother in Tagalog) Cora that I will never forget. When we went over to her home, we found that her house-helper was not there. However, after talking with Nanay a little bit, it was evident that she was in need of a lesson. She expressed her deep sorrow that almost all of her children had become less active in the church. Nanay, who was one of the first baptized members in all of Tuguegarao in the 1980's, had a great love of the gospel, and in sharing it with others. In that lesson, I shared a scripture in Mosiah 27, where an angel appears to Alma the younger (an enemy to the church of God), in result of the prayers of his righteous father, Alma the older. I told Nanay that her righteous example, and her prayers would help her family in being reactivated into the church. I then had the privilege of giving her a blessing, wherein I felt the love that the Lord had for Nanay, and for her very pure heart and intentions. When I left that day, I felt such gratitude for being able to know such a great woman, and I feel even more grateful now.

This experience has now taught me even more about the last step of the plan of God for us all, which is for us to endure to the end after we have entered into the straight and narrow path. In spite of the fact that I will miss seeing Nanay Cora, I feel happy for her because she was able to overcome the trials of this life and enter into a state of never-ending happiness. I think if all of us would endure to the end, and become more faithful to the end of our lives, the bitterness of death would dissipate, and we would instead feel a great joy that another one of our close friends or family members has overcome the problems of the world. I am happy to say that a great deal of Nanay's grandchildren were at church this Sunday. I hope that my life, and death for that matter, will have such an impact for good as well.

On a lighter note, I have a baptism this next week! I, and other missionaries as well, have worked quite hard with Jayson to get him to the place that he is now. He is 24, and has such a desire to learn about the gospel, particularly the priesthood. I will tell you all a lot more about Jayson next week, as I am running out of time. Just know that all is going well, and I am learning a lot every day!

Love,

Elder Pulley