Week of May 30, 2016

Dear friends and family,

This week went by really fast! It is hard to believe that I am already in the net shop emailing again! This last week Elder Madronio and I were blessed to find some more investigators who seem to have been prepared by the Lord. However, I would like to talk a little bit more about Nanay Betty this week.

 Last week, we taught Nanay Betty both about the Word of Wisdom and about tithing. She accepted both commandments with an extraordinary enthusiasm to obey. In fact, in spite of the fact that my companion and I told her that she didn't need to pay tithing until after baptism, she insisted on doing so this last Sunday! Her faith is unlike anything that I have ever seen before.

The only unfortunate thing regarding Nanay Betty is that she will be leaving today for Manila because she has a Doctor's appointment in Quezon city. Also, Nanay has a son who lives down there, and she is not sure if and when she will return, as she has been living here in Santiago by herself and wants to have some company. But, I must say that I was surprised to find out yesterday that she postponed her trip down there from last Thursday until today so that she could go to church. With actions like this,I know that no matter what happens, she will do the necessary things to "enter in by the gate" and be baptized in the Lord's church (2 Nephi 31:18). Whether that happens here or in Manila I suppose is not too important, although I must admit I was disappointed to hear that she would be leaving.

This last week, I have been thinking a lot about time. Today is my older brother's 25th birthday, marks one year since I have graduated high school, and in a few days, my older brother and his wife will celebrate their third wedding anniversary. All of these occasions seem to have just occurred yesterday. I find it interesting, even considering my young age, that it seems that as time goes by, that it does so faster as every day passes. I have heard those who are advanced in age express the same feelings and declare to me how short life truly is. As I have pondered this truth last week, I questioned myself whether I have and am using my time on earth to the fullest. While doing so, I remembered a scripture in the Book of Mormon, where a missionary named Amulek conveyed to a group of unbelievers the true purpose of our short season here on earth, being "time for men to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). These few words have allowed me to put the things in my life in their place. Our time here is not as many say, to become wealthy and powerful, but instead to focus on God and prepare to return to Him.

As such, in order to live life to the fullest, we must put God and the center of our lives and not "labor for that which cannot satisfy" (2 Nephi 9:51). I have realized in the last several months of my stay in the Philippines, that when it comes right down to it, our income and what car we have sitting in our garage is relevant for this "day of life" only, while our relationship with our family and God has everlasting importance.

In such considerations I am happy to say that I feel I am currently living my life to the fullest. As I have said previously, I feel there is no better thing I could be doing and that knowledge gives me more peace than anything else. I would like to bear my testimony that I know that if we focus on what matters most in our lives, that we will sufficiently prepare to meet God, and will look back on our short period here on earth knowing that we spent our time wisely. That peace of mind in my opinion defines heaven.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Week of May 23, 2016

Dear family and friends,

I am happy to say that I have been blessed with an extraordinary week! For one, things are still going very well with my new companion, Elder Madronio, and we are learning a lot together. He is doing very well, and I feel much of the time that he is teaching me! 

As I mention the last few weeks, I have been blessed to serve in a humbling situation as I serve in my new callings. And, as I indicated last week, I have been turning to the Lord a lot more for help. This week, I am happy to say that I reaped the benefits of doing so.

Last week, as my companion and I were in one of those situations again with no one to teach, I saw a group of people out in front of their house, who were celebrating a birthday. Perhaps, in most circumstances, I wouldn't have bothered to have contacted them. However, in this situation, I felt prompted by the Spirit to do so, so I did. I was surprised that two older women, especially one at the party, really desired to be taught. Betty, this particularly interested woman, said she believed everything we had shared was true, and asked us to go to her home the next day (her home being in another location in our area). As promised, we went to her home the next day and were pleasantly surprised that she had read the whole lesson one pamphlet and had prayed about our lesson the day before. She said that she kept getting this feeling that it was true. Then she said, "Look, I feel it right now!". As we did so, we saw goosebumps completely cover her body. Then, she told us, without us asking, that she would go to church on Sunday. Following that, she accepted the invitation to be baptized.

Later in the week, we visited this extraordinary woman again, and found that she had not only read our assignment in the Book of Mormon, but had read far more that what we had asked! Then, when Sunday came, she came to church as she said she would. There is one particular conversation though that occurred in church between she and the Sunday school instructor that I would like to share. It so turned out that the topic of the gospel principles class this last week was on the gift of the Holy Ghost. After the instructor taught what the feelings of the Spirit are, being "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, [etc]", she told the whole class how she had been feeling those very things every time she read the Book of Mormon and every time we visited (Galations 5:22-23). Betty continued to say that when she had seen Elder Madronio and I the other day, that she felt those very things just by seeing us walk down the street. She said she felt as if her soul desired to talk to us, and was filled with joy when she saw me turn and approach her. She then said she was even happier to find out that I spoke her language! haha. After telling this to the instructor, Betty asked him when she could be baptized to receive this great gift, the Holy Ghost, always.

Needless to say, I was blown away, and couldn't help but feel a profound appreciation for my Father in Heaven, who prepared her for us, and led us to her. I now have a renewed appreciation and testimony of the words the Lord spoke to Joseph Smith regarding missionary work in saying: "And whosoever receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before you face, I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts..." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88). Moreover, I now have an even stronger testimony of the words Sister Rahlf spoke to us many months ago in saying that we as missionaries "bear our testimonies just by walking by the street." 

It is no small miracle to me that for months now, there have been no investigators at church until last week, where there were three, one being an individual we had only taught one time. I know that as missionaries, and as disciples of Jesus Christ for that matter, that we may not be the most intellectual, strong, or talented individuals. However, as we turn our hearts to the Lord and do our best, we will become instruments in His hands. I am ever more grateful for the wonderful opportunity that has been afforded to me to serve as a missionary and experience such incredible things. I do indeed love being a missionary.

Have a great week everybody! 

Love,

Elder Pulley

Elder Pulley, Elder Madronio, and Betty

Week of May 16, 2016

Dear family and friends,

I have had another busy week here in the mission field. This last week, as many of you know, I traveled up to Cauayan for transfer day. As my fellow trainers and I waited for our trainees to arrive, we were all pretty nervous to say the least! It still seems like the other day that it was me that was arriving for my first day in the mission.

My new companion is Elder Madronio who is from Manila. He is 20 years old and is a very nice kid. However, I must admit that he speaks Tagalog so fast that I have to have him repeat himself sometimes! Haha...I think I will grow both spiritually and linguistically these next few months.

I must admit that this last week that I have felt particularly humbled as I have gone about the beginning of training this new Elder. I have felt a lot of pressure as I know that everything I do and say is setting an example for my new companion and will ultimately effect the rest of his mission in result. In addition, as I have thought of my stewardship over the Elders in my district, I have had some feelings of inadequacy, as all of the Elders in my district are older and more experienced than me. I have always kind of assumed that those in leadership knew everything they were doing and were called to be leaders because of their exemplary skills. However, it has occurred to me this week that the more responsibility one is given, the more he must turn to the Lord for help. I feel that I now rely more on divine assistance than ever before.

With this realization in mind, I have spent quite a lot of time on my knees this last week asking for strength to become a good trainer and leader. I too know, just as Ammon expressed in the Book of Mormon that "as to my strength I am weak...[but] for in His strength I can do all things" (Alma 26:12) I have felt a great strength enter into my soul as I made the time to have meaningful communication with our Father in heaven. I know that no matter how hard or seemingly daunting our tasks may be in life, that if we turn to Him, we will receive the necessary strength that we need to be successful in His all knowing eyes.

As to my investigators, all is going well! Our only challenge is that our investigators haven't been going to church....I will tell you all more about that next week!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Elder Pulley and Elder Madronio (new companion)

Week in Review May 9, 2016

Dear friends and family,

This last week has been extraordinarily busy for me! Last Wednesday, I received a surprise call from one of the assistants to President Rahlf, who informed me that I have been called to train a new missionary the next few months. In result, on Thursday, I went up to Cauayan for a new trainers training, and was happy to see that two of my friends from my batch, Elder Vane and Elder Russell, have also been called to train. We received wonderful instruction there as to how to become effective trainers. However, I was once again surprised when President Rahlf asked to talk to me after the meeting and informed me that I have also been called to serve as a district leader, and to return the next day to Cauayan in order to attend the new leaders' training. For those that are not familiar with what being a district leader entails, it basically means that I will lead a few other companionships through training and teaching. Thus, I will now be teaching a group of missionaries weekly, make sure that all of their needs are met, and will be in charge of interviewing all of their baptismal candidates to ensure that they are ready to be baptized.

 Needless to say, with these two new callings, I have felt a little inadequate. On both Wednesday and Thursday, I prayed and voiced my fear to God that perhaps my new responsibilities surpass my current abilities as a missionary. It was after doing so that I received an answer in a unique way. Friday night, my companion and I stopped by a members home and had to come up with a message on the spot to share. It was then that I was prompted to share a few verses from 1 Nephi 17, where Nephi, who had no skills in shipbuilding, was commanded by the Lord to build a ship so that he and his family could travel to the promised land in America. Nephi's response to this daunting task is one that has always impressed me. Rather than questioning the Lord for commanding him to do something for which he had no skills to do, he recognized that "if God had commanded [him] to do all things [he] could do them" (1 Nephi 17:50). Nephi recognized that it does not take one of great knowledge to fulfill great tasks, but one of great faith.

 It was in this lesson I shared that I received the comfort that I needed, being reminded that "all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).I am thankful for the Lord's answer to my prayer, and remind all that no matter what tasks are placed before us, we can follow the example of Nephi and press forward in faith knowing that the Lord will magnify our humble efforts.

And, as promised, I have a little bit to say about mothers this week as well. As a missionary, I am more thankful for my mother than I ever have been before. For one, leaving home made me realize just how much that my mom did for me when I was home. The other is that I have realized how much of what I am today stems from my mother's unwavering love to me throughout my life. No matter what I have ever needed, my mother has always been there to help me in any way she could. I can honestly say that I could not have asked for a better mother. I have often wondered what I did to deserve such an amazing individual as my mom. All that I can say is that I echo the words of Elder Holland, who said that "no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child". I will forever be grateful for mom, and all others who shape society through their incomprehensible love. Happy Mothers' Day!

Have a great week everybody!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Week of May 2, 2016

Dear family and friends,

I have once again been privileged to serve another great week here in Baluarte! It is hard for me believe that it is already May! This last week, as I was pondering about the upcoming month, it occurred to me that this week (May 5) marks one year since my mission call was assigned to me. When I made that realization, it fully occurred to me just how fast time is passing; it actually scares me a little bit.

Over these past couple of weeks, I have gained a greater appreciation for the power of prayer and of the Holy Ghost. Being that we are working on acquiring more investigators in an area that has previously suffered a dearth of such, there have been many instances where all of our appointments and backups have been exhausted, leaving us with nowhere to go. It has been at these moments that I have prayed, told our Heavenly Father my situation, and asked His help in finding an individual who was willing to be taught.

Last Sunday for example, we were left in a predicament like I said earlier, with no one to teach. After praying, I felt prompted to turn around, and walk in the opposite direction. When we arrived at an intersection, I felt prompted to go down a street which I had never been down before. On that street, I saw two teenagers out on their front porch playing games on their phones. By all indications, it was clear that they probably would not be interested. However, I felt prompted to talk to them, so I did so anyway. When I began to talk to the two teenagers, it was evident that they were indeed not interested, as they basically bolted for the door as soon as they saw me. However, having seeing that I am American, they told their Aunt, who has a husband working in California, that there was an American out front and to go talk to me. When she did come out of the house, we instantly had a great conversation, talking about California and such, and she was very willing to be taught afterwards. Needless to say, I was very grateful for the invisible hand which led us to one who was willing to be taught.

It has ever been more clear to me through experiences such as this that the Lord is always there for us in our time of need, even if our need is a simple as needing an investigator to teach. Alma, a prophet found in the Book of Mormon, was well aware of this extraordinary truth. Thus, he urged his son, Helaman to "counsel with the Lord in all [his] doings, and [that] He [would] direct [him] for good" (Alma 37:37). In a world where choices and problems are a part of every day life, we mustn't forget that the fruit of all knowledge is just on the other side, waiting and willing to help us in all things that we stand in need of.

On a cultural note, for those of you who don't know, the Philippines also has a presidential election this year, their voting day being May 9th! However, although they have an election just as we do, their campaigning methods are quite different from those found in the United States. For example, the chief way of campaigning here is by driving around trucks (like the one in the picture) with blaring loud music. The music emitting from the trucks always have a tune stolen from a popular song, but the words are changed to the effect of "vote for John Doe for Santiago City council!". It has actually been quite impossible recently to escape the music from these trucks. They are everywhere!

Anyway, just know that all is going well!  I am also pleased to say that we also have some progressing investigators now. Hopefully next cycle I can have a baptism!

Have a happy Mother's Day this next week, and don't worry, I will have quite a bit to say about mothers next week!

Love,

Elder Pulley