Week of June 27, 2016

Elder Pulley did not have time this week to write for his blog this week.  However, I would like to share a bit of the email he sent to us.

Gavin, my classmate, became my friend while I was in Government class (in high school). We had quite a few fun disagreements, debates and such (you know how I am), and we talked about the church as well. Both Brenna and I sat next to him, and he seemed a little curious in the church, but I never thought much of it. In spite of the fact I liked his personality, he had a little problem with some items from the word of wisdom.

I haven't thought about that kid for about a year, until this last week he popped into my mind out of nowhere. As I thought of him, and another tablemate of mine in that class (who I shared a Book of Mormon with) I was hoping that they were doing okay and would eventually have the opportunity to accept the gospel. Well, Brenna emailed me earlier, and it turns out that Gavin was baptized last Saturday. As I write this, I cannot help but feel such immense gratitude and awe that I had the opportunity to sit next to Gavin. I would never say that I am the reason he was baptized, but I know I was placed next to him for a reason, and that I was able to help in a small way, in getting him into the church.

I am thankful beyond measure for this miracle, and the opportunity I had too to hear about his baptism...

Note:  You never know what influence you have on other people as you go throughout everyday life.  

I hope you all have wonderful week - Elder Pulley's mom.

Week of June 20, 2016

Dear family and friends,

I am running a little low on time today so I my email this week may be a little short! This last week had its share of highs and lows, but it ended up being great! Last Thursday, I had specialized training with President and Sister Rahlf, which was the last time I will see them here in the mission. They taught about the infinite spectrum of the Atonement, and after which shared great advice as to how to become successful as a missionary and as an individual after the mission as well. I learned much, and as I have said before, I will miss the two of them quite a bit when they leave on the thirtieth of this month.

This last week, I had a few disappointments in terms of investigators but I learned a lot from these experiences. Nelson, a highly progressing investigator is unfortunately not married to his spouse. And, his spouse is married to her previous husband. In the United States, this would not be a problem as she could just divorce and remarry Nelson in order to obey the law of chastity. However, there is no divorce in the Philippines, as in it is not legally possible to divorce your spouse. There is though something called an legal annulment, after 5 years of living with another individual, unfortunately though, as Nelson has only been with his partner for 2 years, he has to wait three more years in order to qualify for baptism. Another highly investigator also recently told us that we can no longer teach her, as her husband (an angry drunk) will not allow it.

With these unfortunate occurrences, I must admit that I felt a little discouraged. After working with individuals and acquiring love for them, it is hard for something like this to happen. However, on Sunday I decided to fast to receive the comfort and desire that I need to continue to press forward and become a successful missionary. Fasting is not easy, especially here where it is so hot, but the blessings are definitely there. Shortly after my fast, I felt my spirit become re-energized, and I was comforted knowing that the Lord loves my investigators more than I do and that He will take care of them.

In regards to fasting (meaning refraining from food and drink for 24 hours), I have always been particularly inspired by the testimony of Alma the younger (a great prophet found in the Book of Mormon) to individuals living in the city of Zarehemla, a large city in ancient America. Alma told those individuals that he had received such an extraordinary testimony because he had "fasted and prayed many days that [he] might know of [those] things [for] [him]self", having received a "manifest[ation]...by His Spirit." (Alma 5:46). 

I have always found this testimony to be so remarkable. Alma had seen angels multiple times both before and during his ministry. However, it was not those angelic manifestations that stood as a basis of his testimony. Rather, it was his fasting and praying that led to such a strong testimony of the gospel, and ultimately his success. Similarly, if we want to progress spiritually and become a man like Alma, an extraordinary prophet, we can through humble prayer and fasting. 

I have acquired a strong testimony of fasting while here on the mission. Just as I received divine help through my fast this last week, thus it has been many times through the course of my ten months as a missionary. My challenge to all this week is to find the time to feed yourselves spiritually through the omission of those things that feed us physically. Doing so will leave us invigorated, and ready to take on life's troubles head-on.

And Happy Fathers' Day! I am so thankful for my wonderful father and all of the great father figures I have had in my life. 

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Note: Tie Cutting Ceremony is usually when missionary goes home; however, President and Sister Rahlf are returning home.

President Rahlf & Elder Pulley

President and Sister Rahlf with Elder Pulley

Week of June 13, 2016

Dear friends and family,

Last week went by really fast and was very eventful. For one, on Wednesday, Elder Madronio and I went up to Cauayan for our new missionary and trainers' meeting. I had the privilege of seeing many of my friends who are also training, and together we received instruction from the Rahlfs and the assistants to the president as to how to become a better trainer. Then, we had a delicious lunch! I must say that meetings have become one of my favorite things on the mission!

On Thursday, I had my first splits as a leader. When I say I had splits, that simply means that I exchanged companions for a day in order to learn from him, and for him to learn from me. As a leader, I am supposed to "show the other missionary what a great day of missionary work looks like", in the words of President Rahlf. I must say that I felt a little nervous at that task, as I haven't really felt my work and teaching is worthy of example. However, through prayer, I was prompted to pick a certain missionary to work with me, and then through much prayer we ended up having a good day together. I am happy to say that the first person we contacted was a long-time less active, and was willing to be taught. I was then shocked when our first contact after that lesson was also willing to be taught, and is now a progressing investigator! Overall, we had a great day with 8 lessons and 9 contacts. I attribute this success to my fervent prayers beforehand for help in my task that seemed too big for my skills to attain. 

With this day in mind, I have been doing a lot of thinking in regards to prayer this last week. As a missionary, I am always praying. I pray when I get up, eat, before and after every study session, before we leave, before and after every lesson, etc. Needless to say, prayer both internal and vocal have become very habitual for me. However, as I was reading in the third book of Nephi (found in the Book of Mormon) this last week, I felt a prompting of correction come over me. In chapter 13, Christ instructed His disciples in America, as He had done in Israel before his death and resurrection, to "use not vain repetitions [in prayer] as the heathens do" (3 Nephi 13:7). 

Previously, when I read this verse, I thought this simply meant that we shouldn't use the same, written out words every time we pray, as is custom in some religious institutions. However, I realized that this also applies to individuals such as myself, who has gotten in the habit of saying similar phrases and such during prayer. Perhaps, just as a fellow individual may get tired of us if we were to say the same complaints and things every time we communicated with them, so does our Heavenly Father if we do so to Him in prayer. As the circumstances of each day are different, so should our prayers to our Father in Heaven reflect this fact.

I believe if we have the humility to ask for help from God, and do so with real intent, not just out of formality, we will receive immense blessings in result. I too know it to be true, as James said that "The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16). I am thankful for prayer, and the opportunity I have as a missionary to teach others about it. Prayer is often something we take for granted, when in fact it is the very thing we need to "come off conqueror...and escape the [influence]...of Satan" in our lives (D&C 10:5).

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Week of June 6, 2016

Dear friends and family,

I have once again been blessed with a week full of fun and learning! Last Monday, I received a phone call that made me more happy than any other one I have received on the mission. It was Nanay Betty, who said her doctor in Manila had traveled to Japan and wouldn't be back until the fourteenth. And, she also said that when she does go down to Manila that she has decided she will not stay there. Rather, she will return in a week or less and be baptized shortly after. I cannot express the deep gratitude that I have for this fact. I attribute this miracle to the hand of the Lord, and I can't wait to continue to help Nanay in her course to baptism and later the temple.

One thing that I have noticed about Nanay, and our other investigators who seem to have been prepared by the Lord, is that they have all known individuals who are members of the Church in the past. For Nanay Betty, and Nelson (another investigator who has gone to church the past few weeks) it was one of their parents. Nanay Betty has expressed in the past the great love her father had for the Book of Mormon, and now says how grateful she is that she has had the opportunity to read it as well. Even though her father died many years ago, his example has lived on and helped her come to know of the truthfulness of the Lord's church.

With this in mind, I have been thinking a lot recently about the power a righteous parent has on his/her children. When doing so, a scripture came to mind from one of my favorite speeches in the Book of Mormon, that speech being from the prophet King Benjamin. In a long sermon he gave to the people of his land at the end of reign as king, he directed one of his comments towards the  parents present at the sermon in saying that we as parents "must teach [our children] to walk in the ways of truth and soberness...[and] suffer that they transgress [not] the laws of God" (Mosiah 4:14-15). I wondered at one time why a king would make such a specific  comment towards parents. However, as I have had the privilege of seeing the positive effect a righteous parent can have in the life of their children, and as I now attribute the person I am today based on the example of my wonderful parents, I have realized the immense role a parent has not only in the life of their children, but in the success of society as a whole.

Indeed, I believe parenthood to be the most important calling one could receive in this life and I am very grateful for the wonderful parents that I have been blessed with. Whether my parents knew it or not, I was always watching what they were doing and learned much from doing so. I believe the old saying to be true that "The apple does not fall far from the tree." I believe that if all parents would live the lives that he/she wishes his/her children to follow, that our whole world would change one family at a time. My challenge to all this week, both parent or not, is to live the life that they want their children to live. I know as parents do so, our world will be blessed to change for good beyond measure.

Have a great week everybody!

Love,

Elder Pulley