Week of July 25, 2016

Dear friends and family,

This week's letter might be a little short as I have been very busy but this last week was genuinely the best I have had in a long time! I am happy to say that this last week was full of miracles and spiritual experiences. 

I feel the most worth sharing has to do with a lesson that Elder Madronio and I gave that I may never forget. Elder Madronio and I have an investigator (an older woman) we have been teaching the past couple of weeks who has been particularly interested in our lessons. However, although we noticed previously that she has a middle-aged daughter who lives with her, she never accompanied us in front of their home to be taught and seemed otherwise uninterested.

Well, one day this last week, Elder Madronio and I went to the home of this older woman to teach her a lesson regarding the Restoration. Everything seemed that it would go as normal, until unexpectedly, it began to rain just as we began to teach. At such an occurrence, our investigator invited us into her home to be taught, where her middle-aged daughter, Vanessa, who I mentioned earlier, was located. Elder Madronio and I of course took the chance to introduce ourselves to her, and were surprised when she opened up to us about some of the challenges she has faced in her life as of late. As it turns out this woman, with a new baby I might add, just lost her husband due to an electrical accident about two months ago. She has lost her home, her companion, and the father of her children in result. It was after telling us this that she asked us where her husband truly is and if she will see him again. Unfortunately, some individuals of other faiths have told her some negative remarks as to the current location of her late husband. It was our great privilege though to declare to Vanessa the Plan of Salvation, and the fact that through the gospel of Jesus Christ that her family can be forever.

There was one particular moment in this lesson though that I wish to share. Just as Elder Madronio testified to the possibility of an eternal family, I felt an outpouring of the Spirit into the room in which we sat stronger than anything I have felt in quite a long time. The Spirit literally seemed to pour from the heavens onto our heads at this moment, so strong that it almost seemed tangible. At this very moment that I felt this outpouring of the Spirit, I also was able to witness the affect of the Spirit of all others in the room, as our investigator and my companion broke into tears. It almost seemed a physical witness to me of the divinity of the Holy Ghost, a Being as I have mentioned previously, is most important in missionary work.

After the lesson came to a close, my companion and I exited the home to a clear sky. The storm only lasted for about five minutes or so. It was at that moment that a thought entered to my mind accompanied with another extraordinary outpouring of the Spirit, that being "the storm was sent for you to provide you the opportunity to testify to that woman of eternal families." I am not shy in saying that I believe that the Lord sent a thunderstorm specifically for the purpose of us having the possibility of helping the woman in this time of trial. For if there had been no storm, causing us to go inside, I feel Vanessa would never have approached us with the question regarding her husband.

With this occurrences, I have come to appreciate the phrase, "Families can be together forever" more than ever. While such a phrase has almost come to be cliché in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it is indeed the most beautiful doctrine you could ever hear. I am thankful for my knowledge that I will be with my family forever. There is nothing and indeed never can be anything more relevant than family, as heaven cannot be heaven if there is no family. Furthermore, I feel even more grateful that at this time I have the opportunity to share this knowledge with those here I serve in the Philippines; there is perhaps no greater calling.

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Elder Pulley & Elder Higgins

Overlook from Mountains

Old Church on top of mountains

Statutes on church property

Pig cooling off - more common to see in Philippines

Roadway

Week of July 18, 2016

Dear friends and family,

First, I have some big news to tell you! My landlord just installed a shower-head in my bathroom on Saturday, meaning that I have an official shower! These past few days I have had some of my first showers since I have been in the Philippines! It is funny how much you come to appreciate the little things when you have a more simple lifestyle.

Well, this last week was busy as usual, and had some ups and downs. For those of you who don't know, Nanay Betty has been traveling to and from Manila recently as her daughter, who lives in Manila, has a goiter in her throat and is awaiting surgery. On Wednesday however, after being in Manila for another few weeks, I saw Nanay Betty at a small store in Baluarte. She said she had just arrived from Manila, and was buying some food to eat. I of course asked her when we could teach her, and was surprised when she said that we couldn't go over to her house and didn't particularly elaborate as to why. I honestly thought that she was no longer interested, and I have to admit that I was pretty crushed. However, to my surprise, Nanay went to church on Sunday and told us why we couldn't teach her. It turns out that the home she lives in is actually the home of her son, who is Buddhist and currently lives in another part of the country. Apparently, her son found out that there were Mormon missionaries entering his home and wasn't too happy about it. Long story short, Nanay Betty is still as awesome as ever, and when she is here, we will just teach her at her next door neighbor's house, who conveniently is a member of the church. I hope that Nanay's daughter will have a successful surgery so that Nanay can return long-term and be taught regularly.

This last week and in my whole stay here in Baluarte, I have also done quite a bit of work with less actives in the ward. As it turns out, there are over 500 individuals on the ward directory, while at one point, the sacrament meeting attendance was 64. Needless to say, there is a great opportunity here to help individuals return to the church. That being said, I have done quite a bit of pondering in regards to endurance in the gospel throughout the last few months.Many members have stopped going to church because it is too hard, or simply because they feel they are simply too busy with other things. However, I have come to feel that endurance in living gospel principles is perhaps the most important step in the gospel. As the word "endure" itself connotes some form of difficulty, so it is; however, I have come to love the words of Nephi who said that " [we] must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ...and endure to the to the end" our blessing being that '[we] shall have eternal life" ( 2 Nephi 31:20). As I always say to those I am privileged to teach, although it may not be easy to live the standards of God in a world where it is increasingly difficult to do so, our reward " is the greatest of all gifts of God" being eternal life, or living in the presence of of God forever after mortality (D&C 14:7).

I like a comparison I once read from President Monson who said our existence as individuals can be compared to a long rope for which either side can't be seen due to its extraordinary length. In the middle of this imaginary rope is a string which is wrapped around the width of the rope. According to President Monson, the left side of the rope can be compared to our pre-mortal existence while the rope on the right side stretching infinitely can be compared to our life after earth. However, the single piece of string in the middle represents our infinitesimally small existence we have on earth, which due to our endurance or lack thereof makes all the difference as to what we will become in the eternities. With this new understanding, helping less-actives return to church has become ever more important to me as a missionary and hope that all can find it within themselves to keep pushing forward.

Anyway, I hope you all have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Pulley

Week of July 11, 2016

Dear friends and family,

I am happy to say that this last week was busy and eventful as usual! Perhaps the biggest thing to note is our zone conference we had this last Thursday. I had the opportunity to see many of my friends that I haven't seen in quite a while at the conference and I of course was able to meet my new mission president and wife, President and Sister Hiatt.

The story of the Hiatt's is quite interesting, as they just completed a couple's mission last year in the Manila mission. It so turns out that the very time they were unloading their things at their home in Idaho after arriving from the Philippines, their Bishop arrived informing them that M. Russell Ballard's office (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) was trying to get in contact with them. To make the story short, after only several months, they are serving yet another mission here in the Philippines! One interesting thing to note; however, is the fact that their mission as mission president and wife is only for two years instead of the normal three. President Hiatt said that President Eyring (first counselor of the church) gave him no explanation other than that was the time the Lord called him to serve. The Hiatts are like most individuals from Idaho; they are very simple, humble and kind. In result, I am happy to say that the transition to having a new mission president shouldn't be as hard as I thought it was going to be.

This last week, I had a couple of other experiences that I would like to share as well. One has to do with a seemingly extraordinarily prepared new investigator, Jesus Garcia. This last week, as Elder Madronio and I were walking from one appointment to another, a man who was sitting along the path told us "Good afternoon". We of course recognized that as a great opportunity to contact him, and we did so. He said he was interested in our message, and led us to his home where we taught him the first lesson. After doing so, I pulled out a Restoration pamphlet for him to read before our next lesson. However, he told said he did not need one. When I inquired him as to why that was the case, he promptly went into his home. After a couple of seconds, he emerged out of his home with a weathered and obviously read Restoration pamphlet in his hand. He explained that the pamphlet had been given to his niece years ago and that he himself has been reading out of it almost every night for quite some time.  Brother Garcia told us that he knew everything in the pamphlet was true and accepted the invitation to be baptized with great joy.

My companion and I were once again blown away as we felt the hand of the Lord in our work. I could not help but remember the words the Lord spoke to Joseph Smith regarding missionary work who said "whoso receiveth you, there will I be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left..."(D&C 84:88). In this occurrence regarding Brother Garcia, the Lord manifested this to be true to me once again. I am indeed very grateful for this opportunity that I have to serve and work hand-in-hand with the Lord in His work.

Have a great week everybody!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Week of July 4, 2016

Dear friends and family,

I apologize that I didn't write last week! Things were pretty busy and I didn't have the time! I promise that it won't happen again! haha

These last couple of weeks have been very busy as I have said goodbye to President and Sister Rahlf, gone on splits with other Elders in my area, gone to other areas, etc. Everything is going great though, and I will meet my new president, President Hiatt, this next Thursday in zone conference. Although I must admit that it is difficult to see President and Sister Rahlf go, I am excited to meet President Hiatt!

This last week, I have done some thinking about my mission thus far, and what I have learned in the process. Although I have learned more than I can say, the thing that stands out the most to me is the new perspective that I have gained the last several months as I have lived in the Philippines.

I must tell you that when I first arrived her, I was a little surprised as to how much attention I get for being an American. I can walk down one street and hear "Jo" or "Amerikano" about 40 times! I promise this is not an exaggeration! haha Moreover, in conversation, almost every person asks me what it is like living in America and expresses their desire to move there. I did not realize until I came into the Philippines how much America still stands out among much of the other countries in the world. Even today, our country stands as a beacon of opportunity and equality. I actually see more shirts and stickers here about America than I see at home!

I think the thing I am most thankful for as an American is the accessibility we have to quality education. It has pained me as I have seen many children, even ten and under, lose their ability to be educated due to a lack of money. It is not too uncommon for a young child to be forced to work in order for his family to have food to eat. As I have met children like this, and adults for that matter as well, I have tried to imagine a world where letters on a page are foreign characters, and a world in which even the ability to write has no place. It is nearly impossible to do so.

I have never felt as blessed as I do now. We as Americans often ignorantly dismiss so many of our blessings as just being part of daily life. The words of Jesus, who said, "of whomsoever much is given shall much be required" has never brought more of a feeling of responsibility as it does today (Luke 12:48).

We as Americans must never forget how truly blessed we are. It is our privilege and obligation to willingly "impart of the substance [we] have one to another" ,including those of other countries (Mosiah 4:21).

I believe the promise the Lord made to the prophet Nephi regarding North America still stands true, this promise being that "inasmuch as [we] shall keep [God's] commandments, [we] shall prosper...[in the] land of promise" (1 Nephi 2:20).

I know that if we thank God for our blessings, use them to the best of our ability to help others, and serve the Lord, we will ever continue to be blessed in our promised land. I am thankful to be an American, and I am immensely grateful to have this opportunity to serve in this country of the Philippines, of which I dearly love. Happy Independence Day!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Pulley