Week of October 31, 2016

Dear friends and family,

This last week has been been the most eventful week of my entire mission! First of all, I have a little story I would like to tell. On Monday, I received the list of missionaries who were to transfer, and was pleased (and not surprised) that my name was not on the list. As that was the case, I fully assumed that I would have another, normal cycle with Elder Vane as my companion. However, on Tuesday morning, in preparation for our day of work, Elder Vane and I went into the mission office to retrieve some contact cards. While there, President Hiatt asked Elder Vane and I to talk with him in his office. To be honest, I was worried that I had done something wrong without my knowledge. To be surprise though, President Hiatt pulled us in the office to tell us some interesting news. Elder Vane was called as a trainer and is currently training another American, and  I was called as an assistant, and am currently working in a companionship of three. I am still in Cauayan (just in a different branch), and was not required to move homes, so the transfer itself was not too hard.

This last week though has brought a lot of feelings of inadequacy as I have received this new calling. However, although I feel that there are many other missionaries that are more qualified for the position I currently hold, I am comforted in the words of President Monson who said that "who the Lord calls, He qualifies." I know that the process of growth that needs to take place for me to become a great assistant will be a little difficult, but I am very grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to learn.

This morning for example, I was privileged to learn at the feet of Elder Schmutz, who interviewed my companions and I as part of this week's mission tour. Whenever you come in contact with men like Elder Schmutz in the church, you cannot deny that they are men of God. There is just a great spirit about them that is different that other men.

Because of the mission tour that is occurring, I am very pressed for time and don't have time to write much more. Just know that I am happy and well. I will write more next week!

Love, 

Elder Pulley

Elder Pulley & new companions

Week of October 24, 2016

Dear Friends and Family,

This last week has been one of the most challenging weeks of my mission in result of the large typhoon that came through last Wednesday. As many of you know, missionaries essentially know nothing in regards to weather and news, as we have no ability to know of such things without a T.V. or smartphone. Thus, I was quite surprised this last Monday when I was informed that our mission tour with Elder Schmutz (a member of the area presidency that spoke in last General Conference) was canceled due to an incoming typhoon. Typhoons aren't all that abnormal, and I found it interesting that such a big occasion would be canceled just due to a storm.

On Tuesday though, the seriousness of the oncoming typhoon was made known to me when President Hiatt asked that Elder Vane and I help him find the 54 missionaries in Tuguegarao and Ilagan find a place to stay during the storm, as the area authorities indicated that they needed to be evacuated. And, when the storm did arrive Wednesday night as expected, it was a strong as could be. It was the most powerful storm I have ever seen, and despite the fact we live in a very nice home, I worried that our roof was going to fly off the house. 

After the storm, we were without power for 5 days, and much of the area here in Cauayan still has no electricity. More strong however, was the typhoon in Tuguegarao ( the location of my first area). All of the electrical lines and poles have been destroyed, along with many homes and buildings. The government doesn't expect the electricity to return to that area for another one to three months. That being said, President Hiatt was forced to relocate all of those missionaries, and in all of the craziness of the week, that task was left to Elder Vane and I. It was no small task finding new areas for 54 missionaries to work in the next month or more, but with the help of God we were able to get the task done thankfully.

Along with the storm though has brought many lessons, and many opportunities to serve. I think the biggest thing I learned was when Elder Vane and I sat down on Saturday night to do our weekly planning. I have to admit that when I sat down for that planning with just a couple of candles to light the room, I wasn't too excited to do so. However, when I was complaining within myself, and looking at the candle, a small miracle that had escaped me was brought to my attention. Last Monday, on preparation day, I did some shopping at a large supermarket. Because I knew a storm was coming, I thought about buying some candles in case the electricity was to go out. However, when I saw that the pack of candles I wanted to buy was a little expensive, I thought against it. As I pulled my cart into the register aisle though, I saw another pack of candles left in a basket stacked next to the register. It was when I saw those candles that I felt the Spirit whisper to me that I needed to buy them and in result, I did (and to my pleasant surprise they were cheaper than the other candles I had seen).

 It was at the beginning of my weekly planning that I realized how blessed I was that the Lord had placed those candles in front of me. For if He hadn't, we would have been left with insufficient candles to light our home throughout the duration of our blackout. At that realization, I felt a surge of gratitude in my heart for the candles that were available  for us to use, and it was at that moment that the electricity turned back on.

At that moment that I mentioned that a scripture entered my mind which reads: "Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you...and he who receiveth all things with thankfulness  shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (D&C 78: 17,19)

Perhaps we as individuals often make the same mistake that I did this last week, easily looking over great blessings the Lord has given us and instead complaining within our heart for the things we don't have. If we step back from our lives though and focus on the simple, yet great things that we take for granted, we will feel greatly blessed in our lives. And, it is in these moments that the Lord will give us even more than we currently have, "even an hundred fold, yea, more."

At this time in my mission, I am immensely grateful for all of the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me in my life. I know that all good things indeed are from Him. Although life may be hard and even test our patience at times, if we follow the counsel of the hymn Count Your Blessings, we will always be profoundly surprised at how much we have been given. There is always much to be grateful for. 

Have a great week everybody! 

Love,

Elder Pulley

Preparing for the Typhoon

Week of October 17, 2016

Dear Friends and Family,

This last week was incredibly eventful, and perhaps one of the most miraculous ones of my whole mission. I was privileged to see the hand of the Lord many, many times as Elder Vane and I went about our missionary tasks this last week.

On Tuesday, Elder Vane and I had the privilege of teaching Zone Meeting, which went well! We prepared as well as we could, and taught our zone (about 20 missionaries) about the importance of the Holy Ghost in missionary work and inviting individuals to be baptized in their first lesson. It was after our Zone Meeting however, that Elder Vane and I had the benefit of President and Sister Hiatt accompanying us in our missionary lessons for the day. I have to admit that all of the translating (President and Sister Hiatt are not fluent in Tagalog) coupled with that was a little distracting at times, but I learned much from President Hiatt; it was definitely an experience that I won't forget. 

The affects though of President and Sister Hiatt's work was not evident until a few days later, when Elder Vane and I had the opportunity of seeing another miracle in our work. There is a recent convert in our area by the name of Evangeline who is 17 years old. She is remarkable in that despite the fact that her father has been a long-time less active and that her Mom is a completely uninterested member of another faith, she has still stayed strong in the gospel. However, the other day, as President and Sister Hiatt and I visited their neighbor's home, Evangeline's father saw President and Sister Hiatt. I don't know exactly what all happened, but in result of him seeing President and Sister Hiatt, he told his wife and Evangeline that he wanted to return to church with his whole family. So, last Sunday, Evangeline's whole family went to church and her previously uninterested mother now has a baptismal date. It is cool how powerful even being in the right place and the right time can be at times.

On Thursday, I had one of the most cool days of my whole mission. Being that there are now new office Elders in my zone, they don't have as much time as other missionaries to work in their areas. As such, their areas have suffered in result and as their leader, I have desired much to help them obtain success in their areas in spite of their office responsibilities. In order to help them achieve that, I went on exchanges in their area. I prayed much for many days that I would be able to obtain a day worthy of example as I worked with them in their area, and I am happy to say that the Lord helped me immensely. In result of the work the Elders had in the office, we didn't start work until five o'clock in the afternoon, which is of course very late to start. For our first lesson, we taught the only appointment we had for the day, which was for an American! That first lesson of the day was the first lesson I have ever taught in English in the whole mission, and it was awesome! It was a little hard to speak straight English, but it was really cool nonetheless. 

After that appointment though, we were left to contacting. With a prayer in my heart we then went from house to house to find individuals to teach. And, we were accepted at every single home we went to. I really don't know how it happened, but we got 6 new amazing investigators in their area that night. And, the last lesson we taught was remarkable indeed. After contacting and teaching a whole street, it was about 8 o'clock, which is late in the Philippines. However, I felt we still needed to teach another lesson. As we walked to find someone to teach, I felt prompted to turn down a certain street. Then, as we walked down that street, I walked past an intersection. After doing so, I felt a strong prompting to turn around and go down the next street. I told my companion of my prompting, and we turned around to do so. We screamed "tao po!" at every home, but no one responded. I was about to give up, until I noticed one more house with the lights on. I went to that home, and said "tao po" two times, but no one came out. Determined though, I said yet another "tao po", and to my great happiness, an individual came out of the home. And guess what? It was the home of yet another American! He welcomed us to sit down, and we immediately had great conversation. After that conversation, it felt natural to ask if we could share a message, and we did. Then, I invited him to be baptized, in which he accepted. So, I taught two lessons in English that day! After that day, my heart was filled with gratitude for the help the Lord had given me. I now have an even stronger testimony that "whatsoever [we] ask the Father in [Christ's] name, which is right, believing that [we] shall receive... shall be given unto [us]" (3 Nephi 18:20). I know that without my fervent prayer, that I could not have had such a wonderful day on my splits. Truly, the Lord is always there for each one of us to help us in our righteous desires, we just have to be willing to ask Him for the help that we desire.

Then on Saturday, I was blessed with the first baptism I have had since February! It felt great to reap the fruit of my work, and to see the full change in the life of Rosemarie the last couple of months that I have taught her. Sister Rosemarie has changed much in the time that I have known her. Because her husband has been an active member of the church, Elder Posadas and I had great hopes in her from the beginning. However, when we first went to her home, she hid from us. After that happened a few times, I was about to give up on her. But, a miracle happened when she went to church one Sunday. From that point on, she was willing and excited to be taught, and now she is a great support to husband and has a desire to be sealed in the temple. I think perhaps my favorite part of being a missionary is seeing this change of which I have mentioned. In spite of whoever an individual may be, the gospel has the tendency to cause " a mighty change in [them], or in [their] hearts" leaving them with "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually" (Mosiah 5:2). Now, she is helping others in her family to know of the goodness that has come into her life, who hopefully will be baptized in the upcoming months. 

I don't have too much more time to say any more this week, but everything is going great! 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Love,

Elder Pulley

Note by Elder Pulley's mom - please keep the missionaries in your prayers this week as there is a Category 4, potentially Super Typhoon, headed their way.

Zone Meeting

Teaching with President and Sister Hiatt

Baptism of Sister Rosemarie

Week of October 10, 2016

Dear friends and family,

As usual, things are busy here in Cauayan, but all is well! This last week Elder Vane and I had the opportunity to attend our Mission Leadership Council, which was enjoyable.  We engaged in missionary exchanges and taught many wonderful investigators! Perhaps the greatest thing that happened this last week though was General Conference!

The second the General Conference started, with the singing of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I was surprisingly overwhelmed with the Spirit. I felt great gratitude in my heart and knew that everything that I would hear in that conference would be from the Lord Himself. Perhaps one of the greatest privileges I have as a missionary is the opportunity to declare to other individuals of a living prophet, and living apostles on the earth to guide us in our days who "know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come" (Mosiah 8:17).

While our world continues to become more wicked, it is easy for one's soul to be troubled at times with the things we see on the news, and even in our daily life. Before the mission, as many of you know, I was an avid news watcher. It troubled me  to see all of the unfortunate occurrences in the world, and the lack of regard many individuals have for the welfare of their fellow man. Indeed,it is easy for a man to see such things on the Nightly News and ask himself where peace and protection can be found in such instability. However, when we consider the fact that there is a living prophet, who literally is the mouthpiece of the Lord, we don't have to go searching very far (D&C 1:38). I know that if we listen to the living prophet, and other inspired leaders of the church, that we will obtain the protection that we desire for ourselves and our families.

One example I often use to illustrate the extraordinary perspective of prophets is comparing the perspective of an individual located at ground-level versus an individual located in an elevated place, such as in a high tower, in midst of a battle. While the individual on the ground may be able to see a little ways from his current location, his vision may be slightly shallow, as he only relies on the height his own body provides for him. The individual in the tower however, is at great advantage. With his elevated height, he is able to see far in all directions, and direct others at ground level of those things they should do to effectively protect themselves from oncoming danger. So it is with us and the prophet. I have a strong testimony that Thomas S. Monson and the other brethren are prophets seers, and revelators. Moreover, I know if we listen to their counsel based on their extraordinary perspective, that we can ultimately attain happiness and protection in this world and the next.

I am happy to say that all is still going well with our investigators. Last week, we didn't have as many individuals come to church as we wanted to, but that is okay. There is always next week! And, I have an investigator, Rosemarie L., who will be baptized this next Saturday! I am so excited to tell you all about her next week!

Love,

Elder Pulley

P.S.-Did any of you see the talk given by Elder Schmutz? He is going to come and visit my mission next week! I am pretty excited!

Note:  In the Philippines they watch General Conference one week later than in the USA.

Missionary Leadership Conference

Pday Activity

Week of October 3, 2016

Dear friends and family,

This last week has held a multitude of miracles that I am enthused to share with you all! First, last Thursday I had the opportunity to work with Elder Vicente in my area! I don't know if I have mentioned it in previous emails, but Elder Vicente, my trainer, is currently assigned in my zone. As such, I have had the great privilege of seeing him quite a bit the last few months that I have been here in Cauayan. Our day was absolutely awesome, and it felt like it was just yesterday that we were companions. I think the best thing that happened though on our splits was finding a whole family to teach! After a full day of teaching, I decided to do some contacting before dinner, and we ended up finding the nicest and most interested family I have met throughout the course of my mission, the Reyes family. Nanay and Tatay are in their low 50's, and they have two kids at home, who are 24 and 16. Last week, after just one lesson, the two kids of the family went to church and had an enjoyable time. And, Nanay and Tatay Reyes said they will make arrangements in their work in order to attend church next week. 

Furthermore, Elder Vane and I have been extremely blessed to have new, very interested investigators come into our teaching pool this last week due to work in the reactivation of some less active families, and much more. There is so much more I could tell you all, but I unfortunately don't have the time to do so. I just want to let you all know that I feel extremely blessed at this point in my work. As I mentioned in previous emails, at the beginning of this cycle, I was really concerned about managing my area with all of the changes that have occurred in my area and in the mission. However, as I have pressed forward with faith, the blessings most definitely have arrived. In sharing this fact, I can't help but think of the story of Nephi in the beginning of the Book of Mormon, who was commanded by the Lord to obtain brass plates, containing the records of his people from Laban, a dangerous individual who desired to kill him. Rather than doubt and complain though (like his siblings Laman and Lemuel), Nephi pressed forward with faith actually "not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). Rather, he trusted that the Lord would "prepare a way for [him]", for which He undoubtedly did (1 Nephi 3:7). At times as disciples of Christ we are required to do things that don't make us particularly comfortable, as the path before us may not seem clear or particularly easy that lies ahead of us. However, it is at these times in our discipleship that we can prove through our works that we have real faith in Him. Indeed, those are the times that define us. As Paul reminded us in the New Testament, we "must walk by faith, not by sight." I know as we do that that we will undoubtedly will see miracles in our lives and will become more than we could ever imagine.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Pulley