The last few weeks have held many wonderful opportunities to grow, and many blessings that I am excited to share with you all. Because time is short, I would like to share with you perhaps the greatest blessing the Lord has bestowed upon Elder Olsen and I recently, which was a baptism!
This last Saturday, a wonderful investigator of ours named Nanay Mylene was baptized into the church and I would like to tell you a little about her. Nanay Mylene, like many of the other individuals I have had the privilege of baptizing, is in even more humble circumstances than the average Filipino. Her family is extraordinarily poor, and lives inside of a very humble home that is not even equipped with electricity.
In spite of Nanay Mylene's humble lifestyle though, and the fact that her home is very far away from the church, she has been coming to church every week now for some months. The only reason why we actually found her is because I met her at church when she attended with her less-active parents (now returned). When I inquired as to how she is to able to fund her expensive travel to church every week, she said that she simply saves the little money she gets starting at the beginning of the week and prioritizes her going to church more than the other things she could possibly buy with her money. In her words, she knows that the Lord will give her more blessings through her obedience than she could possibly receive by spending that money on other items they stand in need of. This type of simple faith is prominent in most members of the church here, and it is refreshing to see.
As I have pondered over Nanay Mylene's circumstances, but her determination to be obedient, I couldn't help but think of something Jesus Christ said both to his apostles in the old world, and his twelve disciples on the American continent when he called them to serve missions and leave their possessions behind. He counselled them to "take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (3 Nephi 13: 31-33). Mylene most definitely has lived this counsel in her life and I hope to be able to as well.
While living in the United States has many temporal blessings attached, it is important for us to remember that as well. No matter how busy we may be at work, school, etc., if we put the Lord first he will magnify our abilities and give us strength beyond our own. I have come to realize this more greatly as I have served my mission. As we put the Lord first, everything really does work out.
Have a wonderful week! I will write more next week and send the baptism pictures as well!
Love,
Elder Pulley
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