Week of April 17, 2017

Dear friends and family,

Happy Easter! I hope that all of your Easter egg hunts, meals, and church services have been a success! On my end of the world, it has been a wonderful opportunity to serve as a missionary for yet another Easter, and I am pleased to share some of the wonderful experiences I had this last week!

As I think over all of the things that happened last week (including transfers and all the meetings that go with it), two things come to mind that I feel fit to mention today. The first has to do with what I have been studying this last week. After transfer day, it finally occurred to me as to how close Easter day was to arriving. As I thought about what I could do to make Easter a little more special this year, my mind was prompted to change the focus of my studies. Instead of reading about other topics this last week, I decided to study Holy Week in depth and study each of the things Christ did preceding His death and resurrection. I used each of the four Gospels, and with the aide of Jesus the Christ I have had some of the best studies I have had in quite a long time. Truly, I find it a delight to read about Christ's life and all the wonderful things He did. I could not help but shed a couple of tears as I read about His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His voluntary death, etc. I love the Lord, and feel it such a privilege that we have so many resources in which we can learn about Him, and ultimately become more like Him.

With the aide of my extraordinary studies, our work this last week in our area was also exceptional, which leads me to my second experience that I am delighted to share with you. This last week, Elder Olsen and I returned to a particular area that we hadn't been to in a long time. We planned on visiting some members, but when we went to the home that we planned on visiting, they weren't there. After that, I felt prompted to visit one of our previous progressing investigators, who has shown a lack of interest and even hid from us in recent months. I felt apprehensive to be honest about going to her house, but I felt strongly that we needed to go. Upon arrival at her home, we ended up being accepted graciously for which I must admit surprised me. The Spirit led us to teach a wonderful lesson about repentance, and at the end of the lesson, she expressed something to us that I may never forget. The woman recounted that previously that day, she had been trying to find a quiet place in which she could pray (it had been a while since she had done so), and finally did so in the morning. That morning, she prayed to the Lord that she might find more happiness in her life. On that very day, just a few hours later, we arrived at her doorstep. She attributed our arrival as to being an answer to her prayer. What a privilege it was to witness another modern day miracle!

All I can say is that I love being a missionary and I love serving the Lord in the capacity that I do. I know that He lives, and I know He is aware of each of our circumstances, no matter how insignificant we may consider ourselves to be. And, ultimately I know that he suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and was resurrected for all of us collectively but also for each of us individually.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Pulley 

Elders Olsen and Pulley with newly reporting Cauayan Elders

Week of April 10, 2017

Dear friends and family,

Last week was a wonderful experience just as all weeks in a mission tend to be! Elder Olsen and I were busy in preparing for our mission leadership council meeting, transfers, and of course watching General Conference! I am happy to share a few of the wonderful miracles I witnessed this last week as I went about my work. As I ponder over my work this last week, one experience comes to mind that gave me an even stronger testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost, and being led by the Lord.

Many months ago, Elder Saez and I met a wonderful woman in one of our further areas named Nanay  Mauricio. Nanay is an intelligent woman, and has spent most of her adult life working in various countries as a household helper. Elder Saez and I were blessed to meet her on one of her one month vacation trips home last December, and we taught her one or two times. After teaching her only one time, Nanay made the long journey to church the following Sunday for which we were pleasantly surprised. That very afternoon however that she went to church, she traveled down to Manila in order to return to her profession in the middle-east. From that day until this last week, I hadn't seen her and assumed I never would see her again.

However, this last week, Elder Olsen and I went to Nanay Mauricio's neighborhood to visit one of her returning less-active neighbors. As it turned out, we parked our vehicle in a different location than usual, which required us to walk past Nanay Mauricio's home in order to make it to our intended destination. As we did so, the Spirit prompted me to stop walking and look towards the woman's home. Right when I turned and looked, Nanay walked out of her house. After we sat down with her (and her whole family this time) she explained that she had just arrived from being out of the country the night before. She had not even been home for 24 hours.

Now, Nanay still plans on returning to work until her retirement in September, but I know it is no coincidence that I was able to come into contact with her. It was just another testament to me that the Lord really does lead my companion and I in our work.

 One thing I have considered thoroughly throughout the course of my mission is how one knows if the Lord is leading him/her. But, after careful consideration (along with the help of Elder Bednar's inspired words), I have come to conclude that if one is obedient to the commandments of God, partakes of the Sacrament worthily, and desires to be led, it will happen. We may not know it, but as Elder Bednar made clear to us when he visited, "Don't worry about it!". As we do what we know is right, we can stand back with confidence knowing that we are bound to meet the people we are meant to talk to, acquire the jobs we are meant to obtain, and ultimately fulfill our foreordained mission in life. What a blessing it has been to come to that realization!

Last week, as I also mentioned, I was privileged to watch General Conference and it was a wonderful experience. I feel that my soul has been reenergized with Spiritual light. Whenever I hear the words of the prophets, it just bears testimony to me of the truthfulness of what I teach everyday. I have no doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that Jesus Christ lives. I feel it a great privilege to know of the things that I do and to share it.

Love,

Elder Pulley

MLC Meeting

MLC Meeting

Lunch between Conference Sessions - wow that's a lot of rice

Elders Pulley and Olsen with RM Elder Antenorcurz visiting

Week of April 3, 2017

Dear friends and family,

This last week was full of adventures and blessings that I am enthused to share with you! The Lord has continued to bless me with opportunities to learn for which I will never forget.

This last week, Elder Olsen and I were blessed to travel to Lagawe (one of the most beautiful and secluded areas in the mission (pictures below) and work with the missionaries there. It was an absolute privilege to enjoy the natural beauty and to help the missionaries in that area in the fulfillment of their calling. I not only feel it a privilege to be a missionary, but also to be one in the position of helping others. It truly is a wonderful feeling to help other missionaries in their efforts to serve the Lord.

Aside from that, and for the sake of time, there is one more experience I would like to share with you. Over eight months ago, when I was first assigned in Cauayan, I was companions with Elder Posadas as housing elders. On our first day together as companions, I distinctly remember going to one of our recent convert's homes for the first time. This recent convert's name is Evangeline and she is about 17 years old. As we sat down together those eight months together and as we discussed her progression in the gospel, she expressed some desires to me that I won't forget. On that day, she told me of her great wish that her mother could also experience the blessings and the happiness that she was as a member of the church, but that she would not. 

After hearing her concerns and her heartfelt, righteous desires, I made her a promise. I told Evangeline that if she would pray with all her heart and that if she would do her best to be a living example to her mother of righteous living, that her mother would eventually join the church. Right before I left that area six months ago, her mother went through some very humbling experiences in her life and began to take lessons from us. I only taught her about two times though before I left. 

Last Friday however, Elder Ambaliza (now serving in my previous area) called me and asked me if I could go to their area and conduct a baptismal interview. When I inquired as to who was going to be interviewed, he responded that it was Evangeline's mother. So, last Saturday, I sat down with Jovelyn (the woman who will be baptized) and had one of the most spiritual baptismal interviews I have ever had. Just in the short six months I had not seen this woman, her demeanor and perspective had totally changed, and the Spirit of the Lord was with us in great abundance as we spoke together. It was evident how ready she is to be baptized.

What a privilege it really is to see my promise, inspired by the Holy Ghost, fulfilled within just six short months. Truly, the Lord does perform miracles in our day.

I love being a missionary!

Love,

Elder Pulley