The power of the Book of Mormon

Hello mga tropa,

This week was unforgettable. We found 33 new investigators including 2 families. The Obaldo family and the Dela Cruz family. Both of these families are great but the Obaldo family is just awesome! They recently moved here from Visayas and don't have any friends, so we were like "Hey we'll be your friends." They have one of the cutest families I've ever seen. Hopefully I'll remember to take a picture of them this week for y'all."

Tatay Wilfredo is progressing at a rapid pace. And we really have nothing to do with it. It is all through the power of the Book of Mormon. We invited him to read it, and he took the invitation seriously. We visited him on Tuesday and he was in Jacob 5. He was pretty confused about the parable of the olive tree. He thought that it meant that the poor and the rich will be separated and that the poor people would be burned. He then asked, "Are only rich people allowed to come to your church?" We then resolved his concern. We went back on Saturday evening to teach him and he had already read to Alma chapter 8. Tatay has been very confused these last 3 months that we've been teaching him about having to be baptized again after being baptized as an infant, and it felt like nothing we shared would make sense to him, even when we explained it as simply as we could. It wasn't until he read the Book of Mormon for himself that he finally understood it. Tatay Wilfredo, without realizing it or without us telling him to, likens the scriptures unto himself. He'll always share experiences with us of how his life relates to those in the Book of Mormon. For example he said, "Wow I kind of feel like Nephi here. My brothers and I never really got along. I hope that we will someday be able to get along." Anyways, Saturday night Tatay wasn't sure if he would be able to go to church because his right arm had swollen up and it hurt to move it. Elder Hall and I gave him a blessing, and during the blessing the Spirit said through me, "The Lord will give you strength to go to church tomorrow." The next day, Wilfredo was the first one there. He walked there himself (he's the one that had a stroke). We sat down in the chapel before church and he just couldn't stop smiling. He threw his arms up in the air and said, "Look! Your blessing worked! I can move my arms!" I am so thankful for this opportunity that I have to witness Our Heavenly Father bless His children in the Philippines. I would have never been able to experience these amazing things if I were not here right now in this beautiful little town of San Narciso.

Alma 26:37
Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

I hope you all have a great week. Enjoy your summer! Don't forget to read your scriptures tonight! Our Heavenly Father loves you and he has a plan for you.