Endure to the end.

Where to even start? This week was another great one! Especially since we have focused ourselves entirely on the work, which has really helped our area to progress! In addition, we have definitely seen God's hand helping to guide us along.

Since we have been here in Iriga, I have been pouring out my soul in prayer for help to find those who God has prepared and have been surprised time and time again as I have seen Him pull through week after week to help us reach our goals.

For example, this week we did everything we could to work hard, be exactly obedient and have faith so that Heavenly Father would provide the way for us to have 10 investigators at church on Sunday. But by the time Saturday came around, and we went around to remind some of our investigators about church the next day, I began to feel discouraged as investigator after investigator started to tell us that they probably wouldn't be able to make it.

Going home that day, I wasn't sure what to think, especially since the days proceeding church (Friday and Saturday) work had been so slow! I just remember walking and walking and walking Friday evening only to be turned down at every single person in our planner after 6:00pm... some in not very nice ways. What added to my discouragement was the rain! Which had not stopped the whole day.

By 8:00pm, I felt so discouraged and wanted more than anything to head home. I felt that we were doing everything to measure up, yet still nothing was happening! We had even skipped lunch earlier that day just to give us more time to make it out to all of our awesome investigators.

But as we stood out in the rain, I started to remember our goals, the help that Heavenly Father has given us in the past and our commitment to follow Him and to put in our all. I know that this is HIS time, so if we just continue to press forward and have faith, then he will bless us.

After that, I just remember myself forcing a smile and we kept going! Doing our best and even being able to find, teach and set a return appointment with a large group of boarders who happened to be studying at a school near by.

On Saturday, we ended up with a similar situation, being turned away house after house. But with the help of the Lord, we were able to continue pressing forward with faith and even managed to come home with a total of 10 awesome lessons for the day!

So as I said about Sunday earlier, I felt anxious, nervous and uncertain about if we could reach our goals this week. But we had faith! And so after a stressful morning of bringing investigators to church, I was a little disappointed when only 2 were able to make it out of everyone we had tried to pick up. But we had faith! And as sacrament meeting started, I felt a surge of joy as three more investigators walked in! I couldn't keep a smile off my face as we partook of the sacrament and went from class to class with them!

I was happy with what God had helped us accomplish but we weren't satisfied and wanted to be able to do more to show our gratitude for everything He has done for us.

So after church, we had faith and headed out for round 2! 

Managing to bring 3 more investigators for the afternoon ward's sacrament meeting!

Going home, I felt so happy and grateful for everything God had done to help us and even more determined to work harder this week in order to make our goals even more possible!

What added to my joy Sunday night was when after church, we visited with some of our first-timers at church to answer their questions and were happy to hear that they had an awesome experience.

I remember at our last appointment, one of our investigators--Joemel--who had come to church earlier told us that after leaving church, he felt lighter and happier. As we taught, he wanted to know what that good feeling was.

Smiling, we told him that was the Holy Ghost, which was our Heavenly Father's way of showing His love for us. And that as we committed to follow Him and to keep His commandments, He has promised that He will leave his spirit (the great comforter) to be with us always.

So let us show our Heavenly Father how grateful we are for Him, His son Jesus Christ, and Their love for us this week by faithfully following the commandments and enduring to the end, because I know that until the end (and after) They will be there to stand by us every step of the way to help us through And Heavenly Father has even given us His Holy Spirit to help prove it.

I hope you all have a great week and don't ever forget how much your Father in Heaven loves you :)

Sincerely,

Sister Matheny