July 28,2019

Family and friends! We're quickly approaching transfer week here in the Philippines Cauayan Mission and my gut is not giving me any clue as to what's going to happen to me - but no worries hymn 270 (I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go) is my answer to that one.

Anyway, it's been a good transfer cycle. I really do love Cabatuan or being close to the bukid (farm). The people here are awesome. I'll share some of my favorite stories with the people here.

We have the Angco family. They're just awesome and they're related to members! We found them while we were contacting. They welcomed us in and want to come to church, but they have a handicapped child. That makes them shy but they're sweet and really understand the lessons. At our last lesson with them they gave us a free pomelo!

We have Sister Lamorena and the Betori family. I say Brother and Sister, but they aren't members yet. I love this family. We also found them contacting. Sister  Lamorena is the daughter of Brother and Sister Betori. They were all taught in the past - and they even went to church before there was an actual meeting house built. The crazy thing is Sister Lamorena is the toughest person ever! Her child and husband died in a car accident where she was the only survivor. In spite of that hardship, she's super sweet. She even gave me soap for my face. 

Then two weeks ago while walking to a lesson a little girl ran up to me and handed me a flower. haha! It really made me so happy and I think the other kids could tell so they all ran up to my companion and I and just gave us a bunch of flowers. haha! It was a cool experience and gave us a little boost.

I really am grateful to be serving a mission and count myself lucky to get to meet people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Spiritual thought: this week I finally took a picture with a sign that I love. The sign says "Say no to drugs yes to God". Initially, I thought it was a true and awesome sign but just not a sign you'd expect to see. Then I thought about this sign some more. Whats the reason people do drugs? To be cool or to be happy, maybe? But true happiness doesn't come through such physical or worldly things. In fact, my mission President said, "Joy is a gift of the spirit that comes from aligning your will with God's will and from knowing that you are on the path that He wants for you". So that addresses one of the reasons people do drugs. But what about being cool? Well, simply how far will being cool get you when your standing face to face with God? My mom once told me that our self worth should come from our relationship with our Father in Heaven. No matter what your drug is, say no to that and yes to God. 

Love and miss you all!

July 19, 2019

Hi family and friends! 

Life here in the Philippines is good. It's still super hot but if people have lived here for decades, I can do it for 18 months. Speaking of which I'm quickly approaching my 1-year mark - but who's counting? 

I had a good week here in Cabatuan. This week I got a new mission president. It was sad to see President Hiatt go but President Craig is awesome! I've felt a renewed sense of commitment to serve. And it's been fun as I've become more comfortable talking to people, which I think is due to the time I've spent here. And even though it’s not the easiest or most enjoyable thing, there is a great sense of happiness that I've received from doing Heavenly Father's work. Which is something I learned on the mission. What is the purpose of our Father in Heaven? In Moses 1:39 it states: This is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men. 

That, too, is currently my purpose and it’s awesome! Another thing I've learned as a missionary is that religion, or the gospel of Jesus Christ, is more than a belief. I've started asking the people I teach why they go to church. I think a lot of people don't realize or understand the purpose of church. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe that the gospel is the plan that God has had for us before the world was created. And the gospel isn't a huge thing, or process. It’s not a hard thing to live. It comes down to the things we are willing to do because of our belief in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. So, simply put, in the gospel of Jesus Christ there are 5 principles, or things, we need to do in order to return to our father in Heaven: have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by someone holding the authority of God, receive the gift of the holy ghost and endure to the end. And central to this plan is Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the light. When we say our prayers, Jesus Christ has told us to pray to the Father in his name. Again, He is the way the truth and the light. Alma 7:11-12 teaches that Jesus suffered the pains and sickness and infirmities of the world. We call Jesus's suffering the atonement. The atonement is all encompassing - Jesus did not just suffer and die for our sins but he suffered and died for all of our pains, our suffering, our trials, lahat (everything). And in Alma it says he did this so that he may know how to succor us. This next part I’ve stolen from my new mission president, but what does succor mean? The closest word in English is to suckle. When a mom suckles her new born child the child receives warmth, nourishment, protection, and love. 

Are any of those things of negative connotation? No. So we should all seek the blessings of the atonement. There are many ways we can receive those blessings. But we know that we are saved by the grace of God after all we can do. My mission president asked what are you willing to do to receive the grace of God? 

Finally, the purpose of church is to remember this great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And is that what’s in our mind as we go to church? As we partake of the sacrament is the role that you played in the suffering of Jesus Christ centered in your mind as you partake of His blood and His flesh? 

This life is so much more with the knowledge of God's plan for us. This life is so much more when we do the will of our Father in Heaven. I'm not close to understanding it all, or following with exactness, but I'm grateful for the knowledge that I do have of it. And I'm glad I chose to serve a mission. 

Thanks for the support! Hope all is well!

Sister Crawford