Sorry I didn't send a group email last week I actually don't know what happened! But I am very excited to send this off this week! A great week!
Well the Magno family came to church!!!!! YA! We tracked them a while ago and they finally came to church! There are 5 of them in their family. So that was awesome! We have been teaching them for a few weeks but one of their daughters was going to school in Bacolod so this week was the first time that she was there and boy! She was just what we needed! We taught her one time and the spirit was very present where she couldn't hold back her tears. After that the family agreed to go to church! Its funny we have been teaching them for a while and this week it finally got to them!!!
So we actually had 8 at church this week and it was an amazing fast and testimony meeting to have them all attend. I wish you could see our ward. If you want to see how the Gospel changes lives you just look at all the members and you can see a difference in them its crazy. I love just sitting on the Piano bench and looking at all the families and listen to their testimonies. There is something special in those fast and testimony meetings which shows my how powerful my calling is and how important the message I get to share!!!!
I also have to tell you about one more family which I just have to tell you are one of the most peculiar family I have ever met! In such a good way! I am going to have a hard time explaining them but they just shine!!! there are 3 girls and 1 boy who is 18! We met them for the first time this week and have taught them twice now! The first lesson we left a Book of Mormon and when we came back they ready all about the introduction and the 3 witnesses and the Testimony of Joseph Smith. All of them! Even the little 9 year old. They are all little geniuses! They are going to progress really fast! Watch out for them in the coming weeks.:) The Cortillio family!!!
So this week was holy week here in the Philippines. If you remember Elder Adams letters they have some crazy traditions. Where they actually crucify people and other things. Its more of a culture thing than anything! I love explaining to people about the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and why we don't have a cross on our church! Because Jesus Christ is alive and leading his church today and is there when we are experiencing a trial. Because he felt everything and know how to help us because he know what if feels like. (Alma 7:11-12) I like the last sentence of verse 12!
This was one of the best weeks of my mission! Felt the spirit more than ever! Its funny I have been sharing the same message for 8 months now and you would think that eventually you would stop feeling the spirit sometimes when you teach because you are so used to saying the same thing over and over. But this week I realized its pretty crazy that even though you say the same thing over and over if you are worthy the spirit will testify again and again that your words are true!
I am jealous that you have already watched conference that will be this Saturday and Sunday for me. So hopefully there are no spoilers in your letters!!! I love you all so so so much. I love my family more than anything. Mom Dad Ben Ryker Brooklyn Easton, and Lexi! You are all very special to me and I just want to thank you for all you have done for me and our wonderful relationship! I love my mission and I love this work. It may be small but when you see the lives that have been blessed from this work you can see how powerful it is!
Love you all!
Elder Jackson Erik Craythorne
