Papaya Pickles

Family and Friends,

Crying Baby. Crying Carabaw. They both lost their mother.

Wow!! What an awesome week!! Our attendance in Minoyan was 73, higher than Murcia... our mother unit!! Wow! We had 17 investigators at church. What evidence that the Lord truly is hastening his work! The field is white and needs to be harvested! I am so excited to be in this area. What a blessing! Elder Aro and I are just working hard.. he is awesome! Him and I are just focused on the vision and what a miracle that is! 

I ate stingray this week... and yes it was fresh out of the ocean...and yes it had fresh coconut mixed in with the sauce.. and yes it was the most amazing thing i have eaten on my mission. haha.

Life is a challenge. Even after great breakthroughs in our lives... Satan returns. Even.. when just hours after your confirmation into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you crash your motorcycle. Don't worry... he is okay, and he is still as faithful as ever... I thank the heavens he was wearing a helmet. The man is a boss... wait til you see pictures... he is the bulkiest Filipino you have ever met... and i got to baptize him! I was working out so hard this week so that i could pull him out of the water. haha! I went halfway down in the water with him... but i got it on the first try!! haha

I love the scriptures. Especially Preach My Gospel. I love what is taught to us in 2 Nephi 24:13. It reads... "For thou hast said in thy heart..." The reference here is of Satan's desire to be exalted above God himself.... of course a terrible and detrimental sin. Of course... we never choose or even desire to be above God, but I have been pondering a lot about the "desires of our hearts". What are you working for? I like the connection found on page 1 of Preach My Gospel. "The gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith will bless their families, meet their spiritual needs, and help them fulfill their deepest desires." Hmm... the gospel helps us to 'fulfill our deepest desires'. I believe in that. I believe that as we apply the gospel it enhances all aspects of our lives.

Wait... how was your scripture reading this week? What did you learn? I pray that you kept my invitation to you.

D&C 50:40. Read it.

Po.

Ps.... my new convert.. the father.. he just bought a new fishing boat (yes he is a fisherman)... um... the name for his new boat.. 'Moroni' #righteousfishfinder

I love you all so much!!

Palangga,

Elder Stagg