The Lord Answers Prayers.

The Lord answers prayers. 

Sometimes He makes us wait a little and sometimes He makes us wait a while and really tests us BUT

He. Always. Answers. Them. 

This week the answers to my prayers were found in a trip to Manila Philippines. I can't say all the details but I can say I saw the Lord place all the right people in mine and mine companion's path this past week for us to get exactly what we needed to continue fulfilling our purpose as missionaries. 

One opportunity was serving at a place called Mabuhay. They do free surgeries for cleft feet and lips. I was able to sing there and translate in Tagalog for all the other white people (side note seeing so many white people again really through me for a loop and I even struggled sometimes speaking in English). Those Filipinos there brightened my whole week with their hope and smiles. 

Another opportunity came to us not once in our week there but seven times. Yes ladies and gentleman I was able to do 7 sessions at the Manila Temple (and one baptism, one confirmation, and one initiatory.)

My companion actually did 9- we took advantage of it because she lives so far from the Temple. One really cool experience was I helped her get all the ordinances done for her mom and her grandma. Then we did the same for another Kirabeti sister who did the ordinances for her mom. 

This last one was....I GOT TO EXPERIENCE TEACHING WITH MY BEST FRIEND!

I sat by Sister Zarbock's side as we taught a new investigator from Gana africa a 1st lesson and committed him to be baptized on the 29th of January. That was so SO cool to testify of what "sister zarbock" taught and then add my own- all through the Holy Ghost. That really is the true teacher anywhere you go!! 

Long story short we attented a christmas program where the Manila Missionaries were singing as a choir and lo and behold I see some long hair and white skin and ask the woman next to me "is there anyway that's sister Zarbock?" She just said wait here and led her to me- yup it was like a movie with running, spinning, hugging, crying, all that drama. My companion said she had never seen that in real life hahaha 

Anyways my spiritual thought this week is about grace. I was able to watch Brad Wilcox's talk on "His Grace is Sufficient" and something I loved was that we don't "earn heaven" we "LEARN heaven". Grace is not the "finishing touch" but the "finisher's touch". We all have times were me make so many mistakes or the same mistake so many times you think you are now unworthy of the Lord's help. We are shy to ask and we quit or hide, or we get discouraged thinking we have to do our best "THEN he will do the rest" and we think we just can't even do our best well enough. We don't understand grace if we think that. The Lord ALREADY paid and he is there every. step. of. the. way. begging us to constantly use him for support and never give up. I have experienced the light and life and love and hope that the atonement of Jesus Christ gives and I can never deny that I know my savior knows me and loves me. This life is tough but we agreed to it right? Nothing easy ever brings much satisfaction, result, or lasting change, This is the time for us to be molded and Heavenly Father and His Son want to help us do it. 

John 3:16 "For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." 

Mahal ko kayo! 

Sister Walters 

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