Hello!
-I got a package this week. Thanks! Especially for the small Books of Mormon...I'm going to give one to my ZL later on our exchanges and the other two to the Sisters in my District. Would you mind sending one or two every so often? Missionaries kill for them, they're the best!
-I got letters from Elder Tenny, Elder Heap, Dad, and Christopher!!!
-This is a very strange request, but can you keep things for me to remember the Mitt '12 run? That's kind of strange but this may only happen once and I'd love to look at it when I get home. Maybe even save a t-shirt for me? Thanks!!
-Awesome story about Jean Counts (Oakton Girls LAX coach is from the Philippines)!
-iPhone 4GS Mom???? Wow, Dad really is the only husband on the face of the Earth that would give his wife the 4GS when she offered to take his old iPhone. “No man hath greater love than this! “
Well it was a pretty good and of course challenging week. But when it's coconut season and I'm drinking coconut milk, I can't really complain! But in all honesty it's been another challenging week. We are continuing to work with the Less-Active members, and even found a few new promising investigators. It's been very very hot here. I honestly am holding the microfiber towel in my hand from 12 noon until 9:30 at night! Good call mom!!! I wash them every week. Also as to the apartment, it's nice but small. I'll try and get some pictures next week.
This week I felt prompted to teach in District Meeting about Christ like Attributes. I've really come to realize, we are preparing people to return to their literal father. We as their brothers and sisters have a duty to help them. I'm sure we all know what it's like to have a family member stray, and the desire we have to help them make things right. We are helping God's literal children return to their father and experience the joy he does for eternity. The stakes are too high to give up easily!
This week we were having dinner at a little place close to our house. As we were eating two gay men starting talking to us, and one of them told us he was a member of the church! He's originally from Antipolo, and was baptized with his whole family around the age of 12. We went to seminary, advanced through the Aaronic Priesthood, and was ordained a Priest. When he was 18, he started to stray, got into substance abuse and starting living his current lifestyle. He even recited the Articles of Faith!!! As we talked to him, he told us how he'd moved to Cuenca and has little contact with his family. He said he wants to come back, but feels like people will judge him and ridicule him. He said "I know the church is true, but I'm just not sure how to come back. We gave him a Book of Mormon and set a return appointment. As we were walking home I started to think about this 22 year old young man. It is truly a miracle that we found him, and it really was a testimony to me that the Savior knows his sheep. He knows where they are, and none are lost to him. I started to tear up as I thought that this was probably the answer to many prayers that this young man would get in contact with the missionaries. The predicament this young man has is one that many experience. They know the Gospel is true, but they feel that they've done too much, for too long, and that there is no way to return. I thought of yet again another Elder Holland quote:
"To all of you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, this conference calls out Jehovah’s unrelenting refrain, “[My] hand is stretched out still.” “I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them,” He said, “[and even if they] deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, … if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.”
I testify that the Savior's hand is stretched out. If we will just reach out, he will rescue us, he will save us. One of the Area Goals in the Philippines is that every member rescue one Less-Active this year. I challenge you to do the same, whether it's Less-Active, or a friend, or whoever. Alluding again to the song "Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy", He is the light! He is the light that will guide us to safety! If we will just exercise that particle of faith and follow him. There is a Less-Active family here that has a poster in their house that says: "Susundin ko siya nang may pananampalataya." Meaning, I'll following him with faith. The Lord knows his sheep. He always prepares a way for his sheep to be rescued. He knows best, especially in terms of time. If we will be patient, continue in pray for those who may have wandered, and reach out our hand to help as the Savior is always doing, there's always "some poor fainting, struggling seaman, you may rescue, you may save."
Love,
Elder Yost
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