Pinakamatamis na bunga

The "sweetest fruit" is the direct translation. My reference is to Lehi's dream, and the joy of the gospel and sharing it with others. This week has been really happy. We had the privilege of doing MTC exchanges again. This time my two companions were from Taiwan. When we rode to the area from the chapel on a tricycle, one of them was cheering as if we were on a roller coaster. It was delightful. But the missionaries fresh from the MTC have such strong spirits, and they showed a sincere love for people they are only going to meet once. It was amazing. 

Sister Sarmiento and I had some great lessons together, too.We have one investigator who was found by the OYM (open your mouth) efforts of Sister Sarmiento and her previous companion. Helen's heart is in the the right place, and she is intent on learning more. She always has lots of sincere questions to help her understanding, and so when we taught her about the Book of Mormon every question she had led to the next paragraph of the Introduction. It was amazing. We had great discussion and a quality fellowshipper present that bore powerful testimony. She came to church for the first time and brought her teenage daughter!

We had a significant number of less actives come to church, too, and that number is not because of Sister Sarmiento and I. It was the efforts of this ward I am in. They are really amazing. It was ward conference, and they wanted everyone to be there. They passed out visiting teaching assignments in Relief Society the Sunday before and asked them to contact them within the week. Then the Elders Quorum met together on Saturday night and they went out in pairs to pass out new and returning member progress sheets, and invite the less actives to conference. And then they came! I know the home teaching and visiting teaching program are inspired of Heavenly Father, and that really is the key to bringing back and holding on to our kapatid in the gospel. Now it's just getting that kind of effort and excitement every Sunday. Sister Sarmiento and I talked about every Sunday being a special Sunday and trying to be enthusiastic in our invitations every week. Because every Sunday is special. We get to participate in the ordinance of sacrament, and become clean. It's refreshing.

I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and the only way back to our Heavenly Father. I know there is an exquisite joy that comes from it and from sharing it that cannot be found anywhere else or in doing anything else. Sinabi ng mission president ko, "We have nothing to apologize for or to be ashamed of [in representing Jesus Christ]."

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Cope