Day 446 Tacloban, Philippines Come Follow Me

Dear Family,

This was a very eventful week! Both Zone Training Meeting and Zone Conference were incredible. The mission has decided to create one theme to focus on: conversion. Especially through the Book of Mormon. The BOM is the greatest tool we have in becoming fully converted. During ZTM, a few missionaries shared their conversion stories and helped us understand how people need to feel in order to change. We need to feel the Spirit! Here's an idea: try sharing a key moment in your life that helped you deepen your conversion. You can share this on FB or email or in person, but just try looking for missionary opportunities, instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you. :)

Our mission President Maurer emailed us this challenge:

"My challenge is to continue to memorize a scripture from the Book of Mormon each week. Now some of you can memorize more than one. But do at least ONE. As you memorize, look for the principle that can help you, and others in their lives. I would like to learn from you of the learning you find as you internalize the scripture and apply it to your life and teaching experiences."

We were also challenged by our APs to read the promise by Moroni again and regularly ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. This is not something we do once and then just merely remember. We need to continually renew and strengthen our testimony of the Book of Mormon and feel the confirmation of the Holy Ghost time and time again.

In Zone Conference, Sister Maurer gave an incredible training about the law of sacrifice and the law of consecration. The Savior's invitation to "come, take up your cross and follow me" refers to these two laws. We "come" when we give up our worldly desires and possessions, as the young rich man in the book of Mark failed to do. The law of sacrifice prepares us to fully follow the Savior. To consecrate ALL our time, talents, energy, and desires to becoming Christlike. To become heavenly beings. As we do so, we submit our will to God's. And that is the only thing we can truly give!

Sister Robinson and I started reading Brad Wilcox's book: "The Continuous Conversion" during our mealtimes. He explains that heaven is not a prize or reward that the perfect deserve. Rather, it is a future for those who are willing to be made perfect. There are many people these days who demand an undemanding God. They believe in the big bang or higher powers because the big bang and higher powers don't expect anything of us. But they also can't love and help us the way our Heavenly Father can.

I also went on exchanges with Sister Henshaw this past week in Tanauan. And then afterwards we got to work with Sister Maurer in our area!!!! She loved it and had the gift of interpretation of tongues! Sister Robinson and I would speak in Waray2x, and she would jump in right where we left off in English!

We met two of the coolest ladies ever: Trina and Armi, two professional, single ladies in their 50s. We taught them in mixed English and Waray2x and had one of the most powerful lessons about the Restoration. The Spirit was incredibly strong because of their quiet attentiveness. They listened and really desired to know the truth. At the beginning of the lesson, they asked us why they should convert to our religion----what is in our religion that could give them more than they already have? They also asked: what is God's message to us in sending the Typhoon Yolanda? We focused our message on the power of the Book of Mormon. We taught simply, but i can't even explain how deep the Spirit touched our hearts and we talked. It wasn't a chill or a warm feeling, but rather a very deep calm. And as I bore my testimony of how the Book of Mormon has changed my life, they asked me why the Book of Mormon specifically? why not any other book? The Book of Mormon has been preserved for our day. Written for our day. And it contains of the fullness of the everlasting gospel. It testifies of Jesus Christ and what His exact example is. It resolves any concern and leads us down the strait and narrow path.

I've really learned more clearly that there is only one truth. The world would say, "find your own way," "do what's right for you," or "just do what you feel is right," but we know that God is not the author of so much confusion. He would not tell different people to do different things. There can only be one truth and one true church. People first need to understand that before they can accept the message of the Restoration. I know this is the only true Church on earth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains the priesthood power of God as restored through Joseph Smith. I know there is only one way to God. The world would tempt us with a broad and wide path, claiming freedom and happiness lay ahead. But "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be thatfind it." (3 Nephi 14:13)

Love always,
Sister Amanda Smith

P.S. I'm getting my hair rebonded today! (chemically straightened) I've turned into a Filipina: i love straight hair now.