Day 460 Tacloban, Philippines Restoration of the covenant people

Dearest family in the whole wide world,

We went hiking this morning as a zone in the bukid and it started raining! we got soaked!!! but then i boiled some water for my bucket shower so then it was ok. I forgot how nice warm showers are. .. 

This week during companionship study, Sister Robinson and I evaluated each other using a form we use to evaluate other sisters after we conduct exchanges. She asked me what is the biggest way i've changed on my mission so far. I'm not sure exactly how i've changed. Some days I feel like I haven't changed at all. But i think I've changed the most in my humility, my relationships, and my desire to reach outwards. I'm realizing what a prideful person I am and how to more be real. And also how to improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father. How to have real conversations with Him. Also, before the mission I was more content to just live my happy little life. But now I have recognized the need to become an example and a leader. I need to reach out and help others more. I have not been blessed for myself alone. What have you been able to notice about ways I've changed? Can you tell?

Sister Robinson and I have now been able to make our area the model area. The sisters really enjoy taking turns coming to our area to work (during exchanges, both areas get worked in). We've been having a lot of success with referrals from the members. We work almost strictly through referrals! As a result, we've been able to find investigators with fellowshippers already available and excited. We recently found a whole family of former investigators who attended the baptism and also came to church!

I've been studying the Book of Mormon a lot lately and I am touched by the Savior's testimony of the Book of Mormon in the Doctrine and Covenants. I am beginning to feel more and more the reality of the Restoration. As Dieter F. Uchtdorf says, we cannot sleep through the Restoration. "The Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now." Also, in 2 Nephi 30:5,8 we read of the restoration of God's people. The Restoration is not just about the priesthood or the church organization, but includes the covenant people. We are to restore the house of Israel through missionary work. Everytime we bring someone closer to Christ, we are sharing in the work of the Restoration. This was exemplified in an experience we had this past weekend. We met with an inactive member who was baptized only 5 years ago. Her live-in partner of 3 years in a non-member. We were able to share with them both about the Plan of Salvation and tied it into the Restoration. The member looked at the pamphlet for a while after the lesson and then told us that now is the time of HER restoration (Panunumbalik in Tagalog) of going to church. And sure enough, she showed up at church by herself the next day!

I'm so grateful to be serving during this day and age where we all get to participate in preparing the world for the return of our Savior. (although, Sister Robinson and i have been studying from the Old Testament Institute manual about the battle of Mog and Armageddon and we all need to bolster our faith for that day. . . .)

Love always,

Sister Smith

trying to kiss a piggy (joke lang, not really)

view of the rice fields and stuff (near Tanauan)