Because He Lives

Dear family, 

AR
      So let's start out this email with Ar and how he is progressing. BECAUSE HE IS! 
     He came to church the second week in a row yesterday. We taught him the Word of Wisdom the night before and committed him to live it. I pray and pray and pray that he will be clean and that he will be able to overcome his temptations. Please pray for him. His baptism can and WILL happen and my companion and I believe in him. 
     I've been in the field four months now and I KNOW that there is a power greater than the missionaries that changes the lives of these people. Lives that were once empty, lost, and angry...change. People change. Ar can change. Ar will change. Please pray for him. Please, please, please. Later tonight we are holding an FHE at his house and have invited a bunch of YSAs/SAs to come. Hopefully they will be able to establish friendships of sorts! We want Ar to be converted to the gospel, not to the missionaries. Once we leave, ain't nothing going to help him except his Savior. He needs to understand that. There's some more ways for him to go but I BELIEVE! 


MY THIRD COMPANION 
     Sister Quilicot! She is from Bohol. She speaks Bisayan, like Sister Himarangan did. She is little but she is a ball of FIRE! She works so hard, is so diligent, loves these people naturally, is so humble, is so kind, is so patient...man, she basically has every single Christlike attribute that I can think of! I am SO excited to get to spend my last six weeks on Palawan, with HER! She is going to do so well with this area, I know it. I am so relieved to know that Santa Monica C will be in good hands when I leave! I trust her. She is AMAZING. 
     I feel like I say that about all my companions- which is true, they are amazing- but Sister Quilicot is REALLY amazing! I had actually met her the first day that we went to the mission home, right out of the MTC. She was training one of the sisters in my batch, Sister Dewan. So basically I'd already talked with her that first day and I already liked her back then! It's so much easier to love her right now! I know that I will learn so much from her. 


HOT, HOT, HOT
     I can't even, guys. It is SO HOT HERE. I don't think I have ever sweat this much in my entire life. God definitely knows how to "refine" his children because this past week we have had our electricity cut a couple of times, meaning no electric fans, meaning it's hot in the apartment, meaning...I am definitely living outside of my comfort zone. I remember thinking to myself this week, "I'm not sure if I want to laugh or to cry at my plight." For real. 
     Sometimes I can't make up my mind if I want to laugh or cry. Most of the times I think I want to cry. I cannot believe how much of the world lives without the luxuries of life that we all enjoy. We are so blessed. Let's not forget to count our blessings! 


"YOU'VE BEEN ON PALAWAN, ALRIGHT"
     Yup. This week I was officially told that I look like a Palawan missionary. Sister Quilicot, she saw me that first day, fresh out of the MTC. Still fair-skinned, still prim and proper. Now...probably a jungle-girl of sorts. My legs are scarred with mosquito and ant bites, my skin is so tanned I cannot even believe it...well! At least you know that I've been working here! That's got to be a good sign! 


#BECAUSEHELIVES
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Easter is coming up. SPREAD THE WORD: #BECAUSEHELIVES. Mom, Dad, maybe....just....just...let Gladys and Krystal worry about the hashtags and social media efforts :) But yes! Gladys. Krystal. #BECAUSEHELIVES. This is a big initiative that the Church is putting out and I'm not sure if you guys know about it already. But on Apr 5 there will be a YouTube takeover and the video will be on the front page. SPREAD THE WORD! The video is SO great. Can't tell you how much I adore our church because we're pretty hip and cool with social media things. ETHER! Remember when we realized that they had placed the video on Youtube last Easter? Remember when we saw that? That was one year ago! And now they are out with a new one!

     Because He lives, I know that my every prayer is heard. Because He lives, I know that I have strength beyond my own to help me throughout this mission. Because He lives, I KNOW that the lives of these people that I love can change. Because He lives, I have hope for their future. Because He lives, I too will live after this life. And I will have my family with me. Because He lives, I live.


     I love you all so very much. Keep the Savior in your hearts this week. Prepare yourself for General Conference, too! Also, side note: SIX MORE WEEKS UNTIL MOTHER'S DAY, MEANING SIX MORE WEEKS UNTIL WE GET TO SKYPE CALL!


With love,
Sister Teo