How much is that doggy in the window?

Kamusta Everybody!

 These past few weeks have been great and also really busy!  I apologize for not sending an email last week.  I was trying to register for school and it took a bit of time last week.

 We’ve had a lot of great things happen in our area! We had stake conference this past weekend and the talks were really good. One of my favorites was by the Stake President. He explained how when we follow the commandments one of the greatest blessings we often receive is spiritual light.  He described what he meant by using the Saviors teachings.  For example, when we obeying the law of tithing He will “open the windows of heaven”, or in Isaiah when it talks about fasting and describes how “our light shall come forth out of darkness”.

 We also have had some success with the less actives in the ward. It has really strengthened my testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon and how even using a really simple verse can help others see how important daily scripture study is. One of the scripture verses that I learned about this week from the Spirit was in 1 Nephi "and my father dwelt in a tent". We were visiting a less active sister and when we complemented her on her nice home she said “no, it’s just really small". We were trying to think of an appropriate message and that scripture came into my mind.  I realized that here on earth we kind of dwell in a tent, or like the sister said in a small house.  Lehi came from a rich home to eventually wander in the wilderness and dwell in a tent.  We came from a rich home in our pre earth life but we all need to wander in the wilderness and dwell in tents (so to speak) to be able to make it to the promised land, or the Celestial kingdom.  As long as we have faith and use the Liahona we have promised blessings ahead of us. 

 This week we also got to visit one of the less actives who are caretakers of a private pool. There is a lot of resorts in our area and most of the area is over a hot springs. We put our hand in the pool and it was really hot! They said that before people can swim they have to leave the water there for 3 days to cool down. What I don’t understand is why our shower in the apartment is still cold...

 I hope everyone has a great week!

 Ingat

  Elder Merrill

"How much is that doggy in the window?" dogs in the Philippines are usually substitutes for a door bell. When you get close to the house they bark. This one even has his own area on the 2nd story!