Sister Healey's Adventure in the Philippines: We are never alone in our trials!

Maupay na Odto!!

Hello everyone!! Kamusta kamo ngatanan? Iyo Semana? Nakabulig ba kam ha eba na tawo? This past week has felt SO great being back at work. I am still not up to the strength or energy level I was before, but I'm back and it's great. :) Catbalogan is currently preparing for Fiesta so the people are busy and there are decorations everywhere!

Even with that, we still had a Baptism this last Saturday!!! Sister Riza Carcellar!! She is sooo good! Her faith and testimony builds mine even stronger. I am so blessed to have been able to see how the gospel and Atonement of Jesus Christ has changed her and her life. When I first transferred here to Catbalogan 3 months ago she was still a fairly new investigator, but now she has followed the example of Jesus Christ and has been baptized by the proper authority. She was literally glowing after her baptism on Saturday and on Sunday as she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's so amazing being a missionary. :)

This past Thursday, August 11, was Samar (Pronounced like "summer") day!! We celebrated the island we are on right now. Sister Prudy wore her Samar T-shirt all day and even though we missed the parade, we saw the fireworks that night. It was fun. :) #SamarDay2016

We also had 2 exchanges this week and got back to visiting all the people. We were worried about them because we didn't have work for over a week (because we were in Tacloban and the Divine Word Hospital) but they were all ok! In fact, while we were gone, 2 of our investigators downloaded and watched the Restoration Movie about Joseph Smith!! It was so great!!

https://youtu.be/1xVw6PsSinI (Click to watch)

This past week has been exhausting but I am so happy that I am here serving the Lord. I know that we are never alone. Being in that hospital and not being able to work was really hard for me. I felt kind of useless and helpless, but I know that I was not alone in the pain I was going through. We are never alone. Prayer is so powerful and Heavenly Father really listens to all of our prayers. I was able to make it through and now I'm back doing the Lord's work, doing my best to serve Him with this little time I have been blessed with.

Time is so short, we should make the most of it. Look at the positive and remember that we are never alone. I just wanted to share this Footprints in the sand Poem again because I love it so much. <3

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."