5-12-2025 CONVICTION

Huuuiii welina mai me ke aloha!! Another great week as a missionary! The Lord taught me a lot this past week, in which I am so grateful. It's also mother's day, in which I am eternally grateful for the BEST mother in the world. Always has been, always will be. I could share for hours, the stories with my mom, what I learned from her example, and what it has done to inspire me, but I hope you know mom, that I love you so much. You truly are the best! Another great week a missionary! Successes happened as Elder Johnson and I, tried making a new focus, of working in a way that the Lord could trust his children with us. Focusing on listening carefully and following promptings, and we were able to see miracles! One of our new members, baptized last month, is a little rough still around the edges, swears every lesson, gave a testimony at her baptism of how she was a strong member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church, and didn't care what people thought of her, and simply, just new. BUT, no one, can find and invite better than her. Running into her on the road, while buying buko juice, she asked where we came from, then turned immediately to the old man pushing his cart selling his Buko Juice. I've talked to him before, but the normal excuse of busy made our last interaction short a few months ago. Sister Evangeline, turned to him, introducing us to him and asking when we could visit. He ducked his eyes under his hat and said he's busy. She asked what his free time is... he said he doesn't have any... she asked if he goes home to sleep or just walks all night long, and he answered of course he goes home to sleep... she asked what time... he said hes busy, and tried to close his cooler to move on. She took the cover away saying she wouldn't give it back, until he said what time hed get home. He ducked his eyes again.. she picked his chin and told him to tell her. Were gonna be quick! What time!? She exclaimed, 7 he answered.. but ducked his head again with it only getting picked again, TIGNAN MO AKO (Look at me) she said... and asked where he lived. She said we're going to go, he pointed and explained where and she told him wed be there at 7. That night, she met us there at 7, and realized that tay wasn't as much not interested in us, but felt that we wouldnt fit in his very small house. She said were here for you, not your home, and we were able to share. She picked him up and walked him to Church on Sunday, and tatay Cirilo sat with a smile in his first Sacrament meeting. The key word behind this story is conviction. Evangeline is convicted, that what she now knows will help tay. We found out he's alone, from Mindinao, and has no family! While teaching his aura changes, he smiled, even though Evangeline was climbing walls during the lesson, because of her conviction, we were able to be there. Tay was able to come to church. Tay experienced miracles. I love this work, I feel my own conviction doubled with this experience, asking the Lord what I can do more, to continue growing my conviction in this beautiful work. Jahs trahs, dis is true, I've seen it, and nothing can take that from me. Leave that testimony, and my conviction in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ELDER ISHIBASHI