BINYAG NI VANESSA (BAPTISM)

Kamusta ka na?

It's More Fun in the Philippines:

- Transfer Day today, but Elder Hart-Stephens and I will be together for another 6 weeks!! WOOOOHOOOO!

- March 23, 2019 was the baptism of 21 year old Vanessa Lorejas. We originally found her six weeks ago as we were walking down a dirt path. We began sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her, and she began attending church, institute (church classes), and even the ward choir. Many people thought she was already a baptized member of the church because she was not shy at all. She was reading the Book of Mormon, and her testimony of Jesus Christ grew exceedingly quickly. This past week she was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I am so happy for her, because I know how important this message is. I have seen it change the lives of so many people. She notices the daily changes in her life, and now she desires to serve a mission in order to help others experience this change too!

Here is a crazy story of a man I met: At 9 years old, JR Castillo, ran away from his home in Mindanao Philippines and headed for Manila (different island). He made his way onto a boat and begged day to day for food and transportation. When he arrived near Manila he ended up working construction, and lived on his own. One day two men walked up to him dressed in white shirts and ties, they were missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They helped JR get back up on his feet as he was really struggling. JR began attending church, and not long after he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. A few years later he decided to leave home again, only this time he would be sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a Missionary. Years later he became a branch president, got married, and now supports his wife and two kids as a landscaper. In his words, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news around, and everyone in the world needs to hear it. Try to imagine where JR would be right now if he had not found the church...  

Elder Hemmert