November 4, 2013

Anyways this week has been a struggle we had our schedule all jumbled up because of our P-day and man things were just not going my way. But we have really been on the rescue this week and trying to make sure our Less Actives who have came to church continue coming to church. Our Less active lessons were going great we were really giving them the push and the tools they needed to really make that step to either come or to continue coming. We had a record of 12 Less Actives come to church with a record high in church attendance also. Man what a great Sunday. It could have been perfect, but sadly none of my investigators decided to come. So that was kind of sucky. Anyways this week we witnessed just how God prepares people in strange and mysterious ways. This week we have been just planning and thinking of ways we could find somebody. We have a member who is always looking to bring people to the gospel. His latest were two kids from his neighborhood ages 9 and 10. His plan is as we teach the kids, the parents will hear the message and their hearts will soften. His plan takes a lot of faith, and I figured why try to hinder a mans good efforts. By the way teaching kids and trying to baptize them is the perfect way to make a Less Active, so I try to avoid it, but I figure why not try it. As we continued asking brother to prepare the kids for us, he brought them to Church on Sunday. We talked to them, told them who we were, and to also tell their parents about us and the church. One of the boys went home to his mother, who was an inactive member who baptized into another church. When we found that out we were kind of skeptical. As I walked into her house, I was prepared that night, and so was she. We shared a message on the Restoration, she said she knew that was true, but she asked us that there is one God anyways so why does it matter? I just felt so sure, we simply shared how Christ established his Gospel and that there is only one, and if Joseph Smith truly is a true prophet than we must yield to that. She could not deny that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet, and something seemed to change in her. We left committing her to come to church, which she did. But Bro. Pono was saying something really interesting to me, he said her countenance has changed, as if she were a child or something. She seems more alive and it seems that Gospel is back in her life. I know that God prepared her for us. I know that we were put into her life so that we could help her. I hope that she will always continue and we will surely keep an eye on her. I know that God lives and Loves us. He is always looking out for us and in his own time we will all receive a chance to accept his Gospel. I know these things are true and I leave these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

October 29, 2013

This week has been a a fairly simple week. I have been in this area so long now that things start blending and I forget about what happens. This week though we have been working hard to get people to Church. After last weeks sad turn out I was determined to get people to Church. We spent a big portion of this week stopping by everyone and teaching about why the Sabbath day is important and how we can keep it. I learned a lot by sharing my experiences of when I was not a good keeper of the Sabbath day. I remember before my mission Sunday was just another day. But now I realize that God has given us an expectation, that we give him one day that we can remember his son Jesus Christ and his atonement, and to consecrate the day to him. Sometimes in our everyday lives it is easy to be carried away and forget about the Sabbath day. John Bytheway gave a talk saying that it used to be called the Holy Sabbath, than it turned into just the Sabbath, now it is just Sunday. I think as Latter Day Saints we can all doing something more to remember to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. Something that I taught my investigators was the importance of the Sacrament. As we take the bread and water it is important that we remember the Atonement and also our baptismal covenant. A simple thing that in 10 minutes you receive a renewal of our covenant and a cleansing from the week. How great is that. A cleansing in a sense. Anyways as I shared this message to people my testimony grew so much and I saw it change others. We had great attendance last week and we saw a lot of Less Actives make the change. If we remember why going to Church is important we will see that it become not a chore or a obstacle in our day, but a relief and necessity to our full week. I know that God lives and Jesus is our Savior. I know that This Church is True and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Anyways this week has been a long week. I started to jog .... haha well almost started jogging regularly... but I rolled my ankle on Monday. But I have lost 50 Pounds ... WHOOO HOOOO! Mission's are the best diets!

Halloween in the PHILIPPINES! AND MY COOL SUNLIGHT PIC!

October 14, 2013

This week was really slow. We had transfers and conference so that took out a big portion of our days. I am still going to be here in Mapayapa for 1 more transfer. YAY.... haha it has been a long time, but I really enjoy the members and the success I have seen. I am praying this transfer goes well. Anyways Conference was amazing as always! We had a lot of inspiring messages especially on missionary work! I think today I just want to leave my testimony that the true force of missionary work is behind the faithful members. I have only seen success in the work when we teach with members helping in all steps of the process. I know that it is true what Thomas S. Monson has said this last conference echoing the call. Every Member a missionary. I invite all others to heed the call and help people come unto his Gospel. I can't wait until the Church is the #1 Church in the world, as the Lord Hastens his work here on this earth. I hope everyone takes this message who reads this into their hearts and refers at least 1 friend to the missionaries. I know this gospel is true, I leave these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

October 21, 2013

This week has been a hard week. We had meetings and other interruptions I feel like my area really suffered. Anyways, this week was kind of a bummer. I really wanted to see some of my investigators get baptized before I leave this area. Yesterday on Sunday I was expecting really good attendance, it was a beautiful day and it just felt like today was gonna be a good day. Sadly, none of my investigators showed up and they all fell from their baptismal dates and the next one they can possibly make is after the transfer. I thought about this for a long while, thinking I was not doing something right or maybe I wasn't being a good missionary. Than I remembered something we learned earlier that week. Attitude is a choice. I decided God wasn't punishing me or saying I was a bad missionary. I think he want's me to work harder and do more than what I am already doing. I realized that because I have been in my area for so long I am starting to slack in my finding efforts, I am not opening my mouth and sharing to as much people as I used to. So I take this is a friendly wake up call to me. I am here to serve the Lord. I can't get comfortable with where I am, I need to do more and say more. "Where much is given, Much is required" Maybe this wasn't a very spiritual week. But I know that this Church is true. We must all take the Gospel to all nations. Right now as we speak the World has never seen such efforts. We have so many missionaries out, so let us all share it. The most precious thing we have which is the Gospel. I know that Christ lives and that God is our Father Heaven. I know that Joseph Smith is a True Prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that these things, these simple truths will guide us to the Gospel and to Everlasting life. Which is for everyone. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

October 7, 2013

We have just finished another transfer. Man time is flying! I feel like yesterday the transfer started. Anyways I still have another transfer in Mapayapa! This will make it my 4th and I will be here for 6 months and hopefully that is it! I love the people here and I am happy and have seen so many miracles. But, man it has been a long struggle especially with my comps. I have felt like it was me against the world here, my comps were either unwilling to help, or my greenie right now who is unable and in a way unwilling to, but I have grown so much and now I just want to leave this area the best I can. So this transfer good things are gonna happen. We have recently enlarged our teaching pool. We have found new investigators and we are seeing progress. I had a interesting experience this week. We have this... some what I would say crazy guy who always is telling us things about how Christ is here on Earth as a Filipino and he can't reveal himself because people would kill him again. At that time he was kind of drunk too I think. Anyways ... I thought he was a joke at first, but as we slowly just greeted him friendly and left him things to read he kept asking for more. We would always leave small portions of truth and things were just going well. One day he asked us for a Book of Mormon and we told him we would bring him one. We came back the next day, and we left him a short message on the Book of Mormon. Than out of nowhere I just felt like I should invite him to Church. So I did and he promised he would come. I thought nothing of it until the next day on Sunday.... HE WAS THERE! I knew as an Elder of God I had judged my brother poorly. But, God prepared him and I hadn't noticed but he came. We hope he will take the lessons and keep coming to Church. I don't know what will come of him, but what I have learned is I can't judge people in the streets. All are welcome to the knowledge of the Gospel and we should all do our part to welcome these people. I did a bad thing and judged the guy who I first called crazy. But I think he will be a fun miracle story for me. I know this gospel is True and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.