October 2, 2013

We have had a lot of success this week. It seems that every transfer we just fry and grill in the oven of the sun and look for people who might just give us one chance to let us say a word about our message. But, when the sun goes down, that is when we get our real appointments in. We are having a good time teaching our investigators who seem to care! Anyways, as of right now I have just been tired.. more tired than I can ever remember. Really stressed out too, I have big pimples now! haha It is just a lot of pressure on me as a trainer and leading an area. My companion has been really slow at progressing and he would rather sit quietly than give it his all in lessons. It is kind of awkward when I give him a chance to do something and he just... stares at me refusing to do anything. I have really gained a lot of patience this past 6 weeks and I am expecting to gain even more the next 6. Anyways, I learned something about myself and maybe something that can help others. I have really been upset with my companion... we have not been getting along. It finally got to the point where we got into ... a bigger argument. The rest of the day... the spirit was not felt, and I feel like the Lord made sure I did not enter any homes with the attitude we both had. As we walked for a couple hours getting punted from our appointments, the spirit just nagged me. It seemed I didn't want to listen, I knew what he wanted me to do. By the time we got home, I felt miserable, and I knew that I had to humble myself. I built up my courage and me and my comp had a short talk. I started with the most heart felt apology I could muster. It felt like the right thing and I know that is what the spirit was telling me ... I just chose to ignore it. As I apologized, I think his heart was softened too. We had generally gotten along before, but I think both of us had some humbling to do. I see today, many members who have been offended. I clearly saw today the blessing and help of God withdrawn from my work. How can that affect our lives today? We can choose to be offended, but I know that if we just humble ourselves the Lord will provide. I am trying everyday to love my companion, and I see how it can make a big difference in our lives. I invite everyone to be as Christ and let go of hard feelings, forgive others and welcome back blessings that we could really use in our lives. I know that God loves us and he would want us to love each other. I really learned a lot about myself and how to better myself this week in this sense. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

September 22, 2013

This week has been slow, yet we are seeing good results. The family me and my last companion found has been progressing really well. The 13 year old in their family, who has a brain of a 19 year old and looks like she is 16 got baptized. She was way excited and nervous and all but her baptism went way good! Also the family is almost considered return. I had a special experience with them though. We were talking about how we can continue to stay active and build our faith so that we never fall away. Reading, praying, and going to church. They told me about what had happened to them, that they just forgot the little things until they stopped doing everything. But they were so thankful that we showed up at their door. They were so happy and I felt like we were all prepared to be there at this time. I have notice a lot in my life how I have been prepared by the Lord. Preserved for this work and at times I wonder what the heck I am doing here in the Philippines. Than it is times like this when I see that I have played an important role in the lives of others. I know our Father in Heaven is mindful of all. That those who are lost, he is mindful of them. I hope all those are searching for the truth are looking for the ones God has prepared for them. I hope all those who have the truth are searching for ways to be God's instrument in bringing his sheep back to his fold. It has been a great week, but a lot of work has to be done. We are having our struggles, but through struggles comes great reward. 

September 15, 2013

Being a missionary has its ups and downs. It rained a lot again this week. I hate wet shoes! No matter how waterproof your shoes are... they still get wet somehow! haha but it is fun and not super hot! Also, this week we just couldn't get our lessons in. Everyone we seemed to plan for became very busy! So we did a lot of searching for new people. Well basically it was me carrying out a big Fijian kid because he doesn't know how to say anything or do anything. So it is just a overall me against the world kind of mission now a days. It is all good, the Lord will bless me. Anyways, we have a baptism this Saturday which I am very excited for! The Livelo family we have been working really close with is doing great. They are very active now ... well the girls and after the baptism we will focus on the father, and the other non-members who live with them. Lyka was a classic example of someone that was prepared for us, we just happened to stumble upon Flor who in turn lead us to this awesome family that was ready to return to church. I am seeing a lot of fruits from my labors and I am really happy now a days! I am hoping though I can leave with the area flourishing even more! Anyways there is a lot of stuff to do here and I still have one and a half transfers left to do this stuff! So wish me luck! But, as a missionary I have to say, through all the good and the bad that has happened in the mish I know this church is true. I am learning and learning more and more and coming to know for myself even more that Jesus is the Christ and God is our loving Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and the Book of Mormon is True. I want to leave these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

September 2, 2013

Anyways this week was good! I got my new companion and he is a really really really big Fijian. He eats half a loaf of bread each day and ... yeah ... it has been really worrying for me cause I don't want to pay for extra food haha. Anyways He is really nice but he is a brute. He knocks things over ... man yeah he is such an islander! Anyways our area has been ok. We have spent a lot of time this week getting to know the members in our area so that we could start hopefully getting some referrals. Not too much success. But, we got 2 referrals from less actives... so that was good! Less active referrals are always good. Anyways ... yeah getting a those referrals are like a great answer to my prayers we seem to be missing a teaching pool now a days. So hopefully we will work hard and  turn that right around! Besides that we had an incredible Sunday. I had 15 Less Active members show up to church. I was so happy to see them all! It is seriously like .. the best thing when members come to church and especially less actives. When I got to this ward we were only hitting average 80 members, and now we hit 130 last Sunday. So I am pretty stoked I hope things keep going this way. The ward has seemed really excited and so has our Bishopric. So I am expecting good things. Anyways yeah it is stressful training but I like my trainee. He has a way sincere testimony and I love his attitude. He is a testimony to me that missionary work is true. He has only been baptized for about a year, and he is now on a mission. He has tattoos, but they just are small scars from his life before his baptism. I know this work is true. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints changes lives for the better.

August 26, 2013

Anyways this week there was this rain storm and for safety the mission president decided to keep all the missionaries locked up in the houses. It was a miserable two weeks of reading and sleeping. Sounds good but nope it is awful!! Anyways it is the last week of the transfers so we have been saying goodbyes and wrapping up lessons. We have done a lot of work with retaining our recent converts! and I am excited to start finding again. I am also stepping up as a trainer and will be a senior this next transfer so that is exciting for me i guess. Anyways nothing much happened though. This Sunday like I said last week was a repeat of last Sunday. I think our Bishopric is really happy with our work, our sacrament attendance used to be 80 people average now it is 120 average so there definitely have been miracles this week. Anyways next week will be way better with new trainee and new ambitions for this area!

August 18, 2013

Anyways this week has been a wet one. So much rain, it makes working hard. We have had a pretty steady week. We are kind of in a steady pace and it is almost the end of the transfer so not much has happened. I have seen a lot of blessings those from my last 2 transfers here in Mapayapa. We have worked really hard and we are seeing the fruits of our labors. The Esuesta family, who I though would never come back came last week to church  I knew there was still more ahead for them. We weren't able to teach him this week, because he was so busy, but we stopped by Saturday  and he said, "Elders, I am busy, but I will see you at church." I wasn't too sure, so I wasn't expecting much. He showed up to church again with his wife. It was a great sight! He seemed so happy to be back at Church. I was way happy for him! I pray he will make a successful return! Anyways also we had a great time teaching our Part member Family, the Livelo's. They have progressed so much! They have come to church 3 times in a row now! Each time they have stayed for another hour. Our investigator at their home, Sister Lyka is making steps towards baptism so we are really excited. The family too is becoming active again so it has been such a blessing to me to see their success. To think just a month ago we found them because a member saw us taking a break to get a drink. Now they are partaking of the blessings the church offers to them. I know the Lord has poured his blessings over this area and to these people. Anyways, I think our ward is noticing new faces and a new spark for missionary work has kind of spurred over people. The bishopric has gotten excited and I am expecting good things in the coming future! I love missionary work and I love this gospel! It is the best! It is true too and it really brings true happiness.

August 12, 2013

It rains everyday here ... I am always wet... from rain, from sweat, from foreign drippings in weird places! Anyways We had a great week! I was able to baptize my investigator!! Her name is Analyn Sacoco and we worked with them for so long trying to get them married so they could get baptized. Than after that we had to teach her the doctrine really slowly because it was hard for her to remember and understand. She was a trooper though and she reads the Book of Mormon everyday! Anyways it was awesome! We Baptized her and her cousin on August 10. It was a very nice baptism and the spirit was felt! Anyways after that, Sunday. We had an awesome Sunday. They thankfully showed up to church on time and received the Holy Ghost! Now it is onward to temple prep and sealing! I am so excited for them. Also we had so many good fortunes! We had our other 2 progressing investigators show up. Sister Amee showed up with all her kids, she is an awesome investigator. She moved in with one of our families and one day we just showed up and said, "Can we teach?" and she just sat down and listened. She believes everything we have taught her too. Her husband works abroad and she doesn't want to get baptized without his permission. So ... that will be an interesting challenge depending on what kind of person her husband is. So I am praying for miracles there. Also we had our part member family, the Livelo's, show up again. I was nervous they were not going to come again, because it took us 3 weeks to get them to come once. But they showed up and even attended classes afterwards! So we were way excited when they showed up! Sister Lyka has a baptismal date for Sep. 21 so hopefully they continue in this. Last, I consider this one of the greatest blessings of my mission, was the Esuesta family. We have gone so many times to his house and taught him about building our testimony and than overcoming our obstacles to come to church. He has been telling us over and over that he really wants to return, but things keep holding him back. We went once to his house this week and just shared a simple message about renewing our covenants and how important covenants are. I have no idea what changed him, and his wife especially, but they all showed up an hour early to Church!! When I saw them... my mouth dropped! They said, "Look who surprised the Elders today!" I was so happy! It has just been an awesome week. Miracles have happened in these past 10 weeks in Mapayapa. I have suffered many trials here, but now I don't regret any of them. I have seen so many miracles and so many blessings. I am glad I am part of this work! I know that God lives and Jesus is the Christ. I hope for one day that all will receive his Gospel and return to live with our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Anyways fun story, our zone participated in a training activity with the MTC here. We took around new guys who didn't speak Tagalog... yeah ... they were so bad! It made me feel like the smartest kid ever! haha I am way better than the new guys at TAGALOG! YEAH!! haha That is about it...