August 7, 2016

I really did not have much happen this week to be honest. Well a lot happened. But I just failed to take some notes on what to email you all. Sorry its lame. I will say that it was way freakin hot this past week for a few days. When I go out to work I am not sure why but my lower back is just sooooooo sweaty. Geeze its like a swimming pool. I have no clue why.

We will be really busy this week, we have pday today, exchanges with the assistants tomorrow, then meetings on wednesday then exchanges with our district leaders on thursday. So this upcoming week will go by way fast I think then next week is the last week of the transfer which is just crazy how fast that happens.

Wake me up when September ends (so it wont be so hot anymore)

Our progressing investigators are doing well. Especially the Martinez family. THey have been to church many times, but they always where street clothes and I didint want to comment about it to see if they had some more formal clothes because I didint want to make them feel bad. But yesterday the whole family came in wearing church clothes and it was so awesome. I can tell they are really starting to fit in and it is great.

I challenged our Elders Quorum and youngmen yesterday that if they gave us 10 referrals by the end of august I would host a little ice cream party at the church in september. They seemed to get excited about it so hopefully it goes through.

Life is good. There is a possibility that I might get transferred in a couple weeks and get a different leadership position but we will see its about 50/50. No matter where I am or where I will go. I will just do my best and make the best out of everything. Its the only smart thing to do. For me and for others. 

Enjoy these couple pictures

This is for Carter Swift. This is brother Jean Marc. A less active from france that lives in my area

and these are pictures on top of the house of martinez

love you all

July 31, 2016

Magandang hapon mga kapatid, umaasa ako na lahat kayo ay okay lang. Lagi ako nagdarasal para sa inyo. Actually sa tingin ko kailangan ko maging mas magaling sa pagdarasal. Minsan pag gabi talaga sobrang pagod ako so mahirap para sa aking na magdasal. Pero ayos lang. Buhay pa rin. Ang linggo ko ay okay lang. Lagi ko binabasa ang aklat ni moron para palakasin ang aking kaalaman at pananampalataya. Meron kaming isang pamilya na nagsisimba ngayon. Sobrang astig sila. Martinez ang apelyido nila. Yung nanay ay si Jenifer and yung mga anak niya sina Joy, daisy, and Jonathan. Mabibinyagan sila sa august 27.

Mahal ko kayo!

Hello family and friends, 

Hope you all enjoyed a small taste of Tagalog. If you didint really get it, thats okay now you know how I felt the first 5 months of my mission. haha

Things are changing a lot in my area right now and a lot has changed. My new companion Elder Abay is really cool but still kinda hard right now with the adjustment. I feel like I am doing everything by myself haha but I understand because thats kinda how it is when you come into a new area you kinda rely on the last companion to do stuff but I am gunna help Elder Abay this week to start taking on some more zone leader responsibility. Also this next transfer our area will be split into two areas now. So we are gaining another companionship. So our ward will now have 2 sets of missionaries rather than one. I am not sure if I will still be in the area but I most likely will. Things are also taking a weird turn in this area. When I was here with Elder Christensen it was really easy to get lessons and teach and stuff but for some reason there has been a huge 180 and things are getting really difficult haha. I dont get mad or discouraged or anything I just kinda laugh to myself because I know that this is a trial and I gotta figure out how to work through it. But sometimes I do get annoyed, which I need to get better at. But we plan well and we have back ups and stuff but then boom they all fall through! Even our back ups so I just end up like a deer in the headlights not really knowing what to do. THen I get a little frustrated because we have no where to go so we go tracting. Which is not a problem but its kinda of difficult to do here. Then when we go tracting hahahah NOOO body wants to listen to us. (I am not murmuring or complaining I am just explaining) I just think its funny because I am witnessing right before my eyes the things that happens to all missionaries. They are doing awesome and everything goes really well then all of a sudden BOOM 180. Its happening to me right now haha. But thats okay there is always a way to get through it and we will find it.

Right now we have 2 progressing families coming to church. The first is the Martinez family and they are way cool. There is 6 of them that come to church and only 4 can be baptized because of age. But they are loving church and becoming really involved in the ward and getting fellow shipped well. We just have to continue strengthening and teaching them so that when august 27 comes they can be baptized. The other family that we have is a part member family. The mom is a less active and we are teaching her 2 step daughters who are 17 and 9. THey are kinda rich. We teach them down in the rich part of our area. THe 17 year old investigator Carmella is pretty dang golden. She is like the ideal investigator. She is very curious and keeps all our commitments. She told us that before she never really wanted to listen to church stuff or read the bible but when we came and started teaching she gained a big interest and now she even brings her book of mormon to school and she reads during her class haha.

I have been really trying to study the Book of Mormon lately and its hard. Because I dont really know exactly how to "study" it. But I have this guide that I have been using it and I read that with the scriptures and I have been learning a lot. I am really enjoying it. Its kind of amazing how much I did not know before my mission. I was really missing out. I NEVER read the scriptures I was always so so distracted by the things of the world. THat just shows that Satan is getting really good with distracting us. I remember that even when I was preparing for my mission I could barely even read the scriptures let alone understand them and apply them to peoples lives. But now its starting to become more clear to me and I am seeing the connections and the needs and I am understanding so much about how involved these prophets of old were in our daily lives right now. They knew what we needed by the Spirit of God. 

I cant believe its already August haha. Your summer is almost done! I remember back home that 3 months was a long time and that summer would go by kinda fast but there was still a lot of time but here hahaha man here 3 months is soooo quick and you guys are already back in school soon. One more year of school and ill be back baby. Watch out cuz I am comin in HOT!

Yesterday is HISTORY, Tomorrow is a MYSTERY, Today is a GIFT. Thats why it is called the... present...

Enjoy your days. Dont let them go by as a waste. Do something good and worthwhile. I love you all so much!

HUMAYO AT MAGPAKARAMI !!!!!!!!!

So these pics

Something we call a "boodle fight" the green leaves are from a banana tree and you lay down rice and "ulam" (main dish) and you eat with your hands!

Picture of some handsome missionaries before they went to work

Baptism of byron we had a few weeks ago

view of our apartment (random)

July 24, 2016

So this last week we had a really good week. A lot went on with teaching and finding and it was great. We found a lot of great new people to teach. One of which is a cool story. About a month ago Elder Christensen and I were at church and we saw this lady come in with like 2 of her young kids. I was really busy talking to investigators and trying to get them all to the right class that I didint have much time to talk to this lady but I asked her "are you a member?" and she said yes so I said oh great nice to meet you then went quickly back to my investigators. But turns out she is the only member of her family of  5 that are members. After church she was gone and I felt upset that I didint talk to her longer to get her information so we could come teach her and her family. But I thought it was okay because she would just come the next week but she didint. I felt really bad then because I missed my opportunity to teach the gospel to a family ready to hear it. Then the next week she didint come again. Then I just thought well thats it there goes my chance. But I remember I prayed and I asked God to just give me some opportunity to talk to her again to be able to teach her family. THEN last monday we were riding on a jeepney and she got on the jeep!!! I was shocked I was like "ahhhhhhhh, sister sister sister!!! Where do you live????? THen I got her address and now we are teaching her family which is really cool. One really cool experience. Sadly they didint come to church yesterday haha.  We currently have another family right now that we are teaching. The Martinez family. They are progressing really well and they are set to baptized on August 27 which I am really excited for. That will be a happy day. Sister Jennifer is the mom and 3 of her kids will be baptized as well. Sister Jennifers husband died a few years ago and she has 7 kids and 3 right now listen to us right now hopefully we can get the 2 older ones soon and the other 2 younger ones are not old enought to be baptized but they are really awesome. The little kids are so cute. 

Even though I am very lucky to be here in the Philippines with a lot of receptive people the challenge is still there for baptisms. I dont know if I have told you the requirements in the past but in order to be baptized here you have to come to church at least 4 consecutive sundays, if they have a word of wisdom problem, they have to give it up for 4 weeks before baptism, they have to receive all the missionary lessons. There are a few more but yeah its a challenge but it really creates some great converts and they are truly ready for baptism. So when we set baptismal dates for people we have to at least set them 1 month away sometimes even longer if they have word of wisdom or law of chastity problems.

My new comp Elder Abay is really cool. One of the coolest Filipinos I have met in the mission. But he always loses his money hahah just today he lost his wallet. This guy forgets everything hahah gosh, but its okay I am trying to help him I can tell he doesnt really want to be a zone leader, he thinks he is inadequate but I know he can do it. It will just take some time for him to get used to it. 

There are a lot of stressful events going on right now in this area in and zone but its good because it builds character and its never good to get really comfortable in your work, you always want to be striving to get better. Thats exactly what I am doing so thats good. 

This week has started off a little slow because we have had a lot to do with meetings and stuff but starting tomorrow we will start having let distractions and we can go back to teaching and baptizing:) So thats the fun part!

I love and miss all of you!! ALways remember to Piliin ang Tama

I have been really trying to study the Book of Mormon lately and its hard. Because I dont really know exactly how to "study" it. But I have this guide that I have been using it and I read that with the scriptures and I have been learning a lot. I am really enjoying it. Its kind of amazing how much I did not know before my mission. I was really missing out. I NEVER read the scriptures I was always so so distracted by the things of the world. THat just shows that Satan is getting really good with distracting us. I remember that even when I was preparing for my mission I could barely even read the scriptures let alone understand them and apply them to peoples lives. But now its starting to become more clear to me and I am seeing the connections and the needs and I am understanding so much about how involved these prophets of old were in our daily lives right now. They knew what we needed by the Spirit of God. 

I cant believe its already August haha. Your summer is almost done! I remember back home that 3 months was a long time and that summer would go by kinda fast but there was still a lot of time but here hahaha man here 3 months is soooo quick and you guys are already back in school soon. One more year of school and ill be back baby. Watch out cuz I am comin in HOT!

Yesterday is HISTORY, Tomorrow is a MYSTERY, Today is a GIFT. Thats why it is called the... present...

Enjoy your days. Dont let them go by as a waste. Do something good and worthwhile. I love you all so much!

HUMAYO AT MAGPAKARAMI !!!!!!!!!

July 18, 2016

Hey guys, hows it going.

Im not really sure how many people actually read this but hopefully my letters are getting a little better lately.

So this past week was strange. My comp didint actually get here until a couple days after transfers because he was in the hospital getting surgery but he is here now and he is way awesome! Elder Abay from Camerin De Sur Philippines! He is a way funny and fun guy. We have been getting along well these past few days.

I am a little sad right now for my area. Things were going well but they are slowly taking a detour. We had a family that was supposed to be baptized on the 30th but they missed church 2 weeks in a row and now we have to postpone the baptism until the end of August which is a big bummer but its okay that will just give us more time to prepare them for their baptism. Also some of our other investigators arent coming to church much and not really keeping their commitments so it kinda just feels like a stab to the heart because I feel like I am failing as a missionary if my investigators are losing the fire or something. I dont know its just tough. Also finding new investigators has been really hard lately too. It just seems like everyone that we talk to just does not want to listen at all hha. I am not trying to write negatively because I know things will be okay and I believe strongly that I am growing from my experiences but no one ever said you have to love the tough times haha just endure. 

My biggest task right now until the end of my mission is to learn how to love and be meek and not go home with any regrets. So if any of you have any advice on that I would love to hear it. One issue that I have for myself is that I am really hard on myself so I feel like a lot of things are my fault or that I am failing so I am scared that I will go home worried and a failure ahhaah sounds a little harsh but thats what I feel.

We have one really great investigator right now named Vergillo and he is awesome. He has come to church the last 2 weeks and we are helping him get over a smoking problem and he has been progressing! He is a great guy. We are actually teaching his whole family but they are not progressing as well.

I am actually really happy right now I just have some concerns, I am learning a lot and its just a blessing because I am changing a lot so I can become the person I need to be when I come home. Everybody has that point in their mission where they just dont know what to do or whats going to happen and I feel like I have hit that point now haha. But of course I am not close to giving up I am giving it my all everyday. Maybe sometimes I could try harder in some aspects but I am learning along the way.

Sorry if this letter came off as complaining or whining. I dont mean it to be. But things are good and I know things will get better. Missions are weird, awesome, hard, happy and a whole pot of mixed emotions but its the best 2 years of my life:)

July 11, 2016

Wow sooo big change now. Elder Christensen is officially gone. I miss him a lot hahah man it sucks. It will be hard to get another companion like him. He was definitely my favorite. Yesterday was his official last day of work. We had some great lessons with members and recent converts then to finish it off we taught our investigator who was supposed to be last week BUT she cant now because she is in a "live in" situation with her husband which is weird because they have been together for 21 years and they have 2 kids that are 19 and 18 so we just kinda figured that they were married but turns out they arent soo yeah she cant be baptized which is such a huge bummer because she is way ready. Her son is already a member and their family goes to church often. But after we walked out of that lesson it was 8 30 and we started to walk home and I just looked at Elder Christensen and he said "im done, this is weird" That whole walk home was just weird because that was his last lesson of his whole 2 years of his mission. I cant even imagine that when it comes to be my time. It will be weird.

So I have a new companion right now his name is Elder Abay. I dont really know him but I have heard he is cool so I am excited. I am actually really excited to have a Filipino again because now I can start speaking Tagalog as much as I can so I can get better. Having an American comp is really fun but I need to speak Tagalog more so I can keep up my teaching skills. But everything will be awesome. I will miss Elder Chris so much. He was a big part of my mission life. He was my first DL and roommate when I first came in the mission and then my comp for 3 months so I will miss him a lot. But I will see him again. He lives in Perry Utah so not super far from BYU Idaho. He will be going to Utah State this fall.

Well I dont know how much longer I will be here in this area maybe 6 more weeks maybe 12 but either way I will be happy. Just happy to be moving along with my mission and doing my best and baptizing converts. Its a great work. Nothing else like it:)

July 3, 2016

Well this was a great week! Weeks are always great.

Elder Christensen is going home. Its sad. The transition is going to be weird. I will miss him a lot. My next comp has some big shoes to fill.

So the last few days have been pretty awesome. Two days ago we had a great day of lessons and finding some new people to teach. We taught these two guys on the street the other day and it was a great lesson. They were kinda rude though haha the interupted Elder Christensen when he was talking and asked him why his Tagalog wasnt as good as mine and they said probably cuz I had been here longer and chris said no I have been here for one more year then he has and the guys just did not believe him ahah it was rude but Elder Chirstensen is a good sport, he didint care.

So yesterday on sunday, we woke up excited for our sunday! We had a baptism that day for our main guy Clark! We were also excited to go pick up this family of investigators that havent been able to come to church yet so we told them on Saturday we would come get them Sunday morning. So we left our house early and walked all the way to their house! So we got there anndddd.. They said they couldnt come. Man that was a big disappointment. So with weakened spirits and heads down we walked back to the Chapel in the heat of the day but it was okay. We especially got happier when we saw Clark early at church. He actually tried getting his friends to come to church and they didint so he was kinda disappointed as well but we all got happy when we saw eachother and started to fill up the font for his baptism. We actually ended up having 12 investigators at church which was a record for me and Elder Chris. It was awesome and we were so happy to have such a great turn out.

The baptism for Clark was great. It was awesome to have another baptism. Clarks conversion story is soo cool. He started being a little delinquent and turned into someone with such great faith and he will make a great member of the church.

After the baptism Elder Chirs and I hit the streets and started working again. We are working with about 4 families to progress towards baptism right now and one of them is the Martinez family and they are a family of about 8. and 5 are able to get baptized and they are progressing really well right now and I am so excited for that baptism it will be amazing! We are woking hard in this area to get us to the goal of baptizing weekly and I know it can happen.

Love you all thank you for the loveeeeeeee:)

June 26, 2016

Heyyyy everyone!! Thanks for your advice on how to write a letter. I know that I suck at it so I am sorry but hopefully it will get better:)

So last Tuesday we had our Zone Conference. Thats when a couple zones get together and we have an all day conference with workshops and new information and stuff so was cool. We actually have a big change in our mission now. Since it is President Bertins last year (my last year too) He wants to make this year the best year the mission has seen. We focused on the success that has been being had in another mission in the Philippines where most companionships there are baptizing WEEKLY. Yes everyweek they get baptisms. So that is the new goal and big push in our mission right now. To baptize weekly. Me personally I am very excited to start working towards this. If this is gunna happen I am definetly in the right area to do it. We are going to start next week on july 3 with Clark Beltran. He is 19 and he is pretty awesome. He actually had a smoking problem but with the help from us and the Lord he has been able to overcome it and now he will be baptized:))  It took a little while though he has been an investigator for almost 3 months now but he made it!

Last friday we went out to work at 3 oclock after our weekly planning we had set some awesome plans and we knew it was going to be a good week. We went and picked up a ward member who was gunna come work with us and we headed off to our first appointment! But BOOM she wasnt there, but thats okay we had a good back up so went and then BOOM he wasnt there. Then I got a little mad so then we went to try and contact this OYM that we had but then hey guess what.. THey were no where to be found. So then we hiked up our huge hill of an area to contact another OYM, and turned out she was some crazy lady that just talked about how if we just believe we are saved and then tried to teach us so we got out of there. THen unfortunetly, I just lost it and was mad straight up. I shouldnt have gotten mad but I did. But after that things got better so it was okay. But progressively through the night in every appointment I felt my self getting sicker and sicker. Just my body started to ache and my throat getting sore then finally at 9pm we just got home and I passed out on the floor and I was just dead. I still kinda feel it today but thats okay it happens.

Lately I have been kinda getting in a rut. I dont like it. I feel like I almost starting to kinda get maybe a lil lazy and starting to worry to much about myself, but I need to snap out of it. I have found an interest in studying about the priesthood lately and I read a small quote in from Russell M Nelson in the last priesthood session he said something along the lines of " 

I fear that too many have sadly surrendered their agency to the adversary and are saying by their conduct, “I care more about satisfying my own desires than I do about bearing the Savior’s power to bless others.

I love that qoute. I have been pondering it the last few days. Am I caring about satisfying my own desires more than I care about going out and just serving. Maybe I do sometimes. I need to stop that and just forget about myself. So thats my goal this year along with baptizing weekly. I think those two go together.

Well hopefully this letter was better. LOVE YOU GUYS!