Busy and HOT!

Week 74

25 April 2016

This week was a good week.  We had not much success in terms of work, but I was happy as, doing what I had to do, sharing and visiting to members.

Yesterday we had no investigators at church for a while, and I sat there contemplating about what I could do this next week, when I looked out the window and saw an investigator that we hadn't been able to teach for at least a month, walk through the door! We talked to him after church, as he attended all the class, and he has a desire to be baptized, albeit a small one for now, he would like to be baptized, and as we teach him and he continues to attend church, the desire will only become stronger! Miracle for sure, seeing him walk through the door.

This week not too much is planned that's out of the ordinary - we only have work, work, and more work so looking forward to getting into it. We have some goals this transfer, so it's only going to happen if we work harder than we did this transfer. 

Nothing out of the ordinary, just work! Even though it's 40 degrees every day....

HAPPY!

Week 73

18 April 2016

This week was really enjoyable. Despite all the trials, disappointment, and rejection we got this week, I couldn't have been happier. It was weird, I was smiling at people who rejected and just generally enjoying myself. I don't know what it was, but I loved it. I felt like I was on top of the world, and nothing could bring me down. No matter how much I got rejected, I felt happy knowing I was assisting God in His work, and sharing His message.

Like I said, we got tonnes of disappointment and a lot of appointments fell through. The amount of fallen through appointments was insane! I think we had 4 or 5 appointments fall through every day, it was crazy. We weren't able to teach a lot of our investigators because they weren't home, or they were too busy, but whatever, we just decided to go tracting. 

Little success in the tracting, but that's mission life, and I really enjoyed being out there in the 39-40 degree sun, having my skin cooked alive while out there, and sweating up a swimming pool. I have to wash at least 3 times a day now because it's just way too hot!

The highlights of my week was definitely getting fed by members every single night except Wednesday night. Even though the food was simple, the members willingness to feed us is crazy. They know they'll be blessed for feeding us, so I guess I can't deny them the blessings, so I eat, and get blessed with a free feed. Works well for both sides I guess!

This week is transfer week, and neither of us are transferred, which is good because I don't like transfer day distractions. Takes too much effort and takes a lot of time out of work because of how long some missionaries travel. 

Hoping to get some work done, and find more people to teach. Some investigators just aren't progressing, and I need to find people who are willing to take a leap of faith in the message of the Restoration, and ask God if it's true - HE DON'T LIE.

Anyway, other than that, all is going well, and couldn't be happier.

General Conference Week

Week 72

11 April 2016

The week was a good one, but what week isn't good here in the field. It was definitely good to be topped off with General Conference, listening to the Prophet, Apostles, and other General Authorities give some good talks about things we can all improve on. 

There was so many talks that I liked, and I really enjoyed every session. I took tonnes of notes of things that came into my head as I was listening to the speakers.

Other stuff that happened this week, we had our monthly Zone Training Meeting. It was good to get together with the whole zone, especially because I'm new and still trying to get to know the whole zone properly. Lots was learned, and the time spent with the zone was a good one.

This week we will be working hard again, sharing our message with the people of the Philippines.

Baptism!

Week 71

04th April 2016

The week was good, was pretty full on and busy. 

The interviews were great, and I learned so much from talking with President & Sister Mangum, as well as from the workshop from the Assistants. Took a bit out of our work day, but I guess I can sacrifice some work time to listen to some wisdom.

Saturday of course was the baptism. It was great! I was lucky enough to be the baptizer, and I actually nearly drowned the poor guy. The first time I baptized him, my recent convert's feet floated up, so I attempted to push them down in instinct... Dumb move number 1. Then, I was listening to the witnesses on what I should do, and I totally forgot to bring him back up out of the water! HAHAHA. DUMB MOVE NUMBER 2. I realized he was still in the water, and yanked him up as soon as I could! Got it right the second time though, and he was really beaming! 

We also had our investigator at the baptism, and we invited him to say the closing prayer. I listened closely to him, and I heard him pray that he will be baptized next, so he can receive the Holy Ghost. It's really humbling to hear investigators pray so meaningfully like that, and yeah I almost cried aye. He has a date set for the 16th April!

Sunday was Fast Sunday, and I'm getting used to and understanding why we fast. We all know I found fasting hard back at home, and me fasting was rare, so doing it on the mission was hard, but I've lately had some reasons to fast, and I'm really willing to sacrifice food & water for a short time, if it means that something good happens for someone else. 

A miracle is that we now have a new Branch Mission Leader. We haven't had one for a while, and so we've been patiently waiting for a new one, and finally we got one yesterday. Really excited to get working with our BML, and the Branch Missionaries too. The work will be 100 times stronger when they're all on board with us.

We actually had a couple of disappointments happen to us, and they were some big disappointments, but I guess things happen, and I just have to accept not everything works to my timing.

This week is pretty set up. Appointments set, which will hopefully follow through, and Zone Meeting on Wednesday. Also looking forward to General Conference this weekend.

The work continues...

Week 70

28th March 2016

This week was good. We were able to go do some finding at my request, and we were able to find some new investigators that are pretty interested in the gospel. Since I've come to Nasugbu, I've gone away from finding a bit, and I don't know why. It was good to get back to finding, because back in Lopez Zone the other Elders in the zone used to call me "The Great Finder" haha, I guess my strength is finding new investigators.

Tuesday was a nightmare. I lost our companionship cellphone! It was so painful, I was stressed for ages about the phone, and we won't get our phone until like next week or something. Talk about consequences! I'll need money to pay the 800 pesos I owe...

One thing I love about this area is that members want to feed the missionaries. Friday night we had dinner with the Samonte family, as it was the birthday of one of their children. Saturday was cool, we were out at the beach for dinner with the Punongbayan family, and they made me finish everything off - I wasn't able to succeed this night. It was good to relax for an hour to end what was a really good week for me and my companion. We have a dinner appointment too later tonight with the Arrojo family, who moved from Gumaca before I got transferred.

Good news though, we have a baptism this Saturday! Our investigator is super prepared, and he's really excited to be baptized. He also requested for me to baptise him. We did have two scheduled, but didn't turn out that way, so our other investigator will be baptized next week. We weren't able to finish teaching the lessons on time, so it's kind of on us.

This week will be full on. We have interviews with President Mangum this Wednesday, and a lot of work to do this week. It's really good being busy, because time flies, and I always feel absolutely smashed by the end of the night, from all the teaching, finding, and talking to different people every hour. It helps that we get fed tonnes too, makes me even more tired, because I eat tonnes, then we go home and I crash out straight after daily planning, even if it's only 9.45PM. 

Our goal this week is to help a couple more investigators prepare to be baptized before the transfer is out. 

Good thing this transfer is 8 weeks, gives us more time to do things within the transfer.

Thank you Brother and Sister Pitman for my FSY shirt!