Love it here!

 Week 82

20th June 2016

This week was another good week for referrals. Me and my companion were both not feeling too well these last few days so we'd go out a little later than we should, but we still got to visit our investigators.

Our baptism was great too, and the branch is kinda still in shock because we've had 4 baptisms in the last 4 weeks, so things are going really well in that department. The even better part is that even though we have had 3 baptisms in the last 2 weeks, we have more scheduled to be baptized by the end of July. We currently have 5 scheduled for July. We're hoping for a couple more -  It's not impossible, because yesterday at church the ward went crazy, and I mean insane with referrals. We have a lot going on, and I'm not sure we'll be able to get everywhere we want to this week, especially with our mission tour in Lipa City on Wednesday.

More contacting referrals, teaching progressing investigators, and committing people to be baptized is basically all that we'll be doing. Time is flying, and I can't do anything but keep up! Our Branch Missionaries, the Branch Council, and everyone else in the branch is the driving force, and they are so excited for the work. The baptisms I think really help, because the members actually see success from missionary work, and they want to keep it going.

I love this branch so much, but to be honest, I think they love me more. When we aren't working, we eating at a members house at night. Every day from Thursday to Sunday this week is full of dinner appointments. I mean who can resist my smile and smooth talking? HAHA, I'm just joking, but I'm loved here, and nearly the whole Branch Council is talking of requesting to keep me here until I go home!

 Baptism of Arvie & Kate.

The family support.

Zone Lunch at McDonalds!

Christine's baptism, her brother baptized her.

Waiting for dinner at a members.

Waiting for the van to take off.

My mission niece, nephew & son!

Companion time.

Whole zone.

On a bridge about to jump off...

Baptisms

Week 81

13th June 2016

The week was great! We had a great time with the baptism, and were able to teach quite a few lessons. Our work is going great!

The baptism was on Saturday, and the children were very excited to get baptized. They had their cousin baptize them both, and they were all smiles as they were confirmed members of the church yesterday in Sacrament Meeting.

A miracle that came from the baptism on Saturday was that we had one of our investigators attend the baptism. Her concern was that she was a little hesitant to be baptized, but after attending the baptism, and seeing what goes on, she must've felt the spirit and  felt that being baptized was right, because after the baptism she asked us if she could be baptized next Saturday. We're one lesson away from finishing the lessons with her, and her interview is on Wednesday, and she will be baptized this Saturday! Never seen so much success in my mission ever. I'm really excited for this baptism too, it just shows the progress of the area.

Our week this week will be full of contacting referrals. On Saturday before the baptism, our branch held a Branch Missionary Training, and the members went out and worked at the end of it. They went finding, and found quite a few people to teach! We're going to be super busy contacting referrals, so we're pretty excited. 

I feel like we're being supported by the members now, not us supporting them, which is the greatest thing that has happened to me since being in the mission. Our members still work with us every day, and they go out and visit when they aren't working with us. The branch is going great, I almost feel like we don't need to find anyone anymore because we get so many referrals! But yeah, we still should be finding, which we are. We don't even need to teach our recent converts anymore, the branch missionaries are taking charge of teaching the recent converts.

The potential for this transfer is awesome. We have so many part-member family referrals, and even though nearly all of them are youth/ primary children, it gives them a chance to grow up in the church, and learn from a young age the will of God for them. 

Today we had our zone P-day. Our zone went to Fantasy World again, and it was a great time. We played games, took photos, and got to know each other through out the day. It really brought our zone together, and everyone was happy getting to know each other. I don't have photos at the moment, because we're emailing in another area, and my card reader is at our area. 

We still get fed heaps, we have a dinner appointment tonight, so after we finish here we're going to the zls to change then heading out to dinner in our area.  After that we have an appointment and will be teaching a lesson.

Same area - New Companion!

Week 80

06 June 2016

Transfer week is always a transition week. I said goodbye to Elder Mesias in the morning, and welcomed in Elder Llanda in the afternoon. So far, everything is going good with Elder Llanda. He's about 5 months old in the mission, and well I'm almost 5 months until I come home.

Our week wasn't too busy with appointments. Monday to Wednesday was a few appointments, then a few dinner appointments. Friday and Saturday was a few appointments, while also taking my new companion around the area, helping him get used to the place.

Yesterday we had 7 investigators at church. 4 of them, we haven't even taught yet, but we are planning on visiting them within the next few days.

We also got a tonne of referrals from members, so the missionary work here is really getting into gear. Our Branch Mission Leader is on top of it, along with the District High Councillor in charge of missionary work, and he happens to be in Nasugbu Branch. We went to work with him and his wife yesterday, and contacted 2 part-member families that he referred to us. They're leading by example, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon really fast too.

This week will be full of contacting referrals, teaching and stuff like that.... It'll just be full! 

Even better though, we have a baptism this Saturday! It's 2 primary children, and they're super excited to be baptized! I'm excited for them too, and I'm really happy that I am able to welcome my companion into the area with a baptism. Nothing better than for a missionary to come into a new area and have 

a baptism straight away!

Usual PDay here for us - cleaning, doing our washing and then appointments this evening.

Transfer Week - I'm staying!

Week 79

30 May 2016

Things are going great! Our baptism went great this week! I really enjoyed the baptism, and seeing our little convert get baptized and then confirmed yesterday in Sacrament meeting. We have another couple of baptisms coming up in the next few weeks. We're hoping theres three, but we'll see how things go. I believe all will go well though. I'm excited!

My companion is out! We waited for the call, and he is off to POLA! I couldn't believe it, he will have the same second area that I did, and I'll know he'll do a great job out there. I warned that it was hard, and the work there will really test your faith, but he'll be able to handle it. My new companion is also Filippino.

We've had a bit of success lately with people coming to church, and we've had a less-active family come two weeks in a row, and I'm really happy to see them at church always. 

I love seeing people I teach and share to, attend church on Sundays, because it means progress is being made. One thing I always tell people. Church is not for the perfect, but church is like a hospital. Everyone is sick or needs help with different things, and we all go to church to be healed through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Now I understand the reason why I was encouraged to attend church, because it ultimately helped me change a little, enough to get out on a mission. Since I've been here I've grown in my faith so much. I can't deny in any way possible that this church isn't true.

This week will be a bit interrupted with transfer day and all, but it will still be good either way. I'll be taking my new companion around the area, introducing him everywhere and to everyone. I'm looking forward to the new challenge. 

Also, my trainee is transferred into my zone again! Excited to see him again, and catch up with him. Almost half of our zone here in Batangas is transferred, so it's a lot of new faces to welcome into my zone.