Best Week of my Mission!

Week 76

09th May 2016

This week was to-date, the best week of my entire mission! I was able to experience for the first time, the effect of hard working members who are willing to work with the missionaries. The difference is huge, and I definitely noticed it, and not just in the numbers, although the numbers went through the roof too. Having a fellowshipper for the investigators, and a friend for the less-active members really helps the work progress a lot faster. I am aware though, things do not happen in just one week, so the true success won't come for a little while, but keeping at the work, and being DILIGENT will definitely help the area here, and bring success to us all.

When I was a newer missionary, I expected results and success from hard work straight away, but it definitely is not how things work. I have learned to accept the Lord's timing, and to be happy about anything, and not let myself get down about little things that don't have much importance in the long term. Whether I am a planter or harvester, as long the glory is to our Heavenly Father, I can't complain about anything. I really have learned to rely on the Lord in the last couple of weeks, and it's bringing me great joy! Where I slip and fall, the Atonement helps me get up and keep going, because like an analogy that my Mission President likes to use, even if I'm 30 points down with a minute to go, as long as I'm on the Lord's side, the win is ours.

I'm looking forward to the ZTM this week. I'm probably most excited to learn what the Zone Leaders have in store for us in their workshop about whatever it is. I cherish time in ZTM, because of the things I learn, and it helps rejuvenate me in the missionary work, I have my trials, but that isn't any different for anyone else here.

It was really good to see you all on Saturday for our Mothers Day Skype. I actually had a little moment yesterday at church to be honest. I looked around seeing all the youth sitting with their mothers and grandmothers, giving them stuff, and well I was sitting their holding my scriptures.  I missed home, but it went away quickly I have a lot of things to do. 

This week should be cool. We have Zone Training Meeting, and my first trainer, Elder Richards, is back in the Philippines, so he's coming to visit me on Wednesday once we've finished with Zone Training Meeting. Excited to see him again, it's been a long time. 

Miss some of the Missionaries that have already gone home. Elder Richards was my trainer. Elder Fa'asavalu was my mentor. My first 8 months of my mission was spent with him.

Four of us in the apartment tonight as we have exchanges tomorrow.  Elder Mesias will be cooking for us - he's our Master Chef!

Busy Week Teaching!

Week 75

02nd May 2016

This week was great! We went out with a determination that no matter what, me and my companion would teach 30 lessons. We had high hopes on Thursday, but things happened on Saturday and we feared we wouldn't reach that goal this week. On Sunday, we were determined to reach it, and thank goodness, we were blessed to visit 4 homes and share.

One thing I haven't really experienced in my mission, is constantly having members working with us. In most instances, we could go half a transfer without any members working with us. This last week was the first time I experienced it. Our Branch Mission Leader, who is newly called, worked with us for 3 straight nights, and while he was working with us, we were able to talk about things we could do to help motivate the branch missionaries to work again.

The miracle came yesterday in MCM. We had almost all of our branch missionaries in the meeting. Our Branch Mission Leader did a schedule up on the black board, and asked the branch missionaries for times they could work with us. To our amazement, all the branch missionaries said they were available to work with us, and set a schedule. If this all follows through, we could be on splits nearly every day this week, which will help us in moving the work forward  here in Nasugbu, inviting more people back from in-activity, and bringing more souls into the fold of the loving shepherd, Jesus Christ. We have every hour of every day filled with the branch missionaries working with us, most with specific investigators that they will be fellowshipping for us.

Another first for me, was finding a family who is really searching for truth. We first tracted into the mother of the family a couple of weeks back, and got around to visiting them on Wednesday. They said to us in our last visit that they haven't yet been baptized into the church they're currently attending due to the fact that they still aren't sure if that's the right place for them. When me and my companion heard that, we almost jumped through the roof with excitement! They specifically said when they get an answer to their prayers, they will be baptized for sure. So for now we will continue visiting with them and teaching them.

I was blessed with finding out the truth for myself, and now with a firm faith that this is Christ's true church, hearing our investigators say things like that make me excited!

We're off to Family Home Evening a bit later with a family that I met while I was serving in Gumaca, they moved here in Jan, and I followed them here a month later.... we're there every Monday.

This week will be super busy with us working with the branch missionaries, but I'm looking forward to it.

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.