Week 49 - New Companion Week

Hi peeps :) We meet again! The news is here, i got a new comp! and I will be living that poly life for a little longer. Got me another Somoan. He is a stud! hahah Just reminds me of home being comps with all these polys. His name is E. Sua, from the islands. So life has been a party with him! Let's just say this transfer is looking pretty good.

So transfer week is always a little different. On tuesday we went to Naga and for the first time in a long time, I was in a mall.. Nothing good happens when you go to a mall for the first time in a long time, you just end up spending money you shouldn't have spended... I had a waffle though! I love waffles. And it was cool to see all the other missionaries! That is what the pics are. Just some buddies I haven't seen in a while. Always a good time. Oh ya! On monday, got my one year package. It was huge!! That is what happens when your parents visit the country your visiting. and it was full of candy hahaha I may go into a sweet coma... But thanks parents :) I loved it! I just couldnt believe how big it was.. Even got some old spice! My apartments mates are in love with it. haha we walk around just smelling like sunshine, palm trees, and freedom. Nothing better.

Work wise has been ok! Still a struggle. With our area being so far, it is tough to get people to church and the ones that come to church are eternal investigators.. All because they aren't married yet haha the struggle of marriage! Just get married... but patience is key! at least we can get them to church. One day they will be baptized and that is all we need. But sooner is always better than later!

This branch is awesome. We were fed a million times again. I am gaining weight again... Not liking it, i cant go back to that blob i was before hahah i was HUGE! So this week will be joggin week. If i can get the motivation to do it. Or just walk faster. Who knows we will see what happens. But this branch! They are getting more missionary focused everyday. It helps having 10 RM's here so we can get them to work, but now we are focusing with the other and hopefully we start getting the work even more progressing. The work is always more easier with members.

I have learned on the mission that truly anything is possible. And change can happen to anyone. It is crazy to see people who used to be something and then go to the complete opposite. That is what this gospel does. It is all about change. All about becoming like our Heavenly Father. I know I am still a long ways away from that but I know each day I get the chance to become closer to that goal. And it wouldn't be possible without Jesus Christ. Each day I am more grateful for what he did. The fact that he gave up his life just so I can return with him just blows my mind. And each day I hope I am doing what he needs me to do.

Well folks that is all I got. I know long emails are tough to read haha the good things are usually in the pics.. But just know I love you all. And I am grateful for you all. I know that Heavenly Father loves us too. He is there for you. Even when you feel like he isn't, he is. I know that Jesus lives. I know that this is his gospel and his church. If you want to know for yourself, just ask him. He will tell you all... I leave you with a scripture. Alma 5:44. Until next time my friends.

Week 48 - Singing Week

What up my people! We are here again. Another week. Just like that. Life is good. Happy Father's day! don't know where would I would be without my father. my earthly one and my heavenly one. love them. So happy Father's day paps! but Some news, is that I get a new comp tomorrow. My poly homie is transfering. It has been a blast ot be his comp. Hard but we have some fun haha I will be here in Iriga for at least one more transfer. Let the fun begin! I love this place. Even though work is still having some struggles, progress will come. Slowly but surely! I'll take it. Let's get started eh?

Work is coming along... This week was a struggle. We got broken up with. That is what we call it when an investigator drop us haha. She broke it with us. I don't know what is worse. Having a girlfriend break up with you or an investigator... Just may be the missionary in me but it straight sucks. Especially the ones that are golden. Happened too many times. But all is well! The lord has a plan for his children. I felt it with her. I felt the calmness that everything would be ok. So trust has been key in this break up. Better things await. Keep chuggin' along.

We have been doing a lot of finding still. Still searching.. Being broken up with took a toll but left us with a lot of time to find! We have some potentials, a couple families but only time will tell. Everyday I just want to be the missionary these people deserve. Sometimes I feel short, other times I feel like I'm doing ok. It's life. But I know one thing, The Lord is always there each step. And that is all that matters. The mission has helped me realize how loving our Heavenly Father is. All he wants is for us to return to him. We can't unless we are perfect. So he gives us every opportunity to become perfect, to become like him. One day we can be like him. So every opportunity is key. Time is quickly passing by.

We had some fun though this week! Even with the struggles we had some laughs! It has been a blast with E. Lam Cheung. He my poly bruddah haha We have been fed a lot too! like the past 4 nights since they found out we had a transfer coming up. I love it! Cept I feel the weight coming back... I love food way too much. Oh ya! This week we also sang in the choir for our district conference. haha almost forgot to mention that. That was fun! I still suck at singing. But it was fun. Great bonding time with the members. So ya! we had choir practice three times this week haha took up some time but we had some fun.

That is basically the week folks. I'm slowly learning. Slowly becoming the man I need to be. It hasn't been easy, but I have love every step. I have felt his love. I have felt his comfort. And i hope you all feel it too. Don't forget he loves you. The path won't always be a walk in the park. But the hard times are always the best ones to remember. Crazy to think how much has changed in a year. I know this church is Jesus Christ's Church, and I know we can return back to him. The Book of Mormon will tell us how. Read it! Make it your life and you will see why. I love you all. I leave you with a scripture. Alma 42:31. Until next time family.

Week 47 - One Year Week

Hey Peeps!! I messed up on the first email so don't worry bout it i got you here! But the news is spoiled.. I'm a year old! Where has the time gone? Dang.. But I love it! Seriously this may be the best decision I have made and everyday I am grateful to be here. I just can't believe it has been a year!

This week was good! I didn't do anything crazy for my one year... Blown opportunity! missionaries usually burn something but on thursday (My year mark) I was way too tired hahaha I just crashed and slept. But I had krispie kreme. That was really good. Of our the other elders in our apartment got it packaged to him hahaha even though it wasn't hot it was still really good. I'll take it!

 We did a lot of finding this wee and it went really good! We found a potential family. We have been doing a lot of finding lately.. Tracting is so up and down. Sometimes you love it and other days you just wanna die on the side of the road. But this week wasn't too bad. Hopefully this week we can do more teaching and less finding haha wish us luck!

This morning we had a district activity and we made pancakes and french toast! That was a party. I love me some pancakes. They just get me. Well, any food gets me haha But ya that basically sums up my fun this week. I just come home every night just tired and sleep becomes everything.

That is basically the week. Same old same old! I am no longer a newbie and just trying to do what I can for these people. I have realized how important this gospel is. It is our only way back to our father. And i hope we all can make it back to him. It hasn't been easy. Sometimes it feels impossible. But I know one thing. I know he loves us. And I know he is with us every step of the way. I feel lucky. And more than blessed. Thank you all for everything. Crazy to think in less than a year I will see you all. but until then, keep doing what you are doing and if you don't like the results, do something different. Change up the life! Change is always good. It is all part of the plan.  i love you all. I leave you with a scripture. 1 Corinthians 15:22. Until next time peeps.

Week 46 - Mission Tour Week

It's you guys again haha how you doing? :) Life here is good! You know just living the good ole missionary life. Truly nothing better! I love it. But I should just update you all.

So This week was a great spiritual week! We had our Area President come visit us. Elder Brent Nielson of the Seventy. Which was totally wicked. He is a good guy. It was great to just sit down and get taught. I have realized on the mission now that I just love learning. before i hated school and sitting and doing stuff like that but now I look forward to everyday where I can study and even better when I can learn from others. That mission tour was just everything! I even got to see my mtc companion, elder Packard. First time I saw him in forever! and man i missed him hahah when we first saw each other we hugged it out for a good 5 min.. it was life! crazy thing is that my family just moved an hour from where he is so the odds of me seeing him after the mission have gone up! but I saw some other people too and it is always good to see people you havent seen in a while.

We have been doing a lot of finding this week again. Lost a ton of investigators.. We have had some success! Then other days feel like I just got knocked out by a boxer haha so it has its ups and downs. we have had some success though finding a couple families! Haven't really taught a family yet so I am pretty excited. We found one with 10 kids! hahaha so many so it should be fun :) Just trying to be the missionary they deserve. That may be the hardest part! But all is well. The lord's work will always be worth it.

This week was huge spirtually. I think I already said that haha but that is how spiritual is was! Man I learned  a lot. The mission tour was focused on a change of heart. What it truly means. This may be one of my favorite topics with this gospel. We as people can change all we want. It's part of life. And that is what I thought it was. But being on the mission changed it all. Life is not just about changing. But it is about changing into the person we need to be. The person Heavenly Father needs. And the only way that is possible is through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We are on this earth to become perfect. And we all know we can't do that. But in reality we can. Only through Jesus Christ. That is why he died for us. Yes it was to redeem of of our sins but it was also to help us become like him. Once we realize that we cannot do it alone, we will be that much closer to becoming like him. I know it isn't easy. I am still learning how to fully do it. But I know because of him in the end we can do it.

I love you all. Seriously I am so thankful for all of you. I am thankful for the knowledge of this gospel. I am thankful to be here. I am thankful to be serving. And I am more than thankful for a loving father in heaven and a loving savior. Jesus did what he was sent to do and I more than hope that when all is said and done, we can say the same. Thank you for your love. Keep partying my friends! I leave you with a scripture. D&C 58:2-4. Until next time family.

Week 45 - Sore Week

Another week! which means I gotta write another one of these emails haha I am just getting way too lazy to write you all... But i'll try my hardest!

So This week was sore week. Last week we decided to go hiking up this mountain and we ended getting lost hahha but after the hike and the next day and the next I was dying! The mountain was way steep and let's face it.. I'm out of shape.. And since we walk everywhere it just added to it haha so walking was a struggle! haha it was classic. I'm just glad the soreness is over.

This week work wise was a bit of a struggle. We got punted! like everyday... It was bad. Had a lot of investigators hide too. I don't know what would be better. Having investigators hide from you or having a door shut in your face.. By the end of this week I would take the door. The best is when you see them and they see you and you just see them start to run inside and act like they aren't home hahah the struggle is real. But it is all good! We are still living :)

The good thing this week is that we got fed a ton! As in... I have eaten so much this week. I'm not complaining! The members here are the bomb dot com. They just get it. they know how to make me happy and I could not be happier.

This week has been tough! But its always the tough weeks where we can learn the most. This week I have been focusing on the atonement. And man the atonement is just something else. I love studying it. I am so grateful to know that through it all is possible, I messed up a lot. Still do. But through Christ can I be made whole. I love this gospel. I love this work. I hope that someday I can be the man Heavenly Father needs me to be. I hope that we all can be the person he needs. All is possible through him that died for us. I leave you with a scripture. Alma 33:22. Until next time family and friends..

Week 44- Member Week

Hey ya'll! Another week upon us... Where does the time go? Who knows haha but let's just make the most of it and I will update you on things here.

So work wise was a success this week! We have been doing a lot of finding and we did! We have also have had a ton of members work with us and that has been huge!! We have a ton of RM's here so that helps out a ton. This whole week we had an RM work with us and it just helped out a ton. Learned a ton too! Man it was a huge blessing to have them work with us. Makes work way easier and just a lot more fun. The RM's here are the bomb and we have a ton of fun haha if you don't have fun while doing missionary work, you are doing it wrong. We also found a dude and he was english speaking! So we taught him in english. Which is really really really hard haha halfway through it we went back to tagalog and I didn't even realize it. Talking in english has gotten way more difficult.. Good thing I can still speak tagalog with the family when I get home :)

Life has been good. And it has been going by way too fast... I cannot believe how fast time goes... I feel like I just got on the mission but the year mark is closer than ever. And this week it just made me reflect on the past year. May be one of the toughest years ever but may have been one of the happiest as well. I still feel like the same kid I was before i left and then other times I see the change. haha it is so weird but I could not be any happier than I am now. I know this work is true. I know Jesus Christ lives and in the end that is all that really matters. If we know he lives then we will be truly converted to his gospel. We will want to live better lives because he lives. And in the end that is all I want to do. To make him proud. I love you all. I cannot express my gratitude to all that you guys do for me. I feel it everyday. I know we will see each other again and I look forward to the day. Until then keep smiling, keep laughing and cry a little. Just live your life and dont waste a day. Time is just ticking away and there is only so much left... I leave you all with a scripture. Alma 26:30. Until next time folks.