Week 43 - Rain & Shine Week

Well it's mother's day still there and p day here so happy mother's day!! Thank you thank you to my lovely mother and all the other people who became my mothers :) wouldnt be here without you! I'm talking to the family and I am just too lazy to update you on the week cuz I just wanna talk to my family hahahaha sorry :) but i love you all! and life is still good and i am still living. I leave you with a scripture. D&C 58:26-28. Until next time family and friends.

Week 42 - Learning Week

Hey Folks! It's p day again. which means I gotta email you all haha so here is your lovely email :)

This week was great! We have been finding a ton of new investigators. And they are all super religious haha one is a minister of Jesus is Lord I think.... and the other is the daughter of a baptist minister. which means they know there stuff. So it makes it fun! a challenge for sure, but I like it! cept the JIL dude kind of likes teaching us hahaha which is ok but one day it went overboard. I don't think we even spoke in the lesson haha so ya sometimes that happens. So we will see how this week goes with them! I'm excited.

We finally had our golden family investigator come to church!!! I was so happy when I saw them there. like little school girl happy!!! I may or may not have jumped around a little. I can neither confirm or deny that.... But let's just say it was a happy sabbath! They are awesome. Cept they need to be married hahaha so it is a huge headache but I am just glad they finally came to church! I swear I have been teaching way too many people that need to be married. It's not fun. I will never ever ever ever be a wedding planner. EVER! not worth it.. I will not be planning my wedding either. I am done hahaha

We also got fed a ton this week! It has been unreal hahah heck last night we had two dinner appointments! I freaked haha I have never eaten so much in my entire life. Well, It feels like that. I about died at the second dinner appointment, went straight into a food coma. I died on the floor... Took me a while to recover. But it is unreal how much we have been fed this week! hahaha i love it. why is food so good?! answers we will never know.. But Ill take it!

This week I have learned a lot. I think the biggest one though is how important families are. That is why I love this gospel! This is the only place where families can truly be together forever. No matter what happens they will be together forever. This past week one family in the branch im serving in just got sealed in temple. And yesterday the father bore his testimony. Didnt understand a word of it cuz it was in riconada, that is the dialect they speak here, but I just felt so happy for him. You should have seen his face. It was lighting up like christmas lights. all becuase he will be with his family for forever. and  That finally his family is together. truly together. Made me lonely! Church is not as good when you don't have your whole family there. So it definitely made me family sick. But all is well cuz i have family visiting today hahahah this is what happens when you serve in your home country. Sometimes your grandparents just decide to visit you... But really I am so thankful for this gospel and what it does to family. To know that I will always be with my family is something that can't be replaced. And to know that I can help other families be together makes it ten times better. That is what missionary work is about. Bringing families together. Helping them gain something that can't be gained any other way. 

So that's the week! I have eaten so much, Helping families one doctrine at a time and bout to see my grandparents. That is life. Man it is good! life is always good :) Sometimes we just don't realize it but man how blessed we have been. Heavenly Father has been so good to me. And I know he has been to you. count your blessing my friends. don't forget that life is always good. It is what you make of it :) love you all and thank you for everything. I leave you with a scripture. Alma 18:34. Until next time

 

 

 

 

 

family. 

Week 41 - No Voice Week

Hey peeps! Another week which means another email. Ready na? Update time. :)

So I got sick this week. haha that sucked! but it wasn't too bad. I just lost my voice which actually is pretty bad... It is nearly impossible to teach without a voice! haha I felt like i was 12 again squeaking left and right it was terrible. So ya that basically sums up the teaching week. Me trying to teach and it just sounding like Weezy from Toy Story and by the end of the day not having a voice whatsoever. I never thought your voice could get tired. This week I learned that it is possible! Who knew.. Then I would wake up the next day feeling fresher than a mento and then have the same thing happen just as we started to work hahahah it made no sense. But that is life! Sometimes you lose your voice and sometimes you sound like you are stil 12. you win some and lose some. 

We had some success finding wise this week though! Well hopefully haha we tracted some people and they show some real potential. Heck they said they would come to church!! and then sunday showed up and it just left me heartbroken full of empty promises. But there is always next week right?!

This morning we had a little district activity. We checked out This hollywood sign, "Iriga City" style. It was awesome! The hike was a blast. Cept I felt like I was climbing everest hahah it was so steep but so worth it. We saw the whole city and got some sweet pics. Included here :) the other pics are this HUGE pig and her piglets. and just us and the district! the AP's joined us for our district meeting and we had a fun time. 

Life is good folks. I have been reading past general conference talks for my personal and it was been awesome! I never paid attention to Gen Conf before haha but going back and reading them has been the biggest help. Been focusing on trials and things like that and I loved what Elder Worthlin said in one of them. I forgot when it was but he said learn to laugh through the hardships. And just learning to laugh at yourself! Messing up is part of life, it just happens. So enjoy it while you can! have fun. take a trip and just enjoy the struggle :) love you all! life is good. its summer! it's hot so go swimming for me... I leave you with a scripture. John 15:13. Until next time friends.

 

 

 

Week 40 - Holy Week

Hey Folks! I swear I was just emailing you. Time is sure flying by. Can't
believe it! But let's just update you on this week I guess!

So it was holy week. Man, Filipinos know how to party! People were
singing, dancing and making these huge floats with saints on them.
Seriously they take it overboard. It was crazy. So many people were out
doing things, in the church singing and doing these crazy things then
Friday hit and it just went dead quiet. Like it was scary how quiet it
went. So ya friday saturday and yesterday we got curfewed cuz our President
did'nt want anything bad happening. Which I was thinking there are no
people here to have anything happen to us hahah but all is well. It was
just crazy to see what they were doing. Just taking it way too far. Made me
think on all the prophecies. "Men shall be blinded by the craftiness of the
devil and men." SOOO TRUE... Holy Week in the Philippines testifies of it...

This week we also had Zone Conference. Man! President Reeder is the bomb
dot com. Seriously he gave up the greatest workshop ever. Kind of an answer
to a prayer. But it was on How to recognize personal revelation. Man it was
crazy good. I wish I could tell you how crazy awesome it was but you just
had to be in the room and feel the spirit. Seriously the spirit is
something else. I don't know how anyone can deny its power. When you know,
you just KNOW. The lord works in wondrous ways. I have come to realize that
on my mission. The lord truly has a plan. It never makes any sense but it
always always works out. Always. Without fail. So why not trust in it? Just
give it all up to him and trust in him. I read this sick quote the other
day. "You will only make a man, God will make you a god." It's true. Only
through him can we become like him.

Since it was Easter I just want to talk a little about the Savior and his
atonement. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I also know that he dies for us.
Here on the mission i have truly appreciated what the Atonement truly is. I
messed up a lot when I was a kid and I never thought I could make it back.
But because he died for us I can, and so can you. He gave his life because
he loved us. It wasn't for fame or for glory but because he just straight
up loved us. I hope I can gain that love. And I hope that I can do the same
for him. I have always thought on how we could even pay him back for dying
for us. Everything we have has come from him. Everything but one thing. Our
will and heart. That is the only thing we can give him that he does not
already have. As we make his will our will, we in turn become like him.
That is why we are here. To follow his example. I hope we can do this.
Don't do it cuz you have to but do it cuz it is the only thing you can do.
Just give it up to him. I love you all and I am thankful for your example.
Remember because of him we shall live forever. I leave you with a scripture
Matthew 11:28-30. Until next time my friends...

Week 39 - Conference Week

Hello friends! Another week is upon us. I don't know what else to say
hahahha but it was a good one. An adjustment! but still good.

So the new comp is chill! His name is E. Lam Cheung. He is from Somoa but
has some chinese german running through the veins too. He has gotten in
some problems before but he is still a really good guy. A hard worker! So
we have gotten a lot done this week. But it is still taken an adjustment.
He goes home in December! So he has been here longer than me. So I am just
trying to learn the most I can from him. The lord has a plan!!

The biggest news this week was definitely Conference! For those of you that
missed it, just hit up good ole lds.org   but wait..it has been over for
you fellas for like 2 weeks now in the states hahah but we in the islands
just had it this past week.  But man conference was off the hook!! well
when isn't it hahah never heard someone say "Man, conference just was a let
down this year." hahha but seriously it is something else to hear directly
from the prophet! I loved Eyring's talk in priesthood about Heroes. That
one hit home. And just all of them! What I got from conference this year is
faith. That we need to trust and have faith in God. Trust in his plan and
just don't back down from it. Being members of the church, the world is
going against now everything we believe in. They mentioned Helaman 5:12
like 4 times on Saturday. "My sons, remember rememer that is is upon the
rock of our Redeemer, who is CHRIST, the Son Of God, that ye MUST build
your foundation." If our foundation is strong no matter how bad this world
gets. We shall not fall.

My friends I know this to be true. I know this is Christ's church and as we
build our foundation around him no matter what happens in this world we
will be victorious. We will win that trophy. the trophy of eternal life.
Life is a struggle! It isn't easy. But what I have learned this past months
on the mission that it wasn't easy for our Savior. So why should we think
that it would be easy for us. And even though it isn't easy. The hard times
make it all worth it. It makes us appreciate everything in life. The
important things. So spend time with the family, sit down and just enjoy
life. We live in a world of chaos, but as we turn to Christ and build our
foundation around him we will begin to live in a world of peace among the
chaos. I love you all and could not be more thankful for all that you do
for me. I leave you with a scripture. 1 Corinthians 9:12. Until next time
mga kapatid.

Week 38 - Food Week

My peeps! Geezo time is straight cruzzzzzzzzing! I cant believe it haha but loving it. But as time goes by, these emails get harder and harder to write hahah I just get lazy... YOu guys just should join me in this work and you could just see all the happiness so I dont have to write this anymore. But until then, I guess ill update you on the week!

So I have never been fed so much this week! haha it is unreal... I am gonna get fat. It is a blessing and a curse. Why is food so good?! I have had more food appointments in a week than I have had on my whole mission. LIfe is different when you are in the city! and when you happen to find your great aunt in your area... So throwing that in the mix with all the members I have yet to cook lunch and only dinner twice hahaha seriously it is bad.. But I will not complain :) I am living the high life for sure. I LOVE FOOD..

And I love this area! Even though it is huge and we are basically kind of opening it up, the people here are awesome. We have had some huge success with finding and it has just been a party. We have picked up some sick new investigators that are making some huge strides, hopefully I dont jynx this! but it has been such a huge blessing. Feeling way grateful. The lord has prepared a way. That is what I have learned on my mission. As missionaries we do nothing. It is all the lord. We just help them realize that is there heavenly father. He truly does care about his kids. I have seen it. So such a huge blessing for sure to be apart of. We have 5 inv show up to church yesterday and I just went little school crazy inside!! Seriously nothing better as a missionary than to see the people finally realizing why this gospel is important. 

It has been a good week my friends. Just tryna make the most it! it has been fun :) I got this little pool resort next to our house and all I hear are kids playing in the water while it is a million degrees outside. Seriously it is so hot hahaha and hearing people playing in a pool doesnt help out. and the fact that they always have music bumping just sometimes make me miss the water... But I wouldnt wanna be anywhere else! Even though we walk miles and get doors slammed for some reason, I wouldn't have it any other way.  The mission changes you. changes you for the better.

The pics! here is an albino caribou for ya haha so awesome! and then just a little taste of what I have eaten this week. I have eaten like a king! may not look like it but for me that is royalty right there.

Bad news of the week.. I am getting a new comp later today... some things happen in another companionship and we are the ones that have to switch. So I have to say goodbye to E. Lavulavu. Which sucks! He is such a great guy. It has been a good two weeks. But the lord needs him somewhere else.That is prolly the thing that I have learned the most on the mission. That the lord truly has a plan for all. And how hard it is to sometimes trust in that plan. But it always works out... no matter what! So even though it is sometimes hard, we just gotta take that leap of faith and run with it. We just have to trust in Heavenly Father like he trusts in us. Easier said than done but it will all be worth it. I love you all, I leave you with a scripture. 2 Nephi 26:33. Until next time family.

 

 

 

Week 37 - City Life Week

My friends, another week! They all just kind of blend in now haha but this
week was a huge one! A lot of change for sure. But good change! Change is
always good. And this change may be great!

So I got transferred, to Iriga! haha I am now serving in the city... I'm
not a city boy! There are way too many people and they are all rich.. haha
but luckily i still have some outskirts in my area! I actually love this
area. It's HUGE! They city life is finally upon me. It's weird to see
restaurants and fast food places.. Been a while since I have seen some!
Which means I'm gonna get fat.. Freak! haha but I am way excited. I am
serving in a branch again but it is basically a ward. We are just a
district still for you big fellas up there that is a stake but littler haha
but I am starting love it here! The people have been way nice and they all
freaked out when they found out that I was from utah hahahah they all
thought i was from the philippines. Seeing there facial expressions are
hilarious. I wish I could take a pic and show you. They freak out. But the
mental picture will have to do.

My comp is E. Lavulavu. He is the batch of my kid and from the heart of
Tonga. Finally got me a Poly comp!! haha yes, get me a little taste of
home. He is legit! such a humble and a big loving dude. He is quiet though
but we have already had some fun! He is new to the area too so we are both
learning the area. haha that is fun. We don't know where we are going half
the time but we just go with the flow and make the most of it. Seriously,
loving all this change!

So ya change has been the biggest! new area, new comp and just tryng get a
feel for everything. But straight up loving it here already. The members
are awesome, the comp is a stud, the area is kicking and we are just
living! First week and some crazy things have already happened haha I found
out that the sister of my grandpa lives here. Ran into her yesterday! This
world is way too small. So gonna preach her the good word! She straight up
said don't convince me to join your church hahaha but we will give it some
time and have some fun :) Gonna get some family history done!

So ya folks, that is my lovely week. The city life is now me, I got a Poly
comp and we party it up and I am gonna convert my family. what else does a
guy need? Life is good. No complaints. Just taking it all in! oh ya the
pics for ya. That is my comp in one, the other is Mount Mayon! you can see
if from our apartment and our area. it is in legaspi but we are just that
close to it! some sunset pics and Me with some I <3 Iriga :) haha just
having some fun! Realized I was way too serious in my last area. Life is
too hard when you are so serious! I realized you also gotta have some fun.
Which is weird cuz I swear that is all I did. But I guess it is just
finding the right balance.. Life is meant to be enjoyed. We are meant to
mess up and learn. None of are perfect and the only way to get there is
just to mess up sometimes. Get dirty, fall. Fail and just keep trying. Cuz
those are the times you will remember. I love you all. Seriously, you guys
are everything to me. I would not be here without you. Keep pushing on.
Life is good. Just depends on what you look at. So Enjoy! Laugh, mess
around a little. Just be happy :) I leave you with a scripture. 2 Nephi
33:12. Until next time homies.