6.30.14

Another Good Week

So this week was pretty good! Our numbers have been pretty consistent the past few weeks. We don't have crazy high numbers of lessons taught throughout the week but I feel as though they are productive. Quality is better than quantity. This week we reached the highest attendance the Mina Branch has ever had.... 50! It was awesome. Our little chapel was almost completely full! It was so cool so it that way!

One day this week we were walking to an appointment when it started to rain. I didn't have an umbrella because I let a member borrow mine the night before. SO we waited under a waiting shed for like 30 minutes for it to lighten up a bit then we headed out again. As we were walking it got harder and harder and we didn't know exactly where we were going. We had to share Elder Fernando's umbrella which helped but we were still wet. We walked up to this house on the top of a muddy hill and asked where the family was that we were looking for and then on our way back down the hill Elder took off in front of me and then slipped and fell on the hill. It was hilarious. Needless to say we were both pretty wet. But it was fun!

Yesterday I felt kinda bad because I had to share 2 Nephi 31:14 with one of families of recent converts. One of the girls is consistent in going to church while the rest always make up an excuse. I emphasized the part where it says "...it would be better for that you had not known me." I think it hit them. I feel as though I made my point pretty well, I almost at one point started crying haha. I felt it coming. I can't imagine what it would be like to have Christ say that to my face. And that's what I tried to make them feel. How would you feel if Christ said that to you because you didn't do what he told you to do? Hopefully that makes a difference in them.

We have a baptism this weekend for brother Brian. He's 14 years old and super smart. We have so many young men here in Mina. More than back home it's crazy! Not sure I'll be here for the baptism however because Wednesday is transfer day. I'd be lying if I didn't say I almost want to transfer but then I would also by lying if I said I wouldn't miss the people of Mina. Mina is great but It just may be about time for a change! I wish I could be here to see the day of a Church built but there's no way that'll happen. Unless maybe I transfer back here next year ;) haha


I love and miss you all! Hope you all have a wonderful first week of July. And Happy Birthday to my wonderful Sister on Saturday! :)

6.16.14

Happy Father's Day!

Well to my wonderful Father and Brother-in-Law I would first like to say Happy Father's Day! Hope it's been a good one! :)

So this past week we had the opportunity to travel to Bacolod for our Zone Conference. It was great. I was able to get some new shoes for proselyting and dry-clean some of favorite ties that have gotten very dirty! It's like they're brand new! Looking good again! :) Next is time to bust out my 5 brand new shirts that I haven't used yet!

So when I first walked in the door to the mission home I was asked by Elder Cababat, our Zone Leader, if I could give a musical number. My first thought...... Heck no! haha but I was like if you need me to I would if some other people joined me. Then one of the sisters said that Elder Sargent had a good voice so I was like alright, I volunteer
myself and Elder Sargent even though he isn't here yet! Then after that I also mentioned that Sister Ortiz seemed like she really wanted to sing and she joined us along with Sister McKee. We sang Hymn #100, Nearer My God To Thee. We had all four parts and it sounded pretty good if you ask me. I heard one of the couple missionaries or maybe it
could've been President say "excellent"!

This week our numbers were a bit low teaching wise. But we had 6 investigators make it to church this week! For me if you have low teaching numbers but investigators attending church then you're doing something right. If you have a ton of lessons but nobody at church then something is a bit wrong. So I was super glad that we had 6 investigators at church and our total attendance was 43! Only 37 more on a consistent basis and they can build a church here! haha

Other than that we haven't really had anything too crazy happen here in Mina. Elder Fernando and I are just doing our best each and everyday in the scorching heat. I feel as though this is like the hottest I've felt since I've been here. Constantly sweating. All day long. The other night the power went out twice while we were sleeping, I about wanted to die it was so hot! But I managed to stay alive.

Welp, I have nothing else to say other than I love you all and I'm really glad that the Spurs won! :) Hope you all have a great week!

6.9.14

Kamusta kayo jan?

So this week was more productive than last week. I felt like we were doing so much better but when it came to church on Sunday we still had only 3 investigators at church. :/ We met two new teenage girls named Teresa (16) and Myra(18) this week that we thought for sure would go to church but then they didn’t. Teresa is the daughter of one of our
recent converts who is currently working in Bacolod and Myra is the younger sister of Teresa’s mother. Teresa’s three younger siblings are also recent converts and the oldest one Christian goes to church every week. So it was depressing when they didn’t show up with him, especially because we visited them every day since Tuesday this past week. Myra texted us the night before and said she would “try her very best para makasimba” which means to go to church. So turns out that her best wasn’t quite good enough haha I told them “Kulang ang best nyo.” Which means your best wasn’t enough” haha They’re super cool though and love having us coming visit. So hopefully they will continue
and make it to church next week!

We also have continued our conversation with Brother Elias that we met last week. He’s still very smart and has some good points in his question and statements about the Bible but is also looking for answers that don’t really make a difference. He believes that Jesus Christ is God himself because Christ told the apostles to go forth preaching the gospel to all people and baptize them in the name of the father , and of the son, and of the holy ghost. Then he said if you read in Acts and Romans the apostles baptized people in the name of Jesus Christ, so he said he’s the father. But we know that’s not true because clearly Christ wasn’t praying to himself in the Garden of Gethsamene or while he was on the Cross. He also didn’t really accept the Restoration, he just told us we were making Joseph Smith seem like
a way bigger deal than he is and that that had nothing to do with what he was asking us about, but if he would’ve just listened he would’ve realized that we were explain how the priesthood authority he asked us about had been restored to the Earth. Some people’s kids, what can you do? Haha We’ll continue to try to make progress with him because he
will make a great leader when he understands the true Gospel!

Well tomorrow we’re off to Bacolod for Zone Conference. Off to the big city again! The zone that joins us for Zone Conference is the Bago Zone, so I’ll be able to talk with the Valladolid Elders and see how everything is going back there! The Elder who replaced me, Elder David, is still there so he’ll know what’s going on for sure! Welp I
hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love you all! 

6.2.14

Where'd the last year go?

It's crazy to seem that I have already been this adventure for a year! It's June already and before we know it I will be back home. But let's not dwell on that because there is still plenty of time and many things for me to accomplish here in the Philippines Bacolod Mission!

Yesterday we had the privilege of having President and Sister Lopez in attendance at our Branch. It was semi unfortunate because we had a whopping 1 investigator and church and our overall attendance was the lowest it's been in awhile. But they enjoyed their visit and so did we! President Lopez is like a walking Gospel Library. It's so fun to listen to him speak, especially when he speaks Tagalog! He stopped at one point and asked me if I understand and I was glad that I could. I can't speak Tagalog, but I can understand quite a bit of it!

Our week wasn't quite that productive but we still taught quite a few lessons and found quite a few new investigators. Just last night we met a man named Elias who is 50 years old and Pentecostal. He is very knowledgable and wants to learn more. He had many wonderful questions that stumped us a couple of times but he wasn't doing it in a rude way, he was laughing and enjoying every minute and was even joking. I honestly can't wait to visit with him again. It's great when people ave questions that they wan't answered and we can be of assistance. It's also super nice when they enjoy it and are nice about it and aren't argumentative!

Well that's my excitement for the week. Elder Fernando and I are off to make homemade peanut butter this afternoon! I'm super excited! Love you all have a great week! :)