Biopsy

I had the biopsy on the rash on Tuesday.  It was okay, but she downplayed the size of hole she was making in my back!  She said it wouldn't even be noticeable.  Anyways, I was freaking out because of my fear of needles, but she said, "Oh Elder this won't hurt--just like a bite, from an ant, a big ant, a big red ant," and then she jabs the thing in my skin!  Anyways, she was a little quick on the trigger with the scalpel so I felt the first part of her cutting through my skin because the numbing hadn't fully started working yet.  But I made it! 

Wednesday we went to 7-11 on the way to the office and I got a Slurpee,  It was awesome!  We spent the day in the mission office helping the elders prepare for transfer week.  I got a pdf for a book called "The Kolob Theorem" and had it printed off.  This book is insane.  It is a mormon's view of the universe.  The guy who writes it is a member and explains the universe and connects it to the gospel and makes everything about the universe make sense.  It's theory of course, but Dad would love it.  His thesis is that the milky way galaxy is our Heavenly Father's creation and that other galaxies have other Heavenly Father/creators. 

Thursday was spent in the mission office again.  I was putting together housing contracts.  I was thinking I could be doing a lot more of that type of work if I go out in business law.  It wasn't too bad, but we will have to wait and see.

We spent another day in the mission office on Friday.  It was okay though, because I actually felt like I accomplished something.  My OCD was actually a good thing because I spent the day organizing the office.  The elders were laughing at me because I went though and lphabetized all the files in the file cabinets.

Saturday was when I read the entire "Kolob Theorem".  I also found the best talk I have ever read.  It is a BYU Devotional talk called, "His Grace is Sufficient," by Brad Wilcox.  It helps you to understand the atonement so much.  Seriously, I always thought of the punishment aspect of the atonement and felt like we were always trying to "earn points" with Jesus for the final judgment.  It is not like that at all. It's all about changing us so we will be comfortable in God's presence. 

We were able to teach some good lessons.  One in particular was very spiritual.  We taught a man about temples and the spirit was very strong.  His wife has passed away and he has said he feels very lonely at times.  Elder Iloa caught it and told me we needed to teach about temples.  After hearing that he could be sealed to his wife for eternity, he seemed to just light up.  It was very cool to see.  However, he didn't come to church yesterday, so we need to focus on that issue now.

  

We also had Christian Baluyot's baptism and it was way cool.  I gave him one of the CTR rings that Melissa sent me and he started crying and gave me a big hug and said thank you.  It was awesome!

Sunday was a little rough.  we only had three investigators at church, but I know it will get better.  That is three investigators with limited work.  Just wait until I am back at it! 

I am going to end this with some Elder Iloa quotes.  I have never laughed so much in my life.  You need to remember that his English isn't that great!

"I cannot have vees fings (these things).  He meant to say I do not have these things.

 "What are vees fings that make my nose so bad?"  It was the spicy sauce in my adobo.

 "Elder, can I sauce my food?  He wanted some of my sauce.

A taste from home!

 

This is what happens during the rainy season--no socks
because they get so wet I have to remove them

Biopsy wound

Just call Elder Kent!

Christian Baluyot's Baptism

A piece of me removed

Christmas in July

If your Christmas package came, go ahead and open it!

I called President Lopez and talked to him about Elder Rillorta.  I didn't give any specifics, because if I would have the repentance would have been forced and the process would have been much harder.  Unforced repentance is much easier to receive forgiveness rather than you got caught and forced to repen.  So President called him and they talked.  From what I gathered, President told him to be extremely careful and all that.  My companion still denies that he was watching it and it was only a pop-up, but I can only believe what I saw.  Oh well!  I can't judge him because we all sin.  I just have to trust that he did what he needed to do.

On Tuesday I went out and worked with one of the APs.  It went really well. He told me I am the most skilled at the language of any American he has seen and that I was the ONLY zone leader that asked him how I could improve my skills as a missionary.  He said it showed that I was really humble (can you believe that????) and it made a good impression on him.

The only problem this week was the dang rash!  It didn't go away, so I spent Wednesday through Friday in the Institute.  On Friday, President Lopez joined us for companion study.  I thought it went great, but at the end President just leveled us with things we can do better.  He was cutting us down to nothing!  Oh well, I just need to take it in stride.  He doesn't give us a lot of compliments, just ways of improving!

I also got a new companion.  President is putting four missionaries in Bata now and then adding two sister missionaries on July 31.  My new companion is Elder Iloa and he is from Tonga.  I love him!  He is so humble and has a great spirit.  He doesn't speak English very well and it is funny because he will ramble on about something, then just start laughing hysterically.  I have no idea what he is saying, but it is awesome!  The first thing he said to me was, "Elder, if you aren't exactly obedient, we will have problems!"  He has the deepest voice ever, so it was pretty scary!!!!  I am going to have fun with him.

Anyways, that is pretty much it for the week.  I will do my best to continue to stay positive.  I love you all so much and I hope you enjoy your gifts!

My new companion--Elder Iloa, the Tongan!

Front cover of Mom's Book of Mormon--her
early Christmas present

Back cover of Mom's Book of Mormon

Front cover of Kody's Book of Mormon

Happy 4th of July

The doctor told me I had to spend the week indoors, so it was a pretty long week inside the Institute Building.  I was given the assignment of talking to and teaching investigators in the Institute if the opportunity presented itself, and it did a few times.  Usually the people will bring in friends to hang out or to visit their class.  When this happened I would get very excited!  The bad thing was that there were hours and even a couple days when NO ONE came in.  On those days I pretty much just read the scriptures or sat there and made myself trunky--not good, I know!  But when you aren't doing anything productive, obviously your thoughts go straight to the people you love most.  I do know that if I didn't love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so much, there is ABSOLUTELY no way I would be able to endure much more of this!

One thing I studied this week that was pretty interesting to me was about an incident in Jesus' life that occurred after the transfiguration.  Jesus, Peter, James, and John came down and found the people arguing with his apostles because they weren't able to heal a kid that was possessed.  Anyways, after Jesus heals the kid and they had retired to the house, the apostles asked Him why they couldn't heal the kid.  In Mark 9:28-29 it is Jesus' reply to them.  He talks about the power of prayer and fasting and how sometimes that is what is needed to overcome situations or "demons".  I have come to learn since I have been here, how truly powerful fasting is.  I know sometimes it is a hassle, but it helps us grow closer to our Savior better than anything else.  You will also see the blessings that you are asking for. 

So I sent your Christmas package on Friday.  Yes, it will get there very early, but they are really sweet and I want you guys to be able to use them right now.  I don't want you to open them until next week during email time though.  I sent it DHL, so it should be there before next Sunday.  Don't expect much more around Christmas time though, because this was a little pricey.  It is so worth it though.  I hope you all like it.

I love you all so much!

American breakfast

Happy 4th of July

A day in the Institute