Happy Thanksgiving

This was a great week!  It started off extremely spiritual with the meetings with the new missionaries and then we were able to get some great work done.  Being an AP is a great opportunity.  I have very humbly prayed and asked for divine help as I try to do what I feel so inadequate at being able to do by myself.  It is so great being with three other missionaries that have the same desire to work and to see the blessing this is in people's life as I do.  I am so excited to watch the work in this ward!

This week is going to be a pretty busy one for us.  We have exchanges coming up with Bacolod North, Bacolod South, and the Bago zone leaders.  I am excited and know that we will have another successful week with many more miracles.  We have a great investigator named Sister Nieva.  She is a perfect example of the rich and the learned.  She truly has been so prepared by the Lord to accept this gospel.  She is very excited and is extremely in tune with the spirit.

I was really hoping to have great news about the football game, but it's okay.  I told Elder Doane earlier today that no matter what happened with the game, I wouldn't be more proud than I was the day that Kody told me he was going on a mission and nothing would stop him from serving.

I want to share an experience that I had a couple of days ago.  I was really trying to figure out what I have gained from my mission that has changed my life.  That sounds weird, because every week I share experiences that have changed my life here.  But, this was more like what has really changed me.  I thought about it for a couple of days actually and I just barely received my answer--actually during emailing you!  I now know that this gospel is true.  Before it was just something that I felt or something that I "hoped" to be true because I didn't have a lot of other things to go on.  I said I knew and I used that when I bore testimony because in my limited knowledge, I really thought I did know.  But now I KNOW it is true.  I know it, not just feel it.  I hope I never lose it, because I am more genuinely more happy than I have ever been in my life right now.  It sucks being away from you all, but the fact that I wake up every day with a smile on my face is because I am doing the things that bring true happiness.  So, when I get home and start complaining because I don't know what to do, just slap me in the face with this email!

I hope you all  have a great week!  I love you all so much!  Hope you have a good Thanksgiving.

First training as an Assistant to the President

Feeling the effects of no sleep

Elder Peralta and me

The food is always the best part of our meetings

New Assignment

This was a good week.  Yesterday we had 134 people at sacrament meeting in Canlaon.  Much better than the 77 my first Sunday here.  Elder Edem, Elder Bragas, Elder Cudac, and I have truly witnessed miracles in this area.  Together we had 16 investigators at sacrament meeting.  This area would really explode if another companionship was placed here.  The field is white all ready to harvest--we just need the laborers!!!

So here is the news . . . I was assigned as an Assistant to the President today.  Honestly, I have mixed emotions about it.  I am excited because it is a great opportunity, but I am a little sad about some of the changes.  Please pray for me.  I am going to need them!

It is my first day as AP and I am already not going to get a P-day!  I have until noon to do what I need to get done and then we are super busy.  We have 15 new missionaries from Tacloban arriving today and I have to give one of the trainings for them.  I can't believe they are adding missionaries to our mission.  We are already over capacity, but it's all good!  The more, the merrier!  I really am praying that I show up and I see Elder Murdock, but I don't think I am that lucky!

One of the great things that I realized this week as I reflected on my mission is this:  When you look for faults in people, you find them.  As you may have noticed, it has been over a month since I have complained about President Lopez.  I took a long time one day and thought about everything.  I realized that I had started looking for faults in him.  I stopped looking at the things I admired about him when I got here, and started looking for reasons to complain and to do my own thing.   Funny how during that time, it was probably one of the harder parts of my mission.  For the last month I have really tried doing what President Bangerter told me to do.  I'm trying to look for the qualities he has that qualifies him to be such a great mission president.  It actually started about a month ago when Elder Nielson of the Quorum of the Seventy came to visit.  He said that missionaries are assigned to mission presidents, not missions.  I think this can apply to all of us though, no matter what situations we are in.  Looking for the bad in people is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It stands in horrible opposition of it.

On Wednesday we had our zone training with President Lopez.  He showed us a video of what it looks like in Tacloban right now, and within seconds I was bawling.  I cannot believe the destruction over there. I hope all of you know how much I love these people,  I have really grown attached to them.  Somewhere between getting mad at being called "Joe" 24/7 and all the poverty, I have truly fallen in love with these people.  The worst part is that even if you were to visit here, you could never understand by just spending a week with them.  I have never met a kinder people in all my life.  They would bend over backwards just to help a complete stranger who doesn't speak their language and is fresh out of America.  So many times I have seen people who own little more than the shirt on their back take a family into their home because the family lost theirs.  Everyone here believes in Jesus Christ (except the Muslims in Mindanao), even if that faith is a little misguided.  It hurts to know that such good people had to suffer so bad, because they don't deserve it.  But, if there was ever a country that will pull together, it is this country.

Also on a sad note, Brother Contreras, the father of that family that I haven been teaching in Canlaon, the ones I really care about, came to church on Sunday!  Okay, that part isn't sad, but it is kinda sad that the day he comes is my last day in the area.  I guess now is the time I really need to trust in Heavenly Father.

I love you all so much!  Kody is going to bring home a state championship!  I'm telling you, it is meant to be!!!!!!

Post Typhoon Yolanda

I am so glad to hear all of the missionaries are safe.  One of my best friends is serving the Tacloban right now and I have been a little worried about him. I know that the Lord takes care of His missionaries, so I am sure he is fine.

Being in San Carlos for three days was a little crazy.  By the end of it I was fighting to get out and just be outside!  It is amazing how much better it is being out and about working.  Being inside for all those days was just torture for 9 people who are used to being out of the house 10+ hours a day.  We only proslyted two days last week and it had to be the longest week of my mission!  By Friday afternoon, I was ready to tear some heads off!  I am sure all of you can imagine me after 24 hours non-stop with 8 other guys!  All in all, it was fun.  Elder Shaffer, Elder Ellis, Elder Pulsipher and I just pretty much sat on the balcony for three days watching the storm, talking about life, etc.  I was good, but it got me super trunky!  All of these natural disasters are pretty crazy experiences for a kid from St. George.  I mean earthquakes, typhoons, and an active volcano that burps smoke about once a week is a little sketchy for me, but I guess it is all part of the experience!

I sure hope all of you have your 72 hour kits ready.  Why?  Because we were stuck in a house for how many hours?  72!  Hmmm, I think that must be a coincidence!  Seriously, one thing all these things are teaching me is that the prophets are for real.  Two weeks ago, Neil L. Anderson warned all the people he spoke to here that they needed their 72 hours kits.  What more evidence do we need that these men know things that we don't!  Also, all of these things are getting me so excited for the second coming!  It is close, I am just praying I get to see it happen.  If not, I am going to have a front row seat from the Spirit World!!!!!!

Coming back to Canlaon on Saturday was interesting.  We got to our house and it was flooded.  We spent the first three hours just trying to fix up our own house.  After we got all the water out, we went out and visited investigators and members.  The good news is that most of the houses were left intact and not too much damage was done to anything but banana trees. There were a couple of homes that fell over because they were only made of bamboo, but the church was open so they were able to stay there during the storm and nobody was seriously injured.  After that, we both had the impression to go to the church.  We went and the relief society was passing out relief goods, so we helped for a bit.  We kinda felt like we were wasting our times, so I was unsure why we had both felt inspired to go there.  As we were about to leave, six kids showed up and asked to borrow a basketball to play.  Elder Bragas immediately said, "Yes, but first we are doing a devotional."  And, that is the story of Canlaon Branch's first basketball day! What started as a church tour with six little kids turned into over 50+ young and college-aged who showed up.  Honestly, we were unprepared for that many people, but we are going to talk about ways we can improve.  I just thought it was pretty amazing that something unplanned had such a crazy turnout.

Unfortunately, there is nothing cool to update you on--just a super boring week!  I love you all and hope you are all doing well!

Monkeying Around

I hope everyone had a good week.  It was a good one for Elder Cudac and I.  We were able to reach our highest key indicator totals for the transfer.  That is probably because this is our first full week when we didn't have anything that took us away from working.  It was also rewarding because we were able to have another baptism.

The blessings have really been with us this month.  When you told me I was training again and especially with me not even knowing the new language, I was terrified.  I didn't know what was going to happen.  But again, as He has throughout my whole mission, Heavenly Father showed me that as long as you just "go and do," He will prepare the way for you.

Elder Cudac told me this week how President Lopez described me in his first interview with him.  I laughed as he told me he was actually pretty worried to meet me.  President had told him I work hard, I am competitive, I want to be the best, I am obedient, and I don't care for my companions!  Everything is true except the not caring for my companions.  I will be the first to admit that I have had a few companions that I have struggled with, but I really do care about them.  I told Elder Cudac that I hope I have been able to show him that I really do care about him.  I was having a pretty good laugh when he was telling me all about that.

So this letter might skip all over the place.  I am sorry, but I will try to clearly move from one point to the other.

First, I want to talk about my personal experience with the prayer challenge.  It was a little harder than I expected.  I came to the realization that sometimes I am pretty selfish in my prayers--just asking, asking, asking.  I realized just how blessed I truly am.  Another thing I realized is all of the hidden blessings in our trials.  This week was full of them for me, but I think Heavenly Father was just testing me to see if I could really do it, and I did!  Another thing I realized is that by doing this, it became more like I was just talking to my Father in Heaven--not so much like a drive-thru order.

Next, I want to talk about something I realized this morning while I was studying.  It is this--ENJOY THE JOURNEY!  Gosh, this life sucks sometimes, doesn't it?  Haha, there is no other way to say it, but we need to enjoy it.  That sounds hard!  As I was thinking about it, if I were to list all the parts of serving a mission, it would sound like hell.  That's the honest truth, but I am happy almost all the time.  I have no idea why though!  The only thing I can say is making that happen is because I read and pray every day.  Sounds silly and super missionary of me, but that is it.  That stuff invites the Spirit and the Spirit won't give feelings of sadness.  Here are a couple of scriptures to study if you want.  It will be best if you study them in order.  2 Nephi 2:22, D&C 95:1, Alma 7:11-12 and D&C 58:3-4.  I think you will see what I tried doing by placing them in that order!

Next, Book of Mormon reading.  I heard something this week that I think could put all of our hearts at ease.  let's be honest.  I don't know if any of us understand everything we read in there.  But I hope this story helps:

There was a grandpa and his grandson sitting by a fireplace.  The grandson turns to the grandpa and says, "Grandpa, I don't want to read the Book of Mormon.  I don't understand anything in it and I don't get anything from it."  The grandpa paused for a second and said, "Pull some of those coals out of the fireplace and put them in this basket (the basket had holes in it).  After the grandson did that, the grandpa told him to go to the pond in the backyard and fill the bucket with water.  The grandson, a little confused knowing the water would drain, hesitantly did as he was told and returned.  The grandpa said, "I need a buck of water, go do it again please."  Without objecting the grandson did it again and returned.  The same thing happened--the water drained and only the coals were left when he returned to his grandpa.  The grandpa again said, "I need water, please go get me a bucket of water.  The grandson then asked, "Can I get a different bucket?"  The grandpa replied, "No, use the same one."  Grudgingly, the grandson continues for five more trips.  Finally the grandpa asks, "Was the bucket able to contain the coals?"  The grandson replies, "Of course not, it has holes."  Then the grandpa tells him to look at the coals.  The grandson looks down to see the coals which were once dirty and dull, now they were clean and shining.  The grandpa then said, "Just because we have holes in our spiritual capacity to learn, it doesn't mean the affect will be any different.  We may not retain all we read, but the affect is the same.  It will polish and clean us and make a difference in our lives, even when we don't see it.  So that being said, read the Book of Mormon every day!  Even if it is just a verse.  YOU WILL BE HAPPY!  I promise you that.  I dare you to put that promise to the test.

Next, I was looking at myself in the mirror yesterday . . . a little vain, I know!  But, I realized that sometime in the past 16 months, I became a man.  I don't look like a chubby kid anymore.  My face looks like a man's face, I can grow a beard in like two days, my voice is deeper, I handle situations a lot more maturely now and . . . I look like a man.  It kinda freaked me out a bit!  I mean, I am a very good looking man, but still I look like a man!  Haha!  Just a little food for thought!

Next, the monkeys!  I hope you all like the photos.  Yes, I did get bit by one of them, but it was my fault.  I was teasing the monkey and he actually slapped me in the face first!  It was the funniest thing ever.  I was like, holy crap, I just got slapped by a monkey!  So what did I do?  I kept teasing him like an idiot and he bit the hand I was holding the bread in!  Anyways, I had no idea that they were literally going to climb on me.  The ran right up and jumped on me.  I was so shocked that I dropped my camera.  Yes, it broke and now I have to buy a new one or try to get mine fixed.  Nevertheless, it was the coolest thing I have done on my mission.  When we come back to visit, we are definitely going there.  It blows my mind how much they act like humans!  Monkeys have always been one of my favorite animals, so I was definitely like a kid in a candy store.  I am sure you can tell by some of the photos.

Anyways, I love you all so much!  I hope you all have great weeks.  I can't wait for football to start again.  Hey-16 months as a missionary and only 8 more to go.  Guess what that means!  If mom and dad wanted to give me another little brother I would be there for the birth!  Haha--just a thought!

Love you all!

Lots of Photos

This was a great week.  It started off on Tuesday with an earthquake!  The epicenter was two islands over, but it was still 5.6 magnitude here.  We were studying when it happened, then all of a sudden the picture of Melissa on my desk fell over and the world started shaking!  It was crazy!  Much stronger than the one that happened on my first day here.  Then there were three others throughout the week--none of which were as strong.  I didn't even feel the last one because we were out proslyting, but we got a call from President because we hadn't texted them to let them know we were okay.  We honestly couldn't even feel it!

The mission tour was great.  We got to listen to Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy.  He did a great job and so did his wife.  At the end, they had a question/answer session.  I asked the first question and it was about how we can deal with the stress of missionary work.  Sister Nielson actually answered and she totally disregarded my question and answered the real question that I was too afraid to ask.  She talked for a bit and then said, "Elders and Sisters, do you want to know if your Heavenly Father is pleased with your work?  If you feel the spirit, then that means He is.  That is how Heavenly Father will communicate his love for you."  I was like, holy crap, this chick has the spirit of discernment . . . and ever since then I have just felt super calm about things.

Another thing that Elder Nielson said in reply to my question is something I think all of us could try to do in our lives, and that is to "SHOOT FOR STEADY."  So simple, yet so true.  Life is such a rollercoaster and one thing I want to do from now until the rest of my life, but specifically through the rest of my mission, is just shoot for steady--not get super high or super low.  That is much easier said than done, but I will try.

A little bit later today we are going to a monkey sanctuary.  It is sweet because there are no cages and if you bring food, the monkeys will climb on you and stuff.  I am super stoked!  Monkeys have always been one of my favorite animals.  Hopefully there will be lots of photos next week!!!

Hope you all have a great week!

This week's baptisms

The three elders I have trained on my mission

Results from the Philippines diet

 

I even have my own drink

Members showing up to help with the service project

 

Taking a break

I was in charge of tearing down this structure

Mission Tour with Elder Nielson

Masskara Festival

General Conference

We were able to baptize Sister Corson this week.  She is the one that missed her husband's baptism because she was at the emergency room with her grandson.  It was a great service.  Even though there wasn't a lot of people there, the Spirit was very strong.  Sister Corson was a little confused about what a testimony was, so she stood up and prayed.  It was a little funny at first, but then Iheard the words she was saying.  It was amazing to hear her pray and bear her testimony to her Father in Heaven.  Her and her husband are not the rich, nor the learned.  They are both pretty old and I don't know how much strength they will give the ward, but I don't think I have ever baptized anyone with more pure faith in our Father in Heaven.  It has been such a privilege for me to get to know them.

I absolutely loved general conference--especially the Sunday morning session of conference.  I feel like all of the talks were in some way catered to me!  I guess that is how we are all supposed to feel though.

This coming week we have the mission tour with Elder and Sister Nielson.  I remember when Elder Evans came and the spirit that I felt there.  I am excited for the rejuvenating effect that I know this will have on my mission!

Hope you all have a great week!

Our American breakfast before going to watch General Conference

Sister Corson's baptism

Saturday morning session of general conference--
never a big turnout except for the missionaries!

These little girls run up to escort us home every time we come home!

Just Another Week

This week was just another week--not much happened.  I did have to go to Bacolod on Saturday for fingerprinting.  I had to do that so I will be able to go home in July.  On our way back a diesel truck flipped on a bridge.  Since it was the only way to get back, we were stranded for about three hours waiting for them to get the truck cleared out.  Because of the delay, I missed the baptism but Elder Cudac took over and did a great job.

My ankle isn't swollen or bruised anymore, but at the end of the days it aches pretty bad.  We still keep working though!

I am super excited to watch general conference this coming week.  It is one of the best weekends ever!  I really want to go to the October session next year at the conference center.  I can't believe I have lived in Utah my whole life and never went to a live session of general conference.  When I tell people that, they look at me like I am crazy!  They can't believe that I don't see the prophet every day.  They don't understand that we aren't even close to Salt Lake City.

I just want you all to know that I love my Heavenly Father.  I know that there is nothing in all this world that will bring us more happiness than living the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Trials happen to all of us.  They are ALWAYS for our good, even though I am not good at handling them sometimes.  I love this gospel and this church.  I love being a missionary, and I know I am going to be so sad to take this name badge off for the last time.  I love my family, and I know that we will be together for eternity.

Thank you all so much for your love and support.  Hope you all have a great week!

 

 

 

Family Home Evening

Everything is so green here