Merry Christmas!

What a week!  I say that like it was super busy, which it was for two days.  Unfortunately two days kinda got wasted because of the LTO (Land Transportation Office) and the fiasco that was me trying to get my license.  The first day we went and after waiting for about two hours they told me I wouldn't be able to get my license right then.  They said I needed to come back the next day and take a test and they charged me  2,500 pesos. The next day we went back and waited for another three hours.  They charged me more pesos, took my picture, got my signature, and told me all they need now is my passport to verify that I have a current visa.  I guess when the area office scanned my passport, the visa they scanned expired in March 2013.  So that is all I am waiting for now to get my license.  I am hoping it doesn't take another four weeks to get scanned and sent. 

It was another great week of work in Ma-ao.  In just two days we were able to teach 13 lessons and find 37 new investigators!  Some of the things we did to find those investigators were first for me.  We taught a lesson in the Barangay Hall to a few of the Barangay officials and also met with and talked with the Barangay captain.  We invited him to church and he said he would come, but then he didn't.  O-well, maybe next week!  We also went to a funeral open house.  We taught a lesson to a family of 11 with the casket of their dead brother right next to me.  It was such a great lesson and we are going back this week for a return appointment. 

I am super excited to Skype with the family on Christmas.  Thirty minutes isn't going to be long enough, but just being able to see and talk to you all will be the best gift ever!  After that we have a baptism.  Sister Nieva Cenidoza is going to be baptized by President Lopez.  We thought it would be a good gift to him to be able to baptize someone on Christmas day.  Sister Nieva is awesome.  She is super wealthy and is actually from Chicago.  She was born and raised in the Philippines, but moved to Chicago for work.  She gets mad whenever we try speaking Illongo to her, so all the lessons are in English and it is tough!  I don't know if I have ever taught someone who I know with surety will endure to the end.  She has had a very tough past and made a lot of mistakes, but she is incredibly repentant and all she wants to do is go back and live with Heavenly Father.  She told me after one year she is going to come to America and go through the Salt Lake temple.  She wants me to go there with her and I promised I would.  The sad thing is that her husband died and she does not want to be sealed to him.  I think it is sad, but I am sure everything gets worked out in the next life!

This week I have been thinking a lot about angels.  I have studied a little about them, but honestly I still don't know all that much.   I do know that they are here though.  I am the luckiest person in the world because I have five very special angels in my life.  One that is beyond the veil that I know is with me more than I realize.  Grandma Wilstead has taught me more about God's love than anyone else in my life.  The other four are on this side of the veil.  First, and foremost, is my mother.  She truly is an angel.  No other word could accurately describe her.  If it weren't for us four boys, she would have gone to heaven a long time ago.  I don't know how dad got her, but good job pops!  Grandma Olcott has always been one of the most loving people I know and has never been too busy to spend time with us grandkids.  Of course Melissa was one of the more literal angels that was sent to me.  I don't know what else to call the answer to a prayer, and that is exactly what she was and is.  Her mother, Natalie, has the best timing ever!  Whenever I feel super homesick, I can expect to be getting a package from her.  Even if it is just candy and a card, it is always just what I needed!  I'm not going to call Dad, Kody, and Logan angels, but they are definitely blessings in my life!

Merry Christmas!  I love you all!

Erick Cayao, Elder Peralta, and Gami

Welcome to Ma-ao

Still Waiting for the Passport

Our week was good.  My passport still hasn't come in, but we were able to go and work in Ma-ao on Sunday and it was an awesome experience.  We were able to find six new investigators and I can say that the people there are so ready to hear this gospel.  After being there for a day, Elder Peralta and I cannot wait to go back on Wednesday to work more!  I feel like miracles are going to happen there.  As I only have six months left in my mission, I hope that is where I get to finish off my mission.

I want to share just one experience that we had yesterday that kinda shows how prepared these people are for this gospel.  We met the Barrientos Family.  They have listened to the missionaries before but nothing really came of it.  When we first got there it was only the mother that we were teaching.  She was telling us how badly she wants her son Michael to change.  He is 21 and has a lot of bad habits because of his group of friends.  As we were promising his mother that our message will change her entire family's life, she was just bawling.  Then her son Michael shows up, and I swear I have seen this kid before--but I haven't.  (Sounds weird, I know)  Anyways, he comes in and sits down.  He tells us about his desire to give up some of his bad habits and how he wants to feel "light" and not feel so heavy all the time because of his sins.  It was way cool.  I was able to bear testimony to him that I know this gospel will change us because I have experienced it in my own life.  We committed the mom and Michael to be baptized on January 17, then after we got home we got a call from the mom saying she had talked to her husband and they all want to be baptized on Christmas Day--they said January 18 was too far away.  Unfortunately, they have to attend church four times before they can be baptized, but I just thought it was awesome that they want it so bad.  Michael also told us during the lesson that he would really like to try serving a mission one day.  It was just super cool.  I  haven't known that family very long, but I seriously love them so much.  That is what happens here, you fall in love with the people so quickly that it is insane!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Look to the Savior

This week was another good week.  We were expecting to be heading off to Ma-ao, but because of the delay in my passport we were unable to.  President Lopez doesn't feel comfortable with us going there without a car because we will have to be traveling back and forth from La Carlota.  Our house won't be ready to move into until the 23rd of December.

We were able to witness a tender mercy from the Lord this week.  Our baptism was not looking so promising as of Friday afternoon.  However, we never lost faith that our investigator would get the long, very long, awaited okay from her father.  It is so tough because she is only a year away from not needing permission at all and knowing how badly she wanted to be baptized was testing all of our faith.  But between the four of us trying just about every other hour to catch her very busy father at home, finally Elder's Doane and Sablan were able to talk with him and remove the miscommunication that was causing his worry.  I think he was under the impression we were trying to get his daughter to become a nun!  Anyways, he finally agreed and now we have a return appointment with his family.

Yesterday we went to Bago 1st Ward.  It was a great experience.  When all the members knew we were assigned to Ma-ao, they were more than eager to give us referrals.  We also found two young men preparing for missions that want to work with us!  They are both over 18, so we have the perfect set up for member exchanges once we have learned the area.  We have one active member who is also a recent convert, but just wait and see--he will become our first branch president in Ma-ao!!!!

So this week in my personal study, I came across something really cool.  I was reading the Bible in Matthew Chapter 14.  In this chapter there is the story of Peter walking on the water.  I always kinda read right over this and never really tried to think about how this story could apply to my life.  Anyways, the apostles were on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee and a big storm came.  As they were trying to make all things ready so the boat wouldn't flip, they saw a man in the middle of the tempest.  They were very afraid until the man spoke, saying, in verse 27, ". . .it is I, be not afraid."  That was the point they recognized that being as Jesus Christ.  Peter instantly begged the Lord for the opportunity to walk out to Him on the water and the Lord permitted him to.  Now this is where the lesson comes in.  When Peter starts walking, he has not trouble at all.  It says in verse 29 that he walked on the water to " . . . go to Jesus."  When I read that, I figured his eyes were set on the Lord with nothing wavering--not his vision or his faith.  But then we read in verse 30 that the winds became boisterous and Peter got afraid.  At this point I am sure Peter took his eyes off the Savior and began to look at the storm that was encircling him.  This fear caused him to start sinking.  When at that time in desperation he returned his focus to the Lord and cried, " . . . Lord save me."  Immediately Jesus set his hand out and caught His sinking Apostle.  Then in verse 31 it says, " . . . Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"  The Lord knew the whole time all Peter needed to do to continue walking on the water was to continue to focus on the Lord.

Now for the application to our lives.  So many times we, like Peter, are so confident in our faith and truly feel like we can walk on water.  We start and everything is going so good because our view is fixed on our Savior.  Then Satan comes in and throws doubt into our lives or sometimes Heavenly Father sends us trials to make us stronger.  We start to worry and start focusing on ourselves.  We literally take our eyes off the Savior and His power to help us.

Another scripture that came into my mind as I was reading this was in D&C 6:36-37.  In verse 36 the Lord says, "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."  I love that He uses the word look.  It works perfect with this story.  He is pretty much saying to us, please don't worry about this.  Don't be afraid--I got this one!  But then even to add to it, in verse 37 He gives His own qualifications for deserving our faith.  It says, "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet . . . "  That verse hit me with a lot of power.  I seriously feel like Jesus is begging us saying, "look at these scars in my hands and on my feet, look at the wound in my side.  I have every single one of your fears, sorrows, trials, pleadings, etc. written into my body.  If anyone can help you, it is me.  So don't be afraid, I will help you!"

I just want to end with my testimony that being members of this church doesn't mean we live a life full of joy here on this earth.  If this church wasn't true, Satan wouldn't even pay attention to us. All the trials and doubts and struggles we feel is a testimony to me that this is true. I know that our Savior lives and I know He loves each and every one of us with a love that is far, far beyond our ability to understand.  All we need to do is try our best, and He will take care of the rest.

I love you all so much.  I hope this is able to help someone in some way!

 

Happy Birthday

This was a crazy week.  We went on three exchanges with the Bago zone leaders and it was good.  So, I am transferring again.  This time to Ma-ao.  It is actually a barangay of Bago City in Negros Occidental.  Anyways, there have never been missionaries there before.  It is what is called an open area.  President know there is one member family there, but other than that he knows little about it.  Elder Peralta and I kinda feel like someone hit us over the head with a 2x4.  We had 25 baptisms planned in our area for December, including 10 on Christmas Day and now we are opening an area, meaning a big 0 for baptisms in December.  O-well, such is life right? 

My birthday was good--much better than the last one.  I was actually on exchanges in the morning and then I went home around 10:30 and opened my presents.  After that Elder Peralta and I went to work together for the first time all week.  While we were out, Elder Doane texted us and told us to meet them for pizza after we were done working.  They all treated me to pizza and wings for my birthday dinner which was awesome!

I heard a quote the other day from one of our new missionaries straight from the MTC.  He said, "You have two years to work as hard as you can, and an eternity to think about it."  I loved that!

So far, being an AP has sucked!!!!!  Just kidding.  I have had fun, but I have been sick for two weeks because we are so busy and I don't have time to get better!  I like the expectations that are placed on us though. 

Hope everyone has a great week. Love you all!

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!