Our Golden Investigators

Busay Falls

From November 23

This week was a pretty normal one, up and until Sunday. Then things went crazy. Our golden investigators, Reuben and Rachelle, were stranded in Tabaco by a broken down motorcycle. That wouldn't be a problem, except that church attendance is a requirement for baptism here in the Philippines, and may or may not delay their baptism, which is frustrating. Then, later in the day when we were teaching another one of our solid investigators, we found out that she'd already been taught and baptized. We've been teaching her for several months now, but she only thought to mention that she'd already been baptized in Manilla then... Mind. Blown. Having teaching objectives change that drastically in the course of three or four questions was pretty disorienting. After that appointment, we had a semi-progressing investigator hide from us because she was shy. Then, at the very last appointment of the day, we had an investigator mention that she knew a member that had watched pornography. That took quite a bit of time and following the Spirit to hash out. When we finally got back to the apartment and sat down to evaluate the days work, my companion said "Grabe si Satan" which pretty much meant "Holy crap Satan was active today."

Ironically, opposition to the work only makes it more clear the divinity of this work. Satan knows the importance of proclaiming the gospel, and works double time to do everything in his power to stop it. The third verse of the hymn "The Time Is Far Spent" it reads "Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you; The weight of your calling he perfectly knows" I've come to know that's so true. Fortunately, we've been promised that "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing." As saints, we'll experience trials and difficulties in the work of establishing His kingdom, but we'll come out successful in the end.

I love you all, have a wonderful week :)

Elder English

From November 30

This week was one of a lot of teaching, and a lot of getting fed. My favorite lesson of the week was with a less active sister in which we all went around and shared our favorite stories from the life of Christ, expressed our thanks for his Atonement, and then talked about what each of us think about while we're taking the Sacrament. There was such a strong spirit to the lesson, and I love having the opportunity to testify of the life and mission of Christ.

As for getting fed, Elder Nierves is being transferred tomorrow, and a lot of the members wanted to give him a send off, so we ate a lot. Good times in the Philippines. I'm going to miss Elder Nierves a ton. I've had him either as a roommate or a companion for all of my time in the field aside for a single transfer (a little more than ten months) and in that time we've become really close friends. The upside is that we already know where he's going and who my new companion is going to be. Normally, all transferring missionaries and their companions collect at a central point for the new assigned areas and companions to be announced, and then all of those missionaries disperse back out to their areas. However, Elder Nierves is being transferred to Bacacay, which is the next city up the highway, so we were informed beforehand and we won't be going to the transfer point. My new companion is coming from Bacacay. His name is Elder Medios. We actually met when we were both being trained in order to become trainers, and we got along really well. He did a really good job of walking my trainee, Elder Pangilinan, through his first priesthood blessing when I got sick during the training. I'm really looking forward to working with him.

Life is always changing and shifting. People move in and out of your life, surroundings change frequently, and our status and conditions of living can shift in the blink of an eye. May we all make our great strength in life a relationship with the one thing that won't change, our Father in Heaven. He loves us, and always will. His Plan of Salvation has as its most central purpose our welfare and good as His children. Let us find our place in His plan so that we may return and live in His presence eternally.

Love,

Elder English

From December 15

So, this last week was a lot of fun, with some great breakthroughs int he work. The first was with a brother who we're preparing for baptism, and we taught a lesson where he just hit a wall. Despite being very eager to be baptized, he was really resistant to the idea of living the commandment that we had taught. We taught for a good thirty minutes, explaining the commandment in several different ways, and to be honest, I thought it was a bust. I expected to leave with him still uncommitted to living that part of the gospel. Out of nowhere halfway through, he looked at us and said "give me until the twentieth, and I'll follow that commandment" I was pretty mind blown. There was no warning or indication that what we were explaining to him made any sense, he just made a 180 position flip. I know that wasn't our doing. I'm glad the powers up top have a significant interest in this work.

Then, this Sunday, we had a less-active brother attend church, which blew my mind. My entire stay in Malilipot we've been inviting him to come to church (we teach his nephew most of the time we go to their house, and we make sure that he knows he's welcome at church) and nothing. Every time he tells us he'll come when we invite him, and then comes up with reasons why he couldn't afterwards. I was really happy to see him there, and hopefully it'll be the first step in the journey of reactivation.

I think what I'm trying to say is that people can surprise you if you don't give up on them. Too frequently we underestimate our fellow man and the influence for good the Light of Christ can have on them. God loves them just as much as he loves them, and he certainly hasn't given up on them. Let's sustain Our Father in his work.

I love you guys.
Elder English