There is No Greater Work Nor Joy -October 16, 2016

Magandang Umaga o Hapon o Gabi!

What a fantastic week!  I seriously love missionary work! There is no greater work nor joy that can be felt except through this great and marvelous work!

First off, let me explain about the picture I sent last week with me feeding the tiger.  Last transfer, our zone went to a zoo for a zone activity, and the zoo offered a walk with tigers experience for 500 pisos (about ten dollars).  Obviously, I paid the 500 pisos and got to participate in this once in a lifetime experience.  Yes the tiger is real and yes I was feeding it from a baby bottle.  It was pretty fantastic.

Anyway, back to the more important matters.

I seriously love my companion and area!  My companion, Elder Anuat, is our District Leader and is a fantastic example to me.  We work really well together and we're becoming good friends. 

Last week was our first week of complete proselyting.We opened the area and spent the first full week finding the members and becoming acquainted with the members who would be willing to work with us.  It was a good way to gain the trust of the members and to lay a good foundation for our work.

This week, however, was very successful. Earlier in the week, we were contacted by a man, Brother Abe, as we were eating dinner at Bigmak, and he was super curious about the gospel and we gave him a Book of Mormon.  We went to his home earlier this week and taught him all of the First Lesson.  He had a lot of questions and we wrote them down so that we could answer them next time.  We also extended the commitment to baptism and he accepted.  He is scheduled to be baptized on November 12.  

Next, we contacted a referral from a member to teach his younger sister who just returned home from Cagayan (a far area of the Philippines) and she's super excited to learn the gospel.  We extended an invitation to be baptized and she accepted! She is scheduled for November 19, which is actually her birthday.  She came to church yesterday and was so excited to show us that she was there that after sacrament meeting she came up to us and said, "Elders! I'm here!" I'm so excited for her and she's so happy that the gospel came into her life.  Her older brother, a super active member, teaches her with us and his testimony really helps her understand the joy of the gospel.

Now, for something of a different tune... There is a super typhoon scheduled to hit our mission this week on Wednesday named Typhoon Lawin.. We'll see how it will affect the mission, but I would appreciate your prayers for me and all the missionaries in my mission to stay safe during this time. And a heads up, I may not be able to email on Monday if there's power loss.

Also, my condolences go to the Giacolone Family.  You guys are amazing and are in my prayers.

That's all I have for this week, until next time! (hopefully next week)

-Elder Anderson

Pictures-- October 9

Cabugao -October 9, 2016

Magandang araw!

Hello everybody! What a fantastic week this has been!

I'll start off with my new area/companion.  My new area is Cabugao, and it's been going well here.  We spent this week teaching our investigators but focusing mainly and finding the member's homes in our area.  My new companion is Elder Anuat, a Filipino from Bacolod, and he's way awesome! He's actually our district leader, and he is super hard working!  I'm so grateful to be his companion! I know we're going to have a lot of success together!

This week I was also able to watch conference!  Due to the time difference of the Philippines and America, conference is watched a week later here.  I'm so grateful to have living prophets on the Earth today to lead and guide us!  I finished the book "Our Heritage" this week, and it gave me a new gratitude for living prophets.  I never fully understood how truly blessed we are to live in this dispensation where we get to here from living prophets on a regular basis!  I can't wait for the next general conference!

I'll give some of my thoughts from each of the talks, starting with Priesthood Session (Here, priesthood session is first)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Home teaching is the first source of help for members of the Church, and it should be treated in high regard, a blessing and a privilege to serve other members of this Church.  Be God's emissaries to His children!

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.

As we read the Book of Mormon regularly, the Spirit will be felt more strongly in our lives.  We will be able to better resist temptation, shake off contention, and abound in the love of the Lord.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

It's alright to admit that you need help.  To be successful, you need to find your "Amuleks," those whom the Lord has prepared to help you and His work. Be the call of action!

President Henry B. Eyring

Give Aaronic Priesthood holders the faith they need by helping them understand they can draw upon the power of God.  As a Melchezidek Priesthood holder, lead by example to the young priesthood brethren of the Church.

President Thomas S. Monson

The blessings of the Word of Wisdom are real, and can come at unexpected, but critical times

Saturday Morning Session

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We must realize just how much we have in our lives, we have been given so many sacred and sublime gifts in our lives and sometimes we are so past feeling that we don't realize just how lucky we are to have this restored gospel in our lives.

Elder Robert D. Hales

No manual is more helpful than the Scriptures and the guidance of the Spirit.  That's all we really need in our lives to help make important, eternal decisions.

Sister Carol F. McConkie

All three members of the Godhead are engaged in prayer, making it a very powerful, personal tool for us to strengthen our relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Elder Craig C. Christensen

It's ok for us to have questions about the gospel, but we cannot let those questions paralyze our faith.  Rather we must seek after answers through sincere study and prayer.  If we do these things, we will receive an answer.

Elder Juan A. Uceda

Promptings from the Spirit should not be ignored. God knows more than we do, so why should we ignore His voice?

Elder J. Devn Cornish

The Lord always believes in us, even if we don't believe in ourselves.

Elder Neil L. Andersen

Even with our strong desire to share the gospel, we may be discouraged based on our past, unfruitful efforts.  However, we should strive to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places, regardless of the reception of that witness.  Be thou an example of the believers.

Saturday Afternoon Session

Elder Quinten L. Cook

We've all been given a space for repentance in this life, but we have to USE it!

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

We can all witness a miracle in our lives, and that is receiving a testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

God's love is everlasting, perfect, and great; but, it is not unconditional.  We must respond to His love appropriately by keeping the commandments and receive the grace of Christ by having faith in Him and follow the principles of the gospel.

Elder W. Mark Bassett

The mysteries of God can be unfolded unto us through sincere prayer, humility, trusting in the prophets, and diligent study but often takes time

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

Sometimes, we don't know why we are where we are, but we must know that there is a purpose in our actions that God knows

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Our efforts to share the gospel should not be limited to our comfortable circle of friends

Sunday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson

Our gospel contains the plan of salvation for all men, and without the atonement of Jesus Christ, all would be lost.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

We are supposed to have joy in this life, it's the purpose of life to have joy! Seek after the joy of the world!

Elder Peter F. Meurs

Prepare for the Sacrament throughout the week, and contemplate our spiritual progress. Each sacrament meeting should show progress in our spirituality and with it a commitment to continue to progress.

Sister Linda S. Reeves

Repentance is difficult, possibly the most difficult thing we have to do, but its reward is well worth the temporary heartache and pain.

Bishop Dean M. Davies

We cannot let our worship turn into routine. Each Sunday service should be central to our lives, something we yearn for and seek out.

Elder Lynn G. Robbins

We must resist the temptation of the natural man to condemn others

Elder M. Russell Ballard

The Savior is always able to rebuke any storm that comes upon our life

President Henry B. Eyring

As we feel gratitude for what the Savior sacrificed for us, we feel a deeper love for Him and the Sacrament gains a deeper meaning for us.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder David A. Bednar

Serving Him requires all our heart, might, mind, and strength. As we serve others with all our heart, might, mind, and strength we turn away the selfish tendencies of the natural man and come to know the Lord personally.

Brother Brian K. Ashton

Learning of the doctrine of Christ and living its principles and performing its ordinances allows us to receive all of the blessings that come from the Plan of Salvation, and the doctrine of Christ is the only way we can do so.

Elder Carl B. Cook

We have greater power as we unify and serve together in the Lord's work

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

No mistake we make will revoke God's love, but we must continue to follow the commandments and strive to do our best to become like Christ

Elder Evan A. Schmutz

Without faith, the trials and sorrows of life can obscure or eclipse the eternal, joyful rewards of the gospel

Elder K. Brett Nattress

Parents can have a profound effect on their children's spiritually through example and starting to teach their children while they are still young. This will help them want to learn more about the gospel and understand their purpose in this life.

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Real repentance requires faith, and when applied correctly, transforms repentance from a miserable behavior correction into a joyful change of self.

I know that was a lot, but I felt I had to share those with you.  Hopefully one of those thoughts helps you in your life.  I know that God loves each of us because He gave us prophets to let us know what we should do in our lives.

I love you all

Elder Anderson