July 30, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat ng aking ka-maganak at kaibigan ko!

This week was very busy.  We are currently trying to move out of our current apartment because, quite frankly, it's not safe anymore.  That being said, we spent a lot of time this week working out the contract for our new home, which is now secure! We will be moving on August 10 and, let me tell you, our new home is gorgeous! I'll be sure to send pictures when we move in!

This last Saturday we were invited to attend the baptism of two children of record in our branch (meaning their parents are members and they are being baptized at the age of 8). Well, this baptism turned out to be a once in a lifetime experience. The baptism went well and the ordinance was performed as normal.  After they were baptized, time was given for the two kids to bear their testimonies.  The first of the two kids confidently went up to the front and stood there for about 2 minutes, trying to think of what to say.  Then, quite suddenly he bolted out the door while shouting "Umiisboak!" which is Ilokano for "I'm Peeing!" haha.  It was definitely a one of a kind baptismal service.

But the best thing that happened was we found yet another family that wants to be taught.  So, Elder Andon and I were walking to an appointment and suddenly we hear a nanay who is sitting out on her porch making suman (sticky rice), yell out, "Hey! Where are you going? This is my house! You found it!"  We were both surprised considering she spoke English and that she acted like she knew us.  We approached her and assumed she was talking to me because I'm the white English speaker.  We asked who she knew between the two of us and she pointed to Elder Andon.  He was very surprised because he was absolutely certain that he had never met her.  Anyway, long story short we meet the family and we make a deal that we would teach the gospel if they would teach us how to make suman.  It's a pretty sweet deal (pun intended) and we are returning to them tomorrow.

That last experience just goes to show that no effort in missionary work is wasted.  Even though my companion couldn't remember meeting this person, at one point they had opened their mouths and testified to her about the gospel, which at least made enough of an impression for her to call out to us as we were passing by.  I know that this work is the greatest work in the history of the world, and there is nothing I would rather be doing.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Have a great week 

We Almost Had a Baptism -July 23, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was quite... interesting.  So, we were supposed to have a baptism this week, who was the grandson of the first counselor of the branch presidency (his name is Steven). All of his lessons had been going fine, and he had been reading the Book of Mormon and has a testimony of the gospel. He passed the baptismal interview and everything was scheduled to go.  On the day of the baptism, however, my companion and I felt something was off.  We went to pick up Steven to make sure he was ready.  We get there and he's dressed in basketball shorts, a cutoff tee and watering plants.  We realize something is up and we say we will come back after we talk to his grandma, the Relief Society President.  We get there and they tell us everything was ready to go, they went to the church and found out their grandson wasn't there.  They go back home and find out their grandson is hiding at his other grandma's house (He's 14 by the way).  

After learning about what happened, we return to his house and we try and talk with him to just learn why he suddenly changed his mind.  We sit there patiently and encourage him to help us understand but he doesn't say anything for the 40 minutes we were there.  We then felt it was time to leave, so we let him know that we would always be just one text/call away if he needed help with anything and we left a prayer for him.

Hopefully his time will come shortly.

However, this does have a silver-lining. We found a new part-member family who really really wants to be baptized so they can eventually go to the temple and be sealed! They are awesome! They all have a baptismal date for the 12 of August and they are doing very well!  

This rollercoaster of a week has really helped me appreciate the strength that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Our Savior did not just suffer for our sins, He also suffered for all of our heartaches.  All of our pain, both physical and spiritual, He has felt.  He understands exactly how to comfort us, all we need to do is seek that comfort and He will be there to give it to us.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and o what comfort that sentence gives to me.  I love my Savior, and I know He loves me too.  

Until next week,

Mahal ko kayong lahat 

It's More (HOT) in the Philippines -July 9, 2017

Magandang araw mga kaibigan at kamag-anak ko!

Well, this week was super busy.  We had three different exchanges this week and have two more coming this week.  We had a lot of great lessons this week, even though our investigators got a little confused why my companion kept changing every time we came to teach them.  However, I think the change in companions was really helpful for the investigators because each missionary teaches and testifies in his own special way, and it was a great experience for the investigators to have so many unique testimonies shared with them.  As a result of our hard work, we were able to have 6 investigators come to church, which was definitely a blessing.

However, the best experience I had this week was while I was on exchanges with Elder Vincent, the companion of our district leader.  We went to teach this group of investigators who are progressing. In total they are 8, but one was absent when we taught them.  Anyway, we were able to teach them the entire Restoration of the Gospel and committed them to pray and read the Book of Mormon to come to know of its truthfulness.  They willingly accepted those commitments.  After that, we then extended a Baptismal Date to all of them and they...

...

...

... Rejected it.

So, we hopefully would have had 7 more baptisms scheduled for August, but I'm actually grateful that they rejected it because it helped me understand that they are true investigators and they want to understand for themselves if this is the right decision for them.  I know over time, if they really put in the effort to come to understand, they will receive that witness. 

Other than that nothing else really happened this week.

I hope you all have a great week and a fantastic day!

Mahal ko kayong lahat! 

Elder Anderson