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| The Malaya Family. A less active family we reactivated. |
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| Brother Villeyamoore. An amazing member that is exactly the same as Curtis Hemmert. He is literally the filipino version. I always call him "Tito Ko"(my uncle.) He called me "Pinson Niya" (my nephew.) |
-We had our Ward Christmas Party and our ward is wild! They had all kinds of funny and random skits. I participated in one of the skits and the ward loved that me and my companion got involved. They all love us and are very helpful in missionary work. It is amazing how much more effective missionary work is when members are willing to work with missionaries!
The VAN MAN named JAN JAN:
Highlights:
Well, I feel like weeks are flying by! I literally feel like I was emailing home yesterday, but it was a full week ago! So here is what I realized: I am GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. It's not okay. I need to constantly strive to improve each day so that weeks don't feel wasted. Every day should feel well used. One thing I have decided to improve this next week is to begin setting daily goals again. I plan to stay steadfast in Christ and constantly improving by daily reading from the Book of Mormon for at least 30 minutes, saying genuine prayers, and many other day to day goals. I know as I make daily goals I can more fully "Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" (2 Nephi 31:20). 
I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. I know that by Faith ALL THINGS are possible.
The Garcia family consists of 9 people. They live in a small shack that they built themselves. The father and 14 year old son work in construction. Each night they sleep on wood pallets. But, all in all, they have some of the biggest smiles I've ever seen! They have been taking lessons from missionaries since July, and the mother along with 5 children were preparing for baptism on October 13. The father was not going to be baptized with his family because he was alcoholic and addicted to cigarettes. He spent much of his time and money on those harmful substances, and he was never able to stop even when he tried. Even though the father wouldn't be baptized, the rest of the family prepared for baptism. One week before their baptism, the father and mother got married on October 9th; however, that night the mother passed away from a heart attack. It was devastating! The family was extremely hurt as were we. They were such a happy and beautiful family. But, something amazing happened because of her passing. The father felt a desire to turn his life around and he dropped alcohol and cigarettes completely. He went COLD TURKEY! He decided he would prepare for baptism with his family, and that way his family could be more united and live together forever. We taught their family and moved their baptism date. Finally, the Garcia family, after so many hardships, was baptized this past saturday, November 24, as a family. It was so precious! They said they could feel their mother/wife smiling on their decision to be baptized and confirmed as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was filled with joy for their family, because I know that they can now live with their family forever and be able to be with their mother again. I know that only through Faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by someone holding the priesthood authority of God, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end can we obtain eternal life as families. I am so happy for the Garcia Family! They are such a special family!
Elder Hemmert |
| Possibly the spider that bit Elder Hemmert? (SCREAM) |
Well, two days later we just finished a lesson and began walking toward our next lesson. About a quarter mile down the road we realized we had went the wrong way. We turned around and were a little discouraged that we had wasted that time walking the wrong way. I looked down at my daily planner and I got this thought that we needed to stop by Junior Baltiste ( the man we met on the street). However, we were already behind schedule and we decided we didn't have enough time to visit him. Then all of a sudden we heard someone yell, "ELDERS!" We turned and there was Junior!! We quickly went up to him, and he told us he had been waiting for us, and he invited us to come back tomorrow to teach him. He said he was really excited to hear from us and go to church! We agreed to come back and we went on our way.
Originally, we thought we were going the wrong way, but all along that was the correct way. The Lord guided us a quarter mile down the wrong street so that we could find Junior. I kknow that the Lord will help us and support us when we are seeking to do His will. 
First off here are the, worst to best - Highlights:
The Spiritual highlight: One lady we are teaching loves to have us over and she loves to listen to us. We ask her to attend church and pray, she agrees to do so, but she never follows through. She said that "The Lord would excuse her for not attending church or praying because she was trying." The problem was that she was not trying. My tagalog is still terrible, but at this moment I began speaking to her in nearly perfect Tagalog. I asked her if she truly understands the suffering that Jesus Christ endured for us through His Atonement. I told her in unbroken Tagalog that I know that Jesus Christ was always obedient to the commandments of our Father in Heaven. I testified that Jesus Christ would never allow excuses and problems to get in the way of obeying the Father. That Jesus Christ payed the ultimate price, and the least we can do his obey the Father's commandments. I told her that we truly care for her; otherwise, we would not visit her and teach her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also told her to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and obey the commandments of the Father by praying and attending church. In bold but loving words I told her she wasn't trying hard enough. I asked her to give a better effort, and she said she would do so. We concluded the lesson and the Spirit was stronger than we had ever felt in our lessons with her. After walking home my companion turned toward me and told me, "I don't know if you realize it, but you just experienced the gift of tongues. You just spoke with her in perfect Tagalog." |
| Elder & Sister Wakolo w/ Elder Hemmert and Elder Pederson |
NOW FOR THE SUBJECT: This is my most embarrassing moment EVER!!
My Advice to you: So okay, I'll admit, my efforts in offering service didn't exactly go as planned, but I advise you to follow my example. Offer service to everyone you possibly can. Whether they need it or not you can show your love for others by offering service. I promise your attempts won't backfire they way that mine did!! Find opportunities to serve, even to strangers! Jesus Christ is the perfect example of a service oriented individual.He never shied away from those in need, and he always extended a hand. he helped those he was close with and even those that were strangers to him. Follow his example in service and seek to help everyone you can! Even to strangers!! And even if all you do is wash their dishes!
Kumusta Po Mga Kapatid,
Hello Po!!!!
So my message to you is short. It begins at 7:00pm. Its dark outside. We walked to a family about 20 minutes away. We came to their door (curtain). Their home had three rooms. Each room could maybe fit three people lying down shoulder to shoulder, and the walls were made of thin plywood. The ground was concrete, and there wasn't a bathroom. The family had 10 people in it. I'm not sure how, but these ten people somehow managed to sleep and live in this small space. This is their home. We visited with them a while, they recently joined the church of Jesus Christ. The kids were obviously lacking nutrients, and most of gotten very rare amounts of food. I couldn't tell the 12 year old from the six year old because they were the same size. I could see the outline of their bones easily through their skin. But THEY HAD SMILES ON THEIR FACES. Their kindness was immense. One of the children ran to a nearby store and came back with Oreos and Sprite. They gave them to us, but we kindly refused saying we already ate and were fine. They DID NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. They shoved the food in our bags. With my heart aching for the kids that needed the food more than me I had to accept with gratitude in my heart. These kids needed the oreos more than me. The family needed that money. But their kindness was too large to allow us to go unfed. They are a loving people. They are a grateful people. They have little, but they are grateful for everything they have.
My advice to you. BE GRATEFUL!! For everything!! The Lord gave you everything. Nothing is yours. It is given to you by the Lord. Give thanks to him. You know the roof over your head. The curtains that cover your window. The running water that magically comes out of a metal tube. The Lord blessed you with those things. thank him for those things!
So there is a popular phrase here."It's more fun in the Philippines!" Let me explain how you might use it. (all REAL examples)
