Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

MALIGAYANG PASKO PO at MALIGAYANG BAGONG TAON!!!

or in English: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Malaya Family. A less active family we reactivated.

First off, Elder Pedersen and I bought about 100 large candy bars and 150 small candy bars and spent all of Christmas Day wishing people Merry Christmas and handing out candy. It was super fun! Everyone is so nice hear. Everywhere we went people offered us food and often would stop us on the street and give us food even though we had never met them before. By the end of the day I probably put on 10 extra pounds! It was such a fun day! We also shared short messages about the birth of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. We taught one man in particular named JoJo. He had a terrible stroke a few years ago and can no longer stand and has difficulty speaking. However, he understands very well and has a very kind heart. We shared with him Alma 7:10-13 about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and as we shared he began crying. He feels he has made too many mistakes in his life, but I know that

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.)

through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all of our pain, guilt, and regret can be wiped clean. Jesus Christ should be our main focus during this season and in every season of our lives. Because the fact is, we all make mistakes. We all experience sicknesses. We all suffer heartache. We all wish life could be easier. The fact is, Jesus Christ felt all of those feelings that we experience. He has felt our joy and our sorrow. He suffered for us. And because he suffered for us and felt our pain, he knows how to help us. When we feel alone, when we feel like no one understands us, remember that your Savior, Jesus Christ, knows everything you feel. He gives us reason to celebrate this Christmas, because through him we can receive everlasting

happiness! He is the Prince of Peace!

Check out this video:https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-1000-a-savior-is-born-christmas-video?lang=eng

Elder Hemmert

Mission Change

New Mission Boundaries were announced for Elder Hemmert's mission. The most hilarious part of this is Colby is going on a humanitarian trip this July/August to San Pablo, Philippines. This area has just been added to Elder Hemmert's mission. Will be interesting to see if they cross paths. Most likely, no, but still fun to laugh about!!! It is in the Lord's hands. ;)

Picture and Message from Sister Mary Lou Allen

We went with Elder Hemmert and Elder Pederson on Christmas Eve to the Garcia Family (See post https://elderbrittonhemmert.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-miracle-of-cold-turkey-for.html.)They are such good, impressive young men and we love them!

That picture was taken practically in the dark because there were only two small candles for light. No furniture except some wooden pallets that the family pulls out at night to sleep on. No electricity, stove, fridge. Really, hardly any belongings. No windows or actual doors. Tarp on the living area floor, probably acquired from a discard from a grocery store. I don't know how you could know this family and not be changed forever.

Britton's (LIVE) Testimony

It was the only Christmas Gift we cared about this year...GETTING TO FACETIME our BOY! Elder Hemmert is doing great! We had 45 min the hear about his adventures and it is amazing the comfort that comes just from seeing him. Not exactly sure how my parents did this back in the old days when my brother went off to serve his mission in India without emails/facetime/etc!!!!! Grateful for modern technology and the blessings of our sweet Elder and his service.

Elder Hemmert sends his love to all of you! Here is a video of his testimony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVhVrKSrsd8&feature=youtu.be

15 Seater Stalker Van

Kumusta Po!

Highlights:

-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!

-Also, just so you all know, caroling here is nothing like caroling in the States. In the states the people that are caroling give the presents, but here the carolers  are the one that receive the gifts. Basically they go house to house asking for money. It's kind of interesting, but the little kids love it, because the children get a lot of money doing it haha. Also if you don't have money to give them you simply say "Tawad" which basically means "forgiveness."

The VAN MAN named JAN JAN:

-As I said in my last email, two weeks ago we were walking on the street and a man that was very drunk invited us into his home and proceeded to tell us that he wanted to feel clean. He has taken the lives of seven people as a soldier and made many other decisions that he regrets. This past Sunday we were in his neighborhood picking up someone up for church, but the man we were hoping to walk to church was not home. We decided to make our way down a different street in hopes to find him down on the corner, but rather than finding that man we instead ran into Jan Jan (the drunk man that had brought us into his home). He seemed busy and didn't want to stop and talk, but for some reason I felt like I should invite him to go to church with us. So I invited him, he stopped walking, and asked when we would go. I said, "Ngayon po" (right now). He responded by saying, "Sige. Lets go." Without saying a word he walked to his home, and we followed. He invited us in and said he needed to shower first. He went in to the bathroom and we heard only three bucket dumps and he came out dressed and ready to go only two minutes later. It was the quickest "shower" in the world, and we headed out the door for church. However, rather than walking to church he began heading in the opposite direction. We followed him to the next block where he invited us to jump in his 15 SEATER SHUTTLE VAN! He drove us to church and spent all of sacrament with us! It was amazing, and he loved it! He is such an interesting guy and full of surprises. It's always fun to visit him. We haven't even taught him yet and he came to church!

Invitation this week:

Check out this website and then try to find a way to "Light your Faith."

LightTheWorld.org

Elder Hemmert

Stop Going Through the Motions

Magandang Umaga Po Mga Kapatid,

Highlights:

-I hypnotized an Inahin (Hen). I really impressed a bunch of Filipinos. However, they were also very worried I was killing their hen. Also, on the note of mga Manok (chickens). There are SOOO MANY Sabong (Fighting Roosters)! That is a very popular sport here!

-A drunk man told us to follow him back to his home... so of course... we did. He let us in, and his family was like, "Why did you bring two white men in our house!" We talked to the man, he says he wants to feel clean from his many mistakes. As a soldier he has taken the lives of seven people and made many other decisions that were not very good. We decided we would return to him and teach him about repentance when he was sober. As we left I went to shake his hand, but he grabbed me, pulled me in, and gave me the biggest, sweatiest hug EVER!  So yeah, that was awesome!

My little message for the day:

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). 

CHALLENGE FOR YOU:

My challenge to you is to STOP GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS! Find something you want to improve, and work toward reaching that point. Daily goals are the key. Also, don't forget, the new year is close, so begin making resolutions now! We can always find ways to improve!

Elder Hemmert

Elder Hemmert hypnotizes a chicken
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&ar=2&video_id=ZNt-NLKf9F4

Elder Hemmert traveling like the locals
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&ar=2&video_id=7Bj-aqYan8M

Tender Mercies & SPIDERS...

Maligayang Pasko!!

Spiritual Experience of the week:

This one may be considered a little odd at first, but is without a doubt a tender mercy of the Lord. Two nights ago I woke up to extremely loud barking from the neighboring dogs at 2:00 am. All of the dogs throughout our neighborhood were barking including the dog that sits just outside our bedroom window. They were so loud that I could not sleep. I laid awake for about 30 minutes, and with no hope of falling asleep I decided to get up for a bit. I figured if sleep wasn't an option than I might as well utilize that time, so I went to my desk just outside the bedroom and began studying from the Book of Mormon. In studying for a while I came across a wonderful scripture verse on faith, Moroni 7:37, "It is by faith that miracles are wrought." The dogs had not ceased their barking for what was now almost an entire hour, but I realized there was a way to get them to stop. Faith. I closed my scriptures, cleaned off my desk, and I knelt on the floor. At that moment I offered a prayer to my Heavenly Father in which I simply expressed that I know by faith miracles are wrought. Also that I know Heavenly Father can do ALL THINGS. And lastly, with that knowledge and faith that I have, I asked that Heavenly Father would either silence those dogs or at least silence them from my ears that I may no longer hear them and finally be able to sleep once again. I closed my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ and went to my room. the dogs had not ceased barking yet and in fact they seemed to get louder; however, just as Ether 12:6 says, "ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." I knew that the my faith was simply being tested, but Heavenly father would eventually answer my prayer and silence those dogs. I climbed into bed with the dogs still barking, but at the very moment that my head hit the pillow, the dogs CEASED to bark. They did not bark even once after my head was on that pillow! I found myself smiling so wide that I began laughing. It was 3:00 am and I was laughing in the dark all by myself, because I knew Heavenly father had answered my prayer. I quickly was able to fall asleep, and woke up the next morning, one minute before my alarm, fully energized for a new day!

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. I know that by Faith ALL THINGS are possible.

Invitation to all of you: Increase your Faith this Christmas Season by learning of Jesus Christ and praying to Heavenly Father daily by going to LightTheWorld.org  .https://www.mormon.org/christmas/

Video of Spider in Elder Hemmert's Apartment in the Philippines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTHp9U9B_eA

Video: Gobble Gobble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPT5-k1Ww_w