CALL ME A DOG: I BARK

Hello Po,

It's More Fun in the Philippines:

• "Barker": Someone that is paid for yelling at people on loud, busy streets until they get onto a jeepney (Philippine's version of public transportation). Well on Tuesday I became a Barker. One of the men we are teaching is the driver of a jeepney and he picked us up for free. In exchange for the free lift I barked at people to get on to the jeep which in turn helps the driver make money (barking makes it sound aggressive and mean, but I wasn't mean. Promise haha) Basically every time he stopped the jeepney I jumped out and just started yelling in Tagalog "COME RIDE! THERE IS LOTS OF SPACE! GET IN!!!" In only about four minutes I filled his jeepney to the very brim. It was so full I did not have a place to sit. I lost my voice in the process, but he was super grateful for my help haha. I suppose people followed my instructions because I am a white man yelling in Tagalog (not a typical sight in the Philippines).

This last week I attended a Mission Leadership Conference, and a few changes were made to our mission. The biggest of those changes is that our mission will move away from the strict schedule that we used to follow everyday to now a schedule that allows flexibility depending on our personal needs and the needs of those we are teaching. It now puts a lot more accountability on us as missionaries to continue to work hard and not get lazy. Ultimately, it is a much better schedule, because our Mission President is now putting his trust into us as missionaries to make our own decisions. I think we can compare this to something that is occurring to each one of us, you included. Our Heavenly Father has provided us all with great flexibility and accountability. We have all been entrusted to make our own decisions on a daily basis whether good or bad. the freedom to choose good or bad is known as our personal "Agency." However, although we are free to do as we desire, God has clearly outlined that we are to use this freedom to follow him and do as He desires. Not to say we are restricted, in fact, we are still very free. The difference is that God knows what is best for us, he knows what will lead to joy and in contrast what will lead to sorrow. If we use our Agency to follow Him, then we are bound to experience happiness.

"Wherefore, men are free... to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil..." (2 Nephi 2:27)

Elder Hemmert