CORONAVIRUS PHILIPPINES

Magandang Araw Po,

It's More Fun in the Philippines:

• With increasing concerns over CoronaVirus, many safety measures have been taken in the Philippines. Manila has now been put under lockdown for the following month, and we are preparing for the possibility of lockdown here in Batangas. Ultimately, corona has not spread very far in the Philippines; however, the Philippine government are putting in place strict protective measures to avoid the growth of the disease. We feel quite safe right now, and we are still going out to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all those willing to listen. We have taken protective measures including the avoidance of handshaking, and using hand sanitizer often. In the event of a lockdown, we may not email for a few weeks.

In accordance with government and church orders that we must avoid gathering in large groups, this last week we did not have a church service. However, we still desired to make Sunday a day of worship and love, so with the assistance of a few members of the Church of Jesus Christ here in Batangas we spent our entire Sabbath Day visiting part-member families. Within their homes we met as small groups and conducted short Sunday services in which the sacrament was administered and accompanied by faithful messages about our Lord Jesus Christ. I basically attended church 9 times in one day hehe. It was a special experience, especially as we had the opportunity to teach parents and particularly fathers with the Priesthood how they could conduct spiritually strong sacrament services within their own homes during this current time in which church will not occur on a weekly basis. I saw as Fathers felt a greater responsibility to uplift their families and invite the Spirit in their own homes. Although we do miss attending Church each Sunday, I know that the Lord has a plan for us, and everything in our lives has a reason.
Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
Doctrine and Covenants 90:24: “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly.”

Elder Hemmert

Lemery, Batangas

NO LETTER

EPILEPTIC SEIZURE CAN'T STOP US

Magandang Araw Po,

It's More Fun in the Philippines:

• The other night I was walking on a narrow path between two rice fields. It was pitch black, and I felt quite confident that even without a flashlight I would be fine. BIG MISTAKE, because not too long later I slipped into the rice field and lost my shoe in a foot of mud. From there I had to reach in and grab it out of the mud and walk about a kilometer without a shoe.
• I have a new companion. Elder Julian from Isabela, Philippines. He is energetic, and we are getting along SOOO WELL.

Sunday, March 1, was the wedding of Aillen and Crisostomo Icamina (Two people that we are teaching). It was a simple wedding held at the church, and ultimately one of the most beautiful weddings I have attended. However, earlier in the morning a frightening event occurred. After church concluded, Elder Julian and I went to fill out a few papers, but as we were leaving to do so I had a strong feeling, which I later realized was a prompting of the Holy Ghost, to turn around and talk to the soon to be bride and groom. As I approached them, sister Aillen collapsed back in her chair and began convulsing. Before she hit the ground I caught her in more or less a baby cradle and lowered her gently to the ground as she shook. I tossed my bag under her head as to keep her from hitting the floor. From there a few members came quickly to help by moving chairs away from her and giving her space. Brother Crisostomo was calm through it all, because he said this was not the first time; however, I, on the other hand, was quite terrified as this was my first experience with any sort of Epileptic fit. Not long after, Sister Aillen fully recovered, and a few hours later was married to her husband, Crisostomo.
I am simply glad that the Holy Ghost guided me toward Sister Aillen, and that I was ready to listen and act on the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE:

Take on Prophet Russel M. Nelson's invitation as we prepare for April.https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/my-2020-invitation-to-you-share-the-message-of-the-restoration-of-the-saviors-gospel

Elder Hemmert

Lemery, Batangas