EDITORS NOTE: I know I have a lot of blogging to catch up on. We'll just take it one month at a time...
------------------AUGUST------------------
From August 1, 2011:
As far as my week went, it has been pretty tough. We didn't spend very much time in the office, and proselyted the entire week finding and contacting part member families from church records and things.... but... alas, no new investigators came out of it. zero. zilch. nada. wa'ay. haha. It was really weird, but actually we feel fine about it because we know we actually worked really hard and we weren't lazy. :) That's the most important thing. And who knows, maybe we can't see the fruits right away, but they will come later.
So, as of now, we have one progressing investigator family, the R family, who are doing great and should be baptized on August 20th.
Most of this next week will be running around doing office work, like trying to furnish apartments (my companion is the supply manager) and getting ready for transfers and departures/arrival missionaries.
I did forget to report on a few exciting things last week though. for one, I ate pigs ear! haha. And we ended up furnishing and entire apartment for only $600!! haha. I love the currency exchange rate here. it is really exciting sometimes. haha. Last week we also had our ward conference, where we sang with the choir. We also sang for G's baptism a few weeks ago. our office is talented! haha. We even sang for a ward FHE last night, so we are sharing our talents! Anyways, I'm running out of time. I love you and you are all in my prayers!
Halong kamo guid, kag palangga ta kamo!!
-Elder Lee
From August 8, 2011:
This week has been a pretty normal week. We didn't get to proselyte much though, because it has been full of zone conferences and preparations for departures and transfers. The zone conferences went really well though.
I realized the other day, that since I have been in the office, I have gotten so pasty white! hahaha. I noticed it when the filipinos all started commenting on it. To them, it is more attractive to be white. They all say, "guapo ka na!" which means, "you're handsome now!", but I keep explaining to them that in America, it's better to be tan. That always confuses them. hahaha
Anyways, even though we didn't get to work too much, our investigators are still doing well. The R family is progressing so well and still have a set baptismal date for the 20th. woot woot! We are still short on investigators though, so we are looking for more part members and referrals from members. Our plan this next week is to visit the active members and teach them and ask them who they know. We'll see how that goes! I think there is huge potential here. :)
Yesterday we were able to upod (go with) the young men in their re-activation efforts and the home teachers from our ward as well. It went really well. Even though I already know how important members are in helping people come to church, it always surprises me just how much it really makes a difference! We have been teaching one family, the F family, who are less active, trying to get them to come back to church for 3 weeks with no signs of improvement, and then we finally got one of the priesthood to come with us, and BAM, they connected really well and the F family agreed to go to church! Things always mean so much more when they come from members, then if they come from the missionaries. Even if they say the exact same thing!
Anyways, kind of a short report this week, but I think that's about it. I hope you guys have a good week this next week. I love you all, and pray for you always!!
Halong kamo, kag palangga ta kamo guid!!
-Elder Lee
From August 15, 2011:
Howdy Doody!!
It's good to hear all is going well! There is a video on lds.org Mormon Messages that is called "Things that Matter Most." It is a really easy thing to do in the office, to get caught up and stressed about things that don't really matter. President Tobias always tells us to "Don't let non-living things get to you. Remember the living things that are most important" (meaning the PEOPLE and why we are doing what we are doing.) I think that will be especially applicable this upcoming week. This week is going to possibly be the most stressful week of my mission so far. haha. This is transfer week, so a TON is going on and there are only so many of us working in the office. We all are pretty booked and have to rely on each other for even the smallest things to help this all go smoothly.
On top of that, we are preparing for the R family's baptism this upcoming Saturday!! woot woot! haha. It is really exciting. They are so excited and so ready. Sister R even went Visiting Teaching with the Relief Society yesterday which was a HUGE surprise to us! She is SO shy and is not even a member yet, but already has a visiting teaching assignment. haha. :) The father is a member, so he will be the one baptizing his wife and they wanted me and Elder G to baptize the children. The only problem is, yesterday we just found out that he doesn't yet have the priesthood, at least on the records of the church, so we are working it out to get him ordained this week. phew!
So anyways, other than helping the R family prepare, this week has been alot of teaching active members to try to ask for referrals, and alot of office work. We did get a few potential investigators out of it though, so it was an effective week gihapon (as usual). We will probably follow up on those in the next few weeks when we actually have some spare time on our hands. I know it sounds like I'm stressed out, but I'm really not. Actually all of us office Elders do a pretty good job getting things done and keeping things non-stressful. They really are fun. This last week we took some time to make a short video for the departing Elders called, "You know you have been in the Philippines Bacolod Mission too long when...". haha. It turned out really great. Maybe I can get a copy and show you when I get back.
Anyways, I hope things continue to go well for everybody back at home. I love to hear from you guys! You are always in my prayers. Please continue to focus on the "things that matter most". The gospel in the end is all that really matters.
Halong, kag palangga ta kamo guid!!!-Elder Lee
From August 22, 2011:
Hey hey hey! Before I left on my mission, I never really attended baptisms, even if it was someone I knew, but after being out here basically begging people to go to baptisms, I think I am going to attend alot more. hahaha. But really, there is such a special spirit there. It's a great time to remind ourselves about the most important things and remember our own covenants and feelings at our baptisms.
I forgot to say, last week when you talked about seeing Les Mis, that I think last time we watched that was when Cory was on his mission, no? I remember the song "Bring Him Home" having special meaning. And now I am the one on a mission! Crazy, huh? The time really is flying by. I can't even believe that next transfer I will be at my one year mark! That's nuts!! One of the young men from our ward here just left for his mission on Saturday, and his family is really close with the missionaries, so we were able to spend their last family home evening with them and attend his farewell party. It reminded me so much of those few days that we were all together before I left. It seems like so long ago, but not really at the same time. haha. If that makes sense.
Anyways, well! The killer week is over! hahaha. It really was a very stressful week with transfers, arrivals, departures, district missionaries leaving, a baptism, and all of the normally occuring things to deal, but we survived. :) No one from the office is transferring, so that makes things a little easier too. Of course we had a few surprises here and there, a few problems come up, but for the most part everything went smoothly.
The baptism went very well too! Of course, we had it in the morning, so no one really showed up, but it still went really well. haha. Last time the baptism we had in this ward was so packed, no one even had standing room! This time, the baptismal candidates had one member come support, then the bishop and his wife and our ward mission leader, and a few random people we invited that were wandering around the hallways, and that was it. But the important thing is that the spirit was definitely there and it was a good experience for the R family. Last Sunday, we realized that the dad was still a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood because he was inactive all his youth, so we got him interviewed and ordained to a priest an hour before the baptism so he could baptize his family. Next goal: Melchezidek Priesthood, then temple sealing! :) I was able to baptize and confirm one of the daughters so that was a neat experience. It was my first time confirming someone!
As far as the rest of the work goes, we are pretty much starting back at square one with our investigators. We did find a few new ones this last week amidst all the chaos, but it turns out most of them live in other ward boundaries, so we referred them to other Elders. We did find one part member family that lives in our area though, so we will continue with them...the O family. Right now, the Mom and one daughter are members, but the dad and 2 sons are not. All the priesthood! haha. The dad is in Iloilo working right now, but we were able to teach the sons (about 20-25 yrs. old) and it looks very promising.
I don't have too much more time to write, because we have to get alot done today. We might end up driving to San Carlos later today to deliver some equipment, so that will basically take up our entire day. haha. San Carlos in on the clear other side of the island.
So I hope you are doing well. I love you all and pray for you always!
Halong kamo, kag palangga ta kamo! Padayon kamo sa mga maayo nga ginahimo! :)-Elder Lee
From August 29, 2011:
Well send my regards to all those missionaries that are leaving!! It's so great to hear about all of them getting their calls and beginning their service to the Lord! I love picturing them all in the mission field. It is so strange to think that I have almost been out a year and that the whole batch behind me is starting! It is a bummer that no one has gotten called to the Philippines yet though... haha. actually the last few transfers, we have had only Filipinos come in, and it will be only Filipinos coming in for the rest of the year until December, when we get one American sister. It really is a true promise that everyone will hear the gospel in their own language.
This week went really well, actually. We were able to spend most of it out of the office, which always feels alot better. I realized that the work of the Lord really is what heals us. When we focus on ourselves, and our problems, we just get more depressed, but when we focus on helping others despite our problems, we feel uplifted and healed. So I love it when we have time to get out of the office and work. We found a few good potential new investigators and got a few new referrals too! All of which are more part member families. The C Family, O Family, D C Family, and L Family. I really feel like part member families is the key out here! It's a gold mine of less active families and new investigators and people who already have ties to the church and remember what it was like. It's so great to see families striving for the Celestial Kingdom together.
We met one brother who has been less-active for about 30 years, and we just sat and listened to his problems and gave him a few pamphlets, not really knowing what to say or teaching too much. When we came back, he said he read all the pamphlets and realized how much he had forgotten and how good the gospel felt and promised to start the road to repentance and come back to church next week. Amazing! :)
The R Family is still doing amazing. They have so many financial problems right now, but despite it all, they still put the Lord absolutely first. They sacrifice eating some meals every week just so they have plete (fare) to go to church. They are also planning on upod-ing (going with) the youth to their annual temple trip this November and doing baptisms for the dead! They still don't know about how they will get there financially, but have committed to start preparing spiritually.
Oh! Before I forget, I had kind of a strange experience this week! haha. Our financial secretary, Elder E, always has to call taggiyas (owners) of apartments for contracts and stuff. well, a few days ago, he told me he was calling someone in Seattle! So I told him to ask her where she was from, and she said FW! Well she's not a member but we told her to talk to the missionaries there if she had a chance and she agreed. She was so impressed that there was someone from FW in her home town. haha. Later on, I will try maybe refer her to the missionaries there! cool, huh? It was just CRAZY to think that on the other side of the line was FW! Anyways, I just thought that was cool. :) haha
Well, I think that's about it for this week. I appreciate your emails and look forward to getting the box you sent! since i'm companions with the supply manager, I will know the DAY it comes in to Bacolod. haha.
Have a great week, and remember to let the work of the Lord heal you. If you have problems, forget about yourself and serve others! :)
Halong kamo!! Palangga ta kamo!
-Elder Lee
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