"How Great Thou Art"

TyBlog12.9.2012

Hello everyone this has been another good week. So to start off we had a good family home evening last week with some people to help prepare them for the temple. We played the usual games and then ended up having a talent show.  I sang "Better Together" by Jack Johnson and it was a fun enjoyable night.  Then we were supposed to have a Super Typhoon here in our area, but it didn't hit here - it was no problem. It just rained a little bit and was a little windy. Unfortunately one of our doors of our house upstairs is broken so a bunch of rain blew in from the balcony and flooded the house, which was pretty tiring to clean up.  Also, we ran out of water this week for a couple days so it was back to getting water from the neighbors in a bucket and showering and it was way hard to wash the dishes. I can't believe I went through that for like 2 months.  I am way thankful for running water, that is for sure. Then once the water came back, a faucet was left on and the house flooded again which was so tiring ha ha.  This week we had to balance our work in Stop and Mabini.  It has been way fun to work in a threesome and I have really enjoyed it.  Elder Hagen has helped me with the language too because he is way smart and good at grammar.  We have been studying a bunch of flash cards and learning a bunch of random words to become fluent.  Also this week we made some chicken curry and chicken adobo which was way good because we haven't done that for a long time.  I am also so thankful for the power of priesthood blessings. We have had many opportunities to use the priesthood lately.  Last Saturday we blessed Edwin who had some sickness in his feet and legs but had an interview for baptism the next day and needed to go.  The next day he was fine.  Pretty cool.  Monday we blessed some members who were sick and they recovered fast.  Tuesday we blessed some of our investigators to have help overcoming word of wisdom problems and some members too.  They are doing well. We also blessed an investigator who was way sick and is ok now and one other person who was sick and then like 10 minutes later walking around.  I know the priesthood is the power and authority from God to help bring souls back to Him.  I am so thankful for fasting too. Last week I fasted on Sunday and saw blessings.  Then on Tuesday I fasted for my bro to get a job, and then on Friday we fasted to help one of our investigators Edwin who is 18 and had his baptism on Saturday but his dad was very angry so he didn't know what to do.  He also needs a job to stay in his home and not get kicked out.  He has so much faith and decided to be baptized which was way cool.  So I know that fasting can do miracles and just like in Ether 12 we need faith before we can do any miracles.  It was way hard on Friday to fast because I felt like I hadn't eaten this week ha ha, but in our lesson with Edwin on Ether 12 and faith to be baptized and follow what you know is right, I knew from the Spirit we had to do a group fast.  We hiked so much later that day and it was so so hot, also the next day we did a CSP in Mabini where we dug a hole for a bathroom or we helped with a eternal project that had already been started ha ha but it was way wet sticky mud that was so so heavy and our feet kept getting stuck and it was way hard.  We wore these big boots and it reminded me of Thomas Thorup saying "Nothin boots can't handle" when he would wear these huge hiking boots when we hiked ha ha.  Then later on Saturday we had a baptism service.  It was so cool.  We had four baptisms.  It was awesome.  We weren't sure if Edwin would be baptized because of his Dad.  But he was there and so excited and knew from prayer and fasting that it was the right thing to do.   I respect his faith and know that our fast helped.  So they all wanted me to baptize them and it was such a cool experience.  It is so awesome to feel the spirit so strong just knowing this gospel is true and we are helping these people prepare for eternal life.  The other 3 were part of the Gepiala family which is so cool I am still here to see them baptized and they were so happy that I could do it.  In that family we just have one left, the old nanay.  She says after all her kids she will be baptized so we will see.   Elder Hagen, Elder Agustin and I sang "How Great Thou Art" before the baptism.  It was way cool.  Anyways it was a good week.  We still will work in both areas and be companions this week.  Love you all and know that this church is true and Jesus is the savior of us all.
Love Elder Mifflin

the Filipino way

TyBlog12.2.2012

Hello everyone - so this week has been kind of a crazy week. We went to Bacolod last Monday and got Elder Hagen. I enjoyed the fast food some good old McDonalds and KFC. I got some mashed potatoes to remind me of Thanksgiving. We were busy and just ate the usual so it wasn't too special of a Thanksgiving. So we are working in a threesome companionship which is like the MTC all over again. It is fun though and Elder Hagen is a good missionary and my friend and has helped training Elder Agustin. So this week Elder Agustin got pretty sick though. His eye got all swollen out of nowhere and he had bad pain and body aches. We let him rest and we didn't work on Wednesday or Thursday. It wasn't getting better so we went to the hospital in Sagay. He got some antibiotics and medicine and now is fine. It was a pretty bad sty and we needed the medicine. So that cut out a lot of the work we needed to do.  Also I am back in two areas again which doubles the load with the same time. We mainly just can focus on our investigators right now until Elder Hagen's companion comes. While Elder Augustin was sick, Elder Hagen and I did a lot of chillin and talking which was nice. I cleaned a bunch of clothes, did a bunch of study, and made some way good fruit salad with graham crackers that you put in the freezer. We also cleaned the house and I got the bathroom to the standards of my mom. It is hard because we are so busy but let's just say some of the walls were a bit moldy ha ha. You may think the house was dirty now.  Well it was, but compared to when I first came to this place you would be in shock ha ha. It is really clean now and we plan to keep it up. At night a got freaked out because I saw a huge rat in the house again, I haven't seen it for a while. I got some pictures and we closed off the hole so it won't come back. This week we plan to work in both areas. Last Sunday was fun to go back to church and see everyone in Mabini, and then we went to church in Stop.  I am used to it from last time so it shouldn't be too bad this week. We plan to have 4 baptisms this week in Stop. Three are from the Gepiala family and they are so ready and want me to do it. I am stoked.  One is a future missionary who is so prepared and was a referral from a member. He is 18 and will go on a mission in a year.  So this week we will focus on them and on some investigators in Mabini too.  There is a funny and kind of gross story I forgot to tell but it is worth telling... so two weeks ago when I was with Elder Agustin we were at the Gepiala home at night…just a normal night. Then I realized I couldn't make the 25 minute hike and 10 minute motor ride home because I had to go to the bathroom ha ha... Let's just say I used the river and that I experienced the Filipino culture way of wiping with the hand for the first time…ha ha not a fan, I prefer toilet paper.  Also Elder Agustin snuck up on me and took some pictures - none gross, but funny to remember the experience... ha ha just a funny story.  I also like how Boyd K. Packer says our mind is like a stage and we must keep clean thoughts on it and use hymns. Elder Hagen also says our mind is like many doors and the bad thoughts and temptations can only get in if we open the door.  It is like the gospel and the picture of Jesus by the door with no handle, we must let him in.  The same is true, opposite.  I related it to my study in Alma 48 and 49, notice how the people were prepared to overcome temptations because they had "lines of defenses" - like my temple recommend for me.  It’s something personally to remind me the blessings of overcoming sin.  President Stringham taught me to just use something that will remind us of all the blessings of the gospel, something we can bring with us everywhere and help us overcome temptation.  I have been using my temple recommend for the past year and it has worked.  I bring it everywhere I go, even when I sleep or shower, to remind me that the temple and eternal family is the most important thing. The people in the Alma chapter had a strong foundation of testimony which we can get too by living the gospel and reading scriptures, praying, and church. You will see that many of the enemy died, and none of the Nephites died because they were prepared.  Some were wounded though, showing we aren't perfect and may sin but we need to repent always and strive to become like Christ. Anyways love you all and apply the gospel and have a good week.
Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

letter to homies

TyBlog11.26.2012

Hello everyone out in the world - just another month gone by. It has been a good month for us out here in Stop Aguinaldo, Escalante. I have been here since July and it was actually transfer day last week and I am staying here with my trainee Elder Agustin. We will be here for Christmas which is exciting because I really love this place and these people. We had a lot of fun with four in our house. Elder Delos Santos (my old comp) was transferred though, and Elder Hagen, my comp from the MTC will be training too. We live in the same house. Actually his trainee is a Filipino from America and had trouble getting his visa so he hasn't come yet.  Until he does we will be a threesome for a while which is like the MTC all over again ha but should be fun. So this month was good. The work here in Stop is so sweet. I have said it before but I love this place. Every day is like an adventure out here. It is so jungle bukid out here. Everyone mainly is very poor and just have bamboo houses. Some have concrete though. There are a bunch of small mountains, sugar cane, rivers, and muddy trails that we walk on every day. It feels like I am on a hike every day and we do a ton of walking so I have stayed in pretty good shape. When it rains here it pours and gets so muddy that I have mud up to my ankles and calves and lose my shoes sometimes. One night I forgot my light because I gave my other one to a member. I fell and landed on a sharp sugar cane pole and my touch screen camera broke. Just the screen though - at least all the memory is ok. Oh well I just got a new one though, and the spiritual things are much more important than the temporal things. Sometimes stuff like that just happens and we need to just keep moving on. Something cool this month was that we had a mission tour. Elder David F. Evans came and he is in the missionary department. It was a way good mission tour. He didn't know at first what to speak on. He followed the spirit and first focused on the importance of the spirit and the need to have it to succeed and receive the promises of God.  Also, to have the Spirit we need to be obedient to the rules which is hard sometimes but worth it. He then focused on the atonement and repentance. The atonement is central to the gospel and the most important thing. I am so thankful for the atonement and the chance we have to repent. God is so merciful and I know we have all done some stupid stuff in our lives but true repentance is true change and we don't go back to our old ways. Sometimes it is a process though so never give up if you aren't perfect. In Alma 36:12-24 it shows true repentance. Alma was the worst of sinners and became the prophet and in verse 24 shows that to have continuing repentance we must truly change and then do our best to serve God from then on. So really serving our missions is showing God how thankful we are for the atonement and repentance. Evans said that the reason why it is such a problem here with the less actives is because they don't understand repentance.  Sometimes people are just baptized unto less activeness ha, but he focused how our calling is to preach repentance. So we are focusing to help these people understand repentance and apply it in our lives too, so we can have true converts. I had so many pages of notes and he blew my mind on his understanding of the gospel. He talked about many great prophets in the Book of Mormon and how their teaching of the atonement build on each other as the book goes on. Also at lunch I got to sit by him and had a normal conversation with him, he is just a normal guy, but I know he is called of God by the power and spirit of his message. He also talked about Mosiah 2:36-37 and said the gospel is a circle, if we want to stay inside and be blessed, prosperous, and preserved we must be obedient.  If not we are cut off and will be until we REPENT and come back. Anyways - way good. We are continuing to have success and enjoy it here in Stop. We had two more baptisms in November from referrals from the Gepiala family that we had a bunch of baptisms in October. This month we hope to have more baptisms. On Dec 8 we plan to have 4 more. 3 more are from the Gepiala family - such an amazing family and I know they are true converts. Then one is a future missionary - crazy how he is so ready but he loves the church. Later in December we hope to have maybe three or four so it should be a good month. We found them in a crazy way which shows that God knows what is going on. When I was waiting in Bacolod in October for Elder Agustin my trainee I worked in a certain area for three days. I could have gone to like 20 areas but I went to this place and the guy there used to live in Stop and just handed me 7 referrals. One of the families is way elect and have been to church three times and we hope to baptize them in December so pretty crazy. We are also focusing on less actives and recent converts here just trying to stay balanced. We never give up on the less active and recent converts. It is hard to see some never progress but we invite them every Sunday before church, it is always hot and a lot of walking, but some are coming back to church and lately we have had the most sacrament attendance since I have been here. So I know we need faith and can never give up and do our best but people still have their agency. Thanksgiving here doesn't exist which was kind of hard ha hah cause I love the food and my family. It's ok though. I love you all and I love my family. I know that God has a plan for all of us we just need to let him guide us through obedience. I know this gospel is true. I know you guys are all doing miracles out there and I can't wait to hear from you all when we return. Keep going. Time flies. It is trunky season ha ha meaning very hard, just want to go home, Thanksgiving, Christmas, ha but just keep going and we will keep doing miracles. Just take it one day at a time and do your best that day. I am so thankful for the atonement and know it is infinite and God has infinite love and mercy and we always need to repent and then do our best and serve God and others to keep a remission of our sins. Merry Christmas to all!
Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

washed my sheets, broken camera

TyBlog11.18.2012

TyBlog11.18.2012

Hello everyone it has been another fast week. It has had its ups and downs but has been a good week overall. So first off, I learned that when we use our P days the way we are supposed to, we can get so much done.  I usually just love to enjoy the day and relax which is ok but then you don't have much time to get things done.  So I got so many clothes washed for a change. I am not a big fan of hand washing everything, but last week went on a washing rampage. I got enough white shirts, garments, pants, socks for the whole week. I also washed a bunch of other clothes I hadn't washed for a while. And Mom, big surprise, I finally washed my sheets. I haven't washed them since I have been here ha ha, there just is no time. I put on the spare pair. I actually washed them in a couple mornings before study.  I also enjoyed talking to Elder Hagen.  The whole time we washed just talking about life. It has been good being with him. Later that night we had a family home evening at the Tigolo family, a nice family and I am close to the teenagers who want to go on missions. We are helping the parents prepare to go to the temple to be married and sealed to their family. Also, I fell through this weak spot in the floor of a bamboo house during games ha ha, if you see the pictures. So this week was a way good week. We really doubled our work this week and taught 20 lessons to less actives and recent converts. We had 12 lessons to investigators and 163 people at sacrament, which is like the most that have been there since I got here. It was really a miracle. We had so many less actives at church (23). It was so cool to see them come to church, some for the first time in such a long time - since I have been here and maybe a lot longer. A lot were hardened and offended but we never give up on them. We invite them to church every week before church and also try to teach them that we can repent always and we had a very powerful lesson about the word of wisdom. We had a good week and 5 people got the Melchizedek priesthood.  So I have seen miracles this week and we hope to continue. We have 7 people with a baptism date for Dec 8. I have learned so much on my mission and I am way happy I chose to serve. Also unfortunately this week I forgot my light one night and it was way dark and muddy and I fell and landed on a sharp sugar cane stake. Unfortunately my camera is broken now.  It still takes pictures but the screen is broken.  It is ok though I will just look for a new one.  That is all I can do - just keep moving on and the worldly things are not important compared to spiritual.  Love you and have a great week. 

mud

TyBlog.11.12.2012

Hello everyone this has been another good week.  It has been a very rainy and muddy week and I have had quite some adventures.  Really every day out here in the jungle is quite an adventure compared to home.  I heard about all the snow back home well that is cool and I miss it and want to go snowboarding.  Out here there is no such thing as winter or snow it is just a myth ha ha.  It is also hot here even when it rains and pretty much the same temperature all year round.  So this week we had splits one day and I worked with Elder Lopez in my area and Elder Agustin went to the other place for one day.  It was good and I enjoyed it.  Then the next day we had an interview with one of the counselors of President Lopez to get some of our investigators permission to get baptized.  They had problems because they can't remarry due to the rules here but they passed and are excited to be baptized.  It was more people in the Gepiala family so we have almost converted the whole family!  On Wednesday we had a good day and later had a family home evening for this family and it was the birthday of a hopefully future missionary. It was fun and after we had a crazy adventure coming home. It was pouring rain like crazy and way dark. It was way muddy and we were at the top of a mountain. I gave my broken umbrella to a member and just got soaked.  It was way muddy and slippery and we were soaked going through puddles of mud.  It was a fun adventure and we had to walk all the way home because there were no motors. Then the next day a similar experience on the way home. We had a long hike to the road to get a ride and it was so muddy. The mud was up to my calves and I kept losing my shoes and having to go back for them. I also forgot my light that day but it was fun. On Friday we had this thing called the mission tour where Elder David Evans who is an apostle in the missionary department came and talked to us and taught us for the day.  It was a cool experience and at lunch I got to sit by him and have a conversation with him for like 15 minutes. He is a cool guy, normal, but I could feel the power of God when he taught us and know he is an apostle.  He has a way of blowing everyone's minds ha ha and get us to think.  He taught about the life of Joseph Smith, and the importance of the endowment and the protection from God to missionaries who are faithful.  He focused on the importance of having the Spirit and following it whether it be to do something or to not do something - following the Spirit is crucial. We need to be obedient in order to have guidance and protection from God. When we had a break Sister Lopez talked about “love being tired” because this is the Lord's work and he will give us strength.  Sister Evans talked about how we have so many more missionaries now which is crazy.  Then Elder Evans spoke again about the atonement and about true repentance. True repentance is not just confessing it is a true change of heart which means you lose the desire to sin and do your best to serve God.  It is conversion to the gospel. He talked about how Lehi's family is like all of our families, just trying to complete our family in the gospel and help them partake of the fruit and joy of the gospel, never give up on your family.  Then we talked about a bunch of great atonement chapters in the Book of Mormon like 2 Nephi 2, 9, Enos Mosiah 2,3,4,5 Alma 7, 34 and there are many more. One thing that hit me hard was Mosiah 2:36-38 and he drew a circle which represent being blessed, prospered, and preserved by God but only if we are obedient to the commandments can we be in that circle of love. If we are out of that circle it is because we left God and didn't follow the commandments.  In order to come back we must repent and come to God -  not the other way around.  We can't have these blessings until we repent.  We are all imperfect and need to always apply repentance.  We first must come unto Christ before we can help others and no matter what we have done we can repent and be forgiven.  To apply to the Philippines, the less active problem is so big here so he focused that we need to help these people really understand repentance and baptize them with a determination to serve God until the end, not baptize them unto less activeness.  It truly is such a problem here and I need to make sure that all the people I baptize stay active and understand repentance.  Anyone can baptize here but we need our converts to stay active.  President Packer said, "You get what you go for" that is true in life and missionary work and I like that.  He also said they still expect a high number of baptisms - just true converts.  Then later he focused that we need work with members and get them to trust us and see us as representatives of Jesus Christ and trust us and then they will give us people to teach and they will stay active because they have that friend.  Help to complete families in the gospel. Well I could really go on forever I have so many notes but it was way good.  I know that we all need to repent and need the atonement in order to return to the kingdom of God and have everlasting happiness. So anyways on Saturday night and Sunday morning there was a ton of rain and the river flooded so there weren't many at church and unfortunately we had some investigators miss church so they will have to move their date back. We had some investigators at church though that are progressing. We had another adventure Sunday morning inviting people to church. We go every Sunday and have little success but it is worth it for those who come. My testimony has grown so much here.  I love you all and have a great week. 

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man 

...feel like Ammon

TyBlog.11.5.2012

Hello everyone this week has gone by way fast as usual. We had a good family home evening with the relief society president's family because her husband and kids are less active - just the usual games and we played Book of Mormon "go fish."  Elder Delos Santos had it and we used it and the people loved it. Then on Tuesday we went to Bacolod early in the morning for a meeting for all the trainers and trainees. On the bus ride there the driver was listening to this way sweet classic American music which put me in a way good mood. It was like Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California, Can't fight this feeling, and more. I gave him a pamphlet because he was so cool. The meeting was good and I learned some things how to be a better missionary and trainer. They focused on obedience as usual but it really is important to keep the rules to have the spirit and teach with power and authority and stay out of trouble. I am trying my best to be obedient, sometimes we don't understand the rules or they seem dumb, but like Adam - he still did the sacrifices even though he didn't know why.  For example they made a new rule where you can't play basketball with the members which was so hard for me because I love that.  I didn't understand and want to keep playing.  But I guess it is for liability things and to keep it a spiritual relationship. It is hard sometimes but I know if we obey then we will be blessed.  So we spent the whole day in Bacolod and got home late. Then this week we have just been focusing on our investigators with a baptism date. We have two on November 10th that live near the Gepiala family. We have two planned for Nov 24th that live right by the church and are way good.  The other two are Delmer and his live in Ophelia. He is the son of Dorico and lives right by him. They are way good just didn't want to be baptized before they were married, but now they realize that it is almost impossible to remarry and God knows their situation so they are ok, so they accepted to be baptized on Dec 1. We are also trying to focus on the recent converts. There are so many here. The ones that have been baptized since I have been here are active, but a lot from the past are less active. The less active problem here is just crazy ha ha. We also are focusing on some referrals from the Gepiala family and hope that some are elect. The Gepiala family is so good and always feed us now - fish rice veggies and I hope that they still eat. They love us so much. I really feel like I was meant to teach them and have felt such joy from the people I have helped find the truth.  I feel like Ammon how he felt about the people he converted.  Also this week in one night we got two dinners which is way rare, the first official dinner appointment since I have been here.  The people are way poor but way good. Then after we had a birthday dinner FHE for one of our investigators.  Also on Saturday we started a class with a bunch of members. We taught about the sacrament and practiced teaching and sent them out to teach less actives and we had many people at church. We will do it every Sunday. Also we contacted some referrals that I got from when I was waiting in Bacolod. We will see how it goes. I am doing well though and time is going by fast. My companion is doing good and is a fast learner. I hope to stay here as long as possible. I love you all and know that this church is true and Jesus is our Savior and true happiness comes from the gospel. When we apply what we read in the Book of Mormon we are happier and can help others. Have a good week.
Love Elder Mifflin

Letter to friends, family, and fellow missionaries 10/29/2012

Hello all of my friends and family around the world.  It is time for another monthly newsletter to all of the homies out serving the Lord across the world.  I am sure we have all had so many crazy experiences and good times and have all grown in our faith in Jesus Christ.  Our missions are so different and we can't compare them but we all have the same purpose and are all serving the Lord - and time is going, it just keeps going doesn't it?  Nate is almost one year now - that is crazy.  So this month has been a good month while Elder Delos Santos and I were serving in both Stop and Mabini.  It was crazy and way busy but way fun too and we had a lot of success.  We were able to harvest some souls that were ready for the gospel. So earlier in the transfer we had four baptisms - 3 in Stop one in Mabini. Then October 6th was the best day of my mission so far.  It was such a spiritual day.  In the morning we had a wedding for one of our less actives and his live in.  They are the Cabungcog family by the river in the jungle I always talk about and that we have had so much success with.  It was way cool to help them get married and they want to be married in the temple one day.  Then later that day we planned to have 3 baptisms for some of the rest of that family Dorico, Evelyn (his daughter who is married), and Evelyn's kid, Lines. We planned to have it in the baptism font in Stop but the water was way dirty and so gross and smelled so so bad.  So we decided to try to go to Toboso chapel like - 15 minutes away and we had a big service jeep from one of the members so we just brought them along. But the water there wasn't working either. So I just suggested the ocean because it was way close and that was my dream to baptize in the ocean.  They all wanted me to baptize them so I was way excited.  It was such a cool experience to baptize them in the ocean and I could feel the Spirit so strongly testifying to me that this work is true and they are doing the right thing. They all bore such powerful testimonies and said that they felt so good and that this church is true.  For the dad, he has been baptized four times and he bore such a strong testimony that this church is true and I know he will stay active.  Dorico, the old grandpa reminds me of my grandpa and I love him so much. That family has been so good to us and love the word of God and give us food whenever they can but the people are so poor here.  I always joke around with these people and say that they are my family here in the Philippines and that I am just going to build a bamboo home here and stay here forever... don't worry mom, just a joke.  So I was feeling way good already and then later that day we went to Mabini to have 4 baptisms, 3 from Mabini - a mom and her two kids who have been investigators for a year and Elder Natural my trainer taught them, and 1 from Stop, a way old guy who is kind of crazy but way faithful and funny, Florencio.  They all wanted me to baptize them so I did and it was such an honor to baptize 7 people in one day.  I was filled with the Spirit and so happy and thankful and knew without a doubt that this is the true work of Jesus Christ and that we are making a difference.  It is nice to see when your hard work finally pays off when you see the fruits of your labors. Then later I got a birthday package from family and friends that had a bunch of American candy which was so good and letters from my friends and family. So ya, it was the best day of my mission so far and I was so happy. Then transfers came and at first they made a mistake on the text and said I would transfer but texted back an hour later and said I was staying. My heart dropped at first because I love this place so I am way happy to stay here.  I am training now and my companion is Elder Agustin from Luzon, Isabella which is by Manila kind of but not really. So this month I have been training him and he is a good missionary and has a strong testimony. At first I thought I may need to learn Tagalog again but he is good at English so it’s ok and I am teaching him Cebuano.  It has been fun so far and he is a cool kid we are alike and like some of the same things and can joke around, he likes basketball and hiking which is good. I have also learned some patience from training and it is a lot of studying but it has been good. General Conference was way good and I know that it is all true. Back in the day it was hard to focus but now I love it and could listen all day.  Then also I enjoyed my birthday.  We had a fun zone activity and I had my neighbors make brownies from America in their bread oven which was so good.  Then later in the week we cooked American cookies in our toaster oven which was so so so so so good.  Oh yeah and my companion from the mtc, Elder Hagen is now in my same house and his comp is my old comp so it has been fun here chillin'. Also last Saturday the 26th was a way good day. We had two more baptisms. Lea Cabungcog, the girl we helped get married, and then Rochelyn, another kid of Evelyn. So that family is so elect. And we had Alberto, the returned less active and husband of Lea baptize them.  It was way cool and I felt so happy and the Spirit strong all day.  We invited the other Elders to come because we sang "I need thee every hour" and after I had a party for my birthday for all the members there.  I bought a lechon which is a roasted pig and a bunch of rice and drinks and we had lunch.  It was fun - we had a bunch of people there and they loved it. I will send some pictures next week. So the work here is good and I hope I can stay as long as possible. Also in Nov. we plan to help Dorico and Alberto get the Melchizedek priesthood and hopefully some more recent converts.  Another cool thing that I did this month was I got my scriptures this way sweet clay design over it and it has engravings. On the front I have the Salt Lake Temple and it says Mifflin, Honor your Family name, Tyler Matthew Mifflin, then on the side it has a Liahona, and on the back it has a triforce and says Nature Man.  It is way cool and I did it because my family is so important to me and I know that through the sealing in the Salt Lake Temple that my family will be together forever.  I did the Liahona because of course the scriptures being our the guide to a happy life, and the triforce because I am holy Link on super smash ha ha and it is a symbol that I will stay holy.  I wrote Nature Man because I am Nature Man and Love Nature.  So anyways I am doing well and time is going fast.  Of course we still have problems here and everything isn't perfect.  The extra study has been good and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and living by what we read gives us true happiness. I know that through prayer, reading scriptures, and church we will build a strong foundation of faith in Christ that can't fall.  I know that this church is true.  Jesus is our savior, Heavenly Father lives and loves us so much and through Christ we can return to Him forever and have eternal happiness.  The gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet today.   It isn't always easy to live the gospel but it is always worth it.  I love the Book of Mormon and know missionary work is so important to be instruments in God's hands to help others have eternal life and happiness.  I am excited to see you all soon and all my family, but until we meet again just work hard and do some miracles. Love you all.
Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man.

language clicking...

TyBlog10.22.2012

Hello everyone - this week has been a pretty good week. The kid I am training is a way cool kid and we relate in a lot of ways and have a lot of fun and laughs together.  It has been good so far and he is enjoying it. We have just been following the training schedule. He is good at the gospel. The language is just hard for him but will come in time.  By the way the language for me is really clicking now.  During my third transfer with Elder Reyes was when it started getting easier to understand and speak and slowly I keep getting better.  I am still not perfect but can understand most of the stuff that is going on and my teaching is fine and I can joke around and have a good time in the language. Of course there is still room to improve and probably always will be.  I am not sure if I will ever be perfect at the language but it’s ok I don't need to be.  I am having some of my high school kid friends here give me some of their slang language.  It’s not bad, but just to understand them better.  I also am having some members write down for me lyrics of some famous Tagalog songs I have stuck in my head so I can join them.  Also they love doing pick up lines and it is fun to joke with all the members. The members are so sweet and love working with us. So with the training it is a ton of study but it is good to help him learn and also helps me to review.  It is way nice to get out though haha. So this week we continued to focus on some of our investigators. Lea, the one who got married to the less active, will be baptized next week and also one other person in her family as well as one other person who lives by them.  The funny thing here is the people go to bed so early because of their culture and they are farmers so like lately after six we don't get any teachings in so we may start to study at night or something because we need to respect the culture.  It gets dark and they have nothing to do so they sleep ha. So this week one of our members and her boyfriend who recently converted but who never comes to church got married. It was good and we went to the reception party and there were a ton of people and less actives there was a ton of food which was good.  

One highlight lesson was to the Gepiala, Cabungcog, and Flores families that all live together - the recent converts and soon to be baptized. We learned that they had a little child die and also a 26 year old son. We testified of Moroni 8 about how little children don't need baptism and also of temple work for the older one. The gospel is amazing and it reminded me of the similar story in general conference just barely. The spirit was strong and I know that they were comforted and the plan of salvation is true. Also on Sunday that family requested that a bunch of members come up and do a funeral service for this family that they know. They lived far away, but it was a nice hike through the jungle and you could see the ocean. A bunch of faithful members came. We had a service. The guy was 101 - I hope to live that long. We had four speakers and I spoke.  I testified of the resurrection and the plan of salvation and that through the 5 principles of the gospel they could live with their families forever. It was a cool experience and like 30 people were listening. We gave them a bunch of pamphlets and they are interested so we are going back this week. Also I gave a talk in church this week.  It was funny because the president told me like 5 min before, but that is the life of a missionary - always be prepared to teach.  I talked about how much I love the members and had them all laughing from my jokes so ya I can joke around in Cebuano.  Then I taught about Alma 5.  It is such a powerful chapter about if we are truly converted to the gospel and if we are ready for judgment.  It was way busy as usual on Sunday and we had to get some baptism interviews done for next week.  Also this week we got punted a lot, meaning our appointments fail and a lot of our investigators are dropping and not progressing.  It is sad because I can see the potential in them but they just don't understand yet. So hopefully we can get them to come to church this week.  All of their baptism dates have been set way back so we will see if we continue to focus on them.  We have a bunch of referrals that we will go to this week so I hope they are elect people from God.  Then today we had a zone activity at the church in Escalante. We were going to go to the beach but it wasn't approved unfortunately.  It was fun though we played a bunch of fun games and some ping pong and we all brought food and celebrated my birthday.  I cooked the brownies my mom gave me in the people's bread oven next door and it was way good.  I love you all and know that Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior and the church has been restored through Joseph Smith and this is the church of Jesus Christ today.  I love you all and have a good week.
Love Elder Mifflin

First Training Assignment, new companion, same area

TyBlog10.15.2012

Hello everyone - this week has been a crazy week.  First, on Tuesday morning I had to go to Bacolod which was a three and a half hour ride so I ended up being late to the trainers’ meeting but it was ok - I was filled in.  I was assigned to work in Bacolod 5th ward with two other kids who would be training too. They are Elder Albalate and Elder Domingo. They are both Filipino and are cool.  Most missionary Filipino are good at English.   Over in Bacolod they speak Illongo which I haven't learned yet - some of the words are the same as Cebuano but some are different.   I was able to understand some people but not everything and picked it up a little bit while I was there and taught in Cebuano but mixed in a little Ilongo.  I already knew some because it is a little mixed in my area and it was in Canlaon and all of my companions were from Ilongo speaking areas so they are a little mixed.  It was a good three days.  I was way way tired though.  One day we ate at this place that is all you can eat rice but the meat was pretty expensive.  I had five cups of rice, could have done more but didn't want to buy more meat.  One night we watched a sweet sunset by the beach.  It was way cool.  That area is right by the ocean but it is kind of dirty there.  There are some cool bamboo homes right by the ocean and all the homes there were so close to each other.  The people there were nice too ha ha - it was funny I got attacked by like ten kids because I am American.  Then on Thursday we got our new companions.  Mine is Elder Agustin from Isabella by Luscon or Cayuaon mission.  He is native in the Ilocano language and speaks Tagalog too.  At first he was way shy and wouldn't speak English, so I thought o crap I need to learn Tagalog again but he is actually really good at English so we have been able to communicate.  He doesn't know Cebuano so I have been teaching him.  He is a cool kid, he is happy and excited to work, and loves his family a lot, and is here for the right reasons.  He loves basketball so we plan to go play right now. He also likes to hike and we went earlier to a mountain that is in my area that we usually go to.  So when you train you need to study one hour personal and two hours of companion study and one hour language every day but Monday and Friday.  Monday is P day and just one hour companion study and can do language if you want because Friday is weekly planning.   It is good to help the new person learn how to be a missionary.

General conference was amazing, I got it a week late and it was weird because I felt like it was still live but it wasn't.  It is always so good and I took notes on all the talks and feel spiritually renewed and want to become a better person and missionary.  I could feel the Spirit and the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and know the talks are true and the word of God.  It made me think of all the times I watched conference with my fam and had some way good breakfast.  I also missed some good old Carls Jr.  after priesthood session.  Since the people have no money hardly anyone came Saturday.  They had service jeeps on Sunday just for the morning so that is the one session a lot of people went to.  It is funny they can choose Tagalog in a way small room or English and most choose English.  A lot of the kids from high school understand and some others but a lot don't and it was way funny but they just wanted to sit in English.  They are way funny.   I also gave some of the members some of my American candy and some beef jerky which was way funny because they are like "this is cow, where is the rice? He has cow in a package?" ha ha but they loved it.  Anyways for all who listened to conference apply it and all who didn't, read all the talks and apply it.  So I am just trying to teach my comp Cebuano and how to be a missionary so we hope to have a good week.   It is a test of patience to be a trainer but hey, that is where I was when I got here so I just need to be loving and patient and help him have fun and get adjusted to this life.  We plan to have a good, fun, week.   After conference ended it showed the BYU football game for like a minute until they turned it off and it made me miss football so bad, but it’s ok I will be home before you know it.  Also we got a toaster oven and it is heavenly - it makes the bread so much better and I plan to make my cookies and brownies you sent me so I will let you know.   It is also fun to chill with Elder Hagen each night and talk to him.  I have started working out and am getting him to join and Elder Delos Santos and my new companion.   So I love you all have a good week and I know that this church is true and Jesus is our Savior and it is important to have living prophets like we do for guidance.  I know they are called and inspired of God.

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

baptisms in the ocean...

Hello everyone - so this week has been such a good week. It started off way good with a family home evening at the Gepiala, Flores, and Cabungcog families’ home. They are our investigators we found through a less active member and some of them had baptisms on Saturday. So we invited a bunch of the other investigator families around and some came. But it was way way fun and we played the usual games and used charcoal. But this family has fed us dinner like three times and to help you realize that is a huge deal here because they are so poor but they love us so much. So this week we continued to focus on our recent converts and on our investigators with baptismal dates on Saturday. It was a good week and went by way fast - when you are busy time flies. We also started working out every night and I am going hard so I can stay strong haha. But the first night I went way too hard and got sick the next day.  I wanted to die ha ha but I pushed through and didn't let it stop me.  I still taught the lesson in district meeting and worked that day, so I know that God gave me strength - the work is too important to be laying around.  On Friday night we went to a birthday party of the president of Mabini's daughter.  It was way fun - the people here are all just so loving and kind. Then Saturday was the best day of my mission so far. It was such a spiritual day and I felt the Spirit so strongly all day and received a sure witness that this is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. So way early we went to the church where we had a wedding for Alberto Cabungcog and his live in partner Lea.  He is the less active we found in July and where all of the baptisms are coming from.  It was way cool and they were so happy to be married and his wife will be baptized this month and we hope to have Alberto do it. They also want to be sealed in the temple one day.  Then after the wedding we planned for three baptisms of the family members but the water in Stop was broken and smelled so so so bad. So we tried to go to the Toboso chapel which is nearby and we had a big service jeep from the wedding so everyone came along, but the water there was broken too.  So I suggested to just go to the ocean because it was way close and that is my dream to baptize in the ocean. They said ok and I was so excited because they wanted me to baptize them.  So I baptized them in the ocean and it was such an awesome experience.  Then later that day we were supposed to have one more baptism in Stop, a way cool old guy who is kind of slow but has so much faith and was way excited.  We couldn't go back to the ocean so we just brought him along to Mabini and added him.  So in Mabini we baptized a mom and her two kids and the guy from Stop. They were all way excited and also wanted me to do it.  So I baptized seven people that day and I could feel the love of the Savior Jesus Christ so strong and know that this was helping them to receive forgiveness and prepare for eternal life.  Then later to make the day even better I received my birthday package early and enjoyed all the American food and candy especially the chips ahoy and the cheesy mashed potatoes.  Then on Sunday I was still filled with the Spirit way strongly and bore testimony in both Mabini and Stop that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and true happiness.  Also some of our new converts bore testimony and gave such powerful witnesses of the truth.  They also shared their testimonies after they were baptized and I know they know that this is true.  They said they felt so happy and alive they were floating. Also Tatay Gepiala said that this is the fourth time he has been baptized but he knows without a doubt that this church is the true church of Jesus Christ.  Also Alberto bore his testimony and it was awesome.  Also some of the kids I have been encouraging forever too.  So today we hiked Mt Lunay again and had a picnic with some members from Stop and Mabini and weren't sure if we were going to be transferred.  It was way fun.  Then later the zone leaders text us and said I would be transferred to Mabini and Elder stay in Stop.  My heart dropped and I was so sad because I love Stop so much, but later we found out it was a mistake and I will stay in Stop and Elder will go to Mabini. We are still in the same house and his new companion is Elder Hagen my comp from the mtc so I am so stoked.   I will be training a new missionary so I go to Bacolod tomorrow to find out who and learn how to train.  I am excited and nervous. We get general conference late, so this weekend. Also James and Garrett update me on the sports. So I need to go.  It was a great week and I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and brings true happiness and salvation.  Have a great week and I love you.
Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

Fruits of the labor... TyBlog10.1.2012

Hello everyone.  This week has been good. We have been continuing to focus on our recent converts and they have continued to come to church so that is good.  I am glad that they will be true converts.  We also have plans for 9 baptisms on Oct 6th so we continued to focus on all of them and prepare them for the baptism interview questions.  Unfortunately two of them missed their interview because one is a little kid and was scared and the other didn't come for some reason.  So we plan for 7 baptisms next week, 3 in Mabini and 4 in Stop.  The 3 in Mabini have been investigators for over a year and didn't know they could be baptized because they were living together but can't be married because it is very to divorce when there is a previous marriage.  I knew the new rule though because I had situations like that in Stop too.  So I told her she could be baptized and she was way excited and we got her interviewed this week and her two kids too.  Elder Natural, my trainer, taught her so it is cool that I can help her get baptized.  The baptisms in Stop are coming from the Gepiala family - the sweet family in the jungle by the river we walk through.  We have been teaching them since July and they are way good.  We are also focusing a bunch of new investigators in that same area.  They are referrals and friends of one of the moms being baptized on the 6^th.   I think she will be future relief society president or something haha. There are a ton of them though that are interested and want to be baptized.  We may actually make a meeting house up there in a nearby school since it is pretty far and the people have no money for transportation.  We will see though -  it is possible for them to come to church because our other investigators do.  It is cool because I think we are the first missionaries ever in that certain area. There were no members there - we found them from a less active who moved there with his live in and now we have a ton of work and are doing miracles there so it is cool.  The people here are way good and we have a lot of people interested.  My companion and I are trying to work on our unity and get quicker more powerful lessons so we can get as many teachings as possible in.  We had splits this week too and Elder Moody from Bountiful came here.  He is American.  It was way fun and I hope I get an American companion in the future - we would do good work because just in one day the people were lovin it two Americans.  We went to that area where we cross the river and it was night and we saw a huge snake in the river… but it was dead.   I carried it around on a stick all night and scared people - it was fun. Also a family up there has a pet monkey and I let it crawl on my shoulder and got some pictures. This week was the family week celebration in the Philippines and on Saturday there was a celebration.  We went to both in Stop and Mabini. We invited a ton of people.  Unfortunately all didn't come but we found a couple new people to teach. It was once again just to see how these people enjoy such simple things.  So this month has gone by fast.  It is crazy how fast time goes when you are busy and we have been way busy this month working in two areas.  We mainly focused on Stop though and are harvesting my and Elder Reyes work from last transfer.  We had four baptisms earlier this transfer - 3 in Stop and 1 in Mabini. They were from less active and part members. One of the kids was way way shy but we invited him to play basketball and then he started coming to church and now he is baptized and a branch missionary.  So by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.  We also work with less actives cause it is a huge problem here so it is important to endure not just be baptized.  Every day I am out in the nature and it is sweet.  Just going to each home which is usually bamboo sometimes concrete, is an adventure.  We cross rivers often so I am taking off my shoes and socks and rolling up my pants. It rains a lot and you should see how muddy it gets.  It is crazy and way slippery.  I am always hiking and love it.  There is a bunch of sugar cane here and hills and palm trees.  The people here are way poor and never have money but are good people.  The members are way good.  The food is good but gets old.   I love getting fast food in Bacolod and we went this month I got some pizza hut.  The members are way good and I hope to stay here in Stop for a while.  Transfers are in a week so we will see.  We play basketball on Mondays with all the kids here and I ball them up.  We play ping pong sometimes and it is too easy.  Yo Nate my boy I need a challenge bro – let’s play the day I get home and I will take your marbles.  I got some Filipino marbles ha ha they are ok.  So anyways I love you all and just continue and do your best each day and I will see you all soon.  I have learned that it is not always easy and there are a ton of temptations and stuff on the mission but just remember why we are here and how blessed we are and that families are eternal and we can all have eternal happiness in the kingdom of God and all people need this.  It is just a short time in eternity but important.  I know this work is true and true happiness comes from the gospel of Christ.  It isn't always easy but it is always worth it to live the gospel.  Love You. 

Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

This week's update and Tyler's testimony of the LDS faith

TyBlog9.17.2012

Hello everyone.  This week has gone by way fast and been way busy. We are focusing on some people that we have been teaching since last transfer and they will be baptized on the 22nd.  They are part members; Justin, Elbert-the kid who plays b ball, and Angela. They are way good and I love them.  We are way busy and have a ton of investigators and work to do here.  I love Stop and hope to stay here for the rest of my mission ha ha. We also hope to have some baptisms on Oct 6.  In Mabini we have four people with baptismal dates.  Sunday was the busiest day ever.  We had church in Mabini and taught two lessons afterwards, and had a baptism interview then had to go to Stop and had three baptism interviews. I am doing ok though. On Wednesday we had splits.  I went to Bonifacio for a day and worked with my homie and zone leader from Salt Lake, Elder Tuikolovatu who went to East and played football and played for the U too.  He is way sick though and it was a fun day and I learned a lot from him.  He is so full of charity and also makes the mission fun too - it is important to enjoy each day.  That area is sick - it is by the ocean.  We watched the sunset on this pier by the ocean.  The next morning we woke up way early and jogged to the pier again and ran. I did some 40 yard dashes and some ladders. I am still in good shape. We watched the sunrise but it was really cloudy so it wasn't the best - it would be way sick on a clear day.  We weighed ourselves after and I am still 165 so I have stayed the same.  We then worked out and lifted weights and worked hard.  It was the first time I lifted weights since the MTC so I was way sore but it was fun and worth it.  Well it was a good week but I got to go.  I love you all and hope you have a good week.
Love Elder Mifflin

On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 11:56 PM, Tyler Mifflin <tyler.mifflin@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Here is my testimony for the newsletter.  So the reason why I served a mission is because my family is the most important thing ever to me.  I also have some of the best friends ever.  I want to live with them for all eternity and have good times with them forever and I know that I can through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This life is way short but way important, what we do here determines our eternity.  I came to know that this is the true church after high school by testing it out, by going to the temple a ton and just living the gospel.  Also a huge way was from seriously reading the Book of Mormon and praying about if it is true and living by it.  I came to know that the Book of Mormon is true and the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and that all of my blessings and happiness in my family were from the gospel. I realized how important it is for everyone to have this great knowledge so I served a mission.  Being out here hasn't always been easy but it will be worth it to help others have these blessings. My friends and I always say, "It isn't always easy to live the gospel but it is always worth it."  I have had a bunch of ups and downs but am thankful for the many great people I have taught and met.  I have met some eternal friends here.  My mission has made me a stronger person spiritually and more mature.  I have learned to sacrifice and work hard for others through service.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and through the atonement we can receive forgiveness and strength each day and we need Jesus Christ in order to have salvation or everlasting happiness.  I know that God lives and is our father and loves us all.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and changes lives - it is true.   Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and restored the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth today.   I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet.  I know that true happiness comes from the gospel and the family is the most important thing.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder Mifflin

The work continues in Stop and Mabini...

TyBlog9.10.2012

Hello everyone.  This week has been way busy. We had the usual good times with basketball and a family home evening last week. Elder Delos Santos knows some good new games and it was fun. We also got a new investigator that we are preparing for baptism.  He is the little brother of one of our other investigators. They are part member and the oldest brother is a member and a future missionary. So this week we have been very busy trying to work on all of our people that we are preparing for baptism in Stop and we also worked in Mabini all of Thursday and Saturday night because we were so busy in Stop. Church on Sunday - we went to both and then had to travel for a baptism interview because my comp is district leader then get back for our appointment with the Jepiala family that live by the river. I love them so much and they love the gospel. So we will see what happens with everyone. Unfortunately one of our investigators with a baptismal date was sick and didn't come to church, so now they need to come four more weeks in a row before we can baptize them. But, I have learned to do my best and then, like Nate said, “just come what may and love it”, because we can't force people and everything doesn't always go as planned or the best way we want it to.  It was way rainy last week and way muddy.  It is fun going around and teaching everyone - I just hike on muddy dirt trails and through sugar cane and over hills and through rivers, so the nature is way cool and I love this place and I love these people and need to enjoy each day because my time is limited here.  We hope to get some of our focus investigators baptized this transfer.  Today was a hassle - we went to Escalante with a bunch of our investigators to help them get papers for marriage. A less-active we are rescuing and his live-in wants to be baptized so we got their marriage papers and hope to get them married soon and baptize the sister and the brother is preparing to go to the temple. We had other investigators that came with us too to try to get married from that family and also others but we learned that they can't get married because they had previous spouses.  In order to get a divorce here you need an annulment which is expensive and they can't afford so it was sad.  They were disappointed but the good news is since it is such a common problem here, according to the new rules they can still be baptized and be forgiven according to their circumstances. This week we will continue to focus on our same people and hope to expand our work too. I love you all and miss you and I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior and true happiness comes from living by His teachings and using the atonement to receive strength and forgiveness. I know that the atonement is infinite and we can always repent and come back so I invite you all to come unto Christ and enjoy these great blessings. Good luck this week I hope to get some letters from you all.
Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

TyBlog 9/3/2012 Ty is working in two areas now and has a new companion

Hello everyone it has been a fast week. My new companion is a kid who lived in the same house as me but was serving in the area called Mabini.  Now due to the problem of not enough missionaries in this mission, we have to cover both of the areas Mabini and Stop.  And now we only have two people in the house so it is a bit lonely and quieter.  It is kind of funny how things change when you become companions. We went from being friends who talk and eat together each night to companions ha ha, not to say we have problems, but it just changes when you are with the person all day, every day.  It was already a challenge to fit everyone in the schedule and get everyone taught in just Stop with Elder Reyes, and now trying to work in two areas has been a challenge. We have more work going in Stop, so for now we only go to Mabini for two days a week, so we will see how it goes. I guess we just have to spend our time teaching the people who are really ready to receive the gospel. We also need to get better at using time and get as many lessons as we can in each day.  So the work in Stop is pretty much the same though.  We are working with some great people.  We have some baptisms coming up for some high school aged kids who are way faithful, and also the one way awesome family that lives up by the river. The Cabungcog and the Jepiala families are doing way good.  They are awesome and I love them and they love to hear the word of God - they are so interested.  We are helping some of them to get married and hope they will be baptized within this transfer.

 There was a little earthquake this week. It was funny - it actually happened at night when we were praying at our last teaching. I was sitting on a table by this guy who was praying and it started shaking.  I had my eyes closed so I thought he was just way excited ha ha.  Also, a story this week is that it has been way rainy and muddy and on our hike to the Jepiala family we always have to cross a river. The river was way higher than usual and kind of fast.  Don't worry, not dangerous but it was cool to see all the faith of the members with us to cross that river to teach.  So working in the new area of course is like starting over again but the people there are nice too.  I did my best to be positive and meet them all. We went to church at both places which was a hassle - the church at Mabini starts at nine and the church at stop at 11 for sacrament. So we were able to go to both.  I bore my testimony at both about the gospel as true happiness and how families can be together forever and how Jesus Christ is our foundation and source of strength.  I thought of my mom’s favorite scripture, Helaman 5:12.  Just being away from the people in Stop and seeing Elder Reyes leave made me realize that sometime my time will be over here too and I have come to love the people here too.  So for now I enjoy the days more in Stop because I have become comfortable and love the people but I am sure I can do that in Mabini too.  Just like last transfer I am not really sure why and ya it will be hard to work in both places but I just need to trust in God and do what I can - do my best, we can't do everything but I just need to remember 1 Nephi 3:7 and help as many people as I can.  I love you all and hope you have a great week. Don't be afraid to write me a letter - I would love to hear from you all out here.  Good luck this week and always trust in God.
Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

TyBlog 8/27/2012 (some repeat info, newsletter entry to friends)

Hello to everyone and to all my friends out across the world serving the Lord.  This has been a good transfer and it went by way fast too.  I am serving in Stop Aguinaldo Branch on the northeast side of the island of Negros and it is still a Cebuano speaking area.  My companion for one transfer was Elder Reyes but I found out today he will be leaving.  It is kind of sad because one transfer just doesn't feel like enough time, but of course it is all part of God's plan for us.  I learned some good things from Elder Reyes - how to teach more clearly and simply and to be bold and loving.  He also taught me the concept of not giving up on people and the value of getting in at least two to three lessons a week to our focus families, because of course true conversion is a process and it just doesn't happen over night.  Also he was good at opening people up by being friendly and making them laugh and of course missionary work is love and you can't do the work of the Lord without the Spirit.  I also found out today that one of the other elders from my apartment, Elder Delos Santos who is a Filipino too will be my new companion as his companion is going home.  Instead of two new missionaries coming we will cover two areas now.  This seems like so much because we already had a ton to do in just one area but I know that we can do it because it is God's plan for us. At least it will be easy to clean the house now and by the way we got our pipes and showers fixed, but I love using a bucket better now anyways ha ha.  We are trying to stay balanced with the rescue efforts of the less actives and with our investigators from referrals. Some of our investigators here are from the rescue and part member families and a lot are from referrals. Some of our focus people that we teach are from a referral that we started teaching at the start of the transfer.  It is that group of homes out in the jungle where we had to cross through the river and hike to teach them.  One is a less active and the rest are investigators. He hadn't been to church in eight years and came and the family is way good and ready to hear the gospel and have been coming to church. In the song “Where did all the good people go?” by my favorite lyrical genius Jack Johnson, I think they went to the Philippines ha ha really everyone is way nice here I want to teach them all. My investigator Alma has come to know the truth. He told me he used to be a gangster but now has completely changed. He and his wife are “live ins” which is such a problem here, but according to his circumstances, because he had an old wife that he has separated from and they have no money to pay for an annulment.  According to the rules here they can still get baptized due to the long separation time and the money issue. His other family from his old wife doesn't approve so we are trying to help him overcome that. We have many others we are focusing on and many with baptism dates. There are also a bunch of faithful kids we are teaching between like 12 and 20 that are way faithful and some have dates.  I am surprised by their faith. We did a miracle with one girl’s mom - she was way closed but we prayed and as we asked for permission had a way good idea which solved the problem and opened her up.  So be ready to do miracles. I always ask my comp every day before we leave since I have been here, "Are you ready to do some miracles?"  What I have learned though is there is always a problem to overcome with everyone and that is our job to help them. We need to be bold and do our best because if not for us then who will do it?  These people aren't going to just change out of nowhere. There are always ups and downs and everything doesn't always go as planned.  But you just do your best and continue. The way of life here is way simple and different but I like it. People are just less experienced and advanced here in the church.  It was way weird at first but I am used to it now, there are way faithful members but we have to step up and help the branch function.  Every Monday we play basketball with a bunch of kids. Some are pretty good but I can score down low every time ha ha and they always cherry pick. Also each Monday morning we wake up way early and go hiking because there are a bunch of little mountains around - nothing compared to the Utah mountains but it is a great way to relax.  The nature here is way sweet but Utah will always be my favorite. So today we hiked the tallest mountain around way early and saw the sunrise come up from the ocean.  It was way sick.  You can see Cebu island and on the other side you can see way over to Ilo Ilo, a different island.  We drank coconut water and ate mangos.  The fruit here is way good.  I will always be nature man.  My zone leader here is Elder Tukolovatu from Salt Lake City too. He played football for East high and at the University of Utah before he came.  He is way sick and I have chilled with him. He gave me two talks that I want to review. The first is called, "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. I encourage you all to read it.  Some things I like are, "The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home, but that miraculously we can feel at home.  The miracle of the atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly, not just to be cleansed and consoled but we can be transformed.  Put it simply if Jesus didn't require practice we would never become saints. There should never only be two options: perfection or giving up, growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace we understand that God is long suffering, that change is a process and repentance is a pattern of our lives… the blessings of Christ's atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness… continue in patience until we are perfected.  Grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road, it is achieved right here and right now.  God's grace is sufficient, Jesus’ grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don't quit. Keep trying. Don't look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and his perfect strength. Don't look for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ and as you do you will feel the enabling power and divine help we call his amazing grace." Way good! We should apply this everyday to our lives and to the people we teach. In the other talk Richard G. Scott says," The membership in the church can be divided into three groups. The first had a testimony and was converted, the second had a testimony but was not converted and the third group had no testimony and no conversion, this group is totally inactive and we never see them at church. Converted means to have been born again as the scriptures describe it, to have tasted of the forgiveness the atonement provides, to have been changed in the inner man, to have lost the disposition to commit sin.  When that conversion takes place from that point on you will be driven from within to do your very best you can possibly be, no one will have to tell you to do it you will have no choice." Finally he says that it is crucial for us to get this conversion in our lives. I have to go but I know that we need to get to the number one level of conversion and also the people we teach. It is a process that is why we need the atonement. I love you all good luck and see you soon.
Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

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