Hello everyone it has been a good week here in the
Philippines.
Monday Elder Natural and I went all out for our P day
because it was transfers the next day and one of us could have left
Canlaon. We went up to this giant tree
it is called the "Big Tree." I sent some pictures. It is
so huge and seriously reminds me of the Dukee Tree on the Legend of
Zelda. It also reminds me of the tree of life because it is in the middle
of a field with no other trees around. It was a sight to see for nature
man and I am very glad we went. It was sweet to just relax and enjoy a
beautiful sight. We also ate pizza at this new restaurant. It was
so nice to have some pizza, I still miss all the fast food and junk food from
home. Then that night we had a family home evening with this less active
family we are working with. They are a really nice family. We have been
teaching them and trying to get them to return to church. We taught them
about the Atonement and how we all need it in our lives and through Jesus Christ
we can become clean (Isaiah 1:18), and we connected it to how we need the
sacrament to become clean each week (3 Nephi 18). We used an object
lesson where you put soy sauce in water and then put in bleach and the water is
clean. We likened this to the Atonement. It went well and they really
opened up. The father is unordained in the priesthood and the children
need to advance in their priesthood.
After the lesson the father told us that we had helped him understand
why he needs the Atonement and that his family was going to return to church.
The father and mother didn't end up coming to church but it was still really
good because the kids came and we helped one of them be ordained a priest. Also one of them that came is 22 and hasn't
been to church for four years! After the lessons we played games for the
family home evening where we passed around this sparkler and tied two ties and
whoever it landed on has to show their talent. Of course they made it
land on me each time ha ha so I had to show my talents. I didn't know
what to do so I just got in my track stance and told them I am a runner, but it
was fun and went well.
Anyways, it was transfer week this week but Elder
Natural and I are staying here in Canlaon. It will be his last transfer
of his mission so we better make it a good one. We have been helping the
branch progress this week and have been excited about that. We finally
had a PEC with the branch president this week, we also helped organize meetings
for MCM and get the branch missionaries more involved in the work. We also helped the Aaronic priesthood learn
their duties and helped the young men's president do his duty. Also after church some members of the branch
went out and taught some of the less active members, so that was great and we
are happy the branch is more involved. I also tried balut for the first
time this week. It wasn't too bad it just tasted like a salty hardboiled
egg but with a little more texture ha ha.
It was a little gross to eat a half developed chicken or duck or
whatever it is. Elder Natural took a video of it on my camera though.
There was also this part at the end that was really chewy but it was pretty
good I think I'll have it again ha ha.
We also started teaching this
family from a referral. The mom used to be taught by the missionaries and
had a baptism date. They are a really nice family and I hope we can bring
them to the truth. Also the grandma
lives with them and she is really funny and noisy. The work here is good
though. Working with the less actives has a lot of ups and downs because
sometimes we teach someone 2-3 times a week and they don't come to church and
then we see someone for 5 seconds and invite them and they come so you just
never know, ha ha but they are good people and we are trying to help them
remember their testimonies. We have been teaching a lot about the
Atonement to help them remember their testimonies and why they are here.
My understanding of the Atonement and the gospel has grown a lot since I have
been on my mission just from reading the scriptures, teaching, and learning to
act and apply the things I learn each day. I am reading 2 Nephi right now
and really love the Isaiah chapters. In 2 Nephi 19:12,17,21 and 2 Nephi
20 it says "For all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is
stretched out still." Before it is talking about the consequences for the
wicked, but this shows that there is always hope for repentance through the Atonement
of Jesus Christ and how much God and Jesus Christ love us. I also love
Isaiah chapter 53 about the Atonement. I suggest that you read it, it is a
great chapter and shows how much Christ loves us and through the Atonement we
can have eternal happiness and families. It also makes me think of John
15:13. I am so thankful for how much Christ loves us and know that we all need
to apply the Atonement in our lives. I am doing good though and I am
learning to trust in God every day. I hope all is well with you, I love
you all and I need to go.
Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man
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