transfer back to the jungle

Hello family, my time has flown by here in Bacolod 3rd ward. It was such a great opportunity to serve as Assistant and feels just like yesterday that I started my time here and now it is over. I learned so many things and saw so many miracles. It was amazing how we kept the weekly baptism going. When I came, Elder Galanza had opened our side of the area just the transfer before and had many companions. Then my time with Elder Dy was a challenge because we only had 2 assistants. We were able to see miracles when it seemed like our weekly baptism would stop, then we were able to keep it going. We were also able to do exchanges with all of the zone leaders and to train them which was such a good experience. Then my time with Elder Peralta we literally tripled or x4 our work. It was awesome and we had so many lessons and many investigators at church each week and many baptisms. I would never trade my experience here for anything, I have learned so much. I will never regret my choice to serve a mission. If I had not served I would never be who I am today and the people we have helped come unto Christ may have never known the truth. I am so touched by the testimonies of our recent converts, especially the change they have had in their lives from reading the Book of Mormon every day. I know that the greatest miracles in life are not the parting of the Red Sea or healing the sick or the raising of the dead, it is in the change of ones heart when they repent and get baptized. There are so many investigators left in our area that are doing great and progressing towards baptism. I know they will be baptized in the future. I wish that we could have baptized the Sangco family. I hope and pray one day they will realize that the only way to true happiness is by repentance and baptism in this church. I am so excited for what lies ahead for me in the future. I know that God has a plan for me. I have seen His hand and miracles every day in our work. I know that I have been assigned where I have for a reason. I am excited to train and to open the new area of Dian-ay. I know that God has prepared people for me out there. I know that they will be baptized as long as I do my best to be obedient and follow the Holy Ghost and work hard. We will see miracles in Dian-ay just like all of my past areas. As for last week, the planning for the MLC worked out fine. We got everyone to work on Monday night and the sleeping arrangements went well. I was spiritually uplifted at the MLC. That is why I love having it at the mission home, it is the closest feeling we can get to being in the temple out here where we don't have one. I was impressed by the trainings and especially the attitude and the excitement of the new zone leaders. I know they will continue to do miracles with the new generation of leaders in the mission. Our work went well this week also. We were able to have six baptisms on Saturday. I had the opportunity to baptize brother Marvin, he is a part member, we have helped his parents to return and his older brothers are strong recent converts. Also the five others were from the Tan family that are part members. Their Grandma is an active member. I kept having the strongest feelings that we needed to visit them back when we started out with four in our area because they were former investigators. They progressed from day one and went to church every week until baptism. On Sunday we had 8 confirmed because of the two that were not confirmed last week due to the stake conference. I will continue to do my best and work hard for the rest of my mission. I love you all and hope you have a great week. Love Elder Mifflin

Busy, busy, busy...

Elder Mifflin is still in Bacolod City, working in his third transfer as an AP. He loves the work and this area (ward) has been able to meet the mission president’s goal of at least one baptism weekly for the past 4 months. Besides teaching and doing exchanges with zone leaders, the APs have had the opportunity to help many sick missionaries this month, including hosting them in their home which sleeps 12. Here are a few brief excerpts from Elder Mifflin’s letters this month: “I am amazed at the miracles we have seen this week. I have seen God’s hands in our work and people really being guided by the Holy Ghost… the work here is really exploding right now… My companion is a great missionary and is a very hard worker. His testimony is very powerful. He has a great attitude…I am excited this week to help all of our investigators prepare for baptism. I know that there is no other place I should be right now because this is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know this is the only way to true happiness and salvation. I invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon and ponder it in your hearts and ask God if it is true and I promise you that you will come to know just as I do that it is true.” Elder Mifflin invites us to pray for his investigators. He only has 6 months left, not that we’re counting the days or anything…