week before Christmas

Hello everyone it has been a good week. It went by way fast. Last Monday we had to go to Bacolod to finish some of my immigration papers and get an xray. I also received my trunky letter which has my plane flights home. It is crazy I will be going home in 2 months! I love my mission and will enjoy the rest. It took forever in Bacolod so we just slept at the apartment of the assistants. I also had the opportunity to visit some recent converts in Bacolod, it was great to see them. Then the next day the assistants drove us back to Sagay because they also had to go somewhere. We will have 7 baptism on Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Marshal, Sinthia, Chendy, Chappy and Cheann Cristine Mae and Chimby. We also had a Christmas zone conference this week. We got a lot of good food like sub sandwhich and donuts and candy. It was way good and been a long time since I had food like that. We also got to watch the Christmas devotional which was way good. I also got my package. Thanks to my family so much. I got some cookies, reese, rolos, beef jerkey, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, a shirt, a little Christmas tree to decorate a cd and some letters and pictures. All of the people here loved to see the pictures of my family. We also had seminary and an activity again and a movie night. A lot of recent converts and investigators came. Then on Sunday we had many at church we had 15 at church and 15 with a baptism date. We had the Adan family and Lovero family at church again. The two new families that were at church last week were at church again. They are really progressing and have really felt that this church is true from their experience at church. They all want to be baptized and are very excited. They said that they have been to many different churches but they feel that this church is the true church. We are happy and excited for them. Some things that President Lopez taught us in the Christmas zone conference is that for missionaries Christmas is not about us or our families, but it is about the "others" that we are helping everyday to come closer to Jesus Christ. Having baptisms on Christmas is the best way we can fufill our purpose by helping others come closer to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has given us everything and all we can give to him is our heart so having a baptism on Christmas is awesome because these seven people are giving their hearts to Jesus Christ by repenting of their sins and living His commandment.I know that the true meaing of Christmas is to help others to remember that Jesus Christ is our Savior and to come closer to Him to help them improve their lives. I love this work and know it is true. I love these people and my area. I love you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas! Love Elder Mifflin

early December

Hello everyone it has been a good week. We had a lot of exchanges this week. I went to Colonia Divinia on Tuesday for a baptism interview of the Paraonda family. They are a great family and very prepared for the gospel and will be strong future leaders. Then on Wednesday I went to Minapasok and worked with Elder Gorospe. It was cool to work with him again, it has been a long time since we worked together when we were companions. He has grown a lot and is doing great in his area. Then on Thursday we had exchanges again with Elder Sanderson and I went to his area to do some more baptism interviews. Elder Agbuya did well working in the area on his own and was able to help the work continue. We were busy this week just focusing on our investigators to be baptized this week and the others with a date. We have many investigators and we are working hard to help them. Then on Saturday we had a one day rescue where we had some members help us and we visited less actives. We did a member exchange again and me and Elder Agbuya split. He worked with the first councilor and I worked with the Elders quorum president. Then on Sunday we had the baptism of Cecilia, Mark, and Jomar. They were happy and very thankful and had a great experience and shared a strong testimony. I baptized Cecilia, Elder Agbuya baptized Mark and Jomar. I was so happy, it is always a great experience to baptize someone. We had it Sunday morning before class started so that they could be confirmed that same day. We had many members there to support them. Also all of Cecilia's kids watched the baptism and they also want to be baptized. It was a challenge to get clean water but we were able to get it done. On Sunday, we had 122 attendance We had less actives there and some more less actives returned and are coming consistently. We have 2 males that have recently returned from being less active who will receive the Melchizedek priesthood next week in Stake conference. It is the father of our first councilor and also brother Roe who is the father in law of our recent convert Arnold. All of our recent converts since I have been here are active going to church every week. We also had 7 investigators at church and they have all been to church now 2-5 times. We are planning to have them all baptized on Christmas! It will be a white Christmas in the Philippines! We are doing good and seeing many miracles in this place! I know that the Lord has prepared many people for us and opened the hearts of many people. I know that He will continue to lead us to people prepared. I love this place and know it was God's plan for me to be here. I hope that it is God's plan for me and Elder Agbuya to both stay here in this place because I love this place and want to be here for our Christmas baptisms. We finally got power back this week on Friday night, it was so nice to have lights and a fan again because it is so hot at nights. It was a good experience though to not have power for three weeks. Also I honestly forgot it was Thanksgiving until after it happened because they don't celebrate it here. It was just a normal day but I hope that you all enjoyed it. Love Elder Mifflin