Week 13

Hello everyone out serving the Lord across the world and back home.  

I don't even know where to start.  So much has happened since I have been here and it is crazy - I have been here for two months now.  But at the same time it feels like I have been here forever.  Anyway, like I said last time the nature here is pretty sweet.  One p day we went up to "Big Tree" it is this huge tree that looks like the deku tree on the legend of Zelda, it also reminds me of the tree of life.  That was cool.  

I am losing weight from all the hiking and walking.  I am getting pretty bony ha ha.  Everyone says I am losing it and I don't work out much anymore - I don't have any time but maybe I'll start.  I also tried Balut.  I was good, it just tasted like a hardboiled egg but the beak was a little chewy which was kind of gross.  

I think that the Lord sent me here to the Philippines to really help me to be patient and increase my faith.  At first when I got here I thought that missionary work was all about baptizing people and I just expected people to be getting baptized left and right.  With the rescue it has really opened up my eyes to the importance of enduring and continuing after baptism.  Some of the families we teach are like investigators though.  They were baptized forever ago and now they have a family with non member people in it.  I am learning to be patient with the people and also myself.  It is different here in the Philippines with the branch involvement -  it has been harder to get them involved but lately we have been getting them more involved which has been great.  Because of this we have been teaching with branch missionaries and leader on Saturdays and Sundays to less actives.  This has been kind of scary because Elder Natural and I have been splitting.  I really learned so much from splits to trust in the spirit.  I have gotten a lot better at the language from studying the CLO - I am getting pretty good at teaching the hardest part is listening and understanding, but I am really trying to improve.  Also Elder Natural is an English major so that doesn't help because he is so good at English it is a temptation to speak to him in English which I do a lot.  I need to start speaking the language more.  It is coming along though and with the spirit I can still know where the conversation is going and understand a lot and what to do and teach.  I have learned patience because there are so many ups and downs getting the less actives to return to church, sometimes they come for a while and then just stop, or sometimes we teach them all week and they don't come, and the people we don't teach come ha ha.  We also have found some really great and open investigators but we haven't been able to get them to come to church.  We are teaching them though and I know one day they will accept the truth.  My perspective has changed I know that no effort is wasted.   I already knew this but I think just from reading "Our Search for Happiness" it really opened up my mind to the plan of salvation and the importance of this work.  Every effort we make will not be wasted because even after this life missionaries teach in the spirit world and we are always growing, so don't get down when times are hard.  I am having a good time though.  And I also hope to help and baptize those people as soon as possible.  

Anyways with the rescue - one cool story.  We have been teaching this family named the Babor family and are helping them to return.  We testified of the atonement and repentance and they are returning.  One kid is 22 and hadn't been to church for four years and now he blessed the sacrament last week and plans to serve.  It is such a great feeling to see the atonement change lives and we hope to continue to have success and hopefully some baptisms next month.  Before I came on my mission I always thought that missionaries were perfect and what not.  Now I have learned that each day we can learn and grow and get better.  We all make mistakes I am definitely not perfect but as long as we are doing our best and trusting in God and trying to get better, that's all we can do.  I love the phrases "Come home with no regrets" and “exact obedience=miracles” but I have learned that a regret is something we purposefully do wrong because it is impossible to be exactly obedient or very hard at least.  One example of this was when we went to Bacolod and we were craving some Mac Dos or McDonalds, so we went and it was pouring, I mean pouring rain.  The streets were flooded, I was soaked, I had some great crispy chickens but we ended up missing the three hour bus to Canlaon and had to take another bus which was way longer and more expensive and sleep at another Elder’s home and take another bus in the morning. I joked, what would you do for some McDonalds?ha ha.  But anyways I am trying to learn from my mistakes each day and trust in the Lord to help me make a difference and become the missionary he wants me to be.  I love in the book "Serve With Honor" (sorry Cole I still have it :) that we need to take one day at a time.  If we are tempted and want to quit or slack off or go home, then say I will do that tomorrow, but then wake up the next day and give it your all that day and say tomorrow, which is when you get home.  I love that.  It isn't always easy and we aren't perfect but I know that if we trust in God we can improve every day. Elder M. Russell Ballard says in a talk called Mental Toughness, that we need to "become the creator of circumstances instead of the creature of circumstances." It makes me think of the football quote we had – “our Attitude determines our Altitude.”   Anyways I love you all and am thankful for your great examples, keep doing your best.  I know this gospel is true and am so thankful for a knowledge of the plan and for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for you great eternal friends and my eternal family and I know our joy will be full when we meet again.

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

Pictures

Elder Mifflin and Elder Natural

Elder Mifflin and Elder Natural with a family 

Elder Mifflin's apartment

Canlaon

Active volcano

Terraced rice field

Canlaon

Canlaon city

Elder Mifflin and Elder Natural in Canlaon

"The Big Tree"

Week 12

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

Week 11

Hey everyone how is it going? 

This week has been a good week but if I could explain my mission in three words I would say... ups and downs... but that is just how life is.  First off last Monday I got a haircut ha ha mistake, all they had was a 2 and 3 for shaving so I thought that would be too short so I decided to just get barber style like Elder Natural.  I don't like it- I think I look dumb ha ha.  He cut my side burns and the sides way short and then cut a little on the top and didn't even cut the very front -ha ha worst haircut ever. Mom please send me the hair clippers in the next package.  

By the way I forgot to mention about the milk here. One time I got chocolate milk which was ok. So next time I bought two normal milks because chocolate is rare.  It is gross!  I miss the milk back home I couldn't even drink it. Also they have really good bread here. There is a bakery where it is really cheap and they have really good donuts and this chocolate-sugar bread.  Also, about some of the animals- there is a stray dog that always sleeps by our apartment.  His name is “zombie dog.” Every night when we come back he runs out to us biting his own tail - he legit looks like a zombie.  There are many stray dogs here but don't worry, they are afraid of humans. There are also roosters, man, I hate them.  They cock a doodle doo every morning at like 4:30 and they don't stop!  They just keep going and going. There is one by our house so I hear it every morning.  I am getting used to it though. There are also a bunch of cows, goats, and water buffalos everywhere.  

It is the rainy season now- it has been raining every day and is really muddy.  I have lost weight definitely, probably from the heat and the fact that we walk everywhere. We hike a lot- my legs are getting strong but my pants get looser each day ha ha. Also we had to go to Bacolod this week for a zone conference because my companion is a zone leader.  He had to get an x-ray because he is going home soon so we stayed the night with other missionaries.  I got to take a hot shower which was nice.  It takes 3 hours to go to Bacolod so I had a lot of time to study the language and I am also reading "Our Search for Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard. 

We have done a lot of hiking through the mud this week and taught a lot of people.  The hardest thing here is getting people to come to church. It is different here than in America. The people are all farmers here and many work on Sundays.  Also the church isn’t as developed here as it is back home.  For example, back in my ward everything is very organized and everyone knows their duty and the ward is really involved in missionary work. Here it’s not that the people are bad, they just need experience and knowledge of how to do their callings.  Elder Natural and I taught the young men’s president his duty this week and we also have been trying to get the branch involved in the work more.  We made copies of our less- actives tracking sheets and gave them to the leaders in the ward.  Every less- active or convert needs three things:   1.  friends 2.   responsibility   3. To be nourished by the word of God.  As missionaries we can do number 3 but we need the ward for the rest or we will never have true converts or rescue less- actives.  My understanding of the gospel and putting it to action grows every day.  I am learning how to have faith and much patience.  I like Ephesians 6:13-19 that is what I am trying to do- that is the key to being successful in life.  I know that this church is true and Jesus Christ is our Savior and we all need the gospel.  That is something I liked from "Our Search for Happiness"- Elder Ballard talks about how across the world we are all so different with cultures and languages etc., but he says that at the same time we are all alike, we are all children of God and need the gospel.  Anyways love you all I have to go.  Always trust in God. 

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

Week 10

Hello everyone back home or across the world serving the Lord.  

This week has been great.  We had companion exchanges on Wednesday.  I went to Calatrava-still Cebuano speaking but right next to the ocean.  It was awesome to smell the ocean and see all the palm trees.  Also they baptize in the ocean there.  I hope sometime on my mission I get to serve near the ocean.  

Elder Natural and I have had a good week.  We are getting better at making decisions together and having unity.  There are a lot of good people here in the Philippines.  They are very humble and don’t have many material things.  Families live in like one or two room bamboo open houses and their nicest possession is an old TV.  Some are lucky to have bigger houses made of concrete, but still being here has really made me appreciate all the blessings God has given to me.  For example now I have to wash my clothes with my hands.  I never realized how thankful I am for a washing machine.  It is hard work.  I use a board and a brush.  Cleaning the white shirts are the hardest, literally to get out stains and dirt takes me forever -probably about an hour for two shirts.  Because of this it is impossible to clean all of my clothes on P day.  I wake up at five on P day to wash and I also wash on Fridays at 5.  Then we wake up early on Tuesdays for district meeting.  It's ok if you know me then you know I don't need sleep ha ha.  I have learned a lot of patience from washing ha ha.  

Also, the nature here is great and if you know me then you know I love nature, that's why I call myself nature man ha ha.  Anyway, there are some great sights here.  Some beautiful rice field steps and views down into the valley.  I am up high by the volcano in Canlaon.  One area we go to is called Brgy Pula which is up high.  I have such a sweet view of the valley and the ocean far below.  Also I love hiking.  I get to hike here every day - it is awesome.  Sometimes I feel like I am just enjoying a great hike.  We have to hike on dirt trials and through rice fields to get to people's homes.  Also something funny here is that a lot of people don't have a specific address.  It just says what area they are from so when we try to find someone we have to ask a bunch of people and they point us one way, then other people point us another ha ha.  Also the stars and moon here are awesome at night so I am enjoying nature.  Sometimes I start humming a little Jack Johnson to myself when I am enjoying the nature and the animals.  Luckily there are no rats or spiders in my apartment so that’s good.  The scary thing is sometimes we here rats running in the pipes.  We have bug spray though so it is mainly just ants and some cockroaches in the apartment.  Also it is way funny that there are ducks that someone has by our home and when we leave our door open they come running in ha ha.  Also today we found a frog in the bathroom but it jumped out so it’s all good. My apartment reminds me of my cabin in Priest Lake Idaho.  There is a stream nearby, purifying water, showering with a bucket of cold water, but I am enjoying it. 

Now to the food - I have learned to love rice, I didn't care much for it but now I eat it with every lunch and dinner.  I eat a lot of meat, veggies, fruit, and rice.  The fruit is great, especially the mangos.  I am learning how to cook my own food ha ha and Filipino recipes. 

Anyway now to the work.  I'm not just here on vacation ha ha I am here to serve the Lord.  We have had a lot of success this week.  We have found some families on the list and from referrals that are really interested in the gospel, they are truth seekers.  This one guy we taught said he was way tired before we taught him and after he had so much strength and happiness.  We explained that he felt the Holy Ghost and the truth.  There are people here who are open and closed just like anywhere.  Eternal Life with our families is God's greatest gift to us but he doesn't just hand it to us.  That is why not everyone accepts our message.  Just because we have the gospel it doesn't make our lives easy but it gives us strength and a direction to turn and overcome our challenges.  Here are some scriptures to read and think about D&C 101:4-5,35-38, D&C 121; 1,7-8 , D&C 122: 7-9, D&C 58:1-6 about trials and hard times.  Then read 1 Nephi 3:7, D&C 31, 2 Nephi 4;34-35, 1 Nephi 15:24, D&C 123:17, Luke 1:37, Mor. 7:33, Alma 26:12,22,26-30, and Alma 32:41-44. I know it’s a lot ha but I hope you read them if you have time. They are great.  Whenever life is hard I think about the people who sacrificed so much for this church like Joseph Smith and the pioneers.  Then I think about Jesus Christ and His atonement.  Jesus Christ descended below all things.  It wasn't easy for Him he had to trust to God with perfect obedience.  I am so thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ - without it I am nothing or have nothing.  We need to apply the atonement because Jesus pleads for our souls(2 Nephi 8:22-25).  Without the gospel of Jesus Christ and the atonement I realize that I would have nothing.  I have the best family in the world and so many blessings more than ever, but I realize that all of my blessings, all of the happiness in my family is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  Without it I am sure I would have a broken home.  Without the gospel I know I would be lost, I wouldn't be here, that's for sure.  Everything I have is because God is our loving Heavenly Father and from the gospel(Mosiah 2:41).  I know that these people here need the gospel.  There is no other way to true happiness.  I am so thankful for the privilege to serve.  Two years is only a moment in eternity and will go fast.  It will be worth it and as my friends and I in high school used to say "It's not always easy to live the gospel but it is always worth it."  I know that is true.  If I labor for two years and only help one person receive eternal life it will be worth it.  I hope more but just saying. We are having ups and downs though but I am enjoying it.  We are teaching great people and hope to have some baptisms in June.  The hardest part is helping the people come to church because they are busy on Sundays.  That's what I have learned also is that whether you are a missionary, the prophet, or just a normal person we need to build our testimony every day or we will fall.  That is why people fall away here is because they don't have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, prayer, or church.  I am improving in the language.  The CLO has really helped my grammar and vocab.  I am applying what I learn each day when I teach.  We teach every day - it is awesome.  It is still really hard to understand the people though but that will come over time.  Anyways stay strong I have to go, I know this church is true.

Elder Mifflin 5/28/12

Week 9

Hello everybody.  

These past two weeks have been great here in the mission.  Last week I went back to Bacolod to finish my orientation.  It is a three hour bus ride to Bacolod and we had to wake up at three thirty am to get there in time.  We learned that there are 659,000 members in the church in the Philippines, the fourth most in the world.  The problem is only 22% of those members are active or 114,000 people.  Because of this we are focusing on rescuing the less active members in my mission or helping them get their testimonies back.  We have a list of all the members in the ward.  Some families are part member families, some have unbaptized children, some never received the priesthood, and so on. We focus on the lists and help rescue these members, along the way we find new people who are interested in the church and we teach them also. Anyways that is our focus.  

It was also cool to see all of the kids at orientation that arrived the same day as me in the Philippines.  On the bus ride home it was packed and I stood up for this lady.  She spoke Illongo and Tagalog and English.  I ended up teaching her about the church and got three referrals, I was scared at first but decided to not be afraid. We have been doing a lot of traveling lately though I haven't had a normal day very often.  

On Friday we went to San Carlos for a zone meeting. It is about an hour and a half drive.  I found a CLO -  it is something that teaches me Cebuano grammar so I study that on the bus.  We have been back to San Carlos many times for other reasons so I have gotten a lot of studying in and, also I like the scenic drive.  I have a good view of the jungle and ocean.  

On Mother's Day I was a little lonely and homesick but I know that it will be worth it.  On Sunday we were a bit worried because a lot of the people we have been working with weren't at church. It was also sad to see that only half of families were there, with some kids saying how much they love their mom and she isn't at church. Also we have new leaders here and we haven't been able to have our weekly meetings.  There is definitely a lot of work to do here. Then it was great to talk to my family on Mother’s Day and Skype them.  There have been a lot of ups and downs this week.  It has been kind of hard because a lot of our new investigators aren't interested anymore.  This one family we were teaching was so open and then the next time they told us they would never change from Catholic.  At least we planted a seed and left them a Book of Mormon.  But a lot of our investigators aren't interested anymore.  But my companion and I are working hard.  I am not making excuses - I know that the people here are good people they just need some help and I also know that there are people ready to be rescued and receive the gospel here.  

My companion and I have had some disagreements and made some mistakes but we are working through them and getting better.  I have been getting better at the language, it is coming slowly but the grammar packet has definitely helped.  I have learned to have more faith and patience here and trust in the Lord.  I know that if I am diligent and faithful that the language will come.  I try my best to participate in the lessons.  I can teach, testify, ask questions, and make commitments.  The hard part is understanding what they say back, but that will come over time.  Then at church this week my companion and I spoke in sacrament meeting.  I decided to do what I did in the MTC and do what I do in my lessons, prepare, but once the time comes, trust in the Holy Ghost.  I stood up and talked with only a Book of Mormon about faith for about five minutes.  It went well.  The concern is that our church attendance this week was really low and all of the less actives we taught weren't at church.  I have learned how important it is to build your testimony every day or you will lose it.  I know that we can make a difference here though.  We need to work harder and have more faith and patience.  

I was thinking this week - Why does the Lord give us trials? Why isn't it always so easy? My answer God gives us trials to grow, there are always ups and downs in life, you can ask why why why…  or you can trust in the Lord and ask Him for strength and act, attitude is everything, be patient and diligent because there are trials every day, (There is always going to be another mountain .. it's the climb ha ha), but I know that with God nothing shall be impossible, I know I am here for a reason, I can make a difference, I can learn this language, now it's up to me to make it happen, I have the Lord's promises, the Lord will provide a way, but we still must act to achieve our potential.  Don't pray for the Lord to take away your problem, but pray for strength to overcome them.  I am excited to serve here and know I need to be here. 

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature Man

Week 8

Hey! 

 Ok, so where to start so much has happened this week.. lets see, last time I talked about washing my clothes in a bucket with my hands, I am so thankful for a washing machine back home, it takes forever and my knuckles were all cut up, plus I didn't even finish all of my clothes until like thursday or something.  I might get a board and brush this week for washing I heard that is better.  My companion is a good good.  He is showing me to cook chicken adobe and other things.  We eat a lot of rice.  For breakfast though I was able to get eggs, pancakes, and bread, I only drink water, oh how I miss that my cold milk, but its ok two years isn't much in eternity right. 

We have been doing a lot of teaching and we are trying our best to work hard.  We are helping less actives and also finding new investigators from the part member families.  We found 9 new potential investigators last week.  We will see what happens.  There is this one family that is very interested, also a relative of the Sister who was baptized in the river is very interested, also this man who really has a desire to know the truth, so we will see what happens.  

We are making goals to be better teachers, like teach to people's needs and understanding and teach by the spirit to find out how the gospel can help them.  Also when we invite people to make commitments we give them a notecard where we have assigned them something or we have them write it down themselves. It has been effective.  

On tuesday we had our first district meeting.  It was good . After we had lunch with the district president who used to be the branch president in Canlaon.  He is awesome and bought us food.  We ate right next to the ocean.  I could see Cebu, what a sight but sorry no swimming.  Also Tuesday night when we were teaching it was pouring rain so hard, but luckily we were in someones hut and it was over once we left.  Most people accept us in but Tuesday night this old lady was way against our church, she is part of the Iglesia church.  Even though I don't know much I bore my testimony of the truth to her, I am happy that I did, maybe one day it can help her.  Then Wednesday we were in Bacolod all day because my companion is a zone leader and they had a meeting.  I had Mcdonalds again. It is a long drive so we had to wake up at 3:30 and sleep on the bus.  We also woke up early for district meeting and a couple other times for laundry.  Let's just say when it rains here it pours, Thursday when we were teaching it was pouring, luckily I left my nice scriptures and notebook at home because everything was soaked in my backpack.  It was way muddy and rivers of mud.  But we pressed on and kept teaching and it cleared up after about an hour.  

Like I said I am improving in the language.  I am trying to improve but it is a challenge because we don't have all of the resources that we did for Tagalog like our language guides and grammar and vocab.  Actually our mission gave us a little language guide which is useful but not as good.  I have been trying to figure out the differences from Tagalog from my companion.  I am learning, but the problem is that my companion learned it differently so he can't really help me with grammar and stuff.  

Then Saturday was really hot and we started our fast, no water or food.  It was a challenge definately and we walked so much on Saturday.  We walk a lot and hike, on Friday we hiked on a trail for a while to get to this house.  Also I have seen some nice sunsets by the volcano.  I have been teaching and testifying and asking questions but it is still hard for me to understand what is going on.  Then on Sunday I was so tired sore and hungry. But like Isaiah 40:31 my strength was renewed after the sacrament.  Also a missionary came back with his family and I met them they are from Orem and she said she will call you.  I bore my testimony in sacrament.  The members were surprised by how much I knew, so was the return missionary but you know me I still demand better I need to learn more and be fluent.  Also sunday I stepped up to the challenge and gave a priesthood blessing.  It was bisaya and English mixed.  I have also extended an invitation to be baptized but he is going to pray about it.  

Anyway, I have to go. I am working hard and trying my best but you will see my journal when I get back because there is still so much to tell.  I love you and know that we are all children of God.  There is one language; the Spirit.  I know that these people and everyone need the gospel for true happiness and it is so important to stay strong every day that is why people go inactive cause they forget.  P.S. I saw many spiders as big as my hand.  

Love Elder Mifflin