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

Pictures

Week 20

Hello everyone. 

I have had another good week here in Stop Aguinaldo. I feel like I am in a different world here in the Philippines, ever since I got here, not in a bad way but it is just so different here than in America. Sometimes I feel like I have been here forever - like this is my home, but also time goes by fast too and it is crazy that summer is almost over. That probably doesn't make much sense, ha ha, it is like graduating from high school - it goes slow each day but once you finish you’re like wow I can't believe it’s over. Time goes especially fast when we teach and I feel like there just isn't enough time in the day to teach all of the people. They are great and a lot of them have such simple lives here in Stop.  Many are farmers of rice, sugar cane, corn and charcoal is big here too. The people always give us fruit - like mangos and bananas and coconuts. They also give us corn and I have been eating the sugar cane - you just chew it and spit it out. It is sweet. Sometimes I feel like this place is just so disconnected with the rest of the world. It is like the people have their own home and town and nothing else matters,   where as in America everyone is up to date about everything. A lot of the people here struggle with money but most have cheap cell phones. I'm sure the people have hobbies and do stuff for fun but whenever I ask it is only basketball and work - so ha ha like I ask “what did you do today?” ... “nothing or work”.  “What do you like to do?”… “Work, basket” ha ha The people here are great though it just isn't as developed or experienced as America but people here still enjoy life which is all that matters. Some families have TVs and watch movies and there are some computer games the kids like to play too. Just like Canlaon everyone here rides around on motorcycles. We also ride the jeepney a lot which we didn't in Canlaon.  It is true how they fit everyone on there who wants to ride. It is also funny the way the people look at Americans here. They call me Kano. Sometimes I feel like a celebrity when I walk down the street and everyone is looking at me and wants to talk to me. ha ha  It is funny but also a good way to talk to people. One way I feel connected to home is through music.  The people who live by us blast American music and songs I like too each day.  My favorite is Hotel California. Every time they play it I think of my dad and my family. Well this week has been a good week and went by way fast. Again last Monday we played basketball with even more kids.   It was way fun and for Family Home Evening we helped prepare a family for the temple and had the usual games and charcoal fight.  This week we continued to focus on the people we have been teaching. The members here are so great and so willing to help - we got like ten members (leaders and branch missionaries) to teach with us twice this week. We went to the family out by the river. There is one less active there and the rest are investigators. They are so nice and open and listen intently and accept our message, we hadn't been able to get them to church but this week most of them came.  It was awesome and they had a great experience. The less active hadn't been to church for eight years so it is a good start. We also fasted for them so I know that God helps us and is involved in this work. The investigators are still hesitant to be baptized but I know that if they continue to listen to us and go to church and read the Book of Mormon and pray, they will come to know the truth. It is hard to get people here to read from the Book of Mormon, but we need to help them because it is crucial to getting a testimony to read and pray and then use the promise for all in Mor. 10:4-5.   They are the Jepiala family and the Cabungcag families. Some of our other investigators, Orly and Alma are doing great, he is the one I teach in English and he is on 1 Nephi 10 and really understands the gospel. Their problem was that he had a previous wife.  They were separated but you can't get a divorce here, you have to get an annulment which is expensive and he doesn't have that money. So we were worried they wouldn't be able to be baptized but I guess they can because of their situation.  He has been separated for 18 years and with this new girl for 8 years so we are excited that they can be baptized.  In order to go to the temple they need to get married which will be long and challenging but worth it. Anyways that is a big problem here – people live together but don’t get married. Some of our other investigators aren't married and they want to be baptized so we are helping them get married first. Some of the less actives we worked with came to church this week too which was good. The Bacani family and Tigulo (the part members with kids with baptism dates) have been struggling and we had to push them back. We won't give up on them this week - we are having family home evening and having the branch help us too. There are also a bunch of faithful kids here that come and find us and want to be baptized in between ages 10 and 18.  It surprises me how faithful some of these kids are.  We plan to follow up and try to teach their families too.  On Sunday I was really busy just helping teaching in the classes and I also had the opportunity to speak in church. I focused on the Book of Mormon how it brings us all to Christ and how all can know the truth.  I then told them about me - how I got a testimony and it is the same for all - through reading and praying. The branch is way good, it is just less experienced here than in America.  Sometimes we just have to help the people learn their duty and do it but they are willing.  I tried my best to help these people have a good experience at church and feel the love of Christ. I like a memory from Spencer W. Kimball from a story talking about how his full time mission was a period of growth. He had many challenges, but one story was about how he used a funny way to teach someone by playing her a song on the piano. He said so far as he knew she never joined the church but it was not because he had not tried. I like that and we can all use this and try to do our best always.  I am trying to do my best to help these people come unto Christ. I am not perfect either so I know that as we trust in Christ we can do anything and have true happiness. Spencer W. Kimball also says, "Is not there wisdom in giving us trials that we might rise above them, responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, sorrows to try our souls, are we not exposed to temptation to test our strength, sickness that we may learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience long suffering and self mastery... In the face of apparent tragedy we must put our trust in God, knowing that despite our limited view his purposes will not fail. With all its troubles life offers us the tremendous privilege to grow in knowledge and wisdom, faith and works, preparing to return and share God's glory."  I know that true happiness comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Have a great week. Love you all

Love Elder Mifflin aka Nature man 

ps we went on the same hike again today I wanted to see the sunrise but I slept through my alarm to go way early I will do it next time. It was still sweet and nice to enjoy nature of course. 

Week 19

Hello everyone,

This week has gone by fast and been a good week but there have been a lot of ups and downs too. To start off last Monday we played basketball again and this time there were a bunch of kids there. I am trying to learn all their names and teach them to come to church Sunday.  We are teaching one of the kids that plays. It is so funny the way they play basketball here.  They play cherry pick and fast breaks - it is fun though, to get in some good basketball. Last Monday we had a family home evening with the Nuevo family who is preparing for the temple - they are a way good family. The father is our Branch Mission Leader and he works with us like every single day. Also a bunch of people came from the community around and joined in. Around here everyone knows each other and families live close by to each other. So we taught about preparing for the temple and then played simple games again and it turned into another charcoal fight where everyone tries to put charcoal on your face. It was fun - the people here are such nice and open people. It is funny how they have such a simple lifestyle and yet they are so happy. Just simple games like that where we go around in a circle and ask a number between one and fifty and if you say the same one the person in the middle wrote then they dump water on you and put charcoal on your face. They get so excited and it is so funny. So this week we have just continued the work from last week. The less active Yusores family came again and her son was called as a branch missionary. We have been re-teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ and are working with some other families preparing their children for baptism. We want the fathers to do it. It is the Bacani and the Tigulo family but neither came to church this week. I think they have problems that we need to help them with - maybe money and also maybe just busy and don't fully understand yet. So as I said last week it is kind of hard when people you teach all week don't come to church but you just can't give up on them.  So we will continue to help them this week and hope for the best. We found a lot of new investigators this week too though. So remember the family we are teaching by the river we hike through out in the jungle, we have continued to teach them and there is another little community near them with a less active member and we are teaching her family which is like ten more investigators. They are such good people up there the problem is it is far and they haven't come to church yet. There is a jeepney on Sundays and it is 20 pesos so I know it is possible but it is really hard for them I think that is a big sacrifice on money, so we hope we can help them this week get to church. They really are so nice and open. It makes me really appreciate how many churches there are back home and how close we were. Here it is hard sometimes for the people just because it is far and they don't have money. We have continued teaching the same people as last week but unfortunately most of our investigators weren't at church so we will just try harder on them this week. We found more new investigators due to referrals and this one family that lives by our investigators just asked us if they could listen and were so open and accepted baptismal dates. Also some of our investigators decided to stop listening to us which is hard but you just have to keep going. I have learned that change isn't easy or wanted usually.  In order for people to want to change they have to have real conversion so I am trying my best to help people get there. I have to be on top of it and be bold and do my best. There is another talk that my zone leader Elder Tukolovatu gave me – he’s the football player from the University of Utah. It is a great talk and it tells about how to be successful in life and have true conversion. President Lee said, "The Lord expects you first and foremost to be spiritually in tune with Him, to read your scriptures, to pray, to magnify your calling in the kingdom and to live close to the Lord. This is your first and foremost responsibility because it is the foundation for all else you do in your life." The other areas are our families, our work, and our community. The story is about this man was who felt overwhelmed because he felt like he couldn't do everything his best in all four areas. President Lee said, "I gave him this promise that if he would try with all his heart to excel in these four great responsibilities of life, that the Lord would increase his capacity to do and he would be wonderfully successfully in all four areas." I tell this because I know this applies to everyone and it can help us all. Also Richard G. Scott said, "The membership in the church can be broken down into three groups. The first had a testimony and was converted, the second group had a testimony but was not converted, the third group had no testimony and no conversion, this group was 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." The conversion process, this process of being born again has much to do with the spirit gaining control over the body, with the spiritual man winning the battle with the natural man. When we live the gospel of Jesus Christ your spirit begins to win the battle with your body and you gradually become converted or born again, you move from being a group two person to a group one(in testimonies from earlier) You will have become finely disciplined. Your spirit will be able to say to your body, you will do what I say. When that conversion has taken place from that point on you will be driven from within to do your very best you can possibly do, no one will have to tell you to do it, you will have no choice. He talks about how we must have this conversion take place in our lives - it is crucial. I know that our goal is to all be in group one and that is the goal for the people we teach. Conversion is a process and takes time though since we are all imperfect. Me too - I still need to improve each day. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel we can all have this true conversion and have happiness and blessings now and many in the future as we can return to God's presence and kingdom with our families. Today I also had the opportunity to hike a mountain in our area. It was so nice to relax and enjoy some nature. At the top you could see the ocean and Cebu and a great view. I love you all have a great week. 

Love Elder Mifflin