Well......
I'm going to Manila on Wednesday!!!!! All of the foreign missionaries
who are going home in 2015 get to go to Manila to have their
fingerprints done so it looks like I'll be going to the biggest and most
crowded city in all of the Philippines. Maybe I could get lucky and
see a celebrity there ha ha?
This
past week has been a lot like last week. Hot, rainy, and there were a
lot of punts. Walking for long distances on a road with very few houses
is a hard thing to do, especially when the person you had an
appointment with isn't there or is busy. Welcome to the life the a
missionary in the Philippines. It's pretty easy to get a first lesson,
it's just the 2nd and 3rd ones that are difficult. Sometimes it's more
effective just to show up to someones house unexpectedly so they can't
hide from you when you show up at the time of the appointment. Despite
the challenges there is a big bright spot in our work. Angela is
progressing very well and at this moment she is going to be baptized on
the 28th of this month!! She is super shy but super smart and when we
reviewed the baptismal questions with her she answered them perfectly.
It's hard to believe that she's only 10 and she is that smart. We also
met someone by the name of Baby Cam and she is a devoted Catholic; but
when we came to visit she welcomed us in and listened better than almost
anyone I've ever taught. She even took notes about what we shared so
she could study it before our next visit which was very impressive. We
also had a service project in Elder Green and Haueia's area which was
pretty awesome. We weeded and tilled this families ground so they could
plant more plants. It sounds pretty simple but my arms were pretty
dead after using a hoe to till the ground. I never have been more
grateful for things that I have in America that makes life so much
easier. Afterwards this member family gave us buko (coconut) water for a
snack. Not being prideful or anything but I by far drank the most out
of anyone. The only problem was when I had to pee on the jeepney going
home.
The
other day I probably had one of the best personal studies that I have
ever had on my mission. I studied in 3rd Nephi Chapter 17 when Jesus
Christ invites all of those who have illnesses and all of the children
to come unto him and to be blessed. I just imagined what it would be
like if I were one of those young one's who Jesus Christ blessed and
cared for. When I read that my heart was filled with spirit and I was
nearly in tears when I read there. I realized that we are all
figuratively speaking young children and we need to come and be healed
by Jesus Christ and his atonement. Life is hard and of course we aren't
perfect. But because of the love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly
Father, there is a way for us to become clean and relieve the weight
that sin puts upon our shoulders. All we need to do is come unto Jesus
Christ as a little child and become perfected in him.
I
love you all so much and I am most grateful for everything that you do
for me in my life. As the sand in my hour glass is about to run out I
really have developed a deep love for my Savior and for all that he has
done for not just me, but for all of us. Thanks for your wonderful
examples of strength and obedience. Continue to be strong and to always
hold strong to what is right. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. May God be
with you till we meet again.
-Elder Cole
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