So where do I even begin? This week was awesome.
We got to watch General Conference and it was GREAT. President Eyring
made me think of Dad so much. In his talk of how he carved wooden planks
for his sons it made me think of how Dad has has carved me and all the
kids in our lives. I hope, if ever given the opportunity, I will be as
good of a dad as Dad was for me. Then there was President Uchtdorf's
talk, he made me think of Mom. He talked about how we're young we think
we will never get old and then all the sudden we realize that we're
growing up and life goes by quickly. This made me think of Mom so much,
you always had a hot meal ready Mom, we ALWAYS had Family Home Evening,
and I always knew what you expected of me. I remember when I would do
something bad and you would tell me, "that's not becoming of you." I
still hate those words haha but I love what they made me become.
President Monson also sadly lamented that his mother's only regret in
him was that he didn't stick with piano- right there with you President
haha. But I can play enough to lead a small group of little Philippino
saints, thank you Mom. In the same talk he talked about spending time
with those we love, I'm glad our family is so close and that my best
friends include my own siblings. Anyways, Conference was inspiring in
many ways.
I can't believe Davis and Nash both broke their arms, crazy
kids. Ingatan ang aking mga bata! Jk. Also tell LOGAN HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I
just got his letter today and it was AWESOME! I love that kid. I can't
wait to hang out with him when I get home. Love you bud. So we got tons
of apples? I want both apple pie and apple juice when I get home so
don't eat it all haha just kidding. It is so weird to think that the
weather is changing there because it's not changing here- still HOT AND
HUMID. But I actually like it, call me crazy.
So this weeks pictures are not so good, I realized I didn't
have any pictures late in the week so I grabbed a goat yesterday
(they're everywhere) and snapped a picture and then today I realized
that's all I had so then Elder Vogelsberg took pictures on a moving
Jeepnie, it was pretty fun- but the pictures are RANDOM! So use whatever
one's you like for the blog Mom.
So this week is week 11 of our 12 week training program which
means I PLAN AND LEAD EVERYTHING! Scary stuff. I basically become senior
companion for a week. Also did I mention that I don't know Tagalog? If
not that's something that is true- I don't know Tagalog fully YET! I
lead a lot of the lessons as it is but this week I lead everything, but
Elder Vogelsberg is awesome and obviously helps and by helps I mean
Saves the Day every time. So let me tell you about some of the people we
teach and just what I do everyday. I wake up as 6:30 every morning and
pray, exercise, eat breakfast, and shower. At eight I have an hour of
personal study in the scriptures until nine. Then I study Tagalog until
ten o'clock and then we have companionship study for 2 hours because I'm
in training (generally that is an hour too). After the morning hours we
go and teach and help people ALL DAY LONG. Our day "ends" at 9:00 (or
9:30 if we're teaching a lesson) and we return to our apartment. We plan
for the next day and then go to bed at 10:30. At night I spend my time
reading Ang Aklat Ni Mormon sa Tagalog and istig iyan! I am learning a
lot by reading it.
I would estimate that we teach 75 or 80 percent of the time
to Less Actives, and only 25 percent to investigators. The focus right
now is strengthening our members here and slowly continue to build. The
Philippines exploded with baptisms when missionaries first came and now
we are working to strengthen the many that were baptised so quickly.
It's awesome work. I love getting to know all these people and I will be
sad to leave them! I loved them the first time I saw them and I love
them now even more.
Also for some reason, the name "Davis" is EXTREMELY EASY
for little kids to remember here. Many it is the fact that my companions
name is VOGELSBERG but either way they can remember Davis extremely
well. They can't pronounce it great though, they say Dabes or Dabis.
They're not good at V's. Regardless, DAILY as we walk around to teach, I
hear a bunch of kids start yelling "Elder Dabis" it's super cute- they
love it and I love it too.
I can't pick one person to write about- I just can't. They
are all awesome. They are so poor. To me it is ODD when there ISN"T A
CHICKEN walking around between everyone's feet as we teach. Most homes
have dirt floors and grass roofs. The people have nothing but they are
happy still. Because the things that make us happy in this life AREN"T
THINGS! It's our families it's our faith in God and a hope for a better
world (Ether 12:4). Ether 12:4 is my favourite scripture for these
people and maybe for myself. Also, the same things make them sad, such
as, missing family, sinning, an ect. it's not the lack of worldly
possessions that make them sad. Some of the happiest people I have ever
met are the Estrada's they struggle for food and they sleep on bamboo
with no padding or pillow (to speak of). And yet they are happy. Why?
They knew where they came from, why they are here, and where they are
going. They find the love of Christ in HIS TRUE CHURCH. It is so awesome
to give an invaluable message to a people who have nothing.
I am running out of time. I hope that maybe we can do what
President Monson advised us to do in Conference that is- Be Grateful.
Maybe write down big but also small blessings we have in our lives. I
have realized so much how blessed I have been while I have been here.
You sit on chairs with PADDING! You sleep WITH NO BUGS ON YOU. You have
water that needs no filtering. You have FOOD everyday, more that you
need. You have a car- in this country if you have a personal bike you're
doing pretty good. There are so many blessings and I hope I will
remember my whole life to thank our Father in Heaven for my blessings.
"Think to Thank" as President Monson? has said.
Well I got nothing else. I will try to be more entertaining
next week. I hope to write about Tithing! And It won't be boring, maybe.
I love you all and I pray for you daily. I feel your prayers. If I
didn't KNOW this was true I wouldn't be here. But it is true and I hope
all will eventually know that it is true.
Elder Davis
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