This week seemed to fly by. We continue to teach our deaf
investigator. She is doing so well. She grasps everything we teach her so
quickly. We are almost done all the lessons and this will be the quickest
transition from new investigator to baptized convert that I have ever seen -
exactly 4 weeks. She was seen by one of the members drinking a bit of alcohol
and they told her that members of the church don't drink. The next lesson, she
asked about it and we taught her the Word of Wisdom. She accepted it fully once
she knew about it.
One thing we are trying to do is help people understand the importance of accepting callings. There is a reluctance among some members to do so. We taught one member family, explaining the worth of a soul, then talking about how many Asians God made and that it shows that He must really love them, then how many Chinese there are that haven't received the gospel yet. Then we discussed how the Philippines is the bridge to the rest of Asia, so it's really important that this country gets prepared so that when China opens to the gospel, the Filipinos are ready to lead the way in. They are also really great at learning new languages so they will definitely play a part (all of this came from Pres. B's meetings with general authorities). Then we explained how the only thing that can help the church get stronger here is for each member to shoulder a load. It was such a great lesson and so powerful.
Elder O was transferred, so I am now with Elder R for the last 6 weeks of my mission. He is fromArizona
I went on exchange with two elders who were having a hard time in the work and with each other lately. They are both very new. The trainer feels like he doesn't know enough because he is so new. He is also very timid and his trainee, very confident and outgoing. We got punted and no work was happening. I would stop and talk to someone here and there and try and get us an opportunity to teach a lesson but the two elders weren't speaking up and no one was letting us in. Then after we got punted again, I suggested we make a game of it. As we walked to our next appointment we were to each pick one person on the street to initiate a conversation with, and whoever didn't do it, got a slap (playful slap, of course). Then right off the bat, one elder says, "That guys' mine!". It was an older man walking down the street. We walked across the road and started talking to him. Turns out his wife died and he was worried about whether there was life after death. He was also good friends with a bishop who served in the area. He was a really nice guy and they got an appointment set up. Then we talked to a few others and got on a role. I could see the elders' demeanor change. Where they had been fearful to talk to people, now they were excited about the work and to talk to everyone. It's so cool how that works. They just needed a first step and because it's something good, it brings a good feeling that drives you to continue.
Later we went and passed a group of young men all being obnoxious. The timid elder went over and asked if he could sit down and struck up a conversation with them. Even though it was in broken and simple Tagalog (that they made fun of at first), he pushed through and kept going. Then he told them all to gather 'round and he was going to tell them about the Book of Mormon. They ignored him so he raised his voice saying, " Hey, this is important. Come here!". They all came over and listened as he stood in the street and bore his testimony to them. He set up a return appointment with some of them and found out one of them is a member of missionary age. I was so proud of that elder. It takes some nerve to do that.
Anyways, that's my week so far. It was great. We had a great correlation with the stake president. He was happy because the work is getting better - so much so that the zone became two zones in Laoag. We are Laoag zone 1 (east side!).
Thanks for the emails guys. Can't wait for General Conference. I love you all tons! Have a great week.
Elder Dustan
One thing we are trying to do is help people understand the importance of accepting callings. There is a reluctance among some members to do so. We taught one member family, explaining the worth of a soul, then talking about how many Asians God made and that it shows that He must really love them, then how many Chinese there are that haven't received the gospel yet. Then we discussed how the Philippines is the bridge to the rest of Asia, so it's really important that this country gets prepared so that when China opens to the gospel, the Filipinos are ready to lead the way in. They are also really great at learning new languages so they will definitely play a part (all of this came from Pres. B's meetings with general authorities). Then we explained how the only thing that can help the church get stronger here is for each member to shoulder a load. It was such a great lesson and so powerful.
Elder O was transferred, so I am now with Elder R for the last 6 weeks of my mission. He is from
I went on exchange with two elders who were having a hard time in the work and with each other lately. They are both very new. The trainer feels like he doesn't know enough because he is so new. He is also very timid and his trainee, very confident and outgoing. We got punted and no work was happening. I would stop and talk to someone here and there and try and get us an opportunity to teach a lesson but the two elders weren't speaking up and no one was letting us in. Then after we got punted again, I suggested we make a game of it. As we walked to our next appointment we were to each pick one person on the street to initiate a conversation with, and whoever didn't do it, got a slap (playful slap, of course). Then right off the bat, one elder says, "That guys' mine!". It was an older man walking down the street. We walked across the road and started talking to him. Turns out his wife died and he was worried about whether there was life after death. He was also good friends with a bishop who served in the area. He was a really nice guy and they got an appointment set up. Then we talked to a few others and got on a role. I could see the elders' demeanor change. Where they had been fearful to talk to people, now they were excited about the work and to talk to everyone. It's so cool how that works. They just needed a first step and because it's something good, it brings a good feeling that drives you to continue.
Later we went and passed a group of young men all being obnoxious. The timid elder went over and asked if he could sit down and struck up a conversation with them. Even though it was in broken and simple Tagalog (that they made fun of at first), he pushed through and kept going. Then he told them all to gather 'round and he was going to tell them about the Book of Mormon. They ignored him so he raised his voice saying, " Hey, this is important. Come here!". They all came over and listened as he stood in the street and bore his testimony to them. He set up a return appointment with some of them and found out one of them is a member of missionary age. I was so proud of that elder. It takes some nerve to do that.
Anyways, that's my week so far. It was great. We had a great correlation with the stake president. He was happy because the work is getting better - so much so that the zone became two zones in Laoag. We are Laoag zone 1 (east side!).
Thanks for the emails guys. Can't wait for General Conference. I love you all tons! Have a great week.
Elder Dustan
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