Dear family and friends,
I have been blessed with yet another great week here in the Philippines. I must admit that when I first got here, that it was a little difficult for me to adjust to the culture and such. However, I can now say that I love this country, its people, and it's food.
This last week I was once again pleasantly surprised with how willing people here in the Philippines, especially the youth, are to hearing messages about God. On Tuesday, I asked a group of teenagers ranging from 14 to 17 directions to an individual's home on their street. They told me where the home was, and I then asked them if they would be interested in hearing from my companion and I about the gospel. They all enthusiastically responded "yes!", and my companion and I were obliged to teach them. They then asked if we could return every day because of how much they enjoy learning from the Bible and such. It is amazing to me that the individuals here, especially the teenagers for that matter, are so willing to talk about God. I wish our country was the same way, and I will definitely miss this aspect when I return home.
This last week was one of the best fast and testimony meetings I have ever experienced. The Spirit was so strong in the room as my little, humble Filipino ward members shared their most simple of testimonies to us. I am happy to say that my investigators also felt the Spirit, and were wiping away tears from their eyes the whole meeting. The best testimony for me however, was when the oldest child of the Malazzab family that I have told you all about, shared his testimony. It was in his testimony that he shared that he received his mission call, which he had been anxiously awaiting for quite some time. It was then that he announced that he will be serving in the San Diego, California mission. The very moment he said that, I felt a rush of the Spirit to the point that I immediately began to cry. I must admit that I was a little embarrassed, but there is no better feeling in the world than knowing that a family that you have worked so hard with, will be sending one of their own to work for the Lord. I also know that it is no coincidence that I was assigned to Rowell's ward. The fact that I am from California gave me the ability to calm his very anxious mother, who in her humble circumstances has seen very little of what is outside the city of Tuguegarao. And, it has also given me the ability to help Rowell learn English before he reports to the Provo MTC. When the Lord is in charge, there are indeed no coincidences.
Thank you for all of your support and know that I am enjoying everyday of my service. As President Rahlf always says, "It is a great day to be a missionary!".
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