I apologize for not writing last week. Last Monday was SO busy, but everything is great!
We had a good last week. We had a transfer two weeks early because of our President's meeting schedule, and so we had to send some people home early. It's always hard saying goodbye to the missionaries. I have come to know some of them so well and there are many that I will never see again. It's amazing how influential someone can be on you, even for just a short amount of time. This group of departing missionaries was actually a very weird one for me because there were two sisters in my MTC group who actually went home this transfer. Next transfer is when they will all go home. It's SO weird! Time flies! I don't know how I will feel when my time comes. I saw Sister Schimbeck the other day(probably a few weeks ago?) and said, "Hey! Last transfer!" and she just glared at me and said, "You stop that right now! I don't want to talk about it." So, we didn't talk about it. But, man, that must be so weird to be in that situation.
Elder Cicon and I were very blessed proselyting this week. We were only able to get out to work for our standard amount of time, probably a total of 8 hours this week, but we were able to meet some new people that show a good interest! We are hoping to start planning baptisms for December, but we will see how things go. We also have a possiblity of a wedding, but we are still working out the details on that one. Goodness... Such a complicated process.
Last Monday, as a reward for us managing transfers along with some other big events, President took us to this new buffet place that we had seen ads for. Our previous President, President Ferrin, said that, "Vikings is the best buffet I have ever been to. Not just in the Philippines... The BEST I have ever been to. In my life." So, naturally we were quite excited when one opened here. You should have seen all of us in there. It was like children in a candy shop. I had to get after some of the Filipino elders for getting rice. I explained to them that, "Eating rice is a rookie mistake... If you eat rice, you won't have any room for all of the good stuff! The two rules are (1) avoid any heavily breaded or 'filling' foods. and (2) DO NOT eat eat rice or bread alone - it will take up too much space." President laughed as I explained this concept. It was a very fun experience, and much needed at that. I was able to fill my sushi craving that I have had for the past year and a half.
Yesterday, Elder Cicon and I fought the biggest spider of my life. We got an awesome video. I have basically mastered the flip-flop toss. I can sling those things from across the room and it's right on target. No targetting computer or anything. But seriously, this thing was like ready to eat a small animal. The way we found it was that Elder Cicon was about to sit down at his study desk to take his socks off, but right as he did so, he saw a spider right where he was about to put his hand behind him on the wall. He let out the loudest, "Holy!!!!!" as he near ran me over. After eyeballing his dimensions, I knew I had to practice; after all, it had been quite a while since my last encounter with a species of this size. I practiced my flip-flop tossing on the wall, ensuring my ability to throw accurately even despite the awkwardness of his position on the wall. I found the "back-facing, downward-hammer-throw" technique to be the best, seeing as he was just a little under waist high on me. The first throw, fearful, was a complete failure. He was on the move! Fortunately I had planned wisely and had my left flip-flop sitting conveniently in my left hand just in case a situation of this nature should arise. Using my last round, I fired. Missed again. We noticed that, because of his size and the gauge of his legs, he was a little slower than normal, thus giving us time to recoup for a second attack. As he continued scaling the walls, climbing under our desk, all the while being lit-up with our barrage of flip-flop attacks and eventually losing a limb -- he was slowed. Elder Cicon then took the cockroach killer to him to give him a little spice. It did the trick. Long story short, he eventually passed away and is no longer there to cause trouble.
I have been studying about repentance this past week and I really loved what I learned. I read a few talks about how repentance is all about CHANGE and COMMITMENT. It basically said that repentance is not just about confessing guilt and then being forgiven; it's about committing to obedience. Jesus Christ can wipe away our guilt fairly easily, but I think he leaves the changing up to us. Committing to obedience does not come as a one time choice, but rather a CONTINUAL choice. There was a talk given by Brad Wilcox at BYU and he said some very memorable things. I have listened to his talk multiple times on my mission and I just love it. But one of the things he talked about was "learning heaven" while we are still here on earth. He said that, "heaven will not be heaven for those who have not chosen to be heavenly." As we repent, we are learning heaven. We may have to go through some pain and bitterness, but through that we will "learn heaven." Our Savior truly can help us to overcome those things in our lives. He lives to do that. He wants us to ask him for help so that we can learn how to live with him after this life. He is merciful, forgiving, and wants us to be happy. Depende lang sa aton kung batonon naton ang ginapaambit nya sa aton. Gusto nya gid nga magbulig sa aton sa mga pagtilaw naton kag gusto nya man gid nga kuhaon ang mga kabugat nga ara sa aton. Kis-a, daw ginapaminsar ta nga wa'ay na gid kita chansa nga maghinulshol o nga permanente na gid ang aton nga sala, pero indi gid sia amo na. Wa'ay gid di sala sa kalibutan nga indi naton kaya nga hinulsolon. Repentance is available to everyone. Always.
Sorry about all the Ilonggo. I didn't have enough brain power to try and say what I wanted to say in English. My teaching brain speaks Ilonggo now so it just kinda came out that way.
That's all I have for this week! I hope everyone has a great week!
Elder Welton
Pictures -
One is of me in a hammock. I completely doubted that this thing could hold me, but our recent convert, Jeffrey, said that it wouldn't break. He was right. It was quite peaceful.
Here is a picture of the spider we killed. The picture doesn't do it justice.
No comments :
Post a Comment