Dear Beloved Family and Friends,
This week we've just been having a blast! We got the Sisters into our
branch now and I'm super happy that the Sisters with us are actually way
cool Sisters. Sister Turtal, do you remember her? We were assigned in
Escalante Branch together! She's way cool, from Mindanao, native Cebuano
speaker. He companion is Sister Uata, a Tongan, from California! So
they're super cool and nice to be with, I'm just glad it's them and
not other people. I mean, if that's at least proper to say.
So this week I don't have much to report on and here's why; so the Sister's got here on Friday and on Friday
night we split the area! We went to the branch Pres. house and with
him, he pretty much divided the area. I'm not going to speak ill of my
BP, but we definitely got shafted. The Sister's area has 95% of the
members so that they could work on rescuing less actives because
Priesthood holders listen better to women/ sisters than they do men. So
we don't even have any area near the church anymore. We got the poorest of
the people area near this little beach area, all "squatters" we call
them, then there's all the other rice field workers and stuff. Some of
the area is actually really good. It's just super far and nobody wants
to come to church if they're that far from it. I think the Ayungan
branch is actually closer to them, so it would make more sense if they
just went to that church... I'm a little confused, but I guess I didn't
make the rules or boundaries for the church. We had an amazing 15
solid investigators that we were teaching, not all progressing
obviously, but at least we were making progress. We now have 3. The same
3 that only come to church once a month and whenever we commit to
baptism, we have to move their dates further away...
I
can tell you about all our investigators now in my email since there's
only 3 and we weren't really focusing on this part of the area anyway:
Amor
(34) and Jeremy(8)--- They are way good investigators. Always read the
Book of Mormon and have no problem praying after or before lessons. They
know the church is true and everything. Just come Sunday, they have not a ton of money to go to church, so it's a bit frustrating... but all is well.
Joana
Comporaso (9)---She's the part member and we're really trying to work
with her parents to get them all to come back to Church. When I got here
the Mom had already come 2 weeks straight and was determined to return,
but then... after that, nothing now!
Yesterday
at church, no investigators, no less actives, and we now only have 1
recent convert that lives in our area, but hey! SHE'S ACTIVE! So she was
actually at church, so I was happy about that! ;)
I'm
glad that we have an area that we've never been to before I guess
because it gives us the opportunity to just talk to anyone that we
really want to! Super cool! ') I'm stoked, but I"m nervous at the same
time, but I'm happy that we get that opportunity to share with others.
Maybe the area was cut bad so that we could focus on other people that
we don't focus on most of the time time. Maybe this will turn into
something good even though it's a terrible thing! We're honestly just
trying out best, that's what I told President last night. We had to send
in our actual baptisms for March and our Goal for April, just like we
do every single month... and again... for the 3rd month in a row, San
Enrique is at a zero... but we goal-ed for 3 for April, and I'm
determined to hit it. Then he asked why we didn't reach our goal for
last month and I texted and said, President, I wish I even had an excuse
to tell you, but I don't. We're working our hardest and that's all I
can say. He seemed satisfied and told us to just keep finding! I'm not
satisfied though! Little upset, but I know that all will be well in the
end of this trial. I'm not going to say that I love trials, but grabe ba
they're hard, but I've learned the type of person that I really am even
when trials come about.
I
love my Savior Jesus Christ. I've really started to like listening to
Bruce R. McConkie, his voice just cracks me up for one, and for two,
he's so just straight up to the point and in your face. His talk about
our Relationship with the Lord is amazing and the Holy Ghost is the most important thing to strive to keep
with you. It was really interesting to put into perspective! I'm trying
really hard not to lose my head here in the area, but I'm really just
working hard with my companion and we're trying to make the best of
everything that we've got.
Something
cool I learned in church yesterday though from one of the high
councilmen, it's a quote, but I just remembered that I knew the quote,
"Ordinary people, talk about people, Un-Ordinary people talk about ideas,
doctrine, and philosophy" I was thinking how true that it and how much
that would change your life it we all just stopped talking about other
people and stuff and started talking about ideas and how to change
things and make life better. I honestly was like, this guy is awesome.
He's one of the only leaders here that I met that I actually like wanted
to talk to and be with because he was so bright in the gospel. He
taught our branch, since it's 5th Sunday
right, combined? the whole reason why home teaching is important and
HOW it's actually done. The whole process, companions, what to teach,
why, how, all of it. Super awesome lesson! I told him to come back and
teach again next week, because our Branch Pres. was actually absent
because he was sick! AHHH!!! but I don't think he'll do it again, but at
least I learned something. That's like one of the first times I've
learned something actually in church here! Like really learned something
good and useful! LOVE IT!
So
how is everyone doing back home? Is everyone aware that I only email
you 26 more times? haha... My companion lovingly counted how many weeks I
have left! Little turkey! Y'all better be getting excited for Mothers
day skype!!! WHOOO!!!! Mom, I'll ask Pres. Lopez about changing the day
so I can call you all, so no worries. I think I'll ask next week, that
seems like a good time! I hope that all is well going back home and that
the girls are doing well in school. I'll be home for their senior year!
EXCITING! Bring on the sports games haha. I'm excited to see them play
and Syd to gym, that's so cool!
I love you guys and hope all are doing well! Keep up the good work!
Keep reading the Book of Mormon and Praying! ;)
Love,
Elder Ellis
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