Jan 11
Hey everyone!
So this week has been one that did not have much work on the missionary part. For two reasons. First, we had our zone interviews on Thursday with President Hansen. He's such a great man. So full of the Spirit when he talks. He knows how to use the Spirit to just influence you to do good. I do my best to do that as a leader and be like him and especially the Savior. But the interviews went great. We had a very long interview where he was very grateful for the work that Elder Atanacio and myself have done. He told us that the zone has improved by "leaps and bounds" since we got here and he is very proud of the work we have done. He said that our zone has changed and turned around more than any of the others. I don't say this to be like, '"oh, we're the best Zone Leaders" but I'm very glad that he has noticed the toil and trouble and fervent prayers that Elder Atanacio and I have offered to the Lord on behalf of the zone to assist in its progression in addition to the extra hours of strenuous travel and interviewing to deal with the disobedient missionaries. He has seen it. I remember that Dad had made a comment about how I may not feel like President notices how hard we work. He does. He told me.
We had our second and third emergency transfer in the last week on Friday. It has just been enough to handle with the first one. The second and third were even worse because on Thursday we had gotten taken out to eat oysters by some members in the ward and ended up eating 7 kilos of oysters (of course that includes the shell). I had caught an amoeba but I didnt know that yet. Its important that you know that I have that amoeba. I woke up on Friday with a deadline to get to the temple complex to complete the emergency transfer by sharp. I woke up and had some beast-mode diarrhea (sp?) and my stomach was just killing me. We got dressed, studied, and then got into a packed, hot, jeepney headed for the smoggy city. I felt like I was either going to: a) lose my bowels or b) throw up on someone. We got into the city without incident and made it to the temple in a taxi.
We got out at the temple and met the new elder, Elder Gertge and gave the one that was getting transferred away. We had to take the other Elder (remember there are two) to the terminal headed for Negros Island
So as a result of this amoeba, I got hit hard with weakness, aches, barfing, diahrrea and the like. So we didn't work since I couldn't leave the house. But Monday we were able to leave. We spent the district meeting in a special district meeting. It was the first one where I felt the Spirit. Those meetings tend to be fun and games. But we really focused on the Spirit--having it present. Then we gave a workshop on obedience. On how the Lord CANNOT work through us if we are not obedient. We taught the latter verses of Doctrine and Covenants 88--the Higher Law. It was very powerful. The missionaries loved it. Afterwards, an Elder even came to us with a confession of some disobedience which will (pause for a sigh) would have resulted in another emergency transfer. But transfers are next Friday. So they are waiting. The Spirit reproved him to the point he needed to repent. Thats power. It was a great workshop. It also helped me refocus myself as a leader and missionary to always be obedient. I do my best...
Thanks for all your love, support and prayers. I love you and pray for you all. Have a good week!
I'll be home for Christmas,
