Hello Everyone!
This week has been a very busy week. My health is better and we seem to be getting more things done. I've been a missionary for two months now! Can you believe it?
We got to spend Tuesday at Zone Conference in Calapan which is north of our area. My companion and I got shoved into a van for the 1.5 hour trip and I was one of five people in a row that was meant to hold three. At Zone Conference it was great to see the Mission President and a couple of my MTC buddies. It sounds like they went through some of the same things I did when they got to their areas. I think we're all adjusting okay. Training at the Zone Conference was very good, too. They fed us American-style pulled-pork sandwiches with Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce! It was amazing! We also got to go to a McDonalds in Calapan and I got a quarter pounder. The taste and the menu options were a little different, but it was great.
Many miracles are performed in our day and if you don't see them, look again and realize that they are all around you, both big and small. Just this week I've seen so many miracles. People have been healed after receiving priesthood blessings. I never thought I'd say this, but we prayed for a sick pig and the pig has been healed. (The pig is part of the livelihood of a family. If the pig died, they would probably lose their job and their house.) We were able to meet over 10 people who are interested in investigating the Gospel. We didn't do it on our own, but through following the promptings of God's Spirit regarding where to go and what to say. What a blessed time we are in no matter where we are in the world!
I'm finding out more about our area of Socorro. Apparently this area has been opened and closed a few times because of the poor decisions made by missionaries in the past. The Church completely pulled out of the area in the 90s and again a few years ago. Missionaries in the past frequently forgot why they were here and got into a lot of trouble. They even had a few members of the church assigned to watch the missionaries to let authorities know when they were up to no good. It's a very unfortunate situation, but explains so much about why the work has been so difficult in this area. Hopefully we can help to repair some of the damage that has been done.
We walked for about five hours straight on Saturday reminding people about church. We were thrilled when seven investigators showed up at church! It was great to see them there. Brother Tatai Alda now has a baptismal date. He's been struggling with asthma so we're hoping his health improves. Pray for him and that he will be able to get baptized!
I was studying one night and looked up to find a huge rat staring at me from the window sill. It was the size of a small cat and it was terrifying. When I flashed my light on it, it ran back along the thin wire connecting our apartment to a tree. Speaking of our apartment, I'm pleased to say that it now looks like a good apartment! I spent a ton of time and effort cleaning and fixing it up. We still have holes in the screens and a few other problems, but it is looking good. (Pictures below and in the gallery.)
Also, I now have a pet spider. I'm even letting it crawl on me. As long as it eats every couple of weeks, it should be happy and content. My companion has one, too and convinced me to get my own.
Spiritual Thought:
I read Elder Quentin L. Cook's talk from April's General Conference. It reminded me that I need to be bold in the words I say as I communicate the beliefs and doctrines to those in this area. When people say they know what I am saying is true and correct but they don't want to change churches (because they were born into a certain religion) I need to tell them, just like President Hinckley did, that its "not good enough" and that they need to be a part of the true Church of Jesus Christ.
Second Spiritual Thought:
From Elder Gene R. Cook's talk: "… Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, [we] say unto you, [we] cannot say the smallest part which [we] feel.” (Alma 26:11–12, 16.)
"My brothers and sisters, we must do all that we have been counseled to do here in this conference. Let us not forget the simple truths—those godly traits, the weightier matters of the law, that have been described (see Matt. 23:23). They are the very basics, the essence of the gospel, and possession of them in great abundance by Latter-day Saints will be in the end the greatest miracle of all. Yes, miracles have not ceased. Today is a day of miracles. We believe in miracles. The Latter-day Saints may expect miracles according to their faith in Jesus Christ, the only being under heaven whereby we and all mankind may be saved (see D&C 18:23). . ."
As I've seen, miracles can and do occur in our day and time. I'm blessed to be able to see them.
Food Adventures:
- McDonalds and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Pork! Wow.
- Pig intestines. It was a gross as it sounds.
- Homemade bihon, which is a noodle and vegetable dish. We cooked stuff! I think we used the wrong type of noodles, but it was still pretty good.
- I've upgraded to brown rice. It's supposed to be much healthier for you and I'm doing everything I can to be healthy.
My Tagalog language is getting a little better. I've started the process of memorizing the lessons in Tagalog. I have a long way to go, but the Lord is helping me and I'm making progress. The sunsets here in Socorro are incredible. I've included a couple of pictures.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
I love you all!
Elder Arick Smith