He is on the home stretch now.
Chase flies into Salt Lake Airport on Wednesday, July 27th at 11:30 am.
There will be an Open House at Grandma and Grandpa Westwood's, 6714 W 9850 N, that evening from 6:00 to 8:00.
He will speak in Sacrament on Sunday July 30th at 11:00 at the Winchester Hill church.
He would love to see everyone, so please feel free to come to either or both.
Dani
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
18 July 2011
Well its gonna be a week of lasts and full of reminders that its my last week. Its already started. But to be honest it doesn't feel any different and the Lord has blessed me by not letting me get carried away with thoughts of home, work, or family.
Last week was a busy week, we got 2 exchanges in, 1 where I was with a new elder and got to go back to teaching the basics again. That was fun, I realized how much I have actually learned in the last couple years. I'm not the best but I'd say I've gotten better. The other was with a District leader that is assigned to the office. He is a year in the mission and is a really good elder he is gonna be great, definitely a future elder. He has had a lot of trials in his mission with companions and housemates and all sorts of stuff but he hasn't let that get to him. He is one of the most Christlike people I know. I have a lot of respect for people that have mastered the Christlike attributes. I still have a few I'm working on but I have gotten better there.
We ate something bad last week so that knocked us down for a day but we made it through. ha ha We are laughing about it.
Yesterday we (Elder Ragasa and I) talked in Sacrament. My topic I chose was parents showing a good example to their kids, and pushing them to to family scripture study even if its just 1 verse per person per night. I think it was okay and I hope someone was able to take something from it. Elder Ragasa's was like unto mine. Studying the scriptures daily and what can happen to us if we did. He was great too. as usual...
Then next week I'm speaking again. My last week. ha ha I think I will be the concluding speaker, not the first time and I'm pretty sure not the last time.
As I evaluate the area and kind of look at what we have accomplished here I can definitely say that it has grown. One of my goals was to leave the area better than I found it, like in scouting, and I think with the grace of the Lord it happened. I have 1 week left to continue to make a difference in the lives of others and I hope to do it and hopefully I can leave an impression on the people I have worked with here.
I really love this work and want to go on but bigger better trials await me. Like one of our new members said yesterday in the lesson,13 year old Adlrin, enduring to the end is easy as long as we are obedient to the commandments. We were all kind of taken back and it made us think. If we are really applying the gospel in our lives it is easy because we will continually see the miracles of the lives of others and in our lives.
Thank you to all of you that supported/are supporting Caydyn. He is gonna a make a great missionary.
Sorry if its short but that's about all I can think of to write, and my head hurts from speaking English.
Love you all
Elder Chase
PS see you next week.
Last week was a busy week, we got 2 exchanges in, 1 where I was with a new elder and got to go back to teaching the basics again. That was fun, I realized how much I have actually learned in the last couple years. I'm not the best but I'd say I've gotten better. The other was with a District leader that is assigned to the office. He is a year in the mission and is a really good elder he is gonna be great, definitely a future elder. He has had a lot of trials in his mission with companions and housemates and all sorts of stuff but he hasn't let that get to him. He is one of the most Christlike people I know. I have a lot of respect for people that have mastered the Christlike attributes. I still have a few I'm working on but I have gotten better there.
We ate something bad last week so that knocked us down for a day but we made it through. ha ha We are laughing about it.
Yesterday we (Elder Ragasa and I) talked in Sacrament. My topic I chose was parents showing a good example to their kids, and pushing them to to family scripture study even if its just 1 verse per person per night. I think it was okay and I hope someone was able to take something from it. Elder Ragasa's was like unto mine. Studying the scriptures daily and what can happen to us if we did. He was great too. as usual...
Then next week I'm speaking again. My last week. ha ha I think I will be the concluding speaker, not the first time and I'm pretty sure not the last time.
As I evaluate the area and kind of look at what we have accomplished here I can definitely say that it has grown. One of my goals was to leave the area better than I found it, like in scouting, and I think with the grace of the Lord it happened. I have 1 week left to continue to make a difference in the lives of others and I hope to do it and hopefully I can leave an impression on the people I have worked with here.
I really love this work and want to go on but bigger better trials await me. Like one of our new members said yesterday in the lesson,13 year old Adlrin, enduring to the end is easy as long as we are obedient to the commandments. We were all kind of taken back and it made us think. If we are really applying the gospel in our lives it is easy because we will continually see the miracles of the lives of others and in our lives.
Thank you to all of you that supported/are supporting Caydyn. He is gonna a make a great missionary.
Sorry if its short but that's about all I can think of to write, and my head hurts from speaking English.
Love you all
Elder Chase
PS see you next week.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
11 July 2011
Hey everyone,
Well we hit it hard again last week. And the rain has started up again.
Yesterday at church was pretty interesting. While in sacrament we had one of our newly baptized members, Eunice Ayson, from a part-member family, her whole right side of her body went numb and started hurting really bad. After the sacrament we rushed her outside and blessed her then she was gonna go downstairs and wait for her dad, but she couldn't walk. So I carried her downstairs and then a member that has a car offered to take them home. So we did that. She has a potassium deficiency in her bones so the Dr's told her she has to eat banana's and rest. When we went there last night she was doing better but not great. We are praying for her now.
Saturday we had another baptism, Sister Rhea and Miko Baula, got dunked on Saturday evening. It was great, and Sister Rhea's husband Felix even came. He approved, ha ha. He will be baptized before too much longer. They are gonna make great members. We were supposed to have one more but I don't think it's gonna happen because Sister Loren wasn't able to come to church yesterday so she's not quite ready but hopefully soon after I leave she will enter the waters of baptism. My joy shall continue to be full even after I have gone home. GREAT!
Other than that not a whole lot happened last week. We had a leadership training on Wednesday and went down to Orani, and on Friday we had apartment interviews. They came to our house, the AP's raided the fridge looking for candy...ha ha I hid it all. The President gave us a report on our zones and told us that they were great. Then said thank you, and we closed with a prayer. ha ha it wasn't really an interview but it was cool we just kind of sat and chatted.
Other than that not a lot happened. Sorry I don't have a lot to report on this week, maybe next week.
I love you all
Ingats!!!!
Elder Chase
Well we hit it hard again last week. And the rain has started up again.
Yesterday at church was pretty interesting. While in sacrament we had one of our newly baptized members, Eunice Ayson, from a part-member family, her whole right side of her body went numb and started hurting really bad. After the sacrament we rushed her outside and blessed her then she was gonna go downstairs and wait for her dad, but she couldn't walk. So I carried her downstairs and then a member that has a car offered to take them home. So we did that. She has a potassium deficiency in her bones so the Dr's told her she has to eat banana's and rest. When we went there last night she was doing better but not great. We are praying for her now.
Saturday we had another baptism, Sister Rhea and Miko Baula, got dunked on Saturday evening. It was great, and Sister Rhea's husband Felix even came. He approved, ha ha. He will be baptized before too much longer. They are gonna make great members. We were supposed to have one more but I don't think it's gonna happen because Sister Loren wasn't able to come to church yesterday so she's not quite ready but hopefully soon after I leave she will enter the waters of baptism. My joy shall continue to be full even after I have gone home. GREAT!
Other than that not a whole lot happened last week. We had a leadership training on Wednesday and went down to Orani, and on Friday we had apartment interviews. They came to our house, the AP's raided the fridge looking for candy...ha ha I hid it all. The President gave us a report on our zones and told us that they were great. Then said thank you, and we closed with a prayer. ha ha it wasn't really an interview but it was cool we just kind of sat and chatted.
Other than that not a lot happened. Sorry I don't have a lot to report on this week, maybe next week.
I love you all
Ingats!!!!
Elder Chase
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
4 July 2011
Hey guys.
Its only lunch but its been a pretty cool P-day. When we were walking with our clothes to a members house we saw a Van on its side...then we just got done with a Multi-Zone activity with the 2 zones that we handle. It was fun. But not everyone made it. I won with a score of 116, then following was the other American, E. Schweikert (Sweetheart) score: 111. I'll try and send some pictures.
On Monday we had a Family home evening. That was a blast, it was in Sister Cora's house and we had a bunch of investigators there. I think they had a good time. Especially with the games, we played this game called the boogabooga club ha ha I'll teach it to you guys when I come home.
Tuesday I went on exchanges with the Guagua elders, one of them is new, Elder Castro. They told me that it was flooded over there but I wasn't expecting what I found. ha ah The water was up to our knees and deeper in some places. I got to work in sandals the whole day ha ha. and my pants rolled up. It was great. Elder Castro, he's a great kid and he's gonna make a great missionary when he has a little more experience under his belt. He teaches from the heart which is what really needs to happen to be effective.
Then Thursday we had Exchanges again with one of the companionship's here in Gapo. My 2 brothers are companions in Sta Rita. Its pretty cool, we hiked all over the place and I thought I was gonna die. I'm not used to the hills anymore. I've gotten used to the flat city. I just think...This would be so much easier on a horse. That's coming soon.
Friday we had ZLC with the new President, ha ha it was funny because he really didn't know what he was supposed to do so he was asking us what to do...now there's somethings that we can tell him and somethings that we can't tell him that we used to do because he needs to run things his own way not the way of pres. Aquino. so after everything we said. "...but its up to you...". President Querido is a great guy. We heard that he was very strict. But he seems to be a lot more laid back than president Aquino. We can play basketball now so that made everyone happy. President is really humble and willing to receive suggestions on how to improve. ha ha The first thing he said to us was "hello, I'm president Querido, I'm your new mission father...and you don't have a choice." ha ha it was funny. I love watching aspiring AP's they are so funny. The Zone Leaders and AP's just kind of ran things at ZLC so that President could see how things run. He's gonna do great.
Saturday was crazy. we came from Subic, went straight to Lubao for a meeting and learned that they want to open 2 new branches over there which is great. It means that they are getting their attendance and membership up. Zion is growing! After that we came back to Gapo and had a baptism. Things were a little crazy until we got there and sorted them out, called some people. But Sister Eunice got baptized and in her testimony after she gave a very great heartfelt testimony. She was moved upon by the Holy Ghost. She is very very shy but she got up there and through tears bore her testimony about how the Lord had helped them and blessed their father that he would get better. Last week brother was hospitalized because of his High Blood Pressure.
Next week we'll have another baptism. Sister Rhea and brother Miko. We are very excited for them and sister Rhea's husband will follow if we can get his swelling down in his foot so he can come to church.
Great things are happening all around and I'm still sprinting.
Love you all
Elder Westwood
Its only lunch but its been a pretty cool P-day. When we were walking with our clothes to a members house we saw a Van on its side...then we just got done with a Multi-Zone activity with the 2 zones that we handle. It was fun. But not everyone made it. I won with a score of 116, then following was the other American, E. Schweikert (Sweetheart) score: 111. I'll try and send some pictures.
On Monday we had a Family home evening. That was a blast, it was in Sister Cora's house and we had a bunch of investigators there. I think they had a good time. Especially with the games, we played this game called the boogabooga club ha ha I'll teach it to you guys when I come home.
Tuesday I went on exchanges with the Guagua elders, one of them is new, Elder Castro. They told me that it was flooded over there but I wasn't expecting what I found. ha ah The water was up to our knees and deeper in some places. I got to work in sandals the whole day ha ha. and my pants rolled up. It was great. Elder Castro, he's a great kid and he's gonna make a great missionary when he has a little more experience under his belt. He teaches from the heart which is what really needs to happen to be effective.
Then Thursday we had Exchanges again with one of the companionship's here in Gapo. My 2 brothers are companions in Sta Rita. Its pretty cool, we hiked all over the place and I thought I was gonna die. I'm not used to the hills anymore. I've gotten used to the flat city. I just think...This would be so much easier on a horse. That's coming soon.
Friday we had ZLC with the new President, ha ha it was funny because he really didn't know what he was supposed to do so he was asking us what to do...now there's somethings that we can tell him and somethings that we can't tell him that we used to do because he needs to run things his own way not the way of pres. Aquino. so after everything we said. "...but its up to you...". President Querido is a great guy. We heard that he was very strict. But he seems to be a lot more laid back than president Aquino. We can play basketball now so that made everyone happy. President is really humble and willing to receive suggestions on how to improve. ha ha The first thing he said to us was "hello, I'm president Querido, I'm your new mission father...and you don't have a choice." ha ha it was funny. I love watching aspiring AP's they are so funny. The Zone Leaders and AP's just kind of ran things at ZLC so that President could see how things run. He's gonna do great.
Saturday was crazy. we came from Subic, went straight to Lubao for a meeting and learned that they want to open 2 new branches over there which is great. It means that they are getting their attendance and membership up. Zion is growing! After that we came back to Gapo and had a baptism. Things were a little crazy until we got there and sorted them out, called some people. But Sister Eunice got baptized and in her testimony after she gave a very great heartfelt testimony. She was moved upon by the Holy Ghost. She is very very shy but she got up there and through tears bore her testimony about how the Lord had helped them and blessed their father that he would get better. Last week brother was hospitalized because of his High Blood Pressure.
Next week we'll have another baptism. Sister Rhea and brother Miko. We are very excited for them and sister Rhea's husband will follow if we can get his swelling down in his foot so he can come to church.
Great things are happening all around and I'm still sprinting.
Love you all
Elder Westwood
Sunday, June 26, 2011
27 Jun 2011
Hey everyone,
Well things are back to normal and we got a lot of work done last week. I'm just trying to sprint to the end.
I got to teach sharing time yesterday... wow was that an experience but I liked it. 2 weeks ago I taught the Valiant's... they were a lot more behaved yesterday than 2 weeks ago. I thought that they didn't take anything away from my lesson but they all came up to me last week wanting me to teach them. So they got their wish yesterday. I'm gonna miss them when I'm gone. But the branch is planning a Branch Family Home Evening for my last Saturday.
We had some great spiritual experiences last week that I would like to share with you.
The first is about the power of the priesthood.
We had a sister, Myrna Kaiklian, about 2 weeks ago ask a member to call us for a priesthood blessing, she was taught by the missionaries before. She's had a pretty rough past year where the doctor pretty much poisoned her by prescribing way too high of a dose of vitamin B. Her liver is pretty much shot and she was literally Yellow when we blessed her. She hasn't been able to sleep for quite a while and having a hard time. Well we went back to her last week and her color had improved and she has been able to sleep a lot better, she said that she went to sleep right away after we blessed her. It was great. I read something somewhere that said Priesthood holders are a peculiar people. It is very true. We can do things that no one else can. It just reaffirmed to me how important it is that we live worthy to use that authority.
Another one is about the Spirit.
Last week we started teaching this husband and wife (I'm having to stop and ask my companion words in English right now, sorry if my English is a little off), and it just so happened that there was an older lady there that was Jehovah's Witness. Wow she likes to talk a lot, but after we got her to be quiet we taught to brother Felisardo and Venus. We kind of left sister and didn't really notice her while we were teaching because we didn't want to hear another one of her lectures. We extended a baptismal date to them and closed the lesson. We were really shocked yesterday when nanay showed up at church, she came with Sister Cora, her sister-in-law. But she is really interested now and would like to stay here in Olongapo until she finds out if The Church is for her. One thing that you guys need to understand is that Jehovah's are one of the churches here that usually will not listen to us and it ends up in a bible bash. Sister's progress is remarkable and we are way excited for her.
Last night we watched The Restoration with Felisardo, Venus, the older Jehovah's witness, Rhea, and Felix (Rhea's Husband) at Sister Cora's house. They are related in some way and staying at sister Cora's house. But the lesson was so strong, its great to see how the spirit works and softens peoples hearts and how things happen in life. Sometimes we don't realize it but the Lord is putting us in a situation to receive the message of the Gospel. The Jehovah sister came from Maynila to help sister Cora with her annulment, Rhea came from Dinalupihan to be closer to her husband that works in SBMA at a Hotel. Brother Felix has 2 days off every month, but had an accident and had surgery last week because a grinder blade shattered while he was cutting a piece of angle iron. We met him in the hospital and we are good friends. He has a 1 month leave from work and we think we can get him baptized in that time. He is GREAT!!! Rhea was supposed to interviewed yesterday for baptism but she wants to wait and see what happens with her husband so next week she will be interviewed. We pushed her baptism back 1 week but I think it will be alright.
We had one other cool experience with a inactive member for 16 years now.
A few weeks ago we taught Lehi's Dream to them as a family and something happened while we taught that caught his attention and he read a little bit from the Book of Mormon that next week and since then he has started to feel the spirit in his life again and all things are falling into place for them to be able to come back to church. With the new month his day off will change and he is really pushing that his boss will give him Saturday and Sunday off because for the last 14 years his day off has been the same. When he comes back we know that many great things will happen in his life.
Next week we have ZLC with the new mission President, on June 30 president and Sister Aquino will go to Maynila and the new president will be here. Sure gonna miss them.
That's all for this week
Love you all
Elder Westwood
PS its been raining for almost 2 weeks straight.
Well things are back to normal and we got a lot of work done last week. I'm just trying to sprint to the end.
I got to teach sharing time yesterday... wow was that an experience but I liked it. 2 weeks ago I taught the Valiant's... they were a lot more behaved yesterday than 2 weeks ago. I thought that they didn't take anything away from my lesson but they all came up to me last week wanting me to teach them. So they got their wish yesterday. I'm gonna miss them when I'm gone. But the branch is planning a Branch Family Home Evening for my last Saturday.
We had some great spiritual experiences last week that I would like to share with you.
The first is about the power of the priesthood.
We had a sister, Myrna Kaiklian, about 2 weeks ago ask a member to call us for a priesthood blessing, she was taught by the missionaries before. She's had a pretty rough past year where the doctor pretty much poisoned her by prescribing way too high of a dose of vitamin B. Her liver is pretty much shot and she was literally Yellow when we blessed her. She hasn't been able to sleep for quite a while and having a hard time. Well we went back to her last week and her color had improved and she has been able to sleep a lot better, she said that she went to sleep right away after we blessed her. It was great. I read something somewhere that said Priesthood holders are a peculiar people. It is very true. We can do things that no one else can. It just reaffirmed to me how important it is that we live worthy to use that authority.
Another one is about the Spirit.
Last week we started teaching this husband and wife (I'm having to stop and ask my companion words in English right now, sorry if my English is a little off), and it just so happened that there was an older lady there that was Jehovah's Witness. Wow she likes to talk a lot, but after we got her to be quiet we taught to brother Felisardo and Venus. We kind of left sister and didn't really notice her while we were teaching because we didn't want to hear another one of her lectures. We extended a baptismal date to them and closed the lesson. We were really shocked yesterday when nanay showed up at church, she came with Sister Cora, her sister-in-law. But she is really interested now and would like to stay here in Olongapo until she finds out if The Church is for her. One thing that you guys need to understand is that Jehovah's are one of the churches here that usually will not listen to us and it ends up in a bible bash. Sister's progress is remarkable and we are way excited for her.
Last night we watched The Restoration with Felisardo, Venus, the older Jehovah's witness, Rhea, and Felix (Rhea's Husband) at Sister Cora's house. They are related in some way and staying at sister Cora's house. But the lesson was so strong, its great to see how the spirit works and softens peoples hearts and how things happen in life. Sometimes we don't realize it but the Lord is putting us in a situation to receive the message of the Gospel. The Jehovah sister came from Maynila to help sister Cora with her annulment, Rhea came from Dinalupihan to be closer to her husband that works in SBMA at a Hotel. Brother Felix has 2 days off every month, but had an accident and had surgery last week because a grinder blade shattered while he was cutting a piece of angle iron. We met him in the hospital and we are good friends. He has a 1 month leave from work and we think we can get him baptized in that time. He is GREAT!!! Rhea was supposed to interviewed yesterday for baptism but she wants to wait and see what happens with her husband so next week she will be interviewed. We pushed her baptism back 1 week but I think it will be alright.
We had one other cool experience with a inactive member for 16 years now.
A few weeks ago we taught Lehi's Dream to them as a family and something happened while we taught that caught his attention and he read a little bit from the Book of Mormon that next week and since then he has started to feel the spirit in his life again and all things are falling into place for them to be able to come back to church. With the new month his day off will change and he is really pushing that his boss will give him Saturday and Sunday off because for the last 14 years his day off has been the same. When he comes back we know that many great things will happen in his life.
Next week we have ZLC with the new mission President, on June 30 president and Sister Aquino will go to Maynila and the new president will be here. Sure gonna miss them.
That's all for this week
Love you all
Elder Westwood
PS its been raining for almost 2 weeks straight.
Monday, June 20, 2011
20 Jun 2011
Hey everyone! I have great news! They offered to let me extend until September!!! Yeah, the mission is lacking missionaries so they need some to stay until we can get some more next transfer!! Cool huh?!!! I'm so excited!!!...or would be if that was true. I just wanted to see if you are really reading my email. ha ha ha. I'm still coming home next month... sorry.
Happy Fathers day to all you fathers out there!!! If you were here yesterday you would have been able to witness the relief society singing "Through the Years" to you yesterday in Sacrament meeting. ha ha ha. It was so funny.
Well, we made it through another Transfer week, and we only had one sister go the wrong direction. ha ha She came clear down to Olongapo when she was supposed to go up to the north end of the mission. ha ha. She was a good sport about it.
Sorry, other than that not a lot happened this week. It was kind of sad to see a lot my buddies go home last week. But it happens to all.
So I was feeling pretty spiritually low since 2 Saturdays ago. I couldn't figure out why... it was like everything just shut off? I said to myself...is this what its really like? Your last transfer its like everything just shuts down. Your spirit has a low battery? I knew I was in trouble if it continued. I was doing what I was supposed to do, focusing on the people, the missionaries in the zone, my investigators, the members, my companion. So why was this happening.
This went on till about Thursday. Feeling helpless and alone and down because my companion was leading everything and I was left feeling useless. Thursday our word was great. It was like I hit my second wind again. We were both participating in the lessons equally. What's the difference you ask? I did my personal Study on Thursday. Because of other things that had been going on I had totally neglected my personal study of the scriptures and because of that I was suffering in the work.
So how does that apply to you and why am I taking your time to tell you this? It doesn't matter where you are or how old you are, or how busy you are. In order to be doing your best and qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost we have to study the scriptures. EVERY DAY! even if its just a column or a page, or if time will permit a whole chapter or more. I am reminded of the Apostle that said. "Don't neglect the little things" Sometimes we get caught up in other things and forget about it. To put it simply... this is a commandment. When we follow we are blessed, when we don't we are NOT blessed. I am thankful for this reminder and sign of love from our Heavenly Father. See how hard my head is...? it took me close to a week of suffering to actually figure out what was happening. May this be a warning to all of you. Study the scriptures every day.
I love you all and pray for you always.
Until next week
Elder Westwood
Happy Fathers day to all you fathers out there!!! If you were here yesterday you would have been able to witness the relief society singing "Through the Years" to you yesterday in Sacrament meeting. ha ha ha. It was so funny.
Well, we made it through another Transfer week, and we only had one sister go the wrong direction. ha ha She came clear down to Olongapo when she was supposed to go up to the north end of the mission. ha ha. She was a good sport about it.
Sorry, other than that not a lot happened this week. It was kind of sad to see a lot my buddies go home last week. But it happens to all.
So I was feeling pretty spiritually low since 2 Saturdays ago. I couldn't figure out why... it was like everything just shut off? I said to myself...is this what its really like? Your last transfer its like everything just shuts down. Your spirit has a low battery? I knew I was in trouble if it continued. I was doing what I was supposed to do, focusing on the people, the missionaries in the zone, my investigators, the members, my companion. So why was this happening.
This went on till about Thursday. Feeling helpless and alone and down because my companion was leading everything and I was left feeling useless. Thursday our word was great. It was like I hit my second wind again. We were both participating in the lessons equally. What's the difference you ask? I did my personal Study on Thursday. Because of other things that had been going on I had totally neglected my personal study of the scriptures and because of that I was suffering in the work.
So how does that apply to you and why am I taking your time to tell you this? It doesn't matter where you are or how old you are, or how busy you are. In order to be doing your best and qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost we have to study the scriptures. EVERY DAY! even if its just a column or a page, or if time will permit a whole chapter or more. I am reminded of the Apostle that said. "Don't neglect the little things" Sometimes we get caught up in other things and forget about it. To put it simply... this is a commandment. When we follow we are blessed, when we don't we are NOT blessed. I am thankful for this reminder and sign of love from our Heavenly Father. See how hard my head is...? it took me close to a week of suffering to actually figure out what was happening. May this be a warning to all of you. Study the scriptures every day.
I love you all and pray for you always.
Until next week
Elder Westwood
Monday, June 13, 2011
13 June 2011
It was such a good week!
I'll give you just a taste of what happened. Imagine if you will...40 Guys with different backgrounds that all have made big mistakes in their lives all sitting on the edge of their chairs listening intently to what you are sharing with them about the gospel. How would you feel? It was awesome!!! We got to go up to 164 again. That's the city jail. Those guys have been drug dealers, I'm sure a couple have killed, there are even innocent ones there. They literally just suck in everything you say to them. You can see it in their eyes that they want to change. We even know that there are at least 4 members up there!
Then I killed a rat in our house the other day. It was fun. We had just walked in from our baptism and I saw something running across the floor. I yelled "A rat, get my itak" ha ha Then I grabbed a broom and trapped it in the bathroom. I found it hiding in a little drainage pipe so I dragged it out but it got loose and ran away so I had to chase him down and he was screaming but I got him. Ha ha Elder Ragasa wouldn't even go into the bathroom he was scared of it! One thing I know is that I'm still not scared of blood, so that's a good thing.
Another great thing that happened this week. Our one investigator, Ariel, He is a single parent, tricycle driver, and has a 4 kids that he supports. He is a really good guy and I met him when he gave us a ride one time, I never imagined that we would continue to teach him or that he would progress this much in the gospel. He works every day just to bring food home everyday. He has been coming to church as well but usually leaves about 11 to go back to work. Last Saturday we taught him Sabbath Day observance and we were worried that he would call it quits and not be able to accept this as a commandment. But at the end of the lesson, he sat there for a second, thought, then looked at us and said "well, if that's the commandment, I guess I better follow it, I need all the help I can get." That was one of the moments when I could have just jumped for joy and done a little dance. When the Investigator understands the importance of commandments and is willing to stop a behavior that is contrary to that commandment, that is some of the happiest moments of missionaries life. Seeing repentance happen.
We also had a Young Man come into church yesterday, we learned that he was a member and had been inactive for a long time. He expressed his desires to start again and showed regret that he had neglected his covenants. It was really good to see him and talk to him and to try and uplift him and encourage him. I hope he will continue to come to church and progress and hopefully we can get him out on a mission before he turns 26.
We also got Sally, Alfroilan, and Andrew Faustino baptized yesterday. So that was awesome. They are now getting ready to go to the temple.
Great things have happened and I hope they will continue to happen in Missionary work.
No unhallowed hand can stop this work!
Elder Westwood
I'll give you just a taste of what happened. Imagine if you will...40 Guys with different backgrounds that all have made big mistakes in their lives all sitting on the edge of their chairs listening intently to what you are sharing with them about the gospel. How would you feel? It was awesome!!! We got to go up to 164 again. That's the city jail. Those guys have been drug dealers, I'm sure a couple have killed, there are even innocent ones there. They literally just suck in everything you say to them. You can see it in their eyes that they want to change. We even know that there are at least 4 members up there!
Then I killed a rat in our house the other day. It was fun. We had just walked in from our baptism and I saw something running across the floor. I yelled "A rat, get my itak" ha ha Then I grabbed a broom and trapped it in the bathroom. I found it hiding in a little drainage pipe so I dragged it out but it got loose and ran away so I had to chase him down and he was screaming but I got him. Ha ha Elder Ragasa wouldn't even go into the bathroom he was scared of it! One thing I know is that I'm still not scared of blood, so that's a good thing.
Another great thing that happened this week. Our one investigator, Ariel, He is a single parent, tricycle driver, and has a 4 kids that he supports. He is a really good guy and I met him when he gave us a ride one time, I never imagined that we would continue to teach him or that he would progress this much in the gospel. He works every day just to bring food home everyday. He has been coming to church as well but usually leaves about 11 to go back to work. Last Saturday we taught him Sabbath Day observance and we were worried that he would call it quits and not be able to accept this as a commandment. But at the end of the lesson, he sat there for a second, thought, then looked at us and said "well, if that's the commandment, I guess I better follow it, I need all the help I can get." That was one of the moments when I could have just jumped for joy and done a little dance. When the Investigator understands the importance of commandments and is willing to stop a behavior that is contrary to that commandment, that is some of the happiest moments of missionaries life. Seeing repentance happen.
We also had a Young Man come into church yesterday, we learned that he was a member and had been inactive for a long time. He expressed his desires to start again and showed regret that he had neglected his covenants. It was really good to see him and talk to him and to try and uplift him and encourage him. I hope he will continue to come to church and progress and hopefully we can get him out on a mission before he turns 26.
We also got Sally, Alfroilan, and Andrew Faustino baptized yesterday. So that was awesome. They are now getting ready to go to the temple.
Great things have happened and I hope they will continue to happen in Missionary work.
No unhallowed hand can stop this work!
Elder Westwood
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