June 14, 2015

so we have spent quite a bit of time contacting LA's, basically inactive, in the last week. We found one, the Niluag family. they were baptized about 8 years ago and went inactive about 4 years ago, and haven't been visited by the missionaries for upwards of 4 years as well, they have 7 kids, the oldest being 28, and the youngest 11. almost all of them have been baptized, but the oldest and the youngest haven't been yet. we taught them yesterday, and it was a way good lesson, i feel like it had an impact on them. we committed them to read the Book of Mormon, and also to come to church this next week. We read Moroni 10:32, with an invitation from Moroni telling all people to "COME UNTO CHRIST" "moduol ngadto kang Kristo." then later in the same verse it talks about how we need to have a love of God! it also talks about the things that we need to do in our daily lives "deny yourselves of all ungodliness."

after that i related it to 1 Nephi 11:16-17. about how much God loves His children (US) and he wants to see us change and be better, he never is disappointed in us, but he ALWAYS wants to see us do so much better because he knows our FULL potential.

so this week, i am not sure if you heard about the MULTI STAKE CONFERENCE here in the Philippines, there was a broadcast from SLC to the whole Philippines in which Elder Niel L. Anderson presided, also Brent H. Nielson (the old area president {also went to the Omaha Nebraska Mission to do a mission tour after he was done here}), Craig C. Christensen of the presidency of the 70, and finally Rosmary M. Wixom the General primary President. it was very informative, and super awesome, cause of many reasons.

1. i got to see my old friends from Panglao again, all of the members that i had shared with, and had grown close to.
2. all the missionaries from Tagbilaran, and Valencia Zones.
3. learned from a member of the quorum of the 12, also other GENERAL AUTHORITIES!!!

This week was also zone interviews, which is where president tanner goes around to all the areas/zones and talks with EVERY SINGLE MISSIONARY!! so he is super busy, the only problem was is that almost everyone had a ton of stuff to talk to president tanner about. so our scheduled time was supposed to be at 6:30 on Friday night, so we got there around 6:15 after passing by our house to grab the food that i cooked for dinner for President and Sister Tanner. (BICOL EXPRESS) i LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! We waited there until 9:30, then he decided that we will just come back in the morning to finish off. so we didn't work for the last 2 hours of the day. and we also got out to work way late!!!!

we only had time to teach one lesson. but that one lesson was super awesome and we got 5 new investigators from it, because we went to a new part of the area, and found a family that was interested in learning about the gospel.

THE MISSION IS GOING TO CHANGE, actually THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES is going to change now. there was a new announcement from the area presidency to all missions in the Philippines that MOTORCYCLES are now not allowed to be ridden.... which hurts so much. there are some areas that might be closed down because they dont have transportation to their area, or home at night. for us it is the same way, it is going to require a lot more walking and a TON more time is going to be taken away because now we dont have the same transportation.

The last couple of days has been SUPER rainy, which makes it very muddy.... i will take some more pictures of my mud covered self when we get home each day.

here is just a couple of pictures from the last few weeks, sorry that there are only 2. but they are a good 2;)

 

-Elder Larson the YOUNGER

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016