E-mail dated 11/20/17

Kamusta Kamo??!! 

Nagkasal si Gavin!! Medyo buang pero malipay gid ako para sa ila. (Gavin is married. Kind of crazy but, I am very happy for them!) 

It sounds like it was such a special day for them. on Wednesday morning (so tuesday night for you guys) I was doing service for a member of our branch and I was thinking about you guys having a good time at the reception. I am glad you were able to read my comments, sorry it was kind of short, but oh well. That cafe rio at the wedding sounds soo good right about now. Especially a good ol taco. mmm. Sorry for fantasizing, but I have had rice for almost every meal for like 8 straight weeks. To be honest, I thought I would get sick of it, but if you are hungry you are hungry so, I don't think I will ever get sick of it. Well, sounds like it was a great wedding day and I am sure you are glad its over and Gavin is out of the house haha just kidding Gavin.

Well This week has been another great and successful week for us here in Nueva Valencia. This area is so awesome and I am so blessed to be here. The field truly is white and already to harvest here. This past week we taught a ton of lessons and we now have 10 investigators with a baptismal date of Dec. 17 (White Christmas). It was such a blessing, to see these people willingness to follow the commandments. 2 of our investigators right now are sisters, the Segovia sisters Nigelle (8) Nicole (10). They are from a part member family, their older sister is the only active one. And even though they are just kids they are so willing to act and follow the commitments we give them. This past week I gave them a Book of Mormon stories book that I bought in the Provo MTC. They are very good at reading English so I was happy to give it to them. They always read it, their older sister even said that they sometimes fight over who gets to read it, haha how awesome. They come to church every week and I am excited for their baptism. As for our other investigators, we are struggling to get them to consistently come to church. It made me sad that they didn't come to church, but I have to remember that people have their agency, but sometimes I wish I could just pick up all of our investigators and bring them to church. But, I know it doesn't work that way, they need to exercise their own faith. So instead of focusing on the negative things, like if an investigator doesn't come to church, I focus on the positive things or the blessings that I have received. It always makes things better, if we focus on the blessings instead of the trials. So I would encourage you all to always focus on the blessings instead of the trials. I know it is hard, its hard for me too, but when you step back and recognize all of the blessings, the trials become smaller, I promise

What part of my testimony has grown the most? Wow that is a tough one, it has grown so much, I am not sure if I can describe it, but I will try. I would say my testimony of Prayer and scripture study has grown the most. These are very simple things, BUT in Alma 37:6 It reads
 6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. 

This scripture has become one of my favorite, while I have been on a mission. Just by doing SMALL and SIMPLE things GREAT things are brought to pass. I can testify of this, even though praying and reading our scriptures may seem very small, I can promise you all GREAT blessing will come to pass if you do those small things.

This scripture also gives me peace with my language. Because here it says, "and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." so even though I can't communicate that great, I can only say Simple things, that is okay, because through small and simple things, great things come to pass.

Well thanks for all the emails and encouragement, I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Degen