Monday, January 22, 2018

E-mail dated 1/22/18

Kamusta Kamo??! 

This week just absolutely flew by and it was full of hard work and some miracles! It sounds like you all had a very eventful week with the huge snow storm, thanks for all of the pictures. All the filipinos have never seen snow and some of the members are always asking me what it is like haha. So maybe I will print these pictures and show them. 

So last week I talked about how some of our investigators, Recent Converts and members are going through some trials in their lives and this week I prayerfully studied very hard. One thing that really stood out to me was a talk from this last general conference entitled Have Miracles Ceased. This talk had such a huge impact and I know that the spirit guided me to read it at this specific time. The biggest take away that I got was that our Faith should be In Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and their perfect plan for all of us. Because sometimes when we pray (me included) I pray that Heavenly Father will help them with their trials or that someone will be healed, but one thing mentioned in the talk was do we have sufficient faith to NOT be healed or our trials taken away. That really stood out to me and brought peace to my soul. I have seen it countless times on my mission that Heavenly Father's plan is so perfect. So even when things are hard or we might not understand why something is happening we can still find peace and comfort by trusting in Heavenly Father's perfect plan. I testify that miracles have not ceased and that Heavenly Father's plan is so  perfect. 

One miracle that happened this week was one of our investigators who is not yet married and we have been teaching for about a month and a half, filed her papers and now is getting married at the end of the month so she can be baptized. Wow. I have seen the gospel change her life. The first time we taught her (her name is Cristie) she was so shy and kind of sad, but now she has this incredible light about her, she has found hope and peace in this gospel. 

So we were unable to have our scheduled baptism this last week, but that is okay it was necessary to move the date and we now have 10 investigators with a baptismal date of Feb. 17, which is amazing. Our investigators are so amazing and the inspire me to be better. 

1.    What will you be doing at your Zone Conference on the 24th? So a zone conference is basically just training from our zone leaders and president Cruz. It sounds boring, but it is nice to shake things up and see other Elders from different areas. 
2.    Do you anticipate that you will be transferred her in a week or so when transfers come around again?  I know you probably don’t know anything yet, but what is your gut feeling?  What about your companion?  How long has he been serving in Nueva Valencia? I don't know of course, but my feeling is and I hope that I will be staying here. My companion has been here for 7 months now and we have been together for 3 transfers so its almost certain that one of us is transferring and there is a high chance that it is him, but you never know. 
3.    What was the best thing you got to eat this week? Oh today, our first counselor of our branch (bro Rhen poll) took us to this amazing resort for lunch and it was the coolest place, the view was amazing and so was the food. (i will send pictures)
4.    Do the kids over there have a traditional school schedule like we do here?  Do most graduate from high school? The school schedule here is all wacked up, one day the have school the next day they don't. I don't know how they keep track of it all. But as far as I know they graduate in the spring. And as far as I know most of them do graduate. 

Another great week here in the Philippines, I am blessed to be here. A mission is hard work, but it is worth it. I love you guys a lot and I am so grateful for your prayers and constant support. I pray for you guys as well. Have a great week. Enjoy the snow, its still hot here...incase you were wondering. 

Dios mangin sa inyo hasta sa makakita anay liwat (God be with you until we meet again)

Elder Joshua Degen





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