Monday, March 5, 2018

E-mail dated 3/5/18


Kamusta Kamo??!

Its been another great and very hot week here in Iloilo city! And it sounds like it has been the opposite for you guys, what is up with it snowing in March, I don't know if I believe you guys, you'll have to send pictures this next week! Its been a long time since I have been cold, like even a little, but thats okay! Sounds like everyone had a good week and was kept very busy!  But as for me this week it has been so exhausting, but we were able to get some good work done!

These past few weeks we have been focusing on our 6 or so really progressing investigators and we are really trying our best to help them be prepared for baptism this March, so hopefully they will can continue to progress, I have faith and pray everyday that they will! Our investigators are so awesome, all of them want to learn so much about the gospel and I have seen the changes in their lives, some big, some small, but it is amazing. For one of our investigators she has changed a lot and has given up so much to embrace the gospel and she has been blessed for it. It is promised so many times in the scriptures, If we seek first the kingdom of God or we keep the commandments we will prosper and that promise is so true. I have seen it so many times on my mission, no they did not become rich, but all their needs were taken care of and they were happier so they just stopped focusing on the negatives. It is amazing to see! 

  1. Do they have large grocery stores where you are?  How about a mall? Yes they have a very large grocery store and a mall in our area. And the mall is so huge, its crazy, 3 floors and everything. But for me it so hard to go grocery shopping because they have no real dairy here,but this last week I found some fake Milk and cereal and to be honest it was soo good, I miss cereal. 
  2. What do most people do for work in your area? It really depends, a lot of people sell fish and clams and stuff since we are right by the ocean and others work at the mall and others don't work at all, it just depends. 
  3. Any fun P-day activities coming up?Actually today we just barely had an awesome district activity. We went BOWLING, haha I had no idea that was a thing here. But it was the most ghetto bowling ever. The balls were like a little bigger than ski-ball balls and the lanes were nothing like in america, they arent automatic, they just have a person back there that picks up the pins and rolls back the balls to you, it was funny! But it was so fun, we also played pool! I will send picture later
  4. What is the greatest miracle you witnessed this past week?  I think you will agree that miracles occur around us every day. To be honest, I can't just pick out a specific one there are so many everyday. A big one that I have noticed just recently is that I am not nervous when I go into a lesson. At first I was always nervous because I was worried about the language and if they would understand me, but over the last few months gradually I have started relying more on the Lord than I ever have in my life and he leads me and guides me all the time of what I should say, so that is a huge miracle. Its not because I am so good at the language or anything like that, it is because My Heavenly Father helps me everyday. 
  5. Are any of your investigators right now children or teens? Yes we have a few! I will tell you about this one awesome investigator who is only 10 years old, his nickname is yanyan and even though he is so young, he is so smart. To be honest he remembers more of the lessons then some of our adult investigators. He reads the book of mormon all the time and even highlights it, and he prays more sincerely than any kid I have ever met. His uncle is a member and they live right next door to each other, his parents are always busy, but his Dad said that he wants him to be baptized, we working on hopefully being able to teach his dad too! 

Well thats probably all I have for you guys this week, I will try to take some more pictures, but Its hard in the city there are so many people every where. I am so incredibly grateful for the love and support that you guys give me each week, I have the best family and friends!

Elder Joshua Degen 

1st picture: I basically had taco bell this week!!! I found some doritos taco flavored chips and I also bought a mtn dew. (With my companion Elder Silvano)
2nd picture: ghetto bowling, I thought I had a better picture, but I guess not!




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