We had another great week last week. First off, the Espiritu family was finally baptized last Saturday. It was a wonderful baptism and there were many members and nonmembers who attended. Three of our investigators were able to attend the baptismal service. The Espiritu family has changed so much over the last couple of months. They have completely changed their behaviors, habits, and life style in order to bring their lives in line to the will of God and His Gospel. We are happy that they were able to accomplish their first goal, which was entering into the waters of baptism. Their next goal is to be sealed in the temple as a family. Overall, it was a very successful and happy that I will always remember.
The Aquino family also attended church on Sunday. They are a recently found less active/part-member family. The father and the mother are both members, but none of their four children has been baptized yet. At church, we introduced them to the members and helped them make friends in each of their classes. We talked to a member who said he would be willing to get Brother Aquino a job, because he has recently become unemployed. Our ward played a big part in fellow-shipping and welcoming the Aquino family. We are pretty confident that they will come again next week.
It has rained quite a bit lately. It makes it a whole lot hard to play basketball when it rains because the court always get wet and slippery. That is right, there are no indoor courts in the Philippines. They have covered outside courts, but there are none close top our house. It is kind of a bummer.
But we had a cool missionary experience that started in the rain. I will copy it from Elder Perkins email. And I think I might just forward his email to you.
"Our area is luckily one of the areas in the mission that doesn't experience too serious of flooding. Or so we thought. This past Monday, after our P-Day was done and we were going home from proselyting, a sort of flash flood rose up in one of the lower parts of our area. We had to wade through it to get to the other side. Somewhere along the trek, Elder Nielsen and I felt it would be a good picture opportunity. But what started out with an idea to take your typical flooding picture turned into something much, much more.
After a couple of selfies, we took individual shots in the rain. Eventually for some reason, we decided to jump in the pictures. They turned out great on the waterproof camera so we snapped a couple of more. But then we decided we needed a companionship jumping picture. Nobody was outside at this point in the rainstorm, but hope shined through the storm when a lonely stranger trudged through the water. We approached him and you could tell he was a little shocked to see too 6' Americans jumping around in the water, and all the more when they came up to him and asked him in Tagalog to take pictures of them jumping. He snapped a few good ones.
We figured there was some purpose he was sent on that flooded road other than to take pictures of us so we explained to him although we were excited and happy to take pictures in rainstorms that we don't experience where we come from, the real reason we are happy is because we have a message about families (ie the Gospel). He invited us to come to his house.
Since that point in time, we have taught this former stranger, June, as well as his wife and child Karen a couple of times and they have huge potential. They said if two Americans can have fun in the rain sharing a message in Tagalog, there must be something special about what they are sharing. We are hoping for a baptism at the beginning of November. The other cool news there is they have a friend that now wants to listen to us as well!
God works in mysterious ways. With that said, I wouldn't recommend the 'jumping in the rain' proselyting approach all the time."
I am learning a lot from serving in this area. I have really seen how powerful and helpful the members are and can be in missionary work. They play such a crucial role in Lord's work. I solemnly believe the reason the Camarin 2nd Ward is doing so well and progressing is because of the help we are receiving from the members. The members really make the difference.
But everything has been going swell. Elder Perkins is a great companion. We have a lot fun together. He might be transferring this next week.. But we will see what happens..
And I was not informed there were Peru trips being planned while I was gone?! What is all that about? First, there was the trip to Hawaii. I was left home. And now this? Who is the man in charge of all this trip planning? You are going to get lost without your tour guide ( ME). But anyhow, that sounds like a lot of fun! Good Luck!
This mission is great. It is a wonderful experience. Choose the Right! Love you all!
Nagmamahal,
Elder Nielsen
ps. Happpppppppy Birrrrrrrrthday Car Car! You are getting so old! But you are awesome Carly. SO sweet and nice. Keep watching over your two other sisters for me. And guessed what?! Next year you can start hunting! Watch out! You need to start practicing! Looove ya! :)
Mission tour
Ballerina or Air Jordan.. you decide.
Espiritu Baptism
Email from his companion:
Subject: What a Wonderful World
To:
To:
*Name two different artists that sing a song with that title (one of the titles doesn't include What a)
"It was the best of times." -Name that author too for an extra point
Water. For being bawal for missionaries to swim in, water pretty much has summed up my time here in the Philippines. From sweating to rainstorms to baptisms, we as missionaries are pretty much always surrounded by water, so my email will mostly be focused on that element today.
Singing in the Rain- Our area is luckily one of the areas in the mission that doesn't experience too serious of flooding. Or so we thought. This past Monday, after our P-Day was done and we were going home from proselyting, a sort of flash flood rose up in one of the lower parts of our area. We had to wade through it to get to the other side. Somewhere along the trek, Elder Nielsen and I felt it would be a good picture opportunity. But what started out with an idea to take your typical flooding picture turned into something much, much more.
After a couple of selfies, we took individual shots in the rain. Eventually for some reason, we decided to jump in the pictures. They turned out great on the waterproof camera so we snapped a couple of more. But then we decided we needed a companionship jumping picture. Nobody was outside at this point in the rainstorm, but hope shined through the storm when a lonely stranger trudged through the water. We approached him and you could tell he was a little shocked to see too 6' Americans jumping around in the water, and all the more when they came up to him and asked him in Tagalog to take pictures of them jumping. He snapped a few good ones.
We figured there was some purpose he was sent on that flooded road other than to take pictures of us so we explained to him although we were excited and happy to take pictures in rainstorms that we don't experience where we come from, the real reason we are happy is because we have a message about families (ie the Gospel). He invited us to come to his house.
Since that point in time, we have taught this former stranger, June, as well as his wife and child Karen a couple of times and they have huge potential. They said if two Americans can have fun in the rain sharing a message in Tagalog, there must be something special about what they are sharing. We are hoping for a baptism at the beginning of November. The other cool news there is they have a friend that now wants to listen to us as well!
God works in mysterious ways. With that said, I wouldn't recommend the 'jumping in the rain' proselyting approach all the time.
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I love my companion and this area. Elder Nielsen is one of the great missionaries I have met and I am blessed to be with him in this area.
Espiritu Baptism- It went through and turned out incredible. It was one of the best baptismal services I have attended since I have been here and was without a doubt the one with the highest attendance. All their neighbors and friends came from the ward and supported and their testimonies were great. They really are ready for missions and temples. Good news about the baptism- we had a number of investigators show up as well with members that we weren't expecting and it seemed like they really enjoyed the service.
Missionary work is the best thing I could be doing in my life right now and I have never been happier.
Have a wonderful week!
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