Typhoon Glenda - July 20, 2014

Kamusta Everybody,

  This past Wednesday we got hit by Typhoon Glenda. It didn’t do too much damage but there were a lot of people who had parts of roofs ripped off and sadly our most recent convert, Sister Juvie, had major damage to her house and it was destroyed so we spent most of the week giving service and helping people fix up their homes. 

 The thing that has impressed me the most is peoples attitudes. Despite all the damage everyone seemed to be ok. After people got their own houses fixed up they went and helped out others and were all laughing having a good time with each other. I also was amazed how God will provide for us in unexpected ways. There was no power and most of the stores were closed, and the big mall was damaged but nobody was in need of food, because during the storm the fish farms got flooded so there has been tons of fish in the river. Usually tilapia is 100 pesos a kilo but this week it has been 15 to 30 pesos a kilo. 

 Despite the storm we were able to still have the baptism on Saturday of Sister Juvie, and her son Szander, as well as Sister Christina and he daughter Christine May. I feel like I have been privileged to be able to know each of them and to have been able to teach them. All of them really prepared themselves for baptism. Looking back there wasn’t any big concerns or issues. They were always reading with their families and grew really strong in their faith. 

I’ve attached some pictures of the baptism, Sister Juvie’s house and helping after the typhoon. 

 That’s about it for this week! I hope everyone has a great week.

  Elder Merrill

Joy and Vilma - July 13, 2014

Kamusta Everybody,

 This past week has been really good. We had a fun zone P- day where we hiked up to a waterfall in one of the areas in the zone. The only problem we had is that it started to rain really hard! It took about an hour to get back through a lot of mud but we all had a really good time. I was impressed with the attitude of the sisters in the zone..several of them slipped and got really muddy but they said it was one of the more fun Zone P-days they have had. Learning to laugh at yourself and having a good attitude makes all the difference in how much we enjoy things.

 On Friday we had a really good MLC. It was President Mangum’s first one and he shared with us a lot of good insights that he learned from the apostles at his training a few weeks ago. One change that we are starting to implement is teaching people lesson 5 in Preach my Gospel.  I think it will really help all of the converts here in the mission stay active and progress in the church. The lesson emphasizes the "determination to serve him to the end" that it talks about in D&C 20:37.

 Yesterday two of our investigators Joy and Vilma both were baptized. They have come a long way and it has been a testimony building experience for me as well as the members who have fellowshipped them. One of the branch missionaries who has befriended them gave a great talk about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I also realized during the service how perfect the Lords timing is. They were both supposed to be baptized about a month ago but weren't quite prepared. We were disappointed we had to push the date back. However, last Monday Joys husband arrived home from working in Saudi Arabia and was able to attend. He came to church as well and seems very interested in the church also becoming a member. Realizing that helped me to better understand that often seemingly setbacks are sometimes Heavenly Father helping us to achieve more. 

  Have a great week!

    Elder Merrill

Earthquake - June 29, 2014

Kamusta everybody!

 This past week has been great! We had a really good zone training meeting on Wednesday and were able to teach the zone the things that President Peterson had shared with us last week. It was really good to be able to hear and see all of the things that President Peterson has taught the missionaries. Later on Wednesday we also felt an earthquake! We were sitting in a member’s house and noticed that the walls were shaking and could feel ourselves moving. The said yesterday that it was 5.5 magnitude and that we were at the center. When we got home to the apartment we noticed a few of the floor tiles were broken.

 One thing that I have really noticed this week is the amazing effect the Book of Mormon has on people. We have 5 different investigators who have been reading everyday and are going to be ready for baptism in the next few weeks. One of the Sister Juvie got a new job Mondays to Fridays so now we can only teach her on weekends. But on Saturday when we visited with her she is doing great. She has almost finished 3rd Nephi and was so excited to tell us all the things she has learned about baptism. 

 Other than that not too much out of the ordinary is going on. I am excited this Thursday to meet the new mission President. 

 Kita Kits

Elder Merrill

June 22, 2014

Kamusta Everybody!

 This past week has been really good. It was the last time we had to meet with President Peterson. On Thursday we had the last MLC and President taught us about his favorite scriptures and then left a lot of the time open for answering questions so we discussed things about how to better help missionaries and some deeper doctrine questions.  I was conducting the meeting so during lunch I had the thought to ask President if he would say the closing prayer.  He hasn't said one in a meeting with us before so I was hoping he could just this once before they go home. He said thanks for the idea but he didn’t agree to it. I felt kind of bad that I had asked but then just before the closing prayer he got up and said he would pray instead of the assigned person. His prayer was different than any one that I have ever heard. You could really feel that he had a deep understanding of who God is, and how he feels about each of us missionaries. 

 Other than that this week hasn’t been too eventful. We have seen really great progress with Sister Silvano from one of our part member families. The mother has been listening to us but before this week she was so shy that she wouldn’t ask or answer any questions.  However, she has started to read the book of Mormon and on Friday she told us how exited she is to be baptized in July. The Book of Mormon and the Spirit are what really do our teaching.

 I hope everyone has a great week! 

  Kita Kits

    Elder Merrill

Goodbyes to President Peterson

Kamusta everybody

This past week has gone really well. We had a lot of good meetings and also a great baptism.

 On Tuesday we had a lunch appointment with an American guy named Bob. He is in his 60’s and we met him at a bookstore last week. He seems like he is pretty lonely and doesn’t get to talk to Americans very often. He married a Filipino and lives in Taal. The lunch was really good but he didn’t want to hear anything about our message. It made me appreciate how willing the Filipinos are to learn about what we believe.

Wednesday we had Zone conference. It was the last time most of the missionaries will see President Peterson. He bore his testimony and told us the things he wanted to make sure we understand before he leaves. He talked a lot about Priesthood Keys, The Doctrine of Christ, and The Book of Mormon. It has been really amazing to see the influence he has had on all of us missionaries.  At the end of the meeting he had us all give him a hug. I was conducting the meeting so I was sitting by him and got to watch each missionary say goodbye. It was really neat to see how much people loved him by the way they said goodbye.  At the conference I also won the Qwan Challenge (qwan is a nonsense word it Tagalog).  One of the office sisters read off a list of counsel given by President Peterson since our last zone conference and if you have done the thing on the list that he’s counseled us to do then you remain standing. I was surprised at the end when I was the last one standing!   I have really learned that being exactly obedient will make the work a lot easier.

 Thursday we had the Baptism of Brother Romulo, Christian, and John Lloyd. All of their families came and really felt the Spirit. The talks were good but the best part was their testimonies. Brother Romulo’s was the best. He has come so far in the past few months. When I first met him he was really drunk and didn’t really want to talk to us but by the hand of God and some tough repentance he really is a new person. While he was bearing his testimony I felt really humbled and happy that I had helped a person improve his life, and be one with their family. The baptism was also on his 31^st anniversary. I look forward to them getting sealed in the temple next year.

 Other than that not too much happened this week, Happy Father’s Day to all and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Merrill

New Companion

Kamusta Everybody,

This past week has been great! We have been super busy but we had a great baptism and have lots happening this next week too. 

Thursday sadly Elder Johnson got transferred. We went to the mission home and I met my new companion Elder Williamson. It was tough to part ways, especially with all of our investigators getting baptized so soon, but God needs him in a different area. 

Friday we had a really good lesson with one of our investigators, Joy. She is deaf and doesn’t know sign language so it is a little difficult to communicate. This week though we explained to her about the restoration and she understood it really well. She has been praying and she was able to get herself and her mom to church. This experience has really strengthened my testimony that the Spirit is what conveys the truth of our message, regardless of how we communicate it. 

Saturday Jericho and Daniel were baptized! Their Mom is a member but has been less active so we found them through their Grandpa.  However, as we have been teaching the two little boys Mom also started coming back. The baptismal service was really good and when they got up to bear their testimonies I could see how happy the family was to all be there together. I was also really impressed and grateful for the Primary President, she gave them a Book of Mormon story book and she has been making sure they feel welcome. 

This next week we have zone conference and also a few more baptisms. It has been really amazing to see the changes in the branch here. 

I hope everyone has a great week

Kita Kits  

 Elder Merrill

Coconut Shell Mops

Kamusta everybody,

   This past week has gone really well.  On Tuesday we were able to go to a special meeting in San Pablo were Elder Craig C Christenson, one of the Presidents of the 70, came and spoke to us. He gave a really good workshop about prayer.  He talked to us how about when we really make prayer a mental exercise and try to gain the spirit before we begin to pray that we can receive clear answers and also know the things to ask for while we pray.

  We also had a great experience teaching two of our new investigators named Joy and Joan this past week. Joy is deaf and doesn’t know sign language or how to read very well, but she is good at reading lips. The young women in the ward all like her and she even attended the youth camp last week.  She always looks really interested when we teach her mom but she can’t understand very well. On Wednesday we bought a small whiteboard and drew out some of the principals in lesson 1 and she completely understood! She was really excited and we could tell that she felt the Spirit.

  We also have two little boys Jericho and Daniel that should be getting baptized this Saturday. Their mom used to be less active but she’s now come back to church and is excited for her kids to become members.  They are 10 and 8 and are fun to teach. They understand everything we say and don’t let on how much they already know. When we practiced the interview with them and asked about the law of chastity all they said was “bawal maging backla” or “don’t be gay”. The former Branch President was with us and laughed a bit and said that at least they know about that part. Then he did a really good job explaining the rest of the law of chastity in little boy terms.

  Other than that not much has happened. This morning we went and toured the really big Catholic Church here. It is 200+ years old and had lots of interesting paintings and stuff inside.  We also helped a member wax the floor of her classroom with coconut shells.  It worked surprisingly well! 

I hope everyone has a great week!

 Ingat

  Elder Merrill