Piddig Week 37

In the corn fields

Me at the mission home in Laoag

 Elder Liska and me with a a girl and her mom. The girl's name is Caralee and she is a recent convert and it was her birthday.

Elder Robles, me, and Elder Liska looking gwapo and having fun at the beach

Us at the beach, Me, Elder Liska, Elder Robles, and Sister Baguio that cutest girl in our zone.

Elder Liska and me at the Family home evening at Bro. Reyes home.

Naimbag Nga Malem or Magandang Hapon Po Francis Family,

Kumusta na po kayo, This week has been great and really busy.  We had 51 lessons this week and we have been working really hard and keeping up the work of the Lord, hastening his work and planting and helping the work grow.

This week we had good days and some interesting days. The weird things that happened this week was we taught two baklas (or gays), that was really interesting. Then we saw some teenage kids, boys and girls, bathing in a river which is weird but pretty funny too.

The good things this week: the spirit really guided us a lot to people that have been prepared by the Lord for us and want to hear our message.  The spirit really has been touching the hearts of those we teach every day. Hopefully next month or June we will have at least three or two baptisms. Which will be really exciting.  We attended  FHE  for  Bro. Reyes, it was his birthday, so we went to his house with a bunch of other people took pictures, had some food, games, and shared a little message with them.

Then one other problem our best fellowshiper Bro. --- has been having problems and we went to his house and he was drunk. We were sad so we went back Sunday with two of the brothers and taught him.  I asked him Kumusta ang araw ninyo, and he started to cry and felt really bad and said brothers and elders I am sorry. We said it's ok and I shared a scripture with him about hope in the Atonement and how through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we become clean and forgiven of our sins, never to lose hope or the light of Jesus Christ and we brought him back on track.  So Corbin's talk really is very powerful, the Atonement is one way we can become clean and return back unto him, it's our hope. So that was a really good thing that happened this week for us.

Piddig is pretty big we have a lot of Brngy's to teach in and are running and riding tricee's all over Piddig from place to place. But it's great and keeps us busy. Elder Liska goes home next week so I will be getting a new companion or training,  I don't know what will happen to me, but I am happy and a little nervous.  But what ever the Lord wants I will go and do. But I am doing great and seeing the  miracles and blessings coming and seeing peoples lives change through the gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can change the lives of others. Missionary work is not easy, it will never be easy it requires effort and something from the depths of our soul and Salvation Was not a Cheap Experience. 

It sounds like you guys have been busy and really cold, that sucks because it's so Hot here and i am always sweating and dying of the heat. But Emily is enjoying Soccer and is kicking trash on the field and showing up them other girls and she is the Mas Maganda on the soccer field and she really is very Masipag and a hard worker, tell her to keep up the good work. That's great to hear about the Temple in Payson that's exciting.  Hopefully when I get back we can all go there and take pictures and it will be great.  And Dani, yeaaaa!!!, she choose the right school and made the right choice. Go Aggies!!! Salamat po sa lahat Talaga, I thank you guys for the inspiration and motivation, it keeps me working hard and trying the best I can. 

Ingat Po Palagi, 

Mahal Kita o Ay-Ayaten ka

Elder Francis 

P.S. I will be skypeing you soon hopefully next week, and how do I log on to it. And hopefully soon will be sending a letter home with postcards for all the families. 

Piddig Week 36

Buhay Pa si Elder Francis at Mabuhay sa Philippines,

Naimbag Nga Malem (Good Afternoon) in Ilokano, Kumusta na kayo Francis Family.


I am doing great and loving every minute of my mission even when it's really hard and I want to give up and it's really hot and I'm tired. I keep pushing and pushing myself every day, and I Work Work Work, that's the way to success but we also need to have exact Obedience and Diligence too.


This week we did great, 51 lessons again and 26 new investigators because on Saturday we got a txt in the morning to find and hand out Book of Mormons so we did.  We gave out four Ang Aklat Ni Mormon to people and taught 5 lessons, one of the funny things, we were walking home and a Nanay or Sister was selling Halo-Halo and she wanted us to stop and buy one so we did.  We talked to her and then we paid her, then at the end gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read it.  She said I will. So that was fun. 


This last week on Sunday I gave a talk about Missionary Work and The Atonement.  Elder Holland's talk keeps me working every day because Missionary work is not easy, but Salvation was not a cheap experience and missionary work will never be easy, it requires effort and work.  Yes it's hard but we need to think was it hard for Jesus Christ to be crucified for us?  He did it because he loves us all, so we have to do the same back and work work work, and Never Give Up, and love the people you teach.


Today for P-day we had our Zone Activity and went to the Ocean or Beach and played games and took a lot of pictures (but I lost my card reader, so I can't send pictures to you guys sorry, but can you guys send me one.) Yes this week was good but it is also really hard too.  It's hard for me to teach the doctrine because I can't think what to say in Tagalog or I don't know the doctrine that good.  But I  won't give up, and exactly what Pres. Thomas S. Monson said "Keep Trying", that's what I have to do even though I struggle a lot.  Elder Liska gets mad at me sometimes because the lesson was not good or I had a hard time, I just need to keep trying. I don't care what others think about me as long as I know I'm trying my best and God will be happy.


Also on Sunday Elder Liska and I traveled to Laoag for the day after church and we helped the Elders there.  I went on splits with a new missionary who has been here for a little bit, and speaks no English, but I tried my best to talk to him and we also a had a fellowshipper to help us too, but he is super Mabait and friendly.  His name is Elder Caducio he is a hard worker talaga and Masipag Siya. It was fun helping him and I felt like I was preparing for training.


This week has been super hot here I get out of the shower and I start to sweat again and I never stay dry, but that is the mission life.

Well it sounds like you guys have had a great, fun week like Tuesday Night Amazing Race, that was one of my favorite things to do.  It sounds like Emily is doing great and loving life, and soccer too.  tTll her to keep working hard and to never quit, always Push Push Push and "Kaya Mo Yan". And it sounds like dad is enjoying work and hasn't gone any trips for a while and mom is enjoying life too. I loved the picture of the new Lacrosse Field that is so sweet.  I am super excited to see how it looks when I get back home. Keep having fun and keep me updated on everything the family and the ward.  I will hopefully send a letter home soon to you guys full of postcards inside to give to all the family. And yes I  am pretty sure I will be skyping you in May.  Transfers are the first week of May, so me and my new companion will Skype home.

Ingat Po Palagi, Mahal Kita at Ay-Ayaten ka
Elder Francis or Elder Gwapo

Piddig Week 35

This week has been great.  Me and Elder Liska had a goal to get 50 lessons by Friday Night, because Saturday and Sunday is general conference. So Monday to Friday we tried 10 lessons a day, and by Friday night we got 50 lessons like WOW!!! We really pushed ourselves hard this week to get 50, we had that desire, desire is a big key to success and faith, if you have the desire to reach something and have faith it is attainable. So we had that desire to get 50 and we did.


 Our investigators are doing good, we had two come to general conference which was exciting, so hopefully soon we will get at least one baptism or two. We just need to keep them going to church. Yes I did watch general conference at the Laoag Stake center with a lot of people excited to hear from the Prophet and the twelve and seventy. That stinks you didn't get to listen to general conference it really was amazing I loved it all, wrote down things from every talk given that touched me or inspired me.


For p-day today we played basketball in the morning with the elders from Laoag and Sarrat, so there were 8 of us.  Then we went to Chic Boy for lunch, I got some Lechon Sigsig, which is like my favorite thing to eat here. Then we e-mail home and shop for food and that's our P-day. With Elder Williams we did a lot of site seeing because we were close to Vigan and he wanted to.  Me and Elder Liska don't do that much, hopefully next transfer I will do some things in Laoag, maybe if the Elder wants to. In Piddig there really is nothing only the Basi Revolt Statue that is it, and we only come to Laoag for P-Day sometimes.


For General Conference I loved what the Prophet said and the Apostles and the Seventy too. There were some great quotes from them. This week on Saturday evening and Sunday evening I  got to go on exchanges or splits with Elder Harmon, from my MTC district and my Bach, it was so much fun.


It sounds like you guys have been having a crazy, fun week. Dad traveled to Washington D.C., and now is training for a Marathon he really is Masipag and never gives up. Emily is enjoying soccer and life, with new friends and mom is loving school, and life too. Emily said she gets tired from running a lot but that's good for her to get her ready for High School soccer, and she will be in shape.  Keep practicing because "Practice Makes Perfect." Keep Trying and Never Let Down, even if it's hard, with the Lord nothing is impossible.



 I miss you all so much and hopefully soon I will be sending some postcards in a letter to you, to give to all the family. When I have time to go to the Post Office. I will be skyping you guys soon like wow, time goes by so fast, and the mission life too, if you stay focused and have the desire.


Ingat Po Palagi Francis Family,

Ay-Ayaten ka o Mahal Kita

Elder Francis



P.S. Here are some of the quotes from General Conference i liked, and really inspired me.


1. "All of us need the Savior's Atonement to heal us.All of us are lost and need to be found.

2. "Don't let your Faith Dim, in the Storm of Life.

3. "We Belong. We are Loved. We are Needed."

4. "To any one who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve."

5. "God cares a lot more about who we are, and who we are becoming, than about who we once where."

6. " Don't look for new landscapes, Use new eyes to see, What is already there."

7. " Imperfect people are all God Has Ever Had to work with, That Must Be Terribly frustrating to him but He Deals With It."

Piddig Week 34

Naimbag Nga Malem o Magandang Hapon Francis Family,

This week has been great.  I had a lot of fun and a lot of hard working again.  We had 50 lessons this week, so we are really busy and keeping up the work of the Lord and building up God's kingdom. I am really enjoying the mission and being a representative of the Lord and sharing the gospel to others. Even though the language is still a struggle I really try my best, and I know the people know I'm trying my best and they can tell that I am doing my best. 

 

 

This week I got to participate in a blessing of this really old Tatay.  He is 92 years old, he has to lay in his bed for the rest of his life, he is blind, and he served in World War 2, and has been to Texas and saw the Temple there and thought it was so beautiful and wanted to go in but he couldn't.  We got to be a part of the blessing.  Our branch President gave the blessing and the spirit was so strong, then we shared a message about the Atonement and Family, and we sang hymns and prayed.  He said he could feel something touch his heart, and he loves the hymns we sing.  He used to go to church a long time ago. 

 

 

Then the other crazy thing this week is the storm that hit us.  In Piddig it rained like crazy.  I got so wet, and my shoes were filled with water.  We had to walk home from a pretty far area of ours, it was like a 20 minute walk home, so we got really wet, the streets were flooded, and we were just wet.  But I loved it because that is the Philippines and that is the Mission life, and it did not keep me from doing the Lord's work. 

 

 

But everything is going well here for me, the language will come.  Next transfer I might be training because we have 15 new elders coming in to the mission field. So we will see what will happen in the future. Good Friday is crazy, they have all of these weird things they believe in and they really worship Jesus Christ a lot, and it's an interesting week. But it's fun to see other religions and cultures. 

I do recieve the letters from Mary Ann and Jeff, I am really busy but I will try to send some letters home and maybe a box too soon.  I will try to do the best I can. Tell them thank you, it really makes me happy and makes me work harder, if there is anybody else in the family or the ward that wants to write me I will love it.

 

 

Elder Liska is great, and we get a long really well, we like to have fun and at the same time work hard. We will hopefully have some baptisms soon, we will keep working hard and helping others. 

That is great to hear about Misael and Thomas and Alex and Maycee, like that's what I thought would happen. I wish them good luck and hope everything will be good for them. But it sounds like everything is going great for you guys and you're keeping really busy and having fun. In the Philippines we watch general confrence a week later, because the broadcast has to be sent to the Philippines.  But I am super excited to hear from the Prophet, the Apostles and the Seventy and others. I will gain Knowledge, inspiration, motivation, and it will make me a better missionary. 

Keep me updated and more pictures too, and tell everybody I say Hi, and I miss them all, and love them all too. 

Mahal kita at Ay-Ayaten ka 

Elder Francis 

P.S. I will try to send some postcards home and letters, for everyone, I will send them all to you that you can give to the families. 

Piddig Week 33

Me and some of my district from the MTC. Looking GWAPO PALAGI.

The bro. in the blue shirt is Bro. Ramsel Valentin he is one of our best fellowshipers ever, he sacrifices so much of his time to work with us.

I found some cute kids in the bukids

This is what Piddig looks like all green and Bukids na lang.

The four of us Elders at a FHE, our last day together and the family we had the FHE with.

The guy we taught that can't hear anything.

Me with a recent convert of ours and the little baby who is turning one, she is so cute.

Bro. Benson Benito - another of our fellowshippers

Halo halo - a drink we love

Naimbag Nga Rabii, Kumusta Po Francis Family,

Mabuhay Elder Francis, I am having a great time here in the Philippines and serving here in Piddig.   Piddig is the greenest place I've seen, Bukids and Bundoks everywhere, I walk through bukids every day to get from lesson to lesson. Piddig is so different than Santo Domingo, there is like nothing here in Piddig - a couple fast food places or places to eat, and a place to buy food but really it's all green.  The people here eat grass, or plants, or anything they see in trees or (puno), or in the bukids, that's what they eat or cook, it's different but I am trying to adjust to it.

This week has been fantastic in work and getting along with Elder Liska.  He is very loud and sometimes can get frustrated but he really helps me so much and he is the most Masipag Elder ever.  He finds up to 60 new investigators a week, this we we had 51 lessons - the most I have had on my mission so far, and we found 26 new investigators.  So we are doing fantastic and there are only two elders now here in Piddig so our area is huge.  We have all of Piddig and can really go anywhere we want. The work here really will just get better and better and probably a lot more finding and lessons.  Hopefully next month we will have at least 4 baptisms at the end of April, the Benito Family if not the Tatay sister Brenda.   So it really is going well for us here in Piddig. We had 3 investigators come to church, which is great and we will keep inviting everyone to come to church, and hopefully we will get more this week.

But I am doing great, the language is coming a little bit better now, but my accent still is pretty bad.  I will keep practicing with it.  I am enjoying the Philippines, it's still so hot and I am always sweating, and always in need of a sweat towel, but at night I sleep well because of the fans and it gets colder at night. But everything is going well, the work is getting better, I still am not perfect in teaching - I still have a lot to practice on, but we are not perfect teachers and we all make mistakes. 

This week we taught a brother that can't hear at all, so we have to write everything we say on a piece of paper, and he reads it then he talks to us, it is really hard.  We probably won't go back to him, but it was pretty fun. And we also went to a little baby's birthday party of our investigator, it was her baby's first birthday.  Here in the Philippines they are crazy with birthday parties, they invite the whole neighborhood and they sing songs and eat a ton of food and I enjoy it a lot. 

It seems like you guys are having a great week with dad traveling to San Diego and you guys going to Park City to do some shopping.   Go to the parks and maybe watch some lacrosse too.  How is the lacrosse team doing?  Have a fun Spring Break and enjoy the vacation.   Easter is coming up soon and General Conference - so exciting to hear from the Prophet and the Twelve Apostles and some of the seventy, I love hearing from them and being able to write things that inspire me.  We will travel to Laoag for it at the stake center, but it will be a fun week. 

How is the family doing and how is the ward doing?  I want to hear from them, like letters or something and pictures too. I did get the package salamat po, and I will hopefully for Christmas this year send a box home again for the family to open on Christmas day. Have a fun rest of the week, and stay safe. 

WHY IS EMILY DRIVING LIKE WHAT THE HECK? SHE IS TOO YOUNG AND THAT IS SCARY, STOP GROWING UP EMILY. STAY MY LITTLE SISTER FOREVER. 

Ingat po Palagi at Ay-Ayaten ka o Mahal Kita

Elder Francis 

P.S. can you guys send me some souvenirs and American money I can give to my companions or people I teach. Agyaman po.