Piddig Week 47

Naimbag Nga Malem or Magandang Hapon po Francis Family,

This week was great and the work of the Lord here in Piddig is just growing and harvesting.  I can see the Lord's gospel change the lives of others.  That is true what Tanner said about how our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. We share the restored gospel, something that is different from every other gospel.  We share the light of truth and the message that we share is such a life changing message and brings happiness to others.


The only reason I can say that is that when we teach and the investigators are crying or they are really focused on our lesson and the baptisms like YEAAAAHHH!!! We have had two baptisms here in Piddig:  Nanay Benito and her kid Jhun Jhun Benito.  I can see how the gospel has changed their lives and their testimony is so strong.  They cried after their baptism because they felt what they where doing was right, they felt clean from all their sins. Good news: we also will be having another baptism this Saturday.   Sister Monalisa Jose, she is 16 years old and she had her interview yesterday and she cried and she shared her testimony with me and I can see that the gospel has changed her and she wants to forget her old life and to start over clean and wants to be cleaned from all her sins.


The work here in Piddig is really changing and the work of the Lord is changing the hearts of others here and the work is going great.  I can see how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives and even though missionary work is hard (Emily this is for you), I know that times are hard and you are discouraged and want to give up, just remember did Jesus Christ give up?  No, he was crucified for us and he knows us all by person and knows our challenges and trials, he loves all of us. Emily remember that God loves you and I do too. You are my little sister and that will never change.  Go out there and do your best and never let down. Go out there hard and give it your all, and the Lord will be there to help you always like me, I have had times when I want to give up and hate life and I want to go home, I just remember that it's not for me, it's for the Lord and just always smile and just stay happy.


I always pray for you all every day and remember when things are the hardest in life, when you are discouraged, God is with you always.


This week we have been having so much fun took a lot of fun pictures in the bukids and we went to the beach today for our zone activity.  I just enjoy the work, even when it's raining like crazy and the water is really deep and me and Elder Farrales are walking through the bukids and i lose my shoe and I fall over in the mud and poop and am just all gross and smelly and we get to our next lesson and they wonder if we just got beat up by someone or we just walked through the bukids. Also this week we were doing splits with some of the members and investigators of ours, and I was with two girls in a tricee and I was sitting there, we get to our lesson and I get stuck to the seat and the back of my pants rip a big whole and you can see my garments and they are laughing and they are super cute too, So it's embarrassing but  I never give up or let  down.  I just smile and laugh and just be happy. That's what the lord wants  - us to be happy always. (I ALSO MIGHT NEED A LOT MORE MONEY FOR A NEW PAIR OF PANTS AND MORE SHOES HAHAHA).


This last week here in Piddig we will be having one baptism and a lot of parties and Family home evenings.   I am super excited for it and I know that Elder Farrales can lead this area and the members will help him, I am just scared to find out on Sunday where I will be going or getting transferred to. 

It sounds like you guys are keeping busy and having a great summer and Emily didn't like soccer camp too much, that's ok she is the best player out there on the field, she is a team player, always looking to pass, get the assist. A team player is what they want at sky view and Emily you will do great, just remember I will be praying for you and I love you sis. Mom it sounds like school is going great and you're enjoying life.  Tell your students Kumusta ka na? Say Naimbag nga bigat or Magandang umaga po. They will be like wow what is she saying hahaha. Dad stay safe when you travel, and tell me how the Aggies football team will do this year and the raptors too. Keep me updated with what's going on and how the family is doing and the ward. Send pictures and I will try to send some postcards home for you all. I miss you all a ton and love you all to. But I know this is where the lord wants me to be and I know what I am doing is the right thing and I love missionary work and WOW!!! Almost a year to go when it hits August 20th, a year to go, like wow how fast it goes. 

Alam ko na mahal na mahal tayo ng diyos, lahat tayo mga anak ng diyos, inihanda po siya isang plano para sa atin na makabalik tayo sa kanya at alam ko na si jesucristo siya ang ating tagapagligtas po natin at namatay po siya para sa atin. Alam ko po na Nagbayad-sala ni jesucristo para sa mga kasalanan natin , lahat tayo maging malinis yung mga kasalanan natin at maging magligtas din. Alam ko na ang aklat ni mormon ay totoo po siya at mga salita ng diyos at alam ko na yung ebanghelyo ni jesucristo yung ilaw para sa atin yung tamang daan para sa atin na makabalik tayo sa diyos. 

Ingat po kayo palagi Dad, Mom, at Emily at mahal ko kayo. 

Elder Francis 

Piddig Week 46

 

 

This week was really great and really interesting too.  We had a typhoon that hit us really good and we got a lot of rain and the rivers and streets were flooded. Then, we also had a minie earthquake which was cool.  I was sitting on my bed getting ready for bed and my bed shook like crazy, me and Elder Farrales looked at each other and were like WOW!!! what was that. 

 

 

The people are still all so happy and perfectly fine with it and just grateful for the small things they have that God has given to them.  That is so true we need to be grateful for all the small things the Lord gives us and the blessings he gives to us every day: our family, our shelter, food, and everything. Things happen for a reason, because the Lord knows we can handle it.  Even though it was raining like crazy and the wind was crazy, that will not keep me from helping others coming unto Christ.  This week we had a cock-roach in our house, so I grabbed the broom and hit it as hard I could and then a lizard or butiki came down from the ceiling and I guess I killed it and cut it in half and I was laughing really hard.  

 

 

We also got bikes so that will be fun. Then hopefully next week we will be having a baptism on Saturday, so that will be really exciting. But nothing too much here has happened.  I might need some money on my card so I can buy a 72 hour kit for the typhoon.  For my birthday, just put money on my card and send me some ties and candy that I like. Just the ties from my room, grab all of them and send them to me.

Man you guys are so lucky, I have always wanted to go to those church history sites and I miss baseball games and everything.  It's crazy that I am almost to a year in my mission like WOW!!!, the time goes by so fast and I can't believe it. But it looks like you guys are having a blast and enjoying your vacation, that is great and I hope you all are safe and everybody is okay. 

 

 

I am doing great here and I probably will be getting transferred from here in Piddig.  I at least have 3 weeks left, which makes me sad.  I love this area and the people.  They are going to throw a surprise party for me and we are going to be having a lot of fun things happening these last 3 weeks. Ingat po kayo palagi at namimis po kayo talaga pero masaya na masaya dito sa Pilipinas. Mahal kita at ay-ayaten ka.

Elder Francis

Piddig Week 45

Naimbag nga malem at Magandang Hapon po Francis Family, kumusta ka na, kumusta si Emily at yung buong Francis family kumusta po sila. Kumusta ka doon sa Logan utah, kumusta yung mga tao doon, yung ward namin kumusta po sila.

This week has been great even though it is super hot and I got really sun burned and I am really red in the face and arms. I am still living and loving the mission life, even though I'm tired a lot and always hot and want to give up, the Lord didn't give up.  He taught his gospel to the people even when they rejected him and crucified him.  He did it because he loves us all and his children and brothers and sisters.  Like me, I love the people here in the Philippines.  

I learn so much every day and I get to meet new people every day and share a message I know to be true that can change lives like the BAPTISM we had this week (YEAAAAAAA), I can see how much she has changed, how much this gospel can change the lives of others.  I see  how happy she is and how much she loves and knows herself that this church is true. Her testimony is so strong and she said when she was baptized she felt clean, like a new person and started a new life and gave up her old life. Her name is Bella pablo Benito and she is the most friendliest Nanay ever and she is such a happy person now. I love sharing the gospel with others and telling others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our investigators are great and we hopefully should having two more baptisms in July on the 18th, we will try to do the best we can and the lord will do the rest for us, and the spirit will testify to them that what we share is true. The biggest thing that we can share is our testimony, that is something that know one can testify against, fight against, or argue with. Our testimony can touch the hearts of others and the spirit will testify to others of the truth and that what we share is true. I can see how much the Lord prepares us and he knows when they are ready and not. 

The mission life is not easy, it's a different life and even though some go home, they deserve the biggest respect, it's not easy, I have had times that I have said I hate this and I want to go home, it's not easy and it will never be easy but salvation was never a cheap experience.  The Lord died for us and we need to give ourselves to him. I don't like when people judge others about when missionaries come home they shouldn't do that.  I would like them to try this.  But the mission life is great and I love the work of the lord and changing lives of others and helping others come unto Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone to become clean and become new.  We need his atonement everyday and we are not perfect and god knows that, that's why he gave his son to us to die for us, so we can come back to him. So we as members and missionaries need to give a little of our time to him and we need to be good examples to others and share the gospel with others, something we all know to be true and can change lives.

It sounds like you guys are having a great week, and you know how I feel now, really hot and always sweating and tired and hot with lots of mosquito bites.  You guys are getting ready for a really fun trip, that will be really exciting and fun to see some old history sites. I hope you are all safe and staying happy and having a fun summer.  I miss you all so much and am praying for you always. Ingat po kayo palagi at mabuhay sa pilipinas.

Alam ko po na mahal tayo ng diyos at lahat tayo ng mga anak nd diyos, at gusto ng diyos lahat yung anak niya makabalik tayo sa kanya. Alam ko na si jesucristo siya ang ating tagapagligtas natin at namatay po siya para sa atin, lahat tayo maging malinis yung mga kasalanan natin at maging magligtas tayo. Alam ko salita ng diyos ang aklat ni mormon at totoo po siya. Alam ko na nagbayad-sala ni jesucristo para sa mga kasalanan natin at tayo maging malinis. Alam ko na yung pamilya natin maging walang hanggan siya.

(A short testimony para sa inyo)

Mahal kita at Ay-ayaten ka

Elder Francis