2016-9-11 Zone FHE and a Washing Machine!

Kamusta po! 

This week was really enjoyable, there was a lot of fun activities with members and investigators, and my whole mindset was more positive. Attitude really affects how your day and consequently how your week will go.

To start off, it was Elder S's one year left in the mission so we went to Mang Inasal to celebrate. It's pretty much Filipino barbeque and unlimited rice, what else could I ask for? Anyways, we went with J- J- and S-, and I challenged John to a rice eating competition. Bad call... I should've realized he's been eating rice his whole life, but I still put up a fight :) He finished 7 cups/scoops, and I got to about 6.5, but we were both in pain that night. 

The next day, we got a call from Nanay Astig (cool mom) who is a member and our neighbor as well. She invited us over to talk, and she said we could use their old washing machine! E. S- and I were about to cry. This will literally save us hours every week, washing by hand takes sooo long. 

Also, I found a sweet Barcelona jersey for about 3 US dollars.

 Bishop N- came to a lesson with the P- family, and gave a fantastic lesson about tithing. He compare a credit card to a temple recommend, how anyone can use a credit card or an ATM card, but you have to be following all of God's commandments to hold a temple recommend card. Also, we found out that Marlon is already halfway through ALMA! He's barely been reading the Book of Mormon for a month, that is so cool! He doesn't even think about it being a big deal he just said, "mahaba and aklat ni Alma" which means Alma is really long. Also on another visit I asked what set this church apart to him and to A-, his wife. He said he's read the Old and New Testaments, but that the feelings and spirit he gets when reading the Book of Mormon is different. I was so amazed by his simple testimony, because it's amazingly strong. 

We had a zone conference, which is where several zones get together and have a testimony meeting as well as workshops and food. We got a private jeepney for our all-elders zone and we had a ton of fun driving over. The testimony meeting was so powerful, especially from the missionaries that are leaving this November, they had a ton of insights to share, including some regrets they've had, and how to avoid them. Also, at the end of it we had a mail run, and I got a package and a letter! I've never been so happy to see ties and goldfish.

So another huge highlight of this week was a zone family home evening, where all the Elders from the stake brought investigators and recent converts. It was super fun, and we did a lot of fun games and spiritual thoughts. We did head shoulders knees and toes with different emotions, like magalit, malungkot (angry, sad)

Here is M- and her daughter RS, plus M- in the green shirt. It was such a blast to see them have fun. They were laughing with each other on the jeepney ride home saying "we have the best looking missionaries" The FHE was a great chance for them to bond with each other and members, it was amazing. 

Now for a quick spiritual thought from my letter to President Bertin. This week I really learned to enjoy the work, especially with members. I was really affected by the workshops at zone conference, especially with praying for the love to find. And love in general, in fact. Because I was focused on that this week, I saw my conversations and relationships with members become more constructive, and therefore more enjoyable.

When the Pharisees ask Jesus which commandment is greatest, because they love to rank the different rules, Jesus answers “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first great commandment. And second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. For me, I realized a part of striving for exact obedience, is that often times we are not there yet. I am definitely not there yet. Therefore, I am not following this first great commandment, which really struck me. Of course, God loves us all, inexpressibly. However, do we love him? We show our love through obedience, so being perfectly obedient is loving with all thy heart, soul, and mind. I’m grateful for the Atonement that fills in the gap of our obedience sometimes, and I’m also rededicated to striving to follow this commandment. And I know I will be blessed if I do, like Enoch. He was dumb of speech, but people listened to him because he “walked with God”. For me, this does not mean he literally walked with God, it means he was so obedient that he had power and the spirit with him. 

I know that we have a Father in Heaven who loves each and every one of us. I have felt this love, and one of my greatest joys is helping others feel this same love. This inexpressible love inspires me to try and show my own love to God, through following the commandments. I know that being Christ-like is how to demonstrate our own love for God, and that our relationship with God and even with other people will improve as we strive to become better. I love you all, thanks for reading, until next time! Love, Elder Fish