2017-7-25 Transferring

2017-7-25 Transferring

Kamusta! Hello!

Transfer week! Looks like my dynasty here in Pangarap Ward is coming to an end! It's very heart-wrenching to transfer, and I don't like it but it's also easy to swallow, and say like many others "i'll go where you want me to go". I won't condemn the rest of my mission, but I can say I will have no other experience quite like what I had here, it was truly amazing.

Since I'm transferring, Bishop let me give the concluding talk on Sunday, which I took as an opportunity to teach the need for sharing the gospel and giving referrals. In the Philippines they often say "kain tayo" or "let's eat" as a greeting, as if they were just saying "hello". They are so giving with their physical possessions, it's just part of the nature here. I related that in my talk to being giving with our spiritual possessions, the knowledge of the restored gospel. To be like Lehi when he tasted of the tree of life, and say "kain tayo". I pray that the missionaries that follow in this ward will have a plethora of referrals to contact

The members were also so kind to me and we held sort of farewell-FHE. It was very enlightening for me. At the end some members stood and gave a sort of farewell, and said what they noticed from my service here. I feel like I actually understand now what it means to minister, or to have a ministry. Christ's ministry was only 3 years long, but it changed the course of society on a secular level, and was truly the meridian of time where the great Pillar of the Plan of Salvation, the Atonement happened. I learned that a ministry needs to be centered on Christ's ministry, and it needs to be following his example. Ministering, in a sense, is just demonstrating Christ-like attributes for an extended period of time, and blessing others because of the Christ-like actions and behavior. Being, in fact, an extension of Christ's ministry here in the latter-days.

My companions here have all been Filipino, and I've learned so much from them in how to teach, how to react, how to relate, everything essential in teaching and ministering. Being the English-speaker though can be tough, because sometimes you don't really know if you're making the right cultural choices, and you are surely not as entertaining, is how I'll put it. But it was humbling to have members I had worked with express that even though I was quiet, they noticed humility and Christ-like attributes, and appreciated my efforts to help build the ward. I was not the most fun missionary they have ever seen, but it was touching to me that I was considered Christ-like. That's the best compliment I think I have ever received. I hope I can really develop those attributes, and continue to minister in a Christ-like way. I don't have to really be a different person from myself, just minister how Christ would.

My new companion is American, Elder Yates! I have pretty much just been hanging out with the very tallest missionaries in the mission, maybe to keep my ego from getting too high thinking I'm actually tall here. The past few weeks I went on exchanges with someone who is 6'4" and another Elderwho is 6'3". My new companion is 6'4". Awesome. I'm actually super excited about that fact, I miss my very first area and companion, because putting two white guys together attracts a lot of attention here in the Philippines! We are going to share the gospel at large, literally. Another cool fact is I'm going back to my first zone, near my first area. I will be able to see the people I taught at stake conference in September! I don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense because all those words are kind of jargon, but basically I'm going to have a reunion I thought I would only have after my mission. Cheers! Thanks for reading, I love you all!

Elder Fish