Elder FISH Tales From the Philippines

2018-1-8 Transferred! The first shall be the last, and the last shall be the first

January 8, 2018 - Transferred! The first shall be the last, and the last shall be the first

Hello!

I have received a new assignment to Camarin, a new, smaller zone that will predict the splitting of the Novaliches Stake. Fun fact, there was a Camarin zone in my very first transfer of the mission, but it was combined to become just Novaliches. Now, it's back, and someone else is too...

My MTC companion!! Elder H- and I are going to tear it up, we compliment each other very well. I can't wait to see him tomorrow morning! In our ward are the APs, and the chapel is the mission office, so no more 3 hour travels! My roommate is Elder B-, one of my favorite missionaries. We are almost identical, studied a year at BYU, we know the same professors and courses, love soccer, and are loving serving a mission!

I'm sad to leave Caloocan. I have approximately 10 months of my mission logged in that Stake, so currently half of my mission happened in this place. I love the people here, I have been challenged a lot and have had to grow in so many ways, but it's easy to do hard things if you know why you're doing it!

I am no longer a part of the Caloocan Seals Project, but it will continue and be fruitful, because of the hard work and skills of Elder P- and all the future missionaries, and of course the members!

We had a good run, but now it's off to another adventure! Another Tolkien quote for good measure:
“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien,

More updates next week. Thanks for reading I love you all!

2017-12-25 Christmas!

December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko!

What a special time of the year!

I think how we receive gifts is just important as giving, I noticed just earlier as brother Carabit was given a shirt and tie and can now wear them to church. His countenance just showed how much he enjoyed and will put that gift to use. CTR rings also make an awesome reminder. Thanks mom for sending those! Brother Carabit said next time he has an off day, he will come out with us to teach, and I'm super excited! Just on Sunday he came to one lesson and just made the whole mood so much more relaxed as his friend listened to us.

Today we reenacted to the Nativity Scenes to the best of our ability for our activity and did a lot of singing. The best part was when we all wrote our testimonies in copies of the Aklat ni Mormon, wrapped them, then sang in the middle of busy fast food restaurants so we could give them to workers and diners alike. I can't think of a much better gift. In Tolkien's words "all that is gold does not glitter", although they may not see the initial value in just a book, it implies so much more than that, and is such a fantastic venue for the Spirit to work in man.

We gathered our presents and did Christmas Fish Family style, recording each present opening and sharing in laughter. I much prefer opening them one by one!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and feel the love of the Spirit of God in your life! Thanks for reading, take care!

Elder Fish

2017-12-11 White Christmas Baptism

December 17, 2017 – White Christmas Baptism

Hello!

We had our White Christmas Baptism for the Stake! We were stretched by our goals, and not hitting right on the mark just prepares us better for next month!

There were 7 candidates who attended, and it was a beautiful program, we sang a medley of Savior Redeemer and Called to Serve that brought the Spirit in before the testimony meeting at the end.

The C- Family couldn't make it on Saturday so we held their baptism on Thursday night, their testimonies were very real and powerful, the parents especially have such a desire to help their family and they understand what the gospel can mean for them. The ward had a great turnout and the speakers were wonderful, it was one of the longest baptismal programs I've attended, and also the most nourishing.

There were 8 ward choirs and since we were late to the Devotional coming from a baptismal interview we were put last in the order. Our 10 voices somehow managed to fill the room and we had a good time singing The First Noel/Joy to the World. There are some talented singers and piano players in the zone! They are teaching me a lot about singing parts and sight reading.

At a YSA Christmas Party I saw... Sean M-! This was the first person we taught and baptized in my mission, it was such a blessing to see him still active and planning to serve his own mission after school! Since I knew him in the first 6 weeks of my mission, I didn't have much Tagalog and now we really were able to communicate so it was a cool full circle.

I know that baptism is a great blessing for us, and that we need the faith unto the fulfilling of the commandments to receive a remission of our sins, and that baptism is a great promise to keep doing that. I mess up so much in life and rebel against my Maker in so many ways, I'm grateful for the opportunity to keep looking up! To keep moving forward in better ways. It's a privilege to see these principles of the Gospel affect so many others as well, and that I get to be someone teaching such grandiose, eternal truths. I hope everyone else has a merry merry Christmas celebrating the advent of Jesus Christ, the one who makes it all possible!

Thanks for reading, love,

Elder Fish