Hello Family and Friends! Once again I hope every one had a good week and stayed safe, Congratulations to Donald Trump #POTUS! Everyone we saw whether we knew them or not said "Americano! Trump! Trump! Trump!" hahah. This week was great!
On Monday after emailing we went to Candon to get more supplies for the other missionaries in the District and also, more importantly, to eat some fries some McDonalds haha. You can take a kid of out McDonalds but you cant take the McDonalds out of the kid! (not sure if that is applicable or not!)
Tuesday was also very good! We decided to sleep outside again because the weather at night right now gets a little cooler than usual! Our land lady laughs every morning when she sees us out there and says hello! Elder Scott woke up with a ton of red dots on his arms and legs and head. They didnt scratch or raise on his skin so we were so confused as to what it was. On Monday he had some but not alot and last night it got really bad so we decided to go to the doctors office! Elder Scott got some allergy medicine and we went back on our way to work! While we were working we went to Santa Maria, the next city over, to talk with the missionaries there who are in our District. When we got back the Melo family invited us over for dinner. They were baptized last year and wanted to feed the missionaries! It was a really fun time and we also met their older brother whos 19 and not a member. He wants to play basketball with us so Im hoping that we have time on P-day to play!
On Wednesday we had our District Meeting and President Bangal visited our zone to give a workshop! During District Meeting we studied together about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power we can obtain from Him because of the Atonement. We can become clean from our sins, and made stronger to overcome temptations and help others overcome theirs when we access the Atonement. After we studied the Atonement we set goals as a District and Personally for the outcomes of our week, the year 2016, the year 2017, and the goals for what we will achieve in the time we have as missionaries. After our meeting, President gave a workshop on helping us understand our roles as missionaries. I loved his insights. As missionaries, we are the guides to helping people come closer to Christ, through helping them live His Gospel. We arent the teachers, rather, we simply share the curriculum and the Spirit of God is the teacher. Through the Spirit we learn truths. We learn what is right and wrong and what we need to do in order to come closer to Christ.
That day while we worked, I focused on being a guide and creating an atmosphere where the Spirit can guide the curriculum. As we were walking down the street a man on a moped passed us by and asked us if we would be willing to Bible Study with him at his house, we accepted and we started walking to his house as he drove in front a distance a way showing us where he lived. When we got to his house he told us that he and his wife wanted us to teach their children the correct teachings for them to become good people when they are older. They have seen missionaries here passing their house but have been too scared to talk to them. We taught about families and about faith. When we teach people, it is usually their first time ever hearing about "Mormons" from actual members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At first we might have looked out of place, two Americans trying to speak Tagalog to a family of Filipinos, but as we taught, the Spirit taught us all about families and helped us look passed heritage, life-style, and helped us focus on us all, everyone on earth, being Children of our Loving Heavenly Father. The Valdez family invited us back over and I will talk about that later!
Thursday was a lot of walking! We probably walked about 5 or 6 miles before it was even 7 ocklock! It was fun to see new areas and meet new people though! We were able to visit a family who has just recently joined the church and they were so excited to have us in their home. Brother Lardizabal loves the Gospel like no other and wants to share it with every one he can. I hope we will be able to have him come with us for a day and help bear testimony of this Gospel. Walking can sometimes be boring or quiet but it has been really fun with Elder Scott. We talk almost the whole entire time and both have that sense of humor that I know some of you might not miss ;) but it has been really fun learning about his life and also for me it has been fun to teach Tagalog to Elder Scott! It keeps me on edge to know the structure, and know why it is that way. Hurray for learning! Hahaha
On Friday, during our study time in the morning Elder Scott and I studied about the teachings of Abinadi in the Book of Mormon and I love how Abinadi teaches the people who are holding him as an inmate the teachings that they teach, but do not live. I love how he kept the people honest, and expected those who preached, to- for lack of a better term-"practice what you preach". Elder Scott and I have both practiced reading the Book of Mormon every single day, just as we invite everyone else to do. As we read the scriptures daily, our day changes. Thoughts and impressions come into our minds and the sun seems to just shine a little brighter. We decided to visit from far away areas again and met with a pastor who went to our church in a different city a couple weeks ago. The missionary there was Sister Rosser, who was in the MTC the same time I was! What a coincidence haha! He was really nice and open to learning and listening to others!
Saturday was busy!At 5:00 we woke up to play basketball at the church! It was so so good to be able to shoot and play again, I've missed it so much! I definitely need to work on my game though for sure haha im losing the touch! We visited the Valdez family in the morning, brother Mike, the father, called us to ask if we could visit them earlier in the morning and we were happy to. We focused on the Bible and Book of Mormon, raising children in the ways of the Lord and having a home where the Spirit can be. It was a very good lesson and their kids, Jamaica and Kristine are so nice!We also met with people who had been meeting with missionaries earlier this year and were able to introduce ourselves to them!
Sunday! Were almost done with this email hahaha, Sunday was so good! The Valdez family and the Alafriiz family were both at Church today! The youth have an activity on Wednesday and all of the kids in the 2 families are going to attend. I loved seeing their smiling faces meeting new friends at Church. It made me miss being a kid always in class with Emily and Kelsey, and also in young mens with Sergio, Nakoa, and Tanner! Being a youth is the best! haha. Most of the lessons were centered on the Gospel and in the youth class we focused on decision making and the meaning of commitment.
Looking back on this week I have been so happy here in Narvacan. Little things and big things have entered into my heart creating a way for me each day to smile and be grateful for the time I have as a missionary. We teach so many times lessons about families, and so many times we get questions in return about our families. Why is it that we are on the other side of the Pacific Ocean if our families are in the US? If families are so important we should be with them all the time right? So many people ask questions like those and every time I am so happy that I can testify to them, that families are eternal. That families are the most important unit in the Church and that no matter where we are in the world or what we are doing, Our Heavenly Father is watching over us, blessings us at every opportunity. Blessing our families and blessing the families of those who are very new to the idea of eternal families. I love you all and by the way I cant believe that we are only about 40 days away from Christmas!! The countdown has begun! Ingat po kayo! Maligayang Pasko!
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Elder Pitt
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