Last week in Seville

Its almost July can you believe it??

Where did June go?? Although it has gone by fast, it was definitely a great month and this week was also a super fun week.

Because the sisters were transferred out, they needed to fill in their area with missionaries so Elder Diaz and I absorbed half, and Elder Calipes and Kamalu absorbed the other half! It gave us time to walk around in un-chartered territory and also to meet new people which is always my favorite!

We also went on exchanges with Elders in the next ward over, Elder Hayes and Elder Ador. Elder Hayes worked with me in our area and that makes it three times that we have worked together! His Tagalog has improved so much in the last 4 months that he ahs been in the mission. It is so cool to see the gift of tounges working within someone!

We walked for about 5 hours just stopping at every house to introduce ousrselves and in hopes, share a message about the Restored Gospel. What I love about walking house to house is that you never know who (or what) is on the other side. It’s a random person with a different unique background and life. I love learning about peoples experiences and coming to know who they are. Its always fun to see how big peoples eyes get too when they see 2 white Americans walking up to their door speaking Tagalog!

We had another CSP this week so you already know I was one happy person! A member of our Ward, Sister Balagot, is a teacher at an Elementary school here in San Fernando. Her class is preparing to plant seeds in a garden outside of their class but there were rocks and cement inside the garden patch.. That’s where the missionaries come in! We shoved, dug, wheel-barrowed, and more in order to get all of the rocks out, and keep the soil in so that the 4th graders could plant on Monday! Although it was hot, then rainy, we had a blast. I love community service so much I might just break some laws when I get home so that I can do more community service!

Church was great yesterday. There were a lot who attended and also a lot who stayed around after church to give their condelences to a family who’s mother had passed away Saturday Morning. The love of our Heavenly Father was palpable. At night, about 50 members of the ward, other wards, family and friends are went to the families house to sing hymns and to have a little devotional before the funeral later today.

I know that the Plan of Slavation is true. We can be with our families forever through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.



Mosiah 16:8 But there is a ressurection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.



I hope you all have a great week and bask in the glorious sun this summer! Love you all!

--

Elder Pitt

Who's your daddy

Hello everyone and Happy Fathers Day!!! Shout-out to all of the Fathers in the world and especially to the one and only Darren Pitt! Love you dad!



This week was super busy but also very fun! There were transfers that occurred during the week so Elder Diaz and I were somewhat busy making sure everyone got to their new areas. The sisters in the Sevilla Ward got transferred so instead of 4 Elders and 2 Sisters in Sevilla Ward, there are now 6 Elders in the Ward! Who are the new Elders? No other than Elder Tavita and Elder Perrenoud! That’s right Elder Tavita is back in Sevila Ward woohoo! Hahah they were assigned in one of the other Wards here in San Fernando, but now they are in Sevilla.

On Tuesday we helped the sisters get their entire luggage from their house to the bus station. I don’t know how they had so many things but it is impressive how much they had! Haha, it was a good workout for Elder Diaz and I, and it also did not make me miss packing the car for road trips with all of my sister’s bags and clothes haha.



On Wednesday we had a combined Zone Conference with 3 other zones. I was able to talk to Elder Waite who I haven’t seen in forever! Also other missionaries from different areas and zones! President showed us a video about Ephesians Chapter 6 Verses 13-20. He described how we wear the Armour of God and why. It was a super good video and a great explanation by President. He also talked about what we all need to do as children of God in order to fulfill our lives to the fullest and reach the potential that our Heavenly Father knows we can reach.



Thursday was super fun because we got to explore new areas that we hadn’t been to before! Even though I have been here for almost 6 months I have still not knocked on every house and I want to do that before I transfer! We worked with some members of the Church in order to find the houses of other members, and other people who had met with the missionaries before. It was super fun and I am so grateful for all of the help that the Ward gives to missionaries here.

We had exchanges this week and I was with Elder Calipes in their area! I have known Elder Calipes ever since I was new in Luna and he has helped me so much in learning how to speak, act, and work as a missionary! He is also hilarious which makes the day go by quick. We were chased out of a compound while working and although it was discouraging, we kept our heads up and went to the next compound! (We are also going to start paying attention more to see if there are any “no trespassing signs” just to be safe!) Haha.



On Sunday, Coreene and Mark Ferrer went to church again and they are always happy and outgoing. They set a date to be baptized in the beginning of July once their family is home from abroad to be there with them for the baptism! We taught them about the Plan of Salvation this week and they were amazed at the idea of a life before this life. It made me realize just how lucky I have been to learn such doctrine even as a kid in primary and now to be able to teach that same doctrine to people in order to help them return back to our home after this life.



I wish all fathers a Happy Fathers Day! And also to every uncle, grandpa, church leader, and anyone else who has taken the role of a father to someone in need. You all are awesome! Have a great week!

Mahal ko kayo!



--

Elder Pitt

Just Another week

Hello Everyone!!
Sorry this email will be short! Not much happened during the week that was too crazy but we did have a very fun time!
I wish I could just record everything i did during the week to make things be explained more easier but I guess I will just have to try and type them out!


This week there was no Sacrament on Sunday, but instead there was a broadcast! Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided and gave an amazing talk about 3 principles we can follow to help ourselves learn and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith, Sacrifice, and Consecration. At one point he said "Being willing to Live for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is better than being willing to Die for the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Which stuck out to me. I love the power that Elder Bednar has as he explains the Gospel and helps us all learn what it is we must to in order to return to our Heavenly Father. Another quote from another speaker was about sacrificing our wants, in order to follow the Lord's will. He talked about tithing, which is paying 10% of what you earn to the Church in order to help build the Lord's Kingdom.
"Having 90% with the Lord on your side is better than having 100% without the Lord on your side."
Also: "Having 6 days to yourself with the Lord on your side is better than having 7 days to yourself without the Lord on your side." I loved the idea of what he called "Celestial Math" and how although in numbers, it looks crazy, in real life, it works.


Because it was a broadcast, the Luna Branch came to the Stakehouse (Sevilla Wards building) and i got too see some of the members! It was so good to see them once again! I have missed them so much and will miss them even more when I am not in the same Stake anymore!




I hope you all have a great week! Dont forget to say your personal prayers every day! Happy Independence Day to the Philippines!



--

Elder Pitt

Hippy Bird Day

Hello everyone!! I hope you once again had a great week!! This week flew by so fast!! I cant believe its already June!
Nothing too crazy happened, Elder Diaz and I also had to go around to the houses of the missionaries here in San Fernando to get all of the housing contracts all figured out which took quite a couple hours of working in our area but we were able to play catch up and make it to our appointments!
Ill speed it up to Saturday to keep it short! Nanay Teresita got baptized!! After 6 months of coming to Church, she finally felt ready and decided to be baptized. It was such a great Baptism and a lot of members were there to support her! She was a little nervous because she felt like she wouldnt be supported well, so we called in the big guns to baptize her! The one and only.. Elder Tavita! Not only was he able to attend her baptism but he was able to help Nanay be at ease about being baptized. Good thing we worked out in the morning so that he had the muscles to do it! Hahah. President Bangal, our Mission President also came and watched with us.  He gave a talk about receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost which was awesome! I love how President speaks and how he can invite the Spirit into the room when he walks in. Nanay was confirmed during church on Sunday and we are visiting her tomorrow again!

We woke up early this morning to play basketball! Nothing better as a missionary than to have your birthday on the day that you can talk to your family and friends and also play basketball until the Philippines heat tells you to stop! Thank you for all of the emails and the support! I love you all so much! Have another great week! Go Golden State!
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Elder Pitt