I thought it might be kind of interesting if I told you about some of the things I eat. I've kind of been getting into squash. It is very delicious. I discovered how delicious it is by means of pakbet. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it, but has squash, eggplant, okra, string beans, and sometimes ampalaya (bitter melon), and a little bit of pork. I don't really like the bitter melon, but it is ok if it's in there... It is super good and elder Tiongco is a really good cook. I will have to learn to make it so you can try it when I get home.
This week was better than the past few weeks but not without turbulence. Dad's guess was correct that I am the District Leader here. It's a lot more work than I thought :P
Sometimes it is really tough dealing with disobedience or with missionaries who just aren't focused on their purpose. Our calling is a huge thing and I think that some missionaries just don't understand it sometimes. It makes me kind of sad and worried for them and for the souls that they could be saving. I think a lot of missionaries just see a mission as two years of suffering that one must endure in order to gain rm status etc, but I really think there is more to it than that. I definitely feel a difference when I put everything into the work. It is one of the best feelings there is. Just complete satisfaction and peace. I still think often about what mom said in her email the other week about how she has to be able to look in the mirror and feel good when she prays.There are definitely a few things to work out, and I feel kind of distanced from the members here (maybe because I am the only american). Maybe things will just get better with time in that department.
This Saturday was amazing though. We went on splits so we could cover two areas in one day. I got to go with a member who is about 21 years old. He actually served a short term mission a few transfers ago, but was not approved to serve a mission because of his disability. He still carries around a white handbook and planner when he works with the missionaries. He is really willing to work hard as well. We walked forever and did some good street contacting and tracting. Through these finding efforts we ran into a man who let us right in to teach even though we had woken him up (filipinos like afternoon naps). He told us about how he and his wife had both seen us and that his wife told him that she was interested in listening to our message. Next time we are going to try and go when the wife is there. I am super excited to see where this goes. Dallin and I had a super successful day.
I'd also like to share something I shared in our district meeting this week about obedience. It is the story of Captain Naaman getting healed from his leprosy. I'll put it in here so you can read it.
1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
8 ¶And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 ¶And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
We really need to follow the teachings of the prophets just like those found in the white handbook. I think sometimes we think we can do things our own way or the way we were used to doing them before the mission and bathe in the rivers of Syria so to speak, but we will miss out on blessings this way. We won't be cured of our spiritual leprosy. I really learned a lot from this story.
I felt like most of the missionaries weren't really listening to my message, but one of the other elders came up after the meeting and told me how much he appreciated the message which really made me feel better.
I felt like most of the missionaries weren't really listening to my message, but one of the other elders came up after the meeting and told me how much he appreciated the message which really made me feel better.
Things really are going better now though. We actually had a district activity today where we went to a resort up in the mountains. We ate, played games, and hung out with members. It wasn't too shabby. One of our recent converts came with us. I spent a lot of time talking to him. He is 29 years old and has a degree in philosophy. He really appreciates the fact that I am familiar with philosophy (thanks, humane letters....).
I hope you have a great week,
love you tons!
Elder Merrill
ps. Happy Birthday Again to Emma!
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