June 25, 2012

We were talking about the part of D&C that said when a man uses his priesthood in sin or for personal reasons, amen to his authority.  But, it also said something else that I have never noticed before in that scripture that I have read many times.  It said that 'the Spirit of the Lord is grieved when men don't remain worthy to use the priesthood.  (D&C 121:36-37).  That image of the Lord being grieved over his sons really touches my heart.  This might help working to bring people back into activity.  I wonder how many of us realize what we do that grieves the Lord.  He, of all people, knows us. He knows the people that we have the potential to become. He sees us in such a different light and I can't even imagine how hard it must be for Him to watch his children misuse the agency that He worked so hard to give them. It is sad to see how many people struggle out here. We were talking to an inactive tatay on Sunday night - that means father. I could tell the the gospel had once been an important part of his life. He asked the question though, "Why is it so hard to choose the right sometimes?".  I thought that was a legitimate question. Sometimes it is hard at first. But Jeffrey Holland gave a talk to mission presidents, in which he Said, "Salvation was never Easy". It wasn't easy for our Savior to suffer and Die for us, so sometimes when we are asked to do the will of the Father we might have to give up something, a little of our will. But because of What He did, we know that the blessing of Eternal life is possible for us; and for our families. There is a simple peace that only comes when we do what we are supposed to. I strive to choose the right, so that I am not one who grieves the Lord. I don't know that I always do everything, but I sure try. I am so blessed to be out here. Gosh, I'm so blessed!

I am able to understand bits and pieces. Some people talk so fast I wonder that anyone is able to understand them haha, but my companion seems to always know what's going on... maybe I'll get there one day! I know I will - it just takes patience. Patience is hard. I'm usually able to pick up when people are making fun of me haha. I do feel a bit like Elder Groberg in that movie Other Side of Heaven. It's hard - but We can do hard things :). 

This week was pretty crazy for me - it's always a spiritual roller coaster. We had exchanges with the ZLs this week so that they could interview our investigator Luminard. He's getting baptized on June 30th! :) I'm so stoked for him. He's 10 years old and has such a strong desire to do whats right. It's really quite impressive. This gospel is for everyone! and it's been cool to see what an understanding of the truth can do to people. It gives us all a greater amount of purpose and peace in this life.

Love,
Elder Blackham

June 18, 2012

To My Mom :),
Patience will be key if I am ever going to learn this language, I'll keep trying!! The Pilot Program was pretty cool I guess, will Bret be on the pilot program? I don't know what to compare it to, but I don't know if any amount of time in the MTC will fully prepare you for the real thing. I'm glad I did it though, I had a good foundation, and it's just building on it from there.Sometimes I feel like I haven't learned anything since the MTC, but people tell me that I'm getting better. I hope it's true!
I'm sorry that it is so hot for you! I can only remember what that felt like haha. It is way hot here as well, even though it's super rainy. The weather here is pretty moody, but it's good. When it rains at night, it is cooler which is good for sleeping! I use the umbrella Everyday! haha. Advise for Bret's mission supplies: Only buy slip on shoes!! the strings will just get wet; and there will be many times you should take off your shoes before entering people's homes. Don't spend a ton of money on umbrella, just get one that is compact and working. Buy a couple pairs of pants at the DI before you head out. Other than that, we did a lot of good things before. Also,don't bring any silk ties. Just polyester. I'll let you know if I can think of anything else.
I am so grateful for your prayers. I hope you know how serious I am when I tell you that they make a difference. Often I feel an unexplainable power pushing me forward.
(This is in response to news that someone donated money to Eric's mission fund) Wow :) I'm so humbled that people would give to my mission fund. I am so so so grateful. We have been so blessed mom. I don't know why us.(This is in response to mom telling Eric about some ties that  Brother Thomas is sending to all the missionaries.) Please send Brother Thomas my love and gratitude. He really is a great example of a solid priesthood leader.
We really have the most amazing family :) I love you so much mom, please know that I pray for you all of the time as well. I will be eternally grateful for what you've done for me.
This week I had a really cool experience as I got to know a guy on a jeepney;he was visiting and I rode with him on my way home from a meeting in Tarlac.The new missionaries here had a meeting with the stake president on Thursday,Tarlac is 4 hours away from my area haha, we had to leave at 3 in the morning! But it was awesome. As I got to know this brother, I was able to share the blessing of the gospel. I gave him a book of Mormon. I won't be able to see him again because he was only visiting, but I felt a real yearning for the truth from him. I know I was able to bare such a solid testimony because I know the blessing that it's been for our family. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for us;all of us. It is beautiful.

Stay strong and endure. You can do hard things :)
Love,
Elder Blackham

June 11, 2012

Faith truly is a principle of action, and power. I love what you said about how faith is essential to knowing God, and how important that is in all that we do. After all, "this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent". I am just beginning to become familiar with everything that you've mentioned, but I especially feel a love for people as I'm here. I'm learning really what that means and I've been blessed to have amazing examples of this through my life, and through you! I've always known that my mother loves and that has been an irreplaceable blessing in my life. Thank you mom.

It's becoming increasingly hard to not be able to understand and speak the language fluently.  I usually have a lot to say, as you know. There are times when my companion says to me "you're quiet".  I'm really not, I just don't know how to say what I want to.  There have been times, though when I've been able to bear my testimony and share a scripture in a way that was not perfect, but understandable. I know the things I say are understandable when I feel the Holy Ghost work through me; it is an unexplainable assurance that I know only comes when what I say is true. I'm diligently trying to learn, the language is hard but the work goes forward. We shared the message of the restoration and invited a sister to be baptized on Friday, she said Yes :) that was one of the neatest experiences ever! Her name is Rose Demasco, she's over fourty years old, but seems to really take in the things that we tell her. I've really been able to gain a testimony of truth. Truth is eternal, and speaks to the hearts of men and women and children.

Every week seems to be getting more comfortable, at first it's kind of hard because everything's different but as time goes on, you get used to the things around you. It's weird to think that I'm already halfway through my first transfer! I gave a talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday. That was probably one of the hardest things that I've done since I've been here. It was about faith, and was in Tagalog. The word for faith in Tagalog is "pananampalataya" haha. Pretty nuts, huh? The coolest thing was that I think it actually made sense.  I translated the talk from English to Tagalog but there were times when I was able to speak without looking at what I had written, which was a tender mercy indeed.  I bore my testimony about Nonnie, and how she was able to walk again because of her faith.

I've been hearing the saying a lot lately, "lose yourself to find yourself".  I'm trying to understand what that really means, and am learning that it might be easier said than done, but as we learn to forget our wants and our desires and place a higher importance on the wants and desires of others, as our Savior did, we will realize what is meant in romans 8:16, and moroni 7:48.

Thank you for the recipe. haha I love macaroni and cheese - shopping is a little different here but just in the supply, in the major cities we can go shopping and they have something called "SaveMore" lol which is like a philippino Costco. It's actually way nice and I'm able to get everything I need there.

Is there anything I can do for you? Anything that you want pictures of? I haven't really been taking that many, lol, but just let me know if you want any!!

If there's anything I've learned it's that this is the Lord's work, and the Lord qualifies whom He calls. I've also learned that the qualification/sanctification process is indeed a trying one, I'm in the beginning of mine but I know that it's real and that faith leads to miracles.

The English classes got delayed because the youth just started school last Monday! But the first class is going to be on Saturday!! I'm pretty excited and nervous. I'm going to start with greetings and getting a feel for how much they know, but I'll be working this week on developing a curriculum through my companion's English study material. Thank you for your suggestions mom! I'll be sure to incorporate them :) 

 It is so good to hear that you are doing well, please keep taking care of Nonnie, I know she needs the help. I've prayed for her mom, and know that however she is will be the Lord's will. I email her everyweek as well! I'm so happy to hear about Kevin!! haha I know that's got to be the best thing ever for him. Haha, funny about Lacey's call - I hope that I get to hear where she's going next week! lol.  It sounds like things are just a bussling along back home! Please give the Buell's my love, that is pretty dang gross about the snakes though.

Stay strong, stay faithful, and keep believing!

love,
Elder Blackham

P.S. This is, again, a little blurb from the email he sent to me in a response to a few questions I asked him. From where I am, I most definately can not see the ocean =\ I'm in one of the most inland areas of the mission! haha. It still seems to get pretty wet though, because of the rain.  I would have to drive for quite a while, probably 10 hours at least before I saw the ocean. lol. The food is okay! I really do eat rice everyday. It's a lot, haha seriously so much! Not always breakfast lunch and dinner, because sometimes it's oatmeal - but anytime my companion cooks, it's always with rice lol. I've never had a dinner yet without rice.

June 4, 2012

Every week brings a new challenge, and a new opportunity to overcome. I'm learning much about myself. I'm learning what it means to forget yourself as you go to work. Mission life is very surreal, the days seem like months, but the weeks seem like days. Thank you for what you said, I think that your "secret to a happy life" is so applicable here, and everywhere throughout the world. As Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "come what may and love it". As I go about on a daily basis, it's hard to believe that the Lord really wants me here....because I can barely speak the language. But I hope and pray that it continues to come along. The people here in the Lupao Ward have been a big help to me. It really feels like I'm becoming familiar with them. The Savior shows his love to us sometimes through the people around us. I've felt that.

Things here in the Philippines are going well! It's been rainy for the past couple of days, haha, but the work keeps moving forward! The other day one of our investigators told us that she didn't want to hear our lessons anymore. However, yesterday as we were walking through her neighborhood, we saw her dad working and decided to talk to him. We had a really good lesson about the nature of God and how he loves us and our families. I was able to bear my testimony and respond a little bit to the things that he said - that's the power of God working!! It was dang sweet. We're also teaching a young man named Luminard who's 10. He's so awesome! He wants to be baptized on June 30th! It is so neat to see the children have desires to come unto that God who gave them life! 

Thank your for the pictures you sent me :) it's really good to see the family again! haha. Everyone looks awesome! If you could, just send some pictures of everyone in the everyday life! That would be sweet :). 

If you have any time, send me a simple recipe of something cheap i can cook with only a stove lol.Stay strong! Your capacity is greater than you know :) I love you sooo much! please give the family my love. Also, remember "Carpe Diem" - seize the day in Italian! As you learn to sieze the opportunities of everyday, your life will become full. You are blessed because of your knowledge and relationship with the Savior. 

Love Always,

Elder Blackham

This is a funny story that Elder Blackham told me in his letter to me.

Oh - funny story about my apartment a couple days ago... a ninja cat crawled into my room at like 3 o clock in the morning! It was so freaky! I woke up to "Tap-tatatap tap tap" and looked at my window and a cat was crawling in through my window but you have to understand that all of our windows have screens, and this cat found the only way to get in and when I found it, it was hanging down by it's front two paws and then dropped to the ground and rolled out into a sprint... weird right? It woke up Elder Dela Cruz, and ran into his closet. We kept it there until the morning when we normally wake up and it actually peed on his luggage. lol I'm just glad it wasn't mine....