August 6, 2012

(This is Elder Blackham's reply to mom's questions about the island wide typhoon that the news reported hit the Phillipines on Wed., August 1st)
I didn't even know that there was a typhoon this week, it has been raining a bit more constantly than normal and we've had to cross a couple rivers that used to just be canals out here, but there have been no tragic effects that I know of here in this area. Sometimes there are fluxes in power, but nothing really out of the ordinary. It's raining way hard right now by the way, but it's always raining now :). Mosquitoes are pretty constant here. I usually have a least a couple of mosquito bites, and I've been pretty healthy lately. This morning I woke up kind of sick, but I'm sure that it'll pass quickly :). Only every once in a while will I get a headache, and usually just some ibuprofen and water'll do the trick. I'm good and healthy though :).

(Response to knowing who our new Bishopric is)
That is a good match for our ward leadership! All things are done in wisdom and order, and our leaders truly our called of God. That's one of the things that sets our religion apart from others.

I don't always know exactly why, but I know that the Lord has called me here for a reason. He wants me here, and here I am. I just pray for your safety in my absence and know that our family will be taken care of as I become a faithful and diligent missionary.

There are lots of  new experiences every week, this week was kind of hard because we had exchanges on Tuesday, where I worked in the zone leader's area which was pretty sweet to see how other missionaries work in other areas.  For Elder DelaCruz and I though, we found two new families to teach with a lot of potential. The first was on OYM from over a month ago! An OYM (open your mouth) is what we refer to as any opportunity that we have to "open our mouth" and share the gospel. It's how we keep track of the people we tract into. Anyway,  We've been diligently trying to find him, and return to where he said his house was; but we've always been told that he's working.  Finally we found him! It was a great experience. He is so interested in the church and wants to learn as much as he can about how to get closer to God.  Lucky for us, we have just the message for that :).  I'm looking forward to the next period that I'll have to get to know him and his family and see the light the gospel can bring!  The other family was a part member family, a young couple with a new child.  The mother is a less active member from San Isidro; she is the relative of another family we are teaching! We taught about how the gospel blesses families, and she seemed excited to relearn all that she had learned when she was younger. I know this gospel is for everyone, and especially for the family! I'm so stoked, and grateful to Heavenly Father for the opportunities He provides for us out here. This is really His work.

 We don't have super strict rules about music, just as long as it invites the spirit.. My library consists of EFY, Motab, Reflections of Christ, Jenny Philips choir, and a cd that I burned from Aunt Jill (which is amazing).  I would absolutely love a CD of some hymns though mom :) If you ever send a package, a burned cd of some of your fav. church music would be the best! I'm not asking for it specifically, but just in case that's probably the thing that i would ask for.

Love,

Elder Blackham