March 31, 2014

This will be my last letter home. This is my last Pday in the field.  Next week on Monday I'll be in the mission home.  Tuesday  afternoon, we'll go to Manila and stay in the hotel that night  The next morning (early), I'll be getting on a plane and coming home. 

I don't feel like those last few statements That I made are actually true. As far as I'm concerned I'll still be here next week. Maybe it'll hit me next week. 

I love that insight about the atonement from Sister Wagher the many important small moments make up the one big moment of the Atonement. It is true, many small moments I think still do make up the atonement. Maybe the Atonement isn't over yet - well Christ's suffering is, but the power is used constantly.

 

This week was such a great week for me and Elder Potestad. The miracles have continued to lead and guide the work in San Jose Ward 1. My biggest concern about the ward is the lack of energy about missionary work, but we have worked with the bishop and the ward mission leader over the weekend. It sacrificed a bit of our work time, but I feel like that is the best thing that we could have done this week. 

On Saturday morning we had a fireside, after which we worked with the members of the ward. We split into a few small groups and went out to proselyte. We learned a huge lesson about the power of members. Every single less active member that the ward missionaries visited came to church the next day. One of them came, who hasn't been to church in years. He's got into some bad habits and finally, after Elder Potestad and his companion on Saturday taught him, he declared that he is now going to change. We were all stunned when we saw him at church because he has said things like that to us before, but yesterday he actually came! He stayed for all three hours. The Natividad family came to church, the Galam family came to church. it was amazing! The feedback from the ward missionaries was satisfying. One sister said, "I finally understand my role as a member in this work". Her Father is actually getting baptized on Saturday. 

The best part about missionary work is that it is an eternal work. It doesn't go away.  It may change; like now it has been hastened by the hand of the Almighty, but will always be here. I don't feel like I am going back the same person who left because I am so different than when I left. Missionary work has become a part of me and though I'll leave the field, I can never leave my responsibility to share the gospel. The Savior is the heart of this work. I have come to understand Him and His love and how truly infinite and eternal it really is. One of our investigators, Sister Meddielyn told us how she interpreted that the fruit of the Tree of Life in Lehi's dream is the Atonement. It took me my whole mission until I figured that out. This spirit is the real teacher. She actually came to church all be herself yesterday. She always comes with her asawa. Yesterday when she came, she was all alone. She found a way to make it to church even when no one was with her. This is a huge step for her. It is so humbling to see lives touched by the enabling power of the atonement. What a real force. 

The Atonement is real. It has inspired and guided me through two years of service. I am forever indebted to my Savior who both made it possible for me to be here and who strengthened me through my stay. I love Him. I love this work.

I love You mother, I hope you have an amazing week this week! See you soon :)

Love

Elder Blackham

March 24, 2014

It's been a crazy week for me here too! We had to all of a sudden go to Manila last week so that we could get everything worked out with Immigrations so that we could leave the country. It was a long couple of bus rides, but we got it worked out. 

I wish that I could make time stop. As I sit down this down at the computer my mind is so flooded with many different emotions. The most prominent one is gratitude to the Lord and all of His goodness. I absolutely love missionary work. 

The greatest miracle that has been happening in our area is the family that we've been able to teach. Well, it's actually the parents of the young man that we baptized last week. WOW! We are the first ever missionaries that they have allowed to teach in their home. This wouldn't have happened if we weren't obedient to the standard that the parents had to be present at their son's baptism.  Because we obeyed that rule and went to their home gone to pick them up before their son's baptism, we are now teaching those parents also. Obedience opens opportunities. The Lord has been working miracles. They have had many questions and will not be an easy family to teach, but I have no fear because the Lord has brought us this far and I know He will take us the whole way!

We are also very excited for our ward fireside and "one-day mission" this weekend. We are hoping to spark the ward with excitement about missionary work. It truly is so exciting! My favorite part is watching the Lord open doors for us. 

Besides the family I just mentioned, another example of doors opening is one baptism that was supposed to happen onApril 5. Our investigator didn't come to church which was really disappointing because I won't be able to witness the baptism. But we had a really good lesson yesterday about obedience and she now understands why it is so important that she attends church. That is really the reason that we as missionaries are here, to let people know the "Why" of the gospel. I know that liberty comes from following standards.

Elder Potestad and I will be sprinting this week. There is much work to do.

I wish I had more time to write, but that's all I got for today.

Love

Elder Blackham

March 17, 2014

I totally forgot to wear green haaha. Good think I have a green thing on my bag or else the other American Elders in my Zone would have punched me today.  I don't need to wear it though because it's part of me :) haha. 

Our investigators continue to be happy and excited about the missionary lessons. There's been some neat miracles happening here - small and simple, but those are the best ones. They may go unnoticed if we aren't watching for them. Unfortunately I won't be here to see their wedding and baptism, but It is a privilege to teach them. It is a privlilege to teach everyone! 

My favorite lesson of the week was yesterday as we visited with Tatay Ramos. Wow, he's changed. He has been taking the lessons with his wife (who is a member). Their family had been praying for a long time that he would become a member, and he has been receptive but they continued to have familial challenges the whole time. When we began teaching him, he and his wife would always sit with a space in between them, like brothers forced to live together. But now, that he has been living the gospel, they sit close to each other and call each other darling haha. The part of the first message that we as missionaries share has held true, "The Gospel Blesses Families". He's been to church 6 times since I've been here.  Just this last week he has completed the time of change needed overcome his problems with the word of wisdom and be baptized.  He told us yesterday that he is so happy that he was taught the word of wisdom because he feels happier and it has lead to a happier relationship with his asawa (wife). He will be baptized on March 29!

Our Baptisms went through yesterday! It was neat because the father of one of them hadn't been inside of an LDS church his whole life, but came in to see his child be baptized. His mother hadn't been to church in 13 years, but came to see his baptism. They didn't come to church on Sunday, but little by little I know that the Lord is planting seeds in them.  We had to actually go pick the parents up for the baptism.  They originally weren't going to come. But in our mission, because their children are under 16 and are youth, they can't be baptized without the parents. We had told them all week that they couldn't be baptized if the parents didn't come. The parents wanted their child to be baptized but didn't originally want to come into the church to watch. We visited the parents along with the Ward Mission Leader at the time when the baptism was supposed to start, and they ended up coming. It turned out a success, and I'll never forget the smile that the mother had as she watched her son be baptized.  I'm grateful that the Lord has ways that He wants his work to be done. 

Love,

Elder Blackham 

March 10, 2014

Elder Potestad and I had a good week. We are always so exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There's always ups and downs; the Power of the Atonement always takes me up and higher. 

I'm always so excited when we get to teach Mark and Meddielyn. Sister Meddielyn, since the time that we gave her the book of Mormon two months ago, has now almost finished it. Her husband, Brother Mark doesn't have as much time to read because he works, but does when he can.  They didn't come to church last week, and they mentioned to us how they felt such a difference in their lives the days that they go to church and that they don't want to miss again. It confirms what I've been studying about light. I'm grateful that they recognized it, and feel a light in their relationship and in their home. It all is because of Jesus Christ. Oh the beauty of His gospel and plan for us all. Their experience testifies yet again to me that this church is so true!!! I know that this is His church.

That is an inspiring message about gaining understanding, thank you for sharing your testimony with me about it. I love that you said that we can gain an understanding heart.  The heart is where the Holy Ghost is felt, and gives warmth to the whole body, which also gives understanding. I wonder why we say that we feel it in our heart, why do we love with our heart? Is there a connection between that and our spirit? Anyways, sorry random thinking. I keep asking myself pondering questions lately, haha. 

Thank you for telling me that my service is not ending. I never ever want it to end. Ever, Ever Ever. I know this church is true inside and out and I would take that truth to the grave if I were asked to. 

Love

Elder Blackham

March 3, 2014

Have you heard of something called "fourth-watch faith"? It's a principle of faith that says that the evidence doesn't come until you thought there was no more hope. Like Christ and his apostles on the stormy sea, it wasn't until the fourth watch that he came and calmed the storm, not the 1st, 2nd or 3rd watch, but he does come. 

I flipping love my mission! 

This last weekend we had MLC, which stands for Mission Leadership Council. It's my favorite meeting that happens every other month, where all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders get trained. At the end, there was a testimony meeting and the spirit was so strong.  The feeling that I feel at that  testimony meeting is a testimony builder in and of itself. I learned a truth this weekend  that I hadn't fully understood before. When pure truth is being taught, it is more powerfully conveyed through those who are as pure as the truth itself. I learned that because of the power that I felt at the testimony meeting at MLC, where a group of the most righteous of the missionaries meet together to share truth. I saw the light, and felt the light. There is a literal and different feeling when truth comes from a pure source. It's a calming and strengthening force, a force that I also feel when I read and learn from the scriptures or from the apostles and prophets.

As we continue to work with our investigators and recent converts, I've realized the narrowness of the way. There is a less active that we have been working with who just doesn't have a desire to do the right. We've been teaching him and his wife. The wife is almost completely willing. However, the husband expressed to us that he is "happy in the ways that he sins". It broke my heart to hear that. We've taught them the atonement, obedience, the gospel, everything. We fast and pray for them. I know that the atonement covers all, and it is in His power that I realize I have to trust now. 

We are so ecstatic that tatay Ramos continues to come to church for all three hours. He walks shyly through it all, but is slowly warming up to fellowship. 

Love,

Elder Blackham

March 25, 2013

It's good to hear that ya'll are having fun! :) haha please give everyone my love! I miss everyone too, but the work of the Lord will go foward and I get to be a part of it! He really does care for us. I was looking over my notes the other day from a mission conference last year where Elder Nelson's wife made the comment that she saw in a card, "because we care enough to send the best". Our Heavenly Father cares, He cared enough to send His son to die and live for us, and bless us evermore! 

This week was another good week for us, there really are miracles everyday mom. My favorite thing this week was that we found a family. They live kind of far away from us and the church, but we were able to share about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. They believed, but were unable to come to church last week. We'll see how it goes this week though :) I've been impressed this week even more about the power that's in the Book of Mormon. With the scriptures in general actually. I remember mom, when we were young and you would have a hard time. You taught me through example the comfort that comes from just having the scriptures open. There is real power in the words of the Prophets; especially when they bear testimony of the Father and the Son.  The Savior is real, and so are His promises to those who obey. 

All we can do is strive, be worthy, and qualify for His help. I really love this work. I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father knows and cares for each and everyONE of us.

Love,

Elder Blackham

March 18, 2013

Bad news.... All of my pictures that I've taken from my mission are now gone. My first Flash Drive is gone, and my USB that had all the music and back up of the pictures was stolen haha... and my current one got a virus. I'm able to take new pictures now though....Maybe I should have sent you it anyway haha :) That's okay though, I didn't come here to take pics and listen to music but to serve! 

It's been a good week. We had a successful baptismal service on Saturday. It was really cool actually. One of the sisters has been an investigator for 3 years and she was finally able to get everything in order so that she could be baptized. Her husband doesn't really want anything to do with us...but we're hoping over time that his heart will soften. She has a really strong testimony.  

There were a lot of tender mercies this week here as well... There always are. We've been focusing on having the capacity to understand and follow the promptings of the Spirit, and it yielded fruit. We found 6 new investigators this week, and were able to work with one of our Branch Missionaries. He's such a stud. To every less active we visited, he frankly asked? "Why didn't you go to church today? We missed you at church, church is so fun." Haha, he even said that to a lady who wasn't a member. She was surprised and said she wasn't a member... then he said, oh.... well you should be a member, don't you want to be baptized? Church is so fun. This man has such a strong testimony. He hasn't even been a member for a year, but loves it, and knows it's true. He's a great missionary.We have a new investigator, he's way cool too. He said that he doesn't go to any church because he always sweats because he's nervous that he's not worthy. We taught him about the restoration and atonement. He wanted to go to church, but had to got to the city early Sunday Morning. I know that the atonement really changes lives. It's changed mine. 

I'm so happy to hear that you are all staying close to the Lord. 

You are all in my prayers always. I love you all so much mom.  

excerpt from Nonnie's email

(This is Elder Blackham's response to his grandmother's question, "What did you learn from your last area?"

You asked me to report the things that I've learned. In my last area, I think one of the things that I learned the most was the importance of being obedient even when it's awkward or puts you in a wierd situation. With the previous missionaries that were in my last area, they developed inappropriate relationships with the members who worked with them. For example, they would let them into the missionary's home, stay up late chatting with them. It was hard for me to come in because I had to change the traditions that the members were already used to. I was scared because I didn't want to offend them but found great strength. I mentioned to them that we were trying to be obedient because we needed miracles in the work. As we talked to them, the members were actually understanding. I found the only thing holding me back my own doubts. We've got to obey, and I know the Lord will provide a way. 

love,

Elder Blackham

March 11, 2013 (Pictures)

March 11, 2013

Hey Mom :)

 Palayan is a beautiful place, it is kind of close to Aurora. One of the areas in our zone is in the same province as Aurora, and is the only other area besides my previous one that has a beach in the whole mission. We went there for Pday today with the couple missionaries here. It was fun! we just kind of chilled, ate, and took pictures. They speak strait Tagalog here.

That's so cool to hear about everyone preparing for missions back home. Mom, Missionary work is the best ever! It is so hard to believe my hump day is here... it feels like I just got here yesterday actually. Please tell Sister Buell Hi for me! How are they doing?      

Thanks mom :) Lately I haven't really had the time to get too homesick.  I always miss you and the girls, but being out here I've realized the reality of eternity. I think about you all the time. You are part of everything I am mom, because of the example that you've been. We are a forever family after all :). There are times when I get down, but The Savior knows me, and has strengthened me in ways that I can not express in words to you or Him. I'm so grateful that He atoned for us; it's really the only way. :) Thanks for showing me the way to Him!

I'll do my best to be strong mom! You too, k? I love you too :) I sent some pics. I actually didnt notice when I bought the camera, but it only runs on microSD cards. It's probably about halfway full now, I'll just worry about buying a new card when I need it :) No worries. I got the music you sent mom! Thank you :) I sure love you, it was a perfect ST Patrick's day present. You are the best! 

The work this week has been full of difference. Everyday is new here, It's hard to know where to begin this week. It's been good. Elder Adao and I are working hard and looking for miracles everyday. It's such a privilege to have an opportunity to work with him. Not one day has been the same as the last in our quest in Palayan. 

There are many things that I truly enjoyed about this week. On Wednesday we were able to find a new family who have actually been members of the church for quite some time. They became less-active because they live too far away, but were surprised when we actually came to visit them. At first the mother hesitated and seemed skeptical to talk to us, but realized that the fellow-shipper we had brought with us was one of her friends from when she was baptized around 10 years ago. She has two children ages 11 and 13 who seem interested and whom she wants to help to be baptized. We've found success and a boost in our confidence as we continue to OYM those with cars. On Sunday, we happened to meet with the husband of a referral from a member. He was super interested and believes that our message is true. We invited him to pray and will be following up with him next week! After having born witness of the Restoration so many times, you'd think it would get old after a while. It doesn't though, it's true. 

I performed that surgery on my own toe this week because the pain was getting to bad haha... It hurt but it feels a lot better now and is healing great! It's actually pretty much a miracle, I just kind of got a feeling of what I should do, and did it. The constant pain that was in my foot is now gone. I'm a happy man. I'm doing fine and healthy mom, I'm actually gaining weight somehow... you might be happy about that. Don't worry about me though, I love you and pray for you always!

Love,

ELder Blackham

March 4, 2013

I'm super limited on time this week but will try to get all of your questions answered.

So my new area is great haha, about like my first area. There's not a ton out here. We have to travel about an hour to be able to get to the end of our area. It's a  beautiful branch with so many neat, neat people that I'll be sure to tell you about in my next email. I know that everything is possible with the Lord. The place I'm in is called Palayan; we're in the Bongabon Zone. In our mission we are going to receive 60 additional missionaries by the end of the year. Our boundaries weren't affected by the new missions. 

My companion is so flipping awesome! His name is Elder Adao; he's from Laguna. He goes home in 2 months but is still a fireball of a missionary. 

I'm not a perfect guy or anyone too special, but I have a testimony of the atonement because of the things you've taught me. Always stay close to the spirit. I remember one time you shared a FHE about faith... you used the Indian Jones movie where he tries to find the holy grail in the challenge of the "leap of faith". :) I used that in a lesson the other day, and it really helped.  Also Ether 12:6, D&C 9:8-9. 

Love,

Elder Blackham