November 18, 2013

I'm safe! I'm healthy! I'm terrific! I don't have  much time today, hopefully later on this week I'll have some more time to write you. The Tacloban mission has been shut-down temporarily due to damage incurred by the typhoon. We were blessed to receive 15 of the survivors. What an honor. They have miraculous stories. They claim that they were protected by the Lord as He protected His Strippling Warriors. We've been running around a lot! We did an emergency transfer to be able to fit them in, but they are now as big a part of our mission as I am. We are one. 

Anyways, I love you! Super duper I love you. 

Love,

Elder Blackham

November 11, 2013

This first part is referring to a call that Elder Eric Blackham got to make to his brother the other Elder Blackham (Bret)  whose whereabouts were unknown to us because of transfers. Eric had just confirmed that Bret was safe and mom was saying thank you.

No problem! Hopefully you'll have heard from him later today, because I forgot to ask where he was transferred to. The important thing that we know is that he is safe :). 

We are grieving for our brothers and sisters down south. The Lord will find ways reach out with tender mercies to those who were affected. We've gotten some light rain and wind, but no power outages that lasted more than 5 minutes. 

The next part is a reply about mom sharing the scripture 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us the spirit of fear...but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

You've shared that scripture with me before, when I was young and used to be scared. I love that verse :).  I didn't realize before though about the powers that we get in overcoming our fears! Personal peace I think is the greatest gift of the atonement. At one of our recent meetings an elder gave an example of a hurricane candle, which is a candle protected by a hurricane glass. The candle sits inside of a long open-topped glass so that the wind doesn't affect it's ability to give light. The Atonement I think does that for us, the power comes when we learn to trust Christ and obey Him. I've learned that that's why we have many of the mission rules, is to help us to learn to just drop it all and trust Him. As we follow that, He protects us from distraction, discouragement, and anything else Satan may use.

The work was great this week, We've been really blessed as we learn to manage our time more effectively. I got sick, but it's nothing compared to the storm that came through. We've seen so many miracles in our area. We have a family and two young men who were referred to us by a member. They all came to church, and it has been so neat working with this member in sharing the gospel. He's a well-known and respected retired teacher in the barangay, and people listen to him. It's great because he has such a strong testimony, at 73 years old.

Anyways, I know, as I always have that this is the Lord's work. I used to be weary about opening an area with everything else we have going on. The saying, "when there's a will, there's a way" holds true, eternally and ever more powerfully so when that will is the Lord's.

Love,

Elder Blackham

(My mom wanted me to post an article about some Sister missionaries who were in Tacloban. If you want to read it, here is the link http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865590735/Surviving-the-typhoon-A-story-of-fear-faith-and-what-it-means-to-be-prepared.html )

November 4, 2013

(Four days before Typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines)

It's been such a great week. I'm so grateful that the my Savior has let me come out here. I love this work, I love my Savior! Many things happened this week! There was a fulfillment of my patriarchal blessing and just so many wonderful things. 

We had a mission leadership council this weekend. Our mission training plan this month is focused around the doctrine of Repentance. I don't know that there are more important doctrines than others, but I feel that that is one that is so essential to understand because it applies to all. It's an invitation to change and come unto Christ. President Martino inspired all of us to repent. We had the opportunity to give a workshop as well about repentance. One quote that really stuck out to me is this, by Elder Russell M Nelson, "The doctrine of repentance is much broader than a dictionary’s definition. When Jesus said “repent,” His disciples recorded that command in the Greek language with the verb metanoeo.  This powerful word has great significance. In this word, the prefix meta means “change.”  The suffix relates to four important Greek terms: nous, meaning “the mind”;  gnosis, meaning “knowledge”;  pneuma, meaning “spirit”;  and pnoe, meaning “breath.” Thus, when Jesus said “repent,” He asked us to change—to change our mind, knowledge, and spirit—even our breath". I have felt that change continue to occur in me as we've studied repentance. I know, with every Fiber of my being that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the world. 

His Tender Mercies have truly abound this week. 

Saturday after MLC, Elder Bajacan and I had the chance to go out and work in our area. We taught a lesson about the plan of salvation, and the purpose of trials. We promised them the blessings of strength that she could gain from coming to church. Sunday noon-time, we hadn't seen her yet. The meeting had started, testimonies were being born, and my companion and I were running on thin hope that they would still make it. As I looked at the clock, I saw 12:30... Thirty minutes had passed since the meeting started, I looked at my companion, then heard the door come open. WHAT A MIRACLE! She came! The grandma was the only one to come this time. We found out after it was over that her 27 year old son was waiting outside. Hopefully he gets enough faith to come inside this next week. We'll be doing all we can to help him in. But oh my, I about leaped because of how happy I was. She was hesitant at first, but the fellowship that she received was just awesome. It turns out that she has a niece who is an active member of the church. The niece had no idea that we were teaching her grandma's sister. The niece turned back to us, teary-eyed and said, "You were teaching my grandma?" (Great aunts are referred to as grandma as well here). We said yes! And she told me, "thank you". She's got fellowship that we didn't even anticipate. She loved relief society. I'm so grateful to the kind sisters who reached out to her.

Mom, or anyone that reads this, please don't hesitate to go up to anyone that you don't recognize at church. Whether they be a less active member, a new member, or any member that you haven't met yet. Christ organized His church as a church of love and fellowship, we are the instruments He uses to amplify His love to others.

The next part is an answer to Mom's questions about plans when Elder Blackham comes home in April.

Mom, I love you, I just want to answer those questions next week. I just love being here. I know, I will come home eventually. I'll just let you know next week.

love,

Elder Blackham

November 26, 2012

I'm doing good! haha, it's been a good week for us here! They don't celebrate thanksgiving here in the Philippines, at least in the area that I'm in - so I kind of forgot that it was this week haha. But I'm still grateful for everything. Being thankful for things enables us to be so much happier! Isn't it great? That was President Monson's farewell advice in Conference, to list our blessings! 

I don't know if you heard or not, but our mission home is moving in December. I think for now they're still receiving
letters and things sent over there, but the new address is this:

Philippines Angeles Mission
F. Tanedo Street
Tarlac, Tarlac 2300
Philippines

COMMENT FROM MOM:(WHO MOVES A MISSION HOME IN DECEMBER WHEN THAT IS THE MONTH THEY PROBABLY GET THE MOST PACKAGES?)

It's also good to hear about the other Elder Blackham (Bret), every once in a while we stay in contact. He seems to be doing well, definitely being humbled. The mission is such a humbling experience. I've realized all that I
can't do, and have been so humbled by the things that I've seen and the people that I've met. I've learned how to find happiness in the midst of trials. I know that he's been able to find that, and it only comes from turning out and turning to the Savior.

The week was a good one, my companion and I are doing well! This was our most productive week and next week has an even brighter hope of being better! I love the idea of "better". Whoever and wherever we are, we have the hope of becoming better.

Sunday as usual, was my favorite day. After church we were able to work with President Gonzales in the area close to his house and taught sister Cardinoza. She is so stoked for her baptism, and it so neat to see how anxious she is to join the church. She loves the church services and says that she really feels a difference in our church. I know that it's true, we were able to teach her about the book of Mormon, she believes that it's the word of God and committed to pray to know with a surety that it was true.  We were also able to work with the elders quorum president who took us to a few of his friends houses where we began teaching a few new families. I love the power of the gospel, it's a light that cannot be dimmed!

Love, 

Elder Blackham

November 19, 2012 (pictures)

These are some pictures of Elder Blackham's house that he is in right now. They may be moving soon.

 From the outside. Elder Blackham is staring at a chicken.

 Inside view of the office area

 The kitchen

 The bathroom

The bedroom

November 19, 2012

My Dearest momma!

I've gained a testimony and am ever more grateful for the church leaders that I've been able to grow up with.  They are all true examples of Latter day saints. Make sure to help the missionaries out as much as you can! haha.


There's big news out here with missionary work as well! In December we will be recieving 60 new missionaries in our mission!! I'm so excited! The work is truly progressing!

Thats fun to hear about the girls' experience hiking to the temple site :) I remember Ely telling me about how  excited she was for that! I'm also stoked for the time when we will be able to all go to the Phoenix temple together!

This week was good! My favorite day of the week is always Sunday. It's a great way to end the week, we were blessed to have 6 investigators come to church! One of them was the Nanay that we started visiting last week! Brother Jay-ar, who has been investigating the church for a while came as well, and is finally taking the steps that will help him become converted to the gospel! We were so excited to see these people at church! We were able to see them walk in because we were sitting on the stand - we both gave talks this week. I was surprised because I was able to speak; often times I wonder if people are able to understand what I'm saying. 

There was a Nanay who came and told me that she was impressed with my ability to speak Tagalog, and told me that it was the gift of tongues. I was shocked! I didn't think I spoke that well at all, but I'm so humbled to know that there was one person in the congregation that I was able to speak to. That's the gift of tongues.  I'm so surprised everyday at the tender mercies that the Lord sends to us. They come through the people we meet, in the ability to speak, and surround us as we strive to do His work in His way.  We were also blessed this week with four new investigators!

It's been kind of hard with Christmas approaching, because I remember all of the traditions that we had that I'll be missing, and it makes me miss you all even more. But I can't think of any better way to spend my Christmas here than to serve my Lord. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be here.


The following is Elder Blackham's response when Mom told him we should finish family reading of the Book of Mormon sometime next month.
That is truly the only way that we can stay on the Path that leads to Eternal life. Lehi's vision was so true, and I've seen it. Those who fall away often do because they've let go of the scriptures. Stay strong and steady in that mom :) I know that your lives will continue to be blessed.


Please stay strong and of Good courage. It is my testimony that the Lord, our God is with you, and will be wherever you go.
Love always,
Elder Blackham

November 12, 2012 (pictures)

November 12, 2012

(This part is in response to a comment from Mom about how much Elder Blackham has moved around)

It's crazy haha. I can barely keep up with myself! But yeah, I miss the ocean a lot. San Clamente is a lot like Lupao as far as the terrain and climate are concerned.No worries mom :) I"m doing great! I sent some pictures of my last companion and me in my last area.

I want to promise you something mom, it's a promise that I give to almost everyone that I meet, it's the promise of the gospel. The Gospel gives us the promise of the rainbow after rain, the "calm" after the storm. More than that, the Savior has promised to guide us through our personal storms. The promise that I want to give is that it will be worth it, and the Lord will be with you to guide and protect you.

Thank you for what you said to me about having wise optimism. That is something that I'm going to apply in my missionary working in being real in all of my aspirations and goals for myself and for those I serve.

The work for us this week was good. Our strength in San Clamente is working with less actives, and we were able to find even more this week. Through using the Branch roster on our daily trips we were able to find 15 less active individuals. Hopefully we can find good home teachers for all of them, so that we can hand them off safely to the hands of the ward. Visit from the people are so so so important!

I'm also way excited about the 4 new investigators that we found! One of them was a former investigator who moved to Manila for a while, but is back for good now and is super excited for us to teach her. She's the nanay of a less active member and she feels that our message is true; she is excited with every new thing that we teach her. Another one that I feel really strongly about was a referral from a member. This guy's way nice and studies in the bible frequently. 

We also met a family this week, the Bo family. Yeah, their last name is Bo! THey are so awesome! As we met, he introduced me to what he believed. He totally believed in the word of wisdom and pretty much described the
beliefs of an active member of the church. I'm so excited to go back and explain to him why everything he talked about was true, and the message of the restored gospel.

It's awesome how things always work out.

Love,
Elder Blackham

November 5, 1012

I'm doing well. I've been transferred already to a new area. It's kind of sad because I was only in my last area for 6 weeks, and I was excited for everything going on there.  But I'm equally excited for the chance that I've been given to work here. My new area is in the Camiling Zone, and I work in San Clamente. It's on the edge of our mission. All of my areas have been on the outskirts of the Angeles Mission. haha. But It's cool. I'm excited for the opportunity to be a part of this work in my new area. I'm looking forward to working with all of my heart, might, mind and strength.

I am so excited to be here in the Camiling Zone, especially to be working so closely with the members of the San Clamente Branch. There has obviously been a lot of progression in this branch and I hope that I'll be humble and ready to continue the work that has been started here. I'm so excited for the progress that I can be a part of
as I serve here in San Clamente.

The highlight of my week was Sunday; it was neat to see how the branch worked. This is the first area that I've been in that has enough active priesthood holders to fill the important leadership callings and it is so neat to see a functioning working unit. I'm reminded of President Uchtdorf's talk about the two different types of airplanes. This is definitately a newer model and I'm excited to see how the missionary work can progress in such a unit. 

On Saturday night we were able to meet with a young man who was deciding whether or not he wanted to go on a mission. It was such a spiritual experience. On Sunday he met with the branch president and began his paper work.  It's also been neat to work with some of the recent converts, and less actives here. I'm so excited about the work here!

I'm healthy and everything. My new companion is Elder Oroceo, we've met briefly before and he is a funny and hard working elder. We're going to have a great transfer together, I know it!

Thanks for what you said about charity, it's given me a greater understanding of how I can love these people even more. That's the only thing that will make me a sucessful emissary of our Savior... I hope that I can be worthy to share His love with everyone that I meet.

Huwag ninyo makalimutan na mahal kita.

The Lord is so aware of us and all that we do. 

Love,
Elder Blackham

P.S. I got Sister Buell's email! I've got a little bit more responsibility now as far as reporting and stuff so my time on the internet is going to be a little bit more limited. Please let her know how much I love her and am so grateful for everything that she taught me. I'm so grateful that you have a friend like her. It's part of the reason I'm not so worried about you.