rains pretty bad sometimes but it's all good! Things are going well
here in Maria. The Dialect in my area now is easier to understand;
some of the people speak Ilokano which is just different, I've started
picking up bits and pieces of Ilokano. English speaking is about the
same, and yes my new companion is Filipino. In my mission, it's pretty
much guaranteed that Americans are always paired with a Filipino.
Thank you for your insights mom :) I love what you said about how the
Savior doesn't take away our pain; the nature of our mortal probation
is that we will have to endure it, but the comfort that comes from
knowing that one who loves us will bear it with us is empowering.
Because this was part of the plan, He can't take away our pain no
matter how bad He wants to. I think He does want to, but He knows
that we must suffer a little, and maybe that's part of the reason He
suffered so much for us; because He loved us enough to suffer with us.
Maybe that's why we covenant to bear one another's burdens as part of
the baptismal covenant, in following His example. Those are just
random thoughts that I have, but I know He loves us, and no matter how
lonely or painful the road we walk is; because of what He did for us,
we will never have to walk it alone.
Missionary work is different here in Maria, we're in a branch. Average
attendance here is around fourty, mostly due to how many children
there are. We're close with the branch president and many of the
members though. I've only been here a week and a half but I've met all
of the active members. The branch here has been opened for only three
years, so it's new. But the work is the same in the fact that it's the
same church, the same gospel, same teachings, we just have more
responsibility here as missionaries. This branch is awesome, I love
it!!
This week has been a good week; I've been kind of sick for the past
couple weeks, but I've been able to do everything that I needed to
even if it was harder than normal to get up and get out. We've been
surrounded by tender mercies this week, and I'm so grateful for the
opportunities we're given on a daily basis to share this gospel! The
highlight of my week was Sunday, when the tatay (father) and one of
his sons, of a family that we've been teaching came to church!! It's
so awesome to see people come to church, I feel like a child waiting
for Santa Clause to come sometimes as we wait to see if the people
come, and we're always surprised when the Lord prepares people that we
hadn't expected to show up. The work of the Lord is eternal, but
requires us to act now. Only in the doing of it does the gospel, or
teachings of Jesus Christ really change us and then we begin to
understand.
Sorry that it took a while to get this out - We're way blessed here in
this zone because a Family owns the computer shop we use and feeds all
of the missionaries here as we email our families and report; we just
got back from having fried chicken, and adobo! Masarap! ( that means
Delicious) :).
Love,
Elder Blackam
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