July 22, 2013

The Lord blesses those who have been called to his work. There is a promise in The Bible that states "all things work out for the good for those who are called". I know that's true. I'm living this promise. 

This week was so great!! Lexter was baptized on Saturday, and received the Holy Ghost the following Sunday. I loved it. He was so happy. Getting here was really a journey for him, on Sunday night we started the new member lessons, which here starts with a review of the restoration. My eyes filled with tears because of the truthfulness of it all. It was such a neat experience.

We were blessed this week with 6 investigators at Sacrament meeting! The family from our apartment complex continues to progress and come to church. We are still working with them on a plan for their marriage. This week we taught them the Plan of Salvation. I love teaching that lesson because it answers so many of the questions that people have; it is a bright testimony of God's love for them, and they really felt that this week. It's so neat, we also taught that lesson to the other new family that we've recently found. They told us this week that they love it when we come over because we have the answers that she can't get from anyone else. I love that we are part of the true church that has all of the true answers. Teaching the Plan of Salvation helps people understand how loved they are. I think that that is such a huge factor in their conversion process. I've recently realized that at the end of the day; more important that what we teach is how we taught them to help them feel God's love for them.

See yourself as Christ sees you this week. :)

I love you,

Elder Blackham

July 15, 2013 (Pictures)

 This is Elder Blackham's entire zone

Elder Blackham and his companion on a tricycle haha. They had branch missionaries working with them, and the sidecar was full so Elder Blackham sat on the top!

July 15, 2013

I'm doing so great! I haven't gotten around to fixing my shoes yet....but it's been a fantastic week! Lots of miracles! I just sent an email that had some pictures attached. Those are at service projects and pday activitites. 

(This part is an explanation about how questions help to teach based on a question that Mom asked Elder Blackham)

Missionary work is the baBOMB! Questions are huge in opening people's mind.  Here we call it "inspired questions". I strive to find inspired questions for the people we teach. Those are the question that make a person think, because it was prompted by the spirit. Sometimes it is as simple as "Do you believe Joseph Smith is a prophet?" or "What is the most important thing to you in your life?". I've been realizing lately the importance of member-involvement in missionary work. Here, in the area where I have been assigned, I'm just the part-time guy. I'm here to give it my all for a season, but the fruits of my work really depend on the things that happen after I leave and in the years to come and relationships that develop with the members of the wards and branches that we serve in.   It is the greatest blessing. 

 I can't help but smile when I sit and think about this last week. Elder Leduna and I are giving it our all. As a result, we are witnessing miracles unfold on a daily basis. We have been so guided in our finding efforts. The family that I mentioned in the last letter came to church, brought two of their nieces and stayed for all three hours. They are progressing so fast! I love working with them because they have been so prepared and are so ready to embrace the gospel. And though my joy is absolutely full because of them, there is more. The part-member family of a recent convert here started coming to church as well; one of our OYM's (Open Your Mouth) came to church (and was brought by a member), other investigators that weren't progressing before came, we were blessed with 13 investigators at Sacrament. I'm not happy because of that number, I'm ecstatic because of the individuals that that number represents. That is the most I've seen my whole mission. With every new area that I'm in, I learn more and more of how much this truly is the Lord's work.  

This week in my studies about prayer, I learned that prayer is a constant opportunity to enliven our individual purification process. I was lead to study more about purification this week. Purification to me means that our will becomes one and pure with Heavenly Father's will. This means converting our hearts and desires to his. I've realized I still have a long ways to go on my personal purification process. Prayer to me now is a multi-daily opportunity to check in with Him.

Love,

ELder Blackham

July 8, 2013

I am going to use my birthday money to fix my shoes.  They have holes in them now.  They lasted a little over a year.... I wore them everday though because they are the only ones we bought that were slip on which works great because we take our shoes off at many of our appointments.

 

I will be here long enough to see the man I was talking about in my last letter's baptism! It happens this month, and thank goodness there are no transfers this month! I really love this area. The branch missionaries are very hardworking with missionaries here, they have strong testiomonies and love to share it with others. 

Elder Leduna and I are doing great. He's such an awesome man; his positive attitude and willingness to work hard inspires me. We've continued to see great things happen this week. Two weeks ago, we helped a family move into an apartment almost next door to ours. Afterwards, we told them who we were and why we wanted to help. They said that they had relatives coming to visit them and they would be busy the next couple of weeks.... so, we waited. Yesterday, we returned and the mother of the family was so excited to see us. She told us that she had been looking for a religion that would unite her family, that taught principles of weekly church attendance, and that would teach her young daughter right principles. She then explained how she was guided to move into the apartment they are living in now, and felt like it was the right decision when she met us two weeks ago. We have a return appointment with them later tonight, and they already committed to come to church next week! Our Lord really guides this work, He guides families.  We see so many miracles. 

Recently we've been studying about prayer. Wow, what a neat topic to study. It's something basic, that we've grown up with. Taking the time to study it though has given me a much deeper desire to make my prayers as sincere as possible. There is so much power in the opportunity that we have to speak openly with our Heavenly Father and align our will with His. We must be available to him. 

Continue to look for ways to share the gospel :) 

Love,

Elder Blackham

This little funny story is one he told me that I thought I would include.

 I saw on old man this week, who looked like a Filipino version of the old man from "up" who would wave and shake his cane at kids who walked by, pretending like he was going to kick them... the kids ran away screaming, he then put his cane down like normal, looked up at me and started laughing. Oh man, the things people do for a good laugh. Cracked me up.

July 1, 2013

The work continues and things are going great here in Cabanatuan!! It's been quite the adventurous week. I'm in the same zone again as Elder Park, which is way cool. He's my good buddy here in the mish. We met a new investigator this week, quite miraculously... it's been fun teaching. He's a recently taught investigator that we were told to teach. We went to his house one morning and he told us to come in right away. He said that he was taught before but never wanted to be baptized. The morning before we came he said that he had a desire to be baptized, and then we showed up! He wanted to be baptized on Sunday, but we've got to wait 4 weeks haha, so that was cool. He told me that he wanted me to be his son in law, but I told him that I was already taken. 

Other than that, it's been a week of simple, and mighty miracles. We were blessed with 7 investigators at sacrament meeting yesterday.  We've been working our tales off, and good things are happening. I'm super excited about the miracles that Elder Leduna and I are yet to see.  

Cabanatuan City is the business capitol of the Nueve Ecija province.  We are 11 companionships. There aren't many mountains really here in Cabanatuan, it's pretty flat, we just travel to different areas around the city. 

Well mom, I'm doing great. Pretty tired right now, but loving the work.

Love,
Elder Blackham

June 24, 2013

This week has been crazy for me too.... It's been a series of mixed emotions, hellos, and goodbyes. I got transferred. My new area is Cabanatuan City. Its one of the biggest zones in our mission, so that makes me kind of nervous. My new companion's name is Elder Leduna - He's so great haha. We've been together for four days now and we're so excited for the miracles that will occur this next transfer. I'm kind of sad to leave so many memories and people in Palayan.... The Sebastian family and Winnie especially. But this is the Lord's work and I know He's in charge. He's called me to be somewhere else because He knows what is best for them and what is best for me.

I'm low on time this day mom, but thank you for everything you've said. We will be watching the broadcast this Sunday. From what you've Said, I'm super excited... President Packer is so great. Haha, he's probably my favorite. I'll probably get the card next week. We have a leadership council on my birthday haha. This work is great, and we've already seen miracles here in Cabanatuan Branch 8. The Father of a recent convert came to church, which is something that she had fasted for. I really love being here, Please give my love and thanks to everyone who helped and is helping me be who I am today. 

Love,

Elder Blackham