August 26, 2013 (with picture)

(This starts out replying to a question from Mom about if the area he is in has been flooding because of all the typhoons hitting the Philippines.)

I'm doing great! We are pretty safe here in Angeles. There was a little bit of flooding on Tuesday, and super hard rainfall for like 6 days strait. But, we're safe and we're still able to get some work done! Angeles is actually a ways away from Mt. Pinatubo. The cough I think is on it's last leg. Thanks for the prayers :)

:)

I love prayer! It's one of the greatest gifts that He's given us; the ability to openly communicate with Heavenly Father! :) 

I miss the temple so much. But I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here, serving. 

There have been a surprising amount of miracles this week. Sister Baker said earlier in our zone goal setting that every baptism is a miracle. That stuck with me, and after some pondering I've realized how true that really is. This week, we ended with 4 investigators with a baptismal goal date. All of which were miracles. Three of those come from a family, all of which came to church last week. They loved Stake Conference. They've been hesitant to accept a baptismal goal date until Stake Conference. The lesson that we taught afterwards was our most spiritual one yet. After they heard the testimonies of Sister Martino and Sister Jemma, they developed a desire and are actually EXCITED about their baptism! I love extending Baptismal goal dates. I love seeing people progress. Christ's church is truly here. 

One of the other investigators who came to church wasn't able to sit in the cultural hall, but wanted to be a part of it so badly that he stood in the back for two hours just so that he could see the speakers. The other sister that came to church we just met last Wednesday and extended a goal date right after we taught the restoration.... She committed, and then came to church!

I Love You all!

Love,

Elder Blackham

This is a picture of Elder Blackham posing underneath the Buddhist Goddess of Peace, while making a symbol of the fire nation from the tv show Avatar the Last Airbender. He cleaned it during a service project.

August 19, 2013

Things are going good for us here in Angeles. There's still lots of adjusting, but the work continues to progress! We were blessed with 7 investigators at sacrament meeting. We had 7 investigators at church last Sunday, and only one was not brought by a member. Most of the referrals in our area come from recent converts or recently returned less active members. We are seeing real progress in our investigators and less actives. 

We've recently been helping a few people that we teach overcome smoking. As they have gained the faith to overcome this and turn to they Lord, they've seen miracles! Tatay Monguera has been able to stop completely. The investigator that we've been working with went from 10 sticks a day to 2 sticks a day. I'm consistently amazed by the power of the atonement in the individual. Lawrence is so cool! He's one that we're really working closely with in preparing him for his baptism! He has such a strong, positive outlook. He's 24 years old. He lived in the states before while he was growing up and prefers speaking English  to us. He's got such a capacity to love, which makes the gospel perfect for him! He came to church for the first time yesterday and said he loved it.  So great!

We can only go to the temple when people that we are teaching or have taught go as well.  We can only go twice during our entire mission besides the one we get before we go home. I most likely will not get to see Bret until he comes home.

(The next part is answering mom's question about how you get around in the bigger cities)

Yes, we still walk alot. If we have a far away appointment we commute using jeepneys and tricylces. The members here cook us all sorts of delicious foods, its surprising! I feel like I don't deserve it. But, I am grateful for it. 

Love,

ELder Blackham 

August 12, 2013

I love missionary work. I feel that I can honestly say that I strive to give this work everything I've got. This week was no different; it was hard because we didn't see any of our investigators at Sacrament meeting. I hope with all my heart that they develop the faith to come next week. We were excited because some of the less actives we've been working with came to church. We've seen quiet miracles in the lives of the people here.

Ever since we are now allowed to go back to the temple, I've been so excited about teaching less active members! I know that I won't be able to go with all... or even with any of them, it just reminded me of how important the temple was to me and I've got to share that with people! I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity to share it with them.

In my personal study and observation of people that I've been around, I've come to a hypothesis; there is an intense difference in the spiritual strength of a person who consistently does three things. 1. Read scriptures daily. 2. Prays daily 3. Attends church weekly. Those three things are a spiritual foundation that everyone must develop.  I realized this week,especially, that that is an essential  role we have as missionaries in inviting others to come unto Christ; we must help them develop their relationship through being diligent in following up with these specific commitments. Just like a chair will stumble and fall if it is missing one leg, we need all pillars of our foundation of Christ. Helaman 5:12.

Angeles (the city where Elder Blackham just got transferred to) is so different than any place I've ever been! It's the biggest city in our mission.... The cool thing is that it's a ward here with super nice members that are soo good at cooking!

The hard thing here is the work... Most people here are busy during the day. It's a lifestyle more similar to America. I think that all of my other areas are much prettier. None of the cities in the Philippines are very clean actually... some of the neighborhoods are but in general its okay. I do miss the quaintness of the countryside of the Philippines. The zone is good, it's harder to coordinate activities because everyone is so far away. There are 13 companionships in our zone, the most of any zone in the mission. Its good though, I love it. 

This week was a good week for work here. My companion said it was the most they've had yet here. We're seeing quiet miracles. That's cool :) "Endure to the end" is a part of 2 different missionary lessons, so I guess that emphasizes also the importance of it. The other parts don't have any importance if we can't live the last! 

Don't you worry about me, I'm doing good, things are going just fine for me. My new companion's name is Elder Bustillo. We're doing good and happy! I'll send more pics next week!

 

Love,

Elder Blackham

August 5, 2013

Man has this been a crazy past couple weeks!  After being in my last area for only 6 weeks, I've been transferred to Angeles City... Which is a big adjustment!

I got a little bit sick over the weekend, but am doing better now. I don't want to scare you, but just so you know what's up with me; I had a hard time breathing Friday morning and had been running a fever and had a bit of a cold.  So, we went to the hospital. It turns out that I have pneumonia.  They gave me two breathing treatments and had me on oxygen for a little over an hour. I was released and was able to do the duties that I had to which was a huge miracle.

Things are starting to calm down now though. I'm bummed that I was transferred after only one transfer in Cabanatuan.... I really am going to miss my branch. Especially the branch missionaries. Many of them are YSA (that means Young Single Adults between the ages of 18-30) with non member or inactive parents. They still are strong though and are going to make great leaders some day. I know that the Lord is in charge of everything that happens. All we can do is take the revelation as it comes and continue doing our best with faith that the the promise is sure, "It'll all work out".

Keep on sharing the gospel. Remember that no effort is wasted. If it's not time to harvest, we just keep planting! I love you and I know the Lord will guide you in all you do.

Love,

Elder Blackham

July 29, 2013

Here is a quick update about our week, it was super busy and super great! 

It's been such a busy, great week! We went on exchanges everyday from Monday through Friday. We did so in order to train; also according to the requests of some of the elders in our zone. It was a neat experience to work with so many different missionaries!  However, I missed my permanent companion. I realized this week that the companions we do have were given to us as a calling. When we received our calls, it wasn't just to a place, or not only to your President. Every companion that we have... we were called to serve them as well, we are also blessed to serve with them. I also learned this week how much this is the Lord's work. I seem to learn that more and more every new day that I'm here

. 
Everyday of work this week was a highlight for me. Tuesday we had great success with teaching our investigators, and with feeling the spirit in all of our lessons. We were guided to find and teach new less actives.  We had a hard day as far as the work goes, but were able to find a less active who told us that she's ready to come back to church now. We learned that even though we are punted, it is because the Lord has another plan and wants us to find someone else. On Thursday, I worked with one of the most diligent working missionaries that I've met. We just had a wholesome day together, full of the spirit. On Friday we had a hard day as well as far as the work goes. We met with a Muslim man. It broke my heart to talk to him because he doesn't want to accept Christ as a Savior. I couldn't imagine life without the knowledge that I have of who my savior is. I'm so grateful for this church and the truth that it teaches. We were also lead to a less active member, on a prompting of the spirit through Elder Sorilla and it turned out that a member of their family needed a blessing. Boy we were glad that he followed that prompting. On Saturday I got to be back with my own companion.  We were finally able to work together again, in which we had a very successful branch missionary fireside. 

I love you all,

Elder Blackham