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

October 28, 2013

Our office couple here is the absolute greatest! Holy moly! They are the neatest people. It's like I've been able to work with Nonnie and Poppie! They are the Tischners, from Salem Utah. Elder TIschner was a Patriarch of 13 years! They take too good care of us here. Many times a week, Elder Tischner will whip my companion and I up some popcorn. I had forgot what that tasted like, but mom, I could just go on about how cool they are. Even though we are busy, working with them here is like working with angels and that makes it okay. 

This last week was busy because we were taking care of departures, arrivals, transfers, and other things. It all came together okay though. We saw the Bell family - they came to pick up Elder Bell who's from Gilbert, Arizona. It's so weird to see good mission friends go home. He's been here the whole time that I've been out. We were actually in the same zone back in my second area. He always made sure to be my friend and tell me that my Tagalog would come a long haha. I love the mission. That's one of the greatest miracles... I can speak Tagalog.

It was amazing the last week to work in Angeles as well. We went on exchanges with the Elders out there right now and had some great lessons! I will never ever tire from telling the story of the restoration. The family we taught seemed to perk up as we taught. The spirit bears such a solemn testimony of the truthfulness of that occasion. Its amazing that I don't have to be there to know that it's true. I do. I know it's true with all that's in me. I love this gospel, I love my Savior and His work. I love you and our family mom. Because of His plan, that love can last forever. Truth has been restored.

Love,

Elder Blackham