December 16, 2013

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply, we've been really busy with the Christmas Conference. We just got done with the first one today, there's 2 of them. President Martino Announced kanina(not sure but Mom thinks kanina means today) that this is the largest mission in the Philippines! Haha, fun fact! I think that's an awesome word :). 

I love thinking about the hope that Christmas brings.  I really don't understand how anyone could not believe. One "Man's" life inspires so many to just do good. That in and of itself is a miracle to me.  I love this time because the world joins in to celebrate Christ.  We have the opportunity to celebrate Him on a weekly, even daily basis. Imagine what the world could be like if Christmas was all the time for everyone. AWESOME! 

This last week was such a great week, We got to go on exchanges with the Santa Ignacia, Camiling, and Cabanatuan Zones. What an inspiring line up.  I saw miracles in each area.  I think of all the miracles that have happened in my mission, and then to go out and work and see Christ working just the same as He does with me with others is mind-blowing.  Every Single missionary experience is miraculous things. With the missionary force in the world increasing, that means that more miracles are going to happen! 

One miracle for me was on exchanges with the Elders in the Talavera area. We walked by a family with a young daughter that seemed scared of us. She obviously wasn't used to seeing white people, and thought that we were walking mannequins.  Our strength was Elder Bausing, a Filipino missionary who took the opportunity to approach them and introduce us. We were able to teach the restoration. After the lesson they said to us, "We've been taught by a lot different sects, but there is something different about you guys". I know that means they felt the spirit. I'm so grateful for that. They are a huge family, and ahh, It was great. There were even more miracles. I love being a missionary!

Merry Christmas Mom :) I love you.

Love,

Elder Blackham

December 9, 2013

The letter this week is a response to a question Mom asked about how the Book of Mormon sometimes refers to Christ as both the Father and the Son. Mom had heard an explanation that Christ is the "Covenant Father" because of the Atonement which he performed in our behalf.

That (the topic of how the Book of Mormon sometimes refers to Christ as both the Father and the Son) is an interesting topic. It's something that I've had to study a great deal about here on my mission because it honestly can be quite confusing, Mosiah 15 I think mentions a little bit about that. I love how you mentioned Christ as the "covenant Father". That adds a whole new meaning to it. I love that we have a real understanding of our relationship with Christ, and our relationship with Heavenly Father. It's amazing to me that I can say that I know it's true. I know it is. There's no doubt in my mind who Heavenly Father is and who Jesus Christ is.

Have a great week this week! :)

Love,
Elder Blackham

November 24, 2013

Dearest Mom :)

Miracles are the best, and they are real! We are now actually working on the study program for the mission. Our theme this month is the doctrine of miracles.

I've heard many stories of miracles from the missionaries who suvived the typhoon.  The  one that stuck out to me was about these sisters who were trapped in their home when the floods started to rise, they were forced onto the second floor. The flood continued to rise, and they had no way out. The scariest part is that some of the sisters did not know how to swim. The ones that did know how to swim, swam through the water in the flooded first floor to find a way out, but the door was trapped closed. They found a weak part in the wall that they were able to push through and swim their way out to the top of the roof. On the top of the roof, they said a prayer that the water would stop rising. As soon as they ended the prayer, the water stopped rising and they all made it out alive. There is another Elder who describes inspired preparation, that as he was getting ready (they knew a storm was coming), he was inspired to move, because he saw what was going to happen. He says for some reason he knew that the tree next to their house would fall and hit their apartment, and that other buildings were going to fall down.  So, they pre-maturely evacuated. There's so many, it's amazing to hear their faith. They told us that they felt like the Stripling Warriors. Having a testimony meeting with them was a real privilege. 

Love,

Elder Blackham