January 20, 2014

Funny story about the other Elder Blackham (Bret).  Everyone that I've shown pictures of him to here has a crush on him.  Haha they say that he's better looking than me. I think it's hilarious. He really is the Elder Blackham 2.0. 

Elder Potestad and I are really trying to work on getting the ward more involved with missionary work. We have an excellent ward mission leader, but he's about the only one that actively works and is concerned about missionary work. We've planned a fireside and are going to begin visiting with member families and sharing the message of the restoration.  The success that we have had comes from referrals of recent converts or recently returned less actives. As of now we have a schedule for one Baptism in February and one in March. We have a goal this week to find 4 more secure baptisms to happen within the next two months.

I'm so grateful for what Christ has done for us that we may have the capacity to approach our Heavenly Father and covenant personally with Him, and the capacity that we may ask for things. A miracle that happened to me this week was the hush of a crying baby. We were trying to teach them the restoration, but the young child's cries prevented our investigator from understanding the message. I wanted so badly for them to just understand, so I said a personal prayer. I said, "Father, I know that you have the power to calm the stormy seas, please will you calm this baby?" The baby immediately became quiet. I almost began to cry myself. We were able to finish the lesson in quiet, which allowed the spirit to abide more abundantly there. She also committed to baptism. The investigator stands unaware of the simple miracle that took place, but I know that Christ's tender mercies are upon those who seek to accomplish His work. I'm grateful for the testimony that God hears prayers.

I know mom, that you see tender mercies so much. I'm so grateful that you always took time to point them out to us. I know the Lord lives and is abundantly aware of our needs and righteous desires. 

I love you, I love the Lord. 

Love,
Elder Blackham

January 13, 2014

I'm very excited that I'll be finishing off my mission among the people. That is the greatest privilege that I could have been given.  I can't express to you how much of an honor and privilege it has been to serve a mission.  The Lord has truly blessed my life with sacred experiences that I will never forget. Thank you for guiding me, and helping me to live a life worthy of such a privilege. Please give my thanks to everyone that you see, because they have all helped me so much. 

Please tell the Ward how much I love them and am grateful for their guidance in my life. 

The work this week has been so great! We've found a lot of success in our finding efforts from the previous week.  We had 2 of our investigators at sacrament this weekend, and they seemed to really enjoy it. One of the investigators is the niece of a recent convert family.  That family has such a neat story. They are a living and very real witness of the truthfulness of the gospel. Patient appliance of the gospel saved their marriage and family. They are full of happiness and zeal for the gospel. 

Friday was an especially good day. I went on exchanges with Elder Sorilla, we were really blessed with the spirit the whole day. I also love my companion. His name is Elder Potestad - he's from Bacolod. He's been out for a year in the mission. He's got a great testimony and is obedient. I love him. I also love this work. I love being a missionry! I love it all.

Love,
Elder Blackham

January 6, 2014 (photo)

That's me, my companion, and Elder Tischner (the office elder - he and his wife are the couple missionaries that I mentioned)

January 6, 2014

I'm now in Nueva Ecija Province, San Jose City... I live in Barangay Sibut.... haha. That's a funny name, I know. As far as the church goes, I'm in San Jose Ward 1, San Jose Stake. What a welcoming ward! It's been such an awesome last couple of days. I love being back in the field! 

On Thursday, I gave my last workshop as an assistant. It was about becoming a consecrated missionary. Our mission this month will be studying about consecration. What an interesting principle. Tad R. Callister gave a great talk called "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary". Many members of the church have promised to live by this law, and I never realized how much I didn't understand about it. To me it means trust, and being willing to trust that the Lord will provide as you give Him your all. 

I'm so excited to be able to apply that more fully now that I'm in the field! Me and my new companion are excited for the coming miracles in our area.  The Saturday after we got here, there was a wedding for a couple who had been living together and were both members but are now preparing for their celestial marriage. That was way cool to see! 

There has been miracle after miracle as we've been talking to and trying to teach as many people as will listen to us.  We found a less active lolo that has been less active for seven years, and hasn't been visited since, but started crying because he said that he missed the words from the Book of Mormon. 

The coolest thing was seeing a recent convert receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He and his wife are preparing for the temple to do baptisms for the dead, and then will be sealed as a family this coming November.

I can't explain how much I love the area. Even more than the area, I love my new companion! Elder Potestad is from Bacolod City and is such an awesome man! I don't know why I've been blessed with all of the best companions. He is hard working, focused and so nice! He even ironed my shirt while I was in the shower! Seriously! 

I think one thing that I learned the most while I was in the Office is how much this truly is the Lord's work. President Martino is such an inspired man, and I was able to see him as an instrument in the Lord's hand. He truly sought the Lord's will in everything he did.  One of the neatest things to see is how transfers happen.  Every change that happens in the mission is truly inspired. I know that God is not silent. He speaks, in still, quiet ways but is ever so aware of us. I know He lives and loves us.

As the mission finished off the year, we had 1,368 baptisms in our mission. I feel like Alma, and rejoice because the Lord has used us as His instruments. This is His work, and I love it.

Love,

Elder Blackham