Week 72 - December 16th, 2019 (Santa Teresita, Philippines)

Exchanges with Elder Lalamoro

Well, here we are again, another transfer day and it's off to a new adventure! Just got the news that I'm transferring tomorrow from Santa Teresita to Sinait A, way out on the opposite end of the mission, leaving tomorrow morning. My new companion will be Elder Gajete, who is on his second cycle in the field. Getting on that long bus ride again bright and early tomorrow, haha. It has been absolutely the greatest and most amazing time of my life here in Santa Teresita with Elder Morley, I am so grateful for the miracles and joy of these past weeks and months. I'm going to miss these people that I feel like I've known for years, these relationships that we've made are never to be broken, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have found them in the everlasting Gospel that makes them eternal. We finished up an amazing three months together with the baptisms of the Palattao family and sister Precious- those are some amazing people and that is such a miracle that we were able to witness. I have learned so much over the course of these last six months in this area, and especially about this work during the period of Elder Morley and I's companionship  We have had a great last week of exchanges, finding, and visiting with those that we have grown to love in Family Home Evenings and sharing messages that bring us all greater light and peace, as only Christ and His Atonement can.

The little town of Santa Teresita-
you will be missed

Exchanges with Elder San Diego

Seeing the progress and change that enters into people's lives as they apply and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ has really taught me how powerful and real the Atonement of our Savior actually is. It's one thing to read it in the scriptures and feel that power from those past stories, but I feel that only in this past couple months have I really begun to understand the meaning of the joy of God, the glory of His work. Before the mission, I really had the impression that the most joyous experiences were those in which I was directly involved and a cause of whatever made me happy, but now I am so grateful to be learning the truth behind the joy in this work- it's really literally that I am not involved in it, or rather I do not directly influence the miracles that we have been witnessing. It's a humbling experience, and it just testifies to me so much that this is the Lord's work, I have seen the way it changes lives, unites families, brings a sense of purpose and peace, and more than all a way to change and become better- and I've observed most of all in all these souls coming unto Christ that they are doing exactly that- this work is between them and the Lord, and I am simply a fortunate observer of the power of Christ's Atonement in these lives. I am so, so grateful to be counted worthy to be an instrument, and I just feel like Ammon in that I could glory in God forever- I know that this is the single most important work any of us could ever do, the work of the Father to bring to pass the eternal life and joy of His children. It teaches me that happiness is not found in helping myself, it's in following the two great commandments to love God and thus love our neighbor, help them grow closer and know of His Plan. I know that God has a divine Plan for us to return to Him, and Christ and His restored Gospel are the absolute center, the power around which all else revolves. Every time we watch "The Christ Child" at someone's home, it just reminds me how He, the greatest of all, began and lived and died in the humblest and meekest of circumstances, simply seeking to love and serve His fellows and ultimately paying the price for us all- so that as He, we could live again and inherit the glory of the Father. We cannot inherit as He has unless we become as He is, and see that that is truly where joy lies. I love you all so much, and extend the same invitation as He does to "go about doing good" this Christmas season, and light the world with the hope of His Coming. I love you all so much, and will see you all very soon.

The baptism of the Palattao Family-
Brother Jun, Sister Mayang, and LJ, along with
Sister Precious Villarosa- such a miracle!

Elder Morley and I- I'm gonna miss this
companionship, we have had such a
 blast these past three months

Brothers Jonel, Darrel, and Alan- Alan's baptism
 is this upcoming January, they are all great

Members in the branch

More members and friends

The Morla family- Sisters Jen and April Joy-
 lifelong friends, it's been such a miracle to see
them change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ

More members

The Carbonel Family-
will miss them all very much

The Palattao Family- I thinkBrother
Jun is the funniest person I know, haha

The Flores Family, our Elders Quorum President-
 we had a lot of good times with them

They made a Statue of Liberty
in the Municipal Square

Our Family Home Evening activity
 we had at the Palattao's home with a
bunch of different members and families-
 a great way to go out