November 4, 2013

Hey, actually we had a way good week this week. I'll just mention a few lil highlights. We finally got to teach this guy we tracted once. We've really been trying to find educated people to teach to actually benefit the church here and teach potential leaders. This guy is way dope. He's maybe 60, if that, a retired lawyer/bank owner (keep in mind this is huge for the Philippines). He met some missionaries on the airplane two weeks back while flying home from New York. He liked how they were nice and helped the flight lady with her bags, so he let us in. He has 3 kids who work in New York. He's way dope but makes me nervous.Ha! We just speak English to him. He's the first Filipino I've taught in English. Wish us luck! Strivin high!

Friday, we got stuck discussing the Bible with some Jehovah's Witnesses for over 2 hours. So instead of bible bashing, we just talked with this guy. He asked some good questions and just listened. Elder Holland said that if we listen with spiritual ears, our investigators will tell us what they need to hear. Yup, it worked!

We had one of the sickest lessons ever last Saturday. I'll just briefly tell it because I hate writing about spiritual experiences. It always sounds lame via email. We got punted a bit last Saturday, so we decided to go visit a branch president who hasn't been to church in 10 years. He was baptized in 1967 and doesn't believe in the restoration.

 I realized that I don't think he doesn't believe in the Book of Mormon, but has had a hard time standing alone in his religion. It's just him at the house and he kept asking why we need this book when it makes us so different from everyone else, etc.

He also mentioned how hard it is to be obedient when you don't go to church. He said now he drinks coffee and wine sometimes. The spirit was very strong though and we just bore testimony. We told him what President Uchtdorf said that if being a hypocrite means you aren't perfect at living what you believe, then we're all hypocrites. As the Apostle Paul described, the church is for the perfecting and edifying of the saints. It's not a rest home for perfect members.

I told him the church is like a family. The head can't say he has no need of the feet cause with out the feet it couldn't stand. Every member is important. We told him our family in this ward isn't complete without him and we want him to come back to church.

It was quiet for about 5 minutes and we just let him think.. He then asked, "Then what?" We waited a minute and told him,"Then you're back home with your family in God's church." It was quiet for another 5 minutes and then he said, "Maybe when the time is right, he'll come back." So we just said O.K. and told him when he's ready, we'll be waiting.  Pretty cool though.

He prayed for us and then asked if he could buy us some sodas. So of course we said yes and talked for a bit. He asked about a few members in the ward, some old friends, and gave us a book to give one of them. We talked to his friends yesterday and they're gonna come with us to teach him this week Pretty cool. We started off that lesson with an apostatized man and because of the Spirit, left as a humbled man who I know will be back at church. Gotta love the spirit.

That's it for now!

Love ya!