Sunday, October 4, 2015

The Epistle of Daniel the Missionary to the Filipinos - Chapters 6 & 7

In the sixth and seventh months, 2015 A.D.

In each apartment I've lived in the rent has been paid for by the mission and the bills have been divided among those in the apartment. Having us pay the electric and water bills help us learn to manage our use of these utilities, and helps us to be conservative. Water bills range from 200-300 pesos (or 5-7 dollars) for 4 missionaries for a whole month, and electricity is about 1,000-1,500 pesos (or 22-34 dollars) for 4 missionaries for a month. In my current apartment however there is a bill that must be paid on or before the 15th of every month. It's called "association dues".  It costs exactly 2,550 pesos (or 57 dollars) every month. It pays for the building security, the elevators, the pool, the basketball court, and the other things associated with living where we live. However, no one in my apartment wants to pay it, so I end up paying it every month. Although it is a reimbursable expense unlike the other bills. The mission understands that such a bill would place an undue burden on missionaries.

As a missionary, I learn and experience many great and wonderful things for myself, but I'm also blessed to learn from association many great and important things that I never had to struggle and endure myself. I've learned many lessons about leadership, even though I myself have seldom been a leader. I've learned how to rise above challenges that I've not yet encountered, and I've been blessed to learn from association, and rarely from experience, that wickedness never was happiness. So to my many associations I am greatly indebted. I am grateful that there are no bills for such associations, but if there were I would pay them rather than suffer myself to learn of all the pain.

I'm sure Satan is disappointed when we learn to do what is right by association. He intends for each of us to experience all of the pain and suffering that our neighbors experience. He truly desires that all men might be miserable, like unto himself. When we see our friend struggling because of a bad decision and we say in our hearts and commit to ourselves that we will never make the mistake they made we remove entirely that weapon from the devil's arsenal.

Here's a sports example. A curve ball is a powerful weapon of an astute pitcher, but only if the batter is not expecting it or has not seen it before. Either curving into or out of the strike zone at the last millisecond, this pitch can and has fooled nearly everyone who has seen it, at one time or another. If however, upon watching his teammate at the plate, a player notices a variance in the pitcher's delivery of his curve, as compared to his other pitches he has indeed "removed this weapon from his arsenal". Even if this player has not yet taken a pitch from this particular pitcher he knows how to predict, and thus how to avoid, the pitfalls of this pitch. This knowledge alone will not save him, but if he acts on this knowledge and is watchful and mindful he will not be deceived.

How many times does a mistake have to be repeated before we resolve and commit to avoid it. The answer is way less than 1. If we are truly watchful God will give us many chances to watch the 'pitcher' before our plate appearance, as well as after. Our Father in Heaven intends for us to learn some things from experience. A batter will not be worth his weight in rice unless he's had many personal experiences in the batters' box. But let us all be grateful for the things that we are blessed to learn from association, and not seek to experience every pain of soul, and every sin, in our ignorance forgoing the blessing of eyes that see and ears that hear.



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This week we had a really cool activity called Flight 2015. It wasn't a real flight, but it was a simulated flight that ended with a simulated crash after which all of those involved were taken to a room and taught about the plan of salvation, and where we go after we die.
Four of our investigators came to the activity. There were about 100 people that attended, some members, but many non-members. It was really well planned out, and it was all in Tagalog which was awesome because sometimes they speak too much English at our church meetings and some of the investigators don't understand any of it. I used to fall asleep when they spoke Tagalog in church, but now I can understand most of what they say, and I stay awake easily in church.
Anyway, after the plane crash and the classes about where we go when we die, and the rest of the plan of salvation, there was a Q&A portion, and the investigators asked questions which we as missionaries took turns answering. I only had to answer one question and there weren't many questions asked, but the whole atmosphere at the activity was celestial. It even made me ponder about the next life, and our purpose here.
When one of our investigators asked questions about baptism and joining the church I was surprised and happy. I didn't know that those were even on her mind. We have only taught this investigator 3 times, and we haven't given her a baptismal date yet.
I know that the Lord is preparing people and that the gospel is true, maybe the time will come when I won't be surprised by the miracles of missionary work, but maybe not.

* * * * * * * *

I have to admit, there were more long emails than I had time to read today, so I apologize if there was something you requested or asked me about because I haven't yet read them. I've saved them to this computer and I will print them out, but if you have an urgent concern or question send it separately in a small email. But don't stop sending those long emails. I love reading those, and I read all of them.
I remember a few weeks ago I was worried that I was being forgotten. I was worried that I'd been away from my family and friends for so long that I was pushed further and further into the back of your mind, and further down on your list of priorities.
But now I've begun praying about everything and worrying about nothing.
Try it. It works.
And I'll tell you more about my experiences next week. The time is far spent.

* * * * * * * *
I'm very grateful for all of the things that have been happening and I feel like I should share some of those things with you.
1. Investigators at church - A few weeks ago we were struggling with getting anyone to come to church. We tried over and over again inviting people to church, and even offering to pick them up. Even showing up to pick them up. Occasionally that resulted in them coming to church once, but then they wouldn't come the next week. The people we were trying to get to church were mostly primary age investigators, and we seemed to be hitting a brick wall. However, just more than a month ago we met Elizabeth Dela Pena, and she's been to church 4 times in a row now. To our surprise she has brought a new investigator to church each time. The first week it was just her, but then it was her and her son, then her and her son and her aunt, then she brought her older son to a baptism last Saturday, and yesterday she brought both of her sons and her husband to church, and they stayed for all 3 hours. Sister Elizabeth was someone we just met while we were proselyting. I know that very little of her progression in the church is due to the things that we've done. The Lord prepared her to hear the word.
2. Overwhelmed with food - Every week we have 2 set dinner appointments. One on Sunday nights, and one on Wednesday nights, and on top of that we usually get fed some sort of snack every day. Sometimes a whole meal, and sometimes more than one. If you've been praying for me to be well fed then you're prayers have been answered.
3. Stress investigators - Some of our investigators just seem to add stress to my life and don't really progress. They progress just enough that I feel like we need to help them, but they don't do the hard things like come to church on their own, or pray with real intent. There were about 7 or 8 of these kind of investigators in my area last week, but I found out last Sunday that 4 or 5 of these investigators don't actually live in my area. We thought they did, and we taught them as if they did. They actually live in the Zone Leaders' area. They gladly accepted them as new investigators, and maybe they can help them turn their lives around. So far, I still haven't seen them at church, but now the stress is off my shoulders. :)

Wish I could say more, but this is the substantialness I can muster right now. :)
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DANIEL'S FAMILY AT HOME

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