Sunday, November 29, 2015

The Final Epistle of Daniel the Missionary to the Filipinos - Chapters 10 & 11

In the 10th & 11th months, 2015 A.D.

Note: Daniel returns from his mission December 2, 2015, after being in the Philippines for two years. We're grateful he's had a chance to serve as a missionary, and are thrilled to welcome him home. 

I've been busy doing tons of missionary things and fixing all my past mistakes, but I love each passing day. Yes, there's sacrifice, there's always sacrifice, but I love serving the Lord.

Today we had the privilege of visiting the Manila Philippines Temple. It was great and very calming; just what I needed today. While in the temple I considered if I truly understood the law of consecration, and I read about it more after my session today. The Doctrine and Covenants discuss this principle in depth multiple times. In one of these instances it mentions that we are supposed to give back anything that is left over after we have satisfied our needs and our wants. I think often if I am being thrifty enough or if I should do better. Ironically, I want to only spend money on that which I need. I don't want to want, or to indulge my "wants". I don't think it's necessary, but the scriptures reminded me that I can want things. Things that I don't need are still important. Blessings that we receive from following commandments such as the law of consecration, are meant to please us. Our food is meant to please us. This life is meant to please us. God wants us to be happy. I'm not saying that thrift has no eternal value or that your personal happiness is more important than anything else, but I realized for myself earlier today that I need to be happy, and my righteous and even my natural desires are meant to be bridled and fed. In the Lord's time of course.

I've been very blessed, and for most of my life I have wanted for nothing, or very little, (Just ask my parents, I'm very hard to shop for.) but those who walk in obedience to the commandments of the Lord will always receive what they need, and sometimes the things they merely want.

Let us all remember that we are children of God, and we are here on earth to be tested, but through the infinite wisdom of our Lord it is intended to be pleasing.


* * * * * * * *

I'm going to be training a new missionary for my last 6 weeks. In fact, everyone in my district is going to be training or in training for the next 6 weeks. I have no idea what his name is. I don't know if he speaks any English or not, but I'm going to love him. He will be my only begotten son in the mission. I'm super excited, I think I'm hiding it pretty well, but nothing can upset me right now.

I remember 6 weeks ago I thought I was going to end my mission in Mandaluyong as a normal missionary, and now I've been called to one of the highest and most challenging, and most rewarding positions in the mission. At the same time I'll be a district leader. I'm going to be stressed. I know that, but I can't think of a greater way to end my mission. :)


 * * * * * * * *

I love being a missionary. I can be a very stressful job if you do it right. I've noticed that the missionaries who don't care are not stressed, but are not happy either. They see no blessings from the half-hearted work that they do, and soon forget why they even left home to serve a mission. There are 5 sister missionaries in my district that are stressed; some more than others. They understand that there are many sacrifices to be made in missionary service.

I've learned to love hard work, and see laziness as the sin it is. I love being active, and doing good things that require effort. I'm surprised by how easy it has become to focus on the work. I remember in my first area emailing was the one thing I looked forward to every week, and I wished the end was near. Now I can truly say that I have found joy in the journey. I look forward to being a missionary for 30 more days. I rarely think about going home. It's drawn quite close, but I know that everything is in order, and I don't have to worry about it or think about it.

Getting lost in the work has made it too inconvenient to be trunky. I love this work too much. I'll wait to get excited about going home until I start packing, probably 28 days from now. I know that there are still people here that need my time and attention, and I know that Elder Dadis has a lot more that he needs to learn from me.

Thank you for all of your letters of encouragement and love. If you haven't emailed me yet, or it's been a while, I would really appreciate even a small email from you, just one before I come home. I'm strong, but I still need encouragement in the last and final stretch.


* * * * * * * *

Something that I have noticed and applied in my life as a missionary is that a huge part of my life needs to be about giving to others. I realized early in my mission that I'm not here to serve myself or to be served. I'm here to give of myself. My rest, my time, my love, my effort and my heart.

In a physical sense, giving so much of yourself makes very little sense. Physics will tell you that the more you give the less you have. Physically speaking this is absolutely true. If you give your lunch to another person, no matter how much they need it, you will lose your lunch. However, for me, and for those who know of God and His matchless power, and mercy and love, giving of your own possessions or efforts or time will always be a rewarding experience.

400 hours from now my life as a full-time missionary will be over, and I will be released from my prophetic calling to serve in the Philippines. I'm trying my very best to not look forward to it yet. I'm more concerned about those people that still need me, and whom the Lord has called me to serve and bless for the next 400 hours.

I'm very grateful for all of the people who are working together in harmony to make my home coming a wonderful and organized series of events. If I had to worry about the plane tickets or the flight plans or the reservations or the meals or any of the transportation I would not be able to focus on my work for these final hours. So thank you for your quiet planning and preparations. It means a lot.

I'm very grateful for every minute that I've been given to serve the people of the Philippines. And when I'm done I will use every minute to serve Americans, starting with my wonderful American Family. :)

Also, I'll have the opportunity to see my first apostle in person tomorrow. I've heard rumors that it will be Elder Renlund. But I'm not sure.


* * * * * * * *

I've been doing a great job of not thinking about going home. Maybe it's because I can't wrap my mind around it yet. I feel like I'm in denial. :) But that's okay for now. I know that I'll be home and going through many major life changes in a week or so, but I'm not ready to think about that yet. I've made plans and organized my life in such a way that I don't stress about big changes, because I've prepared for them logistically and physically, and I'll adjust emotionally when the time comes. I thought the emotional trunky battle would be more of challenge.
The mission is still my life for a week, so in my mind there's no reason to start thinking about home.
I was very happy to teach two new families about the gospel this week. They are very kind and they love their families, and they all said they would come to church, but not a single one showed up. I was confused and a bit upset on Sunday (of course I didn't let it show) and I still don't know all of the reasons why they weren't at church, but I realized that the reason why it matters to me if they come to church or not is because I care about them and desire their happiness and their salvation, so as a missionary I can say I did my part and I was successful, because I love those that I teach. :)
Of course I would be very happy if they would come to church next week and continue to do so. Please pray for them. Abrerra Family and Gonzales Family.
Thank you for all of your prayers and words of comfort and counsel. Thank you also for all the missionaries serving in your wards that you help, and feed. There are many people who have in turn watched over and cared for and fed me since the day I arrived in the Philippines.

— Elder Southwick

* * * * * * * *


Sunday, November 8, 2015

The Epistle of Daniel the Missionary to the Filipinos - Chapters 8 & 9

In the eighth and ninth months, 2015 A.D.

I'm really starting to feel the pull of the closeness of the end of my mission, but I'm still focusing on it. My mind is here, and my heart is here, but the impending close of my missionary life is becoming more of a reality as the days wind down. I knew it was coming, but it's inching its way into the forefront of my mind. I'm sure when I start extending baptismal dates in December the time will begin to fly on wings of lightning. I am reminded of my stay on Palawan, and how the last week flew by in an instant, and I was not able to get half of the things done that I planned to do. The same thing might happen again if I don't plan carefully. One thing I have learned from my mission is the importance of planning; the further in advance the better. Especially if it's something that is sure to happen. I know that I'll be going home in 4 months, so it's only natural for me to start thinking about how I ought to prepare for and plan for such a big event in my life. Some of my investigators are already making such plans.

I am very grateful for all of the emails that I have received and for the continuing love and support of each one of you. I will try to return the favor over the years after I come back home.


* * * * * * * *

I was blessed to be able to go on MTC exchanges this week and it was very successful. We spent the first hour doing the important, but hard part of missionary work; OYMing. Our first few appointments fell through, so we looked for people to teach, and then after putting Elder Kinikini (from Fiji) through that I took him and his teacher, who kind enough to accompany us, to the neighborhood of our progressing investigators. We taught 3 of them about the Restoration, one of them hearing it for the second time, but all of them insisting on being taught and eagerly anticipating our arrival. Elder Kinikini struggled to explain the first vision in Tagalog, and the investigators helped him and encouraged him to keep going. No criticism or mocking took place, and I feel as though each of us were edified and rejoiced together in the testimony of Fijian, and his Filipino teacher.

4 investigators and 4 kids came to church this week despite our lack of diligence and time management and obedience. They are all progressing towards baptism and I’m going to make sure that they understand the gospel in such a way that they will never go less active, and they will be a blessing to future missionaries.

1. Sister Cristina Dela Cruz - 24 yrs old - Say's we're the people she was looking for. Is trying to raise 2 kids mostly by herself. Always puts on a smile, even if it's a nervous smile.      
-Her 2 kids - 3 and 7 yrs old - Love it when we visit. Used to be shy, but now they're our friends.

2. Sister Elizabeth Dela Pena - 36 yrs old - Very intelligent yet easy to teach. She remembers everything. She knows my birthday, my going home date, my companion's birthday, other missionaries in the wards' birthdays, my first name, my middle name, how many siblings I have, my Facebook account (we're friends now), my height, and nearly all the mission rules.
-Her 2 kids - 7 and 13 yrs old

3. Sister Tracy Detros - 11 yrs old
-Her little sister, Collyn - 7 yrs old - I'll talk about these last few next week.

* * * * * * * *

At this point in my mission, you wonderful people are one of the only reasons I want to come back to America. I love my country, but I've never felt so attached to a nation, as I do right now to the Philippines. I won't miss the concrete roads, houses, bridges, and stairs, or the baklas but I'll miss every sweet Filipino that ever invited us into their home, or gave me bread, or soda, or rice to eat. The people of the Philippines that I have met are a concentrated group of family loving, Christ centered people that I didn't know existed. I will miss them, But to be with my family again I will leave them.

Maybe I'm being a little over dramatic. My return flight was scheduled well in advance, and I would be going back home in December no matter how much I want to stay or how much I want to stay. I feel however that it's interesting to note that in my mind and in my heart this has become a dilemma at all.

20 months ago I could not have imagined that the thought of not returning home for any reason would even enter my mind, but 20 months ago I didn't have any idea what I was getting into. My heart is truly engaged in the work, and I have left behind all personal affairs. In fact, in my day to day life I rarely think about home. I know the months are going by and the time is fast approaching when I will be reunited with my family, but I'm too busy to think about that.

But I invite each one of you to stay with me for these last few months, and don't forget about me. One of the few times in the day that I think about you is when I kneel at night to pray. You have an important place in my prayers, and my life, and in a few short months that importance will be realized.


* * * * * * * *

I've been a missionary for a while now, and though I would not wish for it to end, I know that it shall come to pass that I shall return to the land of my fathers an hundred days after the time that ye shall receive this email.

But despite all of that, I'm still very engaged in the work. We're having a baptism on Saturday, and we're still teaching and working and doing missionary things, and I still enjoy it. You might even say I love it. I'll talk a lot about that baptism next week.

Keep up your hard work and don't worry too much about me. :) I'm in a great place.

* * * * * * * *

Two days from now is transfer day and I was pretty sure my companion would be transferred, and I was right. I'll get my new companion in two days. But I will also be transferring, and for the first time in forever I will be a district leader and I will have a stewardship. The ward I will be assigned in is either Sampoloc or Manila YSA Ward.

I don't know the name of my companion yet, but I know that he will also be part of my stewardship.

I've been a missionary for about 20 months and I had not yet been assigned a leadership position other than senior companion. I thought I would 'die' as a normal missionary doing normal missionary things. But now I have a stewardship, and I already love and care about them. I can't wait to teach them and guide them and work with them. I'm super excited actually. I also thought this area would be my last, but I look forward to learning a new area again and meeting hundreds of new people.

The Baptism of Sister Dela Pena and her son Darryl was the first and only baptism I had in this area, but Cristina Dela Cruz (the 24-year-old on the left) has accepted a baptismal date in January after she gets married to her boyfriend.

The baptism itself was a great success, not mentioning the fact that the piano was out of order for the whole service, or that the service itself started an hour late. It was stressful but it was wonderful. I'm going to miss these people.

* * * * * * * *

Due to the burdens of being a District Leader I've seem to run out of email time again. I've included for your viewing pleasure, my letter to President Ostler this week. Hopefully this will give some insight into my week.

I'm in charge of the missionary work in 2 wards. Sampaloc and MYSA (or Manila Young Single Adult Ward) Also, the other 4 missionaries in my district, other than my companion, Elder Coloma, are sister missionaries. These are their names:

Sister Cantos - Philipina, speaks a lot of English, and has 1 transfer left in her mission.
Sister Tabayoyong - Philipina, speaks some English
Sister Langkilde - Samoan, speaks Samoan, English and Tagalog almost fluently, and has 1 and ahalf transfers left in her mission.
Sister Jumaran - Philipina, brand new missionary being trained by Sister Langkilde, speaks little English, and is quickly learning Tagalog, her native language is Cebuano.

Next week we have a district meeting, so next next week I'll send a picture of all of us.
Neither me or my companion have a camera.

Dear President,

I've been very blessed to have such wonderful missionaries in my District. I'm very excited for these coming months.

Sister Tabayoyong was sick for 3 days this week so they were unable to work as much as they wanted to. We brought food and water and gatorade to them on Wednesday, because their kabahays weren't available yet, so now I know where their apartment is.

Our entire district was low on OYMs this week. I was lacking also. With very few OYMs on Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday due to transfers, and my own laziness and neglectfulness , we were left with 4 days to get all the necessary OYMs. We got 18 as a companionship. Sunday was a very hard day for missionary work. We studied for 30 minutes in the morning then went to our first sacrament meeting. Between meetings we had lunch and Coordination with MYSA. Then after the second sacrament meeting we had a Ward Council meeting we were invited to attend. After that we went to our area, got rejected 2 times, OYMed 2 people and had to return home to finish our studies, and follow-up and report, and plan and eat and sleep..

This is one of the reasons why we need our apartment to be closer to the church. I want to be able to proselyte for more that 30 minutes on Sunday. It's a great day to teach and find students and families because it's usually one of their days off.

Another reason why we need to move is so that we can be closer to the sisters in my stewardship. In case of emergency it takes at least 20 minutes to get there, and there are no other missionaries nearby. On top of that, we would really like to be closer to the church so that we can teach there. Many of our lessons happen at the church, and it takes time and money to get there every time..

I don't want to burden you with this, and the 'only girls' thing in our current apartment doesn't seem like it's going to be a problem, but we would still like for you to consider letting us move for the reasons listed above. But we won't look for a house until we have your approval.

Thank you again for allowing me the privilege of being a leader. I know I have been called, and I'm constantly endevouring to be chosen.

-Elder Southwick


* * * * * * * *

So little time. I have been writing in my journal very diligently, and I promise that the stories of my mission are not going to be lost, but please wait just a little bit longer to know them in full. 

We have 2 baptisms this coming Saturday, and to you that probably sounds like great news, and it is great news, but there were supposed to be 3.. Sister Zaira, a 19-year-old college student, was ready to be baptized, and she passed her interview last Saturday, but she was unable to come to church yesterday, and that was the second time in a row, so according to our mission rules, which I try very hard to follow, I had to tell her through a text that we would have to delay her baptism. I really want her to be baptized, and her member friend insists that she's ready, and she had legitimate excuses for both absences; that's what made it the hardest. 

Now she doesn't want to talk to us or come to church anymore.. 

I'm not depressed, and I don't want any of you to be, but I realized last night and today that people are fragile and the testimony of an investigator is easily damaged, or destroyed. In this case, it was unpreventable, and I feel that I made the right decision, but I remember times when it was preventable, and it was my decision. 

Let us all be kind, and tender to those whom we profess to love and care about. In terms of our hearts, fragile and precious are perfect synonyms. Let us not forget the things that are precious to us and how fragile they are.


* * * * * * * *

I've never made more mistakes in any of my areas than I have in this one. I'm sure that I'm a better missionary than I used to be, and I'm constantly getting better at Tagalog, but the mistakes are deeper than that. Some of them are. 

As a leader I'm asked to make big decisions on a regular basis, and I've never really been in a position like that before. I'm the one in charge, (righteous dominion of course) and because of all the responsibilities I feel somewhat pressured, and I make mistakes.

The biggest mistake was actually the subject of my last email. Zaira was very ready to be baptized and before I got here she'd been coming to church for at least 2 months, and with that in mind I had no reason to delay her baptism, she had already come to church 4 times, she missed church 2 times, but only because of things that she had very little control over. Zaira was very upset when I told she could not be baptized on the date we had planned. On Monday night, after reviewing the Standards for Baptism, given to us by our Area President, I texted her and told her that I was wrong, and that she could be baptized. 

For a while I was worried if she would still want to be baptized, but I soon found out that she was indeed ready, and she forgave me and quickly became excited again for her baptism. (She also shared this experience in her testimony after her baptism; I was embarrassed by my mistake)  

Also, an interesting phenomenon occurred with the baptismal plans. Kelly, who ought to have been baptized, informed us that she was not ready to be baptized yet because of a concern that we had no idea about. So my email last week was not completely wrong. 2 of the 3 candidates were baptized.

I'm confident that Kelly can prepare herself and be baptized in October. 

The baptism was a success though. I was in tears for a part of it. I didn't perform the baptisms myself, so I was able to just watch, and it's amazing how such a short, simple, easy to administer ordinance can be so powerful. I thought I felt a change in the atmosphere as soon as they stepped in the water, and each 15 second ordinance filled my soul.