Nov 3: My first change

It has been a long week; primarily because Elder Ballard had a Mission President meeting so P-Day and transfer day was changed. This transfer was more eventful for me than last one because I actually had a bit of change. I have a new companion or I guess they call it a follow up trainer. His name is Elder Masangcay and my first Filipino campanion. He is from Negros, Occidental which is south of here. Ilongo is his original language but he now speaks Tagalog and English.

I am really excited about the white guy we are teaching (the wife is Filipina). He has felt the spirit, connected it with the church, and just fears turning his back on his former beliefs, Catholicism. It is only a matter of time for him though. We have not been able to follow up with his wife because so much has been happening in their life since with taught them; one of Satan’s clever tricks. They had one relative with appendicitis and a hospital bill of over 50,000 pesos. Another brother now almost died from ammonia. He loves talking to us and especially feeling our spirit. After one follow up he walked us outside and then half way up the road no some other pretence. Another time, he said, “You came just in time”, because he was going to the hospital to pick up his wife who was watching someone so he eagerly delayed his trip and we had a quick follow up.

The famous Helido is apparently spelled Gelido, and we dropped by him the just yesterday for a wonderful surprise. Last visit, he still was worried about why the extra book and why Joseph Smith. We know they he just needs to pray and ask God. In any event, I was thinking about showing him two cards – one that has questions answered by the Book of Mormon, and the other twelve points of the true church from the Bible. Coincidently, I forgot the cards so upon our visit two days ago, he had been thinking about the contents of the card for the last two weeks. A question on the card says “How can I know that the Book of Mormon is true” which is what we have been trying to teach him for the last couple months so we showed him the reference from the card: Mormon 10: 3-5 which we read to him many times. Yet this time, he seems to have finally stuck. We recommitted him to read and pray and he intend on coming to church this Sunday. Also, the accident that happened to his face was actually cause by worms; small silk worms that have a nasty venom in which part of his face is still numb.

We are pretty excited for Constantino still. He was planning on going to Manila so could not go to church on Sunday, but Sunday night he pulled us over on his motorbike when we were on a trik, a tricycle which is the main from on transportation on Palawan. He asked us to come to his house which was quite convenient because we had just been talked about where we would go. He had a friend there with him who we also taught and a couple of days later we gave him a baptismal date. He and his family are planning on coming to church this Sunday.

It is ironic that right after my companion leave our area picks up. He has done a great job and has now gone to the mainland. Last night we had a big dinner at the Sumera’s house and then after a surprise party from all the single adults who we work with most because most of them our branch missionaries. Everyone took turns thanking him for his example, effort, and love in the branch. It was amazing to see how much influence we actually have. Elder Hogan was my best possible trainer and now I am really looking forward to learning from Elder Masangcay.

The work will ever go forth. Thank you from your prayer and support.