Hello again friends and family!
We did a lot of work this week! We visited so many people,
it's hard to keep track of everything that we did. We don't really have anyone
that we are working with as of right now, it we are still picking up
investigators and working hard. The days seem to go by quickly, which is weird
to me considering we don't have any solid people. The Filipino ward is a really
weird place and in a lot of aspects it seems like a branch, there are a lot of
interesting little things that happen here that I haven't really seen in a
regular English ward. There isn't a whole lot of structure and it seems like a
lot of the members say some pretty wild things about doctrine, it's honestly so
much fun. I love the ward here, the people are so loving, and caring, all they
do is feed us. I've never felt like so many people cared about me in any other
ward. The Filipino people are very welcoming and caring.
Well Elder Ela keeps surprising me, he not only can catch
lizards, bees, spiders, and any other creepy crawly thing you can think about,
he can also catch birds, this little Filipino boy is quick. I'm not sure what
they do in the Philippines but he caught a crow! What the heck haha. What a
guy. I'll attach a picture below.
When we were tracting out a neighborhood, we passed by this
school, it didn't look like much... but there was a track meet going on. After
closer inspection we realized that this was a college meet, and that BYU was
there! It was so weird. The strangest thing to me is how the BYU students
present themselves and act, after being on a mission for a little while,and
living in different states. I saw it for the first time. I could really see the
difference between the people in the audience as we walked by and I could just
tell the ones that were Mormon, especially the participants on the field looked
different (other than the big Y on their uniforms) so weird to see all these
members in a place like Southern California, or Babylon as we like to call
it.
This week we were teaching a lesson to a part member family,
all the kids have been coming to church for years, they seem like their
members, the mom is an active member and so is their grandma. The only reason
they aren't already baptized is because their father is against the church and
is apart of his own religion. No one has really met the father because he works
so much, but when we went to teach our lesson he was home, and man was it
crazy. Apparently he use to be the priest, clergy, or minister to his church,
so he was ready for us. As we started to teach the restoration he just went off
on all these different scriptures trying to contend with us. Now I've had a lot
of people try and bash with me in the past year, but this was different, I had
never been in someone's home while they were just attacking us, a little scary
because it seemed like there was no way out of the situation. I try very hard
not to bash with people because it takes the spirit away, but our member
started arguing back... oh man it was so weird, and kind of hilarious.
It just amazes me how people don't see the plain evidence in
the Bible. Everything that is taught in this church is reaffirmed in and
through the Bible, and the Book of Mormon only adds on to the plain and simple
truths of the gospel. I have really reflected on how much I have learned the
(almost) past year, and realized just how much I have learned, and how much I
understand about the scriptures and the doctrines of Christ, that I wouldn't
have other wise. My mission has thus far improved my love for the savior and
his Atonement, increased my knowledge of his words, and has given me a desire
to serve and love God for the rest of my life. I could not imagine trying to
raise a family without the experiences and knowledge that my mission has
brought, and I'm only (almost) halfway there. I am so excited to see what more
I can become, and see the path that God wants me to take in my life more
clearly. Serving a mission is incredible.
I was reading in the Old Testament this week and I wanted to
share a scripture that I found this is in Deuteronomy 31:
6 Be strong and of a good
courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he
it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake
thee.
7 ¶ And Moses called unto
Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a
good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the
Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them
to inherit it.
8 And the Lord, he it is
that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
I
know that even if our destination in this life may not be a physical one like
the Israelites, the Lord will guide us along each day, he will not forsake us,
he loves and cares for us so much, and his promises are the same today. Keep
pushing keep going forward, for the Lord is with you, and he will guide us to
the beautiful pastures of eternal life. Don't lose faith and everything will
work out, I know that to be true. Until next week,
Elder
LeBaron
614
west foothill blvd, Arcadia, California, 91006
What a great post Matt!!! I am so happy for you.
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