27 Dec 2010

Hey Everyone!

It was a great Christmas week, filled with lots of food and weight gaining experiences ha ha. I think for 3 days all we did was eat! On Tuesday we went to Olongapo for our Christmas Conference which was fun. We saw a lot of the other missionaries that we haven't seen in a long while coming from 4 different zones. We had a big discussion on a bunch of topics that we had questions on. It is always amazing to see how the spirit comes thru. When you have a discussion like that, there is no set curriculum and you don't know what exactly your gonna teach but you just have to prepare for anything and rely on the spirit. President Aquino has worked for the CES for a long time, most of his life and so he is a very effective teacher. A couple of weeks ago I planned to do that with the district, just see where they needed help in their areas and work then teach to their needs, I thought we could all focus on 1-2 subjects/principles. When I asked what their needs were, they threw out problems that I had never seen coming. But as I erased the board I just heard something say "it will be alright just listen" So that's what I did and somehow I managed to tie 4-5 scattered subjects together. The Spirit is such a sweet ride!


Anyways back to the week, we went to the Balanga Christmas party right after the Christmas Conference, where we lead the games and stuff, it was fun. Its a good thing that Elder Cagayanan is good with that kinds of stuff so he was able to take charge.

Friday and Saturday we couldn't teach anyone because of the Holiday. Here in the Philippines they celebrate Christmas on the 24th at 12:00 am. Then just spend time sleeping and time with family on the 25th. As for me I went to bed at about 9 on the 24th and the 25th we went and bonded with the members and ate food. ha ha. Including the Stake President, and the bishops family. It was a lot of fun.

We are trying to start getting things sorted out in this branch and get them strengthened. Yesterday I saw the Elders Quorum President give a list of new Home Teaching Companionship's. I was so excited. Things just might take off here, I know that the RS presidency is visiting people. So things are looking up. They'll stand by and lend a helping hand where they can.

I'll be transferred tomorrow. Its mixed feelings. I'm leaving probably my roughest area thus far and I don't feel like I've finished what I need to do here but the Lord thinks otherwise so I'll be helping somewhere else. Elder Cagayanan will continue to strengthen this area and I know he will do fine. He cried earlier when he found out I was transferring. Transfers are probably the hardest part of the mission but good always comes from them. So I can't complain.



I want to tell you about Dondon. I mentioned him a while ago. He's 10 years old, optimistic, thinks like a grown up, very interested in the gospel, feels he has a mission here on earth. They found a tumor on his Brain when he was 9 years old then it grew, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down and blind. Nevertheless he was always smiling brightly when we made the long walk to his house. About a month ago, he started to get worse, his hearing weakened and his voice went away. He had a little smile but not a very big one. I sadly watched for a few weeks as he slowly deteriorated. I thought death was inevitable for him, he was always in my prayers and his family too. Then one time when we were out there something just said, don't feel bad, give him a blessing. So we did. Nothing happened until 2 weeks ago we went out to his house and I came around the corner and yelled "Dondon!" he replied, "What?" I was shocked, I said "You heard me?" "Yeah." I was so excited. We shared with him and his dad and I know it was because of the Blessing. His family took him to the Herb Doctor, and strangely after that he got better but I don't know. I'm thinking it was because of the blessing.

I won't be able to see him again but I did what I could for him and I'll see him on the other side.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year.

I love you all!


Elder Chase