27 Jun 2011

Hey everyone,

Well things are back to normal and we got a lot of work done last week.  I'm just trying to sprint to the end.  

I got to teach sharing time yesterday... wow was that an experience but I liked it.  2 weeks ago I taught the Valiant's... they were a lot more behaved yesterday than 2 weeks ago.  I thought that they didn't take anything away from my lesson but they all came up to me last week wanting me to teach them.  So they got their wish yesterday. I'm gonna miss them when I'm gone.  But the branch is planning a Branch Family Home Evening for my last Saturday.  

We had some great spiritual experiences last week that I would like to share with you.

The first is about the power of the priesthood.

We had a sister, Myrna Kaiklian, about 2 weeks ago ask a member to call us for a priesthood blessing, she was taught by the missionaries before.  She's had a pretty rough past year where the doctor pretty much poisoned her by prescribing way too high of a dose of vitamin B.  Her liver is pretty much shot and she was literally Yellow when we blessed her.  She hasn't been able to sleep for quite a while and having a hard time.  Well we went back to her last week and her color had improved and she has been able to sleep a lot better, she said that she went to sleep right away after we blessed her.  It was great.  I read something somewhere that said Priesthood holders are a peculiar people.  It is very true.  We can do things that no one else can.  It just reaffirmed to me how important it is that we live worthy to use that authority.  

Another one is about the Spirit.

Last week we started teaching this husband and wife (I'm having to stop and ask my companion words in English right now, sorry if my English is a little off), and it just so happened that there was an older lady there that was Jehovah's Witness.  Wow she likes to talk a lot,  but after we got her to be quiet we taught to brother Felisardo and Venus. We kind of left sister and didn't really notice her while we were teaching because we didn't want to hear another one of her lectures.  We extended a baptismal date to them and closed the lesson.  We were really shocked yesterday when nanay showed up at church, she came with Sister Cora, her sister-in-law.  But she is really interested now and would like to stay here in Olongapo until she finds out if The Church is for her.  One thing that you guys need to understand is that Jehovah's are one of the churches here that usually will not listen to us and it ends up in a bible bash.  Sister's progress is remarkable and we are way excited for her.  

Last night we watched The Restoration with Felisardo, Venus, the older Jehovah's witness, Rhea, and Felix (Rhea's Husband) at Sister Cora's house.  They are related in some way and staying at sister Cora's house.  But the lesson was so strong, its great to see how the spirit works and softens peoples hearts and how things happen in life.  Sometimes we don't realize it but the Lord is putting us in a situation to receive the message of the Gospel.  The Jehovah sister came from Maynila to help sister Cora with her annulment, Rhea came from Dinalupihan to be closer to her husband that works in SBMA at a Hotel.  Brother Felix has 2 days off every month, but had an accident and had surgery last week because a grinder blade shattered while he was cutting a piece of angle iron.  We met him in the hospital and we are good friends.  He has a 1 month leave from work and we think we can get him baptized in that time.  He is GREAT!!! Rhea was supposed to interviewed yesterday for baptism but she wants to wait and see what happens with her husband so next week she will be interviewed.  We pushed her baptism back 1 week but I think it will be alright.  

We had one other cool experience with a inactive member for 16 years now.

A few weeks ago we taught Lehi's Dream to them as a family and something happened while we taught that caught his attention and he read a little bit from the Book of Mormon that next week and since then he has started to feel the spirit in his life again and all things are falling into place for them to be able to come back to church. With the new month his day off will change and he is really pushing that his boss will give him Saturday and Sunday off because for the last 14 years his day off has been the same.  When he comes back we know that many great things will happen in his life.  

Next week we have ZLC with the new mission President,  on June 30 president and Sister Aquino will go to Maynila and the new president will be here.  Sure gonna miss them.  

That's all for this week

Love you all

Elder Westwood

PS its been raining for almost 2 weeks straight.  

20 Jun 2011

Hey everyone! I have great news! They offered to let me extend until September!!! Yeah, the mission is lacking missionaries so they need some to stay until we can get some more next transfer!! Cool huh?!!! I'm so excited!!!...or would be if that was true. I just wanted to see if you are really reading my email. ha ha ha. I'm still coming home next month... sorry.


Happy Fathers day to all you fathers out there!!! If you were here yesterday you would have been able to witness the relief society singing "Through the Years" to you yesterday in Sacrament meeting. ha ha ha. It was so funny.

Well, we made it through another Transfer week, and we only had one sister go the wrong direction. ha ha She came clear down to Olongapo when she was supposed to go up to the north end of the mission. ha ha. She was a good sport about it.

Sorry, other than that not a lot happened this week. It was kind of sad to see a lot my buddies go home last week. But it happens to all.

So I was feeling pretty spiritually low since 2 Saturdays ago. I couldn't figure out why... it was like everything just shut off? I said to myself...is this what its really like? Your last transfer its like everything just shuts down. Your spirit has a low battery? I knew I was in trouble if it continued. I was doing what I was supposed to do, focusing on the people, the missionaries in the zone, my investigators, the members, my companion. So why was this happening.

This went on till about Thursday. Feeling helpless and alone and down because my companion was leading everything and I was left feeling useless. Thursday our word was great. It was like I hit my second wind again. We were both participating in the lessons equally. What's the difference you ask? I did my personal Study on Thursday. Because of other things that had been going on I had totally neglected my personal study of the scriptures and because of that I was suffering in the work.

So how does that apply to you and why am I taking your time to tell you this? It doesn't matter where you are or how old you are, or how busy you are. In order to be doing your best and qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost we have to study the scriptures. EVERY DAY! even if its just a column or a page, or if time will permit a whole chapter or more. I am reminded of the Apostle that said. "Don't neglect the little things" Sometimes we get caught up in other things and forget about it. To put it simply... this is a commandment. When we follow we are blessed, when we don't we are NOT blessed. I am thankful for this reminder and sign of love from our Heavenly Father. See how hard my head is...? it took me close to a week of suffering to actually figure out what was happening. May this be a warning to all of you. Study the scriptures every day.

I love you all and pray for you always.

Until next week
Elder Westwood

13 June 2011

It was such a good week!


I'll give you just a taste of what happened. Imagine if you will...40 Guys with different backgrounds that all have made big mistakes in their lives all sitting on the edge of their chairs listening intently to what you are sharing with them about the gospel. How would you feel? It was awesome!!! We got to go up to 164 again. That's the city jail. Those guys have been drug dealers, I'm sure a couple have killed, there are even innocent ones there. They literally just suck in everything you say to them. You can see it in their eyes that they want to change. We even know that there are at least 4 members up there!

Then I killed a rat in our house the other day. It was fun. We had just walked in from our baptism and I saw something running across the floor. I yelled "A rat, get my itak" ha ha Then I grabbed a broom and trapped it in the bathroom. I found it hiding in a little drainage pipe so I dragged it out but it got loose and ran away so I had to chase him down and he was screaming but I got him. Ha ha Elder Ragasa wouldn't even go into the bathroom he was scared of it! One thing I know is that I'm still not scared of blood, so that's a good thing.

Another great thing that happened this week. Our one investigator, Ariel, He is a single parent, tricycle driver, and has a 4 kids that he supports. He is a really good guy and I met him when he gave us a ride one time, I never imagined that we would continue to teach him or that he would progress this much in the gospel. He works every day just to bring food home everyday. He has been coming to church as well but usually leaves about 11 to go back to work. Last Saturday we taught him Sabbath Day observance and we were worried that he would call it quits and not be able to accept this as a commandment. But at the end of the lesson, he sat there for a second, thought, then looked at us and said "well, if that's the commandment, I guess I better follow it, I need all the help I can get." That was one of the moments when I could have just jumped for joy and done a little dance. When the Investigator understands the importance of commandments and is willing to stop a behavior that is contrary to that commandment, that is some of the happiest moments of missionaries life. Seeing repentance happen.

We also had a Young Man come into church yesterday, we learned that he was a member and had been inactive for a long time. He expressed his desires to start again and showed regret that he had neglected his covenants. It was really good to see him and talk to him and to try and uplift him and encourage him. I hope he will continue to come to church and progress and hopefully we can get him out on a mission before he turns 26.

We also got Sally, Alfroilan, and Andrew Faustino baptized yesterday. So that was awesome. They are now getting ready to go to the temple.

Great things have happened and I hope they will continue to happen in Missionary work.

No unhallowed hand can stop this work!

Elder Westwood

6 June 2011

Well, last week flew by, faster than a...well it was just fast. I couldn't think of what to say.


We had Zone Leaders Council with President Aquino for the last time. Next time we can only say good things about the missionaries ha ha. So we had a practice. ha ha ha. I'm gonna miss President Aquino and Sister Aquino a lot. I used to be scared of Sister Aquino but she is really like a mother to all the missionaries now. ZLC is a fun time to get to visit with her. She could probably be Mission President she is so full of inspiration also.

Last week we got Sally, Alfroilan, and Andrew passed off for baptism so next Saturday we will go swimming and the best part of it! Elder Ragasa gets to baptize them! ha ha. They are going to make such good members I love it. It was quite a trip though getting things figured out. We had to have sister interviewed by president Aquino, and then by the Assistants. Then the kids were interviewed by our district Leader. Then on Saturday we had to go to Gua Gua for a baptismal interview, then hurry back to get Sally interviewed.

Next Saturday we have 4 Companionship's in our zones that will be baptizing 1 or more people. That is really good. We have been trying to increase the effectiveness of the missionaries for a while and I think its is starting to happen. We have been pounded with trainings but we are starting to see the fruits of our labors and hopefully they will be able to keep it up and keep baptizing.

We had one investigator, Ariel, usually we go to him 2 times a week but last week because of our hectic week of running between Subic and Gua Gua we weren't able to go to him. Often when that happens the investigators won't come to church or anything but Elder Ragasa and I were both shocked when he walked into sacrament meeting. Early! he beat most of the members there. ha ah. So It was awesome. I love it when you can see the change happening in people and they are growing closer to the Lord. He will be baptized I think the end of this month.

I had a friend that before my mission said, for the first year and a half of your mission you will be worthless, not literally worthless but you will still be trying to get the hang of things then about the last 6 months you will be sure about what your doing but you will be headed home. ha ha I can see that happening. I kind of spent the first bit figuring things out then now I feel that I am really being effective.

Well its been fun though I can't lie there.

I gotta run. I love you all, hopefully I'll have more to report on next week.

Elder Chase