Back in Pola!

Hello!
Well, you're probably wondering where I'm writing from today! Paris, Rome, Manila? Well I'm writing from Pola for the first time in a month! It's certainly good to be back. A lot has changed since we left. One of the biggest changes is that I have a new companion! He's Elder Navarro and he's from the Bisayas. He's been on his mission only three months longer than I have. His native tongue is Ilongo, but like most Filipinos they've at least been around Tagalog their whole life so within a month or two they're fluent. He speaks a little English, so I'm helping him with that. One big selling point that he has is he lives close to Manny Pacquiao(world champion boxer). I knew he was huge here, but I didn't quite grasp it until I got here. I think he's on almost every advertisement here! Elder Navarro is 19 and has a great zeal for the work. So much at times it's almost impossible for me to get a word in...we're working on that though.

We had our first investigators attend Sacrament meeting! (President has asked that we don't email names home of people here). The Nanay ( Tagalog for woman) and her two sons came. They are so so so solid, and the only thing holding them back was Pagsisimba (going to church). They looked so happy to be there, and a few relief society sisters went and sat next to her and talked to her. I can't tell you how w happy I was! Luckily I was sitting in the back row so no one could see my eyes welling up. I haven't had baptisms yet like some other missionaries, but the feelings I had on Sunday were ones of joy and gratitude. Every night for the past month I prayed the Lord would watch over these investigators and he so did. (Mary Ann: You can see the bi-lingual ‘transference of pronouns, ‘he so’ versus ‘so he’ as he is thinking in Tagalog as he writes in English. ) They're probably ready to get baptized today, but they still need to attend Church 3 more weeks in a row.

It almost has a feeling here like we're re-opening the area. We don't have many investigators, some moved, and others just have lost interest. The exciting part about this is we get to start over, something this area really needs. The challenge is always been about finding people to teach. I think I mentioned last time that there are no street addresses here and it's virtually impossible to find former investigators in some instances. We're really focusing on finding new people to teach. I'm putting together a plan to go through area book records, baptismal records, and the members to find people who have had sufficient contact with the Church in the past. We were taught in a workshop at Zone Interviews about finding and we're doing our best to implement it all. It's exciting. We are giving the members extra love and care and building relationships. Just simple things like making them feel loved and appreciated goes such a far way. It's amazing to see how their attitude with us is completely different now. We're going to start using the Priest age young men aka the Branch Clerk and Branch Mission Leader to help us find people in the community here. We had our first real referral show up to church. It was our first time ever meeting her. It was wonderful!

I got a package from you with the things for the kids, a few letters from you, and some DearElder emails. I got a letter from Elder Tenny too. It's free for us to send pouch letters to each other here so that's how we communicate. I withdrew 3200 pesos about because Elder N. support money is all gone and there are ten days left in the month. He had no money at all so I withdrew to make sure we'll have food and be able to travel so that's that. At transfer day I gave my Tagalog Scriptures and English PMG to a lady who binds them and puts leather coverings. It'll have my name on it and various designs. It cost me 3000 pesos but so worth it because it's something I'll always have. I'll send pictures of the house and everything next week I know you want them, please bear with me the house needs to be cleaned, and I don't want you to be worried when you see cockroaches climbing on my toothbrush.

I heard from other missionaries this week that Elder Tamale's father passed away about a week ago. My heart just breaks for him. I heard the news at a time I was kind of wallowing in self-pity myself. I kind of gave myself a kick in my pants to stop feeling sorry for myself. I can't even imagine what Elder Tamale is going through. I thought about you both, and pray that I would not have to go through that. I don't want to sound too direct, and I know you know this, but take good care of yourselves. If you need to get something checked out, do it. Don't put things off. I love you too much to not say this.

I thought back to the MTC, and how the first blessing I gave to someone was Elder Tamale and the situation with his father. I remember blessing him with the ability to completely focus on the work, and give all that he had to the Lord. I promised him that his family would be blessed for his service. Dad, I thought back, in the middle of the blessing, about your experience when you were giving someone a blessing and you wanted to say, "Rise and be made whole", yet that's not what you were prompted to say by the Spirit. I wanted to tell Elder Tamale that his father would be okay, but I felt such a profound feeling of calm and peace, even though I was not prompted to promise complete healing. Elder Tamale's father lived a good life. While he was not a member of our church, he loved the Savior and dedicated his life to serving others and his God. I testify that true happiness comes in following the Savior and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While the loss of loved ones and other trials in life bring pain and grief, through the suffering of the Savior, we are able to gain strength and endure even but a small moment until we are exalted on high (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121).

I testify that families are eternal, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are can bind our families together forever. I testify that the Savior lives. It is my prayer that we all realize and evaluate the truly important things in life, because therein lies true happiness, both in this life and in the life to come. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all so much!!!

Love,
Elder Yost