Learning Lots!

Hello!
Few notes:
-I love my Propet shoes, very durable and I wear them almost every day
-I got letters this week from Mom, two from Dad, the latest being October 26, Sister Lee, Gustafsons, Uncle Christopher, Louanne, and a package from Pat. Her package was great! Toilet paper, a ceramic tile to put up on the prison walls! I put it up minutes after opening the package! Little hand towels, PEANUT BUTTER. It was a great package!
-My rainbow sandals are starting to tear

This week has seemed to fly by even though a lot happened. We started the week out with exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I was in Pola with the new ZL(zone leader) Elder C. He's a Filipino but has lived in Singapore for about 6 years before his mission. He's 24 years old, and had to serve in the mandatory public service in Singapore for two years before he could go on a mission. He was a fire fighter, and said he only fought one big fire in two years because Singapore is so clean! He's been in the field for about a year and is what you would call "magaling" which is like talented. However we got to Pola, I emailed you, and about two minutes after I sent the email the power went out and was out for almost 24 hours

On Wednesday we had to meet the other Elders to pick up our companions. On the way there, our area cell phone in my pocket slipped out of my pocket. We got off the van, and I felt my pockets as the van pulled away and it was gone! The sim card was disconnected within 10 minutes so I wasn't getting it back. I felt so so so bad! I paid the mission office 500 pesos ($11.50 US) and they should send us a new one.

Btw, I found a Post Office 30 seconds away from our apartment. Well I don't feel stupid...I'll try to send some letters. They say it takes 2 weeks to get to the States but expect 6. This is a random request, but did BYU Lax get new gear yet? If they did can you send a picture!

We had training this week from President and the Assistants. It is such a huge lift to see them!! Our mission training plan this transfer is focused on the Book of Mormon. Going into this, I thought I had a pretty good handle on how to use it, boy was I wrong! I learned so much. One of the main things we worked on was introducing it to people in an interesting manner. President started by giving a demonstration to us. After he was done, he said "Ok now one of you will try." He scanned the room and then said "Elder Yost you've been here for a while!" I was pretty nervous! I tried to introduce the Book of Mormon and did an ok job but most importantly learned a lot.

President Peterson said something interesting to us. He was talking about all the sacrifices people have made for the Book of Mormon to come forth and he said that he feel humbled to carry it with him when he considers all the lives that were given for it to come forth. I'd never thought of it like that before. When Joseph Smith was in Carthage jail, one of the last things he did on this earth was testify to the guards of the divinity of the book. He gave his life for this book to be available to us.

I've been thinking, how can I introduce it to someone and help them cultivate a true desire to read and ponder. A scripture came to mind in Mormon chapter 8. Moroni says "for Jesus Christ has shown me unto you and I know you're doing." Prophets of old saw our day, and put the very things in the Book of Mormon that we need in our day. Do we treat it like what it truly is? The Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the face of the Earth, and the best way to come unto Christ. As missionaries, we strive to have our investigators "experience" the Book, not just read it. How many members truly "experience" it? As Elder Holland said, "Heavenly Father always provides safety for the soul, and he has once again done that with the Book of Mormon."

I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was written for us as a generation, and for each of us individually. I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet, chosen by God in these Latter-Days, to bring for this book, a voice speaking from the dust, for all in inhabitants of the Earth. I urge you to read this Book, and let it change your life. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all as more than the Philippines loves Manny Pacquio!!!! [ Mary Ann: Manny Pacquio is a world Championship boxer and is to the Filipinos what Muhammad Ali is in the United States)

Love,
Elder Yost