Dear Mom and Dad,
-We don't have an address per se. We live close to the main part of Cuenca on the National Highway and close to a funeral home.
-If not already in the mail, I need some more vitamins, and I just started the last box of contact solution
- If not already in the mail, please send a few small Books of Mormon. Filipinos expect a small gift before you leave and people have literally tried to take mine so please send a few more!
-I got letters from Rachel Boody and the Barrett Johnson Family. Thanks!
- What's the scoop on the BYU Lacrosse team? I'd love updates on them.
-We're by some mountains so that's maybe why it's cooler. They say there aren't bad storms here because the mountains protect us.
Well it was a good week this week. We're making progress with our companionship but still not perfect! No companionship is perfect. I thought Elder G and Elder B had a perfect companionship and was always so jealous. Then I found out Elder G bought a little ball to throw at Elder B when he was being annoying! We're making progress though.
This week I heard someone say in our District Meeting that President Peterson said all problems in a companionship are rooted in pride. Ouch! That made me kind of step back and take a look at myself. There were things I need to change to be a better companion and I'm really trying. At first I kind of thought, I'll do my part and if he doesn't do his, well that's his problem not mine. I then realized that's not how it should be. When the Savior's apostles did annoying things, did he just throw his hands up and say well not my problem, I'm doing my part? Of course not! He loved them and did everything in order to make everything work out. I've decided that I'm going to take advantage of the blunt nature of my companion by asking for advice. It's awesome! What most people would be too afraid to tell me I can improve on, he'll tell me! I have so much to improve, and it's great to have someone help me realize what I can do better.
We had 71 people in Sacrament this week. We're improving every week! We had to sit in the classroom next to the chapel because there wasn't room! Our next challenge is increasing the Melchizedek Priesthood participation. There are so many faithful women and their children, but the fathers are off doing things they shouldn't. It breaks my heart! These women are so patient and just ask us to try and get through to their husbands. This week I saw the Philippines Area Broadcast by the Area Presidency. They outlined the Area goals of getting all members a set of scriptures and reading every day, and the Four Main goals, Establish the Church, Save the Rising Generation, Rescue the One, and the other one has to do with Families. I really felt as I watched it that it was so inspired. One of the Seventy spoke and told a very interesting story of when we was an Area Seventy. He said he visited a Stake in Idaho and was so impressed. Their Stake Presidency had a vision, the people regularly attended the Temple, their young men all went on missions, and the people there were so happy. He was so inspired by this stake. The next week he went to the neighboring Stake which was literally in the same neighborhood. He expected the same thing, but was shocked when he found the Stake Presidency struggling, the people were not attending the temple, young men were less active. He said he sat in the Stake President's office, looked out the window and could literally see the other Stake Center! These people live in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, and shopped at the same stores. Why the difference? The one Stake had a vision and a plan and the other didn't. Like from the book Alice and Wonderland, if you don't know where you're going, it doesn't really matter what path you take!
There is a member of our Branch that is Deaf! I tried signing to him only to realize I've forgotten all I learned...the Branch President asked me to try and learn some so I can talk with him. It's hard because people are kind of scared to talk to him so he doesn't have many friends. The man asked me if he could teach me and I said yes. I sat down and he pulled out a briefcase and some note cards. He's made cards for teaching people sign language! As he started to teach me, it started to come back, and I started to be able to communicate! I still have a long way to go, but the smile on his face to see someone that can communicate with him is priceless!
My time is short, but I'll close with this quote. Elder Teh said in the broadcast that in a meeting of all the Seventy's, Apostles, and First Presidency, Elder Rasband of the Seventy said this: "If not now, when? If not us, who?" We have a call to go and do. Not just missionaries, but everyone. The Lord wants finishers not starters. The Savior was a Finisher. He finished to the very end, and never gave up. In lacrosse, you can be the fastest, biggest, and most skilled player on the field, but if you can't finish, you're no good! Be a finisher, finish strong!
Love,
Elder Yost
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