-I received letters from Christine Terminello, Alissa Wheatley and Megan Livingston, and Louanne!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I'll try and have replies off soon!
-I found a Nike store in the mall in Lipa. It is so nice, they've got everything I would need. If it would be easier, you could put money in my account, and I could get it here (compression shorts, shorts, etc.) Packages are always nice though!
-In terms of snacks, Sour Patch Kids, Reeses and Snickers are great. Something the Tennys gave me that was money was a large M&M bag that has a zipper
-Thanks for sending Brother Day's thing!! That's so awesome. Please tell him I say hello!
-Mitt update
Well, this was a very interesting week (Every week is interesting). It was busy busy busy and filled with surprises!! This week I was assigned as the new District Leader. It's very humbling and I've been kind of confused as to why I was given this assignment. I'm not very experienced and there are other missionaries in my district that would do such a great job. I'm excited for the opportunity to serve, and excited to learn and be stretched to my limit!
The work here is progressing...slowly but it's comin'. She'll be comin' around the mountain when she comes! I love Less-Active members. We're loving them and really being patient. I've come to learn that it's not how fast that's important, but how deep. Deep conversion is not an overnight deal. It's something that takes time, effort, and patience. We're teaching a 75 year old Nanay that is just hilarious. She's a widow of a couple years and is so nice. Mom, you'll be jealous to know that whenever we go there she goes out back, grabs a coconut, gives us the coconut milk, and the white inside with brown sugar. Yum! Her house is surrounded by large coconut trees!! Anyways, this Sister is a crack up! I think she may have a bit of a crush on me!! I'll be bearing my testimony and she'll just start laughing at me! Sometimes it takes all the energy I have to keep a straight face! She has a hard time remembering what we teach, and even though she reads the Book of Mormon she has a hard time remembering. We've been teaching short and simple, and really focusing on helping her feel the Spirit. We've seen such a change in this Sister over the past few weeks, and even though she couldn't tell you who Lehi is, her faith and her testimony have increased so much. I've really seen the Lord bless this Sister through the Spirit and her personal testimony of the Gospel.
I'm starting to learn that my new assignment as a District Leader means it'll be a little more difficult to give my area my 100% undivided attention. I received my new assignment on Friday, and I had baptismal interviews on Saturday and Sunday. I was nervous to say the least!! I was nervous about conducting the interview, let alone doing it in Tagalog. I was pretty apprehensive going into the first interview. President P. said the District Leaders are the "Gatekeepers" and they need to ensure these people are ready for Baptism, with a firm testimony. I was a bit worried about handling a situation where someone wasn't quite ready!!
My first interview was such a great experience. The young woman was 24 and an investigator of 6 years!! The Spirit just radiated from her, and I could sense her strong testimony. It was awesome to hear her tell me how 6 years ago she wasn't interested at all, and yet to see her now. It really put things into perspective for me!! Some people don't keep their commitments over a 2 week period! This young woman's conversion wasn't fast, but it sure was deep. Something I had wondered was how will I know if someone is ready. As I spoke with this young woman, I felt the sweetest spirit come over me, and I felt that confirming witness of the Spirit that this young woman was ready and worthy. As I interviewed her, I couldn't help but think of my own mother, who was similar in age and in other ways to this young woman. I told her your story mom and told her that because of your decision, I'm here on a mission, and that for her, this is just the beginning for her and her family to come!!
I've thought a lot this week of our Father in Heaven and his love for us. Probably the best representation of the Father's true character is found in the Book of Moses and Enoch's experience. Following is an excerpt from Elder Holland:
"There, in the midst of a grand vision of humankind which heaven opened to his view, Enoch, observing both the blessings and challenges of mortality, turns his gaze toward the Father and is stunned to see Him weeping. He says in wonder and amazement to this most powerful Being in the universe: “How is it that thou canst weep? … Thou art just [and] merciful and kind forever; … Peace … is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?”
Looking out on the events of almost any day, God replies: “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands. … I gave unto them … [a] commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood. … Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?”
Our Father loves us. He weeps with us, he loves us. May we come to know him, love him and follow him.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
May we come unto Christ, know him and his Father, and do all we can that we may know them. For truly, that is life eternal. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love to you all!!!
Elder Yost
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Drawing Upon the Scriptures
I got your Valentine's Package and one from the Tenny's!! Thanks so much!!
-I got letters from Uncle Christopher, K Scarry, and your Valentine's Cards. I also got Dear Elders from you all, Courtney Doolittle, and Brother Bringhurst
-Thanks for the BYU lacrosse info! Please keep it coming, and pictures are very welcome, especially of their gear
It's been a good week here, and my sojourn in Cuenca has been extended at least another 6 weeks. Both my companion and I have escaped the transfer list. It seems like transfers here are different from other missions. I read the Dear Elders you sent me of my friends who are training getting a call from the mission president that they're going to train. Here, the email comes out, there are names on the list. You go up to the mission home, and you could be becoming an AP and you would have no idea until your name was called. There's a legendary story of a sister (A friend of Elder T) who was transferred to the area of a friend. This Sister literally fell on the ground and was like screaming and throwing a fit because she was so excited! President Peterson has added some reverence.
My Companion was telling everyone he would be transferred, and I told him that there was no way...I think he's a little disappointed! Elder T. is being transferred, so who knows maybe he'll come here! One of my really good friends in the mission, Elder D. is being transferred. He's my District Leader here, he's from Sandy, went to Brighton High School, and was at BYU for the Fall Semester when I was! I'll miss him but I'm sure I'll see him around.
So this week there was a Training for 4 stakes or so in San Pablo. It was for Primary and Young Women leaders. Well, it turns out Sister Ann Dibb and Sister Wixom were there! The meeting was also presided over by Elder Teh. We have a recent convert mother who is just awesome, that we've been pleading, almost on bended knees, to be given a calling. Well the Branch President gave her a calling to the Young Women and she was given the calling as 2nd Counselor two days before the Conference! She was able to go and had such a good experience. It's a long way for Sisters Dibb and Wixom to go for a training session, but the impact they left, especially on this recent convert is so awesome. She has such a strong desire to serve, and is so giddy, because in her words, "Elder Yost! I got to hug President Monson's daughter! (People here call her President Monson's daughter, not Sister Dibb!)" I've been meaning to tell you about her little boys as well. These boys are about a year apart, one's 9 and the other almost 8. They look like twins and are hilarious. The older one walks around their house reciting the sacrament prayers in English! In a heavy accent, he says "...to bless and sacrifice (Mary Ann: the actual word is sanctify this bread)." He's a crack up! The other day we were teaching them a lesson and he was trying to flip the electrical box switch and was just being a mischievous 9 year old. His mother was trying to get him to stop with no success. I called him over, and asked him to read a scripture (which he always loves to do, and reads in a slow, monotone robot-like voice). I flipped open to Mosiah 13:20 and had him read straight from the 10 Commandments. He read it and I asked him to what would happen if he didn't honor his mother and father. He thought, his face looked scared, and he said, "then my days won't be long on the land." He didn't cause any more problems!
We had two investigators go to Church this week, that was a complete surprise! They told us two days before that they really weren't interested. One of them has epilepsy. She had an episode in the middle of the Sacrament. It was honestly not that long or severe, but nevertheless a little scary. She softly groaned and was fidgeting. Luckily her Sister and Elder M. held her until it passed. It was so sad, and I hope that she'll have the courage to come again next week.
I've thought a lot about the Atonement this week. Not as much the cleansing of sin part, but the support to do very hard things. I feel like I'm facing a lot of challenges right now in the work . It's hard to explain the strength I've felt through the Savior's Atonement. I've felt increased love and patience. I've truly felt the Savior's support in my trials. I'd like to close yet again with the words of Elder Holland.
"Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”
Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so.
may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
For all of those who feel lonely, he is there. It's my prayer that we will become true Disciples of Christ. Not just in times of comfort, but in word and deed, and stand by him as he did by us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Yost
-I got letters from Uncle Christopher, K Scarry, and your Valentine's Cards. I also got Dear Elders from you all, Courtney Doolittle, and Brother Bringhurst
-Thanks for the BYU lacrosse info! Please keep it coming, and pictures are very welcome, especially of their gear
It's been a good week here, and my sojourn in Cuenca has been extended at least another 6 weeks. Both my companion and I have escaped the transfer list. It seems like transfers here are different from other missions. I read the Dear Elders you sent me of my friends who are training getting a call from the mission president that they're going to train. Here, the email comes out, there are names on the list. You go up to the mission home, and you could be becoming an AP and you would have no idea until your name was called. There's a legendary story of a sister (A friend of Elder T) who was transferred to the area of a friend. This Sister literally fell on the ground and was like screaming and throwing a fit because she was so excited! President Peterson has added some reverence.
My Companion was telling everyone he would be transferred, and I told him that there was no way...I think he's a little disappointed! Elder T. is being transferred, so who knows maybe he'll come here! One of my really good friends in the mission, Elder D. is being transferred. He's my District Leader here, he's from Sandy, went to Brighton High School, and was at BYU for the Fall Semester when I was! I'll miss him but I'm sure I'll see him around.
So this week there was a Training for 4 stakes or so in San Pablo. It was for Primary and Young Women leaders. Well, it turns out Sister Ann Dibb and Sister Wixom were there! The meeting was also presided over by Elder Teh. We have a recent convert mother who is just awesome, that we've been pleading, almost on bended knees, to be given a calling. Well the Branch President gave her a calling to the Young Women and she was given the calling as 2nd Counselor two days before the Conference! She was able to go and had such a good experience. It's a long way for Sisters Dibb and Wixom to go for a training session, but the impact they left, especially on this recent convert is so awesome. She has such a strong desire to serve, and is so giddy, because in her words, "Elder Yost! I got to hug President Monson's daughter! (People here call her President Monson's daughter, not Sister Dibb!)" I've been meaning to tell you about her little boys as well. These boys are about a year apart, one's 9 and the other almost 8. They look like twins and are hilarious. The older one walks around their house reciting the sacrament prayers in English! In a heavy accent, he says "...to bless and sacrifice (Mary Ann: the actual word is sanctify this bread)." He's a crack up! The other day we were teaching them a lesson and he was trying to flip the electrical box switch and was just being a mischievous 9 year old. His mother was trying to get him to stop with no success. I called him over, and asked him to read a scripture (which he always loves to do, and reads in a slow, monotone robot-like voice). I flipped open to Mosiah 13:20 and had him read straight from the 10 Commandments. He read it and I asked him to what would happen if he didn't honor his mother and father. He thought, his face looked scared, and he said, "then my days won't be long on the land." He didn't cause any more problems!
We had two investigators go to Church this week, that was a complete surprise! They told us two days before that they really weren't interested. One of them has epilepsy. She had an episode in the middle of the Sacrament. It was honestly not that long or severe, but nevertheless a little scary. She softly groaned and was fidgeting. Luckily her Sister and Elder M. held her until it passed. It was so sad, and I hope that she'll have the courage to come again next week.
I've thought a lot about the Atonement this week. Not as much the cleansing of sin part, but the support to do very hard things. I feel like I'm facing a lot of challenges right now in the work . It's hard to explain the strength I've felt through the Savior's Atonement. I've felt increased love and patience. I've truly felt the Savior's support in my trials. I'd like to close yet again with the words of Elder Holland.
"Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”
Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so.
may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
For all of those who feel lonely, he is there. It's my prayer that we will become true Disciples of Christ. Not just in times of comfort, but in word and deed, and stand by him as he did by us. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Love,
Elder Yost
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Working Hard
-I got an envelope from the Oak Marr YW!!! Thanks so so so much!
-I was in a grocery store today and on the radio they said Whitney Houston died. Is that true?
-Yeah I ate the whole Balut. That's good to know that Sister Agbuya doesn't eat the whole thing...If I work up the guts to eat it again I'll let you know how it goes!!!
-Topper Yost going to Rio!! Will he be there for the Olympics! Let's hope he gets his visa and into the country before the end of 2012!
-Last week I sent letters to the Tenny Family, Nana and GF, Coach Funk, Uncle Christopher, and my Absentee Ballot (Please take a look at it and put in my SSN
Well we had a pretty good week here. The temperature has dropped here too! People are honestly freezing to death, and the temperature feels perfect to me! It's raining right now, and I'm actually continuing this email after a brief power outage. Still, the 5 minute power outage is a lot better than 36 hour power outages we had in Pola!
We're going on exchanges with our Zone Leaders here in a few hours. I'll be staying here in the area, and I'll be with an Elder V. whose first area was Pola as well! It's fun because he knows all the members and people I do! The sad part was when I asked him the names of those he baptized and I didn't recognize a single name. Yikes...
We had a busy week. It's always nice to be busy busy busy. It wears you out but the time goes 15 times faster. I look back on my first three weeks in the field and those were honestly the longest three weeks in my life. I remember my first full day in the field I fell asleep in the closing prayer of Daily Planning! Time just starts to go faster and faster. This week in particular seemed to go fast, and next week the transfer list comes out! I don’t think either of us are going anywhere but you never know.
The work recently has honestly been a bit tough. We're working hard and it's hard to see any of the fruits of our labors so far. I had an awesome experience with a Less-Active yesterday. I was on splits with our Branch President, and he took me to a 39 year old man’s home. He's very nice and was very welcoming. It's really awesome having a Branch President that was Less-Active at one point because he's really able to identify with them and bear testimony that they can come back. Our Branch Presidents wife was baptized about a year and a half ago, and they were sealed in the Temple 6 months ago. This brother we were teaching asked a very specific and insightful question in our visit about the state of the wicked after death. I could tell by the way he asked the question he was looking to stump us. President looked a little overwhelmed, and turned to me and said, "Well Elder, what's the answer!" I flipped to Alma 40 and 41 and had him read some selected verses. If you'll remember, in Alma 40 and 41, Alma's speaking to his wayward son Corianton, who thinks that anything goes here on earth, because we'll all be saved. I started to see that this brother was similar in his thinking. As we read the scriptures and expounded them, I could see this man was pretty surprised at how plain and clear it was. He was a bit surprised that we answered his questions by a complete appeal to the scriptures. He looked up from his Scriptures and said, "I need to come back to the Church. Elder, I have two daughters I'd like you to teach. Can you do that? Taylor Swift (music) to my ears!
This work is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is as plain as we could ever want. If people will but read the Book of Mormon and prayerfully search, they will find the answers to the questions of the soul. The Savior lives, and this is his Church. I love you all!
I love you all more than I can express!
Love,
Elder Yost
-I was in a grocery store today and on the radio they said Whitney Houston died. Is that true?
-Yeah I ate the whole Balut. That's good to know that Sister Agbuya doesn't eat the whole thing...If I work up the guts to eat it again I'll let you know how it goes!!!
-Topper Yost going to Rio!! Will he be there for the Olympics! Let's hope he gets his visa and into the country before the end of 2012!
-Last week I sent letters to the Tenny Family, Nana and GF, Coach Funk, Uncle Christopher, and my Absentee Ballot (Please take a look at it and put in my SSN
Well we had a pretty good week here. The temperature has dropped here too! People are honestly freezing to death, and the temperature feels perfect to me! It's raining right now, and I'm actually continuing this email after a brief power outage. Still, the 5 minute power outage is a lot better than 36 hour power outages we had in Pola!
We're going on exchanges with our Zone Leaders here in a few hours. I'll be staying here in the area, and I'll be with an Elder V. whose first area was Pola as well! It's fun because he knows all the members and people I do! The sad part was when I asked him the names of those he baptized and I didn't recognize a single name. Yikes...
We had a busy week. It's always nice to be busy busy busy. It wears you out but the time goes 15 times faster. I look back on my first three weeks in the field and those were honestly the longest three weeks in my life. I remember my first full day in the field I fell asleep in the closing prayer of Daily Planning! Time just starts to go faster and faster. This week in particular seemed to go fast, and next week the transfer list comes out! I don’t think either of us are going anywhere but you never know.
The work recently has honestly been a bit tough. We're working hard and it's hard to see any of the fruits of our labors so far. I had an awesome experience with a Less-Active yesterday. I was on splits with our Branch President, and he took me to a 39 year old man’s home. He's very nice and was very welcoming. It's really awesome having a Branch President that was Less-Active at one point because he's really able to identify with them and bear testimony that they can come back. Our Branch Presidents wife was baptized about a year and a half ago, and they were sealed in the Temple 6 months ago. This brother we were teaching asked a very specific and insightful question in our visit about the state of the wicked after death. I could tell by the way he asked the question he was looking to stump us. President looked a little overwhelmed, and turned to me and said, "Well Elder, what's the answer!" I flipped to Alma 40 and 41 and had him read some selected verses. If you'll remember, in Alma 40 and 41, Alma's speaking to his wayward son Corianton, who thinks that anything goes here on earth, because we'll all be saved. I started to see that this brother was similar in his thinking. As we read the scriptures and expounded them, I could see this man was pretty surprised at how plain and clear it was. He was a bit surprised that we answered his questions by a complete appeal to the scriptures. He looked up from his Scriptures and said, "I need to come back to the Church. Elder, I have two daughters I'd like you to teach. Can you do that? Taylor Swift (music) to my ears!
This work is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is as plain as we could ever want. If people will but read the Book of Mormon and prayerfully search, they will find the answers to the questions of the soul. The Savior lives, and this is his Church. I love you all!
I love you all more than I can express!
Love,
Elder Yost
Monday, February 6, 2012
One Step At a Time
Dear Mom and Dad,
- I got your package!
- As for Nike shorts, surprise me!
- I got letters from the CJY family!
- Thanks so so much for the spray alcohol things. I've been looking for one that I could refill when it runs out. Could you look for one? It's perfect thanks so much
-I'm finding the best way to get new ties is to buy them here. I got two new ties for about $5 total. Not bad
- I'm sending letters to you (absentee ballot), Tenny Family, Uncle Christopher, and Coach Funk.
Well, it's certainly been a challenging week! It was really hard, pero marami akong natutuhan (I learned a lot). Sacrament meeting attendance was down and some of the Less-Actives that we've really been working with didn't come to church this week!
This week we had exchanges with our district leader, so I was in Cuenca with his brand new American trainee! Elder H. from Kaysville, UT. We had a pretty good time. It's fun to be with another American and be able to speak English (Is that bad?). We had a really good time working together and learned a ton. It was really a good moment for me to look back and see how far my language skills have come! I was honestly a little scared the night before because this was my first time being a senior with a non-Filipino. I was praying the night before our full day of work for the gift of tongues and help to understand what people were saying. We had such a good day of work, and I really understood pretty much everything! What a miracle! We taught a lesson to a 17 year old inactive young woman who is unmarried and has a 1 year old child. We were teaching about the Book of Mormon, and I felt prompted to ask her what her hopes and dreams are in life. I thought, "That is the most random and unrelated question!" And then without even really consciously deciding to ask it, it just came out! And her answer amazed me. She said she wants to get married and have her husband be baptized. She said he's been reading the Book of Mormon and that he wants to change his life, but he's just been too shy to talk to us. She said her cousin started reading her Book of Mormon the other day, and that she wanted to get her own copy. I learned a very valuable lesson. The Lord knows what to say and I don't! If I had just disregarded that subtle feeling of the spirit, she may not have opened up!
I literally just got a U.S. Embassy alert for Tsunamis because of a 6.9 Earthquake in Cebu. I'm fine!!!!
This is a random thing to say in the middle of the e-mail, but I really appreciated that Parade Magazine cover of Mitt Romney. He should be elected President just based on how darn good looking he is! I'm even considering putting in some grey in my hair so I can look like him!
After our exchanges we had a really hard time teaching lessons this week. For some reason we got punted (the term for when you show up for a lesson and they're either not there or they won't let you teach) a ton. On Thursday and Friday we got punted on 8 appointments on each day. One of our appointments we literally have to hike 30 minutes up a mountain. They told us two times they're always free, and both times we went and they weren't there. A little frustrating!
This week has been interesting in terms of our companionship. I've just felt some tension that was difficult to describe. We both shared some of our feelings and frustrations. I finally said, "Elder, we're sitting here arguing about something that is not very important. We're missionaries. We have too much work to do here, and the stakes are too high for us to be doing this. We have less-actives, recent converts, and investigators that need us. We need to have the Spirit and that's all I care about." I started to tear up, and the spirit completely changed. I apologized, and he did too and our companionship is SO much better. All the hard feelings left. I was definitely at fault, and I really realized that I needed to humble myself and be the first to extend the olive branch. I think there are some things I can improve on. Can you email BYU and ask if I can get credits for Marriage Prep?!?
This Gospel is true. I finished the Book of Mormon again this week. Wow. I'd like to close this by including part of my favorite Conference talk by Elder Holland:
"Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”
Love,
Elder Yost
- I got your package!
- As for Nike shorts, surprise me!
- I got letters from the CJY family!
- Thanks so so much for the spray alcohol things. I've been looking for one that I could refill when it runs out. Could you look for one? It's perfect thanks so much
-I'm finding the best way to get new ties is to buy them here. I got two new ties for about $5 total. Not bad
- I'm sending letters to you (absentee ballot), Tenny Family, Uncle Christopher, and Coach Funk.
Well, it's certainly been a challenging week! It was really hard, pero marami akong natutuhan (I learned a lot). Sacrament meeting attendance was down and some of the Less-Actives that we've really been working with didn't come to church this week!
This week we had exchanges with our district leader, so I was in Cuenca with his brand new American trainee! Elder H. from Kaysville, UT. We had a pretty good time. It's fun to be with another American and be able to speak English (Is that bad?). We had a really good time working together and learned a ton. It was really a good moment for me to look back and see how far my language skills have come! I was honestly a little scared the night before because this was my first time being a senior with a non-Filipino. I was praying the night before our full day of work for the gift of tongues and help to understand what people were saying. We had such a good day of work, and I really understood pretty much everything! What a miracle! We taught a lesson to a 17 year old inactive young woman who is unmarried and has a 1 year old child. We were teaching about the Book of Mormon, and I felt prompted to ask her what her hopes and dreams are in life. I thought, "That is the most random and unrelated question!" And then without even really consciously deciding to ask it, it just came out! And her answer amazed me. She said she wants to get married and have her husband be baptized. She said he's been reading the Book of Mormon and that he wants to change his life, but he's just been too shy to talk to us. She said her cousin started reading her Book of Mormon the other day, and that she wanted to get her own copy. I learned a very valuable lesson. The Lord knows what to say and I don't! If I had just disregarded that subtle feeling of the spirit, she may not have opened up!
I literally just got a U.S. Embassy alert for Tsunamis because of a 6.9 Earthquake in Cebu. I'm fine!!!!
This is a random thing to say in the middle of the e-mail, but I really appreciated that Parade Magazine cover of Mitt Romney. He should be elected President just based on how darn good looking he is! I'm even considering putting in some grey in my hair so I can look like him!
After our exchanges we had a really hard time teaching lessons this week. For some reason we got punted (the term for when you show up for a lesson and they're either not there or they won't let you teach) a ton. On Thursday and Friday we got punted on 8 appointments on each day. One of our appointments we literally have to hike 30 minutes up a mountain. They told us two times they're always free, and both times we went and they weren't there. A little frustrating!
This week has been interesting in terms of our companionship. I've just felt some tension that was difficult to describe. We both shared some of our feelings and frustrations. I finally said, "Elder, we're sitting here arguing about something that is not very important. We're missionaries. We have too much work to do here, and the stakes are too high for us to be doing this. We have less-actives, recent converts, and investigators that need us. We need to have the Spirit and that's all I care about." I started to tear up, and the spirit completely changed. I apologized, and he did too and our companionship is SO much better. All the hard feelings left. I was definitely at fault, and I really realized that I needed to humble myself and be the first to extend the olive branch. I think there are some things I can improve on. Can you email BYU and ask if I can get credits for Marriage Prep?!?
This Gospel is true. I finished the Book of Mormon again this week. Wow. I'd like to close this by including part of my favorite Conference talk by Elder Holland:
"Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”
Love,
Elder Yost
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