Swamping It!

Dear Mom and Dad, 

-I'm really tired and my time is running short, so this will be a

little shorter email

We were supposed to go fishing today, and what ended up happening was

we walked through a swamp! We had some kids that told us this

beautiful beach was really close, and it ended up being about a 45

minute walk, just to get to the muddy beach! On top of that, there

weren't really any fish! I'm incredibly tired right now. It was a good

week, and this will be my last P-Day here in Lopez! 

The branch family home evening was so fun! I bought a big thing of ice

cream, which was a lot more expensive than I'd expected! It was cheese

flavored ice cream and there was SO MUCH! The kids were just in

heaven, and they all started to cry when their parents didn't let them

go back for their third serving! It was a good way to say good bye

kind of all at once. It's hard because some people get offended if the

missionaries don't personally say goodbye and visit them before they

leave! 

My companion and I have been good this week. We're seeing a bit of

a shift in our work to more Less-Actives, and we have some awesome

returning Less-Actives!

It's kind of scary leaving an area because you love the people, you're

adjusted to the town and the apartment and everything else. However,

it's such an exciting challenge! Every area and companion I've had has

been exactly what I needed. If we keep the commandments and do what's

right, we can be comforted in knowing that we'll always be in the

right place. I know that a loving Father in Heaven is always watching

over us. Sometimes we feel that he made a mistake in putting us

somewhere or giving us a trial, but I promise that he always knows

best and is always aware. As the Savior said in his own words: "These

things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the

world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome

the world."

Love,  Elder Yost

Families

Dear Mom and Dad

-Just a note, "Mahal kita" (I love you ) is used when  you're speaking to one person, but when speaking to more than one person you use the  "Mahal ko kayo" 

-Got a package from the Cooley's this week, thanks so much!!!!

-I asked President Peterson about sending a box of clothes or something, and he said that'd be a great idea, and he wishes more wards and branches did projects like that!!!

-I know we  had talked about picking me up at the end of my mission and I think it'd be awesome if it works out. 

We had Zone Interviews this week with President Petersen, and I had a really good interview with the President. It's amazing how he knows exactly what each missionary needs to hear! He told me without straight out saying it that I'll be transferred on November 2! I already thought that but now it's pretty sure. He also pretty much told me I'll be assigned in a city area, because I've now been assigned to the  two most  farthest country areas in the mission!! I feel like I'll go to one of two zones that are in bigger cities is nice to have a bit of an idea of where I might go. The Branch is going to have a Branch family home evening for me on Saturday which should be awesome!

We had a baptism on Saturday!!! It was awesome!! Tatay and his son Roven were baptized, which now means that every member of the family, over 7 years old, are all members! It's been truly a blessing to meet this family, teach them, and have them all baptized. It's such a great feeling to have an entire family get baptized together. I have learned so much from them. A few months ago, the wife fell off a motorcycle, and hurt her thumb really bad. She went to get treatment and a member of the church was the one to treat her, and as they started talking, religion came up.  The wife learned that the  women was  a member of the church. The wife  said they'd been taught 7 years ago, and had lost contact with the missionaries, but still remembered how much they loved having them in their home. She asked if the missionaries could come again. 

We started teaching them, and at first progress was really slow, because their business is to  deliver flowers on Sunday morning. The wife  really started  to want to know more but  then the couple had an argument and husband left. I honestly thought he would never come back, let alone listen to us, but he came back right before his wife was baptized. Her baptism was a great experience, and from there he took off. It's funny how a great experience at a baptism can change someone’s feelings as they feel the spirit and then they suddenly want to read the Book of Mormon!! Everything over the last few weeks climaxed on Saturday at their baptism. Afterwards, Tatay bore his testimony. He talked about how much he's changed. He even started to cry, and I think he was not sure why he was crying! He said he still doesn't know a lot about the scriptures or the prophets, but he said he knows how he's changed, he knows how he feels, and that he's never been happier. "It's true!" This is the true purpose of missionary work: Families. 

The past few days as I've thought about this precious family, I've been touched at how much the Lord quietly did. If the wife had never fallen off that bike, what would have happened? I've thought about those missionaries who have been home for maybe 7 years, probably are married and have children, and have absolutely no idea what impression they had made. “By small and simple means are great things brought to pass.”  If we only look for great miracles, we'll miss the most precious tender mercies that the Lord blesses us with every single day. I know God lives and loves us. He is always aware of us, and will always provide us a way to come unto Him. I know that the Savior's Atonement changes people. Look around you and think of the small blessings the Lord's given you, and the simple ways He blesses your life in ways you had never realized. Never forget, He loves you!! 

Love,

Elder Yost

"Do You Love Me?"

Dear Mom and Dad,

I got some Dear Elders and some letters from Uncle Christopher!
- I'd always love more Jif Peanut Butter!
- Please tell Christine congrats on being Homecoming Queen @ VT!
- Those new black BYU jerseys are nice, but I thought they were TCU!

This past week was a little bit slower in terms of teaching. We watched General Conference (a week late) and also went to the  Mission Home for Zone Leader's Council (ZLC). When we go to ZLC, we lose work on Thursday and Friday and with General Conference taking up part of Saturday and Sunday  and so we lost a lot of time! Ouch! However, we will have two baptism this Saturday! Thanks to your prayers (especially Grandfather), the husband of our recent convert and his 15 year old son will be baptized on Saturday!! We're so excited for them, and they're thrilled! 

I also got to talk to the White Rabbit investigator the other day, and she's planning on coming back here in about a week from Manila. She says she's been cigarette free for about three weeks!! Our Branch President should be processing their marriage papers this week. I probably won't be here to see her be baptized, but she's definitely headed in the right direction. We haven't been able to teach the lady that we did service for yet, but we should be going to her house on Tuesday.

As usual, Conference was great! Elder Holland was once again my favorite speaker. As with many, I was really hit hard by the Savior's question, "Do you love me!" I think most of us would respond as Peter did, "Of course!" Everyone I talk to says they love God. Everyone here claims to love God, but the question is, do we really? Are our actions reflective of our love? Our thoughts and desires are reflections of our true loyalties and priorities. Elder Bednar spoke of the Anti-Nephi Lehies, and how they laid down their "weapons of rebellion". We all have weapons of rebellion, things that we can't let go, and in a way we are fighting against God! As Elder Holland said, one day we will all be asked the same question he posed to Peter, "Do you love me? Do you love me more than all these things? How much did you love me. Paraphrasing the Savior, "No man hath greater love than this, that layeth down all that he hath and giveth his will to God."It truly is the first great commandment. May we ask ourselves this question when trials and temptations come, and I know that as we show our love for Him by feeding and serving others, he will bless us with all that he hath.

Love,
Elder Yost

Sweet is the WORK

Dear Mom and Dad,

 - The apartment is great!!! The other missionaries that live with us are good roommates.
- Can you tape the Romney debates ? I know this is a weird request.
- I'll be going to the mission home this week so maybe I'll get some mail.
- Elder DeYoung (my last companion) is leaving for home in the next couple of weeks and he is going    to mail my ballot when he gets home. I am afraid if I mailed it here it would not get there in time.

We won't see General Conference until this upcoming weekend, but all I can say is WOW. The announcement that 18 year old young men can serve missionaries and that 19 year olds young women can serve as well (the age use to be 21 yrs. Old) That's really going to shake things up. I will say that I’m pretty surprised at the drop in age for young men, but not as much for young women. The sisters never have a maturity problem!  I'm so excited for this weekend though to see General Conference. Here in Lopez they show English in the Relief Society room, but from what I hear, it's easier for the Filipinos to understand the English because the Tagalog translation is so deep. As usual, I can't wait for Elder Holland talk!!

 Well, I heard that Mitt rocked it! A number of local members watched the debate. They didn’t understand much of what either said but they just went off of the nonverbal. They all agreed that Romney killed it! A member invited me over for the Vice Presidential debate and I had to decline the offer! I told him I didn't want my disobedience being the reason if Mitt doesn't win!

 We had a good week in our area and are seeing some good progress. The White Rabbit investigator was in Manila all week so we didn't get to see her. Our service project with the single mother and her 5 children went well! We were cutting grass with an itak, which is like a small sword for doing yard work kind of stuff. It gave me a nice blister on my hand! We're going to go back again sometime and do some work on the siding. The houses here are made of pawid, which is pretty much leaves, so after a while, it needs to be replaced. Sister Ereno's husband (she was baptized last week) is doing well, and hopefully should be baptized in a few weeks!! He's doing awesome!

 I don't have much time this week, but I wanted to share a quick story. Elder DeYoung and I taught a Less-Active a few months ago, and after teaching her many times with little progress, we stopped visiting her because she was not interested in listening or coming back to church, or keeping commitments. A few weeks ago we stopped by her house, and learned this elderly sister was in the hospital. We just felt like we should go and visit her. The hospital was a little ways away, and when we got there, she was in her bed and was all alone. When she saw us, she was shocked, and we were probably lucky she didn't have a heart attack. We visited with her, and I could tell she was really touched. When she recovered, she came to church and has brought her whole family the last two weeks.

 I was thinking about the Savior this week, and how in all he did, all he taught, he always made time for the one, for the individual. He was never too busy to pause, and heal the leper or bless the sick. He was never too preoccupied to miss those who were in need of love and comfort. Sometimes I'm so busy, and I'm trying to run around and teach as many people as I can, and I miss these great opportunities to offer simple, yet priceless service. Loving service truly opens up and softens hearts. May we be as the Savior, and always remember the one, and the lost sheep. As He has always left everything to find us, let us be His true under shepherds, and bring His lambs safely back to his fold.

 Love, Elder Yost

Families (3 NEW Photos added)

Dear Mom and Dad,

-The Ward 1 Elders are living with us in our  apartment.
- One of the Elders is a huge NBA fan, and as we were talking I realized I have no no idea who is    on the Wizards anymore!
- I got some more Dear Elders this week
- Can you send my Tanya's Tolman’s address and Coleman Scholz's address?

Our baptism on Friday was a success!! We usually have baptisms on Saturday morning, but our branch had a "Family Day" activity planned, so we had our baptism on Friday. It was an awesome service, and a good amount of members attended. The sister baptized, her  whole immediate family came, and she even brought two siblings and her mother. Her husband had a really good experience, and said something to his wife to the effect of "I'm next!" We'll be working with them closely, and will really try to get them ready for baptism in the next few weeks. We're going to their house later tonight to have a Family Home Evening, and it's starting to become a tradition that I bring S'Mores and teach them how to roast the marshmallows! The Filipino's absolutely love it!!

The White Rabbit investigator smoked this week...she went 9 days which is longer than she's ever done before. She had a tough week and  I think she rationalized it as a way to blow off  steam (no pun intended!!) We also found some new investigators this week! One of them was a referral from  longtime members. This lady has 5 kids ranging from 12 to 1, and her oldest is deaf. She's had two previous "husbands" and both have left. For a living she does manicures and pedicures, for 70 pesos which is a little less than two dollars. They are so poor, and their house is in a marsh area that frequently gets flooded. She's such a sweet Sister, and frankly needs alot of help! We're doing service for her this week to help clean up the outside of their house.

As I've been reading in the Book of Mormon, I've been struck by some of the things I've learned. As I've read and focused on repentance, one thing has really truly been the focus - Jesus Christ. No matter what you study topically in the Book of Mormon, it always comes back to Him. None of us are perfect. Missionaries, members, friends,colleagues, family, and leaders. We all in some way fall short of the hopes placed upon us. Sometimes I've been stressed by all the expectations, and my personal shortcomings, but I'm starting to learn something very comforting. It's not about me!! I'm not perfect. I'm not the focus. Jesus Christ is always the focus. When we read the last chapter in the Book of Mormon, we often only focus on Moroni 10:3-5, and sometimes we miss one of the most beautiful passages in the whole book in Moroni's very final invitation:

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

If we truly come unto the Savior, no matter how weak or inadequate we may feel, we will be made perfect. The purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't just to become better people, it's to become perfect like him. It won’t happen in this life but if we follow the true path of discipleship, and through Him and His Atonement, we can someday be even as He is.

Love,
Elder Yost