Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm e-mailing you today from a far away place, close to where I started my mission! I'm in my new area, Socorro, on the island of Mindoro. The bordering area is Pola (Alex’s first mission area)! When I was assigned in Pola we would always drive through Socorro, but never did I expect I'd be assigned there!
On Thursday morning before the transfer meeting, President pulled me aside and told me I'd be opening up Socorro. This place hasn't had missionaries for over 20 years when there was a branch here. President told me that I would have to be the church there, and pretty much get things going. There are a few members on the records, but most have since moved away or died. He gave me both Handbook 2 and Handbook 1(these handbooks provide direction on how congregations should operate) and told me to study up! We're also supposed to find a meeting house, and make sure the group here has everything it needs, including supplies. We have lots to do! At the transfer meeting I got my new companion, Elder Aoina, a New Zealander of Samoan descent. He's 19 years old, and is from South Auckland (Hillary Ward, does that ring a bell Dad?). ( Chip served his mission in Auckland, New Zealand and this ward is in an area he served in) He's awesome!
After transfer meeting we began our long trek to Mindoro. We took some buses and of course the ferry, and by the time we pulled into the port in Mindoro, it was 10:15 PM. We had to sleep at the Zone Leaders apartment there and wait till the morning to get to our area which is about another hour away. When we finally got to our area, the Zone Leaders pointed out where the group met last week for their first service, wished us luck, and left. So with that, we went to work.
We went and visited the home of the member where the Sacrament was held. She's a widow, and lives at home with her 15 year old daughter. She showed us the houses of a few other members. All in all there are two Priesthood brethren and two Relief Society sisters. It's been so long that most of them have forgotten how to pray, let alone remember the teachings of the church. We were able to teach their families, and teach some of their children who have been born within the last 20 years. After that, we just had to go find people to teach. So we starting knocking on doors! On Friday night we were tracting at around 8:30 PM and I told Elder Aoina to pick a house to knock on their door. He picked one, and they welcomed us in to teach their family. We taught them lesson 1, and they were eager to be taught again. In that one house we found 6 new investigators.
We did a lot more tracting (knocking on doors)over the next few days, and over the course of three days, we've found 23 new investigators. Not bad huh?
For church on Sunday we met as a group under a tarp in front of the house of a member. There were about 18 of us, but only about 8 were from Socorro, the others were us and members of the mother branch that came. We did have 3 investigators there! They were some of the family members of the members.
We're really starting from square one here. It's pretty challenging! I think these next six weeks will be the most challenging, and the most spiritual and miraculous 6 weeks of my mission. I know that this is where I need to be at this time. The field is sure white here, and the people here are thirsty for the Gospel. I know this is the Lord's work, and he always provides a way, no matter how big or daunting a task may seem.
Finishers Wanted
Love,
Elder Yost
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