Week 3--Becoming an Instrument

"That they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth" I've been thinking a lot about that verse this week. Getting pneumonia my first week in the MTC left me weak; but granted me a chance to rely on God. It gave me a chance to humbly seek help from Christ's atonement to help me get through it. I know that Christ lives. Even now just in my third week on the mission, I'm astonished at how little I used to rely on God. I think a lot of it has to do with how often I naturally pray now. My prayers are changing, my heart feels more open to God. I'm trying so hard to work and prepare to teach, but I'm learning that it's impossible to continue without the help of our Heavenly Father. Elder Thompson was kind enough earlier this week to invite me to ask God about what I need to be doing different as a missionary. It was a neat experience. After studying the Book of Mormon, praying, and fasting, I received an answer. I know that God answers our prayers. He loves us so much. I pray that whoever is reading this will strive to come closer to Him by desiring to know His will. I know the worth of that task. This past week has been awesome. I'm loving the MTC. My district is so cool. I think back to when I started BYU and meeting so many cool new people, and it feels a little like that again. At BYU, I met some of my best friends, and the MTC has been like that again. Which is awesome. I could be walking to class, waiting for dinner, or whatever but I have so many chances to talk to many Elders and Sisters and share testimony and truth of Christ's gospel. I love it here. The spirit is so strong through the Book of Mormon. I sincerely invite each of you to try reading it. I know it's true. As a missionary, my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ and his atoning sacrifice for us. I invite you to exercise faith in Him and extend the invitation to "read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in [your] hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if the book is true." I know that if you read it with a willingness to come closer to Christ, and ask God if it is true, you will gain a testimony through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Laoag, Philippines. Here's a classic picture of me pointing to where I CANNOT wait to go and serve. The older district gets to go next week. I'm jealous. However, many of them have been re-assigned. I think only 2 or 3 out of 20 are going to the Philippines, there's been a lot of visa problems. Some got assigned to California Irvine which is where I would pick because I'd love to serve alongside Elder Hatch, my cousin. But, they told us to expect getting re-assigned for a transfer. Just a heads up for all you all. I hope I get assigned to someplace cool like Colorado :)

This picture really captures my mga kasama :) (companionship) I love these Elders.

Here's a pic of my district. Everyone is so cool. The Elders are especially rad. The sisters have gotten annoyed with how many times we've sung "there is sunshine in my soul today" in Tagalog. It's become our district's theme song. Hymns mean so much more to me now.

Elder Tuiaki sleeps on the floor sometimes. "My legs are so skinny" he said when he saw this picture. He's such a great man, and I look up to him. He sleeps on the floor like this, because he's used to it. He slept on the floor so that his younger siblings (he's the oldest of 8) could sleep on the one bed they had. My heart swells and I really feel bad for how many times I kicked my siblings out of the bed in the hotel room. (Jonas please don't make the same mistake) Missions are a lot about love. So far, I guess. I know that I've only been here for a little over 2 weeks, but I'm already changing a lot. I love Jesus Christ. Mahal ko si Jesucristo. I love learning Tagalog. I feel a lot of love for my companions, especially since we all have to make sacrifices for each other on a daily basis. We're trying to align our internal bathroom schedules to make things easier. I feel love for our investigators at the MTC. I feel love for all of you, and I wish that I could speak to each of you face to face and come closer to our Savior Jesus Christ, together. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon. I love my district, and my zone leaders. I feel so much love and unity at the MTC. And I love it. Have a great week. Make it a great week. 3 Nephi 11:38-45. Jesus Christ invites us all, just as He invited the Nephites, to love a little more.

38 And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; 39 But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also; 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away. 43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; 44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.

Love you all. I'm so grateful for this oppotunity to continue preparing to be an instrument in the hands of God.

Elder Childers