Week 25 Choose His Happiness :)

Hello all my friends! I am very happy that I get to email today because I miss you all! Life is good for me, this week doesn't even seem like it happened it went so fast!

We spent a couple days in Laoag at a mission conference with Elder and Sister Wakolo. It was very, very great. I learned a lot from them. I'm inspired to improve and be a better missionary. I don't have a lot of time today to email, but I will just include a few things that I've been pondering about.

So... news. Apparently there is another hurricane coming straight for our mission, and from what I've seen and heard from the people, it's gonna hit my area.. again. That being said, I am safe and happy. I've been preparing with an emergency kit and fund to keep me alive and happy. We've been preparing the house and moving things upstairs because of the risk of it flooding. It flooded last time. We just recieved word that we will not be evacuating to Laoag, we're going to stay in Abulug and wait it out in the house. I'm confident that this direction from my mission leaders is the best choice, and I know we will be protected. I really appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers and everything you all do to reach out to me.

I understand that this can be bad news, especially to those of you who are close to me. I want you all to know that I am so happy and safe. I am nervous for another hurricane, I don't have a lot of experience with them. But, I have experience with prayer and having faith in God. I know that God can protect us from the storm, and He will according to His will. I am safe and happy.

I am very grateful for all of your prayers during this time of anxious anticipation.

Which brings me to what I've been learning: The Philippines has taught me a lot so far, but one thing is that despite the difficult circumstances, regardless of the cultural differences, weird food, hard language, and occasional typhoon, we can CHOOSE our attitude. I'm learning that I can really choose to be happy if I want to. Even if it means I'm on the other side of the world, without my close friends or family, preparing for another typhoon.

I invite you all to try a little harder to choose to be happy, even if we don't get our way or if life isn't 100% comfortable all the time. I know that true happiness comes from Jesus Christ and that if we turn to Him, we will find the happiness we're all trying to choose.

Love you all, very much

AGYAMAN

Elder Childers

Explanation for the pictures: My mom told me that I've just been sending pics with no explanation, sorry everyone! Here's a brief explanation for these ones.

Mission conference in Laoag with Elder and Sister Wakolo

Sunset and landscape pictures, the Philippines is very beautiful. I'm falling in love with this place.

Elder Ruiz took our district out to a nice place for a celebration because I'm finally done with my training!! 18 weeks instead of 12 weeks! It's been great.

I cooked an empanada!! A nanay showed me how and I cooked one and they sold it which was so fun :)

Some pictures with my Tongan friends, they showed me some cool Tongan hand signs.

Some kids at church, we were playing around and let them put our name-tags on. I love the kids here very much.