Week 36: "I am with thee"

Hello everyone!! Kumusta kayong lahat! I'm so happy that I get to email and talk to you guys again today!! My heart and mind are filled with gratitude this week. Lemme tell you all about it

So this week our work was really good. We were able to get out and work more which was great.

The sickness I had to endure this week is this thing called "tonsillitis"...honestly sounds a little made up to me. I got some antibiotics which I'm so grateful for.

I've noticed that if I would narrow down my struggles to two things, it would be 1. my physical health and 2. the language

I think a lot of times when we experience the uncomfortable and challenging parts of life we have the temptation to shrink and turn back. I have noticed this in my natural response to pain. I withdraw myself and become quiet. I begin to overthink my Tagalog, and feel anxious and out of place. Coming from a place of physical pain, it begins to form into an emotional problem and then it affects my spirituality. I begin to fear. When I'm afraid I'm not myself!

This week I was studying in Acts and I came across this scripture about one of the visions of the apostle Paul. "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee" Acts 18:9-10

In our trials and afflictions, we can take peace in the phrase "I am with thee" because He is. I know he is right beside us when we are hurting most. I believe that God sends people into our lives that are there to help us and remind us of this simple truth.

Jesus Christ suffered all things and descended bellow all things. Whatever you are experiencing at the moment, whatever trial, pain, worry it is, I promise that the Lord has not forgotten you. He is there. Often we have to go through painful trials to realize that.

I love you all! I'm so, so grateful for the love, prayers, and support that you all have given to me. I don't know if I could have made it this far without your support and testimonies to me.

Make it a great week!

AGYAMAN

Elder Childers

Pictures:

One day we went out and found some families who haven't been to church in a long time. It was so great to meet them and feel the spirit so strongly as we told them God loved them and wanted them to come back to His church. One family lived out in the middle of nowhere!! We had to take a members motorbike and drive all the way out to the country and then hike in the middle of rice plantations to get to their small, humble house. I love this work.

Here's me awkwardly sitting in front of a members house with no one home.. Elder Abarabar snuck in the backyard to use the bathroom. He told me to "keep watch" haha

Picture of some random kids.. It's very easy to make friends with the kids here. Just say "up here!" and ask for a high five. BAM you are now best friends.

On Sunday we had a devotional broadcast with Elder Holland who came to the Philippines and talked to all the members here. Great talk, he's a powerful teacher. Talked about obedience and sacrifice as we prepare for the second coming. Here's a picture of us on our way back to our house! We just ride on top of vehicles, it's a good time. Closest thing to AC here ;)