Week 64: Hold Thy Way

Hello everyone!! Has it been a good week?? Hopefully it has. I hope you all are doing well, safe, happy and at peace.

This week's been alright. It wasn't a bad week, but it wasn't necessary one of those great ones we all want. It seemed like pretty much all the people we've been teaching have been busy.. /not interested..

Elder Griffiths and I are trying to work as hard as we can. We're striving to be consecrated and exactly obedient missionaries, even in the little things. Even with all of our effort, we were left this week a little puzzled and confused as to why the work seems more challenging. At one point me and my companion sat down on this bridge a little frustrated, but Elder Griffiths asked me this question: "what are we learning from this?" I've thought and pondered about that question a lot this week.

I think a lot of times in our lives we go through things that we don't understand. Maybe we either experience family problems, contention, death, job loss, mental health, or sickness. This world is certainly not short of pains and trials. Whatever it is, we can choose how to respond to it.

I read this week in the Doctrine and Covenants section 122. This section is about all that Joseph Smith went through while in time in Liberty Jail. The Lord counsels him that despite all that he is going through, that he needs to remember Christ and to continue to press on. He says:

"..know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Therefore, hold on thy way... Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

I really like this group of scripture, and I hope that it can apply to you all in one way or another this week. I know that God really does know us and loves us so much. I know that the Son of Man, our savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and descended below all things. Everything that we go through he has gone through.

This helps me to keep pressing forward in this great work of spreading his gospel.

Man. God is good. Life is good. All of our challenges can be overcome. Alright I know you've all probably just scrolled down to find the pictures so lemme get those up for you all :-)

7/22/2019

This is some delicious banana bread that a member made for us for Elder Griffiths' one year mark. It was very masarap. I love banana bread. It kinda reminded me of the banana bread my mom made for me growing up and also the stuff made by my bff in college. I love banana bread. Lots of good memories. :)

7/23/2019

I went on an exchange with Elder Ruado, one of the Elders who came in with me at the same time to the Philippines. It was a lot of fun and I had a great day with him. One thing that I like to do as a Zone Leader is going on exchanges.

This is a group of people that we met on the exchange. They wanted a picture so this is it. The kid is astounded at my white skin and thick eyebrows.

7/24/2019

This day we went out to an area that was really far to find a less active member. We didn't find her but we did talk to a lot of her friends and her husband which was fun. We also passed by this school and I saw their school motto : "Enter to learn Go forth to serve." Which is the same motto that BYU has. Seeing it really made me miss my good memories and the times that I had at BYU, but I thought a lot about what that phrase means. I think it applies to the mission as well. We enter to learn and we continue to grow and progress and serve as time passes and we grow older. The time will come when I'll have to leave my mission and have to go home. I want to have learned. I want to continue to serve.

7/27/2019

This was probably the best thing that we did this week. One morning we were walking around trying to talk to everyone and knock on doors. We came across two people digging a hole and so we started talking to them, then I asked if I could have a turn digging. We ended up staying there, digging the hole, and helping them put a light post in! Then the barangay (neighborhood) captain showed up, wanted to take pictures so he could post it on Facebook! It was a lot of fun to just serve and get to know these great people. I know it looks like us standing in front of a tree (the dude taking the picture didn't get the light in the pic) haha. I promise there's a light there.

We also got to take a picture in their police patrol car. Pretty sweet right? I borrowed the dude's sunglasses. I think I'm gonna ask President if I can get one of these things.

Nature! gotta love it. This is a good picture of the rice fields here.

Well that's it. I love you all. Have a wonderful week you all!

Ingat po kayo. Agymaman ti adu.

Elder Childers