Process of Change

Hello everyone,

Due to the spreading Covid-19 virus that has spread into a global pandemic, I have been sent home from the Philippines and now have been released from being a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I am now home safely and have enjoyed the company of my family for a week now. It is so, so good to be home.

I just want to briefly thank all of you who reached out to me over these two years. Your support, prayers, emails, letters, and love have meant a lot to me and have carried me through to this point.

Words really cannot express how grateful I am to God for the wonderful experience I’ve had in the Philippines these past two years. I’ve been blessed with the many friends I’ve met, the companions I’ve served with, and with the love of God that has grown in my heart for the Philippines and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He has a plan for each of us. I’m so grateful for my mission and everything that I’ve learned.

In short, I would like to paraphrase an important lesson from my mission in a quote by Henry B. Erying.

“The Lord doesn’t put us through this test just to give us a grade; he does it because the process will change us.”

The many trials and problems that we all face, it’s not just so that God can see if we are faithful enough to do it or not. It’s not even just for us to learn something new or see something a different way. Most importantly, our trials/tests, our LIVES are FULL of things for us to APPLY, to DO, to CHANGE.

My mission is a huge testament of this for me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I love you all! Thank you all once again for everything. Ingat po kayo lagi.

Hanggang sa muli,

Ansel