Gratitude - August 20, 2017

Awesome week!

Two of our investigators, Michelle and Jommer, were baptized and confirmed members of the church. I could feel that Satan was working double time to plant doubt and make sure we couldn't teach them last week... but no unhallowed hand can stop the work of the Lord.

The day of the baptism (Saturday) was quite the insane day. We got to the church around 1:30 to prepare for the baptism, fill up the font, etc. But when we got there, the doors were all locked and nobody was there. That morning we had been trying to coordinate with the bishopric about getting a key, but when we called and texted them, they were all either at work or busy with something. The ward mission leader also was not picking up his phone nor responding to our texts... so we were in a rough situation. The baptism was planned and announced last week in sacrament to be at 4:00, and we had no way into the church to set up. Luckily the Senior couple, the Porteous's, were there and they helped us get in contact with Bishop Edwards of the Puerto 1st Ward so that we could move the baptism to the Malvar chapel instead of the Santa Monica chapel. It was a stressful day.

Even so, the baptism was wonderful. The spirit was there and the testimonies of the two candidates were some of the strongest testimonies I have ever heard in my time being in the mission. It was such a special day. When Michelle was brought out of the water, she just broke into tears and started saying "Elder Thankyou so much" and I was like "Don't thank me, thank our Heavenly Father. Thank His son, Jesus Christ."

Michelle has always shown an amazing example of humility and gratitude, and it really touched me that day, especially as she bore her testimony with conviction and power.

I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who presented a wonderful plan for all his children to return to Him. I'm grateful for His son, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life so that we too will live again.

I hope you all have a great week ahead of you. Don't forget to let Heavenly Father know how grateful you are for Him and all the blessings he's given you.

-Elder Ahn

PICTURES!

-Santa Monica District

-Cool light rainbow thing

-WE CAUGHT A JELLYFISH

-Our Zone Activity at the beach. Suuuper fun.

-We made district T-Shirts

-Backside

August 7, 2017

PICTURES:

-Nature! Palawan is beautiful.

-District Service Project

-Amalia and Kier (investigators)

-Pho (not real though....)

MORE PICTURES!

-Posterity Photo + Elder Niutupuivaha

-Office Posterity

-Office Posterity + Elder Webster the God Father

-Tower of Packages

Gettin' Booted Out - July 23, 2018

Yup I'm gettin' booted out of Pasay. Boo. I love Pasay. This area has been so fun... Haha... Transfers is this week and I got the call from President Fermanis last night. It went something like this....

"Hello po. Ito po si Elder Ahn."

"Hello, Elder Ahn? This is President Fermanis."

"Oh. Hi President. How are you?"

"Good good, how are you doing?"

"Doing good."

"That's great. I'm glad you speak English. Well Elder, I have a new assignment for you if you choose to accept."

"I don't suppose I can reject it so... Haha"

"Haha that's true. Elder Ahn, you're going to be a Zone Leader on Palawan in Puerto Princesa. You fly out on Wednesday."

"........ Uuuuuhhhhhh.........."

So that was quite the punch to the face yesterday. I guess the Lord has different plans right now... I'm going to be completely honest, I don't want to leave haha.. But I trust Heavenly Father. He sees the big picture. He sees potential. I know that all the investigators we have met and grown to love here in Bangkal will progress according to His time table.

I think this is all I have to say for now. I'm drawing a blank.

The next time I send an email, I'll be on Palawan again. "THE WILDERNESS MUST BE EXPLORED!"

Love you all! Have a great week!

-Elder Ahn

-The Mendoza family and more relatives! They're super crazy. We love them.

-Donada District + Elder Pehacek, Eddie, and Jared.

-Another picture. Elder Orpilla (to my right) is going home on Wednesday.

-Nanay Carmen and more ward members! Sis. Carmen fell and rolled her ankle on Saturday, so we blessed her and visited. She insists that I date her daughter in America haha.... sheeee's crazy. I love her.

Miracles and Blessings - July 18, 2017

Cool Experience:

Last Saturday, we were on our way to an appointment when we heard someone calling "Elders! Elders!". We looked around and saw no one, but then looked up to see a sister from the fourth floor of an apartment building calling out to us. She further explained that she is a member and we asked if we could go up and visit. When we arrived, we found out that this sister is actually from another province, but was visiting her less active sister and her family who lived in that apartment. We then found out that one of the daughters of this less active mother is a 14 year old youth who has gone to church multiple times in the province, but had not yet been taught by missionaries and had not yet been baptized... So miracle. Random Less active Part Member family: Found! The Lord put us in the right place at the right time. It can not be sheer coincidence that that sister would be looking out the window at the exact time we were passing by their apartment on a rare day that she was visiting her Less Active sister in Makati... I know that the Lord is preparing certain people for certain times and he works according to His time table. Maybe now is this family's time!

Another cool experience:

Last Sunday was the most investigators at Sacrament meeting I have ever experienced in my mission. Just from our area alone, we had 9 investigators attend church, coming from 5 different families.... If we counted all the little kids too, we would have had 15 investigators at church. Wow. It was a day of much rejoicing, but also a day of much stress trying to manage helping all the investigators around haha! Heavenly Father is very generous and very merciful and I'm so happy to watch Him accomplish His work.

Friends and family, the church is true. Keep pressing forward steadfastly and with firm faith. If you fall, trip, twist an ankle, or fall on your face.... wipe off the dust, stand up, and keep moving forward. God doesn't expect us to stop or cut our eternal journey short. He expects us to make it all the way, and He has promised to help us along the way. Just like His work here on earth, hindrances may occur, but nothing can stop His work.

I love you all! I hope you all feel and know that. Even more so, I hope you all feel and know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for you is immeasurable and imaginable.

Have a good week!

-Elder Ahn

Sorry, Another Quick One. July 9, 2017

Hey, I don't have a ton of time. So here's a quick one.

Next week I'll send more audio logs and hopefully a better written email.

Well, this last week was super great.

The Merciales siblings were not able to come to church again because their mother wouldn't let them leave the house.... but she still allows them to be taught by us. I don't know. We're figuring it out. We know her time will come and that her heart will be softened as the Holy Ghost keeps working with her.

Last Saturday, Sister Driz, our super amazing member who gives referrals like candy, introduced us to another one of her friends, and yesterday, her whole family except for her husband, came to church! Sister Im and her 6 kids. It was amazing. I'll tell you guys about it more in an audio log next week. It's a story to be voiced, not written. Haha!

Love you all! Keep doing your best!

-Elder Ahn