So, today was my last P day... Last email home...

Yeah, so I'm counting down too. Still working hard, just excited.

This week was good.  Really busy with extra stuff. We had my last Zone Leaders Council, the Mission Christmas Devotional, the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, and a ton of baptismal interviews. Busy busy busy.

But it was still a good week. Great successes. We were able to share with a less active family, the mom is a member, her (second) husband and daughter are not. We have only met the husband, but the daughter is way prepared. She really wants to learn more and excited to read from the BoM. They were not able to come to church this week though, we'll follow up on that. We were also able to have the elders quorum president take us to a less active member near his house. Just the mom and one daughter live there now, and again the daughter is not yet a member. Just the mom was there when we visited. We just talked for a bit and then shared a small message. It was rather unsure if they would be able to make it to church because the mom said that the daughter (15) likes to just sleep all Sunday morning. While we were waiting outside the church Sunday morning the EQ Pres came up and said they had stopped by their house and that they were coming! Just still finishing breakfast. And they did come! It was pretty cool. We had several non-members attend church this week, but we couldn't count some as investigators yet because we haven't actually taught them yet.

Another surprise at church, we had a very unexpected visitor. Michael Tilanas and his mom. Again, we were waiting for the church to be unlocked and I see two people walk in the gate that look familiar but I wasn't sure who they were. When they got close enough I realized that it was Michael. He had told me that he wanted to come and visit some Sunday before I went home. I was nice to talk with them again. It was great to see how much Michael has grown, not literally of course. But his knowledge and understanding of the church and the gospel has grown. He is really good in the classes because even though it wasn't his home unit, he was not shy at all to share his insights and answer questions.

So, today was my last P day... Last email home... I'll get to tell you about this upcoming week in person. We will have a baptism on Friday and the Ward Christmas party on Saturday. Should be good.

Love you all!

Elder Phelps

All Are Invited!

Jordan comes home on the 20th of December after leaving the Philippines on the other side of the world on the 19th. His flight (Delta #2004) is scheduled to arrive at the SLC International Airport at 7:05 PM. Anyone who would like to come and be among the first to welcome him home is certainly invited.

Lyle

The Time is Ticking, and it Just Seems to be Getting Faster

Our week was pretty good. We'll start with Tuesday. Tuesday was district meeting.  As zone leaders we go and visit the other districts in our zone. So this Tuesday was my last at the Alijis District meeting.  So we had to move our normal tradition of eating at Greenoz Pizza to this week. We normally eat there on the last Tuesday before transfers.  Greenoz makes huge pizzas, like as big as the tables. And it's just down the street from the church here in Alijis.  Elder Eastin and I are planning to order one the Saturday before I come home.  Might be hard to finish with just the two of us.

Wednesday we had leadership training for all the district leaders and zone leaders. It was way good. Learned a ton.  Elder Eastin and I have been striving to apply what we learned there and we are seeing success from it.

The rest of the week was pretty normal. We worked hard and things just happened.  One really cool thing that happened was that we taught an investigator for pretty much the first time and invited her and her member husband to come to church. We also invited her to be baptized.  She said yes! That's not the cool thing though. She did come to church! It was way cool watching her walk in. Her husband however did not come; he's gonna take just a bit more work.

Mom asked: "We will have a good coat at the airport for you to wear home. ok?"  Yes OK!! Bring my nice formal black one or that orange and tan colored one. Those are both really warm. I will certainly need it.

Ok, so I like that you tell me about your preparations for my return, because it makes it feel real. Sometimes it just feels like a dream that December is actually here and that this all has to come to an end. But then also it makes it a bit harder to focus, but usually by Tuesday (tomorrow) I'm totally focused again.

Still staying pretty focused, but some days it is pretty hard. Last week there must have been four or five days in a row that I had dreams about coming home.  I had dreams like that back at like my six month mark, but they were more like nightmares.  Because in them i would be freaking out inside thinking, "I shouldn't be home yet!  I've still got 18 months!"  But now it's not like that, it's just like, "yeah, I'm going home.  It's time.  Mission is over."  I guess that's a good sign that I have been successful and gotten done what I needed to get done.

It also doesn't help that when we attend leadership councils and trainings that people ask what it feels like to be this close to going home. Like Sister Bevans. The Bevans couple and I are friends because we were in the same district back in La Carlota. They are way cool and fun to talk to. Gonna try and make my way up to Canada when they get home... Attend their homecoming.

The time is ticking, and it just seems to be getting faster. The 18/19 th is just getting closer and closer. The 18th will be the last real day because we will go to church and then go pretty much straight to the mission office. And that's the end. Yup...

Elder Phelps

Companion Separation Anxiety

WOW, what a week, and I mean ours. We were busy all week. It was pretty awesome. Teaching and all was pretty normal stuff. Just working hard and getting a ton of lessons. But not just lessons, helping people to come unto Christ.

One thing I just want to say is that I love my companion, Elder Eastin. He is so awesome. We have a great time together. We work hard, we work well together, we joke and have fun, and we also have good discussions the few times we aren't talking to everyone around us. It's usually lying exhausted in bed talking for like five minutes before we fall asleep. We had a good discussion the other day about companion separation anxiety, feeling strange when you aren't with your assigned comp, even on exchanges. It just feels good to be back with your companion. Even when I went with Elder D'Addabbo, who is my best friend here, I was excited to come back to Elder Eastin.

We had our zone activity today. It was simple and way fun. I was really happy that the others all enjoyed it too. All we did was go to the Mansilingan Chapel and play some planned games. We played Human Bingo, Jeopardy, and some others. Everyone had a great time and it was just good to relax and get to know the other missionaries in the zone a bit more.

Yesterday was stake conference here in Bacolod South Stake. It was way fun too. I know so many people in this stake. Been assigned in two of the areas here and been on exchanges in some of the others, as well as conducting baptismal interviews. It was great to see all those. Especially those that I had interviewed. Really proud of them. As I was talking with many of the members from Handumanan they commented that I had lost weight! I guess I have been losing more with how hard we have been working. It was pretty cool to hear that. I heard the same thing today from Sister Baluyot at the zone activity. We were waiting for others to show up and they walked in and that was one of the first things she said, "Elder Phelps, you lost weight." Hopefully I'll lose some more in the next three weeks before I come home!

One really cool thing that happened this week was the investigator that came to stake conference. The husband is a trisikad driver (I don’t have time to explain it), they are poor, but live close enough to the church in Alijis to walk. We were worried about having them come. But we told them to prepare and use their faith that they could make it to Mansilingan. And shortly after conference started they walked in!! We were way happy to see them.

I love you all!!

Elder Phelps

Alijis Branch becomes Alijis Ward!

November 21, 2011
This may sound bad of me, but I don't really remember the "sleepover" Andrew and I had before I left. I don't doubt that we did one, just a lot has happened in the last two years.  Sure do miss that guy though.  If Mom ever lets me go when I get home, I may never let Andrew go.

I remember those scout game sleepovers at the house.... they were... fun. Most of the time. I don't think I know any of your scouts anymore... They were all still in Primary when I left. Something they have been trying to work on here in the Bacolod South Stake is setting up the scouting program. There is a Boy Scouts of the Philippines, but the church doesn't always sponsor it. Where the church is more developed they have it, like in Manila. President Tobias served as a scoutmaster. In one of our interviews a while back we talked about the scout movie Follow Me Boys. He was very happy to find out that I worked at scout camp. Scouting is awesome!

You asked for my thoughts on D&C Section 4 since you guys are speaking on it in church Sunday….

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand  blameless before God at the last day.

"all your heart, might, mind, and strength..." It can be pretty hard to fully be/ do what that phrase means. But it is also very rewarding when you do. There is also the promise that if you do that you "may stand blameless before God at the last day”. Meaning if you aren't totally committed and focused to the work, you will stand accountable at the judgment day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

This means that D&C 4 is not just limited to the set-apart full-time missionaries, it is for any and all members of the Lord's church. You can also look at the word "work," just what is "the work" that ye are called to? Moses 1:39! That is certainly not limited to the missionaries.

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

The qualities and attributes expected of us as the Lord's servants. And you certainly need all of them as you pursue this great work. One is not greater than the other, and from my experience, at least as a missionary, you will use all of them everyday, and sometimes it will be a challenge. Especially the patience with investigators sometimes.

And that's my insight to D&C 4. We recite it every Tuesday at District Meeting.

Elder Eastin and I worked really hard this week and were abundantly blessed. We were able to find a ton of new investigators and most are pretty good. On Sunday we went to pick up and walk to church with some of our investigators. We got to their house just around 8 and helped them get ready. We helped Sister hang up the laundry and then we pumped water for them to shower. It was really fun. What I really hope came from that though is that we showed that church is important and they need to plan better so that they can come to church, and on time.

This week was a special branch conference for the Alijis Branch because we are now Alijis Ward! It's a big step forward. Now the goal is to step it up, pick up the progress, and move faster. Becoming a ward is not the end, next is splitting the ward. Elder Eastin and I have made some great plans on how we can help the ward members catch the vision and the desire to do this. Get the drive, move forward and have the work blossom! They can do it! Everything is going their way!

Love you all!

Elder Phelps

Happy Birthday Mom!

Well, I already sent a specific email to Mom, but here it is again:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, this week was transfer week. It went mostly as expected. I stayed, Elder Johnson transferred. My new companion is Elder Eastin. He is also from Phoenix. He is pretty cool. I like him. We are doing great so far. Working really hard.

The way I described the progress of Alijis to others last transfer was that if it were an airplane, we were flying along smoothly and then a duck got sucked into the engine and we started heading down. Now we are heading back up.

We found a ton of new investigators this week and taught some really good lessons, unfortunately none came to church this week... Due to requirements set by the Area Presidency here in the Philippines, if none come to church next week and for the next four weeks, we won't have any baptisms this transfer. But that's not really the important thing anyway. As long as they do eventually get baptized. Elder Eastin and I are still exercising our faith that some of the people we found this last week have the potential, drive, faith and all that stuff to be prepared for baptism on December 17... my last Saturday.

I've got a feeling that this transfer is going to fly by. It's only been a week, but with the way we are working time just flies. We just got our zone calender emailed to us too, and they (the office) have a lot planned for us: exchanges, zone activity, leadership trainings, zone leader council, and specialized trainings. And let's not forget the special christmas conference!! That should be way fun. Last year it was just some short inspirational messages, food, and games! With a small gift from the Mission. Towels (bath or hand. Depending on which you want/ needed).

While we have been finding this week we have had many interesting experiences. Many that just come with meeting new people and especially people not interested in our message. We have heard pretty much every excuse, and they are all pretty lame if you ask me. None of the reasons to not listen to us was that they simply weren't interested, they would just lie and say they had somewhere to go or something like that. Also as we meet new people we are exposed to what their beliefs are, and you get some pretty strange ones. Especially the baptists here in the Philippines. They don't know anything. Even the catholics take on a somewhat baptist point of view if it meets their situation. Elder Eastin and I were talking about why people join certain religions and it just reminded me of something we discussed in my Theory of Knowledge class in high school. It was just after reading The Life of Pi. And the two different versions of the story. Which one do you believe and why? Many of us chose the story involving the animals because it made us feel better. It's the same way with religion, we choose what makes us feel good. Nowadays you can pick and choose a religion to meet your lifestyle. If you are lazy and don't want to feel obligated to actually do anything, there are a ton of religions out there for you! I just thought it was interesting.

Well, we are going to continue our hard, full of faith work this week!!
Love you all!!

Elder Phelps

We Struggled This Week

Yeah, so this week was a couple of big things. One, Tuesday was All Saints Day. That's a big thing here. Everyone goes to the cemeteries, and spends pretty much the whole day there. Then Wednesday was Zone Conference down in La Carlota. It was nice to walk down those streets again. Zone Conference went really well. My training was probably my least favorite; all the trainings were really good. Elder Hill (my companion Zone Leader) gave a really good one. He goes home tomorrow so his training was about being a successful missionary. Really good.


Not much happened the rest of the week. Despite our best efforts we struggled this week. We talked to a ton of people, just none wanted to listen to us this week. But we made plans to go back to them. We were walking through the only rice field in the entire area and two other guys came down another path and as they were passing asked if they could come to church. We told them they were welcome and we would love to visit them, but they were leaving their house at that moment so we planned to return to them.

Dad said, "If there are scary things about mission life you haven't shared to keep up from freaking out, I hope you've kept a good journal so we can enjoy the stories when you are safe at home with us."  There sure are some, and I have kept them from you so mom wouldn't worry. Had some interesting experiences, none that caused serious injury. Compared to some other elders I have had very little happen to me.

I'll let you know what happens with transfers (of course). I went to pick up the suit I'm having made. The pants turned out really good, final touches still need to be done on the coat. It was really good though. I might get another made... I don't want to come home in the suit I brought with me, it's too big now.

Well, love you all!!
Elder Phelps