So, this last week was a good week. I feel mostly adjusted to the new area now. It is hard because it is so much bigger than Ayungon. But the area is great and so are the members.
Work is moving forward pretty good. We are still a little lacking in investigators, but are working hard to find people. We are holding an open house at the church this Saturday where there will be a tour and film showing (The Restoration). We gave the members a ton of invitations to give out to people. It sounds like it will be a success. I sure hope so...
For mom's questions, I can't really explain what a barangay is. But we are still part of Bacolod city, so it is not quite like WVC to SLC, but it is way close. Yes, getting my birthday package will be easy, we go to the mission office every Tuesday to pick up stuff like that. I cant wait for Harry Potter, sounds way fun.
You asked about tithing with the members here. Well, most react pretty well and respond that it makes perfect sense. As far as actually paying it... sometimes they slack there, and that is why not all the churches have aircon. But I have had multiple investigators that on the Sunday of their confirmation brought tithing with them. Also similar with in-active members returning, they come back and they bring tithing.
The week was way simple,not much to talk about... Sorry. Either way, we gotta go. I'm starving!
Elder Phelps
Monday, July 18, 2011
Transferred Out of Ayungon!
July 10, 2011
Well, I'll start with the biggest news. I transferred out of Ayungon! Excited and not at the same time. I already way miss all my friends there. It was a really tough good bye... So now I am in an area called Handumanan. It is a barangay (neighborhood? best explanation) of Bacolod. So we get to go in to Bacolod on Pday. Its way close so it just makes sense to. The area is nice. There are a ton of people, compared to Ayungon. But the area isn't doing as well. So we are looking to get it back up on its feet. There is so much potential here. The ward is way willing.
We had a Preach My Gospel class last night to discuss the ward mission plan, meaning to make one. We started with a paper that explained the big picture, then read from PMG. It explains perfectly the WMP on page 220. So we read through that. I knew where I wanted them to go with it, but I wanted to guide them, not just flat out say it. But it turned out even better. Though not captured as perfectly as I had envisioned it, a member came up with the idea that I had. They set goals and came up with specific plans and even a deadline! I was way proud of them.
So, my companion is Elder Davidson. He's a pretty cool guy from Wyoming. He is pretty much the same size as I am. President likes to put me with guys near my size. The elder I replaced is way small, so members were a bit surprised.
Like I said, work is slow right now. But we are working hard to change that. Hope to see progression soon. The district that I am incharge of this time is much smaller, just six of us, all elders. Going to be interesting. From what I can gather, district meetings the last transfer weren't all that they could have been. But it seems to be small problems, and if handled right will be solved easily. The hardest is going to be the attitude of the elders. But it can be fixed. Hopefully we all can come to see district meeting as the "revelatory experience" that it should be.
Thats it for this week.
Love you all
Elder Phelps
Well, I'll start with the biggest news. I transferred out of Ayungon! Excited and not at the same time. I already way miss all my friends there. It was a really tough good bye... So now I am in an area called Handumanan. It is a barangay (neighborhood? best explanation) of Bacolod. So we get to go in to Bacolod on Pday. Its way close so it just makes sense to. The area is nice. There are a ton of people, compared to Ayungon. But the area isn't doing as well. So we are looking to get it back up on its feet. There is so much potential here. The ward is way willing.
We had a Preach My Gospel class last night to discuss the ward mission plan, meaning to make one. We started with a paper that explained the big picture, then read from PMG. It explains perfectly the WMP on page 220. So we read through that. I knew where I wanted them to go with it, but I wanted to guide them, not just flat out say it. But it turned out even better. Though not captured as perfectly as I had envisioned it, a member came up with the idea that I had. They set goals and came up with specific plans and even a deadline! I was way proud of them.
So, my companion is Elder Davidson. He's a pretty cool guy from Wyoming. He is pretty much the same size as I am. President likes to put me with guys near my size. The elder I replaced is way small, so members were a bit surprised.
Like I said, work is slow right now. But we are working hard to change that. Hope to see progression soon. The district that I am incharge of this time is much smaller, just six of us, all elders. Going to be interesting. From what I can gather, district meetings the last transfer weren't all that they could have been. But it seems to be small problems, and if handled right will be solved easily. The hardest is going to be the attitude of the elders. But it can be fixed. Hopefully we all can come to see district meeting as the "revelatory experience" that it should be.
Thats it for this week.
Love you all
Elder Phelps
Happy 4th of July / Happy Birthday Kathryn
July 3, 2011
First of all, Happy 4th of July!! And Happy Birthday Kat!!! There is also an elder in our zone whose birthday is on the fourth too! He's from Layton.
Wow, quite the week for you all. This week here was very interesting. And not really a good one. We worked hard, a lot seemed to be going well, but in the end so many things went wrong. Once again everything was going good until Sunday. Saturday it rained REALLY hard (my shoes are still a bit damp...) That caused a lot of flooding, and in turn caused problems for members and investigators coming to church. I was way disappointed with church. Tried to focus on the positive, but it was hard. I usually have an easy time doing that, but it was way hard yesterday.
The biggest thing on my mind right now is transfers. It is hurting my head. Usually by the last week of the transfer I have a really good guess on what is going to happen, and except for last transfer I have been right. This time I have no idea. I was so sure that I was transferring last time that I had even started packing some stuff, but then I was wrong and Elder Reidhead was transferred. So now I just don't know. Everyone keeps saying that I am staying again. E. Barrott really wants me to, so there is still someone to cook lunch. If I do stay again I don'y know what to think. That means I will be three transfers away for the end of my mission and still be in my third area. All of my junior comps have three or more areas already.
I do love Ayungon, and there is still so much to be done. Teaching investigators and helping the branch. They have a lot of problems, and only so many people want to or even think they can help. I've been trying this whole time to help them "catch the vision" as President Tobias would say. They are capable of so much more than they have right now. If everyone would exert just so much (meaning a little) effort, miracles will be accomplished in this branch. It's easy to get discouraged when you feel that you are trying so hard, and yet nothing is moving forward because ultimately it all depends on them.
Well, I'm ready to face the future, whatever it may hold. I know that the Lord will be there to help me and the members when we need it. We just need to turn to Him.
Love from the Philippines. Happy Birthday to Kat again!
Elder Phelps
First of all, Happy 4th of July!! And Happy Birthday Kat!!! There is also an elder in our zone whose birthday is on the fourth too! He's from Layton.
Wow, quite the week for you all. This week here was very interesting. And not really a good one. We worked hard, a lot seemed to be going well, but in the end so many things went wrong. Once again everything was going good until Sunday. Saturday it rained REALLY hard (my shoes are still a bit damp...) That caused a lot of flooding, and in turn caused problems for members and investigators coming to church. I was way disappointed with church. Tried to focus on the positive, but it was hard. I usually have an easy time doing that, but it was way hard yesterday.
The biggest thing on my mind right now is transfers. It is hurting my head. Usually by the last week of the transfer I have a really good guess on what is going to happen, and except for last transfer I have been right. This time I have no idea. I was so sure that I was transferring last time that I had even started packing some stuff, but then I was wrong and Elder Reidhead was transferred. So now I just don't know. Everyone keeps saying that I am staying again. E. Barrott really wants me to, so there is still someone to cook lunch. If I do stay again I don'y know what to think. That means I will be three transfers away for the end of my mission and still be in my third area. All of my junior comps have three or more areas already.
I do love Ayungon, and there is still so much to be done. Teaching investigators and helping the branch. They have a lot of problems, and only so many people want to or even think they can help. I've been trying this whole time to help them "catch the vision" as President Tobias would say. They are capable of so much more than they have right now. If everyone would exert just so much (meaning a little) effort, miracles will be accomplished in this branch. It's easy to get discouraged when you feel that you are trying so hard, and yet nothing is moving forward because ultimately it all depends on them.
Well, I'm ready to face the future, whatever it may hold. I know that the Lord will be there to help me and the members when we need it. We just need to turn to Him.
Love from the Philippines. Happy Birthday to Kat again!
Elder Phelps
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