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