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Kindness and Perseverance

Hello :)

We just had transfer day so a lot of old missionaries got to go home and we got a lot of new missionaries.  Transfer day is always hectic for the office Elders. But we still got out to work which was great (working outside is always better than working inside). Yesterday we got out earlier then normal (4 PM) and got to go to an area that was further away. We taught brother Jack who is the only American who we see. He has been going through a lot lately and just recently came out of a low point in his life. We always come back to his house every once in a while but its hard to catch him sober or away. Anyway, yesterday he was home and he invited us in and we had a great talk about life and faith and how important sincere action is. The whole lesson we had to translate into tagalog for the young filipinos who were with us. It was a great discussion and he actually asked for an assignment and for us to come back!  Later last night I thought about how many times we went to his house and how many times the trips there seemed almost wasted.  Perseverance is powerful when coupled with love.

I've been reading the bible and im in 2nd Samuel now. I heard David's story and Saul's story but I never read it all the way through before. Its really cool and there is a lot to be learned but my favorite part was probably the love that Jonathan (Saul's son) had for David and his kindness towards him. I also really loved how David spared Saul twice even though the Lord delivered Saul into his hands. He still recognized Saul as the Lord's anointed though Saul was trying to kill David. I hope that I can develop that kindness too :)

Love,

Elder Taylor-Jenson

There is a destiny that makes us brothers, No one goes his way alone; All that we send into the lives of others, Comes back into our own.  - Edwin Markham

Hey-O

Hey-O

This week we got to teach sister Jeralyn so that was great!  She usually loves our visits. It was raining like crazy though haha. We stepped outside and were instantly drenched.  I just keep my books in a plastic bag and let everything else get wet, i have given up on trying to keep dry.  Anyway, we went to Jeralyn's house and taught her and her house was almost flooded, she said usually the whole house gets a couple inches of water because they are at the bottom of a hill.  But we had a great lesson despite the rain. We talked about faith and repentance and how they are very important in life, not just as a one-time step but as daily help in our lives.  She really seems to understand, thats what I like about visiting her. Though there are a lot of people we talk to, the most memorable and worth while experiences are with the people who really want to know about what we teach and who really apply it. It is really humbling and makes me want to apply the gospel better in my life. It has really been a blessing to be out here. 

While it was great to meet with Jeralyn it was also a little tough to go out this week because people weren't home or were busy. We also had a lot of office work and there were a few problems this week. Everyone seems to notice when we make a mistake but when things are going smoothly no one says anything. But its okay, this scripture gives me courage:

5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

-D&C 122:5-7

God loves us, every one and we are not alone, no matter what we think during this test of life. 

-Elder Taylor-Jenson

Life is good :)

Attached are some kids we saw on the road, they were super nice and say hi to us all the time. and there are also some pictures of the rain, it flooded Jeralyn's yard.  

"The Purpose of Life"

This week I listened to a great talk called "The Purpose of Life" by e. Franklin Richards. I have been listening to a lot of talks from the 70's.  In his talk he says that struggles can become stepping stones if we do not get discouraged and I strongly believe that. Lately being in the office has been a little trying for me. I don't really like sitting at the computer all day, but I know that this job has to get done and I guess right now its my turn to do it. I also listened to another talk where Packer talked about the gospel being a piano. With the fullness of the gospel there are many keys. For example one key may be faith which is very important. Another may be baptism, also very important, or tithing. As a child of God I have to learn to play each key at the right time in my life. 

I know that sometimes things get hard but if we remember who we are and why we are here, I am sure we can persevere :)  How can we fail with God on our side?

-Keanan

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 

-Proverbs 20:7

Courage

This week was super busy. We had a lot of office work, but its all going well :)

This week I studied in Deuteronomy chapters 20-24. Moses talks a lot about what the people should and shouldn't do and it is really important because it's kinda the last time Moses speaks before he dies. One thing I thought was cool was when he talked about them going to battle, he said even though the enemy might be strong and there may be many of them, they should not be afraid. And if there are any among them that are fearful, they should go home because they would only make their brethren more fearful.  That is true in our lives too, we should face problems head on and trust that we will make it through. :)

Every time we taught this week it rained a lot, which was awesome because it was windy and pouring rain and there was lightning! Our companions saw a transformer explode in front of them and fire balls shot out.  I love the weather the most though because its cooler when it rains. Otherwise its way to hot.

Anyways, hope you have a great week :) 

 

Elder TJ

 

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city"

- Proverbs 16:32

Righteous Living

I was reading in Proverbs this morning and I really liked this scripture:

 

Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death."

 

Its true and I know it's true because as I've been out here I notice.  People who are living the gospel are happier. Maybe its something about eternal progression or maybe its about loving the people around you. I don't know, but living the gospel and really changing for the better really makes people happy and to me that is true life.

 

-Elder TJ

Life is good

Attached is our trip to Magat Dam with one of our members and our boat ride there and my friend Tyron and my two friend Sister Aguanta and Elder Atwood

Sacrifice

Hello again!

Today we had a half day mission, which is where the members help us out.  We went and talked to some people who hadn't been able to get to church and told them how much we missed them.  It was amazing to see how many people came and how much the people loved to work with us.  Some of them even had to sacrifice time and money to be there and drive us places, but they were happy to do so.  I love it here so much!

I have been reading in the bible in addition to my other studies because I haven't ever read it all the way through. As I was reading Leviticus I noticed all the sacrifice they do and how specific they have to be. They have to kill the animal the right way or prepare the food the right way and burn certain parts and do things with other parts and put blood certain places.  I wondered how that could be relevant to us, seeing as we don't sacrifice animals anymore.  And this is what I came up with.  We still have sacrifices in our time, though they aren't animals.  We live in a world where everything is very attainable and easy. God asks for different things from us. He asks for us to give up our sins, to sacrifice our desires and wants to him in order to bind ourselves to him in covenant.  And the covenants we make are every bit as intricate as sacrifices of old. I also thought about how God doesn't need their animals and how hard it must have been for them to give entire bulls to God, though he doesn't need them. But the sacrifices aren't for God.  They are for us. As we give away our sins and covenant with God, we get closer to him.

I hope you all have another great week and I feel your love and support.

Elder Taylor-Jenson

Life is good.