Things are going great over here! It has been another week of hard work and just trying to find what Elder Domincel and I could be doing better in order to see more results. It was a good opportunity for us to go into a full week of training seeking revelation and guidance on what we can do to be more effective. This last week we were in Iloilo city from Tuesday until Friday. It does make for a tough week on the work here in Hamtic but I feel like was worthwhile and I am really thankful that I was able to be edified and taught. I'm not saying this last week was perfect by any means but it was a good chance for me to understand what I am going through a bit more. A chance to step back and reflect on what the Lord would have me learn/ do in a situation like this. I feel like this is a very common problem to have in life (I feel like I have experienced this "stuck" feeling before) and I feel like I am making good progress getting out of it. I hope I am making any sense right now. So I feel like I am doing really good right now and I feel like things are on the upturn this next week. Let me explain:
We made progress with the Tibubos family that we have been working so hard to get appointments with and to be able to teach. In fact, we were able to teach them twice this last week and they showed progression both times! Brother Roderick, the Dad, shared with us that he really weants to change and be a better person for his family and that he even wanted to join the church! Sister Joseth is a bit more timid but when we visited them yesterday she came right up to us and was way happy to see us (strange for her) and announced that she had been reading the Book of Mormon! I am not getting my hopes up too much yet... they still need to visit the church, but they definitely have potential and might just be "that" family that Elder and I have been searching for. We will keep you all updated.
Like I said, this last week was full of training in Iloilo city. It was quite a week of eating WAY too much. We got to eat at the Gaje's house in Molo every night! That is the cute family that I worked with while I was in Molo... I think there a picture of little Jerick and I in one of my older posts. They had a birthday this last week and had a TON of food. They LOVE to spoil missionaries and Sister Susie gets a ridiculous amount of joy from watching Elders eat. She literally cannot even allow Elders to walk by her house without treating them to a sprite and some oreos. About the training... We had zone leader's council on Wednesday and then two days worth of leadership training. The thing that impressed me the most was a training on the "Why" of everything we do. Like President Utchdorf's statement in the last conference, "The What informs while the Why transforms." We discussed what this statement just meant and how we can apply this to our missionary work. So that has been something I have been churning this truth in my mind over the past few days. It has helped understand more about what I am doing here in the Philippines and how I can help other come unto Christ more effectively. I think it does us alot of good to evaluate ourselves every once in a while to check why we are doing the things we are doing. It helps realize if we are really involved in what we are doing or simply going through the motions. It helps get that passion that we used to have and lifts us out of these ruts that we can get stuck in. I think this is the big realization I've had this week and has lifted my spirits again. It helps me understand that I am doing the right things, but maybe my motives need to be adjusted a bit. It also helps you accept that things won't be perfect the first time through and it helps me have that determination to carry on through trial. So I really think that the training was EXACTLY what I needed to hear this last week and I am doing my best to apply it to my life as well as help others understand it.
I hope everything is going well over there and that you have all had a great week. I am doing great and I feel like things are getting better. Elder Domincel and I are really excited that this week we will be in our area working our butts off this week! I love the work I am doing and I hope that this next week things continue too turn for the better and that week can help at least one family to help come to the church and to be that golden family that every missionary wants to find and teach. I think we are close!
I love you all and I miss you all so much! I will talk to you all next week... I will just do what we did this last time and call early morning here so Sunday afternoon/ evening for you all. I completely forgot my username and maybe password that I used during Christmas. Could you all look that up for me... I should still be in your friends list. If I have that I should be able to get the password in one or two tries. I will try to get a nice quick computer shop for it to. I would've liked to have it all planned out right now, but this last week was just chaos for Elder and I. Probably, though, around 6 or 7 AM here I will be able to call. I will send you all an email when I get to the computer shop and we will make sure everything works out. This is crazy that this is the last time I will skype or talk to you all before I come home!
Love you all!
Elder Lowry
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| WHAT!!! Look at how high he is!!! |
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