Dear Family,

 

This week was probably one of the harder weeks in Bagabag, there were days where we got punted from every single lesson, out of like 10 planned. We still taught alot this week and had a lot of success but, tuesday, wednesday and thursday, were hard, alot of walking and not a lot of teaching. We did a lot of tracting and finding, we found a cool new less active to teach and a cool new family that has some potential that we are teaching... I was talking to elder crowley about it, and he was like 'If the Lord wants you to walk all day and talk to everyone you see, then thats what you do, if he wants you to teach a million lessons then thats what you do. No matter what it was a very tiring week!

 

The Bodegon Brothers all got baptized, the baptism was a success. I was a little scared at first because, the baptism was scheduled at 4, and we showed up to the church and the font wasn't full yet, and there was no water. It was probably a city wide thing where there was no water, but finally we got water and the baptism just started a little late! They are pretty awesome, they got the priesthood on sunday, and I also had the privilege of confirming one of them.

 

We taught Aljon Acosta, my excitment for him is diminishing, he is kinda lossing interest, we are teaching him and he is listening but, he just still doesn't have that faith about Joseph Smith, which is a fairly easy concern to clear up. But his main concern is he doesn't have any support from his family, his dad is out of the picture, his mom said we could teach him but she isn't 'supporting' him as in, listening too, going to church and such. So if he got to baptism he would have aboslutly no support, and could potentialy fall away easily. We will definatly keep teaching him, but we have to focus on him gaining a belief in Joseph Smith.

 

I dont know if I told you about this but the Reyno family, this new family that we tracted into a few weeks, well they are now hiding from us. Everytime we go there, there son comes to the door and says no one is home, one time I went around the side of there house and looked in through the window, and saw sister in the living room, then we went to the front doo and knocked, there son came out and was like, they went into the city. I was like, well where is your mom, he said she wasn't there. I said, I saw her earlier, he didn't say anything, so we said we would come back a different day, then left. I dont understand it, we had two great lessons with them, they were very receptive to our message and said that they would pray about Joseph Smith, brother even compared himself to Joseph Smith, and they said they would try to come to Church too! Well people still have their free agency.

 

We started teaching Tatay Valloyas, he is pretty awesome, he really understands the Church, he is a less active, he just got offended, because he is very straight up with people, one time he thought someone was wrong about a principal and they got into a argument and he kinda didn't come back, but we have been teaching him, he has come to church 2 weeks in a row. We have had great lessons with him.

 

We had a great lesson with Julius this week about the B.o.M. we committed him to be baptized, he said yes! The only problem is he wants to be baptized in Taiwan, where he mom lives, his mom is a member. That is nice and all, but, who knows when he is gonna be able to go to Taiwan. Plus something of eternal matters shouldn't be put off for any reason, if someone is spiritually ready. It should be a fairly easy concern to clear up. I mean he could always go to the temple with his mom, once he gets to Taiwan.

 

We started teaching the Rodrigo Family, we tracted into them, they were awesome, really open to the message, asked a lot of good questions. We will see how they go, but if we keep on teaching them then we should have some hope there.

 

Tatay Magno is starting to fall back again. I dont know what is happening. We had a great lesson with him last night. It was super bold, Tatay knows what he has to do, he just has a million excuses of why he isn't doing it. Last night I told him, that there is nothing more important then this gospel, it would be better to go without food then to not follow the commandments of God. Cause even though it may be hard right now, at the last day you will recieve tons of blessings and inherit eternal life... thats just the simple fact of it, no matter what excuse someone has, it doesn't matter, no excuse they could possibly have is more important then the Gospel. Nothing should be chosen over the Gospel.

 

I think I have told you about Nanay Valmores in the past, she is actually starting to make some good progress!! We were almost close to dropping her. But yesterday we taught her about the Book of Mormon... again.. and before the lesson we just followed up with her, followed up with her prayer about Joseph Smith, she was like, elders I think las night I got my answer. She explained that she just prayed, and she felt like something different but good, and happy and peaceful. Then at the end of the lesson she was like. Elders what do I need to do to be able to be Baptized... well Nay, that is a excellent question. The lesson about the Book of Mormon was really good to, the spirit was really strong.

 

We got a couple of referrals this week that I am pretty excited about contacting.

 

This week we got a lot ahead of us, we have zone meeting on thursday, and district confernce on saturday and sunday, kinda looking forward to that. Should be a very fast week.

 

We went hiking earlier today, it was a lot of fun, really hard, I am exhausted... that is the reason why my letter is kinda bad.

 

Oh Manny Paquio lost yesterday, he is like the pride and joy of the Philippines, one of the best boxers ever. But he got k.o... I just want to let you know I didn't watch it, but, obviously it was a big topic here in the Philippines.

 

Thanks for Everything, love you guys.

Elder James