Well, it is 2013 and
things are going well here in the Philippines. And there have been a lot of
major changes lately. Well for one, it is 2013!!! We happened to spend New Year’s
with the DelaMare’s playing games and watching fireworks. Wow, the fireworks
here are so intense, it’s like world war 3 and you are just surrounded by
fireworks going off all of the time! Haha!
The next day the streets were just full of firework debris and broken
glass. Haha! It was intense! And of course, this was the
Monday and Tuesday of transfer week. Exit night and transfer day were slowly
approaching our office staff.
*cultural note* the best thing about New Years and
Christmas here is that there is no traffic the day of or the day after because
everyone is basically hung over
*cultural note* fireworks are bought by basically
everyone in Metro Manila and they light them all off so close to each other on New
Year’s Eve
Well, then Exit Day came
around, and let me tell you, 16 sister missionaries going home in the same room
is pretty intense. When we were picking up some of the sisters the night
before, it was really tough to see all of their housemates crying, saying
goodbye to each other and such. Man, sisters just give off such a strong
atmosphere of emotion! I remember driving a few of them home from the Memorial
Cemetery and I just remember listening to the song we had in the car and I
suddenly felt that something was really wrong and I looked in the mirror and
all the sister were basically on the verge of tears because they are going home. Shoot! It felt really awkward, so Elder Peralta and
I performed our song for them that we came up with on our first day together
and it perked them up a bit. After wards, we were all able to go to the temple
for their last time in the Philippines. And yes, there was more crying but
that’s to be expected. Then we all came to the mission home for the testimony
meeting. I enjoyed how this batch of missionaries going home was entirely spiritual
testimonies and not storymonies or I’lljusttellfunnystoriesfrommymission-monies.
The Spirit was really strong even though it was sad to see such strong sisters
leave the mission, but alas, their journey continues and so do ours.
It’s
just that the occurrence of change in the mission is just so frequent, it’s
like you finally feel like you’re getting to know someone and then you
transfer, or someone else transfers. You finally set up a good pattern, and
then boom! Transfers. It is pretty sad sometimes, and I’m usually anxious when
it comes to transfer day, but in the end, change is usually the best thing for
us, no? In life, things change all of the time, adapting is part of learning,
part of growing, and each change brings on a new opportunity to use the
principles of the gospel to become better people. And in my case, change
brought me a new companion that is just hilarious and great at being a
missionary. Anyway, change is just a regular thing in missionary life.
Well, Best Day Ever! Elder Duenas is now the official new AP. Elder Waite became Elder Herr’s companion in
Mindoro, and Elder Rhodes took Elder Waite’s spot in Morong, Rizal. So, people
are moving around quite often. Elder
Alvarez is now a district leader in Pasig! Good on him! He’s a great
missionary.
Other
than that, we’ve just been kulang (lacking) on sleep
because of New Years, getting missionaries to the airport and other such
mission occurrences that require my driving skills. Elder Peralta is my new companion
now. Not my trainer, a different Peralta. This one knows how to cook and sing
and is super clean and magaling (great) at being a
missionary and happy! I’ve been so excited to teach with him cause I’ve been
feeling the Spirit so strong when we teach. It’s good ! ^_^ I hope we are getting to our investigators
and less actives. All 5 of them… haha! That’s life in the office. All in all, life is good, the apartment is the
cleanest it’s ever been, and things are looking up for the area.
As
for 2013, I think I’ve found out what my purpose is on my mission, and that is
to serve the other missionaries. Like literally and figuratively, I just always
feel the happiest when I help out other people, or help missionaries get the
things they need to bring people to the gospel. I’ve had several people say
they love being around me because I make them feel happy and help them relieve
the stress they feel in their areas. I guess just making people feel good in
general, but this year I am going to focus on serving others, and helping them
prepare or grow or whatever the Lord needs me to do. With my Year mark coming
up, I am going to have to give it more of my all. More to the Lord, more to my
investigators and less actives, and more to the mission. Giving of myself for
others, I think is my purpose here. Like a candle, how it consumes itself while
giving off light. I believe that is me. It’s been my favorite symbol of late.
^_^
Well, I hope you have
had great news and a great time
reflecting on who you are, who you want to become, and how you are going to get
there. Remember that the great gift the
Lord has given us is the opportunity to change and become better, repentance. It is never too late. An elder who went home
after a few months on his mission has now returned and is going to Mindoro! He has such a different atmosphere about him
now and you can tell he’s ready to make miracles happen. This time, he’s here for the right reasons and
he’s changed for the better. I promise you all that you can change and become a
better you through the power of Christ and His Gospel. Trust in him and trust
in your leaders. I pray we will all have
the courage to change ourselves to become more like Him, in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
Doing you Proud,
Elder Froude ^_^
Elder Froude ^_^
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| Happy New Year!!!! |
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| Goofing off with Elder Stoddard and Sis. DelaMare |
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| Unique ukelele! I gotta get me one! |
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| Restaurant tables set up as chess boards. Cool! |
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| Yummy breakfast! Tocilog! |
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| My new companion, Elder Peralta |
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