May 26, 2013 - New Adventure!

Well, I have just been called to serve as a Zone leader in Tandang Sora Zone in North Quezon City.  I'm going to be honest; this is one of the toughest areas I’ve ever had. I came into the area with no baptismal dates, no progressing investigators, just a long list of potential investigators to contact. The area book hasn't even been updated since April so I don't have much to work with. It was a really big shock to me in comparison with my last area. So, I think I was in depression for about 3 days trying to adjust. It was the hardest adjustment of my mission, I believe. But I’m doing well now. I'm finding ways to be happy and look on the bright side. We've set goals in the zone to help focus our efforts to referrals and OYMs to boost up the new investigators and help them progress.

My companion is Elder Basalo, he is from Davao. I appreciate him cause we speak Tagalog all of the time.  He is 23 yrs. old (my 4th 23 year old companion).  Anyway... my Tagalog is doing way better now. I spent most of last transfer trying to use it more every day and it's been working out well. You never really know how much you know until you are called to teach the gospel principles class. I taught it in all Tagalog and a little English for a full 30-40 minutes. It was good. I was impressed on how much I’ve improved. I'll definitely do more study though, cause I still sound like a “Joe” daw (they say).  Haha!!! 

Last Saturday, we had a home teaching activity with the Ward Council which ended up being a huge success. I went and worked with the bishop and he told a great story about palm trees. He's always wondered why the Jews greeted Jesus in Jerusalem with palm tree leaves. He found out that palm trees were also used by Isaiah because palm trees can survive in the desert. When there is no moisture, they will bury their roots deeper into the soil to find more water. Also, palm trees when planted in a pot will always break through the pot. Palm trees also will not be blown down by however strong the wind is because their roots are buried so deep into the earth. And also (this may be because I didn't understand his Tagalog) I believe he said that palm trees do not burn.  So this is a great symbol of how we should be as Disciples of Christ. We need to be like palm trees with our roots buried deep in the church/gospel and when trials come, we need to stand tall, take it all, and overcome it. That's my spiritual thought for this week.

Special shout out to all of my family and friends who have been emailing me lately! I've definitely needed your moral support this week and will be praying for you as always! 

Hoping you are all doing well this week!  I love you!

 
Doing you Proude,

Elder Froude ^_^

P.S.

As a Zone Leader, I am responsible for reporting the numbers of all the missionaries in my zone to the President.  I am in the Missionary Leadership council where we meet with President and talk about how to improve the mission.  And just leading by example as well as going on exchanges where I need to help missionaries grow. And I have to deal with all of the pasaway (disobedient) missionaries. I don't foresee too many problems with the missionaries here so that's good. 

My new companion, Elder Basalo.

On my third day at this new area, the missionaries trapped this visitor in our apartment. Have you ever seen a huge rat???
Apparently, this is the second one they caught in a week!  

May 20, 2013 - Aaaahhhhh!!! I'm transferring!!!

Dear Mom, Dad, Ryan, and everyone else on this blog!

Well, it's happening, I'm transferring.  It's only been one transfer but I'm transferring.  I really can't believe it!  I don't know where yet.... I'll find out tomorrow morning.  I'll have to pack today... again!!! I just unpacked!!!   Anyway, I had a feeling I was leaving but so many people are progressing here I was just surprised to leave.  The sisters wanted me to baptize one of their investigators next week so I’m kind of upset about that cause I haven't been able to actually baptize someone on my mission.  But it's alright.  I’ve taught several to baptism and they had member friends baptize them which is better anyway.  I'm going to be missing a wedding on Saturday, a baptism right before that and a temple sealing in June.  We just set up having Family Home Evening at Mark's house every Monday w/ dinner! I've never felt closer to the ward before.  Or any ward for that matter.  We have Jeff, the most awesome 18 year old I’ve met getting baptized in 2 weeks and he wants to go on a mission too!  We have another family coming up in June and President is leaving July 1st.  Not to mention, like my favorite companion who I’ve been able to be the most open and honest with my whole mission!  I'll be leaving all of that to go to the next area the Lord has called for me.  I can stand tall and say I have put my best into this area. Although I wasn't able to harvest fruit this transfer, we've found so much potential and they are just ripe for the picking next transfer.  I guess I don't have much to worry about since the Lord's hand is in my life. Right?  I've got no regrets.

Other than that, I’ll spend most of the rest of P-day packing and just mentally preparing myself for whatever the Lord has in store for me.  So many things I need to do today before I leave.  It's really an adventure.  It's exciting and terrifying at the same time!  Until then, Good Luck, Ryan!  Good luck, Mariah!  Good Luck, Preston!  Good Luck, Steve!  And Good Luck to the Thomas’!!!

I'll let you know where I go next week!  Until then!  Take care!  I love you!!!  Thanks for emailing me! Bye!

Doing you Proud,

Elder Froude ^_^

My leather bound scirptures!  Made in the Philippines!

Teaching at an investigator's house.

Trip to the Manila Temple

Teaching Jeff

Elder Lim, me, Jeff and Emil

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I love watching the Filipinos fly their big kites!

Yup...it's rainy season again!

I love these missionaries!

Goofing off at the mall

Heyy...how you doin'?

Barbecue chicken

Bye, Taguig City.  I will miss you...

May 14, 2013 - Congratulations to my brother, Ryan!

Dear Mom, Dad, and the newly called Elder Ryan Froude!

I'm doing well.  I'm really happy right now.  I am a really happy Elder right now!  My family is doing great; my niece looks well and healthy; my brother got his mission call earlier today to the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East mission!  I think it's great. I honestly never had Dominican Republic cross my mind as a place Ryan would serve, but I’m glad that he'll be going there because it's a call from the Lord. It will be a great mission for him.  He’ll do great!  I'm glad there is a temple there close to him.  It'll be a great help for him.  

I imagine it will be a lot like the Philippines, hot, and focusing on priesthood and establishing the church.  Being in the temple today, I had realized that I will be missing my brother by 3 months so when I go home in December he won't be there to greet me.  And I won't be there to see him go to the Missionary Training Center.  I wished I could spend a few days with him before he goes.  Then the Lord gave me this overwhelming peace that came from knowing that the Lord and his mission can do more for Ryan than I ever can.  But that doesn't mean I still can't send him my love and my help for him.  Sure I'll be sad I won't see him, but the Lord will be watching him for me.  I would rather he be serving the Lord and learning about his Gospel than anything else really.  More than anything, I'm proud to serve alongside him in September even though we'll be in different parts of the world.  Prepare well, Brody (corduroy)!!!

Things in the Philippines have been crazy since election month started.  The actual voting ended yesterday but the result was much traffic and posters and fliers basically everywhere.  It was fun though to walk down the street and hear a truck drive by playing a Filipino remix of "Don't Stop Believing” with the mayor's name repeated over and over again.  And by fun, I mean, the first 2 times I heard it, then it got annoying.   Haha!!!  But it's okay.

I had a great time at the temple like I said earlier and I feel refreshed with my batteries charged and I'm ready to go out and work.

The Mother's day call was great even though it was kind of loud in the computer shop.  But it's okay.  It was a fun hangout session and everyone looks well and healthy and for that I am grateful.  My Tagalog is getting loads better but my accent is still a dead giveaway daw (they say).  People keep asking where I’m from because I speak "slang."  Haha!  I just don't sound like the natives yet.  I'll have Elder Lim help me with the accent.  Anyway, life is good.  I just spent the last 20 minutes trying to delete all of the viruses I got on my USB and camera memory card so I’m a little bit stressed at the moment, but don't worry, all the files are still alive!  Yes!  Anyway, it's been a good Pday.  Temple, Bannaple, I got new white shirts, and now I’m going to end the day with laundry and teaching Jeff about the Word of Wisdom.  He's so close to Baptism.  June 1st!  Start counting down the days!

I love you all and congratulations, Ryan!!!

Doing you Proud,

Elder Froude ^_^

P.S. my P-day is on Tuesday next week too because of transfer announcements.  We'll see if I transfer or not.  It's been so fast!  Time has just flown right by!  Anyway, I'll email again next week same time!

Mother's Day call

My little brother's mission call to The Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission!!!

May 5, 2013 - It's HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

Dear Mom, Dad, Ryan, and everyone who enjoys good nachos!

It’s been a really hot week.  The sun has been relentless.  But the work is still good.  Elder Lim and I have been working hard to achieve our goals and find new investigators by talking to people and asking for referrals.  Many miracles have been happening in the area.  We’ve had people come up and talk to us several times and ask about us.  It’s been a great week for missionary work.  A lot of people are referring us to their friends to be taught.  The best referrals come from close friends of members who have been prepared by the members before they were referred to the missionaries.  Like Jeff.  He’s a great referral and his baptism is on May 18^th…lapit na (very soon)!!!

Other than that, nothing much has happened.  Just small personal miracles happening every now and then, prayers being answered, investigators coming out of the woodwork and such.  My brother will be getting his mission call any day now!  I’m so stoked!  I don’t even want to guess cause I’m almost always wrong when it comes to this stuff anyway.  Haha!  But I wish him the best of luck and assure him that he is being called by God to serve where the Lord knows he will serve the best.

This is sooo weird; I don’t have anything else to right about.  This week just went by so quickly.  I don’t have much qwento.  Oh well, I guess that is a good thing for now.  Elder Lim and are just working hard and having fun.  I guess that is the best miracle that I’m with a companion that I can have fun in the mission work with.  WE just love life!  I am very happy to serve and I serve happily!

Can’t wait to call next week on Mother’s Day!  I hope I get to see Laney!  Haha!  Have a great week everybody!  I love you!!!

*2 Nephi 26:3*

Doing you Proud,

Elder Froude