Learning a Lot

Well this week we have been very busy. We have contacted a lot of less actives and recent converts. Our numbers were really high this week. Just with the less active and recent converts we taught 30 lessons with them and we were able to find new people to teach.

We are teaching the Dojoles family still. Ferly came to church so we are making progress with her. She is really progressing and we are hoping for Feb. 16 for her baptism. We contacted a man named Edmon who we found on the beach. He was searching for some shells that he could cook and eat when we were waiting to eat the crab last week and we talked to him and he was interested so we finally contacted him this week. We taught him the first time by himself and he was really excited. His wife joined us for the second lesson and he brought a friend named Felix de la Cruz. They are all very interested. Edmon has been seeing other missionaries and he says that he knows all that they taught and he isn't learning anything but when we come he is really pondering every word we say. The spirit is really touching him and he is learning so much. We invited him and his wife and friend to church and they say that they will come sometime but they want to learn more about the gospel before they come so they didn't attend church this week.

We also started to teach the Ligad family. They were a referral and they are really excited to learn about the gospel. The dad went to church for two years but was never baptized and the mom has attended church. They were taught by missionaries but a storm came in and the missionaries never returned. We started teaching them this week. They said they were going to church but never came. We are hoping that they come next week.

We have a few more referrals right now that we are trying to contact but haven't been able so far. It is a little hard to contact them because we just know the general area where they live so we have to ask where they live and it is hard if people don't know them.

The Philippines is a great place. We have been a little cold lately. The temperatures have been in the high 70's so we get cold at night. It is sad to think about this because when I get back I will freeze because I am already use to the weather.

I have learned a lot since being here. I also found out that I was taught wrong in some aspects all my life and they are teaching me the right way. First of all, pants are for wiping your hands after washing them. Also it is good to eat fast and with your hands. Hands are for getting dirty when eating. People don't really care if you burp so if you have to and it slips it is alright.

More on a serious note, things are really good here. The work is great and we are doing the best that we can. We run into problems with other churches and how they stop our members from coming to church or listening to us but all we can do is strengthen their faith. The Philippines is a great place and there are great people here. I love to serve them.

The language is coming very well. I can understand most conversations now but the hard part is to express myself. I can't speak well but I am getting a lot better. My companion says that my sentences make sense now.

I love you. Keeping following the Savior.

Elder Nielsen

PS The fish here are really good. They don't have the fishy taste plus the people here are really good at cooking it.