November 17th

I was just sitting here in the computer shop here in Olongapo and all the new missionaries from Tacloban walked in so they could e-mail their family and friends. There is something different about them, you can tell they went through a lot and all had a bond together. It's funny because they don't seem to be used to speaking Tagalog.

This is a letter I saw about Tacloban, "On Saturday morning the church issued a statement saying that all the missionaries in 21 of the 22 Philippine Missions had been accounted for.  Teresa quickly found out what mission you were in and told us that your mission was one of the 21...whew!!  But we were sick for the Tacloban Mission where 86 missionaries were not accounted for.  We watched the news and couldn't believe the complete destruction.  Almost everything was gone on this beautiful island.  There were pictures of mass destruction and people weeping in the streets.  There was no clean water, food, or shelter for the people and the Filipino people were in a terrible situation.  The church was amazing!  They offered up their Stake Centers as places of refuge for anyone who needed.  Of course, one of the biggest concerns was the missing missionaries.  All manner of communication had been wiped out and because there was so much debris on all the roads, no one could get anywhere to check out where the missionaries were.  The church sent in a helicopter that had motor bikes on it and sent people looking for the missing missionaries.  The motor bikes made it so they could lift the bikes over any debris in the streets.  By Saturday night, all but 40 of the missionaries had been located."

Well my work has always been so good and strong but this week we struggled with our investigators. We had to drop a lot of investigators because they started hiding from us, we also had a TON of investigators promise to come to church that didn't. Its been such a hard week but I know next week will be better and that as long as I am doing my best the Lord will be pleased. I've been working my hardest and smartest and obedient and the work is getting only harder. It's confusing how the harder you work and the smarter you feel as a missionary doesn't necessarily make the numbers go up, you must always be humble, willing to heed to the will of the Lord, and be obedient. I'm just going to forget last week and work even harder the next. I just remember sitting on my bench and sacrament was now being passed and I've never prayed so hard that at least ONE investigator would come. We had planned on over 15 but I prayed for at least one since church had already started and none have showed up yet. After sacrament one investigator walked in, he's a 17 yr old male that was all dressed up in a tie and white shirt. Even though it was one I was so thankful that my prayer was answered. In life we always have problems, fights with others, arguments. Even though at that time it all looks bad for you, even though you feel like you don't deserve it you need to look at the "atonements" that the Lord sends into your lives for every problem you have. One time people were swearing and yelling at us and about a minute later a little boy comes up and gives us high fives. Or maybe when your having a bad day and a little dog comes up to you licking you, or the sun comes out. Just look for little things that our father in heaven sends you to make you happy and don't ignore it or reject it. Don't shew that dog off or tell the little boy that gives you a high five to go away, always accept little things the He sends you and just smile because Jesus atoned for the people that un-rightly persecute you.

I also really liked the scripture that mom showed me in Alma, Alma 26: 6, 7

 6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.
7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

 

There is no doubt the Lords hand is in this work. No doubt, my testimony is pure, no one can take this testimony from any missionaries serving here in the Philippines. There's nothing to do now but work.

I love you guys! Keep living the gospel!

Elder Kapeliela