Mom,
It sounds like you have all had a good week. Please thank Brother Bingham for me for his nice email to me. I can’t email him directly. I’m not sure when their independence day is here. I haven’t heard. We are planning to have a bbq for it as a district for the 4th of July. That will be fun. Good luck Eric with your job application at Panda Express. Elder Pasikala from Hawaii thinks that they have the best sweet and sour chicken on earth and talks about them all the time. We'll have to get some when I get home.
We had a nice surprise last Saturday. While Elder Casio was taking a shower upstairs the plastic water spigot broke and water started shooting across the bathroom! He came running downstairs in his towel yelling "Guba ang gripo sa taas! Guba ang gripo sa taas!" So while he tried to find the water shut off valve I was upstairs bailing the water into the toilet so that it didn’t overflow out of the bathroom and down the stairs. We finally got that fixed today. It has been a long 5 days washing and cleaning and showering with a trickle of water. Thanks Mr. Plumber!
Yesterday we had a good experience. We went to the house of a potential investigator in the morning, but he had not woken up yet, so we started talking to his neighbors. One of them was putting shells in small mesh bags for exporting. She had tons of them. There were probably 200 1/4 kilo bags of shells and a garbage can full of shells not yet bagged and a ton more out drying in the sun. They were cool shells, and since I can’t go find them for myself in the ocean I asked if I could buy some. She of course said she couldn’t because they weren’t hers. She was just working. But the owner lived in the house next door. She said her name was Sara. So I went looking for Sara. She invited me in and gave me a whole bunch of really nice samples that they had gotten from the company they buy the shells from. That was nice of her. Then we started talking about the gospel and I asked if we could come back later and teach them. She said her kids would be home that evening, then remembered that that right after lunch they were going to their neighbors house with a bunch of friends. She told us we should come with her and that we could teach them all! So we did! Most of them weren’t that interested, but we taught 6 new people about the Restoration, and maybe something will come of it. It was nice to have someone be so excited for us to share with them. Sara said she would read the pamphlet we gave her every day. I hope she really does. That would be great! We have also been having more success finding people to teach lately. That is nice, there has been quite the drought lately.
Well that’s all for now. Keep helping out your missionaries back in the mainland. Remember, the members are the full-time finders and the missionaries are the full time teachers. That is how success comes in missionary work. It is as much responsibility for us as members to share the gospel as it is for them.
Love you all!
Elder Schenk
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
June 22, 2011
Mom,
I wrote Eric a lengthy email, so I don't have a lot of time, but I want you to know how much I love my mission. There are so many missionaries who can’t wait to get home, but then I think of how much I have learned in the last year and realize that it couldn’t have come any other way. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I am being prepared for a life I couldn’t have lived if I wasn’t serving here in the Philippines Cebu Mission under President Hansen and President Smutsch (SP?). I have just come over a huge hurtle and I feel like I am almost to the top. I can see the progress I have made and the Lord has just poured blessings down from heaven. We went to the temple today. What a great experience to be away from the world. I am so grateful for what I learned there.
I want to include what President Hansen wrote me last week. It surprised me, but it is one more way that the Lord is trying to prepare me for bigger and better things. He said'
"You continue to grow each week elder Schenk.....Perhaps you will be called as a mission president in the future......it wouldn't surprise me a bit. It is wonderful to see such an outpouring of the Spirit in your zone......May the Lord continue to bless all of your efforts. Pres.Hansen"
I love that man so much! I am so grateful for his love, guidance, and teaching me. He is my hero, just like Dad.
Love you all so much. Take care,
Elder Schenk
I wrote Eric a lengthy email, so I don't have a lot of time, but I want you to know how much I love my mission. There are so many missionaries who can’t wait to get home, but then I think of how much I have learned in the last year and realize that it couldn’t have come any other way. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I am being prepared for a life I couldn’t have lived if I wasn’t serving here in the Philippines Cebu Mission under President Hansen and President Smutsch (SP?). I have just come over a huge hurtle and I feel like I am almost to the top. I can see the progress I have made and the Lord has just poured blessings down from heaven. We went to the temple today. What a great experience to be away from the world. I am so grateful for what I learned there.
I want to include what President Hansen wrote me last week. It surprised me, but it is one more way that the Lord is trying to prepare me for bigger and better things. He said'
"You continue to grow each week elder Schenk.....Perhaps you will be called as a mission president in the future......it wouldn't surprise me a bit. It is wonderful to see such an outpouring of the Spirit in your zone......May the Lord continue to bless all of your efforts. Pres.Hansen"
I love that man so much! I am so grateful for his love, guidance, and teaching me. He is my hero, just like Dad.
Love you all so much. Take care,
Elder Schenk
I love you so much. Thank you so much for your letter. It is evident that you are already a servant of the Lord. I love how you want to get 2 years of missionary service in before your mission even begins. Serving a mission helps you in ways you would never imagine. I never thought I would receive so much revelation for what will happen after my mission, but I have. Our mission theme/ motto is "Success Through Obedience." I have come to find in the last week that that statement is exactly what it says. I have strived to become more obedient, and after that little sacrifice for the Lord, He truly gave me a loaf. He has blessed me in so many ways. I have been struggling more with the language lately, but the last few days I have seen dramatic changes in my ability to understand and speak. Someone told me yesterday that I have better Visaya than my companion (I was on exchanges and he has been in the mission about 9 months, and speaks tagalog) She said my accent was better than his. That is a huge comment because Filipinos learn the language so much faster. Often they can be almost fluent in 6 weeks, where us Americans are more like 6 months to a year. All that and more will be yours on your mission. You are better than I was, and I am sure you will be better than I am. Thank you for your stalwart example to me and to the family and your friends and the ward and all who know you. I guarantee that more people look up to you than you know. They notice your example. You will never truly know your affect on others.
Well keep preparing and start your mission now. That will make the Lord so happy, for this is His work. "Be Prepared." There is no better way to be. My mission president, President Hansen, said, "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail." What words of wisdom. So prepare now little brother.
Love,
Elder Schenk
PS. You can call me koya. It means older brother.
Dad,
Have a great time on your John Day trip. You will have to tell me all about it. That would be fun, but I am where I need to be. The Lord has a work for me here. I feel like I am just beginning to really understand that. There is more to give than what I have been giving. I love my mission so much. I learn more every day. Love you dad, Happy Fathers Day!
Love,
Elder Schenk
Have a great time on your John Day trip. You will have to tell me all about it. That would be fun, but I am where I need to be. The Lord has a work for me here. I feel like I am just beginning to really understand that. There is more to give than what I have been giving. I love my mission so much. I learn more every day. Love you dad, Happy Fathers Day!
Love,
Elder Schenk
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
June 15, 2011
Mom,
Thank you for your email. I love hearing about all of the good stuff happening back home. I got my package last Friday at zone conference. Thank you for that. I love the flashlight. It is nice to have. My other one struggled sometimes. The only thing that didn’t fare that well in the shipping was the wheat thins. They were a little smashed... but still tasted the same. Did you get that sweet hot mustard from Wisconsin? Katie mentioned that they have a lot of different kinds of mustard there at the brat fest. I could go for a good brat with mustard and relish, they do it a little different here. I’m glad Carson’s graduation went well. I can’t wait to see them again. I need to write them. It has been a while. I wish I could send more packages, but it is just so expensive. Richards LOST game looks really good. Tell him "Nice work!" for me. And tell grandma "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" for me as well. She looks great for her age. Must be that good green salad with that amazing ranch dressing she always has for dinner. I miss that a lot, they don’t eat many vegetables here, especially raw. So Keegan is home! I can imagine he is thin, probably similar culture to here. I would die in cold water. I haven’t even felt cold for months, with the exception of our zone conference on Friday. The aircon does wonders... but us Filipinos can’t take it too cold anymore.
We had a really good zone conference, one that I think will change my life. I am so grateful for my mission president. He is such a scriptorian and knows so much doctrine about all topics that it is fascinating to hear him teach. You learn so much, and there are so many little tidbits of knowledge you can just chew on. I love it. He taught about being an effective missionary and taught about the life changing experience of Peter. In the last chapter of John the apostles go back to fishing after the Savior dies. The savior comes to the beach where they are fishing and asks how their fishing is going. They answer that they had not caught anything. He then replies that they should throw the net on the other side of the boat. When they do they catch 152 (I think that is the number) fish and can’t pull in the net. Peter realizes that it is the savior and swims to shore, leaving the others behind to pull in the fish. The Savior had prepared them breakfast. After they eat Jesus asks Peter, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" meaning the boats and the fish and the nets and oars and the ocean. Peter responds of course I do. Jesus responds "Feed my lambs." and then asks again. Again Peter answers in the affirmative and the savior responds, "Feed my sheep." followed by the question the third time, "Lovest thou Me?" Peter is grieved at this point. This question three times gives us the opportunity to really examine ourselves. Do we love the Savior more than "these"? Do we put other things before the Savior in our lives? Again Peter says yes. By this the Lord meant, When I called you to be an apostle, I called you for life, never again to return to your fishing or your nets and boats. You are to "feed my lambs" all your days until the end. For us, we have each been called of the Lord. Do we go back to our nets and boats, or do we serve the Lord every day of our lives until the end, turning from the worldly things that are always calling us another way, or do we yield? Do we serve on Sundays and go back to our nets on the other days. There have been many times in my life when I have done that. But as Peter I want to turn from that forever. He, if not in that very moment, that day, or that week turned from his nets never to return. He became the prophet for whom people would beg to be left in the streets on their sickbeds, hoping that even the shadow of Peter might fall upon them. That day he became more. We each have that responsibility in our lives. We all know what our individual nets and boats are, and we cannot go back. We have all been called to serve the children of God, never to be released. I know this is true. I testify that doing as Peter has done and leaving our nets will bring the power of the Savior into our lives and we will find a greater joy than we have ever known, because we are drawing nearer and nearer to God, the source of all truth, light, and joy. This is my hope that we will each do. He is waiting for us to come, to "Come follow [Him]." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you all very much. Take care,
Elder Schenk
Thank you for your email. I love hearing about all of the good stuff happening back home. I got my package last Friday at zone conference. Thank you for that. I love the flashlight. It is nice to have. My other one struggled sometimes. The only thing that didn’t fare that well in the shipping was the wheat thins. They were a little smashed... but still tasted the same. Did you get that sweet hot mustard from Wisconsin? Katie mentioned that they have a lot of different kinds of mustard there at the brat fest. I could go for a good brat with mustard and relish, they do it a little different here. I’m glad Carson’s graduation went well. I can’t wait to see them again. I need to write them. It has been a while. I wish I could send more packages, but it is just so expensive. Richards LOST game looks really good. Tell him "Nice work!" for me. And tell grandma "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" for me as well. She looks great for her age. Must be that good green salad with that amazing ranch dressing she always has for dinner. I miss that a lot, they don’t eat many vegetables here, especially raw. So Keegan is home! I can imagine he is thin, probably similar culture to here. I would die in cold water. I haven’t even felt cold for months, with the exception of our zone conference on Friday. The aircon does wonders... but us Filipinos can’t take it too cold anymore.
We had a really good zone conference, one that I think will change my life. I am so grateful for my mission president. He is such a scriptorian and knows so much doctrine about all topics that it is fascinating to hear him teach. You learn so much, and there are so many little tidbits of knowledge you can just chew on. I love it. He taught about being an effective missionary and taught about the life changing experience of Peter. In the last chapter of John the apostles go back to fishing after the Savior dies. The savior comes to the beach where they are fishing and asks how their fishing is going. They answer that they had not caught anything. He then replies that they should throw the net on the other side of the boat. When they do they catch 152 (I think that is the number) fish and can’t pull in the net. Peter realizes that it is the savior and swims to shore, leaving the others behind to pull in the fish. The Savior had prepared them breakfast. After they eat Jesus asks Peter, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" meaning the boats and the fish and the nets and oars and the ocean. Peter responds of course I do. Jesus responds "Feed my lambs." and then asks again. Again Peter answers in the affirmative and the savior responds, "Feed my sheep." followed by the question the third time, "Lovest thou Me?" Peter is grieved at this point. This question three times gives us the opportunity to really examine ourselves. Do we love the Savior more than "these"? Do we put other things before the Savior in our lives? Again Peter says yes. By this the Lord meant, When I called you to be an apostle, I called you for life, never again to return to your fishing or your nets and boats. You are to "feed my lambs" all your days until the end. For us, we have each been called of the Lord. Do we go back to our nets and boats, or do we serve the Lord every day of our lives until the end, turning from the worldly things that are always calling us another way, or do we yield? Do we serve on Sundays and go back to our nets on the other days. There have been many times in my life when I have done that. But as Peter I want to turn from that forever. He, if not in that very moment, that day, or that week turned from his nets never to return. He became the prophet for whom people would beg to be left in the streets on their sickbeds, hoping that even the shadow of Peter might fall upon them. That day he became more. We each have that responsibility in our lives. We all know what our individual nets and boats are, and we cannot go back. We have all been called to serve the children of God, never to be released. I know this is true. I testify that doing as Peter has done and leaving our nets will bring the power of the Savior into our lives and we will find a greater joy than we have ever known, because we are drawing nearer and nearer to God, the source of all truth, light, and joy. This is my hope that we will each do. He is waiting for us to come, to "Come follow [Him]." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I love you all very much. Take care,
Elder Schenk
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
June 8, 2011
Dude! My little brother is a beast! That tall, buff, scholar award winning Haka man is... well, the man! Nice work Eric. I am so proud of you! Keep going on being the smartest person you can be, and the pinakabrite (most smart) person in the school. It honestly doesn't matter where you come from, you can be smart. There is a girl in my ward who has no father and is extremely poor. Their house is built above the ocean on bamboo poles. They hardly have any food and no electricity or running water (except when it rains, then it runs through the roof and into the house), but she is the valedictorian for her school. So just keep going and be that genius college student who gets that rocking job afterward.
It’s exciting to hear that Keegan comes home this week. I was thinking about that the other day and figured within the next month he would be home. I can’t wait to be able to talk with them about our missions. And I am excited that Justin is going to serve. That is awesome. Tell Richard congratulations and Grandma Hart happy birthday for me. I'm glad everyone is doing well.
We have a baptism this Saturday, Janice. She is 14 and she loves the gospel. She understands everything. Her neighbor is an awesome member who is good at missionary work.
Susan, our recent convert here is doing great. She got kicked out of her son’s house because his wife doesn’t like Mormons and they fought about it. Then she was in the neighbor’s house that is scary to walk in because I have to watch my step so I don’t fall through the floor. Then yesterday she was down the path a little at someone else’s house. So she has no money and is homeless, but has never been happier. She just feels at peace because she trusts the Lord, something that didn't happen before her baptism. She spends her days reading the gospel principles manual and the Book of Mormon. She is learning so much. That is awesome to see. Last Saturday she had absolutely no money, but needed money to get to church on Sunday, and knew that she needed to come so that the Lord wouldn't be mad at her. That was what she said. So she prayed with faith, and when you do that miracles happen. She was able to somehow get 15 pesos so that she could get to church. That's about $0.32 in dollars. Even though that is only enough to buy a few small pieces of bread, that was the miracle she needed, and she came to church. She is such a good example of exercising faith and not using problems as an excuse for not keeping the commandments.
On Saturday while we were tracting we saw a picture of the Manila Temple in someone’s house so we went to the door and said, "Ayo" "Ayo" until he came to the door. He didn't talk much and didn't seem too friendly but asked what time church was and said he would come the next day. When we would ask him questions he would just stare at us. So we shook hands and left. Then the next day I saw him in church! Afterward we asked bishop about him and the bishop said he is almost deaf and you have to yell so that he can hear you. So we went back on Tuesday and it turns out he is a really nice guy, he just doesn't answer your questions if he doesn't hear you. We asked if we could come in and he said "Why wouldn't you come in?" We shared a lesson with him and it ended in a good experience. He is a good faithful man who teaches his son well.
My investigators
Zenida Algabre - pray that her husband Pedro will let her be baptized.
the Castillio family - they need the faith to be baptized, even though it will be a life changing experience that will bring many struggles... no money.
Luz
Janice
the Tinimbacan family
the Requerme family
Carson’s Advice
If you want someone to like you, make them your best friend and treat them like it. They will learn to like you too.
Nothing can make you happier than living the gospel and keeping the commandments of the Lord.
I sure love you all! Take care,
Elder Schenk
It’s exciting to hear that Keegan comes home this week. I was thinking about that the other day and figured within the next month he would be home. I can’t wait to be able to talk with them about our missions. And I am excited that Justin is going to serve. That is awesome. Tell Richard congratulations and Grandma Hart happy birthday for me. I'm glad everyone is doing well.
We have a baptism this Saturday, Janice. She is 14 and she loves the gospel. She understands everything. Her neighbor is an awesome member who is good at missionary work.
Susan, our recent convert here is doing great. She got kicked out of her son’s house because his wife doesn’t like Mormons and they fought about it. Then she was in the neighbor’s house that is scary to walk in because I have to watch my step so I don’t fall through the floor. Then yesterday she was down the path a little at someone else’s house. So she has no money and is homeless, but has never been happier. She just feels at peace because she trusts the Lord, something that didn't happen before her baptism. She spends her days reading the gospel principles manual and the Book of Mormon. She is learning so much. That is awesome to see. Last Saturday she had absolutely no money, but needed money to get to church on Sunday, and knew that she needed to come so that the Lord wouldn't be mad at her. That was what she said. So she prayed with faith, and when you do that miracles happen. She was able to somehow get 15 pesos so that she could get to church. That's about $0.32 in dollars. Even though that is only enough to buy a few small pieces of bread, that was the miracle she needed, and she came to church. She is such a good example of exercising faith and not using problems as an excuse for not keeping the commandments.
On Saturday while we were tracting we saw a picture of the Manila Temple in someone’s house so we went to the door and said, "Ayo" "Ayo" until he came to the door. He didn't talk much and didn't seem too friendly but asked what time church was and said he would come the next day. When we would ask him questions he would just stare at us. So we shook hands and left. Then the next day I saw him in church! Afterward we asked bishop about him and the bishop said he is almost deaf and you have to yell so that he can hear you. So we went back on Tuesday and it turns out he is a really nice guy, he just doesn't answer your questions if he doesn't hear you. We asked if we could come in and he said "Why wouldn't you come in?" We shared a lesson with him and it ended in a good experience. He is a good faithful man who teaches his son well.
My investigators
Zenida Algabre - pray that her husband Pedro will let her be baptized.
the Castillio family - they need the faith to be baptized, even though it will be a life changing experience that will bring many struggles... no money.
Luz
Janice
the Tinimbacan family
the Requerme family
Carson’s Advice
If you want someone to like you, make them your best friend and treat them like it. They will learn to like you too.
Nothing can make you happier than living the gospel and keeping the commandments of the Lord.
I sure love you all! Take care,
Elder Schenk
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011
Dad,
Thanks for the email. You too Eric. It’s good to hear that you are doing well. Just so you know I hit my 1 year mark in the mission tomorrow. It goes by so fast, and they say the second year is so much faster. I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me here. I learn so much as a missionary. It has definitely prepared me in ways I would have never imagined. I have a new companion. His name is Elder Casio. He is 23 years old and from Mindanao Philippines. He did live here in Consolation when he was younger though, but only for about a year. He went to church in our building, but was in the next ward over. He is lively, talks a lot and likes to smile and have fun. I like him a lot. It is going to be a good transfer. Although we have some really good investigators the work is going slow right now. We have so many appointments where people aren't home or are busy. We have cell phones now and we text most of them, but usually they don’t get the text because their phone is dead or they just didn’t look. And they hardly ever text back because they don't have the money to buy a load. They don't use contracts here, they use loads that you can get anywhere, usually at the little tindahan (store) across the street. Monday was district meeting so we didn't start working until after lunch. In 6 hours we didn't have a single lesson. Yesterday we worked from 10am to 8:30 pm with 2 hours of meal breaks and we only had 3 lessons, and two of them were members. But that’s were faith comes in. The success will come in time. We hope to have 4 baptisms in June.
This week I have learned a lesson in humility and how much I need the Lords help and how I need to master Cebuano. I have noticed a decrease in my ability to teach, focus in lessons, listen to the investigators, and be able to discern their needs and teach to meet them. I have also found it much harder to understand Cebuano. During a lesson on Tuesday I was thinking about this because despite my effort to listen and understand I was really struggling. There have been lessons where I can feel the Holy Ghost guide me to meet their needs, but not this one. I finally realized that it was the Lord trying to teach me to be humble. Even though I pray for His guidance and know He can help me, I have not truly appreciated how much I really do need Him and how this work cannot be done without Him, for it is His work. I also realized that if I don't master this language I will never be able to meet the needs of the people effectively. Yes the Lord does bless you with the gift of tongues, but He will not continue to translate for you for your entire mission. I need to do as Jeffery R. Holland taught and master the language in every way possible. Then after I have treasured up knowledge He can bless me in the very moment so I will know what to say (D&C 84:85). It was a good lesson I learned. I know that applying it will help me in my work tremendously.
Investigators:
Zenida Algabre
Yolanda and Jolyvic Garsia
Janice
Roger and Elizabeth Castillio
Mhean
Rodel
Maribel and Jaime Tinimbakan
Luz Carang
Josing
Jenny Roquero
Love you all! Take care,
Elder Schenk
Thanks for the email. You too Eric. It’s good to hear that you are doing well. Just so you know I hit my 1 year mark in the mission tomorrow. It goes by so fast, and they say the second year is so much faster. I am excited for what the Lord has in store for me here. I learn so much as a missionary. It has definitely prepared me in ways I would have never imagined. I have a new companion. His name is Elder Casio. He is 23 years old and from Mindanao Philippines. He did live here in Consolation when he was younger though, but only for about a year. He went to church in our building, but was in the next ward over. He is lively, talks a lot and likes to smile and have fun. I like him a lot. It is going to be a good transfer. Although we have some really good investigators the work is going slow right now. We have so many appointments where people aren't home or are busy. We have cell phones now and we text most of them, but usually they don’t get the text because their phone is dead or they just didn’t look. And they hardly ever text back because they don't have the money to buy a load. They don't use contracts here, they use loads that you can get anywhere, usually at the little tindahan (store) across the street. Monday was district meeting so we didn't start working until after lunch. In 6 hours we didn't have a single lesson. Yesterday we worked from 10am to 8:30 pm with 2 hours of meal breaks and we only had 3 lessons, and two of them were members. But that’s were faith comes in. The success will come in time. We hope to have 4 baptisms in June.
This week I have learned a lesson in humility and how much I need the Lords help and how I need to master Cebuano. I have noticed a decrease in my ability to teach, focus in lessons, listen to the investigators, and be able to discern their needs and teach to meet them. I have also found it much harder to understand Cebuano. During a lesson on Tuesday I was thinking about this because despite my effort to listen and understand I was really struggling. There have been lessons where I can feel the Holy Ghost guide me to meet their needs, but not this one. I finally realized that it was the Lord trying to teach me to be humble. Even though I pray for His guidance and know He can help me, I have not truly appreciated how much I really do need Him and how this work cannot be done without Him, for it is His work. I also realized that if I don't master this language I will never be able to meet the needs of the people effectively. Yes the Lord does bless you with the gift of tongues, but He will not continue to translate for you for your entire mission. I need to do as Jeffery R. Holland taught and master the language in every way possible. Then after I have treasured up knowledge He can bless me in the very moment so I will know what to say (D&C 84:85). It was a good lesson I learned. I know that applying it will help me in my work tremendously.
Investigators:
Zenida Algabre
Yolanda and Jolyvic Garsia
Janice
Roger and Elizabeth Castillio
Mhean
Rodel
Maribel and Jaime Tinimbakan
Luz Carang
Josing
Jenny Roquero
Love you all! Take care,
Elder Schenk
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