Family,
We have been having a great week here in Argaw. I love it here. The members
have such strong faith and want to be good members so bad. I am grateful for
their good examples. There are about 35 who come to church, and we had 25 of
them at an FHE at the house of an investigator last night. They are mostly poor
fishermen. A lot of people in Argaw fish for a living. It is a little town with
nice beaches and beautiful water. I love it here so much! The people are
amazing! I get excited every day that we get to work there. We only work there
on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays because we work in Sibunga the other days.
I will be skyping next Monday after district meeting, probably about 1pm my
time. That is a little late in the evening for you so if another time would
work better email me and I’ll be able to check tomorrow. President still hasn't
sent my letter yet so he gave us a chance tomorrow to read it. Anyways just
confirm so that we can be on at the same time.
I want to finish telling the story I started writing two weeks ago about
Nickie. He was a catholic priest who has been all over the world preaching. He
has even taught in the Vatican City. He was taught by the assistants to the
president here a was converted, but a few days before his scheduled baptism
date his uncle took him and imprisoned him in some cell way up on one of the
furthest north islands of the Philippines. His family is very catholic. A lot
of his aunts and uncles are priests and the female leaders (I forget what they
are called). The entire City zone and President Schmutz and a lot of the temple
missionaries fasted for him so that he would be released. The only people who had
a key to his cell were the highest catholic leaders there. One day while he was
praying he heard the door open. He went over to see who had opened it, but
nobody was there. He escaped from his prison cell and found some fishermen and
got a ride on their boat to another island. While there a 70 year old lady
asked him if he was a priest. It was a strange question because he was wearing
civilian clothing. He said that he used to be, and told his story. She gave him
money for transportation and food to come back home. I transferred after that
so I haven't heard, but I would guess he is baptized now. That story gives me
goose bumps every time I tell it. I love it. It was so great to be a part of
it.
Last Friday we had zone conference with Elder Neilson of the seventy. He told
us that we have the most obedient mission out of the 17 missions in the
Philippines! He also told us that we are leading all of the other missions in
the reactivation and rescue efforts. They receive four statistics from every
mission about it. 1. How many less actives have been visited for the first
time? (1st place) 2. How many less actives have been to church for four weeks
in a row? (2nd place) 3. How many lessons have been taught to less actives?
(6th I think) 4. How many baptisms have occurred in result to teaching less
active families? (1st place) We have been having great success!
And now for the questions.
Are you doing a lot of cooking now or eating out?
We eat breakfast at the house, usually oatmeal, and then buy lunch somewhere,
and then ether eat dinner at a members house or cook something up quick at home
before we go to bed. The members here make you eat a lot! I get soo full sooo
often. Its great! We had dinner appointments last Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and
we have another one tonight and Friday through Sunday this week we should have
them as well. That is great news!
What's the weirdest thing that's happened in your new area?
The weirdest thing for me is how many people I know. I got to know a lot of the
members or investigators in the Argaw and Sibunga areas while I was assigned in
CarCar. I did community service projects at their houses and saw them at
general conference and temple tours. There are families who have pictures of us
doing service in their house. There is even one family who remembered who I
was, realized that I had lost weight and noticed that my acne had gone away and
I only saw them for one day during general conference! That blows my mind. I
also have pictures of a lot of them on my camera. I also see so many people
from the CarCar area. We used to eat lunch at the Ortega family every Saturday
when I was assigned there, and now they work right next to my apartment. I can
see them work from the window in our study area. My companion is always amazed
that I know so many people. It is a lot of fun. And then I go to the temple and
know so many people there. There are a lot of workers and stake and ward
leaders that I have gotten to know there.
I sure love you guys. I’ll see you on Monday!
Love,
Elder Schenk
