August 16, 2011

Mom,
I've got some news this week. First, we had a great baptism last Saturday, and for the first time I was able to confirm one of my converts a member of the church. That was great! And then second I am transferring to Polambato! It is one of the furthest north cities on Cebu and might be the furthest north area in the mission! It has a lot of mountains in it, so bye-bye city life with all the rich people. I am really excited. I am replacing Elder Newfield, who got here one transfer before me. He is way hard working! That means I am transferring into a good area and won't have to start with nothing! that is always much easier. I have had 4 of the 5 people in my batch serve in Bogo Zone, so I will be following in their shoes. So far I am just staying on Cebu island, but I am excited, and am grateful to still be able to attend the temple, even though I live probably 4 hours from it. Friday is going to be sooo tiring. Probably 5 hours of travel with all of my luggage.
We played basketball today as a zone, and I am pleased to report that I am improving! It was a lot of fun.
I have included part of the letter I wrote to President Schmutz. I thought you would be interested in reading it.

President,

Thank you for your email. I will give your congratulations to Sheila when we see her tonight. Her baptism was a success as her husband came, and then came to church the next day. He has been an inactive member for many years. I was able to confirm her on Sunday and was prompted to bless her with the guidance to lead her family with Kevin, her husband, to the temple. That is what she wants, and what a great blessing that is. Her husbands sister-in-law, who lives right next door, is now interested int he church. She was taught by missionaries long ago, and I taught her one before, and she was not prepared. She had no desire to grow. But now she wants to join the church, but is not married. I can see the blessings start to flow to their family.

We followed up with MJ who we found last week. He is definitely prepared for the gospel. He has such an open mind and is willing to follow the answers he receives from the Lord. I feel like he will be baptized, even just after the two times we have visited with him.

I am also excited about the transfer. I have heard good things about Bogo Zone. And replacing Elder Newfield will be great, he is a hard worker. I think we can have a lot of success there. I feel at ease with that transfer. Thank you.

Love you all,
Elder Schenk

August 9, 2011

Hello Family!

This has been an exciting few weeks. We had 3 baptisms 2 weeks ago, a child of record baptism last Monday, and then this Saturday we have a convert baptism, Sheila, and her 8 year old daughter as well. And then on Sunday they will be confirmed and her 8 week old son will have its naming and blessing in sacrament meeting. And then next week is transfers. We have 2 elders in our zone that are going home, and I think I am going to transfer, probably off island.

On Monday we were going to visit Mhean,. an investigator that we haven't visited in a long time. She lost her motivation to learn. And even though we didn't think she would be home from school yet, we went anyways. She was still at school, but her cousin's boyfriend was there. We talked with him for a bit, and then asked if we could share a message. He was at one point schooling to become a baptist minister, but before he was done got offended and returned to the catholic church. He was born in the catholic church, but doesn't believe it is true. So when we taught about Joseph Smith, he had a lot in common. He really is looking for the truth. He knows a lot of doctrine, but is hungry to find out more. At the end we showed him the Book of Mormon. He said that just the night before he had been looking through Mheans Book of Mormon and didn't think it was any coincidence that we had come the very next day. He said the odds were 1 in 1000 and it wasn't just chance. He said that he would sincerely pray about Joseph Smith, and wanted us to teach his girlfriend as well. That was a great success! He has a lot of potential.

We also had the opportunity to do a service project for a family in the ward last week. Their house burnt down and we helped them pack up all of the burnt stuff into rice sacs. We are going back Saturday to help clean up the rest. That was so sad. They lost everything, and they had a nice house. And to make things worse, her husband left 3 days before fire to work for 6 months out side of the Philippines. But the ward is taking good care of them. They live in the Mormon neighborhood so there is a lot of support.

August 2, 2011

Whew! I had some long emails to read, but it was a good read, so thank you for that. We don’t have a lot of time and just got back from a cool zone activity where we rode a 400 meter zip-line over the ocean and onto an island and back, so I am a little tired and probably won’t write too long, but I’ll try to pack it full of excitement. Thanks for the slideshow. It is sure good to see my family, especially Diane Katie, Eleanor, and grandma. I don’t get to see too many pictures of them. I’m glad you all had a good time and that the boat is working better now with its new water pump and I hope Dad is recovering well from his sore bum from his bike ride and that pifford is recovering from his long runs with Diane and Eric.
We had a great success this weekend, three baptisms! That was a great experience. We hopefully have one more, Shela Tud-Tud on the 13th. She didn’t come to church last week because her husband ended up having to leave and I think her baby might have been sick. If she comes this week she is still good to go, but if not, postponed... And that’s no good because I think I am transferring the following week. In response to dad's question, I would be happy to be assigned anywhere, off of Cebu has some great beaches and different experiences, but you don’t get to go to the temple if you go off island. I’m not so crazy about that. But, "Ill go where you want me to go, Dear Lord..." It is great to be placed where you are needed.
Yesterday I went on exchanges with my district leader, Elder Babia, in his area. We had a ton of success! We had taught 5 lessons before lunch! Alot of times we don’t even get 5 lessons in a day! All in all they ended up with 9 lessons. That’s great! The weekly standard is 20. As I was with him, I got to teach a lot of recent converts and other members. In each of the lessons I felt the guidance of the spirit directing me to the scripture verses that each one specifically needed, and I was able to fit it to their needs, even though I don’t really know them. That was an amazing blessing. I have been working on being more obedient, and the blessings just flow when you do what you are supposed to do. I was so grateful for that.
I am also grateful for my mission president. He is an amazing person and teaches me so much. He wrote me over a page long email today talking about my specific needs. That is amazing. Each word feels like scripture to me. It’s like getting a new patriarchal blessing every week! I am so grateful to be able to serve under him. He is going to help me reach my full potential. I love that man.
Well, it turns out that I did get a little long winded. I got excited.
Take care! I love you all!
Elder Schenk

July 26, 2011

Mom,
It’s great to hear about all of your experiences as a family. I’m glad you all had a good time. Surprisingly I don't miss it too much. I am super excited for it when I get back, but for the time I am content to hear about your stories. I forgot to write last week about you coming to pick me up from the Philippines. I think that would be great! It would be tons of fun to be able to revisit members and converts and such and to be able to help you see a little of what the Philippines really is. It’s something you can’t describe or catch in a picture. It is about the people and the lifestyle. So I would be happy for you to come.
The little monkey that Sister Robison talked about is only found in Bohol, the island just East of Cebu. I haven't seen one, but they are smaller than the palm of your hand. There are tons of t-shirts from Bohol with them on it. There aren't many animals where I live now. It is too close to the city. We do have some cool lizards though. I have seen quite a few in the tree just behind our house. Today we found a great place to buy little souvenirs for cheap. In a mall a little Cebu key chain is about 50 Pesos, but there they were only 10. There are also cheap pearls here in white, pink, and black, so if you want some I could pick them up for you. I hear they are really cheap in Negros too.
It’s good to hear that so many people are going on missions. There is nothing like it that can change your life the way it does. What a great blessing. I can’t wait for you to get your mission call to the Philippines Eric! Then you too will understand the greatness of the Philippines.
WHAT!?! The Richesons are moving? What is the ward going to do? Seminary... the Corn Bust... What are we going to do? Where are me and Eric going to play racquet ball? Well you better help them move. They've been helping our family since Diane was in seminary.
We are very excited about our baptisms this Saturday! I get to baptize Mark and Andrea and Elder Casio is going to baptize Jameson. We also have another baptism on August 13, Shela (Lit-Lit) Tud-Tud. Great name eh'. Lit-Lit Tud- Tud. She is such a great investigator. We committed her to baptism on our second visit after teaching the Book of Mormon. She has been taught before in 2008 and the missionaries just stopped visiting her, probably because they weren't married. But since then they have been married. Her husband is an inactive member and they live right next to his member mother. After teaching her I asked her if she believed the Book of Mormon was true. She said she did. So I asked her if she believed that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She said she did. Then I asked her if she believed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was true. So I committed her to baptism. She accepted and came to church the next day with her four kids. Her husband Kevin is off on business.
Well I love you family. Take care. Tinuod gud ang simbahan.
Love,
Elder Schenk

July 19, 2011

Hello Family!
Nice work Dad, you snuck that email in just in time. It’s great to hear that things are going well back home, that Mom is getting the house all tuned up and Eric is trimming the bushes well. Keep up with the double shifting work schedule. It’s hard sometimes, but you are saving for your mission and that's what is important. Katie emailed me. Eleanor is getting bigger! I spend so much time around kids here. They are everywhere! I haven't had those experiences at home, Eric can change his own diaper now.
In news, we have three baptisms coming up next week. They have interviews on Friday. Hopefully they do well. I have been hoping for two more baptisms this transfer, before August when I think I am going to transfer, but I don't think we can get them. None of our investigators have been progressing enough. None have come to church yet.
Our new mission president is great! I absolutely love him. He talks to us on a very personal level and often tells you exactly what you need to hear, in fact the 4 times I have talked to him I have received the answer to what I need to do next in becoming a better missionary. He is very different than President Hansen. President Hansen was a genius. He could spend 20 min expounding one verse. You learned so much from him. He taught us like a class, as he was a school teacher. President Schmutz is different. For his workshop we sat in a U around him and Sister Schmutz more like a family. He teaches very simply, but the spirit teaches you what you need to know. He writes long emails and really tries to give each missionary exactly what they need and what the Lord Himself would give. I am grateful to serve under such a man. He is so full of love, the very same principle he is teaching me. Love is so important, and we cannot gain it by ourselves, it must be bestowed upon us by He who is Love (Moroni 7:48). I love that verse. It is powerful.
Take care! I love you all. I’ll send pictures soon, my SD card is almost full.
Elder Schenk

Funny Story
Today we got together as a zone to play basketball. After we ate at Mang Inasal. They have BBQ chicken and pork. Elder Doxy had asked them the last time he was there for an ice water. They said they didn't have ice water, but tap water. So this time he just asked the waiter for a tap water. It took them forever! Everyone else had gotten their drinks first and he was like, "How long does it take to put Ice and water in a cup!" A little later they brought him a cup of water. It looked SUPER cold with steam coming out. He excitedly went to drink it and when he touched it realized it wasn't cold, but scolding hot! He said "What the heck man! I asked for ice water and they say they only have tap water. So I asked for tap water and they give me hot water! What do I have to do to get a cold water!" Then later, after he suffered down his hot water the waiter came around to give us refills. He was so excited for it! The waiter filled up my cup, then Elder Oliver’s cup and then when he got to Elder Doxy he only got a drizzle and then it ran out of water. We laughed so hard. About 5 min later the waiter came back and finally gave him a full cup.

July 12, 2011

Well Howdy there amigos! Those are some mighty fine Australian cowboy hats you got there. What’s interesting being here in the Philippines is when a pair of shorts or a hat or a souvenir says "Hand Made" it’s true. There are people here who spend all day making Adidas shorts and weaving baskets and doing things I would never imagine would be done by hand, but day after day that's what they do. I’m really working with the shell lady trying to get some cool ones. They make designs on them and put cool polishes on them and make them into shell statues and stuff like that. They keep showing me new stuff and I think I might get a whole bunch. I can get it custom made. They turned out to be good investigators too. We have taught them 3 times and the last two lessons we had 7 and 8 investigators! They get all their neighbors to join in the lessons. One of their neighbors, Cristojan, or Chris, is a really good investigator. He always reads and is ready for the lessons. I hope him and some of the others get baptized.
We have 3 baptisms lined up for July 30. Mark and his 9 year old daughter, and 11 year old Jameson who is living with his member cousin. Mark is a really good investigator, and all three of them come to church every week, even though we go to the next town over because our church is being renovated starting last week. They are going to make it 3 stories and put an elevator in it! I haven't even seen a 2 story church in America, and this will be the first 3 story I've seen here. The plot of land the church is on is super small, so that is probably why it is being built taller. Half of the parking right now is under the chapel. We have 3 wards that go to church there. My area is about the size of the country club and our neighborhood. Super small! But there are a ton of people there. I have probably only tracted maybe half of it in 3 months. They would probably have 10 or more houses in the same size of property as our house. They are not too big, lots of poverty in my area. I met a lady on Saturday who is split from her husband, has 4 kids, the oldest is 19 and the youngest is 6, and she works like 12 hour + days 6 days a week and makes P1200 a week, less than $30. It’s such a hard life. I hope we get to teach her. She just has a really busy work schedule from early morning to late in the evening. Sunday is the only day. I think she would accept the gospel very well.
I get to meet President Schmutz this Saturday at Zone Interviews. I am super excited for that. From what I have heard he is a great guy.
I have started eating better food lately. Instead of just opening up a can of tuna or sardines and putting it over rice I have been starting to cook vegetables. My companion has been teaching me. I LOVE VEGETABLES! I made myself a salad last week... Delicious! I am excited to try out Eric’s fried rice and chow mein. They call chow mein pancit here. It isn't nearly as good. Too salty. We will have to have a cook off when I get home. They eat a lot of spicy food here. I like it.
Thanks for your email dad, it is sure good to hear from you. You always seem so happy, along with all of you. Good work. God wants us to be happy. 2 Nephi 2:27.
Love you all,
Elder Schenk

July 5, 2011

Mom,
Thanks for your email. Sounds like you have all had a fun time lately. I miss the fireworks, that would have been fun. But today we had a BBQ with pork chops and Filipino hot dogs. It was super good. We laid out banana leaves on the table and then dumped a bunch of rice down the middle and lined the outside with the meat. It was good! Mmmmm... I’m glad you had a good time in Leavenworth. Brittney told me that they used to go there every year for some festival and they always had some WORLDS SPICIEST SALSA! She used to always get it. We eat a lot of spicy food here.
We found out today that there are no transfers for us. Both Elder Casio and I are staying in Consolation 2 for another transfer. It will be good. I learned a lot from the new mission president in his email today about my responsibility and how I can improve and have more success both with my companion and in the area. He had only been in the mission for 1 day when he wrote that email, but it felt like he already knew me. The spirit is strong with him. I am really excited to serve under him. I think we have zone interviews next week so I will get to know him then.
We have an investigator named Mark who has been to church twice an is living with the Villarete Family. Elder Villarete was a mission president and an area 70, so needless to say that Mark was prepared well. He has been living there about a week. He understood everything we have taught him. He accepted baptism on the first visit, actually in our Gospel principle class on Sunday before we had even visited him and he accepted! We think he and his 9 year old daughter Andrea will be baptized this month. We are excited about that. Also we are teaching Jameson, a 11 year old who is living with his member aunt. We expect him to be baptized this month as well. Success finally! I expect a lot more will come this transfer. I feel an extra burst of enthusiasm that will help me boost up my enthusiasm, excitement and effectiveness in the work.
I have started reading Jesus the Christ this past week. I am only 30 pages in and I have learned so much and felt the spirit so strongly as I read. It is such a good book. It is the only one in the approved missionary library that I have not yet read. I am excited to keep going.
Thank you so much for your prayers in my behalf and for my companion and investigators. They are very much needed. It really is amazing to be in the work of the Lord.
I love you all, thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Schenk

June 28, 2011

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

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

 Eric,
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

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

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

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