Sunday, July 19, 2015

All is Well!


The beautiful view in the area.

Things are going great this week!  We got some progress in some of our less actives this week.  They haven't been to church yet, but little by little they are seeing the importance of the gospel in their lives.  We are working with 10 families and love seeing the progress.

They have farms in the Philippines, too!
So, I know you will be on vaca next week, so hope you and Dad have a fun time.  Tell everybody hello for me and that I love them all so much!!

Things have been getting harder with the "gay rights" issue here.  The other missionaries in my zone have experienced a lot of different situations and are doing their best to share the love that they have for all of the Philippine people and to share the love that our Heavenly Father has for them also.  It does open up your eyes, though, when it is front and center in everyday life.
More fun at Zone Meeting

Elder Cancel is still a great companion.  We are doing really well with the Zone goals and it is great to have such a good friendship when serving.  I struggle now with the food. Having rice for all meals is starting to get tough.  Mom says it is my new challenge to work through since my companion issues from my last area are gone.  HaHaHa! You might be right mom. But I think I will run to a buffet when I come home!

Well, it is time to go play basketball with the members.  I LOVE MONDAYS!!!!  I love you all very much!

Love, 
Elder Evans


Sunday, July 12, 2015

I Have a Lot of Pics this Week!!

Last baptism in Sagay
So Mom said she wanted pics, so here they are!!  The first one is from my last area, Sagay.  This is the couple that married and baptized within a week.  Crazy but fun.  I also decided to take a picture of my place so you all can see the lush life that I live in! hahaha  I share a place with 2 elders and me and my companion.  So four guys in one place.  Pretty clean, considering!!
Our "family" room
I am still trying to learn the area so I am considered the newbie in this area.  I really love my area! Things are going well with me and Elder Cancel and we are trying our best to bring our less active brothers and sisters back to church.  They pretty much feel that as long as they are fine and praying that that is all they need to do.  So we pray with them and for them.  Your prayers are great too!

Home, Sweet Home!!
I really don't have much else going on.  We did have zone conference, which is a meeting with all the missionaries in  our "zone", which is my area, Hinigan, and two others, Binilbagan and Isabela.  It was a lot of learning but we had some fun afterwards.
All the misionaries in my "Zone".

Well, I love you all and miss you, but I know that I am where I need to be and that you will be blessed too!
Love,
Elder Evans

Me, Elder Cancel, and another Elder on our way home from Zone Conf.


Thought this was good.  Where will you spend your eternity??

Monday, July 6, 2015

I LOVE MY AREA!

I am doing great!  I love my new area.  On a sad note, I heard that President Packer passed away.  With him and Elder Perry gone that means Elder Nelson becomes president of the Quorum of the 12, right?  I wonder who will be the next two apostles called?  I guess we'll have to wait until October.

I said that there wasn't a lot of inactives in this area.  Mostly investigators.  Well, I was wrong.  This area is much harder because there isnt as many investigators.   I am still learning the area and we are teaching mostly less actives.  We have a lot more members working with us then in sagay. 

Sorry I dont have pictures this week.   This area doesn't have anything picture worthy.  It is a city.... sorta so I don't have anything to take a picture of.

My new place DOES have a washing machine so it makes laundry so much easier.  YAY!!!

I have more choices in food now.  Elder Cancel can cook!! :) So I have had chicken and rice too. :)  He is great!

Our new mission president arrived last week and he seems really nice.  The hard part is he doesnt speak very much english, but at least it will help me with ilongo.

The weather is cooling down... and to be honest i love it...:)   There is a ton of rain. It rains like tornados here and its great....:)

I got Meaghen's picture.  Tell her the cupcakes look delicious.

Mom wanted to know what my ward was since they have a Facebook page.  It is the Hinigaran 1st ward and it is great because I dont have to teach.  :) hahaha They are so kind and loving.  As elders we get to post church talks on the page and the ward posts whatever else. 

Talk with you next week
Love you all,
Elder Evans

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Down South!




So my new area is down south of Bacolod.  It is called Hinigaran.   I love my new area and my new companion. His name is Elder Cancel.  He is from manilla.  Hinigaran is a city area unlike Sagay which was more farmland and lots of space.  The only bummer is that it is really close to the beach.  I just want to run into the water and swim!! LOL.

Sundays are different here, too.  We, as missionaries, dont have to teach sunday school like we did in Sagay. The members are amazing and much stronger in this area, too.  However, the are much poorer here than in my last area.  So that is hard. 

Elder Cancel and I don't have as much "less active" visits as I did before. We just find invetigators and teach them.  Oh and my new mission president arrives on Wednsday.   His name is President Barredo and I will let you know more about him next week.

The cool thing is that I get to go on the computer everyday because we have a ward facebook.:)  We go to the computer shop everyday and share messages and other missionary stuff.:)  It is pretty awesome.

Talk to ya next week!  Same time, same place.
Love Elder Evans


****Some information about the new President and his wife:  

       Christopher Alameda Barredo, 44, and Ana Quillo Ongsingco Barredo, three children, Sumulong 2nd Ward, Marikina Philippines Stake: Philippines Bacolod Mission, succeeding President Marlo O. Lopez and Sister Memnet P. Lopez. Brother Barredo serves as a stake high councilor and is a former stake presidency counselor, bishop, institute teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and missionary in the Philippines San Pablo Mission. Area facilities manager, Corporation of the Presiding Bishop. Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, to Carlos Flores Barredo and Rosario Caper Alameda Barredo.

       Sister Barredo serves as a ward Relief Society president and is a former stake Primary president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, institute teacher, and missionary in the Philippines Ilagan Mission. Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, to Robert Daipal Ongsingco and Leonisa Malunes Quillo Ongsingco.