A Lesson in Life

Things went much better with my comapnion this week.  I have been having personal study on charity and the one thing Ive learned on a mission so far is patience and love.  Things are going good,  one of our investigators dropped us because he said he was already baptized and hes not changing! That was hard to hear but we all have free agency and God knows their heart.  Some of our investigators have been struggling with Word of Wisdom problems so we are working with them.

Church yesterday was good.  I have a hard time with their singing because they sing so differently.  It kind of irritates me, but I practice the hymns every night because elder wade has them on a flash drive.  Tell Dad next week is a manny paquio fight so no one will be at church even the strongest members.  the bishop stays home too so I am not sure how church is going to go or what me and elder wade are going to do.  I'll let you know next week.

So I am doing better with food tho.... with ideas like eggs and ham sandwhich it helps.  we have to trike everywhere instead of walking so my oatmeal breakfast is the best to keep me going.

my time is up so I need to go.  don't forget to set up the skype account.   LOVE YOU TONS AND TONS

love,
Elder evans

ps--no pictures this week, but found some from the MTC that I forgot to send.

A Little Bump in the Road

 

First baptism in Philippines

This week was really hard.   I am having a hard time with my companion.  We did have 3 investigators come to church and the lessons are going great.

The rest of my service is great.  The people and the languauge is coming great.

This week, other than my issues with my companion, has been a blast. We have 17 investigators with baptism dates, 2 refferals to be contacted, and we have had 3 baptisms and we will have weekly baptisms from here on out. I am so happy with the progress and i love my area.  I love you so much and thank you for your prayers and willingness to send me stuff.

Love,Elder evans

****Questions asked by Mom and Dad****

Dad:  Do you get to see any of your MTC friends?

Elder Evans:  Only one of the 6 are in my district.

Mom:  Do you get to go to any district meetings?

Elder Evans:   I will next week at follow up training.

Mom:  What have you been eating?

Elder Evans:  Raman and oatmeal. They have nothing else that I am used to.  I am starting to want other things.

Mom:  Can you get rice and beans?

Elder Evans:  I have rice and no beans.

At the Manila, Philippines Temple

***For a little explanation on Spencer's comments last week about his deleted photos:  I did not delete his photos that he uploaded.  I downloaded them onto a CD and then deleted the ones on the website so he would have space to download more. All is well :)

Spencer....uh Elder Evans was finally able to send us pictures from travels to the Philippines with his other Bacolod Missionaries:

Getting passed the TSA guards! :)

Waiting in the terminal

Airplane food . . . . .YUM!

Ready for Take-off

Pictures from his stay at the Philippines MTC:

View from his MTC room in Manila

On the streets of Bacolod City

Elder Wade and Elder Evans

Church Meeting House in Manila

General Conference was Great!

Captain Spencer "Moroni" Evans

Hey so this week was another fast week. This week marked my 4 weeks in the field.WOW. time is flying here and I cant believe how fun its getting every day.

I finally remembered my camera cord so I just downloaded more pics. What happened to the ones I already downloaded they were like all deleted. I was so sad. 

Anyway conference this week was great for some reason as a missionary general conference means more I got more from it. The quorem of the 70 came in swinging. SO many good talks although they are all about temple marrige which is only 2 years away. Yikes:0 

I loved it and I cant wait to talk to you guys soon.

Love,Elder Evans

**Apparently Elder Evans thinks he will be married in 2 years.  Uh! I hope not! :)

Fields that he walks by daily.

Questions/ Answers:

Mom:  How is the language coming along?

Elder Evans: I still have trouble understanding but I can speak and share insights. I am pretty much leading lessons.

M:  Do you help out at church?

EE:  We teach gospel principles and I gave a talk a couple of weeks ago on the spot

M:  Are you a ward or a branch? (Big group or small group?)

EE: We are a ward but they are considering making it a branch because everyone gets baptized then leaves.

M:  So what is the picture of "Frozen" and the "minions" about?

EE: my friend in the mtc gave it to me

Busy day of a missionary

Happy Easter!

HEy mom,

Life here is getting better and better each week.I cant believe I am already 4 weeks in. Wow how time fly's. I do need jeans so sending that with the calendar will be great. I have not recived the package but we only get supplies every Tuesday so we will see.:0 

This week was great because we had 6 investigators attend church out of like 30. That was hard but everyone has agency. The language is coming great. I can speak to the natives and they understand but when they respond I still wish I could speak English.

We went on my first companion exchange this week and that was a testimony builder for me to show me that I know more illonggo then I give myself credit for.

I cant wait for conference this week. I am keeping a journal and I look back at my days in the MTC and it is crazy to see how much I have changed. I will send pictures next week because I forgot the cord for the camera. Give Christie a shout out for me because she really wants one.

Out of our 30 investigators all are progressing in lessons but officially only 6 progress because they went to church. I cant wait for the calander and I love hearing from you guys.  TEll dad thanks for the sports updates I really love seeing those. LIfe is great and I cant wait to here from you soon.

LOve you TONS,

ELder EVans

***Some answers (finally) to questions asked in previous emails:
Mom:  So what is your living place like?  You never told us.  Unless you don't want to!! hee! hee!
Spencer: Life at my place is awesome I forgot my camera cable so I will send pics next week. It is so big and I have so much space more than I thought.

Mom:  So are your investigators families or singles?
Spencer: They are a mix of both alot of investigators are married to less active members.

Mom: How are things with your companion?
Spencer:  Life is great and my companion keeps telling me thyat I will be an AP zone leader or district leader soon.

Mom:  Do you have transfers coming up?
Spencer: I am still in training for this transfer (2 more weeks) and one more trandfer (6 weeks) then I may get tranfered but I know an elder who is still in his first are for like 5 months.

**So it sounds like Elder Evans is adjusting just fine and has jumped in with both feet and hit the road running.**

My First Talk in Sacrament Meeting!!

SO this week was so fast and it was a very good week. This week we have 28 investigators with a date in the next 3 months, we had 6 investigators at church, 13 recent converts, and 11 less active members at church. It was a very successful week because I involved myself in the lessons and I am slowly but surly understanding the natives. 

Life is getting better every day. Ohh. General Conference for us is pushed back a week so that they can translate into different languages so please dont email me about the talks we will talk on the 13th when I saw them. THANKS!!!!

I will send photos next week now that I know that you are burning them to a disc makes me feel better. Life is great though. The mission is getting better and better.

I cant believe I only have 87 more weeks That is such a short time and it is flying by now that I understand some of the language and can speak a little. Yesterday at Church The speaker didn't show up and I had to speak. I was so scared and when I thought I couldn't do it. I got onto the stand and gave a 5 minute talk in all Ilonggo.

I have learned so much and have changed so much only in 3 months its crazy:) I have become less of myself and more for others which is something I struggled with before I left. Also, thanks for the Kid History bit I haven't heard of that in a while and it made me laugh really hard.

The mission is going great I am loving every second and the language is coming little by little everyday and it is so much fun when I can actually share input in the lessons.

 I will send pictures next Monday because I left my camera at the apartment. I love you so much and will talk to you soon and cant wait to hear from you next week.

LOve always,

Elder Evans

Slowly Getting Adjusted

This week has gotten a lot better.  I know this is where I need to be and the people here are great. The ward is amazing and food here is good because its SO sugary.

Tell everyone that I cant get "dear elder" mail any more so regular email is the only way. I am glad that everything at home is going well.  Also could you have grandma and grandpa send more candy BC that is what is kinda keeping me alive because I eat so much and the people here have so little food. that would be awesome. 

Here is the info to send:

Elder Evans

Philippines Bacolod Mission

Galo street between lacson and Madini

Bacolod City 6100

Put it just like that and then it will go to the mission office and then they send it to me. That is what they have said to do.

I love that everything is going great and that you guys pray for me because I really need it. But anyway, I got my first 2 baptisms this week and that was an amazing experience to be able to confirm them members. Tell meaghen that I am really proud of her same as Nicolas.

Other than the language I am adjusted.  I can speak in lessons but they speak so fast that I cant respond because I dont know what they said. I love being a missionary and everything I get to do and the people I meet I just feel likje I will never understand the language.I have learned how to wash laundry by hand and it is easier then I thought it would be. I miss you so much and cant wait to here for you again. Also, make a skype account ASAP so that we can skype on mothers day. I love you and will talk to you next week.

LOve,

Elder EVans


**Art work by (c) Melonheadz
melonheadz.blogspot.com

Getting Adjusted To My New "Home"

Kamusta,

Life here in the Philippines is crazy. They drive like mad men here but the people in Bacolod are the nicest people. I am on the Island of smiles. I love my trainer Elder Wade. He is great he is helping me learn the language and is like a brother to me. I have been having a tough week this week.

 I love it here in the Philippines but these past 4 days I have had  a lot of Home sickness. But I know that we are reciving blessings and I have been able to press forward although it is my first week so adjusting is hard the language is just biting me in the butt and I thought I knew just enough to teach but now I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I know I just have to keep pushing forward and everything will work out.

 Tokyo was really crazy but I was able to find my way around. I don't know the exact address but the part of Bacolod I am in is Sagay. It is awesome and we have 2 baptisms on Saturday and we have like 19 investigators so.... This area has been full of blessings but I still  don't know the language. 

 I know that if I work hard and think less of home I will be a very successful missionary. So my P-day is Monday which is what I thought but I wasnt sure. The weather is amazing and the color here is beautiful just the only thing I struggle with is the language. I hope I learn it fast. Tell everyone I miss them and love them all. I will talk to you guys on Monday (or Sunday night for you).

Love,

ELder Evans  

ps-I also forgot to tell you one more thing. BAL-UT is forbidden in my mission because 2 elders tried it and got sent home because they got really sick. So I just thought I would share that because I was really excited to hear that. Also I am scared that my camera will get a virus and erase all my pictures so you will only be getting emails for a while. I'm really sorry about that but I want to keep my photos for the rest of my life. 

Love always,

Elder Evans