May anak na ako sa mission! - Si Elder Rasumussen

This week has been a little crazy! I'm training now! My trainee is Elder Rasmussen and he's from Salem, Utah. He's 18 years old and is ready to work hard. He's adjusting a little to the language and environment here in the Philippines but we've been doing lots of finding in our area and I'm excited to see how this area will progress.

Tuesday -

I rode the bus most of the day to Laoag so I could pick up my new trainee. We got to Laoag at probably around 2:00. I placed as temporary companions with Elder Prusse and Goodrich. I'm pretty good friends with Elder Prusse so that was fun. We worked in Elder Prusse's old area in Laoag until about 6:00 when our trainers meeting started with President and Sister Peterson. I then stayed the night in a different area in Laoag with Elder Vaea (my previous roomate in my frist area; it was nice to catch up with him a bit) and Elder Funk.

Wednesday -

We had a big meeting with all the trainers and new missionaries and had our new companions revealed to us. We then rode our 8 hour bus ride back to our area of Baua. We got home at like 9:30 so we didn't really have time to work.

Thursday -

We had our first full day of work and we went to some of our previous investigators and taught them. I also showed Elder Rasmussen how to go house-to-house and talk to everyone. We found 13 new people and got two new investigators.

Friday -

This day of work was not as easy as the first because we got denied by lots of people who were members of the Iglesia ni Cristo. They're one of the only groups of people here in the Philippines that always seems to want to argue and yell at you. Because of this, we only found around three new people or so and it was super rainy which is too bad since I think someone recently stole my umbrella that I left on our porch.

Saturday -

We had a good day of work and finding in our area of Sta Cruz/Cabiraoan. We just went house to house and talked to everyone. Elder Rasmussen has even been working on his approach since he's new and it's been good. We ended up finding around 22 new people in one day which is a lot. A lot of which also started breastfeeding in the middle of the lesson which was awkward but the work was pretty fruitful so that's what matters. Also I've been reading from Romans lately in the New Testament and I have a verse I would like to share (there's actually a lot of good scriptures in Romans 8 but this is the one I'd like to share because of limited time)...

Romans 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 I liked this scripture because sometimes there are just some things in prayers or in life that we can't fully explain in words, but through the spirit, God is perfectly in touch with our deepest desires and feelings and everything. I know he knows us and loves each and every one of us and wants to help us.

Sunday -

We had another alright day of work with seven new people found and one new investigator. We also taught our older investigator... We're not sure why but she has been progressively seeming less and less interested and active and lessons which is a little frustrating. We're going to try and help find and solve her concern.

Picture - 

Me and my new companion (trainee). It's only one picture because he doesn't want to take pictures on any day other than p-day. It might be like this for a little while unfortunately.