Hello everyone! 

This week was so awesome! I don't know where to start, but I guess on one of the highligts. We had a wedding and then a baptism for one of our investigators, and it was so awesome! She has been ready for baptism for quite awhile now, just needed to get married, and was waiting because her dad was in Visayas on work, and we challenged them to pray for him to find a way to come back early, and then Boom, he was able to! But the stake president went out of town so no one had a license to marry them, so we prayed so hard to find someone, and nothing was working, until wednesday they found someone! So we had the wedding and the ward was so awesome in helping out, and we had a sweet wedding and a sweet baptism. Her husband is a member, so the next step is Temple Sealing! Can't wait to go to that next year! 

The other cool thing was our mission had an emergency/ last minute mission conference because Elder Craig C. Christensen (talk about a lot of C's) of the presidency of the 70 was here and he gave a sweet devotional to all of us in our mission. It was so cool. He did a really cool thing about the Holy Ghost. One thing he said is that the Holy Ghost is our constant companion, but that doesn't mean we will be able to feel him all the time. If we were able to feel him all the time, it would be as if we couldn't. A friend of mine actually told me something similar, of a fish in water, it is the last to know it's wet. The same with us and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the ultimate teacher, and when we feel the Holy Ghost, it is more powerful than being visited by angels. And when we feel the Holy Ghost, that is when we learn, and when it withdraws, that is when we learn as well, because we can realize that we are not feeling it, and try to get it back, growing in the process, the Holy Ghost always teaching us. He also did a question and answer thing, and he could just answer each question so powerfully and you could tell he really follows the spirit, it was such a neat event. 

This week was just awesome, we had a lot of new investigators that I am really excited for, and we also got a referral for a whole family of 7, and they are just so awesome. I will cry if I get transferred because I just know they are going to be baptized and I hope so bad I will be a part of it, but if not I will hopefully be able to visit and see it. They are so awesome, and the mom is 48 and had a stroke, so it is hard for her to walk, but she still attended church this week. That was a huge example to me, especially for all the less actives that have excuses for not going to church. All it takes is faith. 

Today was also a great day because we were able to through the temple, I love the temple so much, and just know so well that this church is true. My testimony was strengthened so much this week. Like, it just makes sense. I don't know how anyone could seriously investigate the church and not see that this is true. And I know with all my heart that the Holy Ghost can and will testify of the truth to anyone that earnestly seeks for it. It's that simple. I wish more people would try. 

Another cool thing was that we had zone conference last week as well and there was this awesome workshop on one of Jeffrey R. Holland's talk he gave in the MTC, it was so crazy good. Then yesterday president did a thing on it, president Revillo is just so inspired. But the talk was about when after Jesus Christ's death the apostles just went back to fishing (he gave a gen con talk after he gave this talk about the same topic) and how Jesus asked 'do you love me' 3 times to Peter. And you know, if jesus asked once you would be a little like, yeah I do, and if he asked again you would get a little nervous, and if he asked 3 times you would just be freaking out. But what he was saying is, if you love me, why are you here, doing the same thing that you were doing before. So for us as missionaries we can't just serve a mission and go back to what we were doing before. We need to change, and it can really apply to everyone, we need to always change, and can't just go back to doing the same old things we have been doing. Especially if we want to be able to say that we love the Lord. change is so good, and at the same time, SO HARD. We sometimes are like Peter, when he walked on water, he was so pumped to walk on water and did, and then it got a little scary and he fell. But he was picked up, the same can be with all of us, I know it. 

I hope everyone had a great week! Congratulations to Lauren on her engagement! Hope everyone shares the gospel this week! I will!! 

-Elder Rock

Magandang umaga sa lahat, 

This week was fast, again. I think I should just stop saying that but it is crazy how fast things are going right now. Not only fast, but HOT. It's ridiculous how hot it is, and even at night it's still hot. I'm thankful for the fans we have, but I'm wishing for some Aircon right about now. But it's going to be raining season soon daw, we will see if that cools it down at all, or if it will just be wet and hot ha. 

This week was actually one of the toughest weeks teaching wise, because we got punted almost everyday, all day. (punted is what we say when appointments fall through). So we started off the week okay, and decided we needed to plan a little better, so we had these great planning sessions, and then it seemed like everything fell through even more. We were so confused, and I wanted to get so discouraged, and was kind of beating myself up, like what was I doing wrong. I think we can always do better, but I was really trying my best. And I remember one elder that I went on exchanges said, 'you know, sometimes you just got to laugh and keep trying your best, instead of getting sad and discouraged.' Because we were trying, and we had such solid plans, and there were seriously the craziest reasons why people canceled on us. Even for Elder Lang Siu's birthday, as we were walking to the dinner appointment we had lined up, they texted and had to cancel. So we just laughed and chose to put a smile on, and tried our best the next day. 

It was a hard week. And the other night I was so disappointed and was thinking, and thought of the talk by Elder Uchtdorf about being grateful, and decided that in my nightly prayer I was only going to give thanks and not ask for things. It was kind of hard, but I thanked him for the trials and that lead me to thank him for the things that I learned, and I realized even more the things that I learned. It was so awesome. So I'm not just complaining that we had a tough week, but I'm saying that we had a tough week, and because of this tough week, I learned so much. And it is totally based on your attitude. If we just complain that we have problems and we aren't being helped, we will be so focused on what we don't have that we will forget what we do. One thing we need to be is Humble. I read the other day that if we aren't humble, we won't be able to see the many blessings that have been given to us. Another is Faith. Faith that things will work out, as we strive to obey and keep the commandments.

I have seen first hand the difference between not keeping the commandments and keeping the commandments, centering a home around the gospel of Jesus Christ. Members that have so little that center their home around gospel teaching and principles are so much happier and so much more able to endure the storms of life compared to those that don't. There is so much to talk about Faith, but the thing I like to focus on is having faith leads to action. If we have faith we will be inspired to act, and constantly change, which are the first two principles of the gospel. 

Although the week was rough, we were able to have some really good lessons, and we are going to have a couple baptisms coming up soon, and I am so excited for them. One is Perla, who is the one that had a hard time giving up smoking, and she has stopped for almost a month now! We also started teaching a new family that is a referral from a member, and they are so awesome and so excited to learn, so hopefully all goes well with them, Referrals are seriously the best. 

We have been trying really hard to get the ward more excited about missionary work, and two weeks ago we had stake conference, and The topic was missionary work. I loved what the second counselor said, I don't know if he quoted it off someone else or what, but he said "The Lord is hastening His work, are you" And President Revillo brought up the talk by President Uchtdorf, "Are you Sleeping through the Restoration."  I think that missionary work is being brought up so often that the members are getting kind of tired of it, but I think to myself, "What is it going to take?" What is it going to take for members to realize that the Lord will help them. There are so many examples and stories of people being successful doing missionary work. So what is it going to take so in General Conference there are different topics. To me it takes realization on each members part, and for them to have faith and act on it. Pray for opportunities to share, pray to be able to see the opportunities, and then act on them. It's time to really get the work going, and I am sure there are so many people genuinely trying and just don't know what to do. I quote Russel M. Nelson "Ask the Missionaries, they can help" Missionaries are there to help the ward do missionary work, and they would be THRILLED to come over and help you figure out how to share the gospel.

I hope everyone had a great week, And has a great week this week, I sure will, 

-Elder Rock

PS- (just an excerpt in my letter from Nathan)-   Mom, my mission is so awesome! It's so hard sometimes but it's so cool. One thing I noticed the other day in a meeting was how completely perfect the church is. We were all there as District Leader's and president was sharing to us, and it was to help us help missionaries, to help the people. He doesn't get paid for how many baptisms we have or anything, and there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that people just don't see. The missionary organization is so organized, the whole church is organized, and is so amazing to me, because I don't think any other church is even close to being as organized.

Well what a wonderful day getting to talk to my family! I hope all the mothers out there had a great day! As President Revillo said, it's your only day off haha. But seriously thank you for all you do, it is so much and goes too often unnoticed. 

This week was yet another fast one. I think they are all going to be like that now ha. I just get lost in the days, and all the sudden I'm waking up and it's P-day and I am wondering what to write. 

As I think about this week I think about improvement. Right now we have pretty good investigators, but the the problem we are having is getting them to continue to act on their commitments. It pains me when they don't come to church or tell us they didn't read, because I know how much it can help them. Isn't it weird that by reading the scriptures we will get help. Have we thought about that before? How weird, but it seriously does. Going to church recharges us, if we go with the right attitude, and praying everyday gives us comfort or help. I know because I have done it, and I have seen it in my life, and in the lives of others. The gospel is amazing. But why does it help us so much? I was thinking the other day, "you know, I tell people the gospel will help them a lot, what is the real reason"; well the truth is there is a lot of reasons, but one thing I love about the gospel is the ability to constantly improve. The gospel is change. 

It applies to me a lot, because especially this week, I tend to get comfortable. I might just go through the motions of missionary work, and that just cannot happen. But to all of us it can't happen. I've noticed that President Uchtdorf puts a huge a emphasis on that, just going through the motions, and it takes an honest heart to look at ourselves and see what we can improve on. One day I was just upset about something and wondering why things weren't going smooth, and what popped into my mind was being grateful. I thought of all the stuff that I had been helped with, and how petty I was being, being ungrateful. I had received so much and needed to humble myself a little. I was getting a little too comfortable with the way things were going, and was forgetting to ask myself how I could do better. 

I think maybe President Monson used this example, but when we look at the Israelites being lead by Moses in the wilderness, don't we just get frustrated with the fact that they were just walking around for 40 years because they were unwilling to keep the commandments. They were not only to not keep the commandments, they were unwilling to change. Time and time again they reverted back to their old ways, the natural man kept coming out, they didn't constantly try to suppress it. I hate the Natural man so much. We all want to become Christlike, but as President Uchtdorf says, "we also want to give the guy that cuts us off in traffic a piece of our mind".  We look at the Israelits and get frustrated, but what if in 1000 years people looked back on our lives, would they be frustrated with us? For me I too often forget to improve myself and that is so critical to the gospel. There are so many principles to the gospel, and it is a lifetime effort that we must have to constantly apply them, and live them. The gospel is seriously a guide for each and every one of us, and it takes daily effort. 

There is heaps (That's my Australian companion rubbing off on me ha)  of room for improvement for me, and I think this last week was somewhat of a wake up call to me, to get going. I feel like I have had a lot of those, but it is so great because that's how we learn. We are not perfect, and the gospel gives us that chance to change, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement is so powerful and so uncomprehendable, but it is so amazing. I hope everyone can better understand it, and find ways to improve their selves to better understand the atonement, and receive the blessings of peace and comfort that come from doing so. 

Some fun stuff about the Philippines. First off, I love the Philippines, I hope everyone knows that, it is so awesome, but so hard to describe. The people here are, for the most part, so loving and humble, and sweet. I have never met a nicer group of people than here, just EVERYONE is so nice, and despite their poor circumstances, they are able to have so much fun. 

So Haircuts are awesome, you can go to a barber shop and get a haircut for 40 pesos, which is about .90 cents. How sweet is that! Driving here is pretty insane, I've already talked about it I'm sure, but there are no lanes to the drivers. Even if there are 4 lanes painted, there will be 6 lanes of cars, and everyone is switching back and forth, with motorcycles and scooters going in between haha. I love it ha. Another thing is people will just say "Kain!" like "Eat!" if you pass by there house. It's a sign of respect or courtesy, but I actually don't know what would happen if I said okay and tried to eat with them, I don't have the guts to try in case the food is not to my liking haha. 

The food here is usually rice and toppings, And me and my australian comp like to go out to eat when we can, but our Filipino companion will end up ordering rice and chicken from McDonalds or Anywhere else haha- it just defeats the purpose of going there. I remember one time he hadn't eaten rice in about a day and a half and was going through withdrawls haha- He didn't think it was very funny when we told him that's part of the word of wisdom haha. 

Another funny thing is that the most random people will walk around with the most random things to sell, in the most random places. I saw one guy walking around with a display of super glue he was trying to sell on the streets... Another one you get a lot are people walking around with plastic furniture, like dressers... And they just shout "Dressers!" in Tagalog hoping someone will run outside so thankful that the dresserman is there today haha. Don't worry they have ice cream men too. 

I hope everyone has a great week! I know I will, And I wish everyone a happy mother's day again!

-Elder Rock

Hello everyone! 

This week was Mabilis, or Fast. I don't really know where to begin. I think a lot of missionaries start out with that, and I am starting to see why. We are having a blast working in this area, and really trying to get the members involved, again, it's all about actually doing it, not just having plans. 

The coolest thing this week was definitely one of our investigators that has been our investigator for a while, but she hasn't really progressed, and we have really been trying to help her gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon. So she told us this last week after not being able to meet for a about a week and a half, that she tried out what we have been teaching her. She started to read and before hand she prayed, but this time she said 'I'm just going to try what the elders said and just ask' So she said that she just asked in her prayer if it was true, and then she said she got the coolest feeling. She couldn't even explain it, but it was super peaceful throughout her whole body. Then she said "Whoa, this is for real" and when she told us that I was so pumped. It was a huge testimony to me that she tested it, and the key was she really asked because she really wanted to know, and she read. I know that people can get answers, and that was a testimony to it.

The thing I really was on my mind this week is how much I am loving the people. I was in a lesson and this lady was just telling her beliefs to us and I just felt so weird, I felt so much concern for her, and after that I was just thinking how weird it was because I didn't really know her, and then walking down the street, just seeing all the people I felt that feeling again, and it is just the love I am gaining for the people here. I want to just tell everyone about how special this message is. 

Another thing that has been on my mind is the talk by Bishop stevenson, "Your 4 Minutes" It is so awesome! I think maybe I already talked about it. But we really do only have such a short time here on earth. I don't think people really understand that sometimes. The one thing we are certain in this life is we will die. So what is going to happen after that? Well our life on earth is sooooo short, and being on my mission I have seen how short missions are, I feel like I just got here, and I know I still have more than a year, but it is going by so FAST. There's that word again. Things go fast, and we need to make sure we are ready. We had so much time to prepare, and we will have so much time to look back and just think. Like an olympic athlete missing out on a medal by one tenth of a second, do we want to look back and think "Dang" the rest of eternity. Of course not. And another talk that comes to mind is Jeffrey R. Holland's. I see it all the time here, and it is so sad, but people just want comfortable doctrine. So many think that as long as you believe in Heavenly Father, you are good to go. They think all religions are good, and lead back. But as uncomfortable as it is, it just isn't like that. Why would Heavenly Father allow such confusion to exist if all are true. It just isn't that way. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the exact same as when Jesus Christ was on the earth, and the one the apostles continued until they were rejected and killed. I know with all my heart that people can receive a witness if The Book of Mormon is true, if they take the time to read and really desire to know if it is true. 

I am sorry this is a short one, but time is just so fast! Hope you have a great week, and I can't wait to skype you mom next week!!!