Family!
Beginning to turn into
more of a wet season here! Yes, there were still nights of 96 degrees in
the apartment, but also some fairly cool days as well. The only not so
fun part was when there was a brown out two nights in a row. We basically
wake up the instant our fans turn off, then it was a two hour waiting game from
1:30-3:30 AM for the power to come back.
Remember my miraculous
healing a few weeks ago? Well it turns out that faith-wise it was just
preparing me for this week - gave three blessings to the sick, all were
miraculously healed (and came to church on Sunday!). Lots of other great
experiences. Tuesday we had a sad moment though. We were teaching
one of our super progressing investigators (Nelly, 64. Had mentioned
plans to move to Manila in a few months), and began to help her recognize the
Holy Ghost, especially in knowing the Book of Mormon is true. All of a
sudden, she just bursts into tears saying God had answered her prayers, going
on to describe the Holy Ghost much better than I ever have. Continued to
say that she always feels it when with us and everything a golden investigator
could ever say. And then the bad news... She all of a sudden had to move
to Manila early.. in just a few days! :'( I was crushed. But the
missionaries there will be given her new address, so either way, she will find
the path.
With her time slot being
open, the next time we were in that area, we were blessed to find someone new
to teach. Obviously God knew how sad I was about Nelly, so he just
decided to lead us to another great person - Oscar, 45. At the end of our
second lesson, we had just talked about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon and
asked is he wanted to know if what we shared is true. His reply?
"Actually, I believe that it's true." Went on to talk
about feel the Spirit when we're there. Couldn't ask for more. (in
his closing prayer he prayed that we would find more ready people like himself!).
In the midst of our
success, we did have an interesting conversation with a 63 year-old white guy
we came across. He was here during the war and three years ago decided he
would come back to the Philippines for retirement. Tried to mention what
we do here and he politely (and quickly) cuts us off, "Yeah I used to be a
Baptist and all that religion stuff years ago. But you see, I've found
science. There are so many breakthroughs and we know almost everything...
science..." Took it one step further when he proudly declared that
because of some drawings in caves, aliens are our creators. Also,
that Albert Einstein (and other super-geniuses) was born of an alien
father... on and on about aliens... He ended his galactic sermon with
the conclusion that there is no hell and invited to never, ever go
visit his house. Haha.
Okay the big news....
Tomorrow is my birthday! Usually, when we ask people how old they are
here, they will reverse the numbers. With that logic, I'll be going from
age 91, to a mere 2 years old! ...Turning 20! Today is literally
the last day I'll ever be able to say I'm a teenager. It's almost weird
to think about. Because you're all dying (not literally) to know, here's
the birthday plans:
-6:30 AM - Arise, pray,
exercise, and prepare for the day. Breakfast.
-8:00 AM - Study
-10:00 AM - Preach,
teach, expound, exhort, invite.
-12:00 PM - Lunch
-1:00 PM - Study (more
studies since Simmons is still a trainee)
-3:00 PM - Preach, teach,
expound, exhort, invite.
-8:30 PM - Return to
living quarters, plan, eat Kraft Mac n' Cheese (from a member with a sibling in
Amerika), write in journal, prepare for bed, pray.
In relation to the
normal schedule... that is exactly the same! I'm excited though.
Aside, of course, from my turning 5 water balloon fight birthday party, I
think this could be the best. "...Behold, this is the joy which none
receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness."
(Alma 27:18) There isno place I'd rather become an old person (a whopping
20 years old!) than here. I wear a constant smile, and I'm happier that I
ever imagined, and hah, a year from now... I'll still be here to birthday again
in the Philippines! (:
That's it. Love
you!
Elder Shane Scully Brown
Pictures -
1. Eating at
Shakey's (the only nice place here)! It's basically like a Brick Oven
kind of place.
2. Eating
3. Lots of Rain
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