10-17-11

Hello po everybody

Well this week has been pretty good, better than last week. We actually got some real good weekly planning last night and that really does make a world of difference. When you have at least a plan and idea about the week, it can take a lot of stress and worry out, especially for me. So I think that alone might have really just helped a lot. I was feeling kind of sick at the beginning of this week but it’s gone away.

We had some sweet things happen this week and some not so sweet things. Our investigator, brother Joe, left to go work in Saudi Arabia. He had been looking for work over there and then we went to teach him on Wednesday and he told us he was leaving on Friday. He was a really nice guy and loved to read what we left him but I think he didn’t quite get the whole picture either. We only taught him a few times, I just hope he'll continue to read the Book of Mormon like he said he would.

On Tuesday night we had to take some desks out to Pasig, which used to be part of the Manila mission. We passed the turn and came to SLEX, a big freeway in the Manila mission and had to go a few miles before we could turn around. If I had a piso for every time I’ve been to the Manila mission while here in the office, I’d have like 10 pisos. Fun time tho haha

Wednesday was an ok day, we had zone conference. It was all about teaching doctrine and so we practiced pretty much the whole time. For some reason I kind of struggled, kind of was tense and those kinds of feelings drive the Spirit. My teaching wasn’t good and I could just tell. It’s disappointing when that sort of thing happens, only having a year left and not feeling like that great of a teacher. I was comparing myself and that’s always bad, feeling I need to be at a certain level. But the Spirit and this work isn't about levels, no matter how much sometimes we want to put it. I was reading the talk that Tana sent me, "Forget Me Not", it really, really helped. Those 5 things are things I’ve been doing or forgetting to do lately. I need to do more forgetting and that it will be ok and not to worry so much. Worry and stress breed more worry and stress and don’t solve anything. I’m doing my best and that’s all anyone can ask of me.

 We've been trying to find some referrals and former investigators and we had some luck. We found this one, Sister Marlene and her daughter Haidee. Haidee had just gotten in a bad motor accident the night before, hit a rock and got scrapes all over, it was pretty bad as she could barely walk. We talked with them and gave them a new Book of Mormon because the old one got destroyed in a flood. They’re really nice and just have this desire that you can feel, but the problem is Marlene's husband. He is not open to the gospel, he’s a drunk with no job and does not like Mormon missionaries at his house. He's the reason that they weren’t able to be baptized in the 1st place. So keep them in your prayers please. They need the Gospel and brother's heart needs to be softened.

On Saturday we celebrated Ben's birthday because his birthday was on Sunday. We surprised him with balloons in the morning and played some tennis with him and president. We played doubles and my partner was President. He’s really good so we went undefeated the whole time haha. It was really fun though. Then we had a baptism! Well it was in our ward but it was really the Assistant's because me and Elder Quinton never taught her. Her name is Haydee and she's from the province but staying as house help for a member in our ward. She's 16 and so cool. Her testimony is so strong and the baptism was really good. It was simple, not a ton of people there but the Spirit was strong. Haydee is the only member in her family and will go back to the province in about a year. She bore her testimony and said how hard It was going to be but she knew the Lord would help her. Then we ate at her house and oh man it was good food. I love filipino food so much, I don’t know how I’m going to live without in another year haha. Then because it was Ben's birthday we ate at Johnny Rockets by our house and it was good but man I cannot handle burgers anymore. I’m a total wuss and couldn’t even finish mine. If it’s not rice, I just can’t do it. haha.

And so another week is ahead of us. I’m going to try to serve with those that I’m around. I feel better about the work and a bit more in control but not at the same time. It’s overall a better feeling and I know this will be a good week. Look good, feel good, think good, play good. I love this work and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than where I am right now.

love

Elder Stover