13 May 2013

Hey Mum and Whanau,

This may possibly be my last or second to last email to you from the mission field.  Thanks again for the emails and pictures, you guys look awesome.  My week has been good and it was just this last week that I realized how close I am to finishing. 

Well family, the mission is coming to an end and because of that, last Friday we had to go to an Employment workshop which is held specifically for those missionaries returning home.  During the workshop we learnt how to write a resume,  write a 30 second, "Me" statement and a strong power statement about myself.  It was really good and I seem to remember doing something similar to this at school in Aussie.  It was great being in the room with all the other missionaries that came into the mission field with me.  I loved talking with them and learning about their plans for when they go home.  It hit me once again that in less than two weeks it will all be over.  It made me think that the mission that I have looked forward to serving all my life since I was a kid is now almost over.   I've served my two years and done it to the best of my ability and now I have to sort out a list of what I am going to do when I come home.  I know things will work out. 

This past week we were able to find a lot more of the members and less actives in our area.  Elder Merrill is doing good and getting the hang of everything.  His language is coming along well, he's really improved in teaching the lesson's to the needs of the investigator and he's doing great.   He's finding it a little hard having his first two companions returning home but at least he will know what to do when we leave.  Hehe!

So we were supposed to have two baptisms this week but once again we've had to delay them because they're not quite ready.  They understand what they need to do and it gives them more time to prepare and get ready for one of the best decisions of their lives. 

Well, it was great to talk to you guys yesterday and it's unreal to think that this time next week I will be in my last days in the field.  Crazy!   So, for our schedule next Monday, Elder Barba and I will get picked up around 6:00 p.m. by one of the couple missionaries assigned to this area and they will take us to the Mission President's home where we will stay for the next two days.  On Tuesday we will have what is called, "exit day" where we will visit some historical sites here in Manila and then have a workshop, eat and then relax.  On Wednesday we will be dropped off at the airport.  But for now, I've just got to keep working hard and not give up.  I will try and call you when I get to Hong Kong before I board my flight home.  I'll take heaps of pictures in my last week and try to pick up a few things to bring home so I can remember the Philippines.  It will be awesome.

Magtiis hanggang wakas.  Taglish na tayo hane. Na realize ko na, na matagal na hindi ako nag email sa inyo sa tagalog.  At dahil ito po ung pinaka huli kong email sa inyo magtatagalog nalang ako sa inyo.  Sa ngayon po labing dalawang buwan na ako sa bansang ito.  At nakapagmisyon na ako ng 24 months. napakaswerte ko dahil nakakapaglingkod pa ako dito nang higit 24months sa pilipinas. Ang dami kong natutunan dito sa misyon na di ko makakalimut. di ko talaga alam kung anung balak ko paguwi pero alam ko magbibigay ang Diyos ng lahat ng pangangailangan ko sa buhay at tutulungan niya ako sa lahat. ako po ay naglingkod ng marangal, masipag, masigasig at binigay ko ang lahat ng kakayahan ko. ito po ung gawain ng Diyos at mamimiss ko ito.  Excited ako para makita ko ang inyong mga maganda at kagwapong mukha. siyam na araw na lang.  Kailangan ko ng inyong mga panalangin, inyong pananampalataya para gabayan ako sa aking paguwi.   Mahal ko kayo lahat.  Makikita nalang tayo sa May 23.  Ingat kayo lage.

Elder Chadderton   

6 May 2013

Hey Mum and Whanau,

Just over two weeks left and all is well. Thanks for all the pictures and awesome emails.  Danielle, you brought tears to my eyes reading your email because it definitely made me stop and think about all the hard work I've experienced on my mission - the blood, the sweat and tears that I've shed bearing the name of Jesus Christ, all the pants I've split, the shoes I've worn out, the shirts that have ripped and all the holey socks.  So cool!  Then to look ahead a couple of weeks and think of the joy that I will experience walking through those airport doors and being embraced in the arms of my family.  That is something I am really looking forward to.  This week has been awesome and it's been a great week for our investigators too.

Now, I don't know if I told you about our investigator, Michel lodivice.  Well, she is a 36 year old mum that showed up at Church one day and we taught her about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and she was so interested.  We felt inspired to talk to her about the law of repentance on a return visit and she shared with us some of the problems that she has had in her life and how she wants to change.  We have continued teaching her and she continues to attend church and this last week we have just started teaching her children and they are as amazing and ready as she is.  We are trying our best to teach the husband/father so that we can teach the whole family but he's not quite ready.   Michel's baptism was scheduled for this week but she needs to have and interview with our Mission President before she can be baptized so we have pushed her baptismal date out one more week.  We have taught her about the Word of Wisdom and since that lesson she has quit drinking coffee and tea.  We've taught her about paying tithes and offerings an she pays her tithing every week and yesterday for Fast Sunday she fasted.   We taught her about the Book of Mormon and she reads about a chapter or two a day.   She is just amazing!  In our last lesson we were teaching her children and we asked them how they liked reading the Book of Mormon and they said they loved it.   Michel said that they don't watch as much TV anymore because they spend their time reading and she said their family relationship has changed and that there is more love in their home.  The funny thing was when we went to their house yesterday after church Michel leaned over to me and asked, "When are we allowed to break our fast?"  I was just overjoyed to think that they were fasting and it was almost 5:00 p.m.  So, I told her that it was up to her but usually between 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. is good time and she sighed with relief and said, "Oh good because I'm so hungry right now!"  She is so amazing and she realized that the greater the sacrifices,  the greater the blessings.  Just last week Sunday she paid her full tithes and when Monday came around her husband didn't get called into work, meaning, "No job, no money, no food!"  He was out of work for the whole week but she said despite that, her family had not gone hungry and had food every meal that week.  She put that blessing down to paying a full and honest tithe. She is so awesome and faithful and I can't wait to see her baptized on May 18th. Her children's baptismal dates are set for June 1.  Exciting! 

So, yesterday being fast and testimony Sunday, I got up and bore my testimony for the last time on a Fast and Testimony Sunday in the Philippines.  What a crazy feeling to think that my mission is coming to an end, but what a privilege to think that I've done it and the next Fast and Testimony meeting I will attend will be back home in my home Ward sharing it with you all. 

We had Zone interviews during the week and that was another, "last" thing in the mission.  It was awesome to just have a chat with President and feel of his love and support that he has for me.  I had to get my temple recommend renewed from him as well and it was an awesome feeling to be able to answer honestly and confidently all the questions he had to ask.  Awesome!

Today we went to the waterfalls for our Zone activity (my third time during my mission)!  Hehe!  It was so awesome and we played games, ate food and took heaps of pictures.  The Senior missionary couples in our Zone came along too which made it even more awesome. 

Mum, about the packing, I'm going to start this week and I realize that I've got to give away one of my suitcases and get rid of a ton of clothes. Fortunately, I've already had a member in the Ward ask me for some of my stuff which is great because I've got a lot to give him.   I'll update you on my packing on Sunday when I Skype.

It seems as if a lot of the things I am doing at the moment are for the, "Last time" and it is probably getting on my companions nerves a little.  Hehe!  But my time is quickly coming to an end and just looking at the dates, I've been a missionary now for two years.  I was talking to a new Elder today and he was saying how he'd love to switch places with me. I told him, "I've done my time and it's your turn to do yours!"  This is the Lord's work and it has been such a huge privilege for me to be able to serve the Lord.  My ministerial certificate expires on May 9 because that was when I was originally scheduled to come home until all the release dates were changed.  It's all been a bonus to stay longer and it comes with bonus blessings.   Here's a short poem:

Two years in the Philippines

Two years to serve the Lord,

Two years to change my life

Two years to preach His word.

All good things must come to an end 

To live, to love, to make new friends,

I've given my life to serve the Lord 

I now can say I've given it, "My all!"

To think of the sacrifice of His chosen Son

To think of the victory that He has won,

He loved us, He served us, He gave, "His all"

Now look at your life, What can you do more?"

I love you all heaps and look forward to seeing you on Sunday when I Skype home.  Thanks for everything and have a great week.  See you on Mother's day!

Elder Chadderton