Day 362 Allen, Philippines "What desirest thou?"

What happened this week. . . . .. um, I went to a fiesta! The Catholics celebrate their saints on Fiesta Days, but the members here just use the day off to spend with family and eat tons of food and go swimming. I still don't understand sweet spaghetti. Or their fruit salad: carrots, onions, apples, green mangoes, with vinegar and sugar. It's really good though.

We did a combined district CSP at a local elementary school. It's vacation right now so there weren't any kids. We swept and burned the leaves covering the pathways and grass. Man, the school is so cool! It's on hillside going into the jungle. THere are giant trees and cool gardens and stuff. NINDOT! (cool!) Hopefully, the teachers there will be more comfortable talking with the missionaries since they've seen us in normal clothes and helping them prepare for back to school. We were invited by the principal. :)

Sister Mier and I had a cool conversation about desire and how it is necessary if we are ever going to accomplish anything in this life. I studied about how we all generally have good desires and hopes and dreams for the future. But, there are good desires, and then there are better and best desires. We must learn to align our desires with what our Father desires for us. When we keep His commandments and serve Him, it is not enough to just have good behavior. We must have good natures.

So Stephen Ferrera is going to be baptized this coming Saturday! He is 16, but he has a really strong desire to serve a mission. He's really active with all the activities and hopefully he'll be a strong addition to the ward.

Speaking of strong additions to the ward, we have a new RM! Bishop's son (Ailyn's brother); Alvin Oldem. He's super on the ball about helping the missionaries. He's already been set apart as the Ward Mission Leader. He was a zone leader for more than half of his mission so he knows what he is doing. The ward really needs him because our recently returned priest (who is our only priest) just left for Manila to find work.

I miss working with senior couple missionaries. They are such a help to the mission! We worked with them a lot in Cebu mission, but there aren't any here. I really encourage all the couples considering whether or not to serve to take this opportunity to be more actively involved in the Lord's work. It's amazing!!

Last night i read through the destruction that happened in the Americas at the time of the death of the Savior. I had a few hours to read and ponder since we went home a little early (Sister Mier wasn't feeling well. :/) Ever since the typhoon, it's been more difficult emotionally to read and try to understand really what that must have been like. That destruction was real. It really happened. And then to have 3 days of darkness after all that. And THEN to hear the voice of the Savior! What a contrast! Christ truly is the light and life of the world! He sustains life. We are completely dependent upon Him. The world looks so much more fragile to me after seeing so much destruction. Everything we have is temporary and of little eternal significance, other than who are and who we are becoming. Remember what truly matters most!!!

LOVE ALL!!! Good luck at Graduation Moo! Have a good last week of school Alex and Jared! And a good last week of your mission, Ashley!!