My Zone

Hello Everyone!

This last week has been quite alright, there are always ups and downs, but I personally like roller-coasters. There are trends in the Philippines, everyday has its theme, and everyone seems to be doing the same things everyday. The week started out kind of rough, and the first day was make fun of Elder Munk's Tagalog day, which is quite a fun theme if you are already having a hard day. But it did not really effect me too much, I just tried to take it in stride and study better, and I have noticed when I am having a rough day I mumble a little bit (well more than I normally do) so that was probably what the actually problem was, but oh well :)

Day two's theme was mice climbing over my feet during lessons, it happened quite a few times actually, I do not mind them all that much but when you are trying to bear your testimony and something runs over your foot sometimes your mind gets turned to other things like not getting rabies :) I think I have some help in teaching though, because I always asked a question before the mouse came, and the investigators gave really long answers that let my mind get back from mouse to Ebanghelyo.

Day three was just not good people day. I will just share what happened on one street in a 5 minute period, and you can try to imagine the rest of the day. We first met a man who I firmly believe is the only Atheist in the Philippines, I believe in respecting others beliefs, but holy cow, I knew this guy would drive me crazy, so I talked to his very Christian friend and let Elder Vail speak with him, I listened to what he was saying and he was just criticizing us and was very anti-Christ, in my opinion there is something more worth living for than dying. So we start walking away and this kid about 18 years old with all his friends exposes himself to me and makes a pretty big public show about it, I was like ohhh no! I just laughed and I will admit I may have been hoping that Rudy (our 60 year old ward missionary) would go take him out. But it did not really happen.

Day 4 I believe was Mommy's birthday, I hope it was a wonderful one :) So the theme was loving my Mom and eating ice cream. It was a good day.

Day 5

Day 6..

Well I forgot the themes to those days, but I will share with you a little bit of my thoughts about following the spirit, or those good feelings you get inside that help you choose what is the very best for you in your life. A strong sense of direction that comes from our Father in Heaven. And also my thoughts about knowing the difference between that, and your own emotions. And I will use an experience from my very own life, Yesterday. :) I have been working hard and having success in my area, everything is going really well and we have a lot of strong potential. Of course I want to be here to see all of that being fulfilled I want to be here for the many baptisms that could potentially happen. And I found myself praying asking if I could stay, and what I should email my mission President so he would keep me in this area. And more specifically with Elder Vail for one more transfer, because I do not want to deal with a terrible companion, and staying with Elder Vail is a pretty safe bet in avoiding that from happening. That was my own emotion, that was what I <--- Elder Munk, wanted. Heavenly Father may have a different plan for me, and he definitely had something to teach me that night. I felt restrained while I was praying. And I felt a strong prompting that kind of slapped m in the face, I heard clear words say, okay you have said what you want, do you care what your Heavenly Father wants for you. And my first thought was 'oh know, do not send me into the office!' That is like having your parents put you into the timeout corner. I felt peace that I was not going there, which made me happy. Than I asked Heavenly Father, "What do you want for me?" And it was a little bit contrary to my emotions, to my kagustuhan, he did not tell me I was leaving, but he told me to figure out the benefits of both, and discuss those with my President, and the best thing will happen. A lot of the time people want things that they see benefit in, especially immediately. A lot of the time our promptings like this are encouraged by the spirit also, because God wants us to be happy, but he knows the true way to achieve that, we do not. That is why you can see certain people who do not take the easy way, they take harder paths that at first seem to lead to nothing, but they are the happiest people I know, they follow the Spirit. So if I can leave a challenge with you for this week it would be, do not let your emotions control your life, let someone who knows have a little say in what happens, and soon once you realize it is better that way you will give him 100% control, you just have to be strong enough to do what he says. :)

I love it here, and I have a few pictures, I love you all and I really do hope the very best for all of you, especially my family, be good. :)

Love Elder Munk