Week 11

Elder Claiborne sent pictures this week with his email. They are MTC pictures, but pictures nonetheless. Courtney will be posting them shortly. We're hoping for some Philippines pictures next week.

I've been reflecting on Elder Claiborne's comment this week about why the people of the Philippines love the missionaries so much. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't have at least a basic knowledge that I was a child of God and that our Father in Heaven sent his Son to atone for our sins and sorrows and to give his life on the cross. I cannot remember ever wondering if our spirits are eternal or whether we would be resurrected. Thinking of growing up without a knowledge of God and his plan for his children is as foreign to me as living each day without sunlight.

Beyond being able to teach people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, Elder Claiborne has the unique opportunity to teach those who are without even a basic knowledge of God. Is there anything more important?

In the past 11 weeks I have come to see what a great circle of blessings a mission is to every full-time missionary. It blesses the missionary, his or her family and friends, those he or she teaches and finally those taught by these new converts.

Well, my update won't be very long this week because my wonderful mother likes to be long winded in her letters! So I spent most of my email time reading her letter, but that's okay because I still love her.

It's only been 5 days since my last email, because our preparation days got a little mixed up since we had Temple day last Wednesday (which became our Preparation day). So that's why my emails are close together this week. Just didn't want anyone to think I was being disobedient!

We've had a pretty good week of work, except we couldn't proselyte last Wednesday, or last Saturday. Wednesday was Mission Temple day. Then on Saturday, I had a pretty amazing day. One of Elder Nye's old investigators was being married in the Temple, so we were able to attend. It meant waking up at 4 a.m. but it was worth it. Before the wedding, all these people I didn't even know kept having me get in their wedding pictures because they said I was "pogi." That was fun, usually at an American wedding you wouldn't throw random people in your wedding pictures!

We then went into the Temple for the wedding ceremony. Wow! I want that one day. It was pretty special.

We then went to the reception, and sat in the back, like most missionaries would do. Then the Groom's mother came and got the four of us Elders and had us sit at the head table with the other Immediate family and V.I.P.'s. I was pretty surprised. I just met these people that morning. It got me thinking about the Philippine people. Looking around at the people and the love in their hearts was pretty humbling. So many people in America are so much wealthier, yet these people were willing to give me, a stranger, the very best they had. I see it almost every day when I go into their humble homes and they give us the best they can afford. It is humbling.

A lot of it is just their culture, but I realize there's a lot more to it for us as missionaries. Among both investigators and members of the church. They are SO grateful to us. Even me, as a new missionary. They love us because of what we brought to their country. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted and acted on the message have been able to find real happiness and they love it.

We were then able to go out to work and taught three or four good lessons before going to a baptism that night. (Not one of our investigators, but just to offer support.)

So yeah, Saturday was pretty great. Witnessing an ordinance of exaltation as well as an ordinance of salvation.

Other then that we're just working hard. We were able to get a "perfect pull-up" set up at our apartment. At the expense of the door frame... Hopefully I can get back into better shape with that thing.

Oh yeah, and I'll be baptizing a lady named Nany Fanny this Saturday. It will be the first person I baptize so it's pretty exciting. We also have 5 investigators who have chosen to accept baptismal dates and hope to invite more this week. How exciting for them!

O.k. well I was able to give a pretty good sized update anyways. My email to just my parents will be what suffers! God bless.

Love,

-Elder Austin R. Claiborne