​Hello Everyone!
 
I'm so sorry it has been a long time since I have written an email. A lot has happened since I have last written. There has been a lot of changes to where I am and what I am doing. 
 
At the current moment I am assigned to the island of Biliran. I have since become the zone leader of Biliran and am in charge of all the missionaries on the island. This is one of the smallest islands in my mission and it is also known to be the most rural. I am currently in Naval and have switched back languages to Bisaya. However, this island is known as the Tower of Babel by the missionaries, and the language will often switch with every person you talk to. This has allowed me to continue speaking Waray-waray. What an amazing blessing.
 
Last week I had the opportunity to do exchanges on another part of the island. In some parts of the island, they sell fish and other goods on motorcycles that tour around the neighborhood. It is very similar to an ice cream truck, but instead of a fun song, they have horns made out of conk shells. Every morning you will hear the conk shells announcing the presence of all the merchants, and everyone will go outside to buy their morning fish. 
 
For a district activity we went to a place called Ulan Ulan falls. We rented a small tricycle to take us, but it couldn't fit all of us so me and another Elder ended up having to jog a good way up the mountain before being picked up again. It was super fun, and the view of the waterfall was definitely worth it, but it was exhausting. That was the first time I had run in a while, and I can conclusively say that I am not in shape.
 
It was hard for me to realize that I was not in shape until I had started running. I hike and bike across mountains on this island every single day, but it wasn't until I started running that I could tell how out of shape I was. Sometimes the Lord will send an activity our way that can test our spiritual fitness. Like our bodies, our spirits need to exercise and sometimes a trial will make us realize just how spiritually unfit we are. These trials are not meant to punish us, but to help us remember the God who gave us life. 
 
In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites followed the word of God, but God also promised to them that if they began falling away, he would send their neighboring nation, the Lamonites, to "stir them up in remembrance" In 2 Nephi 5: 25 it states:
 
"And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction."
 
This a wonderful blessing of God that shows his long suffering and love towards his children. Sometimes we are doing what we think we need to be doing, but our perceptions of ourselves don't always match up with the Lord. Sometimes we may be exercising, but it may not necessarily be helping us get in shape. We can become lazy, slothful, and ignorant of our true situation while simultaneously becoming prideful in our fitness. Without a more eternal perspective, how will we ever grow? This is where the Lord will come and help us realize the truth of where we are. In Hebrews 12: 6 it says,
 
"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth..."
 
As we realize that our trials are not meant to put us down, but to realign us, we will be more willing to accept the growth that can come from them. These constant reminders are one of the many tender mercies of the Lord. He loves us enough to hurt us, to redirect us, to remind us. There is no greater love than His. He doesn't just want us to be who we are now; He wants us to be better. He wants us to become alike to His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only way that we can achieve that growth. His atonement is what makes it possible. I say these things in His name, Jesus Christ, Amen.
​

Hello Everyone!

Sorry this email has been a long time coming. The past few weeks and months have been filled with a tremendous number of adventures, both joyful and sorrowful. 
We have been so busy that we have had to resort to the wildest of shenanigans to keep the work going. Instead of fixing a leak in our aircon, we made a device to catch the water. When our power went completely out, we used our stove fire to heat the iron to unwrinkle our shirts. The amazing cuisine that has kept us alive, is almost entirely made out of hot dogs and eggs. At the current moment, my companion and I have two families that have a goal date for their baptism. We have been hard at work in an attempt to help them prepare for the covenant they will make. In the meantime, we have found a plethora of new people, each with their own unique set of circumstances and problems. 

I have come to recognize how harsh the world really is when looked at through the secular view. I have seen so much suffering here. Broken homes, abandoned children, and the rampant spread of poverty always accompany the day’s work. 

In the Book of Mormon, we read of a dream had by the prophet Lehi. In his dream, he saw a road that leads to the Tree of Life and many diverse roads leading to death and destruction. The only way to make it to the tree without falling away is to the hold to a rod of iron which extends itself from the world to the tree. Lehi describes two types of people that make it to the tree. Those who "cling" to the rod and those who "hold fast." Those who hold fast stay at the tree forever, but those who cling, fall away. In the English language these two groups of people may seem to be doing the same thing, but after careful pondering, I do not think that they are anymore. 

When I use the word cling, it almost always accompanies the underlying theme of fear. The phrase, clinging on for dear life, is a great example. However, the phrase, holding fast, shows something different. It shows consistent strength followed by determination. 

The scriptures tell us that the iron rod is the Word of God. When we put our hand on the iron rod, we have two choices. We can look directly at the tree, or we can focus on the fallen world around us. The iron rod won't change, but our perspective can. Those who focus on the disharmony of our world will cling. They will see the suffering, pain, and affliction caused by our mortal condition. Despite the rod, they will fear. However, those who focus their eyes on the tree of life, have no reason to fear. They understand the horrors of the world, but they know that there is hope. 

In the Bible, we read the story of Peter walking on water. At first, Peter successfully walks on the sea, but what causes him to sink? In Matthew 14: 30 - 31 we read,

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;” He was focusing on the fear rather than the hope. What saved him?

“...and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Focusing his eyes back on his Savior and calling out for help, he was saved. In our lives, it is easy to see the winds and waves, but in those moments, we forget about the figure out on the water. We forget the very tree we are walking to. Despite all of the terrible things I have seen, I have never seen a day without the tender mercies of the Lord raining down from heaven. I have seen how much love and care He has for even the poorest of his children.

I have a firm witness, that focusing on the Savior in our trials prepares us to face our own storms, because we know, that in the midst of them, is our Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Wilhelm

​Hello everyone, 
 
A lot of crazy things have happened in the past few weeks. The work has progressed a lot, but it has not been without its setbacks. We had two families accept the invitation to be baptized, however we have had many reject this gospel this Christmas season.
 
A few weeks ago, Elder Bosley and I hiked into the mountains in order to teach a progressing family. After some time of trucking through the mud, we finally arrived at the mountain abode. The family was excited to see us, and we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. They accepted the message and the invitation we bore, but as we began to pack up our things to leave, we noticed something unfortunate. All of the small dogs that had been running around our feet were covered in hundreds upon hundreds of lice. On the way down the mountain, I confirmed that it had indeed spread to us, and we hurried our way back to our apartment. The better part of two hours was spent in an attempt to save our hair. I am glad to report that it was successful.
 
Another unfortunate happening of the past few weeks was the emergency transfer of my companion. It was 9:45 on a Monday night when we received a surprise call from the office. They informed us that my companion would transfer early the next morning. Without almost any warning, we spent the next 4 hours preparing for his departure. The next day, we traveled to Tacloban, and I received my new companion. Due to the transfer, I have become the new district leader for the largest district in my mission. Though I was prospected to transfer this cycle, it seems like my adventures in Capoocan are not yet over. 
 
Sometimes, it seems that I keep getting curve balls after curve balls on the mission. A cycle has not gone by when I haven't been afflicted with a strange new disease or ailment. From never ending diarrhea to heat exhaustion and athletes foot to projectile vomiting,  sometimes it feels like there is always one more thing. But despite the consistency of the unexpectability, life goes on. I have learned a lot in the field of patience and "to come what may and love it."
 
A while ago, Elder Joseph B Wirthlin gave a talk in regard to the uncontrollable lives in which we live. He recounted the advice his mother had given him when he had been young. This was to "come what may and love it." You can't always see the sharp turn ahead but the ability to be composed despite the sudden shifts in life will always result in a better outcome. Early on in my mission, the smallest things used to get on my nerves. My constant murmuring and complaining never helped the problem and often resulted in a lower morale for everyone. For the longest time I used to see the misfortunes of life as nothing more than an inconvenience that should never have existed in the first place. Little did I realize that these inconveniences were the plan for happiness.
 
Our Heavenly Father never intended us to come into life comfortable and have it stay that way. He wanted us to experience discomfort. The Lord himself, Jesus Christ, was born in a manger and experienced all sorts of pains and afflictions in his childhood. Despite the conditions however, he
 
"increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Luke 2:52
 
I hope that we can come to love the lives that we have been given despite the circumstances. I know that they are given to us so we can increase in wisdom and love of God as well. Through the Savior, Jesus Christ, we can be succored in our afflictions and feel the strength of Lord in our sorrows. He is the bread of life and our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Maupay nga aga ha iyong tanan, 
 
I'm sorry I have not written in a long time. The past month has been pretty hectic to say the least. I don't present that as an excuse for not writing, it is just a good way to describe the past month. From tearing down a house to having lunch with a general authority, it really had it all.
 
I got sick in multiple fun and different ways in the past few weeks. I got a nasty cold twice, which knocked a good week and a half of work away, and I also was bit by some random animal and got five rabies shots. In addition, I also got athletes foot, which was not the most enjoyable experience I might add. Even though it sounds like a lot, I was blessed enough to catch all of my illness early so none of them became too intense. I really received many blessings in the way of being healed.
 
Another fun experience that I had in the past few weeks was the ability to be a part of what is called a "cottage meeting". A cottage meeting is where leaders from a nearby ward or branch hold a meeting for members or interested parties in a more remote area without access to a church. This one was especially fun because we drove into the middle of nowhere in the jungle to host the meeting. The waray waray that was spoken became very deep there, and they said words that I had never heard before. It felt like I was a part of some secret meeting in a movie, but it was really about helping members in the area. The spirit was exceedingly strong as they talked about opening up a way for the members to partake of the sacrament. It seems that my visits to the more remote part of the jungle are not over but are simply beginning. 
 
One of the common themes over the past few weeks have been trusting in the Lord more than you trust in yourself. Sometimes it can become very easy to trust our own judgment rather than the Lords, but in doing so we sacrifice opportunities to serve Him and others. We also sacrifice opportunities to grow. Alma 37:37 states to "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good." From the scriptures we learn that the Lord's purpose is to "Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"(Moses 1:39) and the only way to do that is to help us grow. 
 
When I first arrived in my area, I had a prompting to go proselyting around an elementary school. We had already been to that area and talked to everyone there, and so I quickly put off the prompting and proceeded to go somewhere else. Week after week would go by and I would continue to feel the pressing prompting to visit that area. One day, I decided to finally listen to that prompting. At first, it seemed hopeless, and all the houses were closed and there was no one to talk to. However, before turning around, I noticed a small broken pathway leading into the mountains. Following the path, we were led to a small community that was built in a clearing. Following a strong prompting to talk to an old man, I was eventually introduced to a family who readily accepted our message. All members of the family, some skeptical at first, each received answers to their prayers that our message was true. They have all, including the father, accepted baptism, and are striving to keep the commandments of God. 
 
Even with amazing experiences like the one described, it can become easy to doubt promptings or not to follow them out of fear. It is important to remember, however, that the Lord trusts us as we put our trust in Him. The Lord knows all of us very personally, and only gives promptings He knows we can complete. Your reaction to a prompting shows the amount of trust you have in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you trust that the Father would give you a prompting to help another? Do you trust that He will help you grow as you follow Him? The closer we draw to Jesus Christ, the more we will understand the infinite love that He has for us and others. The more we understand that His love can overpower our fear, the more we can readily accept our calls to serve. I know that as we submit to the will of the Father, as did Jesus Christ, our ability to experience joy will grow because he is the only source of true and lasting happiness. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 
 
Sincerely, 
Elder Wilhelm

Hello Everyone!
 
It’s been a fun week in the Philippines. As the months turn towards Christmas, the rain is getting stronger. Some of the locals speculate that a large storm will hit in December. I'm not too keen on getting flooded out and having that affect our work, but it is certainly a possibility.
 
This week we were able to extend baptism to one of our investigators and they accepted! Since we have taught them, they have come to church every single week. They have truly been prepared by the Lord for us. She has told us many times that she had prayed someone from our church would come and tell her more about it. It is amazing to be a part of an answered prayer. 
 
Last week I also had the opportunity to go on exchanges in San Isidro. This area is in the middle of nowhere which means a lot of biking through the mountains. This area also speaks Bisaya, so I had the opportunity to switch languages for a day. They speak slightly differently than in my previous areas, but I was thankfully to still be able to understand. The views are stunning there and we hiked to houses where there was almost no trail. It was truly an adventure.
 
In my mission we do a lot of hiking. Sometimes many miles accumulate before we reach our destination. We hike through mountains, across rivers, into valleys, along the beach, wherever is needed. There used to be timed when my mental state would deteriorate by the end of the day. I would begin to think about my feet, my legs, or I would question my ability to do it again tomorrow. I discovered, however, a simple solution to correct my worrisome thoughts. That is, to remember the purpose of my actions.
 
In the most recent general conference, the prophet, Russel M. Nelson, told us to "Think Celestial". Think with the highest point of heaven in mind and don't let your actions or thoughts waver from that goal. Keeping your eye on the goal is important, but it is also important to remember why it is your goal in the first place. When we keep our eyes on coming closer to the Savior, remember that it is through Him that we receive eternal happiness. That by His grace, we receive a forgiveness for our sins. That His love is promised to accompany us for eternity. 
 
Growing your testimony is seeing the progress you attain by following Him. It is seeing His help in attaining the goal of eternal exaltation. When we see His hand and recognize his power, all fear washes away. We understand that it is only through His grace that our nature truly changes. My feet don't bother me when I walk anymore. I know my purpose in being here and my eyes are on the goal. I encourage all of you to "Think Celestial" and remember your purposes for having that as your goal. 
 
I know Russel M. Nelson is a prophet of a God, and I know that if we follow his council, we will draw closer to the Savior. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm 
 
Also, if you have not watched President Nelsons talk, I would highly recommend it.

​Hello Everyone!
 
This week has been fairly uneventful, but a few things worth mentioning occurred.
 
I recently have been having some tooth pain and so last Wednesday me and my companion were able to go to Tacloban (the main city in our mission). I went to the dentist and was fairly nervous because... health care is not always the best where I live. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how amazing the dentist was. He did a filling on one cavity, and I didn't even feel it. The pain is gone, and I really hope that the cavity is too. On top of all that it was only 25 dollars so that was a major bonus. 
 
Earlier this week we also found a family that has started to progress. At first we weren't entirely sure if we should teach them but felt that we should try. They started becoming more engaged with the lesson and we returned one more time to meet with them and gave them a Book of Mormon. They said they would read the Book of Mormon and had many questions but told them to save them for next time so we could explain more in depth. All of their children listen very well, which is quite unusual for children as many parents know, and so we are so happy to truly teach the whole family and watch all of them grow. 
 
There are some days in missionary work where you feel like you on fire, and there are some when you don't. This last week was mostly latter, but on the mission I have learned an important principle in personal growth. When one grows, it is often assumed that it will happen in leaps and bounds, and that one must always have the perfect study, workout, or exercise in order to improve. Sometimes I would procrastinate my improvement because I don't have enough time, or it won't be the best practice. On the mission, however, I have learned that it is the small daily things that can add up to great skills or feats. In the Book of Mormon Alma Counsels that:
 
6. Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. 
 
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. (Alma 37:6-7)
 
When memorizing languages, you can't memorize all the words in one day, and memorizing a lot in one day won't help you retain them very well. It is much better to memorize a few at a time and continue to use them as you build your vocabulary. Careful consistency in small means and efforts is the key to long term and permanent growth. 
 
Likewise, is our spiritual growth. The soul and testimony is often compared to the seed of a tree. One cannot expect the tree to grow in a rushed manner, and one cannot force the growth. Slowly but surely, our tree will continue to grow as we consistently feed and nurture it. Daily scripture study, prayer, weekly church attendance, while small, will add great things to our testimonial trees.
 
Having faith in Christ isn't one decision, it a series of small decisions that make up a lifetime. I know He will help us with the big things in our lives as we continue in the small things. I know God loves us and that he sent us His Son to help us grow, slowly but surely. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

​Hello Everyone!
 
I hope everyone is doing well. I have been able to see a lot of amazing miracles this week both in myself and with the people around me. 
 
Recently I have started to learn an ancient Filipino writing system called Baybayin. One of the other Elders in our house is fluent in it and has started teaching me. The letters are very flowy and are all based on the shells that are frequently found on beaches here. Anyone that knows me well knows that my handwriting is less than adequate. Since I've started learning Baybayin, however, my bad pencil grip suddenly changed into how one is supposed to write. My handwriting continues to get better and better. I consider this a real miracle because I have been trying to fix my handwriting for over a decade with no luck, until now.  
 
Other than that, my week has been full of finding amazing new people all around our area. We found a new person all the way out in the jungle, and they are progressing super-fast. They said that they had passed our church before and wanted to go inside but were too nervous. They said they had prayed that someone would come and help them get inside that church. She then recounted that we had showed up shortly after. She has accepted everything we have taught her so far and has already come to church. She is already such a blessing to the ward because there are many members in that area that can't go to church because it is too far and expensive, but she said that she could give many of them a ride. What a miracle!
 
One thing that I have learned since being on my mission is the reality of hoping for and believing that miracles will occur. Sometimes I think it is easy to fall into the trap of only doing the things we are told to do because we are told to do them. I have found that when we have belief in the things that we are doing, the result will often work in the correct direction. But belief alone in ourselves will not spring up into miracles. We need to believe in God.
 
To believe in God is to believe that things will get better. It is to believe that there is sun behind the darkest of clouds and have faith enough to see it. To have faith is to move forward, unwavering in following the commandments of God while knowing that no matter what happens, He has a plan for us. God is the only sure thing. Whether there be prophecies or knowledge they shall pass away, but the prophecies and knowledge of God are eternal, full of truth, and are unchanging. 
 
I implore you to set your foundation in the One True and Living God. For it is written that,
 
"12 ... it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;... 
 
which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. " (Helaman 5: 12)
 
I know that belief in Christ will spring up into miracles and through His Atonement alone, do we have the ability to endure to the end. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm

​Sorry this email has been a long time coming and sorry it is also a long email. A lot has happened in the past few months so please bear with me.
 
Around one a half months ago my companion, Elder Valencia was admitted to the hospital. Before we went to the hospital Elder Valencia had been fighting a nasty fever for a few days and it seemed to be getting better until it hit almost 104° F. This is when we didn't waste any more time and went straight to the hospital, which is fairly far away. After getting some lab work done, we found out he had so many different illnesses and he was promptly transferred to Tacloban to be admitted to a better hospital there. The main thing he had was Dengue Fever, which is a really nasty illness, but we were thankfully able to catch it in a relatively early stage. We spent the next week and a half in the hospital which was an interesting experience on its own. I navigated the hospital system in a different language and made sure the insurance went through properly. That is never something I thought would occur on my mission. After a long two weeks, Elder Valencia recovered, and we returned to our area. 
 
However, a week before the transfer cycle ended, I went to Tacloban until the transfer cycle started. I was in a companionship with Elder Rawlings and it was just the two of us because his companion went to the office. We had a fantastic week and found so many new people to teach. The area had so many mountains in it and so we spent a good amount of time hiking through the jungle. 
 
When the transfer cycle came around, I got transferred to Tunga, which is the smallest municipality on the island. It was so beautiful there and the people were so nice. Sadly, my companion was really sick since he had just gotten out of the hospital. Due to his illness, the mission president decided it would be better if his companion was one of the same language, so I transferred again. It was pretty sad because we were good friends and were fairly excited to be companions. My new area is in Capoocan where I am companions with Elder Phillips. Our area is humongous, and it has so many beautiful spots, including some white sandy beaches. Since our area is so big, we use every single form of transportation imaginable to traverse it. 
 
The past few months have been interesting to say the least. One thing I learned more in depth about is forgiveness, not only for others, but for ourselves. 
 
In the book of Mathew, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother and Jesus replies
 
22 "... I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
 
This commandment to forgive doesn't just mean to others but to ourselves as well. Sometimes it's really easy to doubt ourselves after making the same mistake over and over again. Satan can easily flood your thoughts with statements such as "you cannot change", "look how much you have failed", or "look at how much more they are improving than you". There may be times where these statements have some truth in them, but it is not the design of God to discourage his children. God knows you will mess up and He has provided a Savior just for that. It is written that 
 
"7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered." (2 Nephi 3:7)
 
We must develop a contrite spirit within ourselves in order to do the will of God. That is, the work of charity. We must forgive ourselves in order to properly forgive those who have hurt us. We not only have to trust that the atonement will work for others, but that it will work for us.  This is putting your faith in Him, "relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save." (2 Nephi 31:19)
 
There are times when it is hard for me to feel God's love for me. In those moments, however, it is imperative that I pray. When I pray and read the scriptures, I receive a witness of his love. I begin to understand that as long as I rely on the spirit, I will make the right choices. I know of the love of God because I've felt it. I know as we learn to love ourselves and have patience with our growth, we will be better follows of the commandment to 'love one another'. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 
 
Elder Wilhelm

​Hello Everyone!
 
Sorry it’s been so long again! I'm always falling asleep on p-days, but I will try to do better in the future. Thank you so much for all those who reached out since last email, your kind words are truly a blessing. The past few weeks have been fairly fun and challenging.
 
One day we were walking to a more remote neighborhood to visit a family. It was a pretty long walk and sadly, her whole family had pink eyes and so we decided to let them rest and come back some other time. When we turned to walk away, however, we were swarmed by children. Now being swarmed is not unusual for a young foreigner so far in the mountains, so I started giving out fist bumps and talking with the children. Slowly, however, I realized that every single kid had pink eyes. After passing through the children in an attempt to avoid contamination, every single person we saw had very bad pink eyes. I don't know how we didn't notice walking in, but we had just walked straight into a pandemic of pink eyes. Our usual slow walk turned into a slight jog as we cleared the area before any more gangs of children could surround us. It was like a zombie apocalypse, but for a slightly irritating infection. What made it worse is that the sweat from my forehead was making its way into my eyes. My blonde, poor excuse for eyebrows were of no help, and I could not rub them, for fear of pink eyes.
 
I luckily didn't get pink eyes, but I did get pretty sick, so you win some, you lose some. I have slowly been recovering the past week and today I tried doing something I have wanted to try for a long time. Making tortillas. Tortillas are so expensive here, and I miss burritos a lot, so I had to at least attempt it. I got a recipe from my Mom who in turn acquired it from a sister in my home ward. (Thank you so much Sister Black, you are the best!) I had all the necessary ingredients, and I successfully made the dough. Alas, I did not have a rolling pin. I ended up using a cylindrical ketchup bottle instead, but it did not work very well, and the tortillas were very misshapen. The taste, however, was sublime. I made shredded chicken and cheese quesadillas, and it was so wonderful. Thank you again Sister Black, that recipe is amazing. 
 
Making those tortillas taught me two important lessons. Number one, making tortillas is harder than I thought, and Number two, simple things are often more profound than trying to do something complex. The tortilla is such a simple combination of flour and water and yet it is so delicious. It lays the ground work to many complex dishes and yet it is so simple. This is an important principle to remember in our lives. Sometimes we are caught up in trying to have that perfect service project, perfect personal study, the best advice for our friend, or the best dish. I found that this anxiety of not being the best causes many to give up trying. One would think, "How could I make a difference, my effort is so small? I am so unskilled and unimportant."  The Lord, however, has shown us the reality of the world.
 
Remember what is written in Alma 37:
 
6 "...but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."
 
 7 "And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."
 
The fact that by insignificant acts, great things shall come to pass is a wonderful token of truth. We all feel a little small sometimes. This, however, should not keep us from trying. In my mission I have seen the effect on someone from a small instance of kindness. A well taught gospel principle can never measure up to it. Actions really do speak louder than words and the best speech cannot mimic a kind deed. I used to be obsessed with the lexicon in which I spoke to people. What words should I use? What will touch their hearts? I had forgotten the teachings of Paul. In his letter to the Corinthians he wrote, 
 
8 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
 
(1 Corinthians 13: 8)
 
Do not forget that small acts of charity will confound the wise. I implore you to be kind, it truly is the power of the meek. Do not be scared if you feel that your small action will not measure up, it will. I could not put it better than one of my favorite authors,
 
"Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." (Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings)
 
Don't forget to be kind. It doesn't have to be grand; it can be as simple as a tortilla. The importance lies in its power. That it is charity, the pure love of Christ. He is the example of ministering to the one. May we follow Him, in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm

​Hello Everyone!
 
I hope that everyone has been having a good week. This past two weeks were a little rougher than most, but I learned a lot of lessons I wouldn't have without it. From almost getting hit by a super typhoon, to being dropped by almost all of our investigators, the past two weeks had it all. 
 
Almost the entirety of our teaching pool rejected us this week leaving us with almost no one to teach. The week prior me and my companion were unfathomably sick, therefore we didn't work for a solid 4-5 days. Anyone who has been on a mission knows how much of a killer that is for the work. Recovering from sickness isn't the easiest in the Philippines and coupled with the vast droves of rejection, our mental capacity was at a breaking point. And then, the most unexpected thing happened. A bug flew directly into Elder Stout’s ear. 
 
This bug did not just fly in there and cause a minor annoyance. It proceeded to lodge itself so deep that the earwax prevented Elder Stout from getting it out. We went home immediately and used the collective three braincells that most young men have to remove the insect. Our efforts, of course, were completely foolish and vain. We then, wisely, contacted the mission leaders and promptly went to the hospital. The hospital is a good 1.5-hour journey, so it took up the rest of our day just to get there. When we finally got to the hospital they told us they couldn't see anything in the ear, so we would have to visit the ENT the next day. This was pretty frustrating because it would take up a majority of our Saturday which is the most critical day since most people can only meet with the missionaries on Saturday or Sunday.
 
The next day we went back up to the city and after a lot of searching, we found an ENT clinic that was open. After waiting for a few hours, we saw the doctor and he said there was nothing in his ear but he should take all this medicine anyway. We consulted the mission leaders, and they told us to buy the medicine just to be safe. We tried using the mission insurance card, it got denied, and so we had to come back the next day with more money! We luckily had enough to pay for the appointment but not the medicine. This meant that after church on Sunday, our second most busy day, we would make the long journey to buy some medicine. The travel expenses coupled with the medical expenses have left us nearly destitute for the next week (also transfer week). It was not the most enjoyable time, but I learned so much the past week of the Lord's goodness, mercy, and longsuffering toward his ungrateful and sinful children. 
 
I'm not going to lie and say I handled these weeks with the grace of a trained dancer. I will admit that I did my fair share of murmuring as we encountered trial after trial. They were seemingly endless and kept piling on an already hazardous week. Then, on Saturday afternoon we walked deep into the jungle to one of our recently baptized converts and a progressing investigator. We taught them a lesson and the whole time it was filled with attentive listening, good questions, joy, and the spirit. By the end of the lesson, I had such a joy and confidence that I hadn't felt in a long time. A hope that despite my trials, God was still looking out for us. Then, I began to feel embarrassed. I had spent the whole walk into the jungle complaining and murmuring that all our work had been for nothing. That all of our investigators had dropped us, and that I wish we were just given a break. 
 
Walking back, I realized I had forgotten my Lord. I had forgotten that despite my trials I needed to:
 
"...press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end.." (2 Nephi 31, 20)
 
That scripture began reverberating in my head. "A perfect brightness of hope". Was I representing that very well? Not at all. I needed to change, repent, and walk with a "steadfastness in Christ". I thought of the story of Nephi. Despite being hung to a mast for three days, he never murmured against his God. He remained, in all darkness, a perfect image of hope. I learned that relying on the Lord is to remember the words of Paul to the Philippians (Chapter 4).
 
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
 
Sometimes we expect that the strength of the Lord will always give us some untold super power to easily overcome all our trials. This, however, is not always what I think will be given to us. Sometimes the strength of Christ gives us the ability to have hope. That even through the tears in our swollen eyes and our cries unto Heaven, we have a hope for good to come. God spake unto Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. In D&C 122 it reads:
 
7. ...If the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
 
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
 
Let us not forget the Lord in the time of our affliction. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our All. He descended below all things and yet he kept his light aflame. Through him, all of our trials, tears, cries, and anguish will be for our good. Of this I testify, in his name, even Jesus Christ, amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm

​As the title suggests, this week has been full of many 'exciting' events. Some of them, I am bound by law not to talk about, so you'll have to wait until I come home. Many investigators refuse to see us again, but we had a few that are sticking with us!
 
A phrase I heard a lot this week is, "Walay tawo diri!" Meaning "There is nobody here." I truly don't understand why people say this because we trying to talk to anyone and everyone about the gospel not just the matriarch or patriarch of the family. If we show up on your doorstep and you say something, we are going to try and talk to you. I'm sorry that is just how this works. It is such an oxymoron to say that nobody is here. The first time I heard it I thought it was a joke and laughed in response. They were not joking. One time, a bystander chirped in during one these interactions and asked if they were not a person. They were not amused by that statement, but I am so grateful someone stood up for us. Thank you very much random mailman. Of all the excuses not to talk to us, "There is nobody here" is not one I thought I would hear.
 
Anyway, on a positive note, we have two baptisms this week and two marriages! We get to spend the whole day at a marriage and baptism event so that is going to be exciting and relaxing. Marriage in the Philippines is a very long and expensive process, so everyone is very excited when it's finally through. Me and my companion have had a very long couple of weeks, so this is going to be just the break we need. 
 
One of the things that has enveloped my mind in the past few weeks has been not judging others. I struggle quite a bit with this, as evident from the second paragraph, and  in the past few weeks I have been working on it. One of the most important teachings Jesus taught us was that we should, 
"Judge not, that ye be not judged"(Mathew 7:1). I often look at a situation or interaction at face value without considering what the other person is feeling or thinking. Trying our best to understand one another despite our differences is the best way to follow the commandment given by Jesus to "Love one another." I know that Jesus lives and that he suffered for our sins so that we can live with our Father in Heaven again. He is our Savior and Redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm

​Hello Everyone!
 
It’s been a few very busy weeks in the Philippines and so much has happened. I apologize for not writing the past few weeks but usually when we get home I go straight to bed. I have truly grown to love the Cebuano language. It is so much easier to speak than Waray Waray and the idioms are way more fun to say. 
 
My favorite one so far is "Ulog Ulog" which loosely means "I know your joking/lying." Whenever people call us handsome and don't think we understand Cebuano we respond with "Ulog Ulog! Mas Gwapo Ikaw!" The full phrase is basically saying that "You’re totally lying because you are way more handsome!" Some people have no idea how to react when they realize we speak Cebuano, and they just stare at us. My reaction to that is usually to smile and wave, just like the penguins of Madagascar. 
 
There have also been a few people that have berated us thinking we don't speak the language. The other day someone said "mga kadautan" meaning "the evil ones." I just turned to my companion and in English said, "did she just call us evil?" (I truly thought I misheard). Everyone here understands English and so they were all very embarrassed. Moral of the story, don't assume your safe behind language barriers. 
 
Other than that, the work has been progressing wonderfully! I've seen many tender mercies of the Lord! We've had one baptism the past month but on May 18 we have two planned! The couples that we are baptizing have been waiting for their marriage paperwork and so we get to do a whole wedding/baptism! Talk about a package deal! Watching people's testimonies grow has also been a wonderful experience. When people put in the effort to keep commitments it always pays off. When one acts in faith, the Lord comes with blessings. 
 
This week in come follow me we got to read about the Prodigal Son. During the mission it has become one of my favorite parables because of the pure love that the father has for his son. His son goes off and wastes his inheritance, the love that his father gave him, on a living that was wasteful. He gave up everything he had in the pursuit of worldly lusts. He had abandoned his family, his honor, and his God. When this realization came to him, he became humble, and he felt remorse. He knew he was no longer worthy to be called his father's son. With this recognition, he decided to return to his father and ask to be his servant. He thought his father would despise him and disown him and yet as he walked down the path he found his father running towards him. His father had been waiting. He had never given up hope on his son. He ran without hesitation to embrace the son that he had thought was lost. I cannot imagine the amount of nights he spent looking towards the road waiting for his son to come home. In that moment the son knew of the pure love of a father, even that of the Father in Heaven. For our Savior, Jesus Christ, is keeping watch night after night. Patiently waiting until we humbly and penitently come unto him. In that day he will embrace us, and say to all, 
 
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
 
There are many times when we feel alone or unworthy of love, but God is always there waiting for us to come home. All we have to do is act in faith and start down the path. I know that the Savior loves us and will lift us up if we obey his command to "Come Follow Me". I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm 

April 10-17

April 17-24

April 24-May 1

Tatay Beduya...he's so fun ​

​Skipping rocks on the ocean

May 1-8

​Maayong Gabii!
 
Hello everyone, one week has passed away again and it feels like yesterday that I was whisked out the door. My parents told me I had been away for around 5 months. It has felt more like 5 days. Similar to last week we've been so busy all the time. It's absolutely wonderful but truly exhausting. We have so many kind families that we're visiting, and we have had the blessed opportunity of bearing our testimonies to many people. 
 
I would like to take a moment to reflect on a wonderful lesson I was taught as a young man. One day in young men’s quorum our teacher, Brother Murdock, told us to avoid using the word 'like'. He instructed us to count how many times someone would say the word 'like' while talking. The results were like... astounding. All of these years later I still have an uneasiness every time I use that word in a sentence. (Ignore the first paragraph)
 
With that being said, I've had to completely throw that lesson out the door in the Philippines. There are so many ways to say 'like' that it is hard to fathom. The few that I can think of off the top of my head are Kuwan, morag, parehas, and sugad. They throw them in at random places and sometimes completely replace verbs with them. These filler words are so devastatingly hard to deal with that my brain sometimes shuts down. Any skill I have seemed to gather in the language goes out the window when five strategically placed kuwans riddle the sentence. Once you get used to them they can be fun to slip into conversation but receiving them is always frustrating. 
 
The more I learn about other languages, the more I learn the power of the word. For our word should be our testimony. The testimony of our gifts, our kindness, and of our Savior. This last general conference was riddled with so many talks about being kind to others. Using our language for good rather than evil. A very wise man once told me that of all the things he had done in his life, the times he had regretted the most were when he was not kind to people when he could have been. I echo this thought and regret. I have been truly unfairly hateful to some people in the past, and those are times I can never take back. I have lost so many friends in the pursuit of my own pride. 
 
It has, however, shown me the importance of one’s words. On the mission I have had so many opportunities to bear my testimony and witness as a disciple of Christ. When me and my companion finish a lesson and bear our testimony, the Spirit is always the strongest. When we edify others, we edify ourselves. In the story of Alma, we learn that he could not reclaim his people.
 
"Save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them." Alma 4:19
 
The power of one’s testimony is real. When we bear witness of the Father and His Son, we are blessed and bless others. Pure testimony is pure power and there is no other way about it. It was our primary weapon before this life, and it continues to be the same in this one. The sword of truth knows no equal. In the end when all mortal form is stripped away we will be left with nothing but our testimony. I leave you mine that Jesus is the Christ. Our Savior and Redeemer. That the Great Atonement was made by Him. That we need not fear, only trust in Him. He loves you, more than you can know. I say these things in his name, even Jesus Christ, amen.
 
Elder Wilhelm

Sunset

​Our worker Michael is pretty much the best

Maayong Gabii tanan! (Good night everyone)
 
I have indeed been transferred once again to a completely different zone. Since I've come to the mission I've been transferred to three different areas and have had to learn a total of four distinct dialects and languages. Waray Waray H, Waray Waray S, Tagalog, and now Cebuano. I don't know why I keep being sent around the mission, but it has definitely given me a lot of experience in terms of language learning. I haven't been able to learn a language super in depth yet, but I have gotten good at learning the basics fast. 
 
That being said, a lot of wonderful miracles have happened in the short time that I've been here! At one point a man stopped on the side of the road and told us to jump on his motorcycle because he wanted to be taught a lesson. We explained to him that Habal-Habal (motorcycle riding) was against the rules of our mission, but we waved down a small tricycle and told it to follow him. This was all very suspicious, and I told my companion to be ready to bail at any point. Thankfully, he wasn't trying to kill us, and it became a wonderful experience. Turns out he's a super inactive member that hasn't been able to come to church because of his work. His family aren't members so we taught them and said we would be back next Sunday. The spirit was super strong and I'm grateful that the Lord put that experience in my life. 
 
My spiritual thought comes from Gen 26:24 where it says,
 
" 24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake."
 
There have been a lot of times on the mission where I have been fearful of what others think. From being scared to talk to people because of my poor language skills to being scared to stand up for what I believe in, there is often moments when I am tempted to fear man more than God. There are times when I think I may feel a spiritual prompting but will dismiss the feeling out of fear of what others may think or say. And because of that I have often felt that I am the "wicked and slothful servant" that had buried his talent in the sand. Whenever I come across these moments when I am tempted to sin or shy away from my responsibility I try to remember and repeat my favorite part of Psalm 59,
 
"1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men.  
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. 
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me and behold."
 
This short plea for mercy and protection gives me the courage I need to follow spiritual promptings even though I'm scared. It gives me strength to resist temptation and follow the Savior's example. I know as we seek his guidance we will find the strength we need to move forward. To fear no man, do no evil, and live like Him. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen. 
 
See you all next week!

​Elder Wilhelm 

​Preaching to everyone must include this ostrich

​Mahupay na Gabi everyone! 
 
I'm sorry this email will probably be short as I have very little time to write it. The past two weeks have been full of crazy experiences that are both terrific highs and unfathomable lows. I would like to include a couple examples to illustrate the tomfoolery of this week. 
 
One day we came back to our apartment, and we were distraught to find that we had locked ourselves out. The usual option would entail us calling the owner of the house and dealing with it from there. I, however, was very impatient and extremely thirsty for a glass of juice that I had saved for myself that morning. So, I decided I would try to climb our house to the second floor and break in through the balcony door. And I did exactly that! The juice I had saved tasted all the better as I proudly opened the door from the inside. 
 
I also completely lost my shoes for a solid 15 minutes in a flood but that is probably a story for a different time. 
 
My spiritual thought stems from a way to experience the spirit more strongly in your life. While important, sometimes studying the scriptures or listening to general conference talks is not the best way to study the gospel. There are many times when it comes much better through service. Remember in Lehi's dream when he partook of the fruit. 
 
"12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."
 
Immediately after he partook of the fruit he was desirous that others should have it. If you have tasted of the fruits of the gospel, share it with others! This does not always have to be through a scripture verse or a spiritual thought. It can be a helping hand, a friendly smile, or reaching out to an old friend. Be Christlike, what can I say more? D&C50:22 states that
 
"22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."
 
As you preach the gospel through your actions you will be edified. As we minister to the one, we will draw closer to Christ. Remember 
 
" Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(Matthew 25:40)
 
Do these things because you love others or in other words, because you love Christ. 
 
Elder Wilhelm

Holding a fish

Sleepy Pete

​Mahupay na aga, na kulop, ngan na gabii tanan na mga tawo sa ini na Kalibutan! 

This week was pretty fun though I had a few misteps, literally. We spent a lot of this week finding and while it really helps me learn Waray Waray, it is most difficult. I think I can speak pretty well now but understanding is a whole other animal. They speak super fast in Calbayog and when I hear them I feel like a computer shutting down. Nevertheless my studies of Tagolog have helped a lot. We were able to hit some return appointments this week so hopefully we will have some progressing people soon.

At the beginning of the last paragraph I said I had mistepped literally. I wish to expand somewhat upon that. In the Phillipines there are some neighborhoods where the houses are built on wooden stilts. They are all connected together with small fragile wooden pathways. These patheways are similarly built on stilts and so they not very stable. All of this rests over a swamp like mud that consists of the waste from each of the houses. While attempting to cross through this week, the wood beneath me broke not once, but twice. I was luckily able to catch myself before I fell into the mud but I'm either really bad at walking or getting fat. Honestly, it is probably a combination of the two. I'm just glad the Lord has been protecting me from all my fumbles and falls because I have a lot. 

This week I was thinking about something that was pointed out to me in 2 Nephi 2: 25. The scripture says that,

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."

At first glance one would think that joy means a general happiness, but upon further inspection of the footnotes you will find that another definition exists. That is "mens ability to become like God". I thought this was a very curious way to describe joy and so I went through the scriptures and sought to plug in this definition. I found that it adds a quite a lot to some scriptures. For example take the following verse from John 14: 28:

"If ye loved me, ye would rejoice"

Now, if we are to believe that joy is the ability to become like God, then the action, rejoice, must mean coming unto the Lord. If we are to follow this logic further then everytime the scriptures tell us us to rejoice, they are not just telling us to just be happy, they are telling us to come unto God. They are telling us to pray in gratitude when there are good times in our life. If we so love Him, why are we not coming unto Him? Whenever we experience happiness in this life, share it with the Father. He wants to hear all the parts of our lives, not just when its hard. He wants us to share in the joy, to come unto to Him, and through Jesus Christ it is possible. What other evidence do you need of His love, but His Son. 

I encourage all of you to search the scriptures and send me your perspectives on different scriptures with joy in it. For example:

Ecclesiastes 2:10

Original: "my heart rejoiced in all of my Labour: 

New: "My heart came unto the Lord in all of my labour" 

Warning, its literally so fun I can't stop

Elder Wilhelm 

Mahupay na Adlaw kamo tanan na mga Tawo! 

This week has been pretty fun but difficult. We've been running all over our area trying to find new people to teach because we've been rejected by almost everyone from last week. We still have a few really strong families that we're working with but opening an area really makes everything much harder. I have also given up in a way and have started learning Tagalog in addition to Waray-Waray. A lot of people in the city only speak Tagalog so it is almost necessary to learn both. Its not too different so it should be easier to learn now, but learning two languages at once will really be a challange. I have faith, however, that the Lord will help me through it. 

I have also been lucky to have some funny experiences this week. One day while we taking our trash out, Elder Bosley discovered that his garbage was infested with ants. This caused us to run, quite fast, to the drop off point which was about two blocks away. I was needlessely laughing the whole time as my trash was perfectly ant-free. Sorry Elder Bosley, better luck next time. Last P-Day we also had a lot of people taking pictures of us. I don't know if it was just because it was valentines day but at one point someone pulled out a huge professional camera and started snapping shots. A member saw the photos on facebook and sent them into the ward groupchat so I'll include one down below. We also had an earthquake this week which was pretty cool. It woke us all up at around 2:00 am and we all immedietetly went back to bed. Needless to say the shenanigans have not stopped since I've left Tolosa, and the mission continues to be a super fun yet challenging experience 

Something that has been on my mind recently is the word remember. Throughout the scriptures we see the word remember a lot and I think this is for good reason. C.S Lewis describes in his book "The Screwtape Letters" that one of the most powerful tools the devil uses against us is making us forget the blessings that we have been given. When we're having a hard time or are doubting our faith it is most imperative to not only remember what God has done for you, but also what he has promised you. This weeks Come Follow Me was on the Beatitudes from the Sermant on the Mount. I've heard most people describe them as a list of things that we have to become but I also like to look at them as a list of promises. To illustrate my point I would look at the third and fourth verses from 3 Nephi 12. 

3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

To me, these verses are only filled with hope. Hope for those that mourn and those with a poor spirit. Is that not all of us? Do we not all grieve because of trials? We need to remember these promises because Satan would have us forget them. He would have us curse the Lord for the situation we are in, rather than give thanks for the promises he made with us. He would have us forget our covenants rather than come unto Him. In these verses the Lord has given us hope. A promise that one day, we will be comforted. That one day, we can ascend to a better place. Hope for the future. I cannot think of a better gift than that. I have faith in the Lord and His promises, and I will do my best to come unto Him. I know that if we come ubto Him, we will attain the Kingdo of Heaven.  

Elder Wilhelm 

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