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
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
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