Lost Name Tag, Dirty Clothes, Baptisms coming, and my Lola!

Alright wow what a crazy week! There were so many small random things that added up to the week and I hope I can remember all of them for you.

1) The adventure of the Lost Name Tag:  This day we went to our community service for the week just to find out that it had already been cancelled so we had to walk all the way back which wasted about 2 hours in the day. Then our next appointment got cancelled. THEN as we were getting on a tryk, my watch broke and fell on the ground. I went to pick it up off the ground when everything in my pocket fell out (my language notebook, planner, pen, and nametag). I thought I grabbed everything and the tryk started driving away. When I looked down I realized that my nametag was not there! I did not feel like a missionary without my nametag! Luckily Elder Buque had an extra one so for our next appointment there were two missonaries both with the nametag of Buque. Luckily our investigator did not really notice! I prayed hard that if it was God's will I would find the nametag. Later in the day I got a call from the other Elders in the area who said that a tryk driver found my nametag and brought it to the neighborhood where we live because he recognized us. #miracle I know that God cares about even the little things.

2) Clothes Getting Dirty: So many weird things happened this day. First as we were in an appointment I felt something drip down onto my sock. I looked up confused as to the source of the brown drop now on my foot. My eyes gazed down at my sock to see a big glop of poop. A lizard pooped on my sock! What the heck? I kept the poop on my sock until the end of the lesson to ensure that I did not interrupt the spirit, then I flicked it outside. THEN at night as we were walking down the street a driver rolled down his window and spit on me. His phlegm was all over my clothes. Not enjoyable.  

3) BAPTISMAL INTERVIEWS! : I am filled with more joy than I have ever had in my life. One of our investigators that we have been teaching every week for the past 3 months passed her baptismal interview and will be baptized next week right before the transfer day! There is no greater joy than to see someone making the right steps towards Christ. I am antsy to experience my first convert baptism this Saturday. Our area really struggles compared to others in our mission even though Elder Buque and I have worked our tails off. Another previous investigator, who is now technically in the other area will be getting baptized next week as well! We taught him for the first 6 weeks. Both of these children of God have truly gone through so much and I know that baptism is the first covenant on the path to our Heavenly Father. 

4) Lola Cadayong Visit!: I got special permission from my Mission President to visit my grandmother who lives in the town next to mine. Usually it is strictly forbidden to visit friends and family during the mission but the president felt impressed to let me visit. This is a very rare case because usually people are not assigned to the places where relatives are. This was one of the dearest moments in my life. Seeing my grandmother's huge smile and loud laugh made my heart melt. For the first time in my life I could actually sort of communicate with my Grandmother in Tagalog since she does not really know any English. It was not easy to communicate since she is very old (90) and hard of hearing, I am not great at Tagalog, and she sometimes spoke in her native dialect. However I felt a true connection with her that I have never before felt. Plus I got to see the place where my own father grew up which was spectacular. Being here in the Philippines helps me to truly understand my family and my ancestors more than ever.

I know that I was called here in the Quezon City North Mission for a specific reason and I cannot wait to see the plan that God has for me. I am working every day to improve myself so I can become a better servant in the hand of God. My weaknesses are apparent more than ever but I have been blessed with amazing people around me to guide and direct me. Most importantly I have my Savior Jesus Christ as a constant friend. I challenge everyone to come closer to Christ and get to know the Beloved One who died for each and every one of us.

Till next week adventures! Thank you everyone for your emails and pictures.

Elder Cadayong