Workout

Today was a real workout. We met Paddocks in Naic where we purchased a lot of stuff for new apartments and then met Forinashes in Manila where we stocked 2 new apartments. Forinashes had a load of bunkbeds which we set up but were not made that well so we had some trouble getting them to fit together and on some even had to get out a hammer and chisel to make them fit. One apartment was up 8 flights of stairs and the missionaries weren't there to help so it was a lot of work. We finally hired a couple of young guys off the street to help us. I'm 12 years younger than Paddock and about 8 years younger than Forinash so they both have a pretty hard time hauling stuff up stairs and my bum knee slows me down a bit so a couple hundred pesos (5 bucks) was well worth it. It was about 90 degrees out and time we were done I was totally soaked. It actually felt kinda good though to do some physical labour. We hurried home afterwards to try to make some teaching appointments but they both fell through so that was too bad.

Transfer Day

We lost two of  "our" missionaries to transfers today. Elder Belnap went to Palawan and Elder Pugmire to Ternate. We will sure miss them; they are both really good missionaries. Elder Belnap really didn't want to go because we have a lot of really promising investigators and he really liked it here. That's the way it goes I guess. Elder Burgos is now the district leader and his new companion is Elder Sanchez from Gilbert, Arizona. Elder Stephens is already a senior companion to Elder Acosta, a Filipino Elder from Mindinao. They both seem like really good missionaries so we excited about that. It seems the next ones could never be as good as the ones that just left but they are! We had to go do more apartment stuff after taking a load of missionaries in to Manila and got home too late to go out. We hate missing out on the chances to do real missionary work.

Going home Missionaries

This evening we got to go to the going home missionary's dinner and testimony meeting.That is always a special experience to witness the tremendous growth and spiritual maturity that these missionaries attain on their missions. Elder Spencer was one of them and he is kinda special to us because he was like our trainer. He was one of the missionaries here when we first got here and he was a great help to us. We had a lot of great teaching experiences together. He really likes it here and says he wants to come back here to live.We'll see. Anyway it truly is an amazing experience for these young people to serve missions. This truly is the Lord's work. There is such a need for more missionaries, especially couples and we strongly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to serve a mission; it's the best!!

New Apartments & FHE

Went today and looked at apartments to rent for Missionaries.Spent most of the day in Manila doing that. Got home in time to go to The Gumazan family and have family home evening. The father hasn't been to church for years as he works on Sundays. But he is a great man! He hasn't let missionaries come and teach  before, but he has let us and the Elders come for 3 weeks. The spirit is always strong and we can witness the change in his heart. He has his own business as we mentioned before; but I think as his heart softens he will return to church and not work on Sundays. His son who is on a mission is also encouraging him to return also. That is part of the reason he is working on Sunday is to help his son on his mission. But I think he could manage with out working on Sunday as the Lord would bless him for keeping his Sabbath Day Holy.

Love the Sabbath

Sundays are always good! Always good to go and partake of the Sacrament and renew our covenants each week. The Branch President Pres. Balldarama is our new District Pres., like we mentioned. But a new Branch Pres. hasn't been called yet so he talked on Sunday. He talked about becoming a Stake in the next year and a half and what we need to do to become a Stake . It was very inspiring and the members were all nodding their heads in agreement. Its always wonderful when spirit speaks to spirit. As the Prophet Isaiah promised, "Thine ears shall hear a word......Saying, This is the way,walk ye in it"     Isaiah 30:21  We have learned to rely on the Holy Ghost daily on our Mission, the Holy Ghost is the true converter we can testify of that!
  Later John went to Naic for District Meetings with District Presidency for all Branch Presidencies and Elders Quorm Presidents. He didn't get home till 8:30p.m. so that was our day.

Baptism

Reymart Moncada was baptized this evening! He is a great 17 year-old young man who the elders have been teaching and we also have helped teach him some. His older brother is a member but hasn't been active because he was working every Sunday but Reymart asked him one day if he would teach him about his church so he decided to quit his job and take his brother to church and so the elders started teaching him and he is just on fire. he already has gone with the missionaries teaching several times and can't wait til he can go on a mission. He bears a really strong testimony and just loves the gospel! So good! He wanted to be baptized last week but came down with Dengay fever and was really sick.

Elder Belnap, Reymart Moncada, Elder Burgos and us. 

He can hardly wait til he can go on a mission!

Punta Branch Members.Pres Mendoza is next to me and Bro. Base, the 1st councilor is next to Elder Belnap with his wife and baby.

Great Family

We've been teaching a wonderful young couple for the last couple of months and progress has been a little bit slow but we had a great meeting with them tonight and they committed to be baptized! Sometimes it's almost better when it takes a little longer especially when it's because they really want to know if it's true and they ask lot's of questions and don't always accept things right away. That's the way this family is; she's really golden but he's kinda come kicking and screaming and been careful about it all but he's coming along now and it's just wonderful. He's got great leadership potential and is a really good guy.We are so excited! they are going to be a great addition to this branch.The Spirit was really strong there tonight and bore powerful witness of the truth to them. The gospel changes lives and it's so wonderful to see how it blesses people!