Hola~wait wrong language haha

Hey family! YESS you finally got my letter! 4 times the charm! Sorry its kind of an ugly one cause I didn't think it would make it haha. But I'm glad you got it! Well this week has been a good one, I'm back to the stage where im always tired! But its a good tired. We have just been working hard, my companion is awesome, and a great teacher so I have been learning a ton from him, he's like an Apostle haha. I got to go to my first MLC at the Tyes which was pretty sweet. It was great, it was so spiritual and it helped me out so much. And the food was pretty dang good too haha. I've learned so much these past 2 weeks, when your at MLC it just reminds you of the example you have to be to others through work and obedience. We have had a lot of pressure to find new investigators, thats been the mission focus. Our area was a little bit difficult but through long prayers with Elder Zacarias we have found people to teach, enough to hit the standard of excellence.I think I have made more improvements in myself in these couple weeks then I have in a while. I still don't fully know why I was called so early but I remember something that Joseph Smith said " When the Lord commands, do it" Thats what I go by.
We had an amazing experience this week we saw one of the investigators we found experience a real change of heart. She started out by really not wanting to listen to us.But We were teaching her neighbor at the time and as we started teaching and testifying, this woman slowly moved closer to listen to the lesson. She felt the spirit strong from what we taught and I could see her in the background with tears filling in her eyes. At the end of the lesson we felt really prompted to ask her to offer a prayer. As she offered the prayer she cryed like a baby, shes had a hard life and was so happy. Her whole countenance changed, as we walked away she said,"Hindi kayo nagkamali pumunta dito" (You didnt make a mistake coming here) she now is happy to see us everytime. Its crazy that a simple strong testimony of our Fathers love can change someone. Ill remember that day for a long time. Love you family.
Elder MC

                                                           couple of gwapos

Imus Life.....

HEY FAMILY!

Man what a week. This week has almost been as long as my first week in the Philippines! haha So many changes! This past Wednesday I was transfered to Imus Bacoor to be ZL2 with Elder Zacarias. Yeah son, Im back to the city. haha it was different going from Naic to Bacoor. Everything is so much closer, haha and The traffic is a lot worse haha, there is even like people traffic haha. My new companion is Elder Zacarias, hes a stud. I thought I had gotten to be a pretty good teacher, Nope hes an amazing teacher. haha hes an all around good missionary. But he is super quiet and spiritual all the time, but its chill with me. He was supposed to be AP but it didnt happen and he got a little discouraged because instead hes training me. hahah But Im super stoked to learn from him, theres a ton of things that he will help me better at in teaching and leading. Well heres the harder part. When I got here it turns out they had just split this area, and Elder Zacarias had to give up their 2 strongest progressing areas to new missionaries. So we were left with an area that hadn't been worked in like at all. Sooooo were pretty much shotgunning again. haha oh man its okay im used to it. So he gave away all the baptismal canindates, and recent converts. So we have not to much. But its all good, Heavenly Father knows there is an area that needs strengthening and he called us to do it. He wont let us down. Well also being a new zl is very busy haha. Just more paperwork, calls, and other things. We usually dont finsh till like 10 or 10:15, so right after its straight to bed. So its been very tiring, and very humbling. I have so much more to learn. Thats all I wanna do is just learn. Learn how to better teach the gospel, learn how to better be a servant and leader of  Bacoor Zone. So great things are hard and tiring sometimes and your always sore, but while your serving none of that matters, I love it! Also I want to give a shout out to the Millers! I got your package! Thank You! You guys are keeping me alive out here! I love you all!  

Elder MC

Letter From President Tye

Transfers again!

Hey family!!!!! Well this week was pretty normal!! Until today hit haha. Well this week we applied what President Tye said about the finding new people to teach. The new revelation from the lord is that we should set apart time from 4 to 6 in our day just to find people to teach! So we knew if it was from the lord then we should do it, and WOW we saw the blessings! We were able to find 14 new investigators this week, half already progressing! Its awesome, and its good for Elder Leaupepetele since he is going to be training. We set him up with a good teaching list! Well if he is training then of course I know im leaving! I'm a little bummed about that because we have scheduled 6 baptisms for the first and second week of September! So I was worried about where I was heading next. Well we woke up this morning played some basketball, came back and studied, right after studies I got a call from President Tye, I was called to be a Zone Leader in Bacoor! What??? haha im freaking out, but super excited! Baccor is like right next to the office. So thats my future for next transfer, I'm super nervous cause its early, but if thats what Heavenly Father wants, ill do my best! Man tranfers are always so bitter sweet. Ive had some hard but very spiritual experiences in Naic. Especially this week when we were able to teach a lady with a bone disease about the plan of salvation. Ive havent felt the spirit stronger then when we heard her pray. Great week! Man I love life.

 Love, Elder MC
                                         Family Home Evening With TheRosales Family

The little things

Hey family!! How the heck are ya?!?!

Well this week has been pretty normal. We have just been working hard! We have a family that we are working with that we just love! The Rosales family. They are the family that I told you that we found and taught just the kids because their mother is in Hong Kong. Well after our second visit we found out that their mother was just recently baptized a member of the church! And she wants her kids to do the same. Its awesome how missionary work in another country can affect us in our work. I am so grateful for those missionaries in Hong Kong doing great work. Well this family started out a little hard because they were only listening because their mother wants them to. But through our lessons they started to really feel why their mother was so happy. They felt the love of the members at church, and they are doing very good now. I hope I will be there to see them get baptized! But who knows, because 10 minutes ago my companion just got a call, and he's training!!!! So now we will be splitting this coming transfer! Im going to miss him, we have gone 18 strong weeks together, and havent fought once! We have had some hard times together in this area, but we have done well, and I am grateful to be his companion, to be his Samoan brother. 

Well We have had two baptisms this past two weeks, and 5 more in Sept. so we have felt pretty good. But theres always more to do. The missionaries got a message from President Tye saying that we need to do better with finding new investigators. And at first I was like we just got a baptism cmon, but the spirit humbled me, and said, theres always more work to do. That is so true!  We were working so hard with the people we already have that we lost our focus on the other lost sheep. Reminds me of the words of my favorite hymn, 221 Dear To The Heart Of The Shepherd. Green are the pastures inviting: Sweet are the waters and still. Lord, we will answer thee gladly, "Yes, blessed Master, we will! Make us thy true under-shepherds: Give us a love that is deep. Send us out into the desert, Seeking thy wandering sheep." There are so many people walking around I would be selfish not to tell them the good news. Well we are going to Tagaytay again today, this will be my 3rd time ha ha I'm still excited! Love you all!

Elder MC    

Man.... what a week!

HEY FAMILY!!

Soooo this week was pretty great!!! Loved it! But first I cant believe school is starting soon! That's crazy, I hope Sam does good at Summit, does that mean my brothers going to wear a uniform to school? whaaaat? hahah, and Max at Corner Canyon, I probably would of gone to Corner Canyon too haha. And Anna at Indian Hills! haha your all going to schools that I never went to haha! And Reg off at college of course, I'm praying for you all to have a great start. Looks like you guys had a good week, mine was pretty good too! haha

Well where to start, we just had a good week of work, and we had a baptism again on Saturday! It was sweet, we combined with our zone leaders for the service and baptized 7 in one day! 2 (john Marquez and Aaron Cruz) from us, and 5 from them. Yes I had the opportunity to dunk my man John France! He's a great kid, I love teaching future missionaries, I hope that's something I get to see 4 years from now, is them serving missions. That's my joy. My testimony strengthens so much every time I see someone take those imperfect steps to the Savior to become perfect in him. This area was rough at first, but we never lost faith and the fruits came. We also got another family hopefully to baptize in September, so now I don't wanna leave haha! Another great spiritual experience we had is that about three weeks ago we were having a rough day, we just couldn't get anyone to let us in, so we sat under this tree to rest in the hot sun. We were pretty beat up and the day wasn't half over haha. We started talking to this little boy who looked homeless but knew the missionaries, he asked if we could teach his lola (grandma) we had nothin to do and the spirit told us to go. We followed this kid in to this far back alley to this small home. The grandma immediately saw us and said "no no no, I cant go to church!"haha We talked to her, turns out she was baptized in 1973 and has been less active for 30 years! We taught her and she immediately felt the spirit. And she prayed for the first time in a while. She still couldn't promise us she would come to church, well.... for the last three weeks she has came to church! What great faith, the lord knew she just needed to be visited and to feel the spirit again. Also she has fiery orange hair! haha. Well the last thing that happened is I got to spend the day with President Tye! We finally got an appointment to get Elder Leaupepeteles head checked out. Pres.Tye drove us up to Alabang Cavite, or pretty much Manila to the hospital. Well it turned into a whole day and we ended up being able to eat lunch at the mission home! :) Good day and I had a good time with President Tye! It was a great week!

 Love, Elder M C
                                                                   All In White

Family Home Evening at a members house

Yeah we got matchun ties!

                                       

Im 19.....WHAT?

HEY FAM!!! First of all, I want to thank everybody for the emails, and on the way packages and presents! You guys are the best, im very blessed! Also for the video, I think I teared up a bit, haha I loved it! Well....... IM 19! its crazy! haha I thought id be 18 forever. Its also so crazy to think that my next birthday will be spent at home with all you! Where has the time gone????!! Having a birthday on the mission is kind of hard because your so far away from your family, but I dont think ive felt closer to my Heavenly Father before. I love being a missionary, and honestly the best present I had on my birthday was a good Sunday of fasting, and sacrament sounds wierd right, last year I would of been pretty mad if my birthday was Sunday but I loved it. We had 8 investigators at church yesterday, and 7 less actives. It was great. This week we have picked up a couple more baptismal dates too. We found a family who's father died, and mother is working in Hong Kong, the missionaries in Hong Kong baptized the mom. and now the mom wants us to baptize the family! Its awesome! We also have another baptsim this week!! Well another two, but ones only 8 years old! Bro. John France Marquez is being baptized. He is 16  and his father works on a cruise ship so he only comes home every 9 months. Even though this kid is 16, he has made some bad choices in his life. He got hooked to like gangster stuff, and started following the example of his idol, Wiz Khalifa haha. But it was amazing to see the repentance process with this young man. Who I know will be a missionary some day. So we are so excited for him! Overall its been a great week. I love being a missionary. Its crazy where the times gone, I guess you guys were right, looking back on my first area and now, things have changed, and I dont remember the bad times anymore.

Thank you so much for everything! What a great birthday!

 Love, Elder Myles Collins

               In Samoa its a tradition to trash your best friend with eggs and flour on his birthday?

                              The nail salon in our area put my name up, they are awesome!!!!!