MANILA BOUND..../Email from June 8th

HEY HEY HEY! Sorry I'm late again! We actually had our x rays for our going home batch up in Manila. I had to get 23 of us up to Manila and back! Its was a crazy day. Elder Christensen, Jenkins, Johnston, Jimeno, and Calaunan rode together in our van. While the others went with some area drivers. Well long story short I've driven that route like 5 times. But I got lost earlier!! Like reeeeeally lost! haha Just one wrong lane change, or turn or something and we ended up way far around the end of Manila into Quezon city! In like the Compton of Manila. It was crazy, it took us like 2 hours to ask our way around and eventually make it back on track! haha oh man.

Well this week was a great week. This past Tuesday Elder Baylon and I were able to go on exchanges in Las Pinas. It was a great day. They are going to have a lot of success in the future. It was really spiritual for me to go back and see some of these people that I taught and prepared, and now there baptized. So cool to see your hard work pay off now that they are active in the church. Especially the Lachica Family. Amazing with all these rough trials they are going through they are still active in the church. They are a great source of strength and Humility. 

We have been continuing to work with these families that we have been teaching. Because of MLC and other things we did have a whole lot of time to get out there. But every hour we got to work we focused with them. Both of these families have been taught many times and are attending church, we are really just working on their testimonies of the gospel. So no matter what they stay strong. But I know its gonna happen soon. We had a really good lesson with the Reforsado family this week, we were able to teach the fathers other two daughters who don't live with him. It was really cool to see how great of an example he was being to his children. Instead of joining in in drinking parties and stuff, hes a family man. Although his two older kids thought it was lame at first that he was listening to us, they ended up really being interested in the lesson, just because of him. That's when you know an investigator is progressing, when you can see the gospel change them. They are some of Gods Elect I know it. 

Well it was a pretty crazy day. Getting all 23 of us to Manila and back. Plus getting lost over there. haha I really don't know what happened just not paying attention, or just one wrong lane and it threw our whole route off. haha But I learned a good gospel lesson from it. Just one wrong turn, or one wrong lane, or not paying attention enough in life can throw our whole life on a different path, a path that we don't want to go down. Just like in 3 nephi, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him." It wasn't till I found myself in prayer that we started to get on the right path. We always need to be watching our paths, to make sure were on the right one. :)

We also have two Zone conferences this week! I have to do training in both of them! Which means giving a talk to our whole mission. It will be my last one! I'm pretty nervous, I am no public speaker! But well see how it goes, I've got some ideas! Then transfers are next week. Man time is flying. 1 transfer left! WHAAAA? LOVE YOU, --E. Collins

 

Bato bato sa langit/ Email from June 1st

Hey family! Whats up? man the time just keeps going, Elder Rindlisbacher is down to his second to last week! haha and I'm almost to my last transfer. Its still hasn't quite hit me yet how close it really is. 

Its been a great week with a super busy weekend. We did exchanges this week on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we went to one side of the misson in Cavite city to do exchanges. Then that Saturday night drove all the way to the other edge of our misson in San pedro laguna to do another set of exchanges haha it was pretty tiring. But I had an awesome week ( like every week)
This past Saturday we had exchanges with the Cavite zone leaders. Elder Roberts came with me in the Molino area. It was a great exchange. We had been working with this family with a lot of potential, but they just arent quite there yet. So we wanted to teach them about what we need to do to strengthen our desire. Elders Roberts also gave an insight about the difference in believing and knowing truth. He told them that belief does not determine truth in life. I could say that I believe I can eat a rock and I will be strong from it. But thats not truth. We told them that truth comes only from God, and God manifests truth through the power of his spirit, for those who diligently seek it. It was a really good lesson, and we have seen their understanding grow.
We had a pretty cool finding experience a few days ago. We had decided to go finding in a subdivison that we hadnt tried in a while. As we were walking around the end of the subdivision there was a house next to this big river, with lots of land. As we walked past we waved to these two men sitting outside, they were nice and waved back with a smile. Elder Rindlibacher and I just kept walking, as we thought about it for a couple seconds we looked at each other and were like, " what are we doing?" haha we both turned around and went back to talk to them. They were very nice people. And meeting those two men helped us to meet 4 other people who all have come in contact with the church in the past. It was a really great experience. You really just cant pass any opportunity up, theres a lot of rejection but you got to try everybody.
This past Wednesday we also had a cooler experience with this investigator we had like 2 months ago. We taught her once but never went back until one day we were planning and saw her name. We decided to visit her one more time. Here name is Golden, we went over last week and she let us in again and was super nice, she accepted the invitation to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Well like most filipinos usually accept the invitation, but only few do we didnt thank to much of it. But we prayed for her to recieve an answer if she asks. Well we went back this last week and she did! the first thing she told us was that she recieved and answer and was ready to be baptized. Elder R and I were super surprised. But we are excited for her.
We also have been working still with the family I talked about last week the Reforsado family. They are a great family, and we have had some very spiritual lessons w/them. The best part is the father has the biggest desire out of all of them! Well they commited coming to church. And I remember on Saturday night in the San Pedro apartment I knelt down to pray and I prayed for them with all my heart. They have so much potential of an eternal family, and I knew getting them to church would be a big step in their conversion. Well they came, Elder R said they had a great time and are wanting to come back every week. Their kids also had a really great time too, and made many friends, that night Elder R had a great lesson with them. I'm very excited for them.
Our RC brother Raymond had gone though some rough trials these past few weeks and last week he missed church for the first time since he had been taught. Well things have also turned around for him, he found a job, and he came to church yesterday, looking a lot happier than he had been. I hope the ward can really help him out to feel loved.
Anyways im rambling on, but it was a great week, I love being a missionary, and time is going way to fast! Love you!

Elder MC

Late na naman!

Hey Family! sorry I'm late, things are just a little busy lately. Well another good week went bye. They just keep getting faster and faster. haha Thanks mom for the reminder! Well we more exchanges this week, and my last Interview with president Tye before I go home! Its just crazy to think about! 

I did exchanges this week in Bacoor and Dasma. Two zones I used to serve in. In Dasma elder Kaur is in elder Bachers batch and I was able to go with him in Dasma. Elder Kaur and I had a cool experiences in Dasma while finding. Just that transfer the Elders recieved a new part of an area that no one had really proselyted in. Well we decided to do our finding there. We were walking through a bunch of different alley ways really having no idea where we were or where we were going, but we just both felt the spirit guide us. And as we made this turn this lady saw us, and said "hey mormons", so we went up to here and asked if she knew mormons, she replied " I am one" haha She asked where the church was and we told she said she would come, she had always wanted to come to church but thought the closest church was the stake center on Summerwind. And she didn't have enough money to get there. But she was happy to find out there was one just one ride away. Really cool experience, the spirit really did guide.

We have still been working with two families for the past 2 weeks. They are both doing really well, Yesterday was the 4th time the parents came to church, but their son, we just haven't quite got him to come yet. They are doing really well and every time we teach them its always such a great lesson. The other family is also doing well. They are the family we found just two weeks ago. We expected them to come to church this past week but were sad to not see them there. But last night we had a very spiritual lesson with them. And really saw progression. We shared our testimonies of the gospel. And how important it is to Read pray and attend church as a family to avoid all the temptations and destruction of satan. Usually the kids are very shy and wont read out loud in the Book of Mormon when we ask, but this time they read! Usually the mother is to shy to pray in front of us because no matter how many times we taught we taught it she still "didn't know how". But this time she prayed, and she cried as she prayed, and her crying caused her husband to cry. That's when the spirit really set in. I never believed that she didn't know how to pray. That prayer had been in her heart for a long time. They commited to coming to church next week. And were excited for them. 
As the mission continues to go on, you always have those time where thing get really challenging, and times get tough, or you get discouraged. These past couple weeks I've felt that a little bit. But I have always enjoyed reflecting on the words of hymns. This week while doing studies with the Golden city elders, we sang "Be Still My Soul" and I never really noticed the word till that moment "Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end."
It gave me a lot of comfort. Successful missionaries are faithful missionaries. Faithful missionaries until the end. 

 Love, Elder Collins 

Late again! :) email from May 18th

Hey! Sorry again that I'm super late for emailing. We had an emergency transfer and we had to help the missionary get to his new area and what not, it was a long process, then we had a few other things we had to do to! haha its been a long one! But its been a great week! Not to much has changed. We have started our exchanges this week we got two done and 8 more to go! haha I was able to do exchanges this week with Elder Dennison one of my homies on the mission, he's a couple transfers behind me. He been with me like my whole mission. Love the guy.  We also have a Zone Conference in June and we started planning for it. I have to speak and give training to the whole mission!! haha I've been thinking a lot about the importance of the preach my gospel, Elder Rindlisbacher and I have strong testimonies of the Preach My Gospel now, changing it to the center of our studies has increased our spiritual learning capacity, and helped us to stay focused. Along with the Book Of Mormon it can increase our faith and testimony like no other study material can I really believe it could change an okay missionary into a great missionary. Just like the gospel changes an okay man, into a great man, a man of god. Maybe that's something ill talk about.

     We have been working with a few families these past few weeks, one in particular is the Cuevas family, they are keeping all their commitments except coming to church, but these past two weeks we have fasted for them to come, and they came both times, we fasted yesterday also but only the mother came to church. We were pretty bummed because that would mean we would have to move their date back. But we know within time it will happen. 
So that Sunday after church we were a little bummed that they didn't come, but we had an appointment with another family that night. It was the family that I talked about last week that we had oymed. The Reforsado Family, Anyways we went to the appointment, and we were happy to see the father outside waiting for us. He invited us in and we had an amazing lesson and the spirit was so strong in that humble home. We shared the message of the restoration, and watched the video, it was awesome to see the parents, and the 4 kids watching and listening closely. They believed the message and commited to praying about it. Also said that they would come to church this coming Sunday. Its hard to explain the feeling that we had but it was a great experience, we knelt down to pray with them and all I could see was the Lechica Family from Las Pinas. Its great when the father is most interested, that influences the whole family. We are excited to see their progress in this gospel and how it changes their family. There truly is no better feeling than teaching a family. All from one simple OYM (Open Your Mouth) to a man smoking a cigarette on the side of the road. Who would of known that man had a great family ready to here the gospel. God loves everybody, we all have worth in his eyes, and although we didn't see it first Our father in Heaven knew it all along:)

 Love, Elder Collins

                                          Best Mission President and Mission Mom in the world!!! 

Black OUT

HEY!! Its already transfer week again, I swear these last two a flown by like a fighter jet, so fast. I only have two left, and Elder Bacher (who is still my companion, Itll be our 3rd transfer together) has 1 left! haha it will be the first time I kill a missionary. :) 

So man its been an interesting week. So I guess ill start out with the funny part of the week! 

Well you know how I'm ALWAYS the one to get hurt. Well still true on the mission, we were playing basketball this last Friday morning, and one of the other elders elbowed me right on the eye, well there was a decently big gash bout an inch long, hahah so that afternoon I went to the hospital to get it glued up. Now I look like I was the one who fought Manny Paquiao this last week! haha. But its all good I'm still able to work and everything, he said by next week I could take the glue off and its should be okay. haha yeah I know what your all gonna say! It's always me :) But its been a good week. 

Other than that we had a few training meetings that we did, and last night was our fireside for the going home missonaries this transfer, is gonna be a pretty crazy week! But we get to sleep at the hotel up in Manila on Tuesday night which will be sweet! 

We had a kinda cool experience this week last Monday night when we went to work. Well we had been teaching a man who was super ready for baptism Brother Silverito, we just had to finish his lessons. Well we visited him a few times and he wasn't home, then on Monday night we went again and found out that he had moved to Las Pinas. So we were pretty bummed about that, but once we find his address there well be sure to send missionaries his way. Even though its sad he's gone, I got no doubt that he will be baptized over there. Well the cool part was when we were heading to our next appointment a bit depressed Elder Rindlisbacher had the impression to drop by an old investigator that we really hadnt been teaching any more. Well as we pulled up and got out of the van, right as we turned around there was this couple, and an old lady standing outside that waved to us. And of course first reaction is OYM. So we did, and the old lady had met missionaries before, when her father was still alive she said the missionaries would come over and give him blessings. And the other couple had never met Mormons before, but were interested in hearing our message. We plan to teach them this week. Really cool how the Lord is always watching out for us, we just gotta listen.
Throughout my mission I have also grown in my testimony of fasting, we are one of the companionship's who fasts each Sunday. And I've come to see how powerful it is. We have been working with a family that we found last March, who has such great potential, they had came to church the first time we taught them. But from then on they kept getting distracted with other things, and although they are reading everthing and really progressing, we hadnt been able to get them to church. Well this week we felt they finally understood when we taught them lesson 3 on the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also fasted this Sunday for them to be able to come, even though there was the Manny Paquio fight. Well when church started, we didn't see them, but I still had a good feeling. Well all of sacrament meeting went bye and nothing. When the meeting was over, we turned around and saw them all the way in the back! I was so happy to see them, apparently they were there the whole time but we didn't see them, but they sat by a member that we didn't even know they knew. I hope they continue to come, they seem to finally get the big picture of things. Fasting truly is powerful if we do it the right way, its blessed my life big time.
I'm excited for transfer day this week, gonna be a busy one with MLC too, but it should be fun! 

 Love, Elder Collins

                                                    The Petersen's bought us pizza today!

Manila na naman!/ Email from April 27

Hey sorry its been a pretty busy day! That's why I'm so late, today we took some elders and sisters to Manila for x rays and other going homes stuff. Transfers is already next week! WHAAAT??? Man they keep getting faster and faster. I only have two transfer left! Anyways we woke up at like 4 am this morning and didn't finish till like 1;30pm. So I'm pretty beat. haha both me and elder Bacher are getting kind of tired haha. We are wiped out like everyday. But you just gotta follow what the lord wants. 

Anyways its been a great week. More meetings than work, we taught at a specialized training this week. And also a follow up training meeting for new missionaries. We also had our transfers meeting with President, and will have another one tomorrow. Its pretty cool sometimes to be behind the scenes of transfers. Be able to help out and stuff.

Also this past Tuesday elder Christensen and I went on exchanges! It was super sweet! He's out in the really jungle part of Cavite. Its like paradise out there! But he came and worked with me here and it was awesome, good to be back with him. Also we found out we are both scheduled to go to Newport Beach at the same time! 

 This past Sunday we were able to see our recent convert Raymond bless the sacrament for the first time. It was so cool to see the excitement on his face. A couple weeks ago he copied down the sacrament prayer and practiced it everyday so he could do it right. He has such great potential to be a leader in this church. He still lacks knowledge, but has a lot of faith. I know once he gains more knowledge, he will be a great teacher, and disciple of Christ. 

Our work has been doing okay this week, due to the meetings and things we had this week we lost some time to work. But the time we had it was good. We have still been teaching a few families that have been doing well. We had a great experience while on exchanges while watching the restoration video with a family. After the video the mother was very touched by his experience. She teared up talking about it. It's great that we have those kind of tools to not just explain it, but to show it so people can see, what a blessing. We have been also been working with Brother Silverito, our potential Melchizedek priesthood holder. He's still doing great, we are just working on really getting him to understand the lessons. But he should be baptized this May! 

Love you family! sorry not much today,I'm pretty beat! 

 Love~elder MC

Tatlong Buwan na Lang.....Whaaaat?/ Email from April 19

Hey Family!! Man what a great week. 

This week we had exchanges, I forgot to tell you that Elder Leuapepetele, my old soa. He was called to be a Zone Leader this last transfer, he shotgunned in Rosario area. Well I got to go on exchanges with him this last Thursday! It was so much fun. Man do I miss that guy. He has really became a great missionary, im proud of him. 

I also went back to Imus this Sunday on exchanges with Elder Calaunan, haha it was weird to be back, I saw my recent converts and stuff, and the Soriano family! That awesome family that always fed me and Elder Christensen. (the on that sent that video to Christensen's mom of us on Christmas) haha. It was a good day. 

We have also had a great week of work this week. We found a lot of great people. We have been teaching a potential Melchizedek priesthood holder who is super ready for baptism,Brother Silverito, we are just trying to help him understand all of the lessons before he gets baptized. Well his baptism was suppose to happen this Saturday, but last week he went back to his province because of a death in the family and wasnt able to make it back in time for his interview, so we decided to wait till next week to make sure. But hes a great man, he even found the church in his province and went to General Conference over there. We were really happy to hear that. 
We had a cool experience this past week with finding a prepared soul. We had tried to contact and teach a referral given to us by a member. She lives with the member in their home. Well we went one night to teach them and they werent their, which was odd because they told us too come. Well we didnt want our time to be a sayang (wasted), so we looked for people to OYM. We saw this man with his back faced to us a little ways away down an alley. We both felt the impression that even though his back was turned to go and talk to him. Well of course we did, and he was a very kind man. He told us that he felt most religions right now say they are right but lack things, and that there should only be one church of god, and he was still searching, even though he was a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo church. Well we shared a little bit with him and he told us to come back another time. Well yesterday Elder Rindlisbacher and Elder santillan went back while on exchanges to teach the referral. Come to find out that the referral of the member was dating the man that we talked to who lived down the street. They taught them both and it was a great lesson, they both excepted a date for baptism, and requested a copy of the book of mormon. So we are excited to continue to teach them. 
I recently restarted reading the book of mormon again, and Elder Rindlisbacher and I talked about this in studies, that its great to read the bible, and the D&C and all, But there is just something different when you read the Book of Mormon. A stronger spirit,a greater understanding, I learn so much more everytime. This past week I read in 1 Nephi 16. And I love the story of Nephi breaking his bow. Nephis example has really helped me out these past weeks. His faith and diligence is something we all need to develop in our lives. Through so much trial, opposition and tribulation his attidude and faith in Gods power is amazing. Everybody in his family was complaining and murmuring to God, even his own father! But he stayed faithful, says here.. 20 "And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord."
22 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God."
23 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?"
24 "And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul."
Nephi, instead of sitting around complaning and murmuring because of his bow. He was diligent, and industrious. He mad another bow and got food for his family. Later in the chapter it explains that the liahona only works according to faith and diligence. They are lucky that they had Nephi there. Us as missionaries need to be like Nephi and not his bretheren, when ever problems or disobedience arises, we need to be diligent and faithful, fix the problems, exhort our brethern to humble themselves, and move forward. What a great strory.
I love the Book of Mormon, and the scriptures. I grateful for the opportunity to read them each day.

We also have specialized training this Thursday, well be training all zone leaders and district leaders. 

 Love, Elder Collins