What a great week!

Hey Family! Well this week was awesome... that's the only word I got for it! haha awesome. Of course the highlight of the week being the Lachica families baptism!! Although starting it was a little rough,because of problems with the font and what not. it ended very great for them. They told us it was a day they will never forget. One of the most spiritual experiences I've had on my mission was teaching this family. Elder Burbidge and I were talking about how we wish you guys could hear and understand the testimonies that they gave. Because they were very powerful. Really touched my heart. They have been through a lot these past months, but the one thing they did not give up on was their family, and this church. It was a great opportunity to have interviews again with President and Sister Tye. I really learned a lot and made me ponder about what truly has been my focus for this part of my mission. But I know that baptizing families is truly how we build the kingdom of god. Bro. Lachica referred his brother to us to teach and wife and children. And we already have talked to the bishop about finding him a great calling to serve in the church. They are going to be an eternal family. No doubt. We have also had another family that we are working with too. We have them projected for February. The work is going well here. And just like dad said the last six months of your mission is the best. You can just work work and work. No worries. And your just always happy,and you don't know why, I cant remember the last time I was down. The lord truly lifts you up on eagles wings when you do his work:) Great week


                                                          All dressed in white!

                 My Companion is from Seattle so I jumped on the bandwagon with him :) 

Lachica chica!

Hey family! This week has been amazing! Like always! First and formost the Lachica family passed their interviews!! 5 if them will be baptized this Saturday! President Tye came over and interviewed them and he said that he was a great man. I can't tell you how excited we are! They are a great example of endurance and faith. The Lord really allowed some big trials in their life, literally not having enough money to feed their big family, but he knew they could do it! Their humility and amazing attitudes really helped them through their rough times. Brother spends some of his free time showing us people around his neighborhood that we could teach. I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a part of bringing the spirit into their lives. Could you imagine how their life would be without the peace the gospel gives. And the opportunity to see them pray, learn, an be baptized as a family is something I will never forget. I'm just counting the days till Saturday! 
I also got to go on exchanges with elder Zacharias one last time before he goes home this February. I'm gonna miss him! I learned so much from being with him, he is a great missionary! We also have interviews this week with president and sister Tye. That should be fun too. Well I love you all. Keep ya head up, life ain't so hard :) 
Elder MC 

LP3 Life

Hey Fam!!!!!!!! 

Well this week was great! Man I love Los Pinas! Although our area is like south LA, its rich in blessings, the ward is great, the bishop gets things done, and me and my comp are homies. This week has been really good with work. We hope to baptize two families this month, one family of 5, and another of 4! Im really excited, and I have learned so much here. The LP zone is one of the smaller zones here, its only 3 wards, with 18 missionaries. But some of these missionaries need to be watched haha. My kabahays are 2 Philipinos, Elder Santillian and Elder Huidem, one is training, and the other is brand new. They are both cool guys. 

Well our best experience this week was the story of the Lachica Family, one of the families we are baptizing, I have such a stronger testimony of the gospel blessing families.We finished teaching the parents and now we are teaching the children. Teaching their children have never brought them closer together as a family. Brother has been teaching his children every night how to pray, and read and little principles of the gospel. This family is an amazing example of faith. Brother lost his job awhile back and literally has nothing to provide for his family. But he continued to press forward going to church and preparing himself and family for baptism. This last week they had gotten to the point where they couldn't even buy rice to eat. Literally had nothing. But he remained a happy and peaceful man. The next morning with no money to get to church, this family of 9 got ready anyway, and as they were walking out he saw an old friend who drove a jeepney. Who willingly gave them a ride to church. After they got to church the ward heard of his problem and bishop was able to help him out, and some ward members are going to help him find a job. On the way home a member with a caravan took them home and offered to pick them up every Sunday for church till he got back on his feet. The joy and change that this family has had is amazing. The blessings finally came after times of trials, for them very hard trials. Things that I probably couldnt handle. Last night Brother Lachica took us to a referral he had for us. Dressed up with a book of mormon in his hand he testified to his friend the truthfulness of the gospel. The referral was a family of 5. My testimony has grown so much teaching this family. This man used to smoke, drink, and party. The atonement of Jesus Christ is real, and is there for anyone who is willing to come unto him, they can be perfected in him. I know this family will be perfected in him some day. Its really a case about attitude, the attitude he held is what kept him so strong. If there is always a positive outlook, you'll never find a negative right? Always be positive like this man. And you will find your heavenly treasures. 

 Love, Elder MC

Happy Birthday Sam!!!- Email from Jan. 4th

Hey Family! Well now I'm chilin in Los Pinas with Elder Burbidge. Man I love Elder Burbidge, hes a stud! Hes from Washington state, near Seattle. Hes a twin, and his brother is serving in San Pablo Philippines. We get along great, hes such a humble guy, and always looking to serve others. So im excited to be here with him. 

Well new years was pretty sweet. Just like last year, it sounded like you were in the middle of battle. haha People here will just make big old fire works out of a ton of gun powder haha, and it just makes big bombing sound. They are not so much flashy, but loud! haha If they don't have money for fire works they will just throw random crap around like an old TV or glass cups haha. Well the Los Pinas area is awesome. It kinda funny. The ward is super awesome and the people are super awesome. Its like L.A. Its pretty rich and pretty, but our area is literally like walking through Compton I would imagine. haha its pretty sweet. Im going to take pics this week and a video to show you. Our area is mostly squatters, or just really run down and poor. But everyone is accepting here I love it. The last missionary here was going home, and there were like two or three families that are totally potential for baptism. But he didnt capitalize on it. Soooo we are going to! haha But we are working on baptizing to families this month. One being the Lachica family. They are so great, Man if you could see the changes made in this fathers life it would touch your heart. He used to be into crime and drugs with family problems, they were homeless at one point, his whole life has been changed. And it makes you really sit and think about the wonderful merciful plan of our father in heaven. And to see this family of 9 kneel down and pray together, it really just gets ya.:) it shows that when a man follows god, he is happy. He couldn't really tell ya why he's happy, but he just is. 

I am having a great time here, and I will take a ton of pics for you next week. God lives, and so does his church.

Elder Collins

PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!! Love ya bud! Hope it was  great one. Saturday was such a great day for me and elder Burbidge, and I  didn't know why, until I looked at the calendar, and remembered it was your Bday!  

Ahhhh Man!

Hey Family! Well Merry Christmas! It was awesome to see you! Defiantly brought the Christmas spirit back for a bit. Well its transfers, and ill just tell ya straight up. I'm leavin, I'm going to Las Pinas 3rd ward! That's up in the city part of it all, closer to Manila and stuff! Im pretty excited! But then again, I'm pretty bummed to leave elder Christensen and Imus, I love Imus even though it was challenging! Man this is crazy! I totally thought I was staying! But Elder Burbidge is my companion! Another one of my batchmates, and im pretty excited about that! 

Well this week was good, We found another family this week which was taught by missionaries 8 years ago and they had a great relationship with them, something just happened that they didn't end up being baptized,but they are willing to hear the gospel again. We found them in a really cool way, we were only given a subdivision when they gave us an address, and it was a big place, but we went in just looking for people to ask to try to find their house. Well my companion got an impression to ask this kid on the side of the road, and it turned out to be his sister and parents that we were looking for! It was really cool. Its been a great week Happy New Year to everyone! I cant believe I'm leaving! Little weird to think about! Love, Elder MC

This is the present I got for you mom.This is Taytay Ed. and he made this with his bare hands.  Man I am going to miss him!

Christmas Skype

Merry Flippin Christmas! :) Dec. 22 email

Hey Family! Merry Christmas! Man this Christmas is so much different than last year. I dont even want to think that this is my last Filipino Christmas! I love it here, I cant believe the changes that ive had this past year. I never felt better in my life. Ive also never been more tired. My testimony of the savior has never been stronger. During this Christmas season I have really tried to reflect on its true meaning, because last Christmas I think I was just a little hung up on the fact that santa doesnt come to the Philippines. haha

 Well this week has been a good one! Our christmas party as a mission was super fun! And yes we successfully did the dance that you sent mom in a skit we put together as a zone! We also had exchanges with the APs again this week! I got to be companions with Elder Zacarias again! It was way fun to be with him again for the day! We have continued to work with a few part member families. The Vergada Family, and the Seno family. They both have less actives and investigators in the family, and we hope and pray we can get them to church, especially around this Christmas time. I love being in Imus, but im not gonna lie, the work is so different here. Seems like with some people there is no missionary spirit, like in the ward and stuff, but Elder Christensen and I have done all we can to change that. Its been challenging but were trying:) There are some great members though and they invited us to lunch and dinner on Christmas! So I might have to use that money on a different day for food! haha. 

I really liked one video that pretty popular on the lds.org. its called he is the gift. You have probably seen it, but if you havent watch it because its is so great. It really helps you realize the importance of Christmas, realizing that he truly is our only great gift. Our savior and redeemer. Our path to salvation. This mission has helped me to come closer than I ever have to him. I love Christmas, and im glad I love it for the right reason now. 

Merry Christmas.. Ya filthy animals. (What Movie?)

Elder Collins