Hello Everyone,
This week was a really good one, and it was a lot of fun. On Monday after we got back from Sagay, most of our zone walked to Tamlang and we played basketball against the police that are stationed there. We won one game and they won the other but it was pretty rad. All I can say is that Filipino basketball is a lot different than american basketball. We had a home evening at a members house after that which was really fun. This week our teaching was pretty much focused on our investigators because we had ten people who were supposed to be baptized on saturday. Unfortunatley, the family that we are teaching isn't ready yet so we moved there date. Our lessons to the mute are really fun, she cannot read or write but she can understand the signs that her sister makes so we have her translate for us. She is scheduled to be baptized on April 6th. We also had one member family that wont come to church anymore because of us. Its not really our fault but the mother always works with us and gives us refferals, but one of the neighbors started gossiping about her and the missionaries. We have had problems with the dad before but nothing big. On tuesday, he told the family that if they ever went to church again, he would kill all of them. I know it sounds kind of funny but if you met this guy, you would know how delicate this situation is. We are avoiding the area for right now. It was also Elder Garcias last week in the mission so we spent a lot of time visiting people. He went home yesterday and I am in a tri-some with the zone leaders until the transfer announcement on Wednesday night. On Saturday morning we had a baptism and when we opened the church in the morning, it was flooded. So we spent an hour or so trying to mop the water out of the church. There was also no power the entire day so there were no fans in the church. It is summer now here,so there is no rain and it is very hot, very hot... We pressed on and the baptism was good. After that we had a ward family home evening and that was really good for the members and a lot of fun. Yesterday at church was a trial for me but I got through it just fine. I walked in to priesthood and there was no teacher so I had to teach it by myself, it went OK and then I tough I was in the clear but right as sacrament started I felt a nudge on my shoulder. It was Bishop, kindly letting me know that I was speaking. I had no preparation time so it wasn't the best but I felt that I needed to talk about missionary work and home teaching because the members and especially preisthood want to help so much but they don't have the confidence or faith to open their mouths. I talked about doctrine & covenants section 100 and then compared it to 2 nephi 32:3 about study and preparation and how if we are prepared and study and seek for the help from the Lord, our mouths would be filled. To be honest, I think that I needed the talk more than they did. I also want you to take note that I did all of this completely in a different language. Other than that highlight we pretty much just ate all week because everyone kept giving us food because Elder Garcia is going home. I probably tried about ten different kinds of fruits in the last to days that I have never heard of or seen in my life. They were all delicious, except for Dorian(it smells like crap). Thank you so much for getting all that
stuff ready to be sent so fast Mom, but before I forget, my patriarchal blessing and my priesthood line were in the bag too. I would be forever grateful is you could make small laminated ones and put them in the package. Dad, I am sorry but your Cowles mounatin story made me laugh and worry about you a little bit. You might be getting soft with out me there. Have you been working out with Jeff or something? Anyways, your story reminded me about something that happened a couple weeks ago.A drunk guy cameup to me and started asking me about why I was there and what the church was all about and stuff, as we talked for a little while, I found out that the guy had been following us. He said that he saw us walk be and it looked like we were glowing. He said that he felt like he needed to follow us and here what we had to say. Even though he was drunk, it was a really meaningful and testimony strengthening experience for me. The gospel really is the light in the darkness and we as members need to hold it up and share it. That is our responsibility and that is were we will become happy. Well,I will get my knew companion on Thursday and I cant wait to see what the Lord has in store for me. I know that this church is true and we all need the blessings of this gospel more than anything else. Plus the Lord is hastening his work which means we should probably start hastening ourselfs to prepare for what is to come. To quote my favorite bumper sticker, "Jesus is coming, look busy". I love you all so much and you are all in my prayers. I can feel all of your support and hope that you can feel my prayers and are feeling the blessings of this service. DUECES
Elder Pulsipher
