Letter #48 (July 3rd, 2012)

Hey all, hows things doin there?
We are doing fairly well in Zamboanguita after being hit with a round
of illness just this last weekend. We are recovering well and
continuing with our work. This last week has been fun trying to work
with all the rain that has been occurring and we have been wet quite a
few time this week... which is probably why we ended up getting sick.
But dont worry mum! we are always using our trusty raincoats or
umbrellas... but when its bagio, is bagio jud... the rain comes
sideways!

We also had companion exchanges this last Thursday with our district
leader, and I learned so much from the experience. We had so much fun
and I also got to cook spagetti the propper white person way! with an
italian style sauce! Mmmmm... lami! I have started making more smaller
goals for a daily basis and using an evaluation sheet each night to
evaluate what things I need to improve from a day to day basis. I has
really started to help me to see areas where I need improvement. It has
also helped me to focus my study on areas that need improvement.

This week we have really focused on working with the branch members to
strengthen the branch as there is contention and other no very good
feelings entering into the hearts of some members. We are trying so
hard to keep the branch working and fulfilling responsibilities as we
combat the problems that are seeping in. We are finding it relatively
hard to bring the less-actives back to church when there are these
problems at the moment... we are really trying to
focus on including the members in the work and that seems to be
helping. We have seen a real change in the attitude of the members
about missionary work and they are coming out with us more often to
work. This coming Sunday we have a training meeting for the leaders
and all other members who wish to attend, about missionary work as
members and working in the branch council to help with this. We have
decided to use the PMG sections from chapter 13 to help the members
understand about our role as missionaries and about their role as
members in helping this work to progress forward.

As much as the work has become really hard just recently, I have to
say I am really enjoying it.I see that
even though the area is being quite a challenge at the moment, I am
still progressing as a missionary and there are members that are
coming back to church, and investigators progressing towards
baptism... even if it is ever so slowly.

One thing I have really come to realize is how everything we have
is from our loving Heavenly Father and that we can be more caring and
loving towards others if we remember that. One of our less-actives
said something that really stood out to me in her prayer. She started
out by saying "Thank thee for our blessings..." but caught herself in
the middle of saying "our" and stopped. Then she said, "Thank thee for
the blessings that thou hast given us...". I realized that we don't
always recognize the Lords hand in the lives he has given us as
often as we should. It was a wake up call for me the realize that
everything I have is not really mine... but from my Heavenly Father.
Nothing that I have is truly "mine", but a blessing that has been
given. Mosiah 2:25 "Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust
of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but
behold, it belongeth to him who created you."
Our Heavenly Father loves us so much, we do not truly understand how much...
Miss you all, and love you all so much!
Love, Elder Taylor Addison Cox