Letter #63 (17th Oct, 2012)

Hey all,
Amlan is great... imagine Finley (Terri here:Finley is a place where friends of ours live, that we visit each Easter, Actually my friend and I were mission companions over 20 years ago!!)... make it 3 or 4 times smaller and a tropical paradise... and that's Amlan! My companion is sooo buotan and
the Croppers live just down the road from us and they have a washing machine!!! (We are using it right now... hehehe) The apartment is a resort house similar to Zambo, nice and clean and beautiful... the only problem is the mosquitoes but i found the permetherin.

Conference was great and there was one thing that President Thomas S. Monsen said in the priesthood session that was sort of suprising... he said "the harvest is over, the summer is past." I forgot what context he used it in so i am very excited for the ensign to see what he really meant by that phrase.

Wed we had an amazing FHE with the R Family and Brother was so amazed that we helped in everything to make it a success for his family. We helped to cook dinner and organize the FHE and so on. He was so touched that he spoke with his family about coming back to church. I very much hope he does. Thurs was all about packing and then teaching a few lessons in the afternoon before heading to Lilo-an ZL balay in the evening in preparation for Fri which was travel to Dumaguete by Ceres from Cebu South Terminal, but first we had to pick up Elder Galdonez at the temple complex. Travel satrted at 5am and finished at about 5pm that evening in Amlan. So on my first full day as ZL on Saturday... we gave blessings to sick members, attended conference and gave comfort and counsel to a greenie who wanted to go home with the help of Elder Cropper. We didnt get home until 10pm that night... oh the fun of being a ZL Sun we worked with a member who is preparing for the mission, and I met this member who was on the mission with Reggie. He was Elder Sulmalpong.

Mon we had the first district meeting of the transfer. The zone here is only one district as well, with 5 companionships in 4 areas. 4 companions of elders and 1 of sisters. Then we had the most amazing lesson that evening led by the spirit with a semi-broken family. The father is struggling to overcome addictions while trying to support his family through any work he can find, while the mother looks after kids and continually (forgot this word) badlong-s her husband for the things he does wrong without seeing the good he is trying to do and the changes he is now trying to make to correct his wrong actions in the past against her. Very complicated situation and everyone was crying and the Spirit was so strong and the kids were praying for their parents, especially their dad that he can change and receive the gospel in his life... it was amazing!

Then just yesterday we had a great day being kugihan and got 6 lessons and i met this one family that probably has lots money  but they are so nice. The eldest daughter was converted in Australia while staying with her aunt in Darwin a while back now, and only just found out this past week that her mother is actually a member from a long time now and said she wants to come back to church this coming Sunday. The Spirit and the Lord work in very strange but amazing ways! So I am sure to have lots of weird and wonderful stories this transfer as we continue to teach the people here and work hard.
Miss you all,
Love you tons
Elder Taylor Addison Cox