Letter #68 (21st Nov, 2012)

Hey all,
So transfer week this week, and transfer calls! Guess what... NO TRNASFER KAMING DUHA!
I am so excited to have another transfer with Elder Manansala! We have so much that we want to accomplish together this transfer, we have already made plans! hehehe! We have the marriage of Brother J and Sister M to help them work out and then get Brother J baptized and ordained to the priesthood. Then we have another 6 or so investigators we are working with to be baptized on the 8th of Dec or the next few weeks after as well. We want to continue to set the example for the zone in obedience and diligence and will be working more closely on our teaching skills as a companionship this transfer as well.

We had a great success this week with Sister E who got married to her husband last Thursday and then was able to get baptized on Saturday. We have seen an amazing change taken place in her life and she just seems more happy and outgoing now than before. You can really see the light of the gospel in her countenance. She is excited to continue to learn especially about the temple as she prepares with her husband to enter the temple and be sealed together. We will be visiting with her tonight to teach about the temple and preparation and goal setting to be prepared for that.

We have also had continued success in our FTE's and found it is hard to get the standards because we keep ending up teaching lessons when we FTE! (not that that's a bad thing or anything...) We lost a few investigators this week from our teaching pool, for various reasons, but the Lord provided us with more (as he does), who have a greater interest in the things we are teaching and how this can help them in their lives. The Lord works in mysterious ways, that are just mysterious enough that you can say to yourself, "This was no coincidence". That is what we have felt this week as we have met new people and begun teaching them and their families.

I have had some great personal learning experiences again this week, especially as I try to get back into the habit of writing in my personal journal every day. I have begun to notice more things that have changed in me for the better and things that are still being weaknesses that I need to work on. It has helped me to re-evaluate again... which is always good for reminding yourself what more needs to be done.

I have been studying the Bible more this past transfer and trying to become more well-versed in the Bible so that when I teach I can use the Book of Mormon and Bible to support each other. I have found it has really begun to give me a deeper understanding of the basic principles of the gospel and better grasp on using the scriptures. I have never loved reading the scriptures as i do now... often i find myself wishing there was 2hrs of personal study each day so i can keep reading more and more and become more knowledgeable.

The Croppers are doing well and are a great help to the zone in everything they do. We are so thankful that they are in the zone and are always there to help. And the branch is doing really well at the moment... its not perfect (of course, well... at least not yet...hehehe), but the members are a great help and always willing to help as well.

We didn't feel the earthquake... I think we were probably riding a jeepney at the time... so we didnt know it had happened till we turned up at the Croppers house and they were like "did you feel the earthquake?" and we just looked at each other like "what earthquake?"... hahaha

Love you all so much,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox