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| May 13, 2013 |
Saturday, May 18, 2013
May 13, 2013 - The End
So... It's my last p-day.
That's weird.
I think I've said that's weird in like all my recent emails.. haha
So I don't really know what to say cuz I don't have a ton of time nor do I feel like emailing cuz I'm so close to going home.. haha
So yesterday was Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to everyone, but especially mothers! haha But so I was thinking yesterday during church about what I would send home today, and I decided to share what I love most about serving a mision. So in church yesterday the primary had a pretty cool presentation. They sang a couple songs and had a slide show put together with pictures and videos of all the primary children wishing their mom's happy mother's day. I LOVED watching the mom's beam whenever their kids came up and just something make someone so happy makes my day. So what I've loved most about my mission is seeing people find TRUE happiness in the gospel! Everything in their lives change! It's so cool and just makes me sooo happy to see that change and to be around people that have found peace "not as the world gives" but as the Savior does. Seeing people glowing with happiness and the spirit of Christ is definitely worth my two years here and if you have the opportunity to serve a mission I pray that you will not take that lightly and just do it. You won't regret it. It's so great! Thanks everyone for your support! I'll see most of you pretty soon!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
That's weird.
I think I've said that's weird in like all my recent emails.. haha
So I don't really know what to say cuz I don't have a ton of time nor do I feel like emailing cuz I'm so close to going home.. haha
So yesterday was Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to everyone, but especially mothers! haha But so I was thinking yesterday during church about what I would send home today, and I decided to share what I love most about serving a mision. So in church yesterday the primary had a pretty cool presentation. They sang a couple songs and had a slide show put together with pictures and videos of all the primary children wishing their mom's happy mother's day. I LOVED watching the mom's beam whenever their kids came up and just something make someone so happy makes my day. So what I've loved most about my mission is seeing people find TRUE happiness in the gospel! Everything in their lives change! It's so cool and just makes me sooo happy to see that change and to be around people that have found peace "not as the world gives" but as the Savior does. Seeing people glowing with happiness and the spirit of Christ is definitely worth my two years here and if you have the opportunity to serve a mission I pray that you will not take that lightly and just do it. You won't regret it. It's so great! Thanks everyone for your support! I'll see most of you pretty soon!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
May 6, 2013 E-Mail!
Okay so umm.. I only have one of these left after this.. not cool.
Well I guess it's okay cuz then I'll be in more instant communication with all you guys so that'll be cool too I guess.
It seems like you don't have much to say about your companion, how's it going? Are you finishing strong? Has the mission had any 18 yr. olds come yet? Is it hard to train a greenie and be a DL? Is a greenie a little like dealing with Deacons as a Priest?
Haha it's going really good! Overall I'm pretty sad to leave cuz I think the ward is finally starting to get their stuff together. We feel the overall spirits of the ward picking up and it's been cool to see. This past week our church attendance jumped up from 126 to 176 and it wasn't even any special sunday. We had a total of 17 less-actives and investigators at church so it was super awesome! Of course I'm finishing strong! Two weeks ago we had interviews with President. And here's the story... So we walked in just as another zone in the mission was finishing and so I started chattin it up with my batch cuz i heart my batch. But he's like don't worry President will give you a talk about being trunky... haha So I was like okay whatever. So it came time for my interview and it went pretty good. I always enjoy getting to spend time with President. Over the course of the interview he didn't mention like anything at all about trunkyness... So I was like okay.. Then as we ended with a prayer he was like just remember.. sprint to the finish. Finish strong! And I was like of course president. You won't have to worry about me. And he replied, "I know. That's why I didn't spend too much time on it during the interview." So with that I was honored by that and even more motivated to finish strong. I've heard of far too many great missionaries here that don't finish strong, and then thats what their last companions remember them as and I'm like that's really too bad cuz they were actually a really good missionary. So yeah... that's not goin be me. But yes. My comp and the ward and everyone are teasing me about how soon I'm going home. Training and being a DL isn't too bad. I don't treat him as a greenie. I have him take the lead in essentially everything. He just can't quite teach as much as me yet. But he's way good. We get along super well as well so it's always a lovely day in the neighborhood.
In other news, it's stinkin hot here. hahaha
So I just wanna share one story from this week. It was awesome! So we're visiting with a recent convert who is also less-active. So we shared a lesson about our baptismal covenants and about how important it is to take the sacrament. At the end of the lesson she finally opened up to us about why she's really not coming to church. She said she was offended and hurt by things said to her. She feels that we're the only ones that care about her. She was crying as she told us. She loves the Savior, wants to do what's right, but just said that she's essentially lost the desire to go to church over what had happened. As she ended her story, she looked up at me and said, "Well that's it. That's why I don't want to go to church. I feel like I am closer to the Savior here on Sunday than at the church. Is that a sin?" As she looked at me waiting for my answer, my heart went out to her. I was grateful for having enough love to listen, and try and empathize with her. She only wants to do what's right. And as much as I wanted to tell her that everything is okay. The Savior loves you and understands that that's why you're not going to church. I was guided by the Holy Ghost and had to tell her of 4 truths that I know to be true. 1. I know it really hurts when others are mean or inconsiderate towards us, but I know we have a Savior and Heavenly Father who love us more than we can imagine. 2. I know the Savior experience unkindness everyday of His life. He suffered it and persevered, and will be able to help you overcome these emotional pains. 3. I know that weekly partaking of the sacrament is a commandment that we should observe and follow. and 4. I know that you will come to see the sacrament as the best medicine to heal our spiritual and emotional wounds. As I thought about the experience later, I remembered Elder Hollands quote in PMG, "If you listen with love, you need not wonder what to say."
So I don't have any crazy stories for you about chickens running around our apartment but umm I do go home in a couple weeks. That's a pretty crazy story, huh? haha
Hope you guys have a great weeks!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
234 -- My favorite political campaign here for no reason whatsoever. All the campaigns drive around blasting re-makes of popular songs to make you wanna vote for them. It's pretty crazy and different than America
235 -- That's like the Philippines original White House.. We walk by it at least twice a day.
236 -- Airplanes fly over us allllll the time. A constant reminder of what ultimately will come to pass
Well I guess it's okay cuz then I'll be in more instant communication with all you guys so that'll be cool too I guess.
It seems like you don't have much to say about your companion, how's it going? Are you finishing strong? Has the mission had any 18 yr. olds come yet? Is it hard to train a greenie and be a DL? Is a greenie a little like dealing with Deacons as a Priest?
Haha it's going really good! Overall I'm pretty sad to leave cuz I think the ward is finally starting to get their stuff together. We feel the overall spirits of the ward picking up and it's been cool to see. This past week our church attendance jumped up from 126 to 176 and it wasn't even any special sunday. We had a total of 17 less-actives and investigators at church so it was super awesome! Of course I'm finishing strong! Two weeks ago we had interviews with President. And here's the story... So we walked in just as another zone in the mission was finishing and so I started chattin it up with my batch cuz i heart my batch. But he's like don't worry President will give you a talk about being trunky... haha So I was like okay whatever. So it came time for my interview and it went pretty good. I always enjoy getting to spend time with President. Over the course of the interview he didn't mention like anything at all about trunkyness... So I was like okay.. Then as we ended with a prayer he was like just remember.. sprint to the finish. Finish strong! And I was like of course president. You won't have to worry about me. And he replied, "I know. That's why I didn't spend too much time on it during the interview." So with that I was honored by that and even more motivated to finish strong. I've heard of far too many great missionaries here that don't finish strong, and then thats what their last companions remember them as and I'm like that's really too bad cuz they were actually a really good missionary. So yeah... that's not goin be me. But yes. My comp and the ward and everyone are teasing me about how soon I'm going home. Training and being a DL isn't too bad. I don't treat him as a greenie. I have him take the lead in essentially everything. He just can't quite teach as much as me yet. But he's way good. We get along super well as well so it's always a lovely day in the neighborhood.
In other news, it's stinkin hot here. hahaha
So I just wanna share one story from this week. It was awesome! So we're visiting with a recent convert who is also less-active. So we shared a lesson about our baptismal covenants and about how important it is to take the sacrament. At the end of the lesson she finally opened up to us about why she's really not coming to church. She said she was offended and hurt by things said to her. She feels that we're the only ones that care about her. She was crying as she told us. She loves the Savior, wants to do what's right, but just said that she's essentially lost the desire to go to church over what had happened. As she ended her story, she looked up at me and said, "Well that's it. That's why I don't want to go to church. I feel like I am closer to the Savior here on Sunday than at the church. Is that a sin?" As she looked at me waiting for my answer, my heart went out to her. I was grateful for having enough love to listen, and try and empathize with her. She only wants to do what's right. And as much as I wanted to tell her that everything is okay. The Savior loves you and understands that that's why you're not going to church. I was guided by the Holy Ghost and had to tell her of 4 truths that I know to be true. 1. I know it really hurts when others are mean or inconsiderate towards us, but I know we have a Savior and Heavenly Father who love us more than we can imagine. 2. I know the Savior experience unkindness everyday of His life. He suffered it and persevered, and will be able to help you overcome these emotional pains. 3. I know that weekly partaking of the sacrament is a commandment that we should observe and follow. and 4. I know that you will come to see the sacrament as the best medicine to heal our spiritual and emotional wounds. As I thought about the experience later, I remembered Elder Hollands quote in PMG, "If you listen with love, you need not wonder what to say."
So I don't have any crazy stories for you about chickens running around our apartment but umm I do go home in a couple weeks. That's a pretty crazy story, huh? haha
Hope you guys have a great weeks!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
234 -- My favorite political campaign here for no reason whatsoever. All the campaigns drive around blasting re-makes of popular songs to make you wanna vote for them. It's pretty crazy and different than America
235 -- That's like the Philippines original White House.. We walk by it at least twice a day.
236 -- Airplanes fly over us allllll the time. A constant reminder of what ultimately will come to pass
April 27, 2013 E-Mail!
Well the countdown continues to countdown unfortunately.. haha
Yeah here in the Philippines you have to go to church four times in a row in order to be baptized. If we could just baptized people after one week we'd have like well over ten baptisms here in this area already.. haha But because of that very fact, they created a rule here that you have to go to church four times in a row before you can get baptized.
Hmm.. I don't really know what to talk about.. so I'll start by telling you about my pictures. So the first half of them is quite the story. So Monday night we were planning I believe.. no I think we were just cleaning up the house at this point and we heard like a noise of something falling outside the apartment. We went and looked what it was and this chicken comes running in the house! We're like uhh.. there's a chicken in the house..? Seriously? So then we got our camera's on video mode and chased the chicken around the house. haha It was pretty funny. The video is too big to send home unfortunately. We chased him outside but then he came running back in! We were like seriously?? So then we chased him some more until he found himself a nice cozy place he liked under the stairs. So of course we didn't dare touch him cuz Napoleon Dynamite warned us that chickens have large talons. So then for a while we kept cleaning. After a while I was like okay seriously we gotta get this chicken out of the house. So we tried feeding him. We couldn't figure out what exactly chickens eat.. so we gave him bread cuz everything eats bread. haha He actually ate some of it! Oh and we named him Clyde. So i lured him out of his spot with the bread and just by getting too close to him. So then I got him over towards the door but he just wouldn't go out! So we're at a pickle again... Finally being the manly man that I am. I start being nice to the chicken and he lets me touch him and pet him and stuff. So we're like friends now at this point. Then I pull the backstabber move and grab him and pick him up and place him outside. We even made him a little bed out of cardboard with bread.. but he still kept trying to wander in. So finally we stuck him outside and closed the door (we usually keep the door open to get air so we don't die of heat). He then slept the whole night on our huge cardboard box that we use as a trash can out in front of our house.
Another set of pictures was at our National Day of Service! It was pretty legit. We had to get up at like 4:30 to do it though and then when we got back we were full of appointments so we didn't get to rest at all. But we helped build houses at this relocation place for squatters. It's supposed to be really cheap houses for people that currently make their houses out of scraps of wood and aluminum roofing and cardboard. So that was a lot of fun! We made cement by hand and that's cool! But kinda hard! But then I had to give a talk the next day in sacrament meeting and I was able to compare what we did at service to missionary work and it went pretty well! I'm still not a fan though of talking in front of people.. but whatev.
In other news, I had two baptismal interviews! It was pretty funny and like different than any other interview I've had. They we two young girls, like primary age. The first one was super shy, and ended up being afraid of water.. haha I said, "so do you feel like you're ready for baptism?" "No." "Huh? Why?? Do you want to be baptized?" "No." I was like huh?? what do I do here?? So it turns out she was just afraid of water.. hahaha So I helped explain that to her and she passed the interview. The second one started crying before I even shook her hand! Apparently, she has like a fear of white people, and especially ones with blue eyes... which my companion has.. haha So finally she got the courage to do the interview and it went super well! So then the next day, I get a text from the sisters in their area and they're like what'd you do to the kids?? They love you! They keep asking about you and want you to baptize them.. haha So I consider that a successful turn around. haha
So that's kinda all I can think of ... i'm running out of time cuz I was looking for material for my district meeting tomorrow. So I hope you have have a great week though! Keep being awesome!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Yeah here in the Philippines you have to go to church four times in a row in order to be baptized. If we could just baptized people after one week we'd have like well over ten baptisms here in this area already.. haha But because of that very fact, they created a rule here that you have to go to church four times in a row before you can get baptized.
Hmm.. I don't really know what to talk about.. so I'll start by telling you about my pictures. So the first half of them is quite the story. So Monday night we were planning I believe.. no I think we were just cleaning up the house at this point and we heard like a noise of something falling outside the apartment. We went and looked what it was and this chicken comes running in the house! We're like uhh.. there's a chicken in the house..? Seriously? So then we got our camera's on video mode and chased the chicken around the house. haha It was pretty funny. The video is too big to send home unfortunately. We chased him outside but then he came running back in! We were like seriously?? So then we chased him some more until he found himself a nice cozy place he liked under the stairs. So of course we didn't dare touch him cuz Napoleon Dynamite warned us that chickens have large talons. So then for a while we kept cleaning. After a while I was like okay seriously we gotta get this chicken out of the house. So we tried feeding him. We couldn't figure out what exactly chickens eat.. so we gave him bread cuz everything eats bread. haha He actually ate some of it! Oh and we named him Clyde. So i lured him out of his spot with the bread and just by getting too close to him. So then I got him over towards the door but he just wouldn't go out! So we're at a pickle again... Finally being the manly man that I am. I start being nice to the chicken and he lets me touch him and pet him and stuff. So we're like friends now at this point. Then I pull the backstabber move and grab him and pick him up and place him outside. We even made him a little bed out of cardboard with bread.. but he still kept trying to wander in. So finally we stuck him outside and closed the door (we usually keep the door open to get air so we don't die of heat). He then slept the whole night on our huge cardboard box that we use as a trash can out in front of our house.
Another set of pictures was at our National Day of Service! It was pretty legit. We had to get up at like 4:30 to do it though and then when we got back we were full of appointments so we didn't get to rest at all. But we helped build houses at this relocation place for squatters. It's supposed to be really cheap houses for people that currently make their houses out of scraps of wood and aluminum roofing and cardboard. So that was a lot of fun! We made cement by hand and that's cool! But kinda hard! But then I had to give a talk the next day in sacrament meeting and I was able to compare what we did at service to missionary work and it went pretty well! I'm still not a fan though of talking in front of people.. but whatev.
In other news, I had two baptismal interviews! It was pretty funny and like different than any other interview I've had. They we two young girls, like primary age. The first one was super shy, and ended up being afraid of water.. haha I said, "so do you feel like you're ready for baptism?" "No." "Huh? Why?? Do you want to be baptized?" "No." I was like huh?? what do I do here?? So it turns out she was just afraid of water.. hahaha So I helped explain that to her and she passed the interview. The second one started crying before I even shook her hand! Apparently, she has like a fear of white people, and especially ones with blue eyes... which my companion has.. haha So finally she got the courage to do the interview and it went super well! So then the next day, I get a text from the sisters in their area and they're like what'd you do to the kids?? They love you! They keep asking about you and want you to baptize them.. haha So I consider that a successful turn around. haha
So that's kinda all I can think of ... i'm running out of time cuz I was looking for material for my district meeting tomorrow. So I hope you have have a great week though! Keep being awesome!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
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