2-13-13

Hello!

Mom don't worry, I'm definitely not expecting perfection.  Actually it is quite the opposite.  The nature of my calling is to visit and try to convert members who have wandered off the path.  This means that almost every member of the church I associate with hasn't gone to church or read their scriptures in years.  The Lord's warning is very literal in 2 Nephi 28:30 when He promises to take away that which we already know if we are not diligent in obtaining more.  I have come to realize how literal this is as I have taught inactive Returned Missionaries who no longer can remember the Plan of Salvation, or the 3 kingdoms of glory; and as I have witnessed how virtually every single person we teach has no idea what Joseph Smith did or that God has a body of flesh and bones.  I am simply expecting that you know these things and go to church each week.  That will be an unimaginably large difference from what I am used to.  You are safe :)

This week is transfer week and I am getting a new companion!  My new companion is Elder Afu from Australia.  He is a professional rugby player that left his millions to come serve the Lord.  He is HUGE...  We also are stacked this transfer with amazing District Leaders, and great new missionaries.  This transfer is going to be awesome!  Also, we have a car.  I hope Elder Afu can fit in it.

I included some pictures (yay!!).  The first is titled, "upon the isles of the seas..."  

The second is of a man we found while I was on splits with Elder Nacar. We were headed to a less active member's house when this man just popped out of his door and asked, "Who are you?"  We said we were missionaries and had a unique message about the only true church of Jesus Christ.  He paused and then said, "Ok, you can teach me," and let us in.  He is awesome.  He is mostly deaf but miraculously gains his hearing back when he comes to church, and is super super nice.  The coolest thing though is that he looks exactly like a Filipino Papa.  Am I right or what?  It's crazy!

I love you all!

Elder Garver

2-6-13

Hello Everyone!

Things are going great out here in the Philippines.  We had ZLC yesterday and President gave an awesome workshop on worthiness and miracles.  Whenever an Elder lays his hands on someone's head or a Sister gives a promise in the name of Jesus Christ, it's not their lack of faith in the Lord's ability to work the miracle, but their own personal worthiness that causes them to be nervous or doubtful.  Of course we don't doubt that God can heal the blind or cause the lame to walk, but sometimes we doubt that WE can do it through Him.  Like the Prophet Joseph Smith taught in the Lectures on Faith, if we can increase our faith through knowledge and application, it will turn into a perfect knowledge that our lives are pleasing to God, and then we can know that we can do anything in His name according to His will. 

I mentioned last week that we have been receiving lots clear of revelation for our missionaries this transfer.  It has been really amazing to find how audible and operative the Lord has become for our zone.  It is hard to explain.  One thing that has really impressed me about the revelations however is how consistent they have been with those of President Schmutz's.  Ever since becoming a Zone Leader, the manner of revelation has changed dramatically, with me receiving direct, clear instructions for my zones.  Then after implementing these changes and following the revelation received, we get notice from President Schmutz that they are implementing the very same thing we received in revelation the week before!  Elder Rose is one of my district leaders in the zone and he is truly converted and dedicated to the work.  He told me that he is receiving the same revelation on a district level at the same time as well.  Revelation all comes from the same place, and the worthy receive it!  This has been so cool to be a part of.

Something I have been pondering lately is how excited I am to come home and teach FHE :)  I hope you will let me ease back into the real world by teaching you in FHE for a few weeks.  I love missionary work more than I can explain, and teaching people who are already solid in the gospel is my absolute favorite.  Being able to expound on the atonement, instead of teaching it just at its most basic level is something that fills me with such joy and happiness.  I have wondered many times on my mission, "If I am learning so much now, I wonder how much Mom and Dad know that I never was ready to learn from them when I was kid?"  I still am a kid, but it sure doesn't feel like it anymore.  I'm excited to do some companionship studies with you Dad when I get back home!  I'm also really excited to help Alicia prepare for her mission.  I've got a lot of advice!  Man I'm so preachy...

I did get Shae's letter by the way.  She included the me waiting for her part in it as well.  That made me laugh.  If I go home right on the 6th, I may have a chance to see her again before she heads to the MTC too.  Maybe.  

Also, an ok-ok is a cockroach.  Did you not get that picture?  I'll send it again next week if I have time.  I've gotta run again though.  We need to get back to Talisay and work out renting another apartment   

I love you!  

I love you too Anne!

Elder Garver