Anyways, here's somethings from this week.
This week we tried going out in the morning and studying during the middle of the day to have more productive hours to talk to people and its great cause more people are out in the morning than the hours of 1,2,3 and stuff. So it's great, except if you come home and get tired and fall asleep-haha. It just makes us a little tired, but it is very good too. One fun experience we had was teaching this family of recent converts who is really awesome and such a good family and we were playing with their kid who is 3 and way funny and we kept telling him "ihi ka sa kanya" which means pee on him- haha- me and Tamayo were dying laughing cause this kid was naked just running around and he never actually peed but it was way funny we were dying-haha. Then later in the week at one of investigators houses one of the grandchildren ran out naked grabbed a stick and started banging metal and chasing kids. This kid is 2 and also threw a big rock at us during the lesson last week just cause he wasnt getting attention like he wanted. It was mind blowing and I can assure you my kids will never do that- haha. Last week we had a really hard lesson where I got frustrated, and man it was hard with so many distractions and I didn't realize what was good until after when we debriefed and learned that we just need to be patient. This can be applied to life that sometimes the cruddiest situations can suck until after they are done and then we learn. My dad always said "life is the only teacher who gives the test first, then teaches you the lesson" and I believe that one hundred percent.
Another fun thing to share is we got punted from 4 lessons which means 4 people cancelled on us so we went to a sisters house and helped her hang up signs and help her with some work on her house. She is a single sister with 4 kids and truly a rock star so we are happy to help her anytime. So we hung up a picture and its not that simple cause you have to have a drill cause all the walls here are concrete, haha. Then we helped her build this little replica of the Manila temple and it was so fun and it was great to just do something creative. It was really nice that we were able to do that too cause it really sucks to have 4 people cancel on you in one day. Ended up being a great day. We gave lots of blessings this week which I really enjoy and I think is so cool to use the priesthood and really is super cool. Then also there is a missionary that lives close to us and he just finished his training and is leading the area and he always calls me to ask advice or little things like that. Super fun and just a funny little thing to share. I think every missionary is scared a little bit of new things. And if you aren't a little nervous for things then I envy you -haha.
And to apply this to life, we need to just smile laugh and do our best when we get nervous or scared and really have that faith but my mom told me something I love. "I think we do better when we aren't so focused on everything". Just take it as it comes.
So the biggest lesson I learned this week or the main thing to share is just the thought of small and simple things bring great things to pass. So for me this means not stressing but just emphasizing the little things and the consistency. How consistent can I be? That's my challenge this week and from now on every week. Anyways I know that god works in little things and life is better when we notice the little things. Just be grateful for the small things and also we need to practice the small things in life like smiling and being friendly and courteous. Any ways not much else to share but I hope this email makes some sense. Hope you all have a great week. Love doing the lords work. No matter how hard it is at times we have to remember that its not for ourselves, its for others. We are serving our loving heavenly father. Great week and never forget it's a great day to be alive!
Elder McAllister
