Week 42

Surprise! It's an early P-Day! Just kidding, we just had to use it to go to the Temple today. It was awesome! We got to go with the ward and the Guanlao family. I was even able to be the one to confirm Arlene and Colleen after their proxy baptisms! It was a super awesome experience. 

     I don't have much to say since Monday... the temple trip was definitely the highlight though. Just a heads up for anyone who reads this thing, I won't be emailing until Tuesday October 1st, so don't worry when you don't get it. For everyone that looks for pictures then moves on, it's your lucky day; I got pictures.

     Just to leave with some scripture, I really like something I read this past week in Alma 36:11-21. It's a power section in the Book of Mormon for sure, about the Joy we can receive through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That's something that I've been trying to magnify these past few days, is focus on the Joy. There's a talk that goes well with it by President Russell M. Nelson titled "Joy and Spiritual Surviving" from October 2016 Sunday Morning Session. Yeah, I was very specific, so there should be no excuses why you didn't read it. These are a few things that can help us all in our lives as we apply the principles taught in them. Read it. Apply it. Feel the Joy. Just three steps, don't be lazy. Anyways, I appreciate all the support from everyone. I hope everyone can more fully feel the joy that is in Jesus Christ.

     Elder Banister

Week 41

Hello from the Philippines!!! 

     First I just want to wish my brother Dallin and sister Tayla a happy birthday, and I'm especially grateful that I received a picture of the food. I'll send it out for everyone to see, it really made me..... so.... happy... that they had such amazing food to eat... SO happy... 

     Anyways, the week has been fantastic, the highlight was a special mission visit from Elder Schmutz of the Seventy and President of the Philippines area. We had a discussion about the Gospel of Jesus Christ where we got to ask questions and share insights. One thing I really liked from him was actually something that he heard once. So Him and President Russell M. Nelson were doing a Leadership Training Seminar and someone asked a really good question there. They asked how to help people who are apathetic about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Right off the bat, President Nelson gave the simple 2 part answer: Teach and help them understand who they are in relation to God, and teach them their purpose here in mortality. That was it. It's two things we should all try to gain better understanding of, and it includes understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     Another thing that happened this week, or at least almost.... Buckle down, here's the story

     So it starts a few months ago with the baptism of Brother Jerry and Sister Lisa. They were an older couple taught by the sisters and were all ready to be baptized, and they wanted me to do it! Of course I was willing. We got Jerry done alright, but when it came to Lisa, she couldn't do it. She made it to the last step, but she couldn't overcome her fear of dunking her head, so we didn't even try it. Fast forward to Saturday. She was ready to try again! And she still wanted me to do it! So we got her down into the water, and all ready to go. I say the prayer, and we start the immersion. Everything was good until her head.... that's when she starts to resist and freaks out. I bring her up and we all calm her down. About ten minutes later we go for round 2, but still a no go. So she goes out and changes and so do I. Then we have a couple speakers that talk about the importance of baptism and how it is a saving ordinance, meaning it's required to enter the Kingdom of God. Then it turned into a motivational speech and you won't believe it, but she was ready to try again!!! So I go change back into my wet clothes and we bring her back down into the water. This time I had back up though, Jerry was in there with me. So I get through the prayer again, and then to the immersion. She starts resisting before she's under again, but now Jerry is there trying to push her under and I'm over here wondering who I should help at this point. You have to remember, Lisa is about 80 years old and 100 pounds, so really fragile. In the end, it just wasn't the right time for her to be baptized I guess. Definitely one for the books though, talk about Dramaaaaa

    That was the week though. Always a blast over here in the Philippines. I don't have any new pictures, I haven't gotten them from everyone else's cameras. Next week. Maybe. As they say here, mahirap mangako. Here's some pics of the food though. Thank you all for your love and support! I really do appreciate it. Hopefully all of you, wherever you are, know that you truly are a child of God, and He has a plan for you. Never forget that, and strive to more fully understand it. Until Next week!!!

Week 40

Time to write again already.....

     This week has been pretty good, I'm just trying to think why... Just working out here doing the most important work you can do, the work of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Here's some of the Highlights 

     1 - District Council... Here in Teresa we try and keep it fun while learning the Doctrine of the Kingdom, and so we use some creativity and make it something to look forward to. This past week we played some Jeoprody and had challenges and it's gonna be hard to top this week

     2 - Service... We built a bathroom for a Recent Convert, his name is Tatay Jerry, and his wife Nanay Lisa. (Someone, who we won't name, forgot his bright green camera though, so no pictures of the service....)

     3 - We had our district activity today, which will also be hard to beat. We hiked up to a view near the house of someone we're teaching and then played some billiards and basketball and volleyball and ate food... Plus, nobody got hurt! Success talaga.

   Those are just a few things in the week

   We've really been studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ this past week in preparation for our first Antipolo Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Schmutz. It's amazing how much I've already learned and the new insights I've gained just from studying on my own. It's something we should all strive to more fully understand and live. It's the path we take to return to Heavenly Father. It's how we reach our potential. Some really big and important stuff!!! The best part is that it's not something you just complete or learn, it's a process and something that takes continuous work. I've met some people that think they know it all and it's really hard to teach them. The worst is when it's a less active who served a mission, then it's always a real good time. A real Mosiah 4:11 moment. The point here is let's all remember that the path of the Gospel is one of Eternal Progression, not one set destination.

     Well that was the week. I love and appreciate you all. Even if I don't know you personally, if you made it this far in the email you have my love and respect. And even if you scrolled looking for pictures, it's your lucky day you "filthy animal" (name that movie)

   Love, Elder Banister

Week 39

Merry Christmas!!!!!

     We've reached the 'ber months and that means that Christmas is coming up! There's even Christmas music playing in the stores now! Now I get to get the full Christmas experience from start to finish in the Philippines. 

     This week we've had a pretty good time talking to people and trying to extend our reach of people we invite to repent. So far so good. Just spreading the Gospel and giving people a clear path of repentance and preparation to return to our Heavenly Father. 

     Something that I really liked this week is Alma 26. I've read this probably like ten times previously, but this week it really just seemed to have a more special meaning to me. The Joy is real!!! Also for those of you who keep up with the "Come, Follow Me" reading, 1 Corinthians 13:11 is my favorite scripture in the reading this past week. (Really the whole chapter, but especially 11).

     I don't really have a ton to say this week, just that I'm doing good and that the gospel can bring a peace and comfort to our lives like nothing else. Sometimes I wish that people could only understand that and apply it to their lives. That's why I'm here though, to help people understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invite them to live it. 

     Thank you all for your love and support! I hope everyone is doing well. And for everyone scrolling for the pics..... I have nothing nice to say to you, haha. Until next week!!!

   Elder Banister