Week 47

Hello from the Philippines!

     Some of you may know, but I've been away for a little over a year now. I've learned a lot this past year, and hopefully helped a lot of people along the way. After all is said and done, there's really only one thing I can say, and that is.... ooooooooohhhhhhhhh, we're half   wayyy  theeeere, OOOOOOHHHH!!! Livin' on a praaayer! Take my handed, we'll make it I sweeeeaaarr, OOOHHHHHH!!! Livin' on a prayyyyeeerrrr!!!

     That's right, your Elder Banister made it a year away from home. Feels pretty unreal, it seems like just the other day I was hauling a suitcase of Mountain Dew up 3 flights of stairs in the MTC (if you don't know the story, ask my mom). What good memories and lessons I've learned from a year serving the Lord. Definitely the most challenging thing I've done so far in my life here on earth, but I know, though it may seem hard at times, that the blessings and things the Lord has in store are more glorious and wonderful than I can imagine. The same goes for all of us. The temptations and things we go through in this life might seem too hard to bear at times; the sacrifices and commandments we are asked to live may seem too much to be asked of us. But if only we could see what will come to those who remain faithful! Let us all perform our labors well in the day of this life and rest our souls in the Kingdom of God. We will be filled with Joy beyond our comprehension while here on earth. Trust the Lord and the promises He has in store for us. 

     Well, as tradition, I burned one of my shirts this past Thursday. And, I was blessed enough to be in the same house as Elder Briggs, my MTC companion. That was a tender mercy and we had a blast. In the words of an anonymous poet "Stories were told. Oreos were shared. A year had passed." Yeah, he's not a very good poet, that's why he remains anonymous. But still, that describes the night.

     Earlier this week we also had some pizza that deserves a shout out. I sometimes I daydream about all the foods I used to enjoy. I may have changed a lot over this past year, but my love for food is enrooted deep into my soul. The food here is delicious, don't get me wrong, it's just nice to have something you don't get every day once in a while.

     Well, I thank you all for the five minutes spent reading this, or the 10 seconds you took to look at the pictures, whichever you did. I'm so grateful for you all back home sending love and support over here, it means a lot. Hopefully these emails help give you a little more strength. Until next week!

     Elder Banister

Week 46

Hello from the Philippines!!!

     Good news, the battle with Dengue is over for me!!! Won that battle fighting on my feet, I was very blessed with how that all turned out, some of the others that have gotten Dengue have had a real rough time. But I'm alright now, so thank you all for the love and prayers.

     This week has been a pretty good one, but I want to talk about some things I learned in conference, just what I picked up and some of my thoughts jumbled together and not really remembering who said what... BUT here we go!!! 

     One of my favorite things I heard is about how we need to prioritize the Gospel in our lives. It's been said many times, but an eternal perspective is so important to have. When we look at Heavenly Father's plan for us and what our purpose is here on earth, what could be more important than being faithful to the gospel and our covenants? I think if we truly understood what is in store for us if we do this, we would gladly follow. Of course, we are walking by faith right now, and that's not an easy thing to do. There has to be tremendous trust in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Guidance of the Spirit. We have to do things that nourish us, not just fill us. We have to always be on the watch for the constant attacks of the adversary. We have to bury our weapons of rebellion deep in the ground and not leave the handle sticking out. We must listen to the counsel of goodly parents, pointing us to Christ. We WILL find lasting joy in doing this. I don't know if anyone read the talk I sent a couple months ago, about Joy (hopefully someone did...), but it was quoted multiple times this conference. I know as we live the Gospel, focusing on Jesus Christ our Saviour, we will receive more joy than we can imagine. The promises are true, the question is, are you? Dang, just  came up with that, nobody steal it. But anyways, I just wanted to share what I learned, and guaranteed more to come.

     Thank you all for the love and support. I really am grateful to know that there are so many people in many different places giving their love and prayers to me. It's a great motivation to me, especially on the hard days. Until next week!

   Elder Banister

I only have one picture this week, and it is of my MTC companion the legendary Elder Briggs, whom I love and am lucky that he is my kabahay. 

Week 45

Here we are again!!!

     It's been quite a long week, let me tell you. That's what happens when you get bit by a little mosquito with Dengue. But since my "platelet" is still high (because I've been hydrated) I've still been able to walk and work, so that's been good. Gonna take a little more than a mosquito to take down Elder Banister. Definitely wouldn't recommend getting Dengue though. 

     General Conference was super awesome, one theme that stuck out to me was trusting in the Lord. That's a hard thing to do sometimes, especially in the world we live in. I'll have more to say about Conference next week after I re-watch it, I didn't retain a whole lot because it was a little hard to focus and listen. For now I have some pictures of our district activity! We went to the Daranak Falls, here in Tanay. That's all for this week! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, I'm grateful for all the support. Pray for the people of Tanay, we're trying to get the area going and every prayer helps. 

     Elder Banister

Week 43-44

Hello from the PhiLliPInEs

     It's been a good week so far here in the new area. It's called Tanay, it's basically down the street from my last area in Teresa. My new companion is Elder Malifier, he's from Taguigaraw (it's in the Philippines). The ward here is nice and I'm excited to try and get the work going over here. I'm also excited to have a Filipino companion, my Tagalog has already gotten better from these 5 and a half days, so that's a blessing. And there's a modern day tender mercy here in the area; a member here near our house feeds the 4 missionaries here in Tanay EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT!!! That may not seem like much to you, but that's a huge blessing to us. OH and Elder Briggs and I are united once again!!! We stay in the same house here in Tanay!!! We'll be here during our year mark!!! It's been a blast so far. I forgot how much I missed having more than just 2 people in the house.

     I haven't seen General Conference yet, but I did already look on churchofjesuschrist.org, and there's been some big changes! Look around everyone, you're part of the ongoing Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, almost 200 years in the works, starting with a young boy named Joseph Smith. What a privilege to be a part of it as members, all playing a part in the work. There's a saying I love, I can't remember who said it though, he said something like "We work in a large field, but cultivate a small one." The work progresses when we each do our part, whatever it may be or however small it may seem.

     Well, I don't have a ton to say this week I guess... It's getting pretty hot, that's for sure. I finished Alma in my "Charity" Book of Mormon. The more I read from Alma, the more hidden lessons and treasures I find. There's a lot to be learned from the war chapters, you just have to find it. That's my advice to you all: search, ponder, and pray, are the things that you must do. I'll leave with a story from this past week though

     So we're walking in the area, it's getting a little late, we were supposed to meet for dinner with our kabahays. So we're just walking, and it's kinda far. Then this guy, we thought he was drunk, like calls us over and starts talking to us... in "English", if you can call it that. I was tired, we were running late, so we tried to make it quick. But this man wasn't having it, he wouldn't let us leave, he literally walked with us until we found a tricycle to ride. I didn't have the patience, so I just went to strait English, usually that scares then away, but it's hard to scare a crazy guy, so he just kept on walking with us. I just told him Three things that he needs to change in his life; Don't drink, don't smoke, and don't steal. Definitely invited him to repent, no doubt about it. That's the shortened story, hopefully he changes his ways. 

     I have one picture for you all that I took this morning, it's my pogi companion Elder Malifier. Thank you all for the love and support! Until next week!

   Elder Banister