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 34

Hello from the Philippines
     A lot happened this week, let's give a recap

   Elder Kaufusi had his birthday, the sisters surprised him with some gifts because they're so awesome and we had one of the best meals so far in the mission, marinated chicken and real MASHED POTATOES
   We did some service planting corn as a district
   We had a ministering activity with the ward and I think it was pretty successful
   We went on a bike ride this morning and a lot of things broke, even my handlebars, so that was fun
     That was about it I guess, not too much. But I got some good pictures, so that's a plus. Something that really helped me this week was actually this thing called companionship inventory. It's basically where you help you companion to grow and improve. We actually call it a "Do Batter, Be Better" moment now, from President Russell M. Nelsons talk in this past Priesthood session (Elder Kaufusi's idea). But usually it's not that productive, just kind of passed over. This past time though, I don't know why, but it seemed like some spiritual bricks fell on me, bricks to use and strengthen some things. But yeah, even without someone actually there saying things out loud, there's always a companion that can help strengthen you; the Holy Ghost. Even a personal inventory with real intent to get better can be strengthening. I think as we do this, we will really press down on the accelerator on our journey to reach our potential. And that's the week. Thank you all for your love and support! Here's some pics to make up for the weeks I didn't send any.
Elder Banister

Week 29,30

And then there was one
    Just Elder Banister from now on, no more Elder Banister 1 and 2 nonsense. My brother came home a week and a half ago and dang, watch out singles ward, there's another RM in town. Boutta break some hearts with that smile and cut some diamonds with that chin line. It's true that everything you give to the Lord He returns in tenfold. I'm amazed and inspired by my brother's example and can see that promise come true. 
     Last Monday we were able to visit Sister Ballener as a district in the hospital. She is super awesome, and she was happy to see us. She's not in any pain any more and started her treatment, so that should help. Thank you all for including her and her family in your prayers. 
     We had some service this past week, which was fun. Just mixing cement and chopping bamboo. We made a path for a sister in the ward to her house because when it rains it's super slippery and she's having another baby soon. Hopefully it's still there, because after we laid it, the rain came again. 
     But things are really cooking in the Philippines, and I got the pictures to prove it. Yesterday we had two of the families we're teaching attend church, which was a huge sign of their progress. The Canarias family and the Guanlao family. They're POWER and I can't wait until they can receive even more blessings through covenants with our Heavenly Father.
     I had an opportunity to go on exchanges last week also, and had a great time finding. We were talking to a lot of people, trying to get into some houses so we could teach, and not really having any luck. We come up on this one house and Elder Ivins says to me before "alright Elder Banister, get us into this house or I'm leaving you" so I was like "BET" . I knock on the gate and yell "Tao po" and a man answers back asking who it was and I'm like "Mga Misyonero po" then like ten seconds later the gate opens! He invites us in! We go in, he's just so happy to see us, it was so cool. He leads us through the door, we're just making small talk, and we go down the hall, make a turn into the living room, and see his Bible and notes already out! Wow, talk about prepared for the missionaries! Definitely not to listen though, but to try and convert us. We then proceeded to hear his long build up of how he used to be a Catholic, but "they only use a few scriptures for their doctrine, you have to read the whole thing to really understand it and get the truth". Then the next two hours were filled with why the Jehovah's Witnesses were right based off of 5 different scriptures. See the Irony? Anyways, long story short, I learned a valuable lesson; The spirit is the one that does the teaching. The whole time he gave his speech, he seemed to be a really intelligent man, and if you don't know what the spirit feels like, I can see how it would be easy to be deceived. But the whole time he ranted on, I didn't feel the spirit testify to me once of his message (obviously). I know it doesn't matter how well written you are or good at the language, the spirit is the one that will testify of the truth. And I know the things I teach as a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ are true, because every time I testify to others I feel the spirit, and I know others have felt it also. 
     Anyways, hopefully everyone is doing good, and I hope everyone who has covenants with the Lord keeps them, and if you're not, REPENT.

And for everyone that opened this and didn't read it, here's some pictures

Week 24

Oh dang, my brother is 17 now, shout out to that handsome devil. I'll get you something real nice. But hello from Teresa, things are going good in the mission field. We received news that we're having an apostle visit this week!!! Elder Dale G. Renlund will be visiting on Thursday. He talked about faith with action this past conference, comparing it to a giant pile of wood. We're all super excited here in the Quezon City Mission. 

This week we got to do some more service, too. It was pretty fun. We picked up trash along the side of the road for like 3 hours. Now I know what you're thinking. Probably something like "did this kid just say picking up trash on the side of the road was fun? Did he get heat stroke or dropped as a child?!" Well it's true, even picking up trash with your bare hands for 3 hours can be enjoyable when it's service. Mosiah 2:17 all the way, read it and weep, then after you dry your tears, go out and do some service. It's absolutely fulfilling and there's no substitute for it. 

On a completely unrelated note I saw the biggest snail I've ever seen the other day. Super random, I know. Probably wondering right now what kind of missionary this is. Well, just one that likes to admire and take awe in all of God's creations, that's what kind. So Boom, Roasted. 

I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. I ponder sometimes about how each individual life is so different and the experiences we each have are so unique...yet He has provided a way for us all to return to Him. He gave His son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world; every trial he overcame; every sorrow He has experienced; every heartache, He has felt. He knows what we are going through, and He is always there to help, we just have to take the actions to go to Him. He will accept us with open arms and help lift the burdens that we bear. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Now some mom questions to top it off
1. Best thing I ate?
      Well, we got to eat at our stake President's house this past week as a district this past week, and lets just say he's mayaman talaga. We got some real burgers that he went and got some place far away that tasted like heaven.
2. How am I feeling? Healthy???
      Yes mom, jeez, I feel healthy. I'm still young and pretty sure invincible, so don't worry

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Elder Banister 2

Week 21

Hello from the Philippines!

I've been slacking on my emails, so I'll make this one a good one. We had a good week this week with a lot that happened. First with the spiritual stuff. Brother Cesar who has been taught for about 4 weeks now was set to be baptized this upcoming week. He really wanted to be baptized and confirmed on the 4th and 5th of May because that was his dad's birthday. We visited him on April 21st and basically told him if he wanted to be baptized that weekend, he would have to stop smoking. We gave him a Priesthood Blessing to help him. We texted him throughout the week to check up and make sure he was still staying strong. One night he didn't text back though. Oh man, not a good sign. We visited him later that day and he said that he had smoked. We were sorry to hear that, but it was alright. I think the more important thing is that he was honest with us. He recognized that this was a commandment of God, and it was required to follow before making a serious covenant with the Lord. He also understood the importance of honesty and worthiness with such a commitment like this, and knew that worthiness was more important than having the baptism on the day he wanted. I hope that we can all have this kind of strength, realizing that when we try and cover up our sins, we may be able to fool the eyes of our fellow men, but nothing is hid from the eyes of God. We'll all stand before God to be judged of our works. Strait out of the Bible, Revelations 20:12. I guess we get to decide if that will be a day we look forward to or one we dread. May we all strive to always be worthy of the spirit and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY way we can be clean and return to our Heavenly Father.

Now for some good stuff (as if that wasn't good). Last week when we were teaching there was a crazy thud and screeching on the tin roof of the house we were in. Then all of the sudden these two cats fall about 7 feet landing on the ground, literally biting each others throats and clawing at each other. It was awesome, I wish they would have fought longer, but they ran out and continued fighting. Stupid cats.

There was an earthquake here, and it's a good thing we weren't home because the ceiling fell through and we have to move apartments. Just kidding, we were home and nothing really happened. I was washing clothes and the spinner was going. It just spins super fast and gets most the water out, but when it slows down, it shakes really bad. Of course it started slowing down when the house started shaking, so I was like "what kind of spinner is this?!, it's shaking the building!!!". Yeah, I feel like an idiot, but at least I can say I've felt an earthquake now. 

We had the opportunity to do service twice this week, and I had the opportunity to let out some steam that may or may not have been building up a little. We chipped away at the clay with pounding bars to make a spot to lay a foundation. It was nice to work like that again, I miss it. Six months off takes a toll though, I found out that I have little girl hands. I got 3 blisters on my hand that make me feel like a sissy every time I look at them. It's embarrassing. But I'll try and get them back to their former glory. The second service project was like unto the first, except this time we were clearing a field of tall grass where a fire had passed through. Their house is literally on the top of the mountain and the fire almost ate their house, which is 3 walls and a roof. I had fin doing that though, we hacked away at the tall burnt grass with scythes. I had a blast, but got some grass cuts along the way. Dang soft hands. 

Finally I found out that I hate Roosters a lottttt. It has consistently crowed outside our window at like 5:30 am for the past week. I might actually kill it. There's a video to express my feeling more. 

That's the week. There's a lot more, but I think that will do for now. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Stay close to the Savior, the second coming is nigh at hand, and I'm pretty sure you'll want to be on his side when things go down. Love you all

Elder Banister 2