Elder Joseph Espiritu: One Year Down, One to Go!

It's official. I have been here in the mission for a year now! It's strange to look back and see how much time has passed, yet I have so much more to do! Lots of things I've learned here on the mission and lots of things I have yet to learn.

Through it all, I've loved it all, the good and the bad! I've said this many times, but this mission has been helping me gain patience, and also helping me know that despite everything we do, people have agency, and what they want to do they'll do.

I was a little sad on Sunday when only 27 people came to church, 7 of them were from a different ward and 2 being Elder Trinidad and I. Despite the number being really low, it doesn't matter. I'm still thankful for who did come, and I know that people have their agency.

Sometimes it just takes a little longer for the seed of faith to grow. As for the work this week, to be honest it was pretty similar to last week: finding, more finding and such. Hopefully we'll find some people who really are interested, so we are just being patient.

We extended 2 baptismal dates to 2 different people who are part members, one being 59 with a cigarette and drinking problem, and one just being only 12 but a good kid, just a short attention span. We are trying to make a plan for tatay Melchor (59) to get him to stop. We know it may take awhile, (he has been an investigator for awhile) but we hope he can do it. It might be little at a time, but he can do it.

On Wednesday, I got to do an exchange with our District Leader Elder Lobaton, and to be honest the work that day was pretty similar to our work, we were almost completely punted (almost all of the appointments fell through) but we still got to teach. He's a cool guy, and I learned a couple of things from him.

As for a fun fact this week, I finished the Book of Mormon for the 2 1/2 time (I finished it at the MTC once) on the mission, and finished the new testament for the first time in my life! I knew the Book of Mormon is something we need to read every day, and I learned so much from the New Testament, especially about the life of Jesus.

I testify that both of these books are true, and they bring such peaceful and happy feelings when you read them. I'm now working on the Doctrine and Covenants and reading the New testament and Book of Mormon again (we'll see about the Old Testament hahaha)

I had a couple of off days this week, where I was a little discouraged or my language skills were just really struggling for some reason, but I know the importance of staying positive can really have an impact on my life, and it has. Even though we all have bad days, just focus on the good days!

Now that I'm at a year, I just want to end this and testify about the importance of missionary work. I know that missionary work is such an important work, and 2 years is a short time, yet can have an eternal effect.

I know this church is true, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I am so proud to have been named after him. I know I'm not perfect, and I'm striving to do my best every day.

I know the Book of Mormon has the power to bring peace into our lives. I say this all the time but it never changes, that I love my mission and all that has happened. I still got another year of great things to experience! Ulit, mahal ko po kayong lahat!

Elder Espiritu

**you can email Elder Espiritu at joseph.espiritu@myldsmail.net