Thanksgiving and on to More Adventures!

First and foremost, I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you last Thursday! I did ask a bunch of people if they knew what Thanksgiving was, and sadly most people didn't. Oh well, they just love Christmas here and that's okay! 

I did enjoy this week. We had a lot of good events and fun things with some awesome news! I also decided I am going to structure this email in a more Thanksgiving-ish way. So I would like to say the things I am thankful for that happened this week. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to have been a district leader here in the Bantay district. It has taught me a lot about leadership, and I have gotten to know a lot of the missionaries in my district well. 

I went on another exchange with Elder Johnson this week and got to go work in a different area. We had a lot of fun, and it's always fun to work with different people. Exchanges as a district leader kept me busy. I enjoyed it.

Another thing I am thankful for are the opportunities to learn from conferences. This last Thursday we had our zone conference for this cycle, which is awesome. We were taught how to effectively plan, the importance of working with members, and Sister Andrada has now encouraged us to sing as part of the lessons. I actually wouldn't mind that, but it depends on my companion. 

We also were able to go to Stake Conference this last Sunday in Laoag. I enjoyed the talks and felt the Spirit really strong. As conference ended I was told by members of Laoag 5 (my 2nd area) that little 3 year old Riley (the daughter of the Bishop in Laoag 5) was searching for her boyfriend (me) ;) She did find me, and she was very happy. She's adorable. I am thankful for all the members I have met in each area.

I am now happy to report that I am thankful for another chance to be assigned to another area! We found out last Sunday that Elder Trinidad and I will now be transferred. I am excited! I had a lot of great experiences here in Vintar. It's always sad to say goodbye but I am excited for what life has in store! 

President Andrada called me last night to tell me he would like to extend another calling to me as a zone leader! I accepted and am ready for the call! I have so many things to be grateful for in my life, such as where I live, all my friends, the knowledge I've gained on the mission. 

I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission here in the Philippines Laoag Mission and for all the blessings that come with it. I am thankful for the Gospel and the hope and peace it brings me. 

I am thankful for my Savior and the opportunity He has given me to improve myself and be free from my mistakes. 

Last of all I am thankful for my family and all the support they have given me! There's no way I could do all of this without them! I love them, and would never trade them for anything! 

Now we can officially move into the Christmas season (except here it started in September) and I'm off to another start! 

I will now be transferred to Batac zone with Elder Havens as my companion. He is actually my batch! Talk to you all next week! 

Elder Espiritu

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

How I have been washing clothes for the last 4 and a half months

Adventures with Elder Johnson 

Last picture with Karen 

Last picture with the Villanueva family

The gigantic Laoag zone (I think we are 37)

All my Polynesian homies 

Random selfie with the Sisters

 Sister Quinco and I (she told me she was told by her relative that I thanked her for the sundae she gave me 4 and a half months ago)

My 2nd companion in the mission Elder Andon who is now going home (when I was with him he still had a year left)

My friendly Sister Training leaders Sister Pestano and Sister Pangilinan

My buds Elder Johnson and Sister Latu

My new companion

Success and Some Other Things

Success mixed with failure isn't too bad, because the success overrules it all. At least in my case it does. 

Got some fun events that went down along with days where nothing happened. Overall I am happy with life and the mission is going great. 

Got to work with some more people in my district, got to hold something new, and got to see 2 more amazing people baptized!

So here's something you don't see in America: while walking by a couple of kids we know, they decided to show us a giant lizard that their family got. They picked it up, twirled it around, tried to open its mouth like it was nothing. When I finally got the guts to hold it, turns out it wasn't bad. Also they took out it's fangs so we're all good. I can now say I've held a big lizard in the Philippines.

As for the work, I had a couple of fun days along with some slow days. This week of work for the most part was mostly us walking around looking for someone to teach and everyone being gone or busy. We had 3 days this week (one I was sick so we went out late) where every appointment we went to fell through, and we had to wander around for awhile. But all is well. 

I did have the opportunity to go on 2 exchanges, one with Elder Lalangan and one with Elder Pacapac. The greatest thing about working with Elder Lalangan is his area was my 2nd area when I was only 6 months in the mission. So you can imagine how happy I was to go back and say hi. We were able to teach a couple of good lessons, and eat dinner at the Bishop's house (who's family is one of my favorite). The kids were happy to see me. The 3 year old girl (Riley) apparently tells everyone I'm her boyfriend so guess I have a girlfriend (don't get mad Mom) but it was nice to see them. They were impressed that I actually ate a lot of vegetables. It's a work in progress.

On Thursday I headed over to the other area in Vintar with Elder Pacapac. The first 30 minutes we spent trying to go to people and none of them were home. As the time passed we were able to find people to teach. Elder Pacacpac is a really good teacher, especially since he's only been on his mission for 3 months.

The work is going well over there. Last Saturday night around 5, we headed back home and waited for a jeepney (which is a really long jeep, basically like a bus...kinda.) and at 5:30 we headed over to Laoag to the Bantay chapel for the baptism of Karen and Elsie.

It ended it up being a great success, and we got a good amount of people to come. The Spirit was very strong during the baptism, and they are both very happy. On Sunday they were able to be confirmed as members of the church. The blessing is that even though Karen works, and at first she wasn't able to come because of that job, her manager will now allow her to come to church every Sunday! God really does provide a way.

The Vintar life is going well. The branch is still growing. The 35 of us that came yesterday are happy. Numbers don't matter. I know the work is hastening and I'm happy to help others come unto Christ. Love you all! 

Elder Espiritu

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

The floral tie squad (Thanks again Mom and Dad!)

Dinner once again with the Florez family

Vintar and Laoag STL's (Sister Pangilinan and sister Pestano)

My little bald friends and a lizard

Baptism of Sister Karen Melchor and Sister Elsie Ibana

Inside the jeepney

God Will Provide a Way

I have come to appreciate a couple of more things this week, such as indoor plumbing. I am also happy with my calling as District leader and the opportunity to go on exchanges with our district. The people here are awesome too. We had some pretty good success this week, and have some bad news that became great!

So first, like I said I am grateful for plumbing. One morning the pipe in our bathroom broke, so we had no water that day. The best thing was I needed to wash the dishes and my clothes, so I had to take lots of trips to the water pump (bumba) outside our apartment, wash my clothes, wash all the dishes and shower in water that smells like metal. It's all good though. Our landlady had it fixed right away. 

As for another fun event, we had another exchange this week. This time I went with Elder Johnson, who is from Australia. The exchanges went awesome and it was a fun day. 

After doing studies we headed out and talked a lot. The lessons we taught were great and I felt the Spirit when we both taught. We taught some really good lessons and it felt great teaching. He is still a little new with his Tagalog but it went well. We're pretty good friends. That night he wanted pizza, so he paid for the majority and we split the difference with us other 5. He's a good Elder!

As for the work this week, it was actually one of the best weeks we had in a long time. Almost every day (except Saturday, which was the most punted (missed appts) day). We taught really good lessons and found some friendly people. We were finally able to extend some more baptismal dates! I'm grateful for the chance to find friendly people here. So far they have really good potential to progress.

So here's the bad news that became good: While I was on exchanges with Elder Johnson we went to one of our progressing investigators, Karen. Once we got there we were told she wasn't home yet, which made my heart sink a little. The reason she wasn't progressing before was cause she had a job and turns out she got a job again. 

When she got home we decided to teach 1 Nephi 17 to her about Nephi building a ship. We used the point that if we trust the Lord, he is capable of anything, such as helping Nephi build a ship and helping Karen go to church. It was a great lesson and we felt the Spirit. 

The next lesson with Elder Trinidad and I, the possibility of Karen going to church and being baptized did not seem good. We then taught D&C 82:10 about promises. So I promised her I would give her Twix that my parents sent me for my Christmas packages (sorry Mom I opened it early but it was for a good cause!) and told her the blessings that would come.

You can imagine how happy we were that Sunday when Karen showed up to church. We asked her if she still had a job and she said yes, but she told them she is going to church on Sundays so there she was! We then asked her if she could do that every Sunday even with her job. She decided to trust in the Lord and decided to solidify her baptism this Saturday! God will always provide a way!

I will once again state that I love the mission and all that happens. I always feel blessed when we have good weeks. They always outweigh the bad. 

I know this church is true, and I know the doctrine of baptism and following the example of Jesus Christ is the gateway to exaltation. I'm excited for this week! Stay tuned!

Elder Espiritu

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

 Exchanges with my boy Elder Johnson (also it's his birthday today)

Another pizza party

Preach the gospel to every creature

Using the bumba for water

The Vintar squad

Work, Work, Work

It's kinda weird how holidays here feel way different from when I celebrated them at home. But oh well, Happy Halloween last week! Our week consisted of a pretty busy week. Most of it happened out of our area. We were able to go to Laoag for exchanges with the Zone leaders, then had another exchange with the other elders in Vintar, saw a couple of different things, and have a couple of other small great things come to pass! 

This Tuesday after district meeting we headed back to our area and were able to attend a birthday of a 95 year old woman here. She was the mom of one of the other Elders’ investigators Elsie, who is a 58 year old very sweet woman. This last Saturday I was also able to interview her. It is possible that she'll be able to be baptized at the next stake baptism on the 18th of November!

Wednesday morning we headed over to Laoag for our exchanges. The zone leaders live in a compound with 15 missionaries (including them) with the senior couple next door. Elder Trinidad wanted to check his weight and the senior couple had a scale so we went and talked to them. We ended talking to them for an hour and then checked our weight (turns out I still weigh 165, which is how much I weighed in the MTC) and then they gave us American candy and cookies from a Halloween party. 

For the exchanges I went with a 6’5’ Elder from Canada named Elder Willoughby. We went to a slightly far area and went to work. We first taught a big group of investigators with one member present, which went well except they're really young and one of them was taking pictures of me the whole time. 

We next taught a couple of girls close to getting baptized, then a big family of investigators. The spirit we felt was so strong during the whole lesson. We taught about Alma talking to his son Shiblon. After the lesson they fed us Mountain Dew and ham sandwiches and we talked a little. I got a compliment on my Tagalog which made me happy. 

Before we got home we took a Greenwich pizza flier and decided to order some at home. So we did. Right after eating we had an exchange with Vintar B and I went with Elder Bottema from St. George Utah. We went to 4 different areas and walked for most of it. My knees hurt by the end but it was good. We taught a lot of lessons to some less actives and their progressing investigator. We walked an hour home after work which wasn't bad.

We weren't able to teach as many lessons this week due to all the things we had to do, but we were still happy to see our investigator Karen Melchor come to church again! The attendance was 36 this week, 28 coming from Vintar. If Karen comes to church next week, there is a possibility she can also be baptized on the 18th at the stake baptism. We have taught every lesson and she has been to church a lot. We just want to make sure she's ready.

This week was full of good moments like working in other areas and eating french toast every day. Plus funny moments, like less actives seeing us and pretending like we're not there, and buying an empanada with meat and receiving one that didn't have any. 

Yet life goes on and the mission’s still great. The scriptures are still great, and the district is still great. I love everything that happened. I know this church is true and all things happen for a reason. Hope everyone had a good week! Love you all!

Elder Espiritu

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

A 5'11" Filipino on top of a 6'4" American, trying to reach a branch of the tree. I imagine this is how David would look at Goliath.

A random group of girls from the zone leaders' area that we taught. 

Notice I still have a whole pizza cause I was still doing laundry and they didn't wait for me