Elder Logan Spackman ~ Philippines Legazpi Mission

I'm getting transferred! I am going from the biggest cities in the Albay region with a ward and a stake, to one of the smallest areas in the mission, Pio Duran. The population there is about 44,000 people compared to close to 500,000 people in Daraga. It's also right next to the sea, I've heard the views will be beautiful. I'm going to miss Daraga, I have learned so many lessons here. I've learned patience, the language, and many other things. The members here are so awesome and I will definitely miss them. I've had so many crazy stories happen to me here that were beyond my imagination when I first put in my papers. I love my companions, Elder Solidum and Elder Bul-an. They are great missionaries. Pio Duran is going to be different, because from what I've heard the church is not really established there. It's also pretty much the jungle over there and I've heard that it's a lot of missionary's favorite area so I'm definitely excited. Hav...

You read the title, My emails are about to get a whole lot longer. Mainly because I obtained a keyboard. But anyway, now I can more fully express myself over email! We were able to put one of the people that we are teaching on PBD. It's this old Nanay that we have been teaching for awhile now, ever since I got here. She has been a great example to me about faith and going to church. Because even though she isn't a member, she always comes to church. She is also 80 years old and has to walk down a hill, pay for a tricycle, and do all this at 9AM. She is quite literally a saint and her example I will never forget. Fun fact about Nanay, She and her husband got married when she was 16, and he was 28. It's built different here, that's for sure. My experience in the mission field has been wild, because I learn so much about people and more importantly about myself. I have seen that as a missionary you can objectively see people in two ways. The first being the way that God se...

Happy Mothers day to all the Nanays (Mothers) reading my email, I know that you all have sacrificed so much for your children and the Lord is proud of you!!  I think of my own mother and growing up sometimes I thought I was right, and I didn't listen to her. Welllll, turns out she was right 99% of the time and she still loves me. I think a mother's love for her children is the closest thing that can represent Jesus Christ's love for us all. (Sinabi iyan ni Elder Holland, iinisip ko) - Elder Holland said that, I think. So I think as sons and daughters it's important we take a step back and treasure that love we've been given. For you men out there, the only unconditional love we will receive is our mother, make the most of it!  PASM Mayon Volcano It's Kermit

For the 4th time this cycle somebody has asked me if I'm new or a trainee. Probably the worst feeling in the world, next to hitting your ankle with a metal scooter. But what's going on everybody? I didn't write last week kasi lazy ako (Cuz i'm lazy). But honestly, not a lot has happened any different here in Daraga. I've been here for 15 weeks so to be honest I'm kind of ready to experience something new. But there is still work here to do, and we've definitely experienced miracles. One of the main blessings we've seen is this part-member's family who was having trouble makipag simba (have the ability to go to Church). The Yung Perez family have started to come back to church and the non-members of their family are also coming to church now. Hopefully as my spanish friends say, we can throw a "Fecha" sa kanila (Baptismal date to them).  Tagalog, hehe: I think the hardest part of my mission has been the language, no doubt about it. Maybe I o...

 Elder Spackman sent a voice recording for the week instead of an email:  Recording

Transfers happened and Guess what I'm............Staying hahaahah. I'm still needed in the Big city after all so that means my dependency on getting my laundry done for me and eating Jollibee is only going to grow now.  This week has been hard because we couldn't find anyone. We also couldn't get anyone to come to church, and we had no LMP's but hey, the success of your area is largely dependent on the agency of others so it is what it is. My new companion trained my MTC companion Elder Lybbert, so i'm excited for that.  Spiritual Thought: I've been thinking that the power that Jesus had to heal is still on the earth, and it's inside this church because Joseph Smith was given the Priesthood by Peter, James and John.  Two personal examples come to mind: The first was a blessing Elder Solidum and I gave to this kid who was having severe asthma problems. When we came back he was all good and said he knew Jesus had his back. The second healing was actually f...

Wait, I'm 6 months in? I thought I just got here?  But no, seriously, wow it's going fast and I must say at least I can understand people now. But as for talking, it's just the accent, hahaha. For some reason I've got a very strong American accent in Tagalog so it makes it hard for people to understand me. Anyway let's get to the meat of the week. Baptism Ni Andrea!!! Her story is kinda crazy: It was a total layup for me and my companion, but we'll take it. Pretty much some members contacted us and told us to come to the CES because they had somebody that we can teach. We meet her, and it turns out that she's been going to seminary. Also, she's a part of a member's family. So four weeks later of 39 principles crammed in, almost everyday teaching, she was baptized!!  Tagalog word of the day:  Pumapailanglang - Soaring Have a great week, Elder Spackman   Mayon Working with the Service Missionaries Jollibee's CR