Another Transfer in Inabanga!

Family and Friends!

We had a great week here in Inabanga! Things are going really well and the best thing that happened was that Roel finally came to church!! We went on splits Friday so I wasn't there when they taught him the sabbath day but the zone leader, Elder Ramada, taught it and got him to come. We actually weren't at church this last sunday becasue I had a fever Sat. and Sun so that was a bummer we couldn't see him and be with him but he said that he liked it and had a great experience. He said the members were really nice and welcoming to him and he said he loved that the classes are a question answer discussion thing instead of someone just spitting out stuff to you. Ah we're so happy he finally came. I hope he continues to come and that his parents, whom we're also teaching, will start to come as well. Dennis, the brother in law of the Berdin family, decided that he wants to get baptized and so we are now teaching him. Hopefully he is ready and can be baptized before I leave. That's the goal. I love that family. I do have some sad news, some really sad news. Junior, the recent convert who had tb and who was deathily skinny, passed away yesterday. We all thought he was going to get better but I guess the Lord has different plans and those plans are always the best. I feel so bad for his poor family. We are visiting them tonight and it's going to be a very sad and hard thing to see. They are the sweetest family and have endured so much hardship. They have basically no income, no food, and the smallest house you have ever seen yet they are the nicest sweetest people. The wife had her parents die when she was 12 and she led took care of her family and now she has been leading and taking care of this family alone and will continue to do so. I don't know how she does it. She hasn't once complained. She just continues to press on. An amazing example of faith. It's transfer week this week but nothing is really happening in our district here. We only have one change. I'll be another transfer here with Elder Meliang which will be great! I'm pretty much out of time. So sorry this is so short this week. I think I got all of the real important things that happened. Things are great here. Thank you for all of your prayers and emails! I love and pray for you all! I know this gospel is true. I know that are purpose in this is life is to follow the Savior in all things. I've loved reading about His perfect life, His complete humility and submission to the Father's will. I love Him and know He loves all of you. I hope all of you can feel of that love always. 

Love,

Elder Fox  

Looking At The Things Which Are Not Seen

Family and Friends!

This week has overall been another great one with Elder Meliang despite some discouraging moments that have happened the past couple days. I want to thank all of you for your many prayers. I feel and receive strength and power from them so thank you. They lift me and give me the strength to continue onward. The power of prayer is real. In whatever moments of need we may find ourselves in, we can pray to Heavenly Father and He will aid us with His eternal and infinite love. We can be healed and strengthened through the Atonement of His Son Jesus Christ. 

Yesterday we visited Roel. He is an investigator and has a baptismal date but hasn't yet come to church. I think i may have mentioned a little about his situation but his father is sick and is in the hospital right now and they are struggling money wise. You can tell it has been really challenging for him and his family. He got kind of emotional in the lesson talking about it. The Spirit was so strong in the lesson as it always seems to be when we teach him. At the end of the lesson we invited him to pray and he asked Elder Meliang if he could just pray because he, Elder Meliang, was closer to God than he was at the time and that God would listen to his prayer. We then explained that when we pray we become closer to God. That gap decreases. And that God our Father wants to listen to us and talk to us always especially when we are suffering or we have problems and challenges in our lives. We told him that Heavenly Father wanted to hear from him at that time. He ended up praying and I know that God heard and listened to the prayer of one of His worried sons. I know God lives, that He is our Father and that He listens and answers our prayers. 

Another aspect or part of the church that I've gained a greater appreciation of this last week is that we have living prophets and apostles in our time that lead and guide us on our pathway home. I recently studied Elder Andersen's last conference talk on spiritual whirlwinds. In one part he brought up the family and gay marriage and stuff and then he said something that I didn't hear when we watched general conference and it's something that hit me. He said, "Why do we continue to talk about this? As Paul said, “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” They see the things that aren't seen, the things we can't see. What an amazing blessing the Lord has given us with living prophets and apostles who see the unseen and tell us what we need to do to navigate safely home. 

Speaking of apostles and prophets on of the elders gave me 42 talks from Elder Holland, and tons more of Elder Bednar, and Elder McConkie, and others. I've been listening to all of those in the morning and at night. It's been awesome. I don't have much more time to write but I love you all. I know our Heavenly Father lives and I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is our Savior and through Him we can have peace and happiness in this life as well as in the eternities to come. He is the way, the truth, and the life and I love Him. I pray for all of you and hope you can feel my prayers as I have felt all of yours. I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Fox

The Power of The Atonement

Family and Friends!

Things are awesome here in Inabanga! It's a great area and Elder Meliang is a great companion. I forgot how much I've told to you about him but he is the only member in his family and has been a member for a year and 8 months. He has been praying for his family that they will listen to the missionaries and we just found out that his older sister just started listening to the missionaries! I think you can imagine how excited he is. I'm so happy for him. What a miracle and a blessing. Another miracle and blessing happened yesterday. We had set some goals for the total lessons and new investigators and by Saturday night it wasn't looking like we were going to reach it. We prayed that we would and we made a plan of how we were going to accomplish it and we accomplished our goals! We were so excited. It was just getting numbers, our numbers or lessons were quality lessons. It was a great week and I'm so excited to go at it this week. 

Elder Meliang is a great missionary and like I've said before, he brings the strongest spirit into the lessons. It's been really fun to teach with him. We still have lots of things we can improve on but it's been really fun. I'm starting to learn how to really listen to them, then listen to the Spirit and then speak or ask a question. It's been really challenging and I'm still not good at it but I'm getting better and it's so much fun. The lessons and the work is just better and more fun. I love it and I'm so grateful for the Spirit and it's role in our lives and in this work. What an amazing gift we have been given. I know that it will guide and direct us in all that we do if we are worthy and let it guide us. 

We only had Michael come to church yesterday which was great that he came but disappointing that all of the others didn't. We are working on a way to help them come. Anabel continues to run away from us but we continue to teach Juvi, her "husband". He is the man and wants Anabel to start listening and joining him at church and in reading and praying so bad. I love them. 

We had a zone training meeting last thursday and for president Tanner's workshop, he showed a talk by Elder Holland about words. I don't know what general conf. session it was but I think it was 2007. Anyway it was an amazing talk and I'd encourage all of you to listen to it. He talks about how destructive words can be to someone if we are not careful. It inspired me to try to become better and not just refraining from talking bad about someone with others but speaking good things about them when others might be speaking bad. Lately I've been really praying for charity, for the pure love of Christ. The love that is long suffering and kind, that inspires to reach out and serve others, to lift those that are down. The love that never fails. Christ's love never fails us, it's always there. Elder Holland said in last general conf. "Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet." I love my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the love and the mercy They have for me and for all of us. I hope and pray that all of you can feel of Their love for each of you. I know They love you. 

I'm grateful for repentance. I've had the opportunity to interview quite a few people for baptism the last couple weeks and I'm so grateful for that opportunity. I love interviewing people and hearing their feelings about the gospel and most of all about repentance. One in particular sticks out in my mind. She was beyond excited to be baptized. i've never seen someone so excited. Her husband is in prison and one of her daughters is a member. She had done some things in her past that weren't great but she didn't know any better but as she was telling about some of those things she started to cry and talked about how she had repented and how through repentance the guilt and the heavy feelings were gone and she had peace. She said she used to get really angry at people and now she doesn't anymore. At the end of the interview I congratulated her and she got tears in her eyes again and they were tears of excitement. It was one of the best experiences so far on my mission. 

What a wonderful example of what repentance and the Atonement can do in our lives. What wonderful gifts we've been given and what wonderful blessings come if we use them. The Atonement is real and it's a gift that has been given to us for free becasue we are sinners. I love the Savior for He truly is my Savior. I love Heavenly Father for sending His Son becasue He loves me. They live and love us and I hope you all know it and can feel it. I love you all! Thank you for the prayers and the emails. I pray for all of you too. I hope you have a great week and that you can feel the Spirit and the power of the Atonement more in your lives.

Love, Elder Fox

Congrats On The Call James!

Friends and Family!

It's been a great week here in Inabanga with Elder Meliang. But first of all congrats again James on the mission call! Puerto Rico is one lucky place and the San Juan mission and mission president are very very lucky to be getting you. You are going to be great missionary and will love it. The people will love you and you will influence and bless the lives of many. Congratulations. It was also so fun to see everyone! I miss and love you all!

Well just to update you all on this last week. Michael had his interview but his baptism is going to be pushed back a little bit becasue of some things which is sad but it shouldn't be a problem. He should be baptized just not as soon as we were hoping. He was the only one that came to church yesterday which was disappointing. We are going to get them to come this week though. You can count on it. Roel told us last week that he is moving to Cebu for work this week which was sad but he said we give him as a referral to the missionaries assigned there. He also said he wants to visit the temple and take a temple tour which will be awesome if he does it.

I'm sorry I'm really low on time again this week. I don't know what happened. I just want to share some experiences I've had really quickly. Yesterday I prayed that I might be able to understand a little more of the Atonement and that I might feel it in my life. Since then I've had 3 or 4 experiences and times where I've been able to understand a little more fully what the Savior went through and i've been able to feel His power in my life. It's been amazing and I'm so grateful for those experiences Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I wish I had more time to go into more detail about the experiences I've had but all I can say is that I testify that Christ suffered and took upon him all of our sins and mistakes and imperfections so that we could be made completely clean and inherit eternal life. I would encourage all of you to read Believing Christ especially the last section "Lord, how is it done". I testify as a representative of Jesus Christ that He lives and loves us. That He has an infinite ability to save us from sin, heartache, and affliction. He "descended below them all" so that He could lift us up. I love Him and am grateful for the love and the mercy and power He has shown me. I love you all and pray that you might feel His grace and mercy in your lives. Have a great week!

Love, Elder Fox

New Comp In Inabanga!

Family and Friends!!

It's been an exciting and crazy week this last week! Transfer calls came and I'm staying in Inabanga! Elder McQuiston moved to Panglao and is actually comps with Elder Larson who is from Olympus! I'm training a new missionary so I got to go to Cebu and pick him up which was fun to be up there in Cebu. My anak's (son's) name is Elder Meliang. he is from Mindanao so he speaks Cebuano which is awesome! He also has worked with the missionaries for 5 months before coming which is great because it takes some of the load off me. He has been a member for 1 year 7 months and he is the only member in his family. He's a great anak. He struggles with English so I'm trying to help him with that while he tries to help me learn Cebuano. I should be here in Inabanga for two transfers with him which means I will hit my year mark here in Bohol and that means that I hold the record for being assigned on Bohol the longest. Haha we all say that I've been assigned to the Bohol mission. I love it here though. It's the best. Anyway so that's the update on transfers. 

To give an update on investigators. Michael continues to progress and hasn't had any slip ups with his drinking for a few weeks now. His interview will hopefully be on Saturday which is really exciting. He's a great kid. He's the only one of our investigators that is coming to church right now. We have a lot of great people we are teaching but they just don't come to church. Let's see Juvi and Anabel are awesome. Juvi was baptized but Anabel hasn't been. They need to get married so that's their main concern and also Anabel tends to kind of run away or not be there when we come to their house. it's really frustrating. The times we have taught her she's great and really nice but the problem is just being able to teach her and get her to come to church. Juvi is trying so hard to get her to listen and join him but she is being difficult. Juvi is an awesome guy and is so patient with her. I love them both so much and they have awesome kids as well. 

Roel is another investigator who has committed to be baptized on July 19 but hasn't come to church. He is 31 years old and isn't married yet but he is a really nice guy and has a good heart. His concern is just coming to church which is most people's concerns. This area is awesome though. We have a lot of investigators and we are finding more and more every week. It's an awesome area to be assigned. 

I asked President Tanner what I could do to become a better missionary and he said to work on and get better at recognizing and having the Spirit with me in all that I do everyday. He said how that would help not only on the mission and in church callings but in all things such as school, career, and relationships with others. I really liked that advice and it's something I'm going to really work on and get better at. I would encourage all of you to learn to recognize the Spirit and follow it in all that you do every day. Especially James as you are preparing for your mission. I love the Holy Ghost and am so grateful for it. Without it there would be no point in being out here and I would be totally lost. What an amazing gift Heavenly Father has given us. I love Heavenly Father and the Savior and the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for all They do for me each day. They lift me up and enable me to continue on and to become better. I love Them and testify of Them and Their purpose, that is to bring us home. What an amazing time we live in. I love and pray for you all! Have a great week!!

Love, 

Elder Fox

Elder Fox, his anak (son) and Elder Murdock

God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son

Family and Friends!!

I feel like email time keeps getting shorter and shorter every week! I only have 15 minutes again to write. I'm so sorry but I'll try to get it out. First of all happy father's day to Dad and to all dads everywhere! I love you so much Dad! Transfer calls are tomorrow so I'll find out if I'm moving or not and who my new comp will be. I really wish I could go another one with Elder McQuiston. He is awesome and we get along really well. I had the chance to go on splits with Elder Cornwall (one of the zone leaders) the other day and it was awesome. He is going home this week which is crazy. He's been here for a long time and it was really fun to learn from him. He is a really good missionary and teacher. He taught me a lot about how to teach to the needs of the people and how to ask good questions and mold the lessons around them. It was really fun to watch him and learn from him. I've been working on getting better at that stuff and it's made the work even more fun than it was. It's fun to teach people and not just teach lessons. Anyway I'm really grateful I could work with him. I don't have much more time left but wanted to share my feelings about the Savior since we can't testify of Him enough and I had a neat experience last night as i was getting ready for bed. I was listening to God so Loved Us so He Sent His Son and the Spirit was so powerful as I listened to the lyrics.

Oh, love effulgent, love divine!

What debt of gratitude is mine,

That in his off'ring I have part

And hold a place within his heart

Those words are my words. His love filled my soul and I was overwhelmed with gratitude. What debt of gratitude is mine that He came and suffered and died for me, a sinner. I love the title of this song and testify that it is true. God so loved us so He sent His Son, His only Begotten and Beloved Son. I testify that They live and love us and that They will support and help us through all of our trials and challenges. They live to help and love us. I love Them and will forever be grateful to Them. I love you all and pray that you all can feel Their love and support in your lives. I hope all of you have an amazing week!

Love, Elder Fox

Floating Restaurant!

Family and Friends!!

 I'm really low on time this week. I only have about 10 minutes or so to write since we had a zone activity in Loboc which is pretty far away and we got back pretty late so I'll try to write as much as I can. The activity was way fun! It was a floating buffet restaurant with a guy singing classic songs and then we had a performance which was really sweet. It was probably the best activity we can do here in the mission other than golfing of course. Congratulations Jimmer on graduating high school! That's so crazy you've graduated now. You were all wondering about investigators. We have one who's family is all members. He's about 25 and a super awesome kid. He was supposed to be baptized a couple weeks ago but drank with his friends so it had to be pushed back. He said he never drinks to get drunk just a little because his friends do it. This is a big problem here in the Philippines. Groups of friends are called barkadas and it's kind of like the cool crowd. But the problem is is that a lot of these barkadas all drink and smoke and stuff and if you don't do that stuff then they leave you and you're not a part of them anymore. And that's basically all the kids you've grown up with and all the kids you know. It's a real challenge and I feel so bad for him. We haven't told him to change friends or leave them but we know he has to and we are praying that he will. We are just trying to teach him the doctrine and let the Spirit work in him. I think he knows he has to but it's really hard. He's such a humble and penitent kid but he's in a tough situation. I love him and so prayers in his behalf would be awesome. We are working on getting him friends inside the church which will be good. He has a baptismal date for July 6 by the way.

As far as district leader it's going well. It's become easier and not as stressful. It still kind of is but it's not bad. For my personal studies and reading I've been reading the Book of Mormon and I'm now in Alma 51 and it's awesome! I love the Book of Mormon! I've got the Book of Mormon fever and I'm sure Elder McQuiston is sick of me telling him how awesome Moroni is and how awesome the book is. Also I've been studying the Savior and our Heavenly Father. I've been reading the Book of Mormon, Teachings of Joseph Smith, and Jesus the Christ to learn more about Them and Their nature. I think I've mentioned this but I read in T of JS about the scripture that says and this is life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. And Joseph Smith says that that is the only way we can receive eternal life. We must know Them and he says once we know Them we then know how to approach our Father in Heaven in way that we will get an answer and when we do that He will unfold the heavens unto us. Joseph Smith also said, "Once we are ready to come to Him, He is ready to come to us." That's probably not exactly right but I really liked that quote. So that's my personal study right now. I'm also printing off the King Follett Sermon by Joseph Smith and he talks about the nature of God. I'm really excited to read that and study it. Well I"m out of time. I love you all! Thank you for all of the prayers! Know i pray for you all too! I know our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ love us. I know They live and They lived once as we are now. They aren't a mystery. They are two Beings with bodies of flesh and bone. They have all wisdom and all power and all love for us. They really do want the best for us and want us to return to Them. They will do anything to get us there and all we have to do is trust Them and strive to know Them and become like Them. I love Them and I love this gospel which is the way back home. I hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

Love, Elder Fox

Playing golf to help make the long hot walks to the less actives house

Floating restaurant!

Performance on the river