Third Transfer!

Hello Everyone!!

Another week has flown by. It's amazing. So I have a lot of stuff I want to say as usual but first HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!!!! THE BIG 18!!!! It's your birthday right now here in the Philippines so you can have two birthdays this year! haha. Anyway I will be thinking about you all day and I hope you have an amazing 18th birthday! It's a cool one at least it was for me! I really hope it's an awesome day for you!! So transfer calls were this last monday! I was so nervous but I am being transferred to Talibon which is on the other side of Bohol. Like the exact opposite side and my new companion is Elder Connelly. He is my junior batch which means he is a transfer younger than me. So I'm his "follow up trainer" which is scary because he doesn't really know the language and I sort of do but not really haha. Im pretty nervous to say the least but I know taht the Lord called me there and that He will help me. "The Lord qualifies whom he chooses." That quote is really comforting to me. But some extra prayers that we will have the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues would really be awesome. Anyway so yeah I'm excited but nervous and sad to leave Tagbilaran. I love it here and love the people so much. "It's so hard to say goodbye". There's my psych quote for the day and by the way I got the shirt and i LOVE IT!! haha it is the best thing ever and it still fits! Thank yuou so much!! Oh by the way Elder connelly is from arizona but that's all i know about him so i'll let you know more next week. I leave tomorrow. So from the emails you sent me Mom and Dad, and some other emails i got it sounds like everyone is really busy and maybe a little stressed. I've been praying to know how i can help and i think i got an answer while reading the emails. This is actually the thing ive shared as my going away lesson to the people I've taught. Life is full of challenges, trials, problems, responsiblities, etc. Sometims so many that it seems like that's all life is is challenges and trials. sometimes life can be brutal, it can beat you down, it can be exhausting to live. But that's the beauty of this gospel, of our Savior Jesus Christ. In 2 Nephi 2:24-25 (my favorite verses) it says, "all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that mine might be and men are that they might have joy." How comforting and powerful those two verses have been in my life as i've gone through my own set of challenges and heart ache. the Lord, our Savior and Redeemer, and our Father in Heaven know all things, and all things have been done according to that wisdom and knowledge. Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy. When we fall, as Adam did, and as we turn to the Savior and our Father, great things come and from those great things comes joy. The cebuano translation of the word joy in that scriptures is hingpit kalipay which means perfect happiness, perfect joy. it truly is perfect joy we not only feel but receive as we turn to our Savior. He has said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." All He is asking there is for us to let Him heal us. He is saying and pleading with us all, "Let Me heal you, come unto Me and I will give you rest from your labors, rest from your problems, rest from the cares of this world." He may not take our challenges away but He promises us rest and He promises us healing. One way to come unto Him is to pray, read the scriptures, and be grateful for all the blessings we do have for we do have so many blessings. 

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

Count your many blessings; angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

I know that we are here to have joy and we will have joy as long as we trust and love the Savior and turn to Him. I know that God is over all and we have no need to fear, we have no need to stress, if we turn to Him we will have rest. I love this gospel. I know it's true. I testify that our Heavenly Father lives, that He loves us, that He has designed every one of our lives' perfectly to bring us one thing, joy, in this life and in His presence in the next life. I love you all and pray that we can all come unto the Savior and find the rest He has promised us. I promise all of you that if you turn to Him, you will be healed, and you will have rest and you will have joy. I love you all and pray for your happiness all the time!! I could not ask for a better family! I love you so much! Hurrah for Israel!! I know I said this last week but I think it's important for us to remember, "Everyday is supposed to be a wonderful day." -Elder Holland. Believe it because it's true!!

Love, Elder Fox