I am a child of God

Hey everyone!

Not a ton to update you all on this week. Still just plugging away as a missionary. We have a lot of great people we are teaching. I love them so much. They are the best people in the world. But yeah they are all great but once again church is the problem. They don't ever come which can get frustrating if we let it be frustrating. I think I forgot to update you on our investigator last week but he is doing better. We gave him a priesthood blessing we told him that if he prays, reads the Book of Mormon, and goes to church he will receive the strength he needs to stop smoking. So far he hasn't read and hasnt come to church. He's cut back on his smoking which is good but I think he thinks that he can just stop on his own. Hopefully he realizes that he needs the Savior and will start doing those things to allow the Atonement to work on him. He is awesome and his family is awesome too. I love visiting them. Also we have another investigator that suffered a stroke a while ago and can barely walk. We've visited with him and talked about how the priesthood that allowed the apostles of Christ's time to perform miracles has been restored and that miracles continue to happen in today's time. he believes he can be healed and he keeps telling us each time we invite him to come to church that if he is healed and can walk again then he will come to our church. We've told him that he needs to show his faith by coming to church before a miracle can take place. We know he is able to come to church becasue he was able to take a trip to cebu the other week which is a lot further. I don't know I've been praying for guidance to know what we need to do, or what the Lord would have us do. there's a member that comes to church every sunday who has a similar problem. I want to get her to one of the lessons with him so she can testify as someone with a similar problem. Anyway so that's a couple of updates on a couple of people we are teaching. I love them and I love all the people we talk to. I can't say it enough. One of the things I've been studying and trying to get better at is recognizing the Spirit and letting it guide me in all things. The chapter on it in PMG is so awesome. But yeah that's one of the things i've been working on and studying. We are promised and have been given the gift and companionship of the Holy Ghost and we have been promised that it will alwyas be with us and guide us in all things as we remember and keep our baptismal and temple covenants. The scriptures say that the Holy Ghost will show unto us all things what we should do. That's an amazing promise and a promise that I've done a horrible job of comprehending and taking advantage of. It will tell us all things what we should do. It doesnt matter what things they may be. Whether it be school, or work, or the gospel, or friends, or family, or whatever, we can receive guidance from our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and loves us. That He is constantly working and constantly waiting for us to ask Him for help and guidance. Last night we were teaching these three little girls and we had one of them say the closing prayer. She wouldn't do it at first becsaue she was shy and then she finally did it. The prayer was so simple so cute and during the prayer I just pictured our Heavenly Father listening to her pray and I just thought of how happy He must have been that she was praying and talking to Him. and then I thought of how many people don't know they have a Heavenly Father they can talk to and so they haven't ever talked to Him. I thought of how sad Heavenly Father must be when we don't pray and talk to Him or when we say the same things over and over again. My testimony of how much He loves us and how He always listens to us and answers us was strengthened so much in that moment. I love Him and testify that He lives and loves us. This is also something I've been trying to work on is being completely sincere and following the Spirit to know what to say in my prayers. I love Heavenly Father and I'm so grateful for the love and mercy He shows me each day. I love "I Am a Child of God." I would encourage all of you to sing that at least once a day and let the words sink in. We are children of God and we are here to be tested and tried so that we can become like Him. That is the purpose of life and the only purpose of this life, to do all that we can to become like He is. How grateful I am for this knowledge that we have been blessed with and how grateful I am to have the chance to share with the people here. We must share this plan, which is a plan of happiness, with all we can. I love this work and I love the Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Father in Heaven whose work this is. I love and pray for you all! I hope you all have an amazing, happy week!

Love, Elder Fox

Back to Tagbilaran

Hello Everyone!!

Another week has come and gone. This was a great week too! The highlight of the week has to be that I got to go back to Tagbilaran for the past couple days! We had a meeting for all bohol missionaries there so we got to go spend a day down there! It was so sweet. I felt like i was back home, my mission home. I got to go with Elder Murdock too which was sweet and we had dinner with the branch missionary that always worked with us, and yeah it was so fun. I got to eat at all the good restaurants again and sleep in the tagbi house again. It was a really fun couple days. So yeah on Sunday, we traveled to calape for a choir practice for district conference. Then we stayed the night at Elder Murdock's house which was fun. Monday we went to Loon for a service project with the whole zone. We helped clear a house that was destroyed back in the earthquake. I think I might have told you about this lady but just in case i didn't i'll tell you. It was her house that went down and she is 75 and she lost her grandchild and i think maybe a daughter too in the quake. So she's left all by herself. She has also done the missionaries laundry in Loon for 19 years. She is amazing and she told someone, I can't remember who, but she said I am willing to go through anything the Lord wants me to go through in my life. How amazing is that? her faith is just amazing. And it reminds me of President Kimball. I know i've probably said this but I've heard it a lot and it never gets old for me. Just about when he missed those two conferences in a row because of how sick he was and the conference he came back he said, "give me another mountain to climb." I just get chills when I hear that story and when I think of that. Then i think of all the pioneers and how they counted it a privilege to sacrifice and suffer along the trail becasue they were able to know our Heavenly Father and help in His work. I think of Joseph Smith and all that he suffered. I love those verses in the first part of D&C 121 and the last part of 122. I love the prophet Joseph Smith and I love and am forever grateful for him and for all he sacrificed. Also of course the Savior suffered all despite being the best of us even in the beginning. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly loving, perfect in every way yet He suffered all things temporally and spiritually. And we being imperfect, constantly making mistakes, suffer so little when in comparison with the Savior. And not only do we suffer so little, the Savior has promised us help and strength to push through our trials and suffering. Life can be brutal it's true. our suffering can seem endless and torturous but the Savior suffered all things so that He could know how to succor us when we would endure our tests and trials. Oh how great the wisdom and the love of our God! I love Him and can't express my gratitude for Him. Not only for His sacrifice but His example of how to sacrifice and how to endure suffering. I am so grateful for His mercy and grace. I'm so grateful for the Atonement which allows joy and good things, all good things, possible. Which allows me to do good works and others to do good works as well. We truly can do nothing without the Atonement. I know that the powers of the Atonement are there for anyone who humble themselves and ask for them. I love our Savior Jesus Christ I know He loves me. I know He loves you. I know I've probably emailed something like this before but it's important and that's the one of the thing's I'm learning about the gospel. We can never study, hear, or learn things enough. It's by repetition that we progress and learn. I love this gospel and know it's true. I love praying and asking if it's true and each time I do pray and ask the Spirit confirms to me that it is true. I love and pray for you all! Hurrah for Israel! Hurrah for the time we live in!

Love, 

Elder Fox

You Are Capable of Something Better

Hello Everyone!

Well another week has come and gone here in Talibon. time just keeps on flying. things are going well. There's not much to update on the week. we had a full day csp with the district last friday which was fun becasue I got to see elder smith, my comp from the mtc, and elder murdock! it was so fun to be with them and talk with them while serving. the service was basically we put fertilizer soil on a huge dirt field and then planted some stuff. It was fun but we got fried! I know what your thinking mom and dad did you put on sunblock? haha and yeah i did but we all thought we were going to be out there for an hour or two but it was the whole day. it was brutal but the sunburn is better now. that's crazy to hear about Ukraine. I had no idea that was going on. I'm glad they are safe and I will definitely be praying for them. I hope everything is going well back at home. It sounds like they are and people are just plugging away at school and work and stuff. I can't believe it's the start of spring time there. quick update on our investigators. they are doing well. I love visting them. They are such an awesome family. Our investigator is still struggling with cigarettes but i think it's getting better. I know that he will be freed it's just a matter of when. We try to visit them more than other people to just help him and support him through this. they are a great family though. Oh Dad that talk you sent me about being a consecrated missionary by Tad Callister was amazing and like you said, is a must read. It was so powerful and was exactly what i needed to hear. I realize that i've been a good missionary but I haven't been a consecrated one. It really inspired me to become one though. After reading the talk i listened to the Inconvenient Messiah by Elder Holland and it was icing on the cake. I love those talks and all of you should read and listen to them. It's good and great to good and great members and disciples of Christ but as President Hinckley said, "Mediocrity will never do, you are capable of something better." We must become consecrated members and disciples of Jesus Christ. We must give all that we have to Him and allow Him to change us. One of the things I liked in the talk by elder Callister was he was talking about a disobedient missionary and in one of his meetings with him the elder said " you are not asking me to change my behavior, youre asking me to change my nature." Elder Callister said he was so right. I love that and has made me ponder about why i do the things I do. If i'm doing them just do them or am I doing them becasue I want to become something, becaue I want to change my nature. I'm almost out of time and there's so much more I could say about this. This talk really hit me hard. I encourage all of you again to read it. I know that if we give everything we have, everything, to the Lord and His work, that we will become someone we didn't think we could become. I know that He lives and loves us. I know this gospel is true and that this is the true gospel and church of Jesus Christ on the earth. I love you all so much and pray for you always! Hurrah for Israel!

Love, Elder Fox

6 Months!!!

Hello Everyone!!

it's amazing how fast the weeks go! I say that every week but it's true. They go so fast! i can't believe i'm emailing again. And my six month mark is coming up this friday which is crazy! Time has been flying and it just keeps getting faster. it feels like i was just turning in my papers and stuff and now james is! So cool jimmer! I'm so excited for you! you all have to let me know when he is going to get it so i can check to see if i can skype or call. i don't know if it's possible or not but i want to check! so cool though and so fun about mandy's call! Alright I don't have a ton of time this week! I don't know where's it's gone but I hav a lot to say as usual so I'll try to hurry. One of the sweetest feeling so far on my mission is when less actives or investigators come to church for the first time. Ah it's amazing the joy there is seeing them walk in the door. We've had a couple return this last couple weeks and it's been amazing. The best part about it was the memebers reaction to them. Right after the meeting I could see almost al themembers going up to them and telling them how great it was to see them and have them come to church. I can't tell you how amazing it was and the joy i felt and feel just thinking about it. It was a really cool experience. the members here are awesome. i'll quickly tell you about a family of investigators we are teaching, well one in particular. his name is peter and he is a father of two. Anyway he is awesome and he has a smoking problem. he's tried to quit but he keeps relapsing. We met with them last night and talked things through and stuff. he and his family are aweomse and I have no doubt that they will be baptized. I know that Peter will quit smoking becasue I know that the Atonement is real and can heal all things spiritually and physically. If you could all just pray for Peter and his family that wouldbe awesome! I love them so much. so mom said some things in her email about holding to the rod and i was actually thinking of talking about that in the email this morning as i listened to The Iron Rod. i've listened to quite a few talks about the Book of Mormon. Elder Holland's talks especially were amazing. You all should go listen to them! There's one from conf. and one froma devotional. In one of them he talks about how the mist of darkness in Lehi's dream doesn't just fall upon those who have strayed from the path but it falls on everyone. you said mom in your email similar things. But i really liked that and it's true. aThe mist of darkness falls and has fallen upon the whole world. Temptations are all around us whether we like it or not. And that mist of darkness can make even the best lose their way if they stop holding to the rod. i testify that the Book of Mormon is true and by holding to it we are building upon the rock of our Redeemer and we cannot fall. I know this is true. The book is true and we need to read it and love it everyday. I know it's hard to find time to read. I wasn't good at it before being out here unfortunately but i won't let a day go by for the rest of my life without reading even a little bit from it. I love this book and know that if we hold fast to it and press forward we won't be deceived and it will lead us to the tree of life, to the fruit or love of God which is the most joyous to the soul. I would say that each time we read it we are led to the tree and partake of the fruit. When we read it, we are strengthened and we are given power, and we feel the love of God for us. i know that the Book of Mormon is true. 

While on our journey here below,

Beneath temptation's pow'r,

Through mists of darkness we must go,

In peril ev'ry hour.
And when temptation's pow'r is nigh,

Our pathway clouded o'er,

Upon the rod we can rely,

And heaven's aid implore.
And, hand o'er hand, the rod along,

Through each succeeding day,

With earnest prayer and hopeful song,

We'll still pursue our way.

Hold to the rod, the iron rod;

'Tis strong, and bright, and true.

The iron rod is the word of God;

'Twill safely guide us through.

I love you all so much and pray for you always!!

Love, Elder Fox

Elder Fox and Elder Connolly with their kuyog (someone who goes with someone)

Talibon

Hello everyone!!

So I'm officially in my second area, Talibon! Transfers went well. I took a three hour bus ride to get here. It was a nice bus ride, nice to just rest and get a good drive in. Anyway, made it here safely and Elder Connolly is awesome! we live in an apartment and it's really nice. It's not as big as my last one but id say it's probably nicer. Sorry I forgot to tell you about Jun Jun's baptism last week! It went through and went well. It was an aweome way to leave tagbi. I hope he continues to endure and grow and progress. Jimmer I hope your birthday went well man! I hope it was an awesome 18th birthday and congrats on the eagle man! You did it!! so sweet! So yeah Elder connolly is from mesa arizona. He's the youngest child and has I htink two older sisters and and older brother. His brother served here in the Philippines but Tagalog speaking. I was really worried about the language before coming and the Lord has really blessed both of us so far. Thank you so much for your prayers! We still don't understand a lot of what people say but we are able to understand enough and speak enough to help them and teach them. It's been an amazing blessing and miracle. I know that all things are possible through having faith in Christ. If we ask in faith, He will give it to us. so yeah it's been fun so far. We are both super young in the mission but i htink it's one our strengths becasue we can just go our there and work and it's awesome. he loves to talk and isn't shy at all which is really awesome and it's something i need to work on because i'm more quiet and shy. I'm excited for this transfer and excited to work on losing myself in the work by being less shy. Sorry If this is kind of a scattered email. I'm jsut trying to get everything out and answer questions. Church is a lot different over here than in Tagbi. We have a small meeting house in the upstairs of some place and there are about 40 members compared to in tagbi with a big church and 115 members. It's awesome though. It's fun to be in small place knowing there's a ton of work to do. There's a ton of work to do everywhere of course but even more here. The people are amazing here. They are a little poorer over here than in tagbi but still amazing. I love them so much. It's looking like we will have some baptisms coming up which is aweosme! And we don't have a font so we do it in the ocean! I'm super excited about that. I hope I answered all of your questions or at least most of them. If not remind me and I'll try to answer them! I know the Lord is with me and with all of you. I know He lives and that if we just believe Him, we can do all the things He has commanded us to do. It's truly been a miracle so far here in Talibon with the language and I'm so grateful to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for hearing and answering our prayers. I love prayer and I know that when we pray, we really are talking to our God, our Father in Heaven. I know that He listens to all of our prayers and that He answers. I love talking to Him and love trying to listen to what He says through the Spirit. I need to do a lot better job of listening in my prayers andnot just talking but the times I listen, I always here Him. I love Him and I'm so grateful for the chance I have to serve Him. He lives and loves us and loves to bless us. I love the hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives. I love how it says He lives to bless me with His love, He lives to plead for me above, He lives to calm my troubled heart He lives all blessings to impart. That is why He lives. He lives for us. He lives to bring us home. I love Him and I know that He lives. I love all of you and pray for you!! Thanks for all of your prayers! I love you so much! Hurrah for Israel!!

Love, Elder Fox

 Tarsiers 

Elder Fox and Elder Connolly chillin at the Baybayon (beach)

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

Everyday Should Be a Wonderful Day

Hello Everyone!!!

I can't believe it's another pday! I felt like i just emailed all of you yesterday! I'm amazed at how time just keeps getting faster and faster. I'm sorry youve been sick nate! That's awful man. I hope you're feeling better and back tearin it up on the court. Jimmer you're turning 18 next week! wow that's crazy! The big one eight! That one was a weird one for me turning 18. its super cool. Keep working hard on that eagle and push through. So we have a Jun Jun's baptism this Saturday, February 8 which I'm so excited for! I wasnt sure about a month ago if I would see Jun be baptized but here we are and he's getting baptized! It's been an amazing thing to watch and i'm so grateful that I could be even a little bit apart of the process. I'm really starting to see and feel the joy of missionary work. Last Sunday we decided to go get an investigator, J.R., and a less active family and bring them to church. We got there and they didn't come with us. We were really disappointed and when we got to church there was only J. We didn't see anyone else that we'd been hoping and praying would come. But right before sacrament started, in walked 2 lessactives and another one with her kids and they all hadn't come to church for a long time. We ended up having one of the highest attendances weve had since ive been here.I can't tell you the joy and happiness i felt seeing them there. It was an amazing experience. Its amazing that when we put forth our effort to serve the Lord, He may not always bless us in the way we think, but He always blesses us. He always blesses us with more than we give to Him. Another cool experience i had was on monday. We didn't do very well in stats that last week and i was feeling horrible about it. So monday i prayed to Heavenly Father and promised i would do better and i would do whatever He wanted me to do. I then asked Him where we should go that day and then i listened. I felt like we needed to go a place in one of our areas and so we did. There was someone we were supposed to find. I saw ahouse and felt like we should go to it and so we did and the guy said he was going to work so we moved on down that street. Then an old woman came out of on e of the houses and so we talked to her adn she invited us and we taught her and her two grandsons. The Spirit was so strong in the room and they invited us to come back. I know that the those were the poeople that we were supposed to find thta day. I'm so grateful and so humbled for the chance i had to be an instrument in the Lord's hands in finding them. I know that as we desire, pray, ask, listen, and then do we will be able to be insturments int he Lord's hands in finding and saving His children. I know that this is the work of the Lord. i know that by faith all things are possible. all things. I know that the Lord will alwyas answer our prayers and will always guide us as we seek HIs guidance and listen for it. Heavenly Father give us as much guidance and direction and blessings as we let Him give us. He is willing and wants to give us all that He has and we must be willing to seek thosee things. I love Him and know that He loves us. I know this gospel is true. I love it. i love all of you and am grateful for your prayers and support! I love you and pray for you! have a great week! "Everyday should be a wonderful day." -Elder Holland

Love, Elder Fox