"I Don't Understand Why I'm So Happy"

Well family this week was one of a kind for sure! ill start off with one phrase. "I don't get why im so happy!" i'll tell you what this week was nuts! i have never been so stressed out in my entire life! it seemed as if everyone of our less actives had some huge problem and we both just felt overwhelmed! everynight coming home and being completly exhausted! oh man, but i have to say despite how stressed we were and how many things were happening this week was "sobrang masaya!" i can't even explain haha. the lord was just blessing us with good attitudes because we were always laughing and having fun and getting the work done! haha it was so fun! haha just little things we learned to laugh about and just keep pushing forward! that's one big thing i've been learning out here in the mission! is despite rough days and challenges, just continue to be happy! and laugh and smile through the thick and thin! we had some amazing things happen this week and as i write this i'm trying to remember them haha! it just seemed this week we had a new and uplifting attitude for the work and it made all the difference. Yes mom we got to water the old mans plants again! haha about twice a week and on friday it was so funny! we were laughing again and i have never seen him so happy haha. it was great and at the end of the lesson we said alright well we will see you on sunday and he said...like he does everytime "i dont know elders i have no money and its so far" we told him to trust in the lord and he can do it and low and behold he showed up! haha i was on exchanges and i told my companion dont worry he says that everytime and he always shows up! and he did! it was great! oh yeah i had "first" here in the philippines. i was asked to speak in sacrament meeting! and i was a little nervous just because it was in a different language! because i usually don't mind talking i kind of like it but i made it a goal in this talk not to speak any english. Well it was a little difficult for me at first but i was able to speak in straight tagalog for my talk! it was pretty neat because it was a blessing from the lord. I had some members come up to me after and ask how long i had been out and i told them about 5 and a half months here in the pilipinas and they said they enjoyed my talk and were impressed so it was neat and i was very grateful for the lords help! And on church on sunday, we had more less actives show up then i had ever seen! some that we have been working on for a very long time finally showed up! it was such a neat and amazing feeling! i just want to tell you how happy i am here! i was thinking about it the other day and i thought to myself, "i don't understand why i am so happy?" because i'm always tired, it's so hot you sweat whether your working or just sitting in the house. there was a million things i could have been bugged about or upset but none of that stuff matters! this is the lords work and like everybody says the best two years. i think i'm really just starting to realize that. how much i enjoy this work and the joy that this work brings! it's amazing! i thank you for your support and prayers! they help and i feel them everyday! this week was just filled with hard work and laughter! i love you family and hope you guys continue to do well back home! If you truly want to be happy in this life you have to be obedient and follow christ! that's what we tell everybody because its true! Continue to feast upon the words of Christ daily! i promise you, you will find peace and answers to your everyday life! I love you guys so much! Elder Machen