" Nourish ourselves with the word of God"

Man this week was a good one! the weeks are flying by and by the time i sit down to write you guys an email i can't remember what happened! But i'll do my best to remember! so we started out good we had a lot of lessons and i was praying hard that we would have a lot of less actives at church and the lord sent down his many tender mercies and we were able to see the fruits of our labors! we had a bunch come and it was really good to see! This week is some of the lessons we could feel the spirit so strong and we knew we were working through the spirit! It was just one of those weeks where we just seemed to get the work done! it was a great feeling coming home and being exhausted because we had had a good days work! I'm really learning alot about life and how this gospel really helps us. i remember at home i think i was just going through the motions doing this and that but one thing so valuable that i've learned so far is that when we really devote ourselves to the gospel and put Christ first in our lives it makes all the difference! I was pondering this week how we can help some of our members return and help them realize they need the gospel. "what is it going to take to help them understand?" well we just have to nourish them with the good word of God. and that goes for all of us we all need to nourish ourselves with the Good word of God! I promise it will make all the difference in our lives! So this week was good, we had fun and got the work done! The spirit truly guided us this week and it was necessary for us to have a good. I'm really just loving the mission right now and things are going good! i'm trying really hard to remember what else happened and i'm drawing a blank! sorry this is so short! but today for Pday is way cool because in my area in bauang there is nothing there so we got to come back to baguio for pday! its like coming home! so thats fun! we had some run ins with some people that just wanted to argue with us and thats always annoying! but one cool experience i just remember is we were walking home one night and this guy drove past us on his scooter then hurried and turned around and i thought oh great this guy just wants to argue with us! but i was completly wrong! he asked us if we had a book that he could read!!!!!! oh man we were like oh of course we do! and gave him a book of mormon and he was way excited! so it was just a reminder that heavenly father is preparing these people to here the gospel! I love you guys and hope everything is going well for you! Talk to you next week! Elder Machen

"Walk in His Footsteps and Follow His Example"

Funny story that just happened here in the computer shop... so i just barely sat down and some dirty american guy here asked my filipino companion if he had been to SLC and he said no but my comp is from Idaho and so i said yeah i have... expecting him to be nice, then he went off! oh man he started ripping into us in the middle of the computer shop saying " you guys can preach all you want but this world and problems and religion is not going to solve anything!" and then i Laughed and said "well you know Sir i have to disagree with you on that one!" and before i could get another word out he just went off again and so i just laughed, turned around and started emailing you guys hahaha.
Wow what a week! it went by so fast i feel i hardly remember it! that's the problem with emailing haha is i have so many things going through my head i can hardly remember what went on during the week haha. anyways it was good and of course full of challenges. but i'm thankful for the challenges because they help us become stronger missionaries. So i want to share something i came across during my personal study this week. so i was thinking about our less actives and why they are having a hard time and they always say "elder it's just hard" and always have a bunch of excuses so i was thinking and read a handful of scriptures and came to this conclusion which the spirit gave me. so of course this life is hard and of course we have things that are painful and afflictions and whatever you can think of right? well think of the life of Christ. think of how Perfect he was. think of how merciful he was to the people and no matter what he did they still persecuted him. they still spit upon him. they did everything to him and even crucified him. What's are purpose in this life? it's to become more like Christ and our Heavenly Father. so if the Man who walked perfectly here on earth had a hard life i think we who walk so imperfectly are going to have a tough time too. we're going to have bumps in the road, things happen unexpectedly. things that are unenjoyable and hard But...because Christ is there and went through it all..We can do it too! Keep Pushing Forward. the things we go through are nothing compared to what Christ went through but are going to make us stronger and help us become more like him! We just need to walk in His footsteps and follow His example and everything will be alright!
so i was grateful that i was able to learn that from the scriptures and the spirit! So this week i really put praying to the test! everynight i really tried my hardest to pray with all my heart and like Enos wrestle my way into the presence of the Lord. and the difference in everyday was amazing! the spirit was more abundant and helped me more with everything! i got a great letter from tyler awhile ago and he said remember "you've only got 2 years to serve and a lifetime to think about it" and so i'm trying really hard everyday to make everyday here in the philippines the best 2 years! can you believe it's already been 7 months! freak time flies! so this week for the work was good! but are fruits on sunday were a little weak. we didn't have as many less actives come as we were hoping but oh well were doing are best and people still have their agency so we just have to work harder!!! despite the heat i actually like it a little better in the low lands because the enviroment is way cool! It's getting way hot here cause summer season just started! oh man i've never felt heat like this! and the humidity! haha i do like the humidity though it's alot better then the dry idaho weather! oh and Karter you've become my inspiration to work out everynight! everynight after work and planning I workout and because of the heat am sweating like a pig! but it's good and so be prepared when i get home haha. in our apartment we have two dungbells and a barbell but there kind of light because it's just a metal pole with cement on the end haha so light weight and lots of reps! well i love you guys and hope everything is going well! i appreciate all your prayers! Keep Pushing Foward! Love Elder Machen

"Keep Pushing Forward"

Wow what a week! where do i even begin? well this week was a trailing one with lots of ups and downs! oh man it really put me through the test! well the work here in the low lands is better i have to say! we teach alot more lessons to people down here! so that's good! i really enjoy that! i learned alot about myself this week and i really felt the lord was trying to teach me something this week. it just seemed day after day i was just getting beat down and no matter what i did i just couldn't get back up. well that's what i thought anyway...but i was wrong. no matter how hard the days are no matter how many trails we have to endure, no matter what gets thrown in our paths. Heavenly Father knows and loves us, he hears and Answers our prayers. One thing that's hard to realize sometimes is there not always going to happen right when we want them to. It's like praying for patience and then expecting to receive Christ like patience immediatly! haha. sometimes it takes time. He knows what's best for us and when we need things, it takes Faith! long-suffering and diligence, that's what it takes! Remember "Keep Pushing Forward!" so other then it being a little challenging it was rewarding as well! we had some less actives come back to church and i can't even describe the joy that brings! seeing the fruits of your labors! So to answer your questions! haha the humidity is ok, i've gotten used to being wet all the time and i do enjoy not having dry skin. the food, well the food isn't as good and we don't have any fast food resturants here! so that kinda stinks but all is well. no worries. i think i'm getting a little skinnier haha but i've been working out hard everynight because i saw karter in those pics and he's getting Big! freak i couldn't believe it! i miss the kid! oh and a cool fact about here, this may be one of the only places in the world that you can go to sacrament meeting and hear 3 different languages in one talk! haha english, tagalog, and Ilokono. another dialect here. I'm convinced the philippines had to be close to the tower of babel because its crazy how many languages are here! tons! and each one is completely different! oh and turns out i really like the beach! oh it's way cool going to teach LA's and they live in a little hut of "sawali" like weaved walls idk how to describe it but they live right next to the beach haha its crazy and the nice ocean breeze feels pretty good. The people are really nice here and i've learned to love them! oh and to answer your question about living with 3 filipinos haha well it's interesting. haha but i enjoy it were always laughing and joking around so it's pretty fun at our apartment. well family i love you guys more then you'll ever know! this work is amazing! keep pushing forward back home! i'm so proud of you guys! Pagmamahal Elder Machen

"Humbling...Eye Opener"

Howdy there pamilia! how's everything going back in the good ole US? Things here in my new area are interesting but good! the branch is super nice and welcoming! oh man so being here my first full week here was a eye opener! oh man i thought it was humbling in baguio but its nothing compared to here! one cool experience though is come to find out my area is right next to the beach! we went and taught this guy and i looked down and everything was sand and i said elder "malapit ba tayo sa dagat?" or "are we close to the ocean?" and he was like oh yeah it's just right there i looked and there was the ocean! oh man it was awesome! so we teach a guy that's like right on the ocean it's way cool we went back there on wednesday and did a little service for a older man in the ward. we helped water all his plants and he has a lot so it was good to help him. he lives way close to the ocean so it's like my favorite place so far haha. but i can't tell you how humbled i was this week. it really hit me hard. on wednesday when we helped that guy water his plants we went to his house...well lets just say it's like a few walls and the floors are just sand with some bamboo. i don't really know how to explain it but it was the sadest thing i have ever seen. my heart just ached for this guy. he's pretty old and lives by himself. and he's probably one of the nicest people i've ever met. i can't even begin to explain to you how humbling the circumstances here are. everyday i just was in awe sometimes when i saw how people live here. but like i said last week despite the harsh conditions they are so happy all the time and always give thanks for everything they have! its such a testimony builder to me! so my comp elder apduhan has been having me lead out in teaching in most of the lessons and i have to say i love it! i love being able to share scriptures and things to try and help people. it's the greatest feeling in the world. sometimes my tagalog starts to "nose bleed" "expresion they use here meaning start to run out of things to say or something like that haha" but then he comes in and starts connecting it to something and its awesome the way we have been teaching our lessons. living with 3 filipinos is tough sometimes but it's good for the language. this was good and went by quick. we have a lot of work to do in this area. i'm happy here in the philipines. at one point i thought i would never learn to love this place but it's growing to be a special place in my heart! all because of help the lord has given me and answered so many of my prayers! i came across a way cool scripture this week during personal study! Mosiah 7:33! read it! it helped me a ton this week and i shared it with a lot of the people and it was cool! i love you guys and hope everything is going well! Elder Machen

"GANA".... A Drive to Work!

Well ladies and gentlemen i bet your dying to find out where i got transfered! drum role........Bauang 1st. Agoo zone! oh man this place is great! i have to admit i was way nervous to get transfered and leave my home "baguio" it was tough leaving my comp elder azores but it's all good. My new comp is Elder Apduhan. he's a good elder and i'm living in a 4 man apartment. haha with all philipinos! it's kind of hard cause i can't really understand all what their saying and being the only foreigner i do feel a little out of place haha but i look at it as a blessing because i imagine my tagalog getting a lot better living with all philipinos and only speaking tagalog. so are apartment is like one of the nicest ones in the mission hahaha it's Huge! it's way nice also but i experienced the cold shower! its not as bad as i thought i actually enjoy it because it's so hot outside! oh man the heat is nuts! but i was expecting it so i don't mind it too bad. the ward here is great! oh man they're so nice and really made me feel comfortable. the work is different here! in baguio it was kind of tough to teach lessons but here we have more lessons so that's good! i imagine the time will fly if that's the case. I've already felt the blessings of the lord in my tagalog. it has been a huge blessing because elder apduhan is my 1st senior comp so when we got into lessons he said ok you got this and without even hesistating the spirit took over and i was able to do what i needed to do. people have been asking how long i've been here in the philippines and i say about 4 and a half months and some are really surprised with my tagalog so that made me feel good haha. the rescuing is going well! i don't know really anybody here but we did have some less actives at church yesturday. but it's nice because we always have people to teach and new people to meet. i'm really loving the work i just have a "gana" or in english a drive to work! even though here is scorching hot i love it! haha i thought i was going to go through another culture shock but i was blessed and didn't. dont get me wrong it's like a whole different world down here! nothing like baguio but i love it! the circumstances are even more humbling. it's really sad to see some times but one thing that i admire about the philipino people is that despite the harsh conditions they live in they always have a smile on their face! the people here are so happy and so grateful for what they have. i'm learning a valuable lesson i thought was impossible for me to learn haha back home i loved the things of the world, cars, I phone all the material things that make our lives pleasurable and exciting. haha don't get me wrong those things are still nice and are a blessing but being here has really been teaching me those things aren't what bring true happiness! The gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings true and everlasting happiness into our lives. no matter what are circumstances, no matter where we are on the map, no matter how little or much we have, we Always have the Gospel and that is something that is priceless. it's a lesson i'm learning that i couldn't learn anywhere else. I love you guys so much and miss you! i hope everything is going well and i pray that you will be blessed and "Keep Pushing Forward" no matter what happens.
Pagmamahal
Elder Machen

"I'm Being Transferred!"

Well its happening! i'm being transferred! oh man it's rough! i really don't want to be! but all is well i know it's necessary and it's the lords will. I found out early because my comp elder Azores is training so it's for sure! Dad i remember you telling me about how you have comps on your missions that end up being your best friends. well you were right, elder azores has become one of my best friends we get along way good haha, we've had some dang good times and some rough times but man this transfer went by way fast! i'm sad to be leaving but it's all good. so this week... well it went by way fast because we were so busy! tuesday was zone con! and i didn't have to speak i think sister divine said that because we were at their house monday and i said i had a feeling i had to speak but it didn't happen. but we had a lot of stuff to do this week cause my comp is district leader so the work was kind of slow but still productive! then on friday we had to go down to urdaneta for the train the trainers meeting. well i got my taste of the low lands! holy cow it is so hot down there! the whole time we were outside i thought my skin was melting off! and it's so humid you immediatly start sweating. haha the whole time my comp was just laughing at me cause he was loving the heat and i said "elder im going to die when i come down here!" haha it's all good though, i'm pretty sure im going to be going through another culture shock because the low lands and here is not even comparable. it's crazy the difference. so my next email home will be really interesting im sure haha. but sunday was another great day at church! we had more less active members come and it was great! it's always good to see the fruits of your labors! the lord blessed us a ton this week and the spirit was with us for sure! it's amazing to see the spirit work in our work and in the lives of others! time and time again i'm reminded it's all about being diligent, it doesn't matter if it's in missionary work or just life in general. you just have to keep pushing forward and working. i came across a way cool scripture this week! Mormon 9:27. the whole chapter is way sweet but that verse is awesome! we always have to keep striving and working for our salvation, of course were going to have hard times but i've learned when we push through the really hard times, that's when we are really blessed and grow the most. it's a life lesson that applies to all of us! Diligence is key! it was kind of sad because it was my last sunday in university ward! i've come to love the people here and in the ward, it's kinda sad leaving but it's all good. earlier today for p day we went up to this mountain and it was probably the coolest thing i've ever seen! it looked and smelt like home! oh it was refreshing to breath fresh air and not a breath full of diesel smoke. not a bad way to end my last p day in baguio! I love you family and am so blessed to be serving here in this great place! i appreciate all your support and your prayers! they really do help! i feel them everyday! keep pushing forward! Mahal kita Elder Machen

"The Lord makes weak things become strong when we are Humble"

Well this was a good week. it was super slow and felt like we were getting nothing done. it just seemed day after day we were just getting punted and punted and again this week i wasn't expecting much for church. and as i thought about your questions if i saw any miracles this week...i wondered if i saw any at all but i realized that sunday is a miracle. even though this week was kind of slow and i felt we didn't get anything accomplished we had more people show up to church yestuday then i have ever seen since i've been here! i think we had like 8 less active families come! it was unreal! and i learned you just have to work! even though it may be pouring rain, freezing cold, and we just keep getting punted you just have to work! the lord knows when we try are hardest and we are rewarded according to our works! so i guess you could consider that a pretty big miracle! oh and something kind of cool this week is we had to go on exchanges and i had to go with the greenie from calgary alberta haha. anyways i was pretty nervous because he can't really speak and i can only speak a little. but i prayed my heart out and just like in ether 12:27 the lord makes weak things become strong when we're humble. but it was an amazing experience for me because i was able to do what i have been nervous to do in the past and my tagalog was ok for what i needed to do! it was truly a blessing from the lord! it was a neat experiance for sure! oh and this week we went back and visited this guy named fred he was a investigator and one of the first people i ever taught here anyways we haven't seen him in like 4 months and when we went back i dont think he really remembered me but when i started speaking he just smiled the whole time haha and then he said "oh man your better then that other american a few months ago" haha i just chuckled because that was me. but things are going good. me and my comp are getting along great he's a stud and has helped me tremendously this transfer im praying i don't get transfered but whatever happens will be for the best. The lord really looks out for us out here! im loving the mission more and more everyday! some days are tough and i feel like im failing out here but im quickly reminded by the spirit that we are doing what the lords wants us to do and he is aware of our situations at all times. he gives us challenges and trials in life to help us learn and grow. sometimes it's hard and not fun but we just have to remember he knows best and put our faith and trust in him and everything will be ok. thanks for being the best family in the entire world and preparing me for this mission. i couldn't do this without all the things i learned from you guys! i love you guys! have a great week!


Pagmamahal Elder Machen