My first week at the MTC has been pretty good! I have learned a lot since I got here. I can pray in Tagolog and bear my testimony as well, but most importantly I've been learning to rely on the Lord. I am a pretty proud person as you know, and this has been a humbling experience. The first day I tried to rely on myself, and it felt like I was being knocked down again and again, but as I learned to rely on my Heavenly Father I was able to overcome that and grow more than I thought possible. My companion is named Elder Porter and he is a pretty cool guy. He comes from Las Vegas for the last year, and Idaho the rest of his life before that. He likes to be outdoors, and he is really cool. I really appreciate his spirit that he's got with him. We've been putting a lot of time into studying the language so that we can become fluent. We have set a goal that we will will learn forty new words every day, which is going to be tough, but we've got the Lord on our side, so what can go wrong? (: Other than that there isn't too much to talk about! Classes are good, and I'm learning a lot, and they keep us really busy here. Its tiring, but awesome.
Yesterday, (Friday) we taught our first investigator. His name is Marlan and he is really interested in the Gospel, but a little unsure of what it is. He is really interested in the meaning of life, and why he is here, and the Book of Mormon also. The language barrier is hard to overcome though, because we don't know very much Tagalog, and he doesn't know any English. We had the opportunity to testify to him of the power of the Book of Mormon and the spirit was there and I know that he felt it. He told us that he would read out of Mosiah 2 (That is a really good chapter by the way. You should check it out) before we come back on Monday and I think that he meant it. I love the Lord and I love His gospel. This is the Restored Church and I know for myself that the Lord answers I prayers and helps us when we are in need. He has done so much for us, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be serving Him for the next two years in the wonderful country that is the Phillipines.
I love and miss you all!
Ingat,
Elder Childs
