Back In Dubai

June 23, 2024

STATUS UPDATE

times we accidentally ordered coffee this week: 2

chicken heads consumed: .5

miles walked: so many

Sheeeesh another week has come and gone. People ask me everyday how much time I have left in the mission. This week was the first time someone has responded saying “oh so you're almost done”. HUH ????. Hold your horses buddy I just got here. It's going fast but I love every second of it.

Anyway

Here are some things that happened this week.

ATI VILLAGE

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One area Sister Castañaga and I have kinda just started to explore is called Ati Village. The people who live here are part of a native tribe and have their own culture and language. We have one super active member family here and even though its super far from the church they still come every week. Baskog guid. They also make really good isaw. I asked them to teach me their language but they told me its forbidden. RIP. They taught it to the Elders. De heck.

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This is Rodrigooooo. He was taught by the Elders before and was super close to being baptized. We have been teaching him again and he's been good sa far. He told us last time he didn't get baptized because he had to do his laudry. Valid. Also please ignore my haggardness.

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This is a cow. We have a return appointment.

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This is us after setting a baptisimal date for Rodrigro. We stay hungry we devour.

CHICKEN HEADS

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Sister Castañaga and I were doing some finding a stuff and we met a lady with a bbq. We asked her if she was familiar with the missionaries and she told us that before, she was tuaght by the missionaries and wanted to be baptized but doesn't feel worthy. We gave her a new Book Of Mormon and marked somw verses about the Atonement. We are excited to go back to her and share the reality of the Atonement with her. We also bought some of the chicken heads she was sellings. I kept telling Sister Castañaga that I don't think that part of the chicken is meant to be eaten but I did not will that battle. I legit couldn't figure out how to eat it so I kinda just ae some of the skin off the head and then tried to disect the brain.

EXCHANGES

We had the absolute honor and privilege of working with the Kalibo 1st sisters this week. Lets go Kalibo zone. I worked with Sister Ambao who is a fairly brand new trainee but she's totes chill and 100% better than I was as a trainee. She's also the first sister I've ever worked with (other than Sister Bentley) who was taller than me.

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Zooooom

basi magulan hinduna???

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BACK IN DUBAI

So Sister Castañaga and I made a slight error this week and accidentally locked the one and only key to our apartment, inside our apartment. So chill. After calling 8 different landlords we found out that they don’t have a key either. Anyway we were planning on having to travel to the neighboring sisters to sleep (sister Castañaga proposed we just sleep outside). We went about our work and ended up asking one of our recent converts if he has any ideas. He told us he knows how to unlock a door with a credit card. He told us he used to do it all the time back in Dubai. Ok brother pop off. Anyway he ended up helping us get back into our apartment and I am now ready to join the cast of the next oceans movie.

COVENANTS

Only here on my mission have I learned the true value of our covenants. Yes, they require a higher level of commitment to Christ, but they also produce a greater access to Christ's power. “With great power comes great responsibility.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, I grieve for those who leave the Church because they feel membership requires too much of them. They have not yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.”

President Russell M. Nelson, 2022 “Overcome the World and Find Rest”

Our covenants are the outlet of God’s power. Without covenants we only limited access to his power. But with covenants we have “power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way.” Becuase of temple covenats we can experience true rest.

One of my favorite songs here on the mission is called “Rest” and I just want to close with a few lines from that song.

Lay your head down on His shoulder.

He can take the pain away.

He knows exactly what you need.

He’s your healer, your protector.

He came and took your place.

So come and lay your burdens at His feet.

And you’ll find rest from your worries.

You’ll find peace for your soul.

You’ll find strength in your journey

Wherever you go.

You’ll find light in the darkness