July 31, 2011

Silly Scripture of the week is Proverbs 28:15

i'm down to 180 lbs, weird...

so our water filter is nasty. also our water is disgusting. we have been drinking tainted water for a while and there doesn't seem to be a set date when we'll have clean water. because they haven't ordered new water filters for our house for months, our water literally smells like feces... it doesn't matter though, i'm sure that i have a million amoebas by now from drinking water from chungys. (house window store type things) just had to get that off my chest, it gets annoying how nothing we have works properly and we have to bug the office elders forever to get replacement things or try to fix it ourselves when the missionary health guide say "do not risk your health or safety to save money" and "ask for a replacement" like our filter, FUEL BURNING STOVE, rice cooker, fans, toilet...

this is just one of many things that you will learn on a mission, patience. and also how to survive with limited resources.

well i think that i could write a few things down this week to help prepare friends back home preparing for a mission. things will probably be a little different depending on where you go, and if you head to the Philippines, i could get really in depth about what you need to do but these i think would be the basics.

SPIRITUALLY: avoid temptation, Satan will tempt you big time no matter what before your mission. he will try everything to keep you from going. even if you think you're good, he could throw you a curve ball the night before you leave.

READ: PMG (Preach My Gospel), Our search for happiness, our Heritage, Jesus the Christ, true to the faith.

WATCH: The District 1, The District 2

MEMORIZE: Our Purpose (PMG pg 1), 1st vision (PMG pg 37), D&C 4, Baptism invitation (PMG pg 40), Baptism Prayer.

STUDY: Preach my Gospel Chapters 3,8,10

when leaving for the MTC:

Bring: Grooming kit, lot's of shoes and socks.

don't bring: Umbrella, backpack, blanket, more than 1 towel, jeans, sweater, books, binder, alot of; shampoo, soap, shaving creme.

you shouldn't bring a lot of things to the MTC because you may have to dump it or send it home. sending things home from the MTC is actually pretty cheap, i sent 30lbs worth of stuff home and it cost me 7 dollars. but excess luggage fees run around 100 dollars. if you go to Bacolod, throw away ALL of your Tagalog books at the MTC you won't ever use Tagalog ever again. and pack your luggage under 40lbs. in the MTC, you can easily get soap or shampoo from the free boxes lying in every residence hall. and there are about 4 boxes on each floor and 4 floors in each hall. or you can buy stuff from the bookstore (they give you 6 dollars every week). if you bring it with you, you might toss it when your about to leave.

you can probably practice the teaching process. which is really just an unwritten process from Preach My Gospel:

1. How to Begin Teaching (pg 176)
2. Follow Up (pg 200)
3. Teach people not lessons (pg 182)
1. ask inspired questions (pg 183)
2. Listen (pg 185)
3. Resolve Concerns (pg 187)
4. Teach Doctrine (ch 3)
4. Commitment (ch 11)
1. Ask direct Questions (pg 197)
2. Promise Blessings (pg 197)
3. Testify (pg 198)
5. Close with Prayer
6. Reading Assignment (pg 190)
7. Return Appointment