Elder Jordan Mark Merrill and the 'Pinakamakapangyarihan' Legazpi, Philippines Mission: Week 71

From: Jordan Mark Merrill <merrill.j@myldsmail.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2016 11:42 PM
To: Lauri Merrill
Subject:

Time is counting down. :) As like last week, the season here in the Pines is getting even seasonier! There is one BIG difference from last year that were not experiencing this year. Fireworks. It seems that President Duterte has made them illegal. From what I heard anyway, and also from what I haven’t heard ha-ha. Last year at this time it sounded like a war zone every night but now wala na! So that’s a bummer but it’s all good. Our apartment is decorated and the streets are bright. :) ALSO since we don’t get to see the Temple Square lights this year, our main city, Tabaco has set a Christmas scene type thing in the Plaza. Later tonight we’re going to visit and take some pictures. :) It’s pretty cool!

Another thing that made the season even better was that last night we had the chance to go to the Christmas devotional in the district center. It was short and simple but it was cool to hear the stories of our savior’s birth.

So as far as our work is going, we had a man come up to us and start talking so at first we thought he was weird then we got to know him and he ended up being really interested and asked us a lot of questions we were able to answer so we got his info and realized he wasn’t in our area, he’s in the ZLs area so we passed the info to them and that was that, sad days, :( but then the next day we got a text from some elders in our district giving us a referral they found in their area and then again we got another referral and for us those have been the first 2 referrals we got this transfer so I guess it paid off for getting his info and passing it then God did just the same for us. But we still haven’t gotten ahold of them so we’re not sure what’s going to be the outcome. But God doesn’t let our efforts go wasted. :)

A small thought from the Christmas Devo we attended was that the saviors birth, life, and death is basically the most important thing that has happened to us in the time of mankind. There was a lot of other cool things said but that’s the sum. Not only should we remember him during pasko but every day of our lives.

One more thing (because I don’t have much to say) is we have been practicing as a zone for this week’s Legazpi Christmas conference. It’s not going to be like last year because they split the mission in half for 2 different days but we made a mashup version of a bunch of hymns/Christmas songs so maybe next week I’ll send a video home. :) Well that’s it for me! Sorry its short and simple. But as always say your prayers, read your scriptures, and magsisi:) mahal ko kayo!

**Elder Merrill**