Being Sick - I woke up last Monday morning feeling sick. I took some medicine but wasn’t feeling any better by the time I left the house. I was just shivering in my rain jacket while I was emailing. After emailing I threw up then went home to rest. I didn’t eat anything until Wednesday. I still haven’t eaten a full portion yet. Yesterday for dinner I ate a tiny portion of rice and a hard boiled egg. All of the members here keep telling me that I look a lot skinnier from the last time I was in Manado. I think it is true.
In my neighborhood there is a group of four kids around the age of 5 that are always outside. Literally they are just always outside in the street. They stand there all day playing with these two balls they have. Everytime we pass by them they always call us and ask for money. We tell them we don’t have money but a week ago Elder Eddington gave them a pass along card with a picture of Jesus and now they always ask for pictures of Jesus. Not sure why I put this in here but we just think it is hilarious how these kids are always standing out on the road waiting for us.
Big News
Being on a mission has provided me with many opportunities to serve in different capacities. From training missionaries to teaching the restored gospel, I have always found something to learn from every experience. Truly God, the father of all truth, has a lot he needs to teach, and this week he gave me an opportunity to learn a lot more.
My mission president, President Mackay, came up to Manado this weekend to reorganize the branch presidency in the Manado branch. He told the branch that after months of fasting and prayer he was absolutely sure of the Lord’s will. He released the former branch presidency and called myself as the new branch president in the Manado Branch. My two counselors are Brother Ismail and Brother Tatara.
It is really humbling to know that the Lord trusts me right now to serve as the branch president in Manado. I love the members here and will be given a lot more opportunities to serve them. In addition to fulfilling my calling as a branch president I will still be a full time missionary, going out with my awesome companion, Elder Eddington, to find people to teach.
I am really optimistic about the future. The branch is going to grow. Everyone is going to come unto Christ, myself included.
Official Church Meetings - something interesting about Indonesians is how serious they are about all their little worship services. After being called yesterday it seemed that what was most important to the members was that the new branch president was coming to a house blessing. Blessing the home here is a big deal. They don’t really understand that it is nothing more than a prayer. Last night at the house blessing my second counselor invoked the priesthood to bless these people’s new house. Also at things like birthday parties they go all out with opening and closing prayers, songs, speakers, etc.
On our last video call mom asked me what I have learned from President Mackay. I said I have learned a lot how he is always teaching. Another thing I have realized that I have learned from him is how much trust he has in others. In a lot of ways with the rules he will just read the rule to us then say “I trust you to follow the rule” rather than defining the rule for us and telling us everything we can or cannot do.
