Dear Everyone who reads these things,

I have been going crazy this week!! I have been going up and down with a lot of different problems! I will admit I am so extremely homesick it is almost funny HAHAHA!! It is okay though because the worst of it is over! I am happy and ready to keep going! The world isn't over being away. The one thing I have told myself since being out is all those things I think I am missing while I am out here are all gonna be even sweeter when I get back!! We hear and see parts of movies, music, and games all the time here! I am so excited because it gives me even more reason to keep fighting to the end! I think if I went home right now I would be disappointed with life... I wouldn't have anything good to look for because very little has changed. That is something all missionaries have to come to with themselves!! It is of the most importance to realize why you are here and what, in the end, will be awaiting you back home!!

This week we had a baptism of Brother Mark (another sister investigator) he had such a strong testimony and will be a great example to all those he come in contact with. We also Interviewed a man we had no idea was an investigator that we met the first week we were here! He is one of the most elect I have seen in my life. He is 23 and is getting baptized next week! He is looking to serve a mission which is so sweet to see!!

As for us we had a struggle this week. We have been fighting for new investigators and other things with little success. On Saturday we had a Yearly Family Week Celebration/Parade for the church!! It was great to see our whole district there wanting to be with there families. We got to walk the street around town in a huge parade of Mormons and pass out pamphlets and Family Proclamations to the World!! It was awesome and it was a great way to spread the gospel across the Philippines!

Yesterday we only had 1 investigator show up to church... And that was because some of our best fellowshippers didn't go... We now know why fellowshippers are so important!! It is Difficult sometimes to do these things but we are always going forward!

This week will be great fun filled with exchanges with Elder Garner, follow up batch training, and being fingerprinted so I can make it through customs when I return home!!

I love you all and am so excited to see you when I return!! Please SEND PICTURES!! I love them they make my week even more sweeter!!

Love,
Elder Minson 

Brock's Mission President posted more Pics from last weeks Zone Conference on facebook. Brock is looking great.

Week #13 - "My cloths very rarely get dry!"

Alright now its yalls turn... Quit your complaining ;) To start off the bat, I miss you all more then anything!! This week has been by far the trunkiest week of the mission... President said this 2nd transfer is the hardest and yep he is right!!

This transfer has been crazy and has brought lots of blessings!! The language is improving a ton more, or at least my confidence has!! I am able to talk pretty well with people. I still struggle in lessons because I have to explain a lot more. ME and Elder Crosland do pretty well when it comes to lessons.This week we had 7 investigators show up to church! Crazy huh?! I have not had such a great opportunity! Last week I did get to do that baptism i just wasn't able to change before pictures! This week though, I got to do the same thing, I baptized Rian Improtante Jumaway. He is 9 and is a crazy kid! It was awesome! My cloths very rarely get dry! October 6th we have a baptism of our own for Leny Obdamen ... She has a testimony ... and a desire for baptism. ... The people here are poor... they have nothing and they have no way of getting anything... We try helping them through faith but that trial is super hard to pass.

Lessons with SM are going great. Sadly he did not go to church... He is busy a lot but he is really trying to leave time for the gospel. We should be showing him the restoration video tonight and hopefully that helps him know what he really wants!

This has been a crazy adventure. Rain, sunshine, rain, rain, sunshine... never
stops. Your adventures seem pretty crazy though. I am way jealous of that camp boys!! I think that is so cool to repel and do things like that!! Over coming fear is hard but it is the first step to success!! Oh I forgot to tell you my fear of spiders is slowly diminishing!! I hate big ones still which you will see pictures... But I play with little one with the kids!! It is awesome.

We got to go to zone conference this week. It took a lot of time out of our proselyting time, but it was worth it. I met a lot of amazing missionaries. I got to talk to my batch, and got to learn some interesting things on how to study and prepare for lessons.

I learned how important working ward missionaries and home teachers are. Our branch has little home teachers, but the branch missionaries rock!!

Dad all I can say is keep pushing the Ward to get out there and do missionary work. The missionaries are out here to teach but 1out of 285 door knocks get a baptism, 1 out of 8 member introductions get a baptism! That is a huge difference!!

Members are the key to success remember that... You are all missionaries!! Keep strong and be the best you can be!! Love you and miss you all!!

Love,

Elder Minson

PS- Please send pics of home, the family, friends, my 3d graphics stuff, ect. It is the only thing I have here and it means a lot to me!!

Week #12 - Drenched and loving it!

Brock drenched from the rains!

This week has been very crazy!! Especially weather wise. I can't believe the amount of rain we got!! The pictures here show me soaked to the bone!! I was wading through almost 2 feet high water through these small huts to reschedule appointments!! Man this place is just filled with surprises!! So pretty much I only have pictures of the very poor areas I realized. I haven't ever sent anything of the real city where we live. I don't live in bad conditions we actually have one of the largest and nicest Elder apartments in the whole mission.

Transfers were crazy me and Elder Crosland were nervous the whole day not sure what was going to happen. We have heard some Elders have been called as late as almost 11 O'clock. We were nervous, but never happened!! So we are all good for one more transfer. What is so scary is I probably will lead the area after this transfer!!

Well I had a great and crazy opportunity yesterday. Randomly during sunday school President Loreto (branch president) came up to me and asked, "Can you help us?" I was like heck yeah with what? He then says, "Great, can you give a talk in sacrament?" WHAT!?!?! HAHAHA It was funny it was like maybe 30 minutes before sacrament. So I did and the lord blessed me greatly people were very impressed by my ability. I by no means know the language or know how to speak correctly, but I am able to get the message across and I gave a 10 minute talk on Magtuman sang Kasuguan. (keeping the commandments) I am trying so hard and I think I am finally finding my voice.

Mom I think that I so cool that you are starting to start school. I know it will be tough at first, but once you get in a rhythm of school again it becomes easier and you will learn quicker. It is like the gospel once you start saying your prayers, and reading every night, learning the gospel becomes easier, not because you changed how you study, but your mind adapts to learning.

Dad I am so jealous of you and being able to go to Oregon. Man I wish I was able to go. Did you see the temple? I love the temple in Oregon it is super beautiful. I hope grandpa is doing alright. I have emailed him. I told him if he ever needs a place just to go to get out of the house our house is open. I wouldn't mind it if he moved in with us. I guess Tammy is moving in again, I just wish I could be there. Dad I want you to read the Kolob Theory if you haven't. It will blow your mind I mean it isn't doctrine, but it is an interesting take on the Plan of Salvation. It makes sense in a way. I will send you that in a bit.

Brody, thanks for your email. Camping sounded like so much fun! I wish I was able to camp. Well it kind of is like camping out here in a way HAHA! It is cool you are making new friends. Brody I promise you that if you expand your group of friends and just love everyone and not separate your self from anybody you will have an awesome time in high school like I did. That is one thing I was grateful I did. Keep having fun bro.

Brig-Ham where is your email bro? I heard about your game... I am sorry that is rough. Keep on hitting people. It doesn't matter how your team does. Just do your best and that's all you need to say. In the future the teams will be based on skill and you have the skill. I hope you are enjoying school. Keep having fun it only lasts a short time then you are on a mission.

Family I love you all. Please send me more pictures. If you can send me some pictures of my architecture work. I have it on my email somewhere if you can't find it on my computer. The people here love hearing about it. I am focused on the work, but one thing different about there is if you don't have a relationship with the people it is hard to get through the door. SO we spark interest and BRT with things of home, my fair skin everyone thinks is handsome also helps, and most people here love computers so if you can just some pictures would be cool.

Well family this week was cool. Yes I got to visit the giant house several times. He is very gracious and the last appointment he said that he will take all the time he needs if it gets him closer to Christ. That is how we should be. Magnify our callings coming closer to Christ is better then anything else you can do in your life.

I love you all my friends, family, and anyone else who reads these things HAHA! It is nice to hear from you. I have about an hour and a half to email a day. That includes, Emailing President Lopez so it is not much time. I love you all even if I am not able to get a hold of everyone. Keep praying. Our investigators our Sister M, Sister A, Brother M, Brother S, Brother C, Brother J, Sister L, Sister E, Sister E, Sister A, Sister S. They all need help one way or another. It is difficult here. I have you in my prayers though. Love you all!!

Love,

Elder Minson