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

Week #11 - Surgery in The Philippines!!!! (Dont worry, not what you think)

Dear Family,

Alright family I am sorry I had a lot on my mind this week for different people so it took me a long time to send to everyone who needed it this week. I have had a crazy up and down week. I have been fine personally but investigators and teachings wise has been up and down. This week started of with a crazy experience.

On monday last week me and my companion were walking home, when we were stopped outside this huge house that we always pass and joke that we will teach the people there. This boy...who was really interested in us as Americans. We talked for a good 10 minutes when his uncle (who owns the house comes out) we all start talking and I look at this man (age 30) and hand him an ang Plano sa Kaluwasan pamphlet. HE looks at it and says he is so grateful because he had both his parents pass away last month!! So we talked and I told him about 

Grandma ... and can speak pretty good English so we mainly talk in English. We taught him again and he tells me that he read it and will read it more intently and have a bunch of questions for us the next time!! CRAZY HUH!?! He is a golden investigator. I hope to have success with him because he is so great and has great story, ...

We have had downs though too. We have had an investigator pretty much dodge out of the way so we don't see him. It is sad some just don't have the desire to change or they (Don't Do).. anything about changing. I have had more people tell me they want to be baptized, but they don't act upon (what) we give them. It is just frustrating.

Brock's First baptism, Sister Emilio's
and Sister Cinco's Investigator Named
Erika Franz Sansaet Soquita,
I hope to keep my baptismal cloths wet.

Well this week was awesome I was able to baptize a girl named Erika Franz Sansaet Soquita, she was the sisters investigator. She is in the picture next to sister Emelio and sister Cinco. It was an amazing experience and I hope to keep my baptismal cloths wet.

I have grown a lot here. I have learned how to say a lot in the language so I can at least teach and let them know what I am saying. I still struggle with expression in the language, but it is getting better. I know in time I will learn. This week is transfers and I am scared. I hope Elder Crosland stays with me he is a valiant missionary and he helps me a lot. We have become like brothers to the point where we make fun of each other a ton. I love him.

Remember that I love you all individually. Stay strong and healthy. Mom get feeling better and keep studying ;) Bros I was not able to write you this week but I am so grateful for the updates and think that is so cool!! Keep writing me!! I am keeping my shoes on and progressing forward here.

Love,
Elder Minson

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MY SURGERY

I probably scared you with the title of this didn't I? Sorry but I think it is pretty funny. Me and elder Crosland did surgery on my toe with a knife, toenail clippers and pliers. It hurt extremely bad but as you see in the most recent

After 6 Days

picture my toe is fine. It is almost fully healed and it has only been 6 days. Oh and I have toenail clippers to let you know.
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Every diligent missionary has to go through a few trials. I guess this is a direct result of Brock diligently "putting his shoes on".

Random Sighting of Brock

This looks like it is from a District Meeting. With Pres. Santillan, Pres. & Sister Siady (Cebu Temple Presidency) and Elder Cesar A. Perez Jr. (Area Seventy)

Week #10 - Difficult week with Passing of Brock's Grandma.

Dear Family,

My heart has been very touched by all of you who have written me. I have struggled a bit the past few days. I try not focusing on what has happened, but there is always something that reminds me. I know she is with me, the night that she passed I slept the best I have the whole time here. It was the first and only night it wasn't too hot or cold. It was also the only day that I was almost forced to go work. It was my first time doing companion exchanges. I felt obligated to go out and I know the lord planned it that way so I would stay exactly obedient. This plan is so perfect I don't see how anyone could deny it. God allowed my grandmother to find her siblings right before death. He helped me to be comforted and enjoy my time here through this hard time. Don't forget everything happens for a reason.

As I said this week has been really interesting. I got to go on my first exchange. I was with Elder Garner who is brand new to the zone so I pretty much just showed him around the area and he is super awesome to talk to. He helped me through Friday (the day I found out) and we kind of just talked and got to know each other. I'll admit it helped a lot to have him just talk to me. We talked about home and things we have done and we just really got along and it took my mind off the bad things.

...

During Exchanges me and Elder Garner were about to walk home when a man stopped us, he is a caretaker for his sisters really nice house. He sat there and we talked a bit, made fun of my speaking. Then he said, "I am always looking for the true church." Elder Garner turns around and laughs to me and says, "he is an elect." We gave him information on the church and said we will come back and he said he would gladly listen. The blessings of being out here. Sadly transfers are in 1 1/2 weeks. Hopefully me and Elder Crosland stay with each other. I need his help still haha.

So I have a terrible (in-grown toenail) Hangnail... It kills and it is really hard to put on my shoes... hahaha. Just
 though you should know!

Well this week has been rough. And there is more to come. I can't believe how time is going by. I miss you all. I am sad I can't be there for you and be able to lift you up. I am out here and trying to stay strong. Everyday has different challenges, heat, rain, investigators, broken ATMs(long story), ect. I struggle through it, but the great thing is I get through it. 

Stay strong no matter how hard it gets it can be fixed.

I love you I know this gospel is true and I know through it we can become strong. I says these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,

Elder Minson