Dear Family and Friends,
Alright so what is the Bicol Bake Challenge? So we wanted to do something cool for our P-Day today so we decided to make a run-off of the "temperature man challenge" (For those who do not know this, ask my Dad). Today I cooked Bicol Express which is a very spicy dish they make here with pork. We made a change and doubled the normal recommended amount. Then we decided that we would have to eat it in the blazing hot sun with only a liter of water to drink for relief. I don't think I have every sweat so much in my life, the sweat dripping off my chin turned into a waterfall for a moment, and when the sweat hurt my eyes, I couldn't scratch it because I had pepper acid on my hands. Only 2 of us succeeded in this journey (Me and Elder Smith) and we are better men because of it. If anyone wants to try it, let me know!
This week I have been focusing my studies in Mosiah and in the Preach My Gospel about what it means to have true success. Sometimes as members we think that success in Member-Missionary Work comes only when the people we work with get baptized and go through the temple. What true success is when we invite, and give others to use their agency to come into the fold. As long as we do our part (and do an honest good job), we have succeeded, we have done all we can to control what is on our reach. Of course there with be some who do not want to accept the message, but that is up to them. As King Benjamin states in his talk to his people, he "desires to return to God with clean hands and a clear conscious that he has given his people a chance to choose the right", when we try and invite, we will be able to stand before God with clean hands and a clear conscious that we did our best.
In other news, that picture with the chicken is a work that has taken 3 months to do. Every time we visit this house I have been trying to get closer and closer to touching the chicken's nose, and finally I have done it! It may be lame for you at home, but an accomplishment for us missionaries!
I love you all so much! MAHAL KO KAYO!
See you in 10 months!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (TWMYK)
Alright so what is the Bicol Bake Challenge? So we wanted to do something cool for our P-Day today so we decided to make a run-off of the "temperature man challenge" (For those who do not know this, ask my Dad). Today I cooked Bicol Express which is a very spicy dish they make here with pork. We made a change and doubled the normal recommended amount. Then we decided that we would have to eat it in the blazing hot sun with only a liter of water to drink for relief. I don't think I have every sweat so much in my life, the sweat dripping off my chin turned into a waterfall for a moment, and when the sweat hurt my eyes, I couldn't scratch it because I had pepper acid on my hands. Only 2 of us succeeded in this journey (Me and Elder Smith) and we are better men because of it. If anyone wants to try it, let me know!
This week I have been focusing my studies in Mosiah and in the Preach My Gospel about what it means to have true success. Sometimes as members we think that success in Member-Missionary Work comes only when the people we work with get baptized and go through the temple. What true success is when we invite, and give others to use their agency to come into the fold. As long as we do our part (and do an honest good job), we have succeeded, we have done all we can to control what is on our reach. Of course there with be some who do not want to accept the message, but that is up to them. As King Benjamin states in his talk to his people, he "desires to return to God with clean hands and a clear conscious that he has given his people a chance to choose the right", when we try and invite, we will be able to stand before God with clean hands and a clear conscious that we did our best.
In other news, that picture with the chicken is a work that has taken 3 months to do. Every time we visit this house I have been trying to get closer and closer to touching the chicken's nose, and finally I have done it! It may be lame for you at home, but an accomplishment for us missionaries!
I love you all so much! MAHAL KO KAYO!
See you in 10 months!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson (TWMYK)