Elder Head in the Philippines - Busy week but busy is good :) #10daysleft

This week was a really good week. It's been busy, but busy is good sometimes.
I've been running double duties this week, taking calls both about mission-related items as well as taking calls on financial problems. So I'm the Substitute Financial Secretary, as I've so dubbed myself until Tuesday when they get back. We miss Elder and Sister McNett dearly and cannot wait for their return. :)

This past week we held a meeting with this new batch of missionaries and their trainers to help them to better to share ideas with each other; what works well, what doesn't. We do this to help the trainers get more ideas on how to help their trainees and it helps the trainees to see their batch and maybe see that "this is hard for them too, maybe I'm not doing so bad." Of course, it's not a competition, but I know when I was in my training, I thought that everyone else in my batch was doing great except for me. So this just helps them to see that it's okay if your adjustment isn't perfect, theirs probably is not either.

During that meeting, we did an activity in our workshop based on Ecclesiastes chapter 4 verses 9-10:
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

So we did trust falls for each companionship and it was so fun. They all did great and no one fell except for one companionship, but the Sister caught her companion and then they both fell together. They were both okay and escaped the workshop unscathed.

We spoke on trusting your companion enough to let them fall, helping them up, and helping them improve. There's no such thing as a perfect companionship, there are always problems or improvements to be made and we can be the tool to help our companion to grow and progress.

The meeting went really well, at least we think it did. It normally does. Anywho, that took up the majority of the week.

Man, it's been so weird this past week. I've been seeing missionaries because of meetings and they all are just like "Oh man, Elder Head, you're going home. I won't see you again."

There's nothing wrong with it. Frankly, I'm getting excited too.  Taking Elder Foote to the airport this week was sure a trip though, my batch mate is leaving for home but I'm not. Yikes.

Love you!

-Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - Bohol Island visits....Racing towards the finish line :) #25daysleft

Momma,

This week has been so cool!!! I've seen so many miracles this week as well as tender mercies as we were in Bohol. I'm glad that I've been keeping my journal again recently (only recently, unfortunately. I'm an idiot. Please Momma, counsel other people preparing for their missions to KEEP UP WITH THEIR JOURNAL. I wish I would've been better. Just like Ryan and Dad.) I've gotten some little, tiny souvenirs but I'm trying to think what else I should get. I already have a magnet from both of the major islands of my mission, I already have some t-shirts, I'll try to find some other cool things that are found in the Philippines that would be much appreciated.

We made it around almost the whole island. It was one of the more tiring things I've done. My legs are super sore and I dunno why, we just sat in a car the whole week for crying out loud. Haha. We started out in Tubigon, then Calape, then Loon, then Tagbilaran, then Dauis, then Valencia, then Jagna, then Pilar, then Ubay, then Talibon, and we ended back up in Tubigon to ship out back to Cebu earlier this morning.

One of the many tender mercies was that we found a package sent for one of the missionaries in Pilar which was lost off the face of the earth for months when we went to go clean up the truck of Elder and Sister Bell. Another was after looking in probably 15 different pharmacies in Tagbilaran City for this prescription during a medical emergency with absolutely no luck. Right before we were about to call it quits, the Spirit led us to this one last pharmacy which was an absolute hole in the wall of a place to get the medication for a sick missionary. The whole trip was loaded with tender mercies. It was so cool. The Lord really does give us specialized tender mercies for our needs and our growth.

Also, the past two weeks we've had two baptisms in our area. I'll get the pictures and send them to you as soon as I can.

I love being a missionary.

-Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

P.S. Man, Mom, I had the craziest dream last night. I dreamed about hugging you and Dad at the airport. It was such a happy dream. I am excited to see you all. It'll be so great.

Pop!
I hope your trip was fun and spiritual. Dad, the older I've gotten, the more I've realized that I have your goofy sense of humor. We just don't think before we say things sometimes and it's gotten me in trouble this week. Not in real trouble. But I've just made some REALLY dumb jokes and I laugh at myself because I'm hilarious. Anywho. I love ya and I hope that you are safe and had a fun time! Show those boys how to be men. Also, help them realize their spirituality. That's what'll help them most in preparation for the dark and dreary world.

I'm so busy and I'm so tired, Pop. My body aches and we didn't do many things that were too physical this week. It's so weird.

Love ya Pops!

Editor note:  Short update from July 22nd! 😁

Hey,
Do you remember last week when I apologized for not being more detailed in my emails to you? Well, due to the circumstances this week I don't have a whole lot of time to email you. This is the reason why I'm emailing you now. Haha.. Sorry! But just know that I'm doing well and I won't be able to email tomorrow. But write something anyways, maybe. Lately we're just taking care of Zone Interviews and will be traveling to Bohol this week for the last time for me probably.

Mom, I hope you and Dad get assigned here on your mission. You'll love it. ;)

I'll be taking out a little more cash for souvenirs this week probably. Just so you know.

Love you!

Elder Mitchell Head

Racing around Bohol Island this past week!

Mitch has always LOVED getting shots...#wimp  Poor Sis Maughan :)

Elder Head in the Philippines - Reflection & personal revelations #39days :)

MOM! and Dad (No you're not just an after thought, Mom just wrote me this week and I haven't got yours yet)

Holy cow sending home that batch of missionaries was SO WEIRD. I've been with them for so long and worked closely with a few of them but THEY'RE GONE. Now everyone is joking with me that "I'm next". Agay. This week was full of revelations for me. First, I don't think law is for me. I think that I'll study accounting and maybe some math. I could then use that for a few different things. I've always wanted to be a teacher, so maybe a math/accounting teacher, or I could simply become an accountant. I think I've got the nerdy glasses for that, I'll be perfect. Haha. Second, I've learned that you absolutely CANNOT run faster than you have strength. We are all human and have our limits, if we over-exert ourselves now, there will surely be repercussions later. Please check my english, I'm not positive that that's the right word. Third, you can't please everybody. Plain and simple. It's impossible for us in this fallen world to appease to every request and make everyone happy. But like the words of President Tanner "If you're right with the Lord, you're right." You can't be afraid to step on a few toes when you're standing up for what's right.

It's really hit me quite hard lately that we're really here on the earth to gain experience. If we live in the world with having only the "now" in sight, we will get what we want. If we live in the world now, but have the "tomorrow" mindset, everything will work for our good. "..all things work together for good to them that love God.." Romans 8:28. I'm sorry Mom that I haven't really been sharing with you and Dad and Ryan my mission. I've just been doing it and saying "I'm good" which is really mean. I've learned so much and am changing so much. I wasn't really compassionate, but I'm working on it. But please know that I'm all good. There that's better. A whole three words. good job Elder Head. Haha.

I feel really blessed, and really grateful for the experiences I've had/am having. The Lord is so good. He truly loves us and cares a lot more about our growth than our comfort. That's why there are hard things in life sometimes. That's why living the gospel isn't always easy. Choosing to follow the Savior is sometimes hard, but as we do so we will become more like Him and take His yoke upon us and we will fell of the lightness of that load, because he's right there with us carrying it too.

I really do love the Lord. I'm so grateful that I've come to know Him. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, whether I speak of myself." John 7:17 I know that this is the Lord's work because I've found greater joy in doing this work than I've found in any other aspect of my life. This is the Lord's work. This is the Lord's church. This is the best work in the world and I'm grateful to be a part of it.

I love you Mom. I really am so blessed to have you and Dad and Ryan. I hope you have a great week. :)
Love,
-Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - An incredibly cool week with incredible people :)

Mom,

This week was so cool! We got to go around the mission with President and Sister Maughan. This past week there were 4 welcome meetings for the missionaries to meet them and they were all similar, but had lots of differences. It was really cool to watch where the Spirit took the meeting. But President and Sister Maughan are incredible people.

Lunch must've been so much fun! Elder Foote and I had a laugh about that. Haha. That's so weird that I have short time now. This past transfer has gone by so fast.

Love you Momma!

-Elder Head

Pop,
I heard that mom got really weepy when she watched it... ;) Just kidding. But I'm sorry that I'm a lousy picture taker. I don't know where it came from.

No serious injuries? I can't really see your pictures that you sent.

That's so weird that Chris will be home. When is his homecoming? What's his topic? He said he doesn't know yet..

Love ya Pop!

Elder Head in the Philippines - Welcome President & Sister Maughan :)

President & Sister Maughan arrived this week and we've been able to get some fun updates from their awesome daughter Kristin.....it has been the highlight of our week....especially a short video clip of Elder Head instructing Sis Maughan as she navigated the streets of Cebu!! #drivinginCebu #notforthefainthearted :)  Didn't see his face but got hear his voice!! #priceless #missionpresidents&wivesareawesome #thanksKristin

Mom!

It was really busy this last week. I feel so exhausted. Saying goodbye to President and Sister Tanner was really, really hard. But, at the same time meeting President and Sister Maughan was so exciting! I've been so blessed. It's been so amazing to be able to get to know President and Sister Tanner. They've helped me out in so many ways. I've learned so much from them both. Even though we've only just met the Maughans, I know that I'll have much to learn from them as well. It was definitely meant to be this way for me. I'm supposed to learn experience from both of my Mission Presidents.

Mom, you would love Sister Maughan. She's very similar to you. She's really funny and sweet and has such a solid testimony of the gospel. She reminds me of you. For that matter, so did Sister Tanner. You all have similarities, but are all so different. Very motherly. I guess that's just one of the commonalities of truly living the gospel. It molds you into something divine, but in your own unique form of good. Heavenly Father's plan is so awesomely perfect. Once we learn these things for ourselves, we are changed. It takes a whole lot of courage to change, to learn and act, but it's ultimately worth it in the end.

Love ya Momma!

-Elder Mitchell Head

Jeff opened his letter to Mitch this week with, "It's getting closer. July 1. Wow and the summer is going to go so fast." Haha!

Pops, you can't say that. That's not okay. ;) I'll be back for the next one! So no worries. Don't lose any eye balls or anything during the family 4th party, ha? That's an excellent idea to study the scriptures even more. The Lord's promise is really true that if you treasure up the words of Christ, the Holy Ghost will give you exactly what's needed in the very moment. So keep it up Pops, I will too. ;) Haha. Love ya!
-Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

Elder Baladad, Elder Head, Pres Tanner, Sis Tanner, Sis Maughan and President Maughan

Elder Head in the Philippines - Farewell to President & Sister Tanner

This week has been so good. There was a meeting in Bohol as a last farewell of President and Sister Tanner to the missionaries and each zone did a musical presentation. The highlight of the whole activity was when all the missionaries on the island of Bohol sang for President and Sister Tanner a medley of 'As Sisters in Zion' and 'We'll Bring the World His Truth'. It was so powerful. The spirit in the meeting was absolutely palpable. It wasn't done by the greatest of singers, but it was sang with all of their hearts and it sounded absolutely perfect.

Later in the week we had another meeting for the missionaries on the island of Cebu. In our zone, Liloan Zone, we redid the lyrics of a song to match the occasion. The message of the song was one of gratitude for President and Sister Tanner's devoted service for the past 3 years and our gratitude for them. It was really emotional.

I've been so blessed to have been able to work with them so closely and have them to have been such a big part of my life. I've learned so many lessons from President and Sister Tanner. This week, saying goodbye to them will be so hard. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye.

We're excited for President and Sister Maughn to come. We're nervous because we don't know what to expect, but we know they were also called of God and will have much to teach us as well. I'm excited for the opportunity to meet them this coming week.

-Elder Mitchell Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - Transfer week ;)

Dad.

I'm sorry that I'm just now emailing you but my Preparation days will once again be moved to Saturday. So...I'll be staying until August 24th. The reason for this is because the Lord has called me to be President Tanner's assistant. The mission needs me to stay for that last week because I've gotten a taste of just how hectic it truly is and I don't think that the Lord would want me to leave early with transfers and all the things we'll be working on that week. Thanks for understanding. With regards to my homecoming talk, we'll have to move it to August 28th, if that's okay. Tell Kate congratulations and I'm excited to talk to her for a week before she goes in. Haha.

Ryan and Madi look so happy which makes me really happy too. :) I'm excited to meet everyone in person but that's still a little ways away. Tell them I say congratulations as well. I don't think I'll actually have a really solid set day to email because this next month will be really busy with President Tanner going out and President Maughan coming in.

Yesterday at the LTO I had a really cool experience. So the LTO is like the DMV, but it takes approximately 3 times the amount of time. So my companion, Elder Baladad, went in to get his license and it turned into a whole day affair. We got there at about 8:30 in the morning and didn't end up going home until 5 pm. For the most of my time there I was sitting in a large room on metal chairs with a tiny electric fan blowing on our heads. There was a television in the room which wasn't too hard to avoid with my companion sitting next to me. For the first few hours we just sat and talked to each other and the other people sitting next to us. After those first few hours, Elder Baladad had to go and take the driving test which ended up taking another 2-1/2 hours. That's when things started to get tempting. They were playing movies on the TV that I had never seen before which sounded REALLY cool. I caught myself a couple times staring at it. But I knew that I shouldn't and tried really hard not too look.

After a while, I started to think, "Well, why not?" So I decided to read in the white handbook why the heck it wasn't allowed. In the white handbook under most of the headings, they have assorted scriptures to help broaden your understanding about the rules. James 4:4 was really cool, which said basically that you can't be a friend of the world and also expect to be friends with God.

I then started to feel bad, as we should when we do something we know to be wrong. I prayed and asked for forgiveness and strength to not watch it anymore. As I prayed, I felt prompted to talk to the old tatay next to me who just sat down. So I did and it turns out he knew missionaries from last year. The old tatay then asked me where my companion was. I told him that Elder Baladad was in the next room taking the test. The tatay then proceeded to stand up and walk directly into the room that said "No entry" which was restricted for the workers only. He came back a few seconds later and told me, "My grandson is the one giving our the test. I talked with him and he agreed to let you sit in with your companion in the testing room." So minutes later, to the surprise of my companion, we were sitting next to each other in the nice, quiet, aircon-ed room with no television.

Man, it was so cool. Father really listened to my prayer. He helped me to be obedient. I feel like he will do that for us in a lot of other aspects as well. We just need to ask, seek, and knock. Ask for help, seek a way, and act on that way.

Love ya so much,

Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

Last week we received some pics. Good times in the 'Pines :)

Elder Head in the Philippines - Tree climbing....#94daysleft :)

This email has been a long time coming.

So this week was great. It was really weird coming off of talking to my family, but I'm so glad that I did. It helped me to realize what was missing. I've felt that I'm lacking something for a long time.

I guess it started back from conference. I was hit REALLY hard when Elder Holland said "...the Lord blesses those who want to improve," and I had a thirst to improve from that point on. I wanted it more than anything. I sought for it but I only could get to a certain point. Like Powerade in a dollar drink from McDonalds there seemed to be a lid that I could not pass. There was something that I could not break through.

It was the most frustrating thing in the world.

I started to feel low about myself. I started to lose hope, which is the worst thing anyone can lose. I started to be unhappy. It really started to emanate from me, giving me an aura of unhappiness. It was the absolute opposite effect of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was so bad. It probably showed in my emails home as well, or lack thereof. Haha.

Every week, missionaries do something called Weekly Planning. During that planning we also do something called Companionship Inventory where, much like a supermarket, we determine what's good in our companionship, what's working, what's not working, improvements to make, and how to make those improvements. It's one of the simplest/greatest bit of revelation received for the forwarding of the work. Anyways, this week my companion and I had a very deep and heartfelt companionship inventory.

It made me realize that I've done all that I can do. I was swallowed up in my own pride and I tried to do it on my own. But with these weaknesses of mine, I don't have power to overcome them. It was really humbling to see that my biggest problem was myself. Haha. I wanted to get it done now. It my way. But the Lord does things line upon line and precept upon precept. Improvement is a process. I had a thought come into my mind, "I'm not yet perfect, and that's okay" because I know that someday, through the process of the gospel, using the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and a life of full of making those small, steady improvements, we can become valiant souls, like our Father in Heaven.

So that was a very fruitful companionship inventory.

In other news, I tried to climb up a coconut tree this week. It was quite the sight, mainly because I picked the shortest one we could find and I still only made it 2/3 of the way up. I'll get it sometime before I transfer.

The Meneses family will not be baptized this month which is SUCH a bummer. They just haven't been coming to church for no reason. They want to get baptized but their house is so far from the church. We'll get it worked out with them though. But this next week Jubel will be baptized. Whoohoo!

I'm happier than I've been in a while. :)

Love ya!

-Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - Happy Mother's Day :)

May has been pretty good thus far. Sister Elaine Mae was baptized and confirmed this past week. Woohoo!

Our area is HUGE! But it's manageable. We've been working with a few families which has been great.


Malipayong adlaw sa mga Inahan!! (Happy Mother's Day!!)

I'm really happy about the opportunity that I had to talk with my family earlier. This week we spent about half of the time in Cebu and half of the time in our area on Bohol. We were able to attend a Missionary Leadership Council meeting where we discussed concerns and improvements to be made in the mission. It was a great meeting, it just kept us in Cebu for a while. Even still, we were able to meet some new investigators and teach our other investigators.

Love you!
-Elder Head

Mother's Day skype session was GREAT!! We loved seeing and talking to Mitch! His cebuano is #onpoint :)  We LOVED the entire 60 minute conversation!! The senior couple serving in Mitch's new area are bloggers and sent me a link to their blog! We love that they post photos every week.....and that Mitch has been in their posts recently! Thanks to Elder and Sister Bell for these:

Elder Head in the Philippines - Ubay is beautiful!

Hey Momma. Don't worry, I should have a full email time from now until the end of my mission. So my letters won't be absolutely terrible anymore. ;) Sorry again about that. That was so lame that I was being so lame. Haha..

Oh man, that new mormon message is SO GOOD. About personal responsibility. That's something that I've been working on in myself as well. I really like how it highlights how we are agents unto ourselves. We are accountable for our own sins, just how it says in the second Article of Faith. It was a really good reminder to me of the importance of good use of agency. :)
This new area is so cool! It's really progressing. A highlight from yesterday was having a part-member family who lived 2 hours away from the church come and get there about an hour early for church. What made it better was that they piled their other family members who we are not yet teaching onto their motorbike and brought them to church as well. They had their motorbike stacked up with 4-5 people each. The poor motorbike struggled a little, but he made it like a champ.

We'll have a baptism this upcoming Saturday in the ocean. We'll take pictures. Haha.
It was hard to leave Bogo, but I like it here. I'm happy already. :)
I love you Momma!

-Elder Mitchell Jeffrey Head

Yo Pop-Pop,
 I am excited to talk to you guys this next month though. Last one! I'm not trunky, no worries.

President and I are still talking about my release date. I've got a few options and choices. I'm going to think about it still and I'll let you guys know.

I've been to the Cebu temple a handful of times now. It's beautiful. We should go sometime. ;) Haha. RETURN TRIP! WHOO!

You would love it here in Ubay, Pop. It's BEAUTIFUL here.

Anything else you want to know? Any requests for souvenirs? ;)

I'm just joking with you cause you told me to not be trunky. Haha :)

Love,
Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - Transfer week #quicknote :)

Hey Momma!

I'm doing well! I'll be transferred from Bogo to Ubay. I'll be leaving the very top part of Cebu and go to the very furthest corner of Bohol. My companion is my batch, Elder Borrego! Even better, we have a car in our area! I'll still be a Zone Leader and this time our whole zone is Elders. #BoysClub #HeManWomanHaters haha!

I'm doing okay! Bummed out to be leaving Bogo, but I'm also very excited to be in my next area.

I'll talk with my mission president about an early release. I've been thinking and I feel that it might be best if I do go home early, but I'll talk with him about it before I decide for sure. But as of now, I'll probably be coming home August 10th.

Love you momma!

MTC batch mates Elder Foote, Elder Goulding & Elder Head
Photo credit @Elder Goulding

Elder Head in the Philippines - Conference was so good!

Hey Mom and Pop!

So I need to repent. My emails have been TERRIBLE lately. I guess I've just had a lot on my mind and it's all been kind of at the time of my emailing.. Haha.. So sorry. Just know that I now have my priorities straight. We are emailing right now after a long day of laundry (by hand of course), studies, work, and making home made buko juice. It was super fun. But not as fun as General Conference.

Pastilan, Conference was so good!! I noticed a lot of my questions from my studies were answered while I was watching conference. I'd say my favorite talk was by President Russell M. Nelson: The Price of Priesthood Power. Oh man. He spoke so powerfully to the men of the church to do more than we are now. It was a call to action for us to become the men that we are meant to be. It like charged my spiritual battery and caused me to want to improve (It's like that's one of the roles of the Holy Ghost or something..). But it truly made me want to work even harder and to gain all the blessings and power the Lord is willing to give me. 

Well I'm out of time because I had to do some business for the zone to the office and I also wrote a larger letter to President Tanner.

About the early release, I'll wait a week to bring that up with President and then I'll let you know. I don't think it'd be a bad idea per say, but I just wanna wait for one more week before I make my decision. Next week my P-Day will be on Wednesday because that is the transfer week. As for now, I'm still in Bogo. Our investigator Jovet has been reading the Book of Mormon but hasn't yet received and answer, at least since Sunday. But we'll keep you posted. The Delos Santos family is still doing well. Other than that, we're looking to expand still our teaching pool. I love ya so much! 

Pops, I totally understand you about being buoyed up for certain callings or assignments. I've been there. I know that the Lord is strengthening you. 

I love you Pops. I hope that you are being refined as well. 

Momma, I'm well aware about 4 fast sundays being left in my mission. I'm sad but excited at the same time. Talk about mixed emotions.. Haha.

Love,

Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - A busy p-day!

Hey Mom and Pop.

So sorry about the lack of good updates lately. My P-Days have been really hectic lately with school and stuff so it kind of just got out of hand.. But it's all worked out now. I'll go to Lilo-an for MLC today in just a few minutes but I decided I'd better sit down and plunk out a quick email to you guys before I head out. Haha. Head.

We haven't been able to watch Conference yet, but we're going to be able to see it this week. WHOO!! I'm pretty excited to be able to hear the words of our church leaders. I'm so grateful for practice. Haha. This week we met the Delos Santos family. They have 2 small children and let us in right away. They were happy to meet with us and our first meeting felt really good. We're going to follow up with them this week.

The members here keep telling me that I have lost weight. Haha. Sorry Pops.

I can't think of what else to say right now. The work is going well.

Ask me some questions so I can answer them next week. Love you! Bye!

Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - Happy Easter!

Hey Momma! Man you have such a love for little children. I think it's one of my favorite things about you Momma. You know, cause I am your littlest child and all.. ;) The young women are going to love you though, momma! That'll be so fun for you in a completely different way. :) Where are you at in the scriptures, Momma? I'm jumping around a lot but I've lately found myself jumping from Alma, to Mosiah, and to Matthew. I've started rereading the New Testament and it's been so nice to be able to do some reading through of the New Testament instead of jumping around. It's been helping my love of the Savior and desire to share this message to continually grow.

Some photos of the fam would be greatly appreciated. :)

I wonder if I'll still be in Bogo for the next skype. The next transfer day is April 21st. When is the exact date of Mothers' Day? I forgotten like all of the holidays. Haha.. #Sorry..

I love you Momma. I know that the church is true. I know the Gospel is the greatest blessing of our lives and I'm so grateful that you and Dad were worthy and willing to make sacred covenants in the temple. Love you Momma!

Well, now I know who all got released. That's a LOT of changes Pop. That must've been a lot of work and a WHOLE lot of revelation. That's so cool that you were able to do all that. That's also exciting about the Stake Young Men. President Osborne will do an excellent job. This week is Easter Sunday. But over here in the Philippines it's called Semana Santa. They have some traditions here in memory of the Savior's death. They have like marches and floats with the cross and of Mary and of the Savior (Sometimes in the middle of the night). It's quite interesting, really. They have a great love of the Savior here. It was a great experience this last week to really focus on the Savior and his Atonement. It makes me think how blessed we are to be able to experience the blessings of the atonement everyday in our lives. I'm grateful for the Savior and for this time to remember his resurrection. I just looked online and the new setup of the ward looks great!!

Love ya!

Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - District Conference - Press Forward

Dear Bishop Dad Jeffrey Head Pops,

HOLY COW. THAT'S SO CRAZY. We've been joking about it for years and it finally happened!! Isn't revelation the coolest thing? I had some revelation as well this week that I should just live at home with you guys for a little bit before I head off to school. I think that it'll be a good cushion for me to return to regular member life after the mission. BAH. There's a little skype button thing to the right of the screen that I'm using and it's so tempting for me to just shoot you a ring real quick and just talk. There's so much we could discuss. Haha. It can wait for Mother's Day, I guess.

Dad, that's so awesome about your new calling. I know that you are going to do so well. The Lord prepares a way for us to do everything he asks. Just keep living the gospel and it will change us daily, if we let it, and this calling will help you become the man the Lord has always known you can be. Love ya tons Pop Pop.

This week was District Conference here in the Bogo District of the Church, and the theme was also 2 Nephi 31:20 and man, the speakers were so good. Something that really stood out to me was that one of the speakers shared Revelation 3:15-16 (If I'm not mistaken) which talked about how the Lord wants us to either be hot or cold. It's either that we're with him or we're not, there's no middle ground. He then compared it to pressing forward, how we must continue to get hotter and hotter and become more like the Savior, or we will not be worthy to stand at the last day. This was important to me because I've been studying the Plan of Salvation about our earth life. Mainly about how this life is the time of our probation. We're either making the most out of this time or we're wasting it and much like the parable of the talents, the Lord will just our use of this time here on the earth. If we use it well and grow "hotter" the Lord will be pleased. If not, the Lord will "spew us out of his mouth". There were many other talks about pressing forward which I also enjoyed, but that one fit my studies really well. Haha.

Gah, none of our investigators came to church this week. We've been really shifting the focus of our teaching to focus on repentance and commitments. But our investigators aren't making the changes that will really help to grow their faith. They're just content with listening to us and not do anything. It's so frustrating sometimes, but it's really teaching me patience. Which will be a great skill to have in the upcoming years.

I just checked the ward directory. That was so weird to see your name up there as bishop. Oh man.

Well, Love you. You'll do great.
-Elder Head

Elder Head in the Philippines - A busy week = a short update :)

Dad,
It's getting hard for me to not think about home sometimes now. Haha. Like in the past, it was easy. I just didn't. But now that I have to think about college, and where I'm gonna live, and what I'm gonna do, it's getting hard. haha. Especially now that my batch of sisters that came into the mission with me are all home now too. Haha. Don't worry though, I'll still keep pushing on. I'll just focus on the important things which is my mission!

Love you

Elder Head

Hey Momma,

I'll ponder that this week and I'll pray about it to see what would be best. Right now I feel that it would be wise, but I'll get back to you about it in just a little while. That's so weird to see Shaylor, McKay, and Emma at home. That's so weird!! Haha. My sister batch from the MTC are now all home and THAT"S SO WEIRD. Gah. This is crazy. haha. I'm feeling better which is good.

Love you Momma!

-Mitchell

Elder Head in the Philippines - 6 months to go :)

Momma,
I loved your talk. This week we did a lot of exchanges so I had a lot of different companions this week. I got sick on Friday night and Saturday. Super high fever and pain in my stomach/back. Sister Tanner's got me on some medicine that's been helping me out a lot. That's about it. Sorry I'm about out of time!

Love you!

Ps. About the pictures. This is without a doubt, the biggest pig I have ever seen in my life. I dunno if this picture does it justice, but it was like two of me and a little more. I'm terrible at guessing measurements, so... yeah. Anyways. Big pig. I didn't get the memo about this picture with Polambato District!  Haha!!

Elder Head in the Philippines - Filipino BBQ/mini FHE :)

Hey Ma,

I didn't make it into BYU which means my next plan is to find out about this "required test" that I'm supposed to take for entry into UVU. They say that I need to take it before August 1st. I'm gonna do some searching to see if I could potentially take it somewhere here in the Philippines. I've already talked with President Tanner about this and he said that if I could take it here, I should. But if I can't take it here, I'll need to get home early enough for me to take it. But Ryan claims that he needed to take that test too, then never did, and he's fine. I dunno if lightning will strike twice for us there though, so I should probably take it. Maybe I can transfer over to BYU. Maybe.

This week we had a district activity where we had Filipino BBQ and had a mini FHE in this beach resort thing. It was really cool and here's a picture from it. (It was a lot bigger and you could see more of the surroundings, but my garment bottoms were showing on the bottom, so I cropped it out. Sorry lang. Haha.)

This week we had to do a realignment of two of the areas in our zone. There is now a small group that meets in the middle of their areas which caused confusion with the branch and the missionaries about where each of the investigators and members would meet from each area. After much planning and conferring with one another the missionaries and the District Leader of their area, we worked out a solution and we all feel confident that it was a good change. So that was fun.

I've noticed in myself that I have taken a leaf out of dad's book and am not really all that compassionate (Sorry Dad). I've been working to be more loving and compassionate and understanding with our investigators. I feel it's been more effective.

This is really long.

Love you Momma!

-Elder Head

Yo Pop,

I didn't make it into BYU. Which is a bummer. Especially because Chris and Connor sent me a group email this week talking about housing at BYU this fall......OUCH. Just kidding. I told them either to do off campus housing so I can be with them, or I can just hang out with them if I live with Ryer.

I totally knew that Bishop Gardner would be released before I got home. I'm really excited for those three, you'll all be doing great things.

We're finding so many new investigators, like we got 11 last week and 6 this past week, but they just are not progressing or keeping any commitments. We're going to try to give out IBD's like candy this week so they'll feel they have something to work towards so we'll see if that helps them to move in the right direction to get an answer. Let me know what you feel about that.

It's so weird that I'm just about to hit my 18 month mark next week. I can't believe how fast time is going now. Haha. Who will be the next bishop of our ward??

Do you remember how before my mission, if we'd watch movies in the basement at night I'd always fall asleep? That happens a lot in our planning lately. I guess my body is still adjusting to being out and moving all day. haha.

Love you Pop Pop.

-Elder Head

We sure love missionary pics....in any form...focused or not :)  #hurryup6months

Elder Head in the Philippines - lots of exchanges this week :)

Yo.

This last week was so good! We've done a lot of exchanges with missionaries so I can better get to know my zone. We were also able to do Zone Interviews this week. I love just talking with President Tanner even though it was just a short time, you can still feel his love for you. There's this family that's SO awesome here Dad. They allowed us to share a message with them. Brother Ivy, the father, started out as a Catholic, then went Seventh Day Adventist, then brought his family to a church here in the Philippines called "Iglesia ni Cristo", and now just does his own thing. He said each of those churches taught well and he liked their doctrine, but something felt missing from each of them. Yeah. He's solid. His family is so good too. They're all super humble and receptive. It's like the Lord just gave us a late Christmas present. They're so great. I'll let you know what else goes on with them. :)

Is there still no news about BYU?

So this week, I tried to focus my studies on the gospel and how we can receive peace from it. In my life, there have been many times where I could not find any peace for my soul until I practiced the principles of the gospel. Mainly faith and repentance. It's funny to see how our studies affect our work because that seemed to be the topic of most of our discussions with people this week. About guilt and how to relieve it. I can truly say that nothing has brought true and lasting peace to my heart, other than living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can say that because there have been times when I felt have not lived the gospel. The contrast is very large and very real. It's only through faith and repentance that we can achieve that freedom from guilt and sorrow. I know this is true.

We cycled through some of the investigators we found last week. Some were busy and others just plain hid from us. Haha. But we worked hard every day and are still looking for those people who are ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Mangrobang is a GREAT cook. I'm trying to learn from him. Haha.

Love ya Momma & Pops!!

Elder Head

On exchanges w/Elder Beltiar FHE fun :)

Mitch decided to share a bathroom (CR) photo just for fun. EW!

His description of this photo was #tallpeopleprobs