Update From Elder Heaton

Well another week gone by many more journal entries written, new experiences every day, new people, new things learned, livin the dream. Elder McGavin told me a few months ago that we will never serve a 2 year mission again. We will only serve a 18 month misson from now on and then a 12 and a 6 and then before you know it your home again. I realize daily how short time is. There was a man in Korea in the 50s. Dr. Kim ho Jik. He was only a member for 8 years before he died. But while he was a member his impact was so incredible upon the church he will never be forgotten. While there are many that have been called and many forgotten the work is still the same. With only so little time to do it. 

Next month i turn 20 in physical body and 6 months as a missionary in the field. It's crazy how fast time flies by when you are doing what the Lord wants you to do. Although the routine is pretty much the same everyday the things that we do in a day could impact not only my life or my companions life, but the lives of thousands. Think about it. Baptize a family. With 4 sons. The 4 sons go on missions and do the same thing. Because of 4 baptisms. The number doubles. And it continues on. Everything we do everyday is recorded in the heavens. God knows all. It's up to us to choose where we stand. Do we stand with Christ as we did in the preexisence? Or do we succumb to the cunningness and power of the devil? Everything we do has an eternal impact. 

As a missionary I only have 2 years now only 17 months to do everything I can to invite others to come unto Christ. This transfer has been a little slow in the numbers we just baptized all of our investigators haha. So now we are just looking for new ones. All of the investigators we have now have dates to be baptized as well. Bro. Leslie in the mtc emphasized the need to bring others unto Christ as fast as we can. Of course we do it as fast as we can but also within the Lord's time. For example, Bro Bbol. What great potential. Awesome investigator who knows it's all true believes and knows. But for some reason wont come to church. There's somthing that's still holding him back. 

Well the field is white already to harvest but we just haven't got to that section of the field yet. I know Bbol will accept the gospel but not now. It may be in a year it may be in 20. Not sure when we will get to that section of the field, but we will get there. We need to focus on the ones that are ready to be harvested now. In Joel I think not exactly sure. It talks about "multitudes multitudes in the valley of decision." Every one is one decision from coming unto Christ or not. It's up to us to invite him to make that decision. 

This really is a marvelous work and a wonder. Nothing more important other than families. I love this work so much I only want to do my best I pray every night that the Lord will bless me to be the missionary he expects me to be and to do exactly what he would have me do. And when trials come, persecution, rejection or anything else come along I know that I stand with Christ in the war that begun in the beginning, in the premortal life. He leads this church and this works. If it is not done in his way it does not get done! I pray that we will all do all we can to be the servants that our Lord and Savior would have us be. I love you all and know that Christ loves us, for it is love that carried Christ into the garden of Gethsemane. I hope you all are doing well and continue with the faith. I love you all and will talk to you next week!!
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-Elder Heaton

Philippines Bacolod Mission

Philippines Photos...

Chicken Feet for dinner... 

The hand signal means Guapo... or Handsome.

Vic's Pics!

MTC Photos!

Stockton, California!!

Update from Elder Taufui...

Hey everyone, whats up but ya right now the work is good! Yesterday our zone watched Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration. and it was good we then had a testimony meet after. dang those are hecka good cuz it just make me more happier and more confident that THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, is the true church here on earth. man even sacrament meeting yesterday. haha there was this little and she got up there and bore her own testimony about the jesus, the prophet here on earth and how families can be together through temples. haha man even that little she strengthen my testimony. and dang im so grateful for the plan that heavenly father has for us. 


but we had dinner with this family in the ward hecka cool family. we go there every month for fast sunday. so they always have way good food there. but last week has been a little tuff cuz its stockton and satan is working extra hard over here. me and elder bair were teaching this one lady she's in her early 20's and we just talking about God and how he loves us and since he loves us he's given us families. and the gospel of jesus christ can help us build that relationship with family. and she was feeling the spirit and she was saying she was coming to church, and she was holding her baby and was saying to him"you wanna come to church with mommy." haha it was cool cuz we've been struggling to get someone to church. but anyways out of nowhere this chicks uncle came up and started talking to us and talking to her about baptism. and he was just telling her that babies dont need to be baptized. and then out of nowhere he started telling us all this stuff and stuff we believe in. dang and he told his niece that "the mormons" believe in a different Jesus. and that Jesus is the son of the devil. Straight up started saying that and all this crap about us. And we tried to tell her thats not what we believe and she gave us the bible back. man it was gay. But thats why I'm so glad that Moroni gave us that promise to read and pray about the book of mormon and find out for thereselves and not from what anyone else says. and people like that just pretty much strengthens my testimony and there was a time were i questioned the church and what i was doing out here was true or not. and i was brought down so that i could be brought higher and there is no doubt in my heart that this is the only true church here on earth and i know that jesus paid the sins for all of us and i know that he lives. AND I ALSO KNOW THAT HE ISNT THE SON OF THE DEVIL. haha but we all need to see those blessing we've seen in our lives before we start to question our faith in heavenly father. 


haha but ya i saw that same dude at the store today and i waved at him and he just gave me a hecka dirty look i felt bad for him cause he doesnt know and he's not willing to know the truth. but ya just been a lot of finding here in this area i guess its pretty hard out here but its stocking hecka crazy. they have all these billboards out here and there is one that says death count 26, and another people are getting murded here in Stockton. they put all these up cuz there laying off cops so its getting crazy. but there are nice people out here if we ever need water we just ask the people straight up right there that if we can get a bottled water, and most of the time they do.  


but ya we taught this one dude in the park the other day and we first talked to him bout a week ago and he said he already studied with us and the other dude messed it up so he doesnt wanna take the lessons. but last week on saturday we saw him talked to him some more and asked him to come to church. and he said yall eat over there. haha then i said ya we eat, just a little bread and some water he was crackin up. then he told us something about he was going to a lake and we just started talking about lakes around the area haha I couldn't help it, but ya just told him aye we got a little pond at the church!!!! this dude was crackin up haha. but ya we seen him at the park the other day and we taught him some of the first lesson at the park and we got another appointment with him on thursday. But ya the work is good and just to let you guys know you are all in my prayers. peace