Difficult but Good

My heart is full of joy for all of the love that i feel. I feel good about everything going on here in the mission. I have been realizing how difficult it really is to train a new missionary. Elder Plandiano is literally brand new to the church as well as missionary work and so it is tough and trying on my patience sometimes but i really love him. His story is so amazing and it is sad sometimes when he only can email his brother because his family is like 2 hours away from a computer. We are so lucky there in America. I had no idea. We are going to cebu later today for a training tomorrow and i really want to buy him a nice quad. He only has an old triple from a missionary back home and a mini bible that is falling apart. So i think he would really appreciate it and i know he will never forget to read. I love him. haha even though sometimes i seem on edge. But that is part of having a companion. I feel good about the work, it is going good with bringing back inactives but it is hard and sad when they still don't go to church. oh well just gotta keep going. i have been learning some Tagalog because we have investigators who we are teaching in Tagalog... it is so hard. i can only speak a little but i am learning. so that is fun. but thank you so much for the package!!!! so awesome. The Garcia's and members loved the chocolate. Tell everyone i say hello and that i love/miss all of them. Give them all big hugs and kisses for me. Well that is pretty much it for now. I love you all, yes i do. I am so happy that we are sealed as a family forever :) Keep the faith.
Much love, Elder DeSchepper

The Work in Siaton

Everything is going good. Being pretty much in charge of the branch, and the area is difficult, but we are pressing on. We are starting to find a lot more success in the inactives which is great. Last Saturday we had a family home evening at a less active family's house, and now two of their sons are starting to prepare for missions. It is so cool and i just love seeing these people remember their covenants and want to come back to church. We have had so many people working with us, like yesterday there were 8 of us that went around teaching less actives. There is one sister, sister Conde, she is so great. She is always sharing the gospel, and wanting to find people for us to teach. She's a better missionary than i am. But everything is going good with my companion. He is really funny, super smart, and is great with people. He always wants to help others, and he is becoming a really great missionary. We had another small flood/storm last night, but it is all good nobody died. haha Well i am having a lovely time serving here. Sorry i don't have that much else to say. Hope everyone there is doing good!! Love you all.

Elder DeSchepper

New Companion

family :)

I have been so blessed to be here on my mission. my new companion is Elder Plandiano from Zambales Luzon Olangapo. he is a recent convert of 2009, and is the only member in his family. He is actually half American. His father served in the us navy and met his mom when he was stationed here at Clark base. Sadly, his father left them when he was 2 years old, and he had not had any contact since. It is okay though he knows that one day they will meet again. He is so smart and has been learning Visayan so fast!! At first it was difficult to communicate with him but it is good now because he understands a lot of what i say to him. Not going to lie this training business is tough work, and i am dead tired at the end of every day. I guess that is good though because we are working hard.

last Thursday the Conde family was sealed for time and for eternity in the Cebu temple. the service was so special and the spirit was pure and strong. i had the excellent honor and privilege to be a witness along with Elder Taylor. the happiness that was brought into the lives of this family is so special and i know if it weren't for the church, and for the knowledge we have, we could not be truly happy. i am truly happy here and am having the best time of my life. working hard, being diligent, and always trying to help others come unto Christ is my purpose here as a missionary.

Yesterday the missionaries here assigned on Negros island were gathered together for a special meeting with president Schmutz and Elder Ardern from the area presidency. We were each interviewed by Elder Ardern and it was so great. He told me to shine my shoes lol, but i feel so much more of a desire to serve and be obedient because of his guidance and words. I love my mission and i wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, even when there are earthquakes and tsunami warnings that could possibly kill a lot of people. I love the people here and the food, and this language is just so special to me.

I know the church is true. that the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints is the lord's living kingdom on the earth today. It is guided by a living prophet and is headed by Jesus Christ himself. this is the truth and the way. No words can describe my happiness because of this knowledge. Be true in the faith and always pressing on. Like Joseph Smith said, "shall we not go on in such great a cause?"

much love, Elder DeSchepper

Trainer

Hey, This week has been so crazy for the mission. Like 9 missionaries have been sent home (with more to come) and President is really cleansing the inner vessel of our mission. The missionaries were doing horrible things-some really bad stuff. I know satan is working hard but i am always working harder. We had our p-day switched to today just for this week because transfer day was yesterday. Some good news... we had an amazing baptism this past Saturday and just so spiritual and beautiful. There were four of them and all are amazing people. Hopefully 3 of them will serve missions as well, and they are planning to go to the temple in Cebu for baptisms in April. Some sad news...Elder Taylor is transferring, but it is okay. He is a new zone leader in city zone in Cebu and the temple is in his area. so great for him. Some scary news... my new companion is a new missionary from the MTC. I am training him, and so i am still in Cebu until later because they haven't arrived yet. I should meet him in a few hours. So yeah i will be tested a lot with the language and helping this new elder be an effective missionary. It is really a scary thing, but i am happy that President Schmutz has trust in me to take care of my new companion. Some great news... the Conde Family from my branch are going to be endowed at 3 and then sealed right after. Iit is going to be a special experience, and a strong testimony builder. I am really nervous about training, but it is okay because i know that the lord will be right by my side helping me and my companion be the best we can possibly be. So my week has been long and i just want to get back to my area and go to work. It is very different just having to wait and sit around for a few days. But i am excited for where my mission will take me from here. Thank you all for the love and support i feel continually, and the prayers that help guide and protect me. I love you all and i hope everything is well with each and every one of you.
Elder DeSchepper