First Couple of Days in the Field

 Aug. 26, 2019

Well I'm out in the field!

My new companion is Elder Hedman. He's from South Jordan Utah. He went to Bingham High school and has been out for almost a year now. 

My area I'll been serving in is called Parañaque 4. It's near where my uncle and aunt live. We had stake conference yesterday and I got to see some of their family and my Grandma! 

With Grandma Belen Misalucha

I'm loving my area and all the people. When we go out every day it's fun to see the people of the Philippines. They all just roast me for not knowing Tagalog yet and it's so funny. 

I've been called Chinese here probably 100 times. I laugh so hard every time! All the Filipinos call my companion "Joe" it's so funny! I'm ready to get to know all the members in our ward. 

Love ya all. Hope you're all doing okay!

Elder Espiritu

**Parents Note: Elder Espiritu had no clue when he was assigned to Parañaque that it was the same stake his uncle lived in! We visited there last April during our Philippines vacation but he didn't remember the name of the area. His uncle is in the Stake Presidency so he'll be able to see his family/cousins quite often as the missionaries in the area usually have dinner at their home every Friday night. His mission president is fine with it. We like this MP already! ;) During Stake Conference, his fellow missionaries were surprised at how he knew some of the members and why he was hugging them! haha

With Uncle Belmin Misalucha, Aunt Merce Misalucha, and cousin Mikee Misalucha

Elder Hedman and Elder Espiritu teaching at a member's home

Week Five in the MTC

August 13, 2019

Yaaa I love you all,

I'm just gonna talk about one thing this email. This week I got to go proselyting and actually go finding and teach the people of the Philippines.

My district and a couple other districts got to go to the the Anti Polo Mission, about a hour and a half car ride from the MTC. We did exchanges with the missionaries in the field. My companion and I got paired up with Elder Cabungcag. He taught us so much it was crazy. When we went out to go find people it really humbled me.

There's dogs everywhere, I almost got bit by one which was sketchy. Some of the living conditions are very different from where I'm from. Some of the people's houses were maybe as big as half of my room back at home. Really opened my eyes, and made me so grateful for what I have.

These people literally are so  happy all the time and don't take for granted what they have. All the people are so nice and welcoming. We talked to some kids and it was just fun. I would try to speak Tagalog and they would just laugh at me. It was great! 

The kids here are so funny and so energetic and are always wanting to say hi to us missionaries. I'm super excited to teach these people and be out in the field. I can't wait. It's gonna be so fun and I'm gonna learn a ton. 

Here's a scripture I thought was cool and wanted to share. 

It's Mosiah 2:17 saying "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of God." 

I love this so much. To serve our loving Heavenly Father and show Him I care and love Him, I must serve His children. That's why I'm so excited to use everything I've learned in the MTC to help others feel the love and happiness this gospel brings. 

I can't wait to go out into the field next week and grow my pananampalatya kay Jesuscristo at Ama sa langit,(faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father)

Much love from Elder Espiritu. Have a good week everyone! 

Right after we went finding and teaching

After gym

Elder Klomp and I. He's one of my roommates

The boys

Week Four in the MTC

Aug. 7, 2019

What's up everyone!

This week went by so fast. The new batch of missionaries came in on Friday. There were about 50 of them. It's cool to see so many missionaries willing to serve the Lord. It's honestly amazing. 

Still learning a ton of Tagalog each day. I have to learn so many phrases and words and it's a challenge but the more I learn the more everything is starting to make more sense. 

A General Authority came yesterday for a devotional. His name was Elder Bangerter. He gave an amazing talk about how we are the disciples of Christ, and tried to emphasize this isn't our church IT'S THE LORD'S CHURCH. 

He had us read some scriptures from Luke 5. The first couple of verses talked about how Christ was teaching the people. But He entered into Simon's boat after all the fisherman were done cleaning their nets. 

Christ looked at Peter and looked past how dirty Simon was from working all day and looked at Simon with so much love in his eyes and saw so much in Simon. 

I feel like that's how Christ sees us especially in this time on the earth.

We all look at ourselves with a filter of sin and transgression. But the Lord looks past all that and loves us for who we truly are. He looks with the understanding that we have so much potential to be like Him and continue to become better. 

We all need to let go of that bad filter and look at each other as Christ does because we are all disciples of Christ, and He loves each of us with all His heart. 

I love you all and keep you in my prayers.

-Elder Espiritu  

Silly guys being dudes

Elder Strickland in the back 

Our District