Elder Dallin Espiritu: Doing Our Best to Find People to Teach

Hi everyone,

This week was about the same. Nothing really new happened so not too much to update about. We're focused on finding new people to teach and, I was sick and we weren't able to work for some of the week. So sorry short email this week. (but I got pics so don't worry) I just wanted to share a scripture that I really liked. Especially with it being close to Christmastime.

3 Nephi 18:24
"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed."

We should take Jesus Christ's counsel in this verse and try to apply it to our everyday life. Continue to ask the question "Am I trying my very best to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ by following His perfect example"?

I challenge everyone to continue to be a good example to others and helps others come closer to our loving Savior Jesus Christ, and just be happy and not be fake. Be a true and strong disciple of Christ. Especially with Christmas coming around the corner. Try your best to be a light unto the world and help others as well.

I'm grateful for everyone's support that I get every week.

I love everyone and hope everyone's doing okay!

-Elder Espiritu

Notes from our video chat with him:

Typical day:

Wake up at 6:00 am

Pray and read 10 pages of Book of Mormon

Breakfast (usually oatmeal or eggs)

Exercise

Personal Study (study the Bible & scriptures)

Companionship Study

Out the door by 10am

Appointments or Finding until 9:00 pm

In apartment by 9:00 pm

Bed by 10:30 pm

He still laughs at how people look at him funny when he tries to speak in Tagalog because of his American accent. He usually tells them, “Lumaki ako sa America.” (I grew up in America). They usually say,”Ah, makes sense.”

He, being a jokester, a couple of times for fun, he would say when people notice his accent, “Oh, I’m from Cebu.” Cebu is where his Mom, Belenda grew up and speaks a totally different language than where he serves. Most Cebuanos speak with an “accent” when they speak Tagalog (the national language).

Anyway, a few times, he’s told someone he’s from Cebu, they would call his bluff by talking to him in Cebuano (Visayan)!!!

The Philippines has 8 major languages and over a hundred dialects. To unite the Philippines, in 1937 the President of the Philippines declared “Filipino” (Tagalog) as the national language and requires it to be taught in schools. Without Tagalog, Filipinos will have a hard time communicating with each other. Most Filipinos are bilingual or trilingual. The Philippines is the 3rd largest English speaking nation.