Elder Crocker: Starting to Find New Investigators

This was a fun week for Elder Crocker and Elder Antonio, although we lost yet more investigators to a lack of their commitment.  I feel alright about it, though.  While it’s sad that they aren’t accepting our message, it was not due to any lack of effort on our part.  We’re starting to find new investigators though, ones that seem to be truly committed to learning and, hopefully, accepting the gospel.  We’re starting to get more referrals from our ward, which is our main objective, so I’m looking forward to it.

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ (click to read)

As for myself, I’ve found that possibly my favorite part of the day is my personal study time.  I started 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon today and read up through chapter 7.  I enjoyed the part about when Nephi taught the people.  He taught with such power that they could not disbelieve the things which he said.  The part caught my attention though was the fact that the people were angry with Nephi because of the truth that he testified of, and that he taught it in such a way that they had to believe it.  Even though they knew it to be true, only a few were converted unto the Lord.  It’s just an example of what I mentioned the above.  Sometimes, we can teach, and an investigator will know that what we teach is true, but still reject us.  It’s sad, but it’s their agency.  We can’t force them to do anything…

St Luke’s Medical Center, Global City

Elder Antonio needed to run by the hospital to pick up a prescription this week and we were sent to Saint Luke’s, which is considered to be one of the best hospitals in the world.  (Elder Antonio just had chicken pox two months ago and he’s trying to get rid of all of the scars.  It was just an ascetic dermatology visit.  Our health is great.)  Saint Luke’s Hospital is certainly one of the best, if not the best, in Asia.  When I walked inside, I could see why.  Saint Luke’s is located in Global City, which is a serious international business center.  There’s a lot of money in Global City.  A lot!  It was like entering a new world when we drove into Global City in our taxi.  Immediately, I started seeing serious luxury cars, some brands that I’ve never heard of before.  One of the first establishments we drove by was a Jaguar/Range Rover/Land Rover dealership.  It was a weird change from what I’ve grown used too.

The other set of Elders in our apartment had a baptism this week.  That was nice.  As you see in the picture below, the new convert was kind of shy, so she was happy but didn’t really smile.   Baptisms are always refreshing.

Attendees for Baptism of Shy Young Woman (click to enlarge)

We have five investigators with baptismal dates right now, and we’re praying that they’ll be able to keep up.  One of the things about the Philippines is that the Baptismal requirements are slightly different than they would be in America.  You of course have to be living the Gospel in such a way that you could pass a baptismal interview, but one extra requirement is that an investigator must attend Sacrament Meeting four times in a row.  If they miss a week, the counter resets.  It may sound hard, but it’s what must be.  Retention is a real problem in the Philippines; around 50% of the members here are less-active.  That’s part of the reason why our work here as missionaries is a little more focused on reactivation than baptism.

Elder Crocker with Future Missionary (click to enlarge)

Members invite me to eat at their homes almost every night.  I’m in a “richer” area of the Philippines, and they all want to feed us.  Elder Antonio has mentioned that if I serve in a poorer, provincial area, missionaries will buy the food and take it to a member’s home for them to cook it for them.  Even though I’ve done barely any exercise (I’m still trying to figure out a morning routine), I’ve lost weight.  I don’t know if my pictures reflect it, but I’ve actually had to tighten my belt by an extra notch.  I don’t really get it.

Elder Crocker Sandals (click to enlarge)

You asked about how my feet are holding up.  Great.  The Timberland sandals are great.  Also, I always wear socks.  We take our shoes off whenever we enter a home, and I don’t ever want to be barefoot in the Philippines without some sort of flip-flop, at the very least.  We don’t even walk around barefoot in our apartment.  There are a lot of dirty things on the ground.

Angry Birds Cake (click to enlarge)

Not even Filipino people walk around anywhere barefoot.  And yet, even here in the Philippines, you take your shoes off before you enter a home because you don’t want to track in the dirty stuff…  Just saying.

Angry Birds is massive here, by the way.

Until next week,

Elder Crocker

Elder David Neal Crocker