The Prince of Peace

I can't believe it's already that time of year again! Merry Christmas! This past year has honestly been the fastest year of my life. Well I'm in my 5th area right now in Lubao, Pampanga, and I've got to say this area is just fantastic. I was pretty sad when I saw that I was getting transferred and wasn't going to be in Zambales anymore. I spent 10 1/2 months there so it was pretty hard to leave. This area seems pretty promising though.

Christmas is my favorite time of year, as I'm sure it is for everyone else. Christmas as a missionary is extra special though. One thing I love about the Philippines is that almost everyone believes in Jesus Christ. It's so easy to break the ice with people and get to know them here because you can just start talking to them about Jesus Christ, and they know who He is and what He did for us all.

I just want to share one of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon about Christmas:

2 Nephi 19:6
 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

One of the things that I have grown a testimony of and am so grateful for is how much my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. I have felt His love so strongly this past year as I have been out here. I have felt His comfort through hard times. Through these experiences I have truthfully come to know Him as the Prince of Peace.

I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the time that I have been given to share about what He did. I have learned from experience that true joy is found by following in His footsteps. I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves us enough to send His only begotten Son. I am thankful for the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father, I know that He personally knows me. There's a scripture in 1 Thes. 5:5 that I really like. It talks about us being the children of light. God has trusted us to share His Gospel and the light that it brings. Serving a mission has given me such a special opportunity to do so that I couldn't experience anywhere else. I have seen lives change as I act as a "light" by sharing the Gospel. You don't have to be a full-time missionary though to be able to spread joy. There are so many ways!! I hope that we will all be able to continue to spread the joy of the Gospel always. Remember, there is Peace in Christ if we look to Him. I know that this church is true and that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. I hope that you all have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

-Elder Furniss

Pasko na

Happy Monday!

"Look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else."
C.S Lewis

Hoy Christmas is coming! Well this week was pretty great, we FINALLY got our part member family baptized!! It was a pretty crazy Saturday though. We woke up sweating because our power had gone out during the middle of the night. We went to the church to try and fill up the font but FYI you can't fill up a font when you have no electricity (at least out here ya can't). So we were kind of at a dead end. We also didn't have phones to use because well, we didn't have any power to charge them and we couldn't get a hold of anyone. It was pretty hectic but long story short It's a good thing that every area in Zambales has a beach or else we would have had to push their baptism back again.

I feel like the members here are really feeling the Christmas Spirit this season. We have had quite a few referrals just in these past couple of weeks. I'm excited to go out and teach them this week. I taught gospel principles yesterday and it was super fun. Everyone was participating and helping answer investigator's questions, yesterday was a great Sunday. We also watched the Christmas devotional yesterday evening, I loved President Uchtdorf's talk.

So I had an interesting experience last week. Our neighbors daughter had her 18th birthday party on Saturday and for some reason the parents asked me to give a little speech. (i'm guessing it's cause I'm white and speak Tagalog?) It was pretty awkward not gonna lie. It was basically like a Filipino Bat Mitzvah except she was 18...and we ate a lot of pork.

Next week is transfer week! I really have no idea if I'm staying or not. We'll just have to see!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful week and are loving this time of year. Take care! I'm thankful for all your prayers and support.

Elder Furniss