Solid Week

Hello Everyone, 

This week was a pretty solid week for me, nothing really huge happened but it was just a lot of consistent patient effort that I gave this week and as a result I have a short story to share with you. Yesterday I had an investigator come to church that I met roughly 2 months ago and I am going to call her Sarah (but her real name is not Sarah the name is not important) and a long while ago she used to be taught by Sister Missionaries that used to go to her house and taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she also went to church as well before and then she moved to sort of a far away place from the church so she lost contact with the missionaries but she had a strong desire to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ but over time it sort of faded because that is what happens over time but about 2 months ago another sister in my branch she gave Sarah's name to me and Elder Abrigo as a referral and so of course we went and contacted that referral and it turns out that she still had a Book of Mormon but the other things that the Sister Missionaries taught her before she sort of forgot but that we okay because me and Elder Abrigo started over and we helped her remember the things that the Sister Missionaries had taught he before and the best part is for about 2 months I have been going back and forth to her house and teaching her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how much our Father in Heaven loves us and last Thursday we went to her house and we taught here about Heavenly Father's Plan for her and it was a good lesson and our member present added a strong testimony as well and at the end Sarah prayed and she promised to Heavenly Father that she was going to come to church on Sunday and then we said great we will see you on Sunday and we left and then the best part is what happened yesterday so she came to church just as she promised and she did not only come to Sacrament Meeting but she came to church for the whole 3 hours and for me that was just a great blessing for me to see that the last 2 months of work was not just for nothing I know that Heavenly Father has a special plan for all of his children and so that is why I do not give up on Heavenly Father's children because I know that there is a time that is right for them for accepting the plan that Heavenly Father has for them and that is what I do as a missionary I just help his children know for themselves just how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them because I know that he loves us all very much and I know that he will not lead us astray but he wants all of us to be able to return to him and all that he has prepared for us there.

I know that we are all here on Earth for a reason and that he has work for us to do and I know that as we search that out we will be able to know for ourselves through prayer and personal revelation what it is that our Father in Heaven would have us do. Prayer and personal revelation are two powerful tools that we have here on Earth along with the scriptures to really find out and know of a surety of the the love and the guidance that our Father in Heaven gives us. I know that Heavenly Father lives and loves and that Jesus Christ also lives and loves us and I know that as we continue to seek out or ask of God in prayer what it is that he wants or needs us to do he will tell us and he will help us accomplish all that he needs us too I am so thankful for this chance that I have to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all of Gods children here in the Philippines and I know that many blessings will come to all of us as we continually seek to follow Jesus Christ's example and become more like him so that we can be ready in preparation for when he comes again.

Love,

Elder Chilson        

My Brother Samuel

Hello Everyone,

So this past week we had transfers and Elder Abrigo got transferred and I got a new companion which means we now have a new Zone Leader as well here in the Pamplona Zone so that is very exciting because my new companion is Elder Teisina and he is from New Zeland and he is super nice I know him pretty well because he was part of the first group of missionaries that I met while I served in the Mission Office. We also have several new missionaries here in the Pamplona Zone and that is exciting as well even though it is really hot right now here in the Philippines we are still working hard and doing our best to fulfill our purpose as missionaries for the Lord.

This past week we had the National Day of Service here in the Philippines and  I was excited for that and we were able to provide some community service so to speak we worked with some of the members here in Sipocot and we cleaned up garbage along the roads and we also cleaned at the church as well we ended up cleaning some of the windows and and basically the outside of the church for me I just enjoyed being able to work with the members here in the Sipocot Branch all unified in one specific cause. Unity is something that is sometimes hard to find in a large group of people especially a lot of people coming from many different walks of life but I know that Heavenly Father sees us only one way as his children it is not important to him if we have to most expensive car or the largest house and we have a lot of ice cream stocked in our freezers what is important is that we love our neighbors we help them when they need help and we comfort them when they need it that is what Jesus did when he was here on Earth he helped those that were in and right now I would like to share a scripture from the Old Testament because I think that it will be a good reminder for all of us and this is one of my favorite scriptures in the Old Testament and it shares the name of my younger brother Samuel so of course that makes it special for me it is found in 1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 and it reads, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I think that if everyone would remember this then we would have less problems here in the world and we would more easily be able to become like our Savior and Master Jesus Christ because Heavenly Father sees a lot more that we can that is something that I think I have gained more understanding about since I have been here on my mission that Heavenly Father's perspective is a lot broader and clear than our perspective so we need to continue to do our best to become like his son Jesus Christ so we can prepare to receive ultimately Eternal Life or the life that our Father in Heaven has I know that is what he wants for each and everyone of his children and I am once again so honored and blessed for the opportunity that I have received so that I can help his children become ready to return back to their Father in Heaven, I know that he loves us very much and that as we turn to him in prayer often he will come running to our aid and he will be there to help us and support us in whatever we might be going through at that time. 

Love,

Elder Chilson       

No Time to Waste

Hello Everyone,

Well time does not seem to be slowing down for me here in my mission because another transfer has passed I think that this past transfer was one of the fastest transfers of my mission since I have been here in the field me and Elder Abrigo worked hard this week we made a lot of progress with some of the people that we have been teaching about Jesus Christ and his gospel or Heavenly Father's Plan for all of his children here on Earth. All of the other missionaries in my zone are doing well also I feel that almost all of the missionary's work as well improved over this past week and I think that had to do with the zone fasting that we had this pasted week, after last week me and Elder Abrigo had a little chat about what some of the things that we can improve upon in the Pamplona Zone and we both agreed that we could have a zone fast in order for us to receive some spiritual strength and revelation so that we could find some more answers to some of the questions that we had about the people that we have been helping and teaching. This leads into miracles, something that we have been focusing on there in my mission is miracles and really taking the time to notice and give thanks to our Father in Heaven for the miracles that happen in our lives and especially in the lives of us as missionaries in the Lord's service. I know that the Lord's had is always never too far away from us I have seen his hand in my life countless times and that has not changed since I have been here in my mission I know that Heavenly Father loves and protects all of his missionaries wherever they are serving all over the world. 

I will also be receiving a new companion tomorrow because Elder Abrigo will be transferred tomorrow I do not know yet who my new companion will be but I ma not worried about that because I know that whoever it is is supposed to be here in Sipocot with me and I am sure that we will accomplish many great things together and for the record I have not yet had an American companion here in the mission field so I have had almost all Filipino companions in my mission thus far and I have had one companion that was from New Zeland so we will see what the Lord has in store for me I am just excited to work hard and go all out because I have no time to waste everyday for me is so important because they go by so fast but I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of me and I know that will accomplish what ever he needs me to because he will help me and I know that his Only Begotten Son even Jesus Christ loves us very much as well so much that he gave his life so that we all can have the chance to live again as well and I know that his atonement is real and powerful. Also a quick side note I was able to speak with my family again for the last time while I am here in the Philippines and they are doing well. I know that as we continue to do the things that Jesus would do if he were here then we will all prepare more fully to enter into the presence of our Heavenly Father when he is ready to call us back home.

Love,

Elder Chilson    

Last Skype with Elder Chilson from the Philippines 

Earthquake!

Hello Everyone, 

May has arrived so wherever you are that means that there should be Spring now except for where I am where summer started in March we sort of skipped over Spring here in the Philippines but that is okay there is not much that I can do about it I am just living it up under the sun day in and day out. This past week I saw that some prophecies were fulfilled to be exact it was Saturday afternoon roughly 1:30pm me and Elder Abrigo were outside in a forest type setting in the middle of a lesson and then I experienced for the first time in my life a real live Earthquake! Now please do not worry it was not a very big earthquake the Earth did not split open in two but I did feel the Earth shake beneath my feet and I was sort of taken off guard and Elder Abrigo told me that it was an earthquake and I was like wow this is cool and then he asked me if I felt it and I said yes I do and it was only like 5 minutes I think it was not very big but strong enough to feel it and I do not now if it was in the whole Philippines I think that it was only where I was at the time because I do not know if you are aware but I am close to a very large volcano the Mayon Volcano in Legazpi so that is what the people were saying here was because of the volcano the earthquake occurred as a result here in the Bicol Region and overall I though that it was an interesting experience. 

Now I said at the beginning that prophecies were fulfilled because when I entered the MTC in Manila that is what most of the leaders told us missionaries when we were there was that we should prepare for an earthquake because the Philippines was overdue I guess for an earthquake I am not real sure on the science behind all that but that is what they told us so I sat there thinking to my self wow I might be able to experience an earthquake while I am on my mission but what ended up happening was 2 Christmas ago we had the Super Typhoon and the last week the small earthquake occurred so that is what normally happens I guess when you live on islands the people here are pretty used to it the natural disasters do not phase them at all they just roll with whatever come but for me it has been pretty interesting for me especially me being a boy from New York where the only natural disaster that occurs is the occasional blizzard and ice storm and now I am here in the heat and opposite of snow, but I now that Heavenly Father is in control of it all and that he sent me here to the Philippines for reasons that I have discovered since I have been here and for other reasons that I probably will not find out until I return to America. 

I know that sometimes we need to exercise patience in the one who knows all I know that Heavenly Father knows each and everyone of his children perfectly and individually and he knows what we really need and what is best so sometimes we may feel that we are worthy of certain blessings and we will be expecting certain blessing to come to us but sometimes they do not come and sometimes we can ask ourselves over and over why this happened or why did we receive these results but I now that as we continue on the road that we are traveling on (the road that leads us back to our Father in Heaven) with faith in Christ and patience we will see the hand of the Lord in our lives and in time we will see the things that we could not see the first time if you now what I mean I know that as we always turn to our Father in Heaven in prayer he will come and comfort us and rescue us from whatever situation that we might be in and he will never leave us alone. 

Love,

Elder Chilson           

Zone Conferences

Hello Everyone,

This past week was very busy for me but now I am so happy because of the results that came out of our work this past week. We were able to reach some of our goals this past week in the Pamplona District (It is not a Stake yet) so my District President I think will be happy about that when I see him and I am very excited about our progress since I have come here in the Pamplona Zone almost everything has increased and I think that the missionaries here are working very hard despite some difficult circumstances they are responding nicely. I would just like to share with you that I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of each and everyone of us because we really are his children and I know that he loves us perfectly. I have seen Heavenly Father over the past month help us through some tough times as a zone and as a result of that I think that we have come closer together and we have become more unified in the work of the Lord I know that is true for me and Elder Abrigo I think that every time we have something that we have to work out in the zone we always grow closer together because I know that the Lord gives us trials not to bring us down or tear us apart but to help us and mold us into the people that he wants us to become I know that Heavenly Father is always on our side regardless of the things that we have done in the past and the mistakes that we have made he will never leave us and his son's atonement in infinite and it will never run out.

This past week as well we had Zone Conference and I enjoyed it very much and me and Elder Abrigo also took the assignment that was given to us by President Zapanta to teach a workshop or give a training to 3 Zone the Pamplona Zone Daet Zone and Canaman Zone which adds up to more than 50 missionaries and I was excited for this teaching opportunity because I have never taught that many missionaries before in one setting but it went well we gave a workshop or lesson about the Book of Mormon and so now I feel that me and Elder Abrigo were able to help the other missionaries strengthen their desire to use the Book of Mormon in every aspect of the Missionary Work that we are doing and I know that the Book or Mormon is true and that it has the power to help anyone come to truly know who their Savior is and what he has done for us I know that as I have been serving here in the Philippines Naga Mission my testimony has been strengthen about the Book of Mormon on various levels and I hope that we will take all the spare time that we have to read the Book of Mormon because I know that it will help us in ever aspect of our lives there is nothing that the Book of Mormon cannot do or cannot help it has all the answers and it has all that we need in order to prepare in this life to return to live with our Heavenly Father and our Savior and Redeemer even Jesus Christ again forever.

Love,

Elder Chilson        

Pasacao

Hello Everyone,

This week was a pretty fun week for me because I took a temporary assignment in Pasacao which is an area inside of the Pamplona Zone of which I am the Zone Leader of because a companionship needed some help so I of course was happy to serve then and help them with whatever they needed, I was with Elder Mafi in Pasacao and he is a missionary from Tonga and he is really funny and I really enjoyed working with him but now I am back in Sipocot with Elder Abrigo and we are preparing for the Zone Conference that we have this week. I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have to be able to help and serve the missionaries that are in my Zone, you never know how Heavenly Father will work through his servants to help his children or in this case missionaries with whatever they may be in need of at that apparent time it is such a great feeling when you have the chance to be an instrument in the Lords hands and to be able to work through him to accomplish the work that he has prepared for us to perform. 

I have a sort of quick story to tell that you might think is funny so this past Saturday I had the chance to provide some service for a member in the Pamplona Branch and it was a lot of fun we worked in a rice field I dug some trenched for water to pass through and I moved dirt and we also cleaned out some other greenery that was getting pretty high and the funny part was that after we provided the service we were invited inside to have a quick snack so here in the Philippines when they say lets have a snack that means they have some sort of pasta prepared so we said sure we ate some pasta and I was pretty full then another thing here in the Philippines is that they usually always have rice at every meal so after we had that snack the father of the family to which we gave to service told us in so many words okay are you guys ready for lunch because it was lunch time at the time and then I looked at my companion and said didn't we just eat and then we were like yes but that was just a snack he said so now we are going to have lunch well that is pretty hard to have lunch we you are already full but the worst thing that you can do is when a Filipino gives you some food to not eat is so of course we have some rice and the other food that was prepared so we were really full when we left that house and those are basically the two main food groups here in the Philippines pasta and rice that is what they eat mostly everyday.

I really love the hospitality of the Filipinos they are so nice they will basically invite anyone into their houses even if it is really inconvenient because it is in their culture they will go out of their way to give the missionaries food and anything that you may be in need of they will get it for you they really do love their missionaries here in the Philippines and that is ultimately how the Gospel of Jesus Christ got here to the Philippines in the first place was because of missionaries and I am so thankful for being another missionary here in the Philippines to keep the work of the Lord moving here in the Philippines this is such a chosen and prepared land for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father is preparing his children everyday to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as his disciples we need to be ready always to share that special message that we have in whatever setting we are in because there are people out there that are waiting for us to open our mouths and share it with them because they do not know where to find peace in this life and I know that we can find peace and safety in this life because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Elder Chilson             

Patience

Hello Everyone,

This past week was pretty good because me and Elder Abrigo worked really hard we worked with many different members this past week because we are trying to find some good fellow shippers for our investigators that we have right now because I have seen and now have a stronger testimony that the members are essential in missionary work the missionaries are simply just the placeholders for the Lord so to speak because the missionaries can be transferred at any time, they will leave eventually, and they only have 2 years to give all that they have to the Lord but the members are not just placeholders because they will be there forever, the missionaries have to put their trust in the members because missionaries need them every missionaries knows that they are essentially nothing without the help of the members at least that has been some of my experiences since I have been serving here in the Philippines I know that as the Lord prepares his children to receive his gospel he also prepared members also to be able to help out in that process because the missionary work is not just the work of the missionaries alone that is one of the common misconceptions when it comes to missionary work but as I have worked in the shoes of the missionary for a time I have come to know that the missionaries need the help of the members in order for them to be successful and I have been very blessed because as I have been serving here in the Philippines there are awesome members everywhere that I have been assigned and I will be ever so grateful to them and for the service that they rendered for the work of the Lord.

Also right now I would like to just share a bit about patience I know that patience is something that we need to have to grow and to become the people that Heavenly Father wants us to be sometimes we have ideas of how things are supposed to work out and what we are supposed to do and then we find out that Heavenly Father had a better idea because he has the big picture he loves us more that we can comprehend here on Earth and I know that Heavenly Father gives us experiences so that we can learn and grow and to be able to develop the gifts that we has given us. I know that we all have talents and gifts that Heavenly Father has given us and I know that we all have a purpose as to why we were sent here to Earth at this present time and I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for all that he has given me, he has given me so much and it is natural to feel sometimes that we do not measure or that we are not good enough because I think that in this life we will always fall a little short because this life is not perfect and we are not yet perfect but I know that as we continue to do our best to repent and turn to the Lord he will great us with open arms ready to embrace us. 

I know that as we continue to be teachable and to serve the Lord with a willing heart that we will gain so much happiness and that we will want to share that happiness with others and I know that desire will lead us to do the things that the Savior would do if he were here I know that Heavenly Father is counting on us to help his children come back to him and I know that we can do this as we continue to look for opportunities to serve his children here on Earth and I know that with great sacrifice come great blessings I know that Heavenly Father is only a prayer a way and that the atonement of Jesus Christ is always there for us to grab and use it, it will never run out or expire until at least our Savior and King even Jesus Christ returns here to Earth for his 2nd Coming and I hope that we will all do our best to prepare for that day.

Love,

Elder Chilson