Santa Maria Living!

Transfers! I am now in Santa Maria! It is a ward so that is really cool. It is the first ward I've been in on my mission so far and they are really great! We have ward bonding on Fridays which is a blast.  Then we have members that love to work with us missionaries! I am not the best with change so it's taken a little adjusting but the people here are making it a whole lot easier! My new companion is a trainee named Elder B. He is super cool and super talented. We are doing to have a really great companionship! 

This week has been more of adjusting to the area, meeting new people, and getting settled at the house. I'm going to power clean today and I have waged war against an army of mice in the house so I'll keep you updated on how that goes. There isn't a whole lot of youth in this area but the ones who are here are really awesome. It is going to be a lot of fun getting to know them and getting to work here in Santa Maria! 

I love you all and hope you have a great week. Stay strong and stay happy! Remember it's always a choice to be happy! Reading the Book of Mormon will sure help though ;)

-Elder Payne 

Transfers Again- April 22, 2018

Well, it looks like it's time to say goodbye to Balaoan. It is wild I have already been here for three transfers and even more wild that Elder P,'s training is over! I have had so much fun being able to train Elder P. He is such a great guy, missionary, and friend. I'm glad we'll both still be in the mission together for a while. I got the call earlier today I will be heading to Santa Maria up in Candon Zone. That will be the furthest north I have traveled here! I am excited, I'll have Elder B. as my Zone Leader! Elder B. was my first district leader and is also from the great land of Cache Valley so that will be fun for me!  

This week was crazy fast, the work was fun and we were able to have some really positive lessons. I think the outlook for Balaoan is great. It'll be in the good hands of Elder P. and his new companion. I am very grateful for the people I was able to meet here and gain relationships with. It is such a weird feeling to be packing my things after working so hard in this area for nearly 5 months. I wish I would have been able to see more fruits from our labors but I am satisfied when saying I did my best here. I will be eternally grateful (Toy Story quote) for the lessons I learned here. I hope I learned what God had prepared for me here. 

This week I discovered to be true something that I had heard many times before, that the mango's in the Philippines are the best in the world.  I testify the Philippines has the best mango's in the entire world. As I took a bite, my world was changed forever. There is no fruit I have ever eaten that even compares to the taste that hit my mouth as I ate that mango. Not candy has ever compared to the taste of sugar that came from that mango. It was life changing. It almost pains me because when I get home in 2 years I will never again be able to eat mango's. What a ride! haha 

Well, that's a wrap for my week. As always, love and miss you all! Stay safe and stay happy. Also, please watch Lord of the Rings for me. Craving that one really bad right now...

-Elder Payne

Halfway Through April?! - April 16, 2018

I don't think I'll ever get used to how time works on a mission. It is wild. It almost feels like I'm still thinking it's crazy it's already December... which was 5 months ago... haha Time flies, when you are having fun! Alright, it has gotten insanely hot and humid this week. Our apartment has turned into a humid oven! I sleep with a fan every night but even that has seemed to loose its "relieving" feelings! It's hard but good! I just can't wait for rainy season again! Nothing too wild happened this week. My shoes may have bit the dust this week... That's too bad but they filled their purpose! I did get some pretty good mileage on them ;) 

Funny thing that happened this week, we found one of those "X" web spiders and happened to find a small lizard in close proximity to the spiders web... With nature and curiosity getting the best of us we through the lizard into the spiders web. Let me tell ya, that lizard didn't stand a chance! I felt like a should have been broadcasting to National Geographic haha. We checked out the spider the next day and it had gotten huge! We kept watching it for a few days then one day we walk out and found it had molted! I kid you not it doubled in size! It was like we had just evolved a Pokemon or something! haha This country constantly blows my mind. 

Nothing else really for good stories this week. I love you all and wish you the best! Until next week!

-Elder Payne 

General Conference- April 9, 2018

  That General Conference was so amazing! We watched the rebroadcast out here this week (we watch it here a week after the actual conference) and it was so powerful! It is such a blessing and such an expression of love that God has given us living leaders, his servants, to teach and to guide us through these troubled days. With all the changes that happened we can truly see revelation working in this the latter days. God is preparing ways to bless us and those around us. He loves us and is giving us ways to come closer to him! I felt the spirit testify to me that President Nelson is a prophet of God. He is his chosen servant to guide the church on the earth under divine direction. The common them I found in this conference was wonderful and simple... LOVE. Love our families, love our neighbors, love our enemies. Serve others with the love that Christ has served us with. What a beautiful conference and I can't wait to study their talks in the future! 

   This week has been difficult with the work, a lot of people were busy and a lot of appointments fell through. We worked hard and were able to find 5 new investigators. We fell short of our goal but we are still more than excited to have 5 new people we can share our message to!

good news this week! Back story first... I've been seeing my friends serving around the world get smartphones for their missions which is wonderful for the work! We might not have that blessing here in the Philippines but we did get a new fancy device this week... We got a microwave!!! I haven't even seen a microwave since the MTC (Missionary Training Center) so I'm super pumped! I haven't found popcorn here yet but I promise I'm going to start looking harder! 

Sorry no pics this week... But I'll get some good ones for next week! This week, let us start the habit of following the Prophets new counsel! I promise as a missionary and representative of the Lord Jesus Christ that blessings will flow into our lives and the lives of those we love as we follow the prophets divine counsel! Love you all tons! 

-Elder Payne 

Fun Week- April 2, 2018

Hi friends! What a great week to be a missionary! We have really been focusing on finding new investigators and have been able to see some miracles. It is the absolute best feeling to sit down with a young family and share a message that will bless them eternally! I love serving a mission, it is far from easy but so so so worth it! The more challenges that come the more lessons I learn! Just the other day I was talking about my mission and just the fact that I said I was "on my mission" was crazy! I've been out for around 9 months and I still find it crazy that I'm actually "on my mission" haha What a blessing this is! 

We had a fun zone activity this morning at the beach! We had volleyball, frisbee, games, food, and just being with other missionaries is fun! Although the beach is a whole different place when you can't swim... haha but that's okay! President and Sister Bangal were there too and it is always good to see them! 

Funny story... We were walking along the highway earlier this week. As we were walking a motorcycle was driving the opposite direction. It had a mom and dad and then there maybe 7 or 8 year old son. As the were driving past, maybe going 25 or 30 mph, the little boy saw us and yelled at us to do magic for him! They didn't even slow down, the kid was just screaming for magic haha I love the kids here so much!!! 

We have conference delayed by a week out here so we'll get to watch it this Saturday and Sunday and I can't wait!!! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was with my trainer watching conference and now it's been about 6 months and I'm with my trainee going to watch conference! I am honestly so excited to hear what our leaders have to say! "A man cannot be saved in ignorance" It will be great! Well, as always... Love you all, miss you all, and wish you all the best! 

-Elder Payne