October 21, 2013

So here is my schedule for the next couple of days.

Tuesday I wake up and head directly to the bus station, to ride to Cauayan where I will be interviewed for the last time by my mission president, have a farewell fireside in which I am singing with my batch, have a tie cutting ceremony with my mission president and his wife (they cut elders ties and a piece off of sisters skirts, they plan to make it into a quilt...)

 

Then Tuesday night we board another bus taking us to Manila, once we arrive we will be able to do a session at the Temple and do some sight seeing. Then Thursday morning I get on a plane to Japan, then to Salt Lake. 

There is more I could say about leaving the mission, but I cant quite put it into an email.

 

I have fought a good fight.

 

Love,

Elder Proctor 

October 14, 2013

Hey mom,
Sorry about last week, I was in no mood to write emails, it was hot and all these kids were swearing and screaming in the internet shop.
To answer your question, I do know that Stake President that was killed in a motorcycle accident, both him and his wife where on the bike and they hit a Carabao that was crossing the road. It was a big shock for us. Its weird because those kind of accidents happen all the time here but never to anyone that we know. It was kind of a reality check.
I got that email about that Carl Bloch exhibit, I think that I will be able to appreciate more this time.
Its fine that you opened that package, all those DVDs are in tagalog, that’s how I plan to retain my language skills haha.
there is another package coming I don’t know if I will beat it there or not.
I love you Mom,
Love Elder Proctor

September 30, 2013

Hello All,

Yep I have been out for over 2 years crazy right. It certainly doesn't feel like it. I hope the Carlos' will be able to come when I speak in sacrament meeting, that would be awesome to see them again. I miss them.

There's not too much to report on this week, I went to my last Zone Conference this week and it was really good. As far as the work goes it is great, we spend plenty of time tracting in the rain, and the people think we are crazy for going out in the rain. Who knows maybe we are a little crazy. I love this work. I really do.

I love all of you

Love Elder Proctor 

September 23, 2013

Hey Everyone,
This week has been great! just so you know we did see some of the typhoon but it was just raining like crazy for a week and then it stopped right after I bought an umbrella. The work is going great, we are finding a lot of new investigators mostly just through tracting because that is about all we can do, we cant get the members to give us referrals so we do what we can and then some. I love the mission, Its cool to be back in my first area, it makes me think a lot about how I have changed since then, about who I was and who I am now. This really is a gospel of change, when we live it fully it will change us and make us more like Christ.
I love this work
I love you all.
Love Elder Proctor

September 7, 2013

Wow I cant believe that Jordan is coming here! Too bad we couldn't overlap.
I found out earlier today that I am going to be transferred so I will be in my next area for 6 weeks. That's crazy to think about, I don’t like to.
This week has been great we have continued to teach Sanie, and we started teaching his nephew, It wont be long till his whole family is baptized, he is such a good influence on them all. Things are also going a lot better with the ward leaders, they are helping out a lot more than they used to. I love this work.
I love all of you
Love Elder Proctor

September 1, 2013

Hey Mom,

I already sent an email to Dad about Sanie's baptism with pictures. As for teaching him about the resurrection, it was great, after we taught him he just said simply "I believe that’s true"
About how I got an extra month added on, When the new wave of missionaries hit, they changed the MTC schedule and that also effected the transfers here so we were basically given the choice of going home 3 weeks early or 3 weeks late. My batch and I chose to go with 3 more weeks.
As for the singles ward, I don’t want to go there that much at all. but what ever.
I love you mom, thanks for everything

Love,
Elder Proctor

This is Sanie, he was baptized this Saturday. He is a humble man and he has the greatest attitude towards life. he asked me to baptize him to do so I had to carry him into the font, even though I was holding his crippled body I felt like the weaker of the two of us. It made me think of the scripture "Inasmuch as ye have done unto the least of them, ye have done it unto me" After he was baptized he bore a powerfully simple testimony. He says his only desire now is to help get his family to come to church. I love this work. Love Elder Proctor

August 25, 2013

Hello,

This has been a great week, we moved up Brother Sanie's baptism to the 31 of August because he is progressing so well and that day worked better for him and his family. He had his baptismal interview yesterday and our district leader told us how in the interview Sanie was talking about getting his family to join the church. He is a great guy, he has such a great attitude towards life. This week we are going to teach him about resurrection, and how his body will be made whole through the Atonement of Christ. I cant wait to see his reaction.
I love this work.
I love all of you.

Love,
Elder Proctor

August 18, 2013

Tell mom that I got her package this week, but I haven't received my license yet. That’s crazy about the storm hitting you guys in Utah that wasn't even in the storm trail.
To be honest we didn’t see much of the typhoon our area is far north and we have a mountain range that keeps the big bad storms away. I thought that it would be a funny joke to not write last week but I figured that would be mean haha All is well out here, the work is grand, we are busy and I love it.
I love you dad

August 12, 2013

Hello Everybody,

Mom, I haven't gotten my License or present yet, but think I will this week, you can just hold on to my real license I think the temporary one will work perfectly. I cant believe that they have already told you when I will be speaking in sacrament meeting, that day sounds great! Will they give me a topic? please say they will haha we will see how my English is by then haha.

I haven't really done anything for my birthday yet, we did go eat lunch at this place called FatKidInside haha I know great name for a restaurant, they have some really good American burgers and that was about it.
This week has been another great one, Bro Sannie(the one in the wheelchair) came to church again and had a great experience, except for this little terror 3 year old girl that wants to push him around in the chair and we have to scare her off haha.

On Friday we were walking down this busy street, sweating bullets as usual, and this old man gets our attention and waves for us to go to him so we did, He asked us why we walk instead of drive cars, we told him that we do it so that we can talk to everyone we can, he then invited us into his home, we then found out that he used to be taught by the missionaries years ago and had a Book of Mormon and has been reading it! We were so shocked, as Elder Tietjen and I walked away we asked each other did that really happen? We will be meeting with him and his wife this week to teach more to them. We are excited. I love this work.

I love all of you hope all is well.

Love,
Elder Proctor


On a side note, not from Jared, this was the news article that happened the day Jared sent this email.  No mention of the storm whatsoever. :)

(CNN) -- The world's strongest storm of the year so far plowed across the northern Philippines on Monday, killing at least one person and leaving 20 fishermen missing.
Packing winds as strong as 200 kilometers per hour (124 mph), Typhoon Utor made landfall early Monday on the east coast of the Philippine island of Luzon, damaging hundreds of houses.
"It's the strongest typhoon we've had so far on the planet this year," said CNN International meteorologist Samantha Mohr. "So that gives you some idea of the magnitude of this system."
Utor, known in the Philippines as Labuyo, churned west-northwest over Luzon, dumping heavy rain on the island's hilly terrain and bringing the risk of landslides. It weakened as it moved over land, and by Monday afternoon, it had begun to head out into the South China Sea.

Jared mentioned nothing of this storm in his letter today. The storm track was a direct hit.

August 5, 2013

Hi Everyone,

I love you all!, I am grateful for all of your love and support that you have given me throughout my mission. I love my family.

This week has been a good one and a sad one, with the work going great and with saying goodbye to some of my best friends in the mission. I have had a good week, I guess I always do though haha.

One of our investigators came to church yesterday and earlier this week he committed to Baptism and started reading the Book of Mormon on his own! He is so humble and has a heart of gold he is 22 and has been confined to a wheel chair his whole life. When I was starting to feel sick, we were at his house teaching him and he said the prayer and he asked Heavenly Father to bless me to be healed, I was touched by his concern and selflessness He being confined to a wheel chair and praying for me to get over a fever. Man I love this work.

We also started teaching this man that says he is an atheist but that he wants to know if there is a God, we had a great lesson with him about prayer and he said that he would pray. We continue to pray that he will do it and have sincerity.
Again I love missionary work.

I hope all of you are doing well, I love all of you.

Love,
Elder Proctor

July 28, 2013

Hello Everyone,

I am feeling almost all better, I am still recovering but all is well. I did tell my mission mom and she recommended some medicine for me to take.

I am glad to hear that everything went well with getting my license worked out. I don’t want going home to be any harder than it has to be. Speaking of going home, I don’t know what this Official Release date is you are all asking about, its been Oct 23 for a long time now, I got my trunky papers a few weeks ago and that’s the date that it had on it. Sounds pretty official to me.
The ranch sounds like a blast, those family events are the best, I miss things like that.

Mom my new Mission Presidents name is President Rahlf, he and his wife are great, they are a perfect fit to their calling here in the Cauayan Mission. In my
interview with him he told me that when I go in for my exit interview he wants me to wear a tie that I wont miss, they plan on making a quilt out of the neck ties of Elders they knew, when I heard that I thought that is something that my mom would do and you know that I am right haha.

The work is going good, we are making up for the lost time when I wasn’t able to work. We are teaching this 22 year old man that is confined to a wheel chair, he is so humble and teachable and is so prepared to hear the gospel.
I love this work. I am finishing strong

I love all of you.
Love,
Elder Proctor

July 22, 2013

Hey everybody,
There isn’t a whole lot to report on this week, I got a crazy high fever and I am still recovering, my energy is low and I ache. But hey I am alive right?
I love all of you I hope you have a great week
Love Elder Proctor

July 15, 2013

Hey Ya'll

 So with the notary thing here is what happened, I came out of the internet shop then we went to the Barber and as I was talking to the barber I thought he might know where I could find one, sure enough he did, there was an attorney office 2 doors down from the barber and, we went into the office the guy there did what he needed to do and it was done haha I was amazed at how easy it was and it only cost 50 pesos not too bad.

 This week has been great, we have had some progress in getting support from the members, and we got some referrals that we plan to contact this week. As far as the families we are teaching go, the first family is a mom her two sons and a grandma, they are very nice to us. They actually offered us coffee after our first appointment, we just told them that we don’t drink coffee and they were nice about it. The mom is actually a Methodist pastor, she was very surprised to know that we were volunteers and that we don’t get paid to be missionaries.

Another family we are teaching are amazing, they are practically members, when we found them they already had a picture of the Manila temple hanging up in their house. What happened with them is that they were taught by the missionaries a long time ago but then they were both transferred and so the family just kind of slipped through and haven’t seen missionaries for years. 

I am loving this area, its challenging and rewarding, Elder Tietjen is a great missionary we have lots of fun and work hard.

I love all of you, thanks for the support

Love Elder Proctor      

July 8, 2013

Mom,
 As far as the ID thing goes even a forged one would work, and yes I do need more than just a passport, that’s coming from my mission president, It just needs to be a photo of me with a name in a semi-looks legit sort of way haha
but if you guys don’t want me to come home then I wouldn’t worry too much about it haha just kidding I will keep looking around for a notary but the clock is ticking and I have yet to find one. Either way it will all work out if they ask for a second photo id at the airport I will just jedi mind trick them, my force is through the roof these days haha
 In other news this week has been great, Elder Tietjen and I had a companionship fast so that we could find a family that would be willing to hear our message. And by the end of the week we found 3 families! that’s pretty neat! We are still struggling with the lack of support from the ward and the fact that our area is 28km away from our apartment but through the atonement we are made able! I love this work. I know that its true, I know that we have living prophets and apostles on the earth today and that Heavenly Father reveals his will to them, I know that Jesus lives, and loves us too.
I love all of you, thanks for the prayers and support
Love Elder Proctor

June 30, 2013

Hey Er'body,

This week has been great, we watched the worldwide training broadcast and its just what we needed. We don’t have the best support from the members when it comes to missionary work. So we are hoping that this will get them excited about it. As of now Elder Tietjen and I have just been tracting, its going good but we all know that there is a better way to gather Israel.

Mom don’t worry about the money, I have officially stopped buying stuff I just need to send something home and that will be the last of it.

Also who is this Devon that spoke with Reeve? haha 

I love all of you, I wont go easy

Love Elder Proctor 

PS So I haven’t been able to get my license paper signed, I will still work on it but just in case can you send me some sort of photo id asap, even if you have to make a fake one, I need some sort of photo id besides my passport to get on the plane in Cauayan when i come home. I really need this so it would be great if you did this.  thanks

June 24, 2013

Hello, Everyone

So mom first answer, No we didn’t watch that broadcast yet but we will this weekend.

Yes I am training, My companion's name is Elder Tietjen from Baltimore Maryland, he is a great missionary. He however makes me want to find my MTC teachers and beat them up because when I left the MTC I couldn’t speak Tagalog like Elder Tietjen can. The two of us are both new to our area so its been challenging getting around and stuff like that, but its great. I love my new area and my new companion and most of my old ones haha. In case you were wondering yes I do scare him, as a matter of fact last night I scared him 3 times within an hour haha I am too good at it. He's a good sport about it I am sure he has payback coming my way.

Last night I was a little scared because the Assistants texted us and they said that President wanted to meet with me this morning, so I thought of all of the reasons why he would want to talk to me and there were three of them either there was a death in the family, there would be an emergency transfer, or it would be some lunch thing that the Carlos' were doing...So we show up to the mission home this morning and luckily it was just a lunch for the Elders I will be going home with. It was fun to get together with all of them.

I Love all of you, Thank you for your constant support and prayers.
I love this work
I wont go easy
Love Elder Proctor

June 17, 2013

Hello,

Well nobody did the "assignment." Oh well that's okay. I found out today that I will be transferred so I started packing up and cleaning the apartment, It was weird because the next time I pack up my stuff will most likely be in October.
This week we had a Zone Conference in Cauayan one thing that stood out to me was something my Mission President said, He asked us what we were going to do with the time we had left on our mission whether it be a week or 22 months, I answered in my head "I wont be going out without a fight, I wont go easy"
Well I love you all.

Love,
Elder Proctor

June 10, 2013

Hey, Family

This week has been great, we got another apartment because they are splitting our area in 2, we are excited about it and so are the members in the ward. Now there will be missionaries in the farther areas.
This week we had our missions first Mission Leaders Council, its no longer Zone Leaders Council because there are now what is called "Sister Trainers" our Mission President called them for all the Sisters that are in and going to be in our mission, there is a ton.
As of right now I am not a trainer, but there is a pretty good chance that I will train next transfer, President may or may not have told me so haha Speaking of the Carlos' they are going to be home soon, the 1st of July they would love it Mom and Dad if you went to their homecoming.
I want to apologize for making you think that your emails aren't awesome, I should be thankful for what I get, I am grateful for all of your support that you constantly give and for your constant prayers.
Mom, I would love to answer your question but I cant right now, because I am not done yet... so I will answer that one come October okay.
I think that I will bring back the assignments that I used to do, So to start things up again I would like for you to share an experience where you were led by the spirit to do something and the result of following that guidance.
I love all of you,
Love Elder Proctor

May 27, 2013

Hello Er'body

Well this week my companion woke up one morning with intense pain in his knee, so we took him to the "doctor" and  he said that he needed to rest it, so we have been stuck in the house for most of the week, I am beyond cabin fever! But I love Elder Allen we get along so well all the other missionaries are jealous haha.

Hey mom can I get you to send me Grandma Goodwins potato salad? it would be awesome if you did.
Last night I made Cocoa and Tuna sandwiches for Elder Allen and I, he liked it.

Well I love all of you
Elder Proctor

May 20, 2013

Hello Family,
Well we managed to stay alive haha, there wasnt anything really bad that happened. Just know that we are 100% okay. I am however all typed out and there isnt to much to say. Just know that I love you all, I really enjoyed skyping last week, Its too bad we didnt do that everytime huh, oh well the next time I go on a mission we will be sure to do that!
Elder Allen and I are staying super busy and having fun too, We got to feed a monkey the other day but we didnt have our cameras so no pictures, maybe next time.
I Love this work, I wish it wasnt coming to an end for me. I am 75% terrified and 25% excited. I have no idea what I am going to do when I come home, but for now I will work.
I love you all
Have fun,
Love Elder Proctor

May 6, 2013

I will be on skype 9am filipino time
Remember, I want to make this last skype count, I dont want to talk to you all at once, I would like it if  it was one on one or with couples! And I would like you to think of 2 questions, one to ask a Full time missionary and one to ask Jared.
I love all of you well see each other next week
Mom plead forward this as soon as possible
love Elder Proctor

May 1, 2013

Hey Yall
This has been a great week, I found out that there is a chance that I might train again! I will know for sure in a couple of weeks.
on friday we had a surprise visit form Elder Nielson of the Area Presidency, He spoke to us about the Enabling Power of the Atonement. He had us read a talk by Elder Bednar so we could participate more. It has changed the way I pray, and the way I teach and commit investigators.
I know the Atonement is real and that we can use it for everything! Not just to wash away sins but to overcome weaknesses, to give up weapons of rebellion,and to sacrifice.
I love all of you, I am sorry this is short, but at least its not long winded haha
Elder Proctor

April 22, 2013

Lawdy Hallelujah! 

I am so happy these days! here are some reasons why.

Sister Vivian finally accepted the baptismal challenge!

I know that God is mindful of all his children everyhwhere

My Companion inspires me to be better.

I know that my family loves me back home. 

I have a testimony of the Atonement and Restoration 

I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ, 

I am a part of the most important work! 

  35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all ^apower, ^ball wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a ^cmercifulBeing, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

I love you all 

Love Elder Proctor

April 15, 2013

 Hello Everybody.
Mom, we go home at the same time meaning our departure is on the same day, our missions finish at the same time. We always stay together

This week has been kind of crazy, last Monday just as my companion and I were about to eat dinner, we get a call from and Elder in our zone. He says that his companion is having a hard time breathing and his face was swelling. So we took him to the hospital and they give him a shot and put him on a nebulizer for 10 minutes. We took them back to their apartment around 12am. Things were okay for a few days but then on Friday, after we had attended a baptism in our zone, we get another late night phone call and this time he is worse condition, so they take him to the hospital and the Doctor keep him there for 2 nights. We took turns staying with him so I missed almost all of Conference. But I had an amazing experience as this Elder asked me to give him a blessing, and the spirit inspired me to tell him that he would be okay, and I knew that he would. I have a testimony in the restored priesthood. I am so grateful for this blessing, I am so grateful to be able to minister to the children of God.

I love all of you, I know I haven't done those assignments lately.
I love this work
Love Elder Proctor

April 8, 2013

Hey ya'll
So I forgot to tell you last week that Elder Wooden went home, and his family came to pick him up, and his mom and met my mom and his dad was uncle Davids best friend, small world huh?

So to answer moms questions,How is your new companion? he is great! we go home at the same time and he loves to work so all is good.  Are you having to find more housing for the new missionaries, Reeve is having to do it. Yes! its a pain!  Have you started getting more missionaries yet or are they still learning the language in the MTC? We have, there was 7 that just went home and 21 came in!  What is the ward like that you are in now? its good, I just wish we could get the home teaching into gear.

This week there was an amazing experience that happened, We went to visit the Roque family, they are all members except the Dad (Tatay) and he never wants to talk to us. But this time he was pumping some water and we ask if we could help him, he said we could then after we helped him we asked if we could come back and teach him with his family and he said yes! I was so happy. I felt like Ammon serving king Lamoni. I love missionary work!

I love all of you
Love Elder Proctor

April 1, 2013

Hello Everybody,
Mom I don't know if you want to know how they celebrate Easter here to tell you the truth... well now I guess I have to.
they celebrate the whole week, its called holy week, with different traditions for each day. But when Friday comes around there are people that walk with crosses on their back and then they actually get nailed to those crosses as well. Its psycho and I think that its really disrespectful to Jesus Christ.
Everything was closed as well, its kind of weird walking through the city with nobody there when its normally so crowded.

Last Wednesday was transfers, My companion was transferred, I stayed in Baluarte, so i am going to be here for over 6 months crazy fast right?

I love all of you thanks for the support and er'thang
Elder Proctor

March 25, 2013

Hello,

Wow my parents have officially hit the big time haha "what do we have for them bob? A NEW CAR!" Dad should give me his truck to me.
I think its funny that mom had a dream about me going home for being sick, because when I was sick I didnt tell Sister Carlos like we are supposed to do because I am always afraid of getting sent to Manila for care or worse back home. You cant take me alive!

This week has been great, The Pagbilao family came to church and they are doing great! I love missionary work. 

Tell Devin that he is a Gentleman and a Scholar, Belgium is a perfect fit.

Lately things haven't been all that great, with investigators not keeping their commitments, less-actives moving further away from the church, and a companion going trunky. Needless to say I have been through a bit of a rough patch, and doing some praying. This week in my personal study I read Mosiah 23:10 which read Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.   

It was as if Heavenly Father was there with me and spoke these words to me, I started to notice the blessings in my life and the answers to my prayers. The Book of Mormon is true.

I love all of you, oh guess what? I become a successful sister missionary this week, 18 months baby but whose counting haha(Laura) 

Love Elder Proctor

March 18, 2013

Hey,
This week has been pretty good, but somebody slipped some dirty water into my drink and it put me down for 2 days but now all is well.

This transfer is wrapping up and its gone to fast.

This week in my personal study I was reading in Doctrine & Covenants 79, A section that was written just for me, In verse 4 it reads:
  "Wherefore, let your heart be glad, my servant Jared Carter(or Proctor), and fear not, saith your Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen."
I read that when I was sick this week, I was worried that I was going to have to go to Manila for the a while but this gave me comfort.
This weeks assignment for EVERYBODY is to share scripture that gives them comfort.
I love you all sorry this is short
Elder Proctor

March 11, 2013

 Hello everybody,

I am going to forward something that my Mission President sent us this morning,

 

To: General Authorities, Area Seventies, and Mission Presidents

From: Missionary Department

Subject: Adjusted Missionary Email Policy

Missionaries are to write to their families each week and are also authorized to communicate

by email with friends, priesthood leaders, and new converts. Mission presidents should allow

sufficient time on preparation day for missionaries to write emails and letters. While in the

mission field, missionaries should receive authorization from the mission president before

entering into communication, including via email, with converts and others of the opposite

gender within the mission boundaries (see Missionary Handbook, 36–37)  

(PS  his email address is jared.proctor@myldsmail.net)

So now I can email just about anybody outside of the mission boundaries, I would like you to pass that on the the family and the ward. I will do my best to reply to all of them.

This week we went to Romeo Aquinos, "Pashem" (9 days after someone dies the family has a party). His wife asked us to come so we did, they had their Catholic Priestess say a really long prayer. Then the family asked us to say our "Mormon Prayer."  All in all it was good, now the family and all the relatives have a better idea about what LDS is all about. We are hoping to be able to teach the wife, when Romeo was still alive we would ask if we could help him with anything, and he always said the same 2 things. "Keep me in your prayers, and Do what you can to teach my family." He had such a great desire to be united with his family in one faith. We are so blessed to have the gospel and to have an Eternal Family.

Its cool that Stephen gets home this week! You should give my potato gun as a "Good on ya" gift haha I love that kid.

Well I am just about out of stuff to say so I love you, the Church is true and I know it! 

I love you all thank you for your prayers and support

Elder Proctor

March 4, 2013

 Hey Everybody,
The picture I sent was a dead pig, in the same river there were 2 dead cats, me and my companion tried to hit them with rocks as we were going to our next appointment. They were swollen up like balloons.
This week we had a visit from Elder Hallstrom and his wife, they both gave great talks. One thing I really liked was something that Elder Hallstrom said was that the success of a meeting doesn't depend on the speaker but it depends on those listening, if we think why are we in that meeting and listen to the spirit and then commit to make a change for the better.
Mom asked to hear aboot some people that we are working with. Let me tell you about the Balagbagan Family, they are recent converts and we are preparing them to go to the temple. Before the dad was baptized he had a smoking and drinking problem but he kicked it and was baptized but then a few months after he started drinking again and he is kind of hard headed so if we told him the word of wisdom he would just go and drink some more, it was kind of frustrating to be honest, but then we had the idea to just read the Book of Mormon with the whole family just a chapter at a time. I noticed that as time passed the dad seemed to be happier and then a few weeks later he stopped drinking! It testifies to me that when a person reads the Book of Mormon with a sincere desire, it automatically makes them want to change for the better. it was great.
Another recent convert we have been working with passed away this week, his name is Romeo Aquino and he is the only member in his family, he had asthma and really high blood pressure, he was also preparing to go to the temple. His house is pretty far away and he was supposed to be bedridden but he always came to church early. My companion and I were asked to speak at his funeral, I read from Alma 40:11 and as I did the spirit testified to me that what I read was true, and that the Plan of Salvation is true. It was an overwhelming feeling.

Anyway this weeks assignment I want to hear your testimony about the Plan of Salvation, and how it has blessed you.

I love you all,
Love Elder Proctor

February 18, 2013

Hello everyone,
This week has been great, and the next 2 weeks are going to be crazy busy here for us, with the visit of 3 general authorities! We are excited for that.
Here is some cool stuff that has happened this week...
Vivian, our part member investigator is reading her book of mormon even though she is busy taking care of her new born baby
Tatay Fontanilla came to church after just one visit!
Tatay Balagbagan has stopped drinking and his family is so happy
We Started Teaching Tatay Cabunots wife and she prayed the first lesson and is reading in the Book of Mormon
and all because of the truth that we teach as missionaries and because of the Love of Christ and his everlasting and Infinite Atonement.
Have I told you I love this work? well I do
and I love you
Love Elder Proctor
PS tatay is a term you use for old men that are your friends or that your know well

February 25, 2013

Hey Everyone,
Y'all are right I didn't send an assignment last week, I kind of rushed my email.
Last week has been great, Last Saturday we had leadership training with Elder Ardern, He is in the Area Presidency. It was great, and he gave some great advice about writing home. He told us to not tell our families what we are doing, but instead tell them what we are learning as missionaries.
And so from now on that is what I am going to try to do.
I have learned so much as a missionary, but one thing that I cherish most is what I have learned about The Atonement of Jesus Christ. I now have a better understanding of it, I know that it is for everyone. I know that we are to use it to better ourselves, to become more like Christ.
I have also learned and experienced that Prayer is a 2 way communication, that Heavenly Father listens to us, that he knows our needs and desires. I also have learned that Heavenly Father really does answer our pleas to him.
For this weeks assignment I want to hear from ALL of you, share your favorite verse of scripture and tell me why its your favorite and what it means to you.
I love all of you,
Love Elder Proctor

Febrary 11, 2013

 This has been a great week, we had interviews with President Carlos, ZLC at the mission home, and my companion got to go back to his last area and baptize a family there. All and all a good week.
We saw a big snake last night as we were walking home(see in picture) and some guy on a motorcycle got a stick and killed, I got a video of it haha, he said that he was going to cook it and eat it, typical Filipino.
This weeks assignment I want to hear from ALL of you is an experience of sharing the gospel to a non-member.
Obviously as a missionary this is a daily thing, but I want to tell you an experience I may have told you in the past, I was still in my first area and I couldnt speak tagalog to save my life, we were coming home in a tricycle and the driver started to talk to me, wanting to know where I was from and what brought me to the Philippines, I told him why and then he told my about how he is a pilot on a ship and that he loves to read, the spirit was so strong as it told me to give this man a copy of the Book of Mormon, I gave it to him and never saw or heard from him again. But even though I havent heard anything from him I know that he has been given a chance to know the truth. I am grateful to be a missionary and have these experiences and learn and grow from them.
I love you all Sorry this is short and sweet
Elder Proctor

February 4, 2013

 Hey Er'body
 I am so glad that you guys are answering these questions for me, it really makes emailing a whole lot better.

I think that things have settled down back home, unless the Jones' are going to take another chance at buying a pet, maybe they should try a cat haha I am just kidding

So things are going great here, we just moved into a new apartment and its a huge improvement, I am sending a picture of our new place.

As far as the work goes, two less-active families that we have been teaching were able to come to church yesterday and they both had a great experience and saw old friends and It was a blessing to see it. I think that the biggest struggle in my mission has been seeing these less-active people, people that have served missions, been endowed or sealed in the temple and still fall away from the church. Its just an eye opener that shows me that even after we have served missions or gone through the temple that things aren't "all downhill" from there. I remember something that Jake said, "falling out of the church and bed happens for the same reason, your not all the way in."

So this week I want you to tell me about a time where you heard modern day revelation, or council form Prophets then applied it, For me it was just this last conference where President Thomas Monson said that we should look at people not as they are but as what they can become, this has helped me so much as a missionary whether dealing with non progressing investigator or a companion or less active members, I try to imagine them in the temple, or at their baptism, it has helped me love the people here so much, Its like I can see a glimpse of how Heavenly Father sees his children.

I love all of you, mom I haven't received the book yet I think it will come this week.

Love Elder Proctor

January 28, 2013

Thanks Mom for getting that book sent, I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience.
This week I said goodbye to one of my good friends Elder Oliver from Fillmore, He is a good kid and served a great mission.

I don't really know what else to tell you. only you dad Martha, Casey and Michelle wrote me today. Its always nice to hear from all you. Things are still going good, although being a Zone Leader can be overwhelming at times. but its a good learning and growing experience.

This week, I want to hear who is your favorite Scripture Hero and why. For me I would have to say that its a tie between Peter and Captain Moroni, Peter is a favorite of mine because he was just a simple ordinary man that chose to follow the Lord and then did many great things. and I think that he is the perfect example of what the Gospel of Jesus can do to change a man, from a low and sinful state into an apostle of Jesus Christ, Captain Moroni has been a favorite of mine since i was a kid, but it was only because the Arnold Friberg painting of him was really cool. but when I grew up and actually read about him in the Book of Mormon that he became a hero of mine. and its because of his decision to stand up for what is right and true.
Well I hope that you will let me know who your scripture heroes are.
Sorry my letters are always so short.

Love,
Elder Proctor

January 21, 2013

 Naimbagngam Malim! (Good Afternoon in ilocano)
This week has been a great one, me and my companion have had great success with finding less-active members in our area which is always really cool or really scary, Because there are only 2 types of less actives here, the one that havent come to church because they havent been visited in a while or the ones that have been offended and want nothing to do with us (hint those are the scary ones)

Yesterday our stake had a leadership training meeting and the Stake President invited/commanded my companion and I to come and report to the leaders on missionary work in our zone and and train them how to more effectively use the full-time missionaries assigned to the wards. It was kind of intimidating but fun too.

Another cool thing that happened this week is I finished reading the New Testament! I love it, I love the scriptchas. That reminds me, are you going to be sending me "The Miracle of Forgiveness" like you said you would? I sure would love it if you would do that!

This week is transfer week, me and my comp are probably staying together. and we will get new Elders and Sisters in our zone which is usually fun haha.

Oh and today for P-Day we played rugby again and I scored my first Try (touchdown) it was great. It is always fun to play with the Poly's in our zone, I love the Mission

So I had this idea to make our email communication more quality, and the Idea is that I will ask questions to you all that we normally ask the people that we teach, questions that have to do with the gospel. And this week I would like to ask you to share with me your testimony of the Book of Mormon.
I think this will make these emails more meaningful and you and I will grow closer together and we will all come closer to Christ our Savior. and I will more effectively fulfill my purpose as a missionary.

So since I am asking you to share your testimony of the Book of Mormon with me of course I will share mine with you. Its like this, I have known that it was true since I can remember but I didnt have the Holy Ghost Confirm it to me until I actually did as Moroni tells us, to read it, ponder it and then ask God if it is true with sincerity. I was in Ilagan my third area and I had just finished reading the Book of Mormon, It was just before lunch and I went into my bedroom and knelt in prayer and asked our Father in Heaven if it was true and I waited there then whether I heard it or thought it or just felt it I am not sure, but the answer was yes. I felt so loved, that my Father in Heaven would let me know of its truth, and that single experience has changed my mission and my life. Because it was the moment when I knew it personally independent of anyone else'  testimony.
Now you share yours, you have got to admit this has to be one of my best ideas, its right up there with the gopher trap I made.

I love all of you and cant wait to hear your testimonies, next week
Love Elder Proctor
PS if you dont comply, I just might just not send emails home :) is that a threat? ....no its an offer you cannot refuse

January 14, 2013

Hello Everyone,

So you all saw that comment about me on the Carlos' mission blog eh? I thought that was pretty funny too. 

Laura and Tyler got hitched how exciting, It looks like everything went well. I guess ya'all backed out on printing a life size picture of me. Oh well I will cry about that one later.

So things are going really well out here in the Philippines, I am proud to say that we have seen some incredible growth in our Zone and in our own area, Its been great to see. This week me and my companion were able to find a new investigator! She is married to an RM that went less-active, so we are excited to teach her and reactivate the RM. There is nothing more frustrating to me then teaching less-active RMs. So moral of the story is once you have served the Lord on a mission DON'T STOP! haha

Have I ever told you how beautiful it is here? I wish I could send you pictures but the camera just doesn't do it justice, just yesterday as we were walking down a muddy path on one side there was an irrigation ditch and on the other was the beautiful green rice fields that I love so much. As we were walking I could just feel how wonderful the creations of Heavenly Father really are, I know he loves me and I know that he loves all of us. I hope you all can feel that same feeling from time to time.

I love the work, and I love the people. I have learned so much from them, they are so humble and yet so happy for the blessings that they have. Yesterday we were teaching a family about tithing in there mud floor house while chickens were running around. We shared with them a quote From Gordon B. Hinckley, that he said on one of his trips to the Philippines, he said " Furthermore, I believe with all my heart that if they will accept the gospel and live it, pay their tithes and offerings, even though those be meager, the Lord will keep His ancient promise in their behalf, and they will have rice in their bowls and clothing on their backs and shelter over their heads." As we shared this the spirit filled the room of this humble family and testified to me that it was true. I love this quote, I love the Prophets and Apostles that are inspired men of God that are lead and directed by our Heavenly Father.

This week I borrowed a book from my companion, "Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell" it was great I finished it in 2 days.  Speaking of books are you going to send me "The Miracle of Forgiveness?" I sure would love to have it.

Thank you all for your love and support. I hope that you have a great week. 

I love you all 

Elder Proctor 

PS. I almost didn't write an email this week, but then I remembered how worried Mom would get when I would get home late and didnt know where I was. So you are welcome. 

PPS. Can I request a little more effort on the emails you all send? I love the emails but sometimes it almost sounds like its a chore for you to write me. Thank You

January 6, 2013

Hello Everybody,

Well Mom has told me that since Martha is home I have to step up my letters... hehe fat chance!
This week has been a good one, oh yeah Happy New Year everybody!
The best thing that happened to me this week was that 3 recent converts from my last area wrote me! It was so good to hear from them, 2 of them invited me to their temple sealing this october! so I might be able to go with them when I come home. and the Little Quilang girl wrote me telling me how she got up to bear her testimony about Thomas Monson. It was one of the happiest days of my mission.
I love all of you, if you want longer letters then write me and tell me more than your grocery list :)

Love,
Elder Proctor

December 31, 2012

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all had a great Christmas! I sure did! Most of the people we are teaching made it out to the ward Christmas Party, so that was pretty neat.
But then after Christmas I got a Cold then the next day a Cough and then the day after that it was raining while we were out and I slipped and fell on my right leg kind of funny and sprained my knee haha but its all good I just had to rest a day keeping ice on it. Its all good now.
What else can I tell you, oh yeah just before I sprained my knee we found a past investigator that wants to be taught now. that was the highlight of that particular day.
I am in one of those moods where I don't want to write a lot.
It was great to Skype to you all, next time though I would rather talk to you guys one at a time instead of all at once. if that is okay.
I love all you!

Love,

Elder Proctor