Eades, Oakley P

Maligayang Pasko!!! Lately I've been thinking about the birth of Jesus Christ and the circumstance when he was born. I imagine the stable where he was born looks pretty similar to the houses I am surrounded by everyday. It is so incredibly humbling here. There are no big Christmas decorations, no Santa, no snow, no gifts, etc. All the things we generally think of as “Christmas” aren't really a thing here. When Jesus was born, there were no decorations, no music, no santa, etc. Because Christmas was never about decorations or music or Santa! It's about Christ! Because of Him we all have the opportunity to live with Heavenly Father again. That is the best gift we could ever have. I am so forever grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ and the opportunities we have because of Him. This Christmas has been so different and yet so special. This is probably the only Christmas that I get to focus solely on Jesus! Last night and today (Christmas Eve and Christmas day), we wrapped up ...

Merry almost Christmas!! It definitely doesn't feel like Christmas here because its 80 million degrees. Haha enjoy the snow for me!  This week our friend Micah accepted a baptismal date! She is 16 years old and has been on and off coming to church for basically her whole life. She attends seminary and goes to FSY. She wants to be baptized so bad but her parents won't give her permission. We just recently started teaching her again and this week we taught about baptism and extended a baptismal date. The spirit was SO STRONG and she was so excited to say yes. She even asked if she could be baptized before the end of December! Her faith is so strong and she is currently praying for the courage to talk to her mom for permission. She said that even if she doesn't get permission she wants to get baptized anyway because she trusts God that it will all work out.  I'm learning and growing so much every day and I'm so grateful to be a missionary. This week I have learned just...

Nanay Elen was baptized on Saturday!!  Problem is she showed up 1 hour late to church the next day so she was not confirmed… So like half baptized?  Welcome to the Philippines haha Filipino time kills me. Hopefully she will get confirmed next week. These past few weeks have been SO HARD. Mentally, physically, and spiritually so exhausting. But I also have never learned or grown more than I have these past few weeks. Last Sunday our sunday school lesson was in Ether 12 about weaknesses becoming strengths. That lesson was definitely for me. 26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness; 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then wi...