Yep...I'm 20 years old now. It's a pretty weird feeling I must say. I guess I'll just say it right now, so I don’t
forget. Thank you EVERYONE for all of
the birthday wishes! They really made my
day. As for my birthday, it was a pretty
ordinary day . . . except . . . we got a new investigator after many weeks of
searching. We found him when we worked
in the morning of my birthday. He's a 24
year old guy, so we're really excited that he's receptive, so far. I just hope that he continues to
progress. He's got great potential. I treated myself to some delicious pandy-sal
just like in the good 'ol’ days of Kalikid.
So, I guess that's about all we did for my birthday.
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| No pictures of Jordan this week . . . but we like this one! |
We had zone conference in Tarlac on Thursday. It was really good. The topic for the morning was Repentance. We had some really good discussions with
President Martino about it, but my favorite part of the zone conference is when
they played a video of the Atonement and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ with
commentary by President Eyring and Elder Holland. Elder Holland described the Atonement just
perfectly. Lately, I've been asking
myself: "Why is my area so hard right now? Why do so many people reject us?" But, Elder Holland helped me put all of that
into perspective. He said that
missionaries ask these questions all the time.
Elder Holland said that Jesus Christ also asked Heavenly Father those
very same questions. The Savior even
reached the very brink of discouragement, heartache, and pain, to the point of
asking Heavenly Father if there was an alternative to the physical, spiritual
and emotional torture he had to endure as He was paying for our sins. Through it all, He submitted to the will of
the Father. Elder Holland then
concluded: "Why should it be easy [for us] when it was never easy for
him?" That really hit me hard -
right between the eyes. I will never
feel or begin to appreciate the pain the Savior felt for the sins of all
mankind.
I'm so grateful for the Atonement in my life and in the
lives of those that we teach. I have seen
many lives change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is such an amazing feeling to know that my
sins can be forgiven and that the Lord is always with me in the work. Even though sometimes (mostly lately) I may
feel weighed down by a burden I must carry alone. I know He will never allow me to suffer
beyond what I can endure, so long as I am earnestly seeking to follow Him. I testify that Heavenly Father loves each of
us and that Jesus Christ knows every pain and anguish that has and will ever be
felt. Christ had His own moment when He
felt “forsaken” by the Father, as He had to walk through the valley of
death on His own as He suffered and died on the cross. However, in that moment of apparent
abandonment, Heavenly Father was actually even closer to Him. It had to be incredibly heart wrenching for
Heavenly Father to watch His Only Begotten Son suffer so much. However, He did it for us - because He loves
us. I have felt the power of the
Atonement so many times in my life - more than I can count. Just remember when you feel lonely or
abandoned, that the Lord is so much closer than you think.
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| Jordan here with Elder Declaro, who really wants a bike ride |
Well, I played basketball for the first time in over two
months. We played in Camaling against
the Camaling Zone elders. I still don't
have shoes (because . . . sadly . . . I still haven't received my packages yet
(sniff, sniff)), so I had to borrow a pair from the new missionary, Elder
Fatauni. His feet are two sizes bigger
than mine, so I had to wear four pairs of socks just to fit in the shoes. It was also for protection for my ankle. The good news is that I didn't hurt my ankle
again, but I still got a nasty blister on my small toe. I was really rusty for not playing basketball
for two months, but it went alright. It
was really hot, so we didn't play that long.
So that's why I'm writing this a little late.
I received an email from Uncle Danny about the funeral
for his father in law. He related a
story written by his father in law about McKay around the time of his funeral
called: “Hero.” It is an account
of how I almost drowned in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa Royal's house after
wandering in the backyard when I was two years old. McKay was the only other person in the back
yard, and saved me. When asked what
happened, McKay said:"I saw Jordan in the pool and when he came back up
again, I just pulled him out." I am grateful today for McKay’s heroic act,
allowing me to continue my mission in life, so that I can serve the Lord in the
Philippines, and to celebrate my 20th birthday.
Well, I think that's about it for me this week. I love you all. Mahal ko kayo. Thank you for everyone for all of the
birthday wishes! :).
Elder Jordan "20 na!" Royal
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| Jordan's cousin Jesse with his sister Chelsea when Jesse spoke in church after returning home from his mission in Brazil |
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