A Different Legacy Perhaps?

Jordan and Elder Hernandez with Nanay Galang & Ila

            Thanks for all of the family updates.  I really appreciate those a lot.  It was a busy week with a bit of a let down (oh the ups and downs of missionary work), but I am very excited for this coming week.  Tomorrow will be the last zone conference of my mission, so I am making sure it will be the best one.  I enjoy zone conferences a lot.  They are definitely a great time to regroup spiritually and focus on ways to improve the Lord’s work.

            We had transfers this week and I'm still here in Gapan!  So, this will be my last area and I am really excited about that!  A lot of other people transferred, so we have some new missionaries in the zone, who I will get to meet tomorrow at zone conference.  This was by far the best investigator finding week I've ever had on my mission.  We found and taught 11 new investigators in just one day!  We found a former member's house, which is a giant mansion, but they moved to Tarlac, so we just found people to teach near their house.  Everyone that we taught knew them and told us what great examples they were of gospel living, so they left a very positive impression on their neighbors.  We taught this one sister who asked that we visit her neighbor, because she was once taught by the missionaries, but didn't continue, because she worked abroad for five years but said she had recently returned.  We visited her right afterwards, and she was so happy to see the missionaries again and remembered some of what was taught to her years before.  She used to go to church, but was never baptized.  We committed her to come back to church and we were really excited how our day was going so far.  On our last finding attempt, we were welcomed by a large family.  We only planned on sharing a quick lesson, because it was getting late, but they had us stay longer, allowing us to get to know them better.  We also committed them to attend church.  We went home that night grateful for the area that the Lord lead us to.  We were really excited for Sunday.  The rest of the week was kind've a drag after that, because we did not have the same kind of success.  Also, we could hardly wait for Sunday to come to see our new investigators at church.

Jordan & Elder Hernandez with Lana, Jona and Ila Galang

             We went to church looking forward to seeing all of our new investigators.  We were so sure they would be there and arrived at the chapel with so much excitement.  However, I am very sad to say that not one of them made it.  That was so disappointing.  All week long we looked forward to Sunday.  We were so sure they would all come.  On the bright side, we did have another investigator attend, who we have been teaching for a while (although they are not progressing very well, but at least we did have someone there).  At the end of our day of labor in the Lord’s vineyard, all we can give is our very best effort and leave the rest to the workings of the spirit and the exercise of agency.  We will see what we can do to overcome their obstacles this week and hope to see them at church next Sunday. 

Jordan, taking a brief nap during a meeting?

            Okay family, I think that's about it for this week.  I hope you all stay safe and that the Lord will bless you all.  I have to admit that I am a tad jealous that I will not be with you wearing those “Royal Strong and True” shirts when BYU plays Utah this coming weekend.  (Go Cougars!)  But, I have been extended a few more weeks in the mission field for a reason, and I'm grateful for that opportunity.  Take care family.

            Elder Jordan "planting na naman" Royal

We will be reunited with Jordan in five weeks.  In the meantime, we enjoy the "life sized Jordan" we have
had with us for the past 18 months (since David and Kambria's wedding).
(Look carefully.  Can you find him?)