Week 62 - August 24, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Short email this week.   I think I'm going back to India, no confirmed flight booked yet but I will let you know when I make it there.  This week was awesome.  We went to work finding and teaching this week.  Lots of potentials in the future.  Here's a sweet pic of the temple.

Love you,

Elder Wakefield

Week 61 - August 17, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Whats up everybody. Crazy news today -  I found out that our visa back to India came but not sure when we are headed back.  Still in shock; I cant believe it.

We had some awesome zone conferences this week and we talked all about Power.  The Power to be obedient, the power of good health, the power of good knowledge, the Power of the Atonement, everything it was awesome.  Like Heavenly Father wants to bless us so much for keeping his commandments and when He feels it is right that is when He blesses us.

We got a new laptop for the office too.  Lots of changes around here and now that I'm leaving it will probably be even crazier. Ever since I came to the Office I've learned and come to appreciate  all the behind scenes work of people in my life.  Probably learned more here than I have since I first started.  

I also learned that being proactive plays a huge role in our lives.  When we go and seek to do good then we are blessed with those opportunities but if we just go through the motions, then we miss out.  Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because that is how we grow in life.  I'm so glad I get to serve everyday, and I know that the Lord is preparing people for us.

Week 60 - August 10, 2015 - Manila Philippines

😁 Well another week, another peso.  It seems like one big project after another here.  This week was MLC so I got to make a bunch of graphs and reports for the Mission President and Zone Leaders to look at.  I was telling someone the other day that I've learned more about computers in the last 2 months I've been here then in my whole prior life.

A new senior couple is coming here in October and they just moved another senior couple in to help take some of the burden from the ones leaving.  It seems like things are changing everyday here.

There are Zone Conferences this week, so I think we will be busy helping to prepare for those also.  I guess that means more food for us so it is worth it.

Our investigators are doing pretty well also.  We had a bunch at church yesterday and its pretty awesome seeing everyone embrace the Gospel and make changes in their life.  I know that as we keep the commandments of God, He will bless us for our service.  Especially when we are trying our best everyday, He will give us the strength that we need to avoid temptations, overcome adversity and reach out to those in need.  Still no word on a new visa  but life is awesome.

Elder Wakefield

Week 59 - August 3, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Well things seem to be a little more tame here after transfer week.  I think we had to wake up before 6 everyday this week.  It was pretty tiring and hard working but everything is a lot nicer now.

We had to run people all across the mission and we even got a little lost and found ourselves in Cavite mission.  So I think that was my 4th mission I've been to in just the Philippines.   Wednesday we picked up the new missionaries from the MTC and they were pretty pumped.  It was funny being with them and seeing what they thought of the Philippines outside of the MTC.  We got to go the American cemetery where President Gordon B Hinkley opened the Philippines to missionary work and it was so cool.  Thousands of crosses everywhere, it looked like the scene in saving Private Ryan.  And they have these huge stone pillars filled with names of soldiers whose bodies were never found.

We got a third companion this week, Elder Benting, super cool guy from North Luzon.  He actually started his mission in the area we are in now so he knows the area super well.  He's helping Elder Thacker and I on our Tagalog as well.  The senior couple only have 37 days left so then it will be just us 3.

My companion had some driving problems this week so our van is starting to take a beating and we are losing some money paying off traffic guards but we are still alive.  These next few weeks should be busy with MLC and Zone Conferences.  I'm also trying to talk the Mission President into sending us with him for zone conference to Palwan because it might be the only chance I get.

 Love you guys,

Elder Wakefield

Week 58 - July 27, 2015 - Manila Philippines - Report on Bangalore Stake Formation

I thought I would forward you an email that my MTC companion (Elder Dias) sent out this week.  He has half Indian heritage so he was able to stay even when his visa expires.  Not sure if it will happen or not, but things are looking up.  Here it is:

We've been about 80 baptisms short of the 1,900 needed to submit the application to become a stake. The problem was that we needed the baptisms by August 15. To apply for the necessary visas for the needed General Authorities and the preparation for making Bangalore a stake at the next district conference in November.  It's been looking bleak as anything so Elder Gill and I decided it was time to go HARD IN THE PAINT!!

Last week on Monday after the worst Auto Riksha Ride ever (26K adventure into nowhere land), President Berrett decided that he would call us in to brief us on the Sit-Rep of the district as of then.  We were at 1840 members in Bangalore - out of the required 1900. So close yet so far.. I asked if children under 8 counted... He found out that it was a YES.. That is when Elder Gill and I went Hamm Sandwich on our respective Branches. 

The funny thing was, nearly half of the children came from the super active families, no one felt (or knew) to create a record for them. I went and helped another Branch in Elder Gill's district - the other branch that shares the Ramamurthynagar building (my old branch).. So Elder Gill and I sat with President Karthikagan (of RMNAGAR) and entered over 30 names and growing. We took the current deficit of 52 to a deficit of 13 - I'm not finished yet either.

 There is so much work that goes into a branch, a district, a ward, a stake... and eventually a temple. It will be so worth the effort. 

Week 57 - July 20, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Week 58 - July 27, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Quick story for the week:

Last night we went to a members home and we show up and theres already like 7 members from the Ward their teaching this family about the principle of sacrifice.  Super awesome lesson and at the end the one brother asks the head of the household how his life has been blessed from sacrifice and he just starts crying, like sobbing , it was crazy, then his wife, non-member, has the same reaction and they both just say how grateful they are for all the blessings they've gotten in their life from the Church and how much it means to them.  Super awesome! Miracles do happen!

Get out and help those in need.

Love,

Elder Wakefield

Week 56 - July 13, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Week 55 - July 6, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Another week down, time seems to be going faster in the philippines than it does in India.  The last 2 weeks nothing too crazy has gone down.  Mostly just making schedules, charts and graphs for mission leaders to review and talk about how they can help the work.  I think a tropical storm hit North Luzon these last past few days and we got a little taste of it here in Manila and it is crazy.  It's like the windows of heaven just opened the flood gates and released.  

Its funny too because usually it will pour for 5-10 minutes and then 20 minutes later its clear skies and the water dries up pretty fast.

I did have this cool experience where I went on exchange with a new Elder in our apartment and he is still learning Tagalog and I know very little so we went out there and tried to teach.  More people speak English in Manila than they do in the Philippines though.   The Lord just blessed us with awesome people to teach and fill up throughout our day.

They started another Book of Mormon challenge so that is going on.  We also watched Meet the Mormons and that was way cool.

One challenge that is super common here is smoking - literally everyone here smokes, Grandmas, Men, Women, Kids everyone.  So one of our investigators is trying to stop her addiction but you can tell that she doesn't even believe in herself.  Her husband who got baptized like 8 months ago is awesome.  Every time that we go over he always just shares how this is the only true gospel on the earth and what a blessing it is to be apart of.  He also has super strong faith that that his family will join him at church so they can be sealed in the Temple.  

People feed us alot here and I'm definitely taking advantage of the beef and pork while I can before I go back.  Thanks for all the emails.

Love,

Elder Wakefield

Week 54 - June 26, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Week 53 - June 19, 2015 - Letter from the Manila Philippines Mission President Ostler

THE CHURCH OF

JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

PHILIPPINES MANILA MISSION

P.O. BOX 1997

Makati Central Post Office

1200, Metro Manila

Philippines

19 June 2015

Dear Brother and Sister Wakefield,

We are happy to inform you that your son, Elder Andrew Wakefield, has recently been called to serve as an Office Elder for the Philippines Manila Mission.  He has shown by his obedience, humility, and diligence that we can trust him to assist the President with the many office operations required for the mission.  This is a very important calling. The mission could not function without this help.

We are so grateful for the talents your son has developed.  We are grateful that he is willing to contribute all of his abilities to the work of the Lord.  We are excited about this opportunity for growth in your son.  There are many aspects of leadership and managing the office affairs that will give him great experience for future leadership opportunities.  He will also continue to be responsible for a proselyting area and will be able to teach evenings and weekends.  We are grateful for his example of dedication to the Lord’s work.  We are grateful he has accepted this opportunity, and we have great confidence that he will bless the lives of many through his service in the office.

We are so thankful for his efforts.  We wish you could see him as he teaches and interacts with the other missionaries.   We are humbled to be able to serve with him and the rest of the incredible Philippines Manila Missionaries.  Thank you for sharing such a wonderful son with us.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Creg D. Ostler

Philippines Manila Mission

Week 53 - June 17, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Well everyone, it is pretty weird writing to you now that 365 days have passed since I've seen any of you.  I thought I'd give you a run down on what I've been able to accomplish in the last year:

Gained 1.5 inches (now 5'10'')

Lost 40lbs (now 150lbs)

Read the Book of Mormon twice

Read the New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants twice

Read Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, Pursuit of Happiness and True to the Faith

Been in Germany, India, Thailand and Philippines

Learned to play cricket

Learned some Tamil, Telegu, and now Tagalog

Learned to wash clothes by hand

Cook my own food and make my own bed

That is just some stuff but I still feel like there is a lot more.  The Lord has been good to me and I have been very blessed in the last year.  Today and yesterday were transfers and they were crazy.  We were running 21 missionaries around for their last day and then woke up super early to pick up 12 new missionaries to the field.

Sunday was sweet they had this Philippines Area conference were some General Authorities and Apostles talked to the whole country through internet connection in stake centers across the nation, it was really inspiring.  

I absolutely know this Gospel is true and by serving the Lord I've been able to see miracles in my life everyday.  I've come closer to God and know that He is my Heavenly Father, living through faith brings wonderful things.

Have an awesome week

Elder Wakefield

Week 52 - June 10, 2015 - Manila Philippines

Kumusta??????  This week was the craziest ive had for sure in the last year.

We flew from Hyderabad to Bangkok to Manila at like 1:00 a.m. in the morning and reached to the Philippines at like 9:00 a.m.  Then they dropped us off at a hotel by like noon and for the rest of the day we were free to do whatever.  Then the next day (Wednesday) we stopped by the MTC and got to talk to the President and he was like a knowledge bowl about the Philippines and he told us some super awesome stories.  Then we made it to the Manila mission office at like 11:00 am.

We had interviews with President Ostler and I was assigned to work with the zone leaders in Makati East.  I stayed and experienced the culture with 2 sweet companions, one from Australlia and the other from the Philippines.  Then on Saturday afternoon, I get a call from President Ostler and he tells me that I'm going to become an office Elder!

So today. I got my Filipino drivers license as we will have a car to drive everyday from the apartment to the mission office.  So now the current office Elders are trying to train us for when they leave next Wednesday.  So now, life is confined to an office with a few rooms and air-conditioning and lots of fast food restaurants near by.

But I've been blessed to already have learned a lot of Ta-ga-log.  Its like a mix between Spanish, English and Japanese.  I can't understand anything of what people on the streets say but when we do practices during our language study, I can have small conversations with people and say some other lines.  

The food here is very sweet compared to India.  Philippines is basically like a light Catholic cleaner version of India.  People know the missionaries pretty well, so it is harder to get appointments in. Everything is awesome though and I'm liking it so I'll let you guys know what cool things happen for the rest of this week~!

Love 

Elder Wakefield  

Week 51 - June 7 2015 - Manila Philippines

Here is the e-mail from Sister Northrup upon Elder Wakefield arriving in the Philippines:

Dear Brother and Sister Wakefield,

 

I know from Facebook that you are well aware that your delightful son has made a safe transfer to our mission for a while, but thought you might like to see his arrival pictures with President Ostler. He may not have had a chance to tell  you that he has been assigned to the office, so we hope to get to know him well. This also probably means that I will be able to take lots more pictures of him!

 

These elders he is with, Elders Aguinaldo and Elder Appleby, were his temporary companions, but when he got assigned to the office, his new companion became Elder Thacker, the other new office elder. I will post a picture of them sometime tomorrow on the Philippines Manila Moms Facebook page, which is an open group you might want to join for as long as Elder Wakefield is in this mission.

 

Thank you,

Sister Northrup

Philippines Manila Mission