Thank you, President Zapanta!

Lot of changes this week, it's been a week of ups and downs. President Zapanta is gone though, our new President, President Kirk, just got to Naga yesterday. We'll meet him later this week, and we'll get to see what will happen from this point on. So a mighty change, really sad to see President Zapanta go, but looking forward to what is going to happen next. 

We had Zone conference earlier this week which was super sad because it was President Zapanta's last zone conference. We were able to pay a cool tribute to him, and tell him thank you for everything he has done. He was an amazing President for the first 9 months of my mission, and I will miss him dearly. It was a pretty tough zone conference.

Iriga is still going strong as a Stake, we don't have a bishop yet, but everyone is excited about being a Ward. We also had a couple families come to church yesterday, which was awesome. We've been having some significant progress in our area this week. It's had some ups, and lot of downs, but it was nice to see some hard work pay off.

That's it for this week. It's hot, it's rainy, but we've been inviting people to come unto Christ nevertheless. We'll have to see how this next week goes with meeting the new mission president, and how our work will be. Till next time!

All is Well 

Elder Bills 

1. Our tribute video to President Zapanta (sorry about the quality) 2. Us in a computer shop (sorry I still don't have any pictures)

This new policy that missionaries can call home each week is AWESOME! We get a week-by-week summary of how the work is going with Isaac. It's been fantastic following up on the people he's teaching. We have enjoyed hearing his mission stories directly from him, too. 

Last night as we were talking, the kids were showing Isaac some paper swords and knives they had made. Silas is way into origami. Isaac said, "Wanna see my lightsaber?" Oscar and Silas were SO EXCITED. Isaac rummaged around in his backpack and then presented a Tagalog Book of Mormon. "This is my lightsaber! It's my greatest weapon against the world." Not sure if Oscar, Silas and Hazel thought that was so neat, but Bekah and I smiled. 

Isaac then went into full-on testimony mode of how the Book of Mormon changes lives. Interestingly, up until this transfer, he said his companions have not really used the Book of Mormon to teach people. They've used pamphlets. But during this transfer, Isaac and his companion have been experimenting with using the Book of Mormon and the power that it brings. In fact, they 've been so succesful, that President Zapanta asked them to role play teaching using the Book of Mormon in their zone confernce this past week and then they were both asked to share their testimonies. Isaac said that he was pretty emphatic in telling the rest of the missionaries that the Book of Mormon is where the power is. He said a few missionaries came up to him after and basically said, "You've never really talked much during zone conference. Where did you come from?" President Zapanta took him by the shoulders and said, "Elder Bills, you have grown so much!" 

Bekah and I are super impressed how this young man is gaining a firm testimony of the keystone of our religion. He had me excited to dive in to the Book of Mormon today. 

We decided that mission work is three things: 1. Loving people 2. Bringing Them to Christ and 3. By using the Book of Mormon. 

It was a great phone call last night. He has changed so much this transfer. Elder Lougee's been a tremendous influence. Isaac is sad to see him go home next week. Wish we lived closer to Casper, Wyoming to go hear him speak. 

Thanks to all who are helping and supporting him on his mission!