Thank you, President Kirk

As you all may have heard, we received some shocking news this past week. Our President, President Kirk has passed away. We were first informed that he suffered a stroke on Monday and then received the news that he passed away. It shocked and shook everyone in the Naga Mission. We will all miss President Kirk dearly. He was truly a spiritual giant. And though his time with us here was short, I'm confident God has a better work for him on the other side of the veil. This email I would like to share his five hopes that he had for this mission:

1. Be Happy and Well with Joy: President Kirk knew missions were hard, he served here, so he understood better than anyone the challenges that lay here. But Men are that they might have Joy. Not fun, for fun is more of a quick worldly thing, but Joy. The joy that comes through serving others and the lord.

2. Love and Respect your companions: From the moment he told us this, he was living it. He always told us how much he loved his missionary companion, Sister Kirk. And the love and respect he showed for her was unequaled. He told us to do the same, because we cannot do this work alone. He set the perfect example for us even unto the end.

3. Obey all commandments and mission rules: Obedience is the first law of heaven. President Kirk always empathized as missionaries, we are called by a prophet of god. He told us to always carry our certificate signed by the Prophet of God. He told us as missionaries we have highers standards to live by. And to live them because we were set apart to do so. 

4. As Disciples of Christ we will find, baptize, and confirm souls: President Kirk told me in my interview, that we are here to find the elect, if they do not wish to follow we must move on, because the time is short, and there are people who need the gospel preached to them. So as Disciples we must rely on the spirit to find souls, and bring them unto Christ. 

5. Stand Still, In holy places, and fill the Philippines with the gospel: The most powerful and poetic hopes of President. We must stand in Holy Places, and find those points, those moments when heaven reaches down to earth, and for a moment the veil is opened, and the heavens loosed. And continue to do so until the Gospel fills the Philippines. President also expressed his love for the temple, the most holy place. And gave us and opportunity to attend the temple before we head home to, in the land of our mission, become as close to God as we possible can.

I express my love and appreciation to President Kirk, and for the impact he has made on this mission. He has touched my heart, as well as the hearts of many others. Though small in stature, he was a Giant among men. 

God's speed President!

All is Well

Elder Bills

Talked to Isaac last night. He was obviously saddened by the news of his mission president's passing. Sister Kirk actually traveled to Daet last week before she and her son left the Philippines on Monday morning (this morning). So, Isaac got to see her one last time: 

He said he is questioning why God would take this man right at the beginning of his mission, but as we talked, Rebekah told him to remember who is truly in charge of the mission. It wasn't President Kirk. It's always Jesus. There is a some healing that will have to happen with some of the missionaries as they move on to (for some of them) a third mission president. Isaac thinks they'll have a new one in place by transfers in three weeks. Elder Wakolo from the Philippines Area Presidency is filling in for now. 

Isaac is struggling with his companion right now, but is learning the attributes of meekness, humility and submission. He said he's read Moroni 7 and 1 Corinthians 13 a lot this past week. "How was Jesus able to love everyone?" he asked. :) 

We talked about how missions are definitely meant to find the "ones" who are seeking the Savior, but they are also meant to help the missionary better understand his/her own journey back to God. Isaac is eager to work and feels the time beginning to roll the other direction as he hits his YEAR MARK on Thursday the 12th. He has less time left than what he's already gone through. He has a sense of urgency. 

We talked about how the Lord gives us hard things to prepare us for greater things up ahead. He seemed to be in better spirits by time we hung up last night. 

This boy of ours has matured so much. He was saying how badly he wished he could roll back time and tell himself a year ago, "Stop being such a punk and start really preparing for a mission!" Funny boy. 

We loved this tribute he wrote to President Kirk.