Pansimula - (21)

Pansimula means preparatory, which properly describes everything I've experienced on my mission prior to this point.

 One of the truths I've learned on my mission, is, that everything you learn is preparatory to something to come, a trial, a new area, a new experience, anything. But what is interesting, is that that experience turns into a preparation for another something to come. So, simply put, everything you learn is preparatory to a preparation which would be preparatory to another preparation. In Gospel terms, line upon line, precept upon precept, but it's fun to look at it from that perspective. In a grand scale, everything in this life is experience preparatory to exaltation, but what does exaltation prepare you for? It is eternal progression, but before I dive into the unanswerable depths...

Cabuyao Zone

Monday I wrote my last epistle where it stated I was to be an AP for another transfer, well friends, half-way through the week, President completely re-worked the transfer board. Pres. pulled me in solo, and I saw my picture was no longer on the board. He held it in his hand. He said "Elder, I'm going down to two APs", and said he wants me to re-open Canlubang, a somewhat problematic area. I'll be honest, it startled me. But, I went with it. He then said you can choose who you want your companion to be from those being transferred, which was a good fourty or so individuals. I scanned the board and asked for some time. I prayed in my heart and looked around. Canlubang has had problems with missionary and member relations, they are prone to fault-find and be judgmental according to the opinions of those who had been pulled out because of bad experiences. I thought about who would help me out, and who I could help.

My eyes rested upon Elder Joshua Gonzalez, my scrub from the MTC. He was a zone leader on Mindoro, transferred to Lopez stepping down to follow up train. I then remembered what he told one ZLC. He said that in his first interview with President Anderson when he got into the field, he asked President if he, at some point, could become companions with Elder Mace. President laughed and told him, "Elder, when I went on my mission, I asked the same exact thing from my Mission President. Do you know what he said? He said it will never happen. But, in my last transfer in the mission, we became companions". President said the same thing to Gonzalez. It was just to perfect. I felt good about it, I felt warm, and I got a confirmation he would be the right choice. He is a scholar of the scriptures, a convert, and wants to study religion for the rest of his life. He is also a pro at human relations, (Dale Carnegie!), and would fit the picture I started painting for Canlubang. When I requested it, President was pretty startled, as was my three companions. It was a bold move to pick one of my closest friends, especially one as loud and outgoing as Gonzo. Well, President accepted it, and we set out to Canlubang.

Someone tell Josh it's not St. Patrick's Day

Everything I've learned on my mission has been playing a massive role in re-opening this ward. It is hard to believe. When we got there the members were ecstatic to see us. They were so happy that they had missionaries again, and when they heard that I was an old AP and my comp an old ZL both stepped down to re-open their area, they were not only flattered, but got perhaps even more excited about it. They had referrals waiting that first Sunday and four investigators who we had never met showed up for church. We have had a member at every teaching appointment the past ten days, and this area has caught on fire! The members are super nice and grateful. Now, to add reality to this, they are mostly all very wealthy, and therefore, there is a lot of elitism and pride, but what is the answer for that? Humility and gratitude! That and setting a good example. We've been working so hard, and there has been incredible dividends. Last Sunday seven more showed, and we have baptisms lined up for the end of April. and it has been ten days. I know this is really hard to relate with unless you've served in PSPM, but this place is accurately depicted as a white field ready to harvest. There have been challenges, but they've been quickly overcome. My companion and I get along ridiculously well, and we freaking love each other. It's hard to go to bed on time because we are constantly talking philosophy, logic, deep doctrine, and have all kind of inquisitive interesting conversations.


Well, one night this last week, I was on the phone with another missionary who was asking about my area. And I started telling him how amazing it is. And then is when I realized how beautiful a gift God had given me for a last area. This is a blessing, maybe as like a "Hey, you did pretty good on your mission, I'll bless you with some fruit". I haven't had the most baptisms on my mission, but that never really ever bothered me at all, but God is good. He has blessed me with two boss zone leaders, Elder Poole from duke and Elisan. I'm in a sick zone, and have the greatest luxuries a zone could provide. It's a city, outside a massive city, so it's nice. My apartment is fetchin tiny though. It is easily the smallest apartment in the mission. It is a glorified garage, but I love it. It feels great to be a normal missionary again. At transfer day, when I sat down with my new companion in the audience, no longer on the stage beside pres., I felt thirty pounds fall off my shoulders, and I felt like I had done my duty, fulfilled my purpose as an AP to eliminate the pamphlet preaching, and to exalt the book of Mormon in missionary's personal lives as well as the work. I felt like I had made a difference, and now it's just back to basics to prepare me for when I go home which I know will be crazy.

I love life. I'm learning so much right now, and you better think twice if you think I'm going to coast in auto-pilot out of the finish line. That would be a sad joke and a sayang (wasted opportunity) on my mission. I will work hard till the day I die, for rest is for the dead....and for P-day.






love you all,

-Elder Mace