Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to you Dad and all the other fathers out there. Many of you have really impacted my life for the better, I think I'd be a lot different if it wasn't for the many good examples I've had over these past years. Well this has been quite the week, by the way sorry I didn't write last week I didn't get to email that much because we had just got back from a Zone Conference and were preparing for the next one. We had 3 of them this week, oh boy I'm beat. We visited our 2 big island zones and had one down south. Lots of traveling. One night we were driving for 4 hours from one end of the mission to the other doing some re-arraigning with missionaries at about 8-12 midnight...I think the Spirit ended up driving at one point because I was getting really sleepy. It was oddly foggy that night too, but we made it in the end! I really wish I had an amazing spiritual story this week but we've been busy with these Conferences so not much work has happened this week. But we should be getting out more this week, although we do have Transfer Planning tomorrow. Its always just one thing after another. I miss you all, sorry these are shorter than they used to be. Love you all!

Elder Akins

Grabe Ang Week Nito!

So ya the Philippines never ceases to amaze me. Last night I was driving home from the Office with everyone in the truck with me and we got behind this Padyak, its like a bike with a sidecar that they drive people around in. It was about 11 o'clock and I was about to pass this guy but something was holding me back from doing so. And he was being really wierd because he was in the middle of the road and then he would keep it to the right, then come back to the left. His Ronny buddy on the back was half hanging on, half off but he kept calling me to pass them. So I did and right as I did the guy swerved for no reason in front of me, luckily I figured he was a little tipsy so I was being careful. So ya he was, then the guy on the back tried getting off while he was peddling and lost his shoe, so I had to stop for him, then he started walking who knows where. But needless to say he went another half mile or so fore he dropped off this lady with a baby that I didn't see inside. So I'm very grateful for the Spirit and that it was telling me to be cautious that night. This past week though we had 2 different trainings/conferences. They both went well, we kinda scrapped it by with time but they were good. My new companion Elder Hernandez is doing well, he's really stepping up to the plate. I guess the Family got to meet with his family this past week which was cool. But ya, we had a great week for sure. We found about 3 or 4 families through tracting this week! Our area hasn't had a baptism in a year or so, so we have decided we are going to break the Curse of the AP's area. We are super stoked, our most progressing family is the Ballderama Family and they are starting to read the Book of Mormon, they kinda remind me of the Magallon's. I actually saw them yesterday after their Church service, except for Brother ha he had to go home early because of LBM which they all thought was hilarious when the told me ha. Oh I love them so much, can't believe I ever doubted coming on a Mission. I love you all, hope everyones doing well. Be seeing ya soon! Mom make sure that Joey and Maynerd keep getting my emails please. Love ya!
Elder Akins

Crazy Crazy Crazy

I feel like the only word that is consistent in my grammer now is Crazy, because thats the only thing that happens here ha. Let alone back at home, like how all of my buddies are getting back right now! What the heck, I didn't even know Joey and Lindsey were heading home this week! Crazy stuff. Man I really gotta stop saying that, I'll try to before I get home. Well we had a decent week, we've been adjusting the Mission like crazy because of problems with missionaries health and stuff. But I'm learning how to keep it all together. I got to go through my old area (Gubat) this past week, but I didn't stop to say hi to anyone, wasn't time. But I did see good ole Tatay Pimentel standing in his door way shirtless as ever! Haha I love Filipinos! Such a crack up. Quick funny story: So I got to attend a Birthday Party in my old area in Daraga at one of my old investigators house because I had to show some new Elders where he lived. Long story short we got sat down right in the middle of this group of about 50+ people (half of them were drunk old guys who were having the time of their lives when they saw 2 white guys and a poly guy show up), and then they made us eat all of this food. It was super awkward, embarrassing and super funny. We were laughing along with them haha. Thats what I love about the Philiippines, you never feel alone. The people are always so nice and caring. We had a good time and we were even able to get an appointment with a girl for those Elders. Me and my companions had some real good success with our area this week. We've been focusing on this strip of railroad that has a lot of houses along it this past week and have found quite a few of potential investigators, so hopefully they will take off in the Gospel here fore long. Well I love you guys, hope all is well and that you're getting plenty of rain back at home. I'll try to bring some home with me when its my turn to head out! Love ya!
Elder Akins

Missionaries Down

This has been another hectic/insane week. I think I'll just stop saying they're crazy because its just normal now. I've never experienced so much GO GO GO in my life. Jeez, an Elder just needs to take a few moments on the stream slaying fish I'd say! Life's getting to much in a hurry for me! The craziest things have been happening lately. We've lost almost 10 missionaries to illnesses in the past few weeks. Its hurting us bad, we are pretty low on Elders and Sisters right now. Hopefully the Lord will bless us with some more soon. Maybe we are lacking in Faith... I don't know we'll have to look into that. I'm really growing from all this though. So I what I really should be saying is I'm grateful for these trials that God is giving to me, because He loves me enough to "cut me down" so to speak. A mission is a truly amazing experience. Well like I said we got a new companion last week, Elder Hernandez, who is a stud, but who I failed to mention is a BYU/BoSoxs fan so that ain't flying...but we've worked through it and both agreed that we can be companions for the time being haha. No he's great though, we're good friends and I'm happy that he's here. We had a really cool spiritual experience this week in one of our lessons. We visited an old Bishop that has gone Less Active in our area. Long story short he hasn't been coming to church for a long time and we haven't had much progress with him. We haven't even been sure what his concern really is. But on Saturday night we were finally able to peel away the last part of the onion! We found out, after an awesome lesson about becoming Disciples of Christ leaving everything using Matthew 4:18-22 I believe it was, that he was offended long ago by his uncle who also served as a Bishop. So now that we know whats up we can finally help address his concern. I hope before I leave that he will return to the Church, thats one of my Personal Goals right now. Also that me and Elder Hernandez will have a baptism here in the AP Area...which hasn't happened in almost 2 years now ha so we'll see how that goes! It'll take some Faith I guess. Pananampalataya baga!
Love Elder Akins

Transfer Week

Well another crazy week here in the Office. We had lots going on with getting ready for the Transfer tomorrow. The Plans themselves for the Transfer were really crazy. We had a lot of changes happen. We got 2 new Supply Elders: Elder Kelley and Elder O'Connor. So they will be staying with us from Tuesday on. Should be lots of fun. I'm also getting a new companion, Elder Hernandez. I'll tell you more about him next week, but he's a good guy. We are also getting a new ZL here in Legazpi, one of my good buds Elder Whitney. And part of the crazy thing is he will be taking the place of Elder O'Connor. Elder O'Connor's comp, Elder Pasadillo, is my old comp and he is heading home. So Elder Matautia, this cool, funny, Poly Aussie kid, will take his spot. This isn't even half of it...confused yet? Ya, I'm trying hard to not get confused haha. But its a blast though! We ate Lunch and Dinner with President a couple of times which is always an interesting experience. He always has these crazy stories that he shares with us that leave us saying, "That used to be President?" For example, back in the early 80's he lived in the Middle East, and he would spend countless hours Spear-Fishing. He also told us how he would catch so many fish out there when he was fishing from a boat that they would fillet them and lay all the fillets on the top of the boat and all over the deck so that they could fit them all. Then they would lay them on their car as they drove home, and by the time they got home they would dry to the car haha. He used to have a sweet Tom Seleck Mustache too. On a more spiritual side, I'm currently in the War Chapters of the Book of Mormon. I love Captain Moroni's example most of all, I think he is my favorite Book of Mormon character. He's such a stud. Humble, yet bold. Wasn't afraid of anything. He had complete Faith in his men and the Lord. I hope that I can follow his example more. I've definitely been blessed of having many amazing examples in my life. My Father, my grandfathers, my uncles, my cousins, fathers of friends, ward members, the list goes on and on. Thanks to all of you, I'm so grateful for all of you and the good influence you've had on me! I love you all. Also to my bud's, who knows where I'd be without you Ronny's!
    Love Elder Akins

Quick Email

Hey everyone sorry I'm down to only a few minutes now so I'll make it quick. But this week was pretty crazy. We were supposed to move a bunch of missionaries around this week, but weren't able to get around to it because we had a ton of other things come up like missionaries that wanted to go home and other things. So its been kind of a stressful one. Prayer has played a big role this week. I try to just not worry so much and have an understanding that everything that gets thrown at me, fastballs and curveballs, is all for my good. It works pretty well I suppose. I recently heard about my buddy Elder Bunting help fish in a shark...hey bud just to let you know, I'll be reeling in stuff bigger than that at Powell son! Can't wait to see my buddies again, its been to long. I was able to Skype the family today. Gotta say its been a long 2 years since I've seen you guys, I know that mostly because Josh is starting to look bigger than I remember. Can't wait to throw with ya again buddy! Oh man I miss you guys so much, and I especially want Mom to know how much I appreciate her and love her! I hope you could understand me during the Skype haha my English skills are less than par right now. I feel almost socially awkward when I English under pressure haha. But I love you Mom and I hope your Mother's Day was awesome! You deserve more than a day's rest! Love you! Other than that I hope everyone else is doing well! Miss you all!
    Elder Akins

The Time is Far Spent

I really don't know where the time goes! This week has gone by super fast. Everyday has been pretty busy for us. We had a few Exchanges in pretty distant areas so that took up a day. And we've also been busy moving Missionaries around to different areas under Presidents direction. So needless to say I've been spending quite some time behind the wheel. One night it just turned out to be My Night. Everyone that has been in the Office has left some kind of mark or such on the vehicles. So this one night I was coming back with Elder Surio from grabbing a bite to eat because we had just finished running errands for the day. So I went to pull into the tight opening and I ended up taking a bad angle and put a dent the size of a baseball into the side of our Ford Ranger. So that made my night. Its a good thing the Church has Insurance right?! I was pretty grateful at the time. Then I had to tell President what happened, but it was all good with him. Ha I felt like I was back at home telling Dad that I broke a sprinkler head on the lawn or something. But we got everything taken care of and its all good now. This week me and Elder Surio had a great lesson about Joseph Smith with our Investigator Joy and her boyfriend who was at their house. We watched the Restoration video at their neighbor's house who are members: the Luvendino's. They have a couple of little girls, and their youngest little girl: Showbee, who I would love to adopt and bring home with me haha the cutest little girl! She's so funny too, she's only 6 and she asks the most mature questions about where I'm from and if I have a girlfriend and what my family is like! Such a little cutie. Anyways, the lesson was great, and we had a good Question/Answer time after the video. The boyfriend even had some questions so hopefully we can teach him with her in the next lesson this week. Thats about how the week went, sorry times limited to this is all I got! Love you all!
    Elder Akins