Hello
Family and Everyone Else!
So
you would not have any idea how crazy of a week I have had. The week started
off like any other. I knew I wouldn't be having a preparation day, so I
just got into my work schedule. Everything was all fine and dandy, until
out of nowhere, Typhoon 2 in a row appears on my screen!!
One of my
duties in the office is to keep track of typhoons on the way to our
mission. When I saw what was coming, I knew our Mission Tour would have
to be postponed. It was a category 5 typhoon. Anyone who doesn't
know what that means, it means that the winds exceeded 156 mph. To be
honest, at one point in time the winds were 170 mph.
Our 3 North
Zones had to be emergency evacuated, which led to my appartment housing 8
Elders total! Haha it was a little crazy, but was also fun to see
familiar faces! We ended up not having water for a day, and were without
power for 3 days. The wind was pretty bad and there was some flooding,
but it wasn't too bad. The storm only lasted for about a day and a half,
then we could begin working again.
When I went out to work was when things got
even more interesting. On my way to work, I was on splits with Elder
Alecha, one of the Elders sleeping with us at the appartment. Now,
usually I sit on the outside of the tricycle, but this time, I was in the
inside, so I faced the right side of the road, saw everything just off the
road. About half way to my area, I saw something that didn't quite
register in my head. A car that was on its side. Suddenly, and
quite shockingly, I realized I had just witnessed a car accident. And a
pretty bad one. After I saw the car on its side, I saw the top of a mans
head underneath the car and to my horror, I saw his crushed tricycle wrapped
around a telephone pull.
Now I knew I needed to stop. Instinctively, I yelled at the driver to stop. And before he had even stopped I was out of the vehicle running to the scene. I was the first one there, so I grabbed the first Filipino I saw and told them to call the police. Then I called over other Filipinos to help me push up the car, so I could pull the body out from underneath the car with his clean hand. After that, I went and checked inside the vehicle. I could make out 3 girls in the car and tried to open the door from the top, but something was wrong with them. We grabbed a tricycles seat and used it to smash the back window out and I helped grab the three little girls from the car.
Afterwards, I knew it was time for me to go out to work and that my help was no longer needed. Before I left, we found that the driver had just left the hospital and still had the IV in. I don't know all the details but sadly it seems that the driver was definitely not fit to drive and something had happened to the driver while driving, either they passed out or passed away. Now although it was a very saddening situation, I was thankful I was able to help those girls who were trapped in the car that was stuck in D3.
That day I was able to teach both of my American investigators and to testify with more power about the Plan of Salvation and how great it is that the people who passed on were now in a better place. On Saturday, I have a surprise for you... I GOT MY FIRST BAPTISM!!! Now I was sooo shocked that it really was happening. I mean, I had never seen the fruits of my labor until this point, so it was very amazing. Now, I have to be honest, I was definitely a litte awkward with my investigator before I baptized her. Haha I just didn't know what to say to comfort her, because I myself was beyond nervous, I was sweating up a storm!!! But it was a very spiritual experience.
As I baptized her, I felt the joy that she must have definitely been feeling from her Father at the moment. I was so thankful to share in her special experience. She looked especially happy at church yesterday. It has been so great to watch her progress and become happier through my time as her missionary. She will become a great strong Sister in the church and I am excited to see where her life will go!
Overall, I have to say I had a pretty crazy but good week. Its a great day to be a missionary!!!!
I love you all,
Elder Warren
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