Holy Week and Banana Ketchup

This has been quite a week.  In the Philippines, the week leading up to Easter Sunday is known as Holy Week.  All I learned during this religious holiday is this: If you want to bring the Philippines to a screeching halt, just have Holy Week.  Honestly, for a couple of days I could have sworn that I had stepped into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.  The streets were nearly empty.  That’s really weird for anywhere, but for the Philippines?  It was perhaps the most surreal experience of Elder Crocker’s life.  Those who were out were either not particularly religious or worshiping.  Listen to some of the singing that goes on continuously (Beginningofholyweek(e) during Holy Week.  Completely bizarre.

One of the busiest intersections/roads empty at night during Holy Week. (click to enlarge)

Holy Week

As missionaries, we considered Holy Week an opportunity.  Because so many people were interested in Jesus Christ during this short period of time, we did our part by putting on a production that we called “The Life of Christ.”  In essence, we showed some of the new Bible Videos from LDS.org, read verses from the Book of Mormon, and sang hymns, all to illustrate the life of Jesus Christ from his birth to resurrection.

One of the busiest intersections/roads empty in the day during Holy Week. (click to enlarge)

We involved the wards by having them each prepare and sing a musical number in the production.  I would say that overall it was a success.  We had the activity in the chapel and we managed to fill the benches.  In retrospect, I’ve realized that I almost had a little bit of a limelight in the production: I read all of the scriptures, I ran the videos, and I was asked by my Zone Leader to sing a solo.  I feel a bit sheepish about how much I did now.  But all’s well in the world, I suppose.

Other than that, this week Elder Velasco and I were given success with working with our ward.  We’ve been trying to excite the ward missionary work, since the members are the absolute best source to get investigators.  I believe the statistic is something to the effect of 80% of baptisms come from referrals.

Give the missionaries people to teach

Honestly, if you want to help the missionaries bring people into the everlasting gospel, give them people to teach, don’t just pray that they’ll find people.  Faith is a principle of action.  If you have faith that the missionaries will have people to teach, that means that you need to act on that faith in order to help them do it.

Anyways, in working with our ward, we’ve been getting more and more referrals, almost too many to contact within 24 hours.  I like that, that’s how it should be.  This week alone we contacted 10 referrals, and received another one that we haven’t had a chance to contact yet.  Out of these referrals, those investigators have referred their friends, and we’ve had opportunity to teach whole families.  It’s wonderful.

Give the missionaries people to teach.  It’s not hard, and you won’t lose friends.  In fact, you may be able to help a friend obtain exaltation.  D&C 18:15:

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”

Elder Crocker loves Campbells Chicken-Noodle Soup

In response to questions about foods I’ve had that are unique to the Philippines:  banana ketchup.  That’s something unique to the Philippines.  I don’t like it.  It’s not like real tomato ketchup.  Luckily I live in a place where the supermarkets have import sections, so I’ve been able to find Heinz ketchup.  I also found Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, so scratch that request.  Other than that, there are a whole lot of different types of fish.  I eat rice with almost every meal.  Adobo is Elder Crocker‘s favorite, although I’m split between Chicken and Pork Adobo.

Until next week,

Elder Crocker

Elder David Neal Crocker

Member (hamming it up for the picture) with Sister Tula, Sister Stromberg and Elder Velasco (click to enlarge)

During P-Day, Elder Crocker’s companion, Elder Velasco, practices his Jedi moves for exercise. (click to enlarge)