Life is good here in Virginia!! We were able to meet our new mission president this week. President and Sister Salisbury are so great! They told us all about how they were called and the process of becoming a mission president. They are from Salt Lake. President owned a couple of financial aid businesses and their kids play lacrosse and President rides dirt bikes so we get along very well! They have a son serving in the Philippines right now; he is a couple hours north of Tacloban. They’re really nice and very caring—we are very lucky to have them!
This week has been a long, hard one, but it also has been very rewarding!! We had one of our families that was investigating the church drop us. They said that they just don't have the time to keep learning. Both the parents work and are very busy. That was hard for me! They were really progressing. Then there is Liz Reeves (one of the older ladies we had on date to be baptized.) We went to go visit and teach her and when we got to her and her son’s house, her son came out and told us that he doesn't want us to teach her anymore. Her son is agnostic. He said that she is too old to learn about these things and he doesn't like us coming over. So we had to respect that and drop her as an investigator. It was hard to see those things, but we know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. And all I can do is pray for them now.
This mission is a hard one. We have been doing a lot of finding. We try to avoid knocking from door to door but sometimes we have to do it. Everyone out here already belongs to a religion or a faith. I have talked to hundreds of people and have not found one person that doesn't belong to a church. There are churches on every block here. It’s kind of like Utah except all of the churches are different. I have gotten to know my scriptures very well and a lot of the time people are very nice and will talk to us for a while and then say they have all that they need at their church. There are so many nice people here and the cool thing is that everyone already has a testimony of Jesus Christ. That’s very helpful for us to teach. The down side is that a lot of people are so blinded by their church that they harden their hearts and reject any other teachings. I like to look at the work and everyone we talk to and remind myself that we are planting seeds. I am on a planting seeds mission. I know I'm introducing the gospel and the only true authority and power of God to this part of the world. It’s comforting to know that no effort is wasted and that one day all these people I talk to and all of them that reject us will find the truth and will come unto our Savior. I think a lot about our Savior and his earthly ministry. Every time I'm rejected or cussed at or made fun of, I think about what Jesus Christ went through and it humbles me to know I will never have it as bad as he did. He is the Savior of this world and I'm so grateful for his atonement. I know that without his atonement and his sacrifice I wouldn't be able to get through this mission. I love you all so much and am so grateful for all the prayers and all the encouragement.
Keep the Faith,
-Elder Kaleb Bingham
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