September 11, 2017 A Busy Week

Hey Everyone!

So, this letter is going to be pretty short.  I just have some pretty great news!

First off, my new comp is awesome! He is from Paronoque, Manila and him and I get along swimmingly! We definitely edify each other in teaching and companionship study and we are going to have so much success together!

Secondly, Remember that family that promised to teach us how to make sticky rice in return of listening to the gospel? Well, they came to church this week!!!! They sacrificed working on Sunday and kept their promise to keep the Sabbath Day Holy! 

Lastly, I would just like you all to remember that you are loved by your Father in Heaven.  He is always there for you if you need Him.  Trust in Him, and He will guide you through your trials and heartaches.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Until next time! 

September 3, 2017 Transfers!

Magandang araw ang aking mga minamahal kapitid!

This week was transfer week, and I'm staying here in Camalaniugan with my new companion, Elder Ronquillo! I will be meeting him tomorrow and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish!  There is so much potential here in Camalaniugan and I can't wait to tap it! 

Sorry for the short email, but I'm kind of out of time. Next week I will have pictures, I left my camera at home today. Sorry haha.

However, I would just want to share this quick thought.  With transfers, it is always an adjustment.  In life, we have adjustments. Constant adjustments.  We need to always remember that God has a plan for each and every one of us.  His ways are not our ways, and we need to seek out the lesson He has planned to teach us in every moment of our life.  If we remember that God is guiding us, no trial is too hard for any of us.  Keep trusting the Lord and everything will work out.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Until next time!

Pictures-- August 27, 2017

Baptisms -August 27, 2017

Magandang araw mga minamahal kong kapatid!

This week was fantastic! We had exchanges with the APs where I learned many things on how I can improve in my work.  On our exchanges we had to take one of the missionaries to the bus station to go to manila because he just finished his mission! He was released a week early to start school on time, and it was such a strange feeling seeing that missionary get on the bus and seeing him for the last time as an Elder.  Weird.

Also, we had two baptisms this week! Rea and Precious were both baptized! Sadly, however, they weren't confirmed because they had an emergency happen where they were unable to attend sacrament meeting.  However, they should be confirmed in the upcoming weeks, completing their baptisms!  Even without the confirmation, the Spirit was so strong at their baptism and you could see the change in their countenance as they came up out of the water into the new life as a disciple of Christ.

Other than that, nothing else really happened.  We had a typhoon this week, but it was just a bunch of rain. No damage was done and we are all safe.

I would like to share one thing from my personal study this week.  I was studying Jacob 5, the allegory of the olive tree, and The Articles of Faith concerning the dispersion and gathering of Israel and also the Primitive Church.  As I was studying, I realized that there is so much physical, historical, and 'worldly' evidence that can prove the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  But even with all of this evidence, there are so many people who reject it.  This greatly helped me understand the principle that truth can only be received through the medium of the Spirit.  If a person is not willing to accept the testimony of the Spirit, that person will never gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon regardless of how many other things are presented that concretely prove its divine claim.  The only truly effective way to prove the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon is for one to follow the promise of Moroni; to read, to ponder, and to pray with real intent if these things are true.

I exhort you to follow the words of Moroni, even if you have already gained a testimony of the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon.  If you have doubts about the Book of Mormon, what is there to lose if you earnestly seek to find the truth.  If you have a solid testimony, enforce it even more by gaining another assurance of the truthfulness of this message.  I know that God lives and will answer all those who pray unto Him through the Holy Ghost. 

Have a great week everyone,

Mahal ko kayong lahat! 

Clear Water Is A Blessing -August 20, 2017

Magandang araw mga minamahal kong kapatid!

This week was pretty great! We had three of our investigators interviewed to be baptized on the 26th and two of them (hopefully three) are indeed going to be baptized this week!  Their names are Rea, Precious, and Romnick.  We are so excited for them and we will do all that we can to help all three of them be baptized this week!

Other than that, however, nothing else too exciting happened this week.  The Elder who contracted Dengue is recovering and should be returning to his area today or tomorrow!  It's really hard to see missionaries get sick and have to leave their area for a whole week to recover.  You really don't see the difference one missionary companionship makes until they're gone.

Our new house is still great.  We have an interesting water situation though.  When we first moved in we saw that we had two choices for getting water to the house.  One was a manual water pump and the other was a motorized one.  We were so grateful when we saw the motorized pump because, to be honest, pumping water by hand gets pretty old pretty fast.  So we turn on the motorized pump and our shouts of joy quickly turn to cries of disgust.  The water from the motorized pump is... brown (tagalog: kulay tsokolate).  As we realize that this water just won't make the cut for our bathing, dish washing, and laundry needs, we turn off the motorized pump and turn our hopes to the bumba (the manual pump).

I felt like repeating the words of Princess Leia in Episode IV, "Help me [manual water pump], you're my only hope."

We get pumping...

...

And to our joy...

...

...

The water is not brown! It turns out the two pumps have separate water sources! There is only one draw back...

The water is the color of urine. 

But hey, I've washed my whites twice and they haven't turned yellow!... yet :)

That's it for this week everyone! I hope you all have a fantastic week and remember the Lord's blessings.  Especially look for the things you may take for granted, like clear, clean, drinkable water from a tap.  Seek to have an "attitude of gratitude" in all things and the Lord will continue to shower you with blessings.  You will be more content with life and live in peace as you come to appreciate all of the little miracles that happen in this world everyday.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Sa susunod ulit! 

Emergency -August 13, 2017

Sorry everyone, but this week I won't be able to send my usual weekly update because we had to take one of our Elders in the zone to the hospital because he got.....

...

...

...

...

... DENGUE FEVER!!!  

So yeah, I'll just give a longer update next week.  I love you all and don't worry, I'm safe and sound!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY -August 7, 2017

Grabe talaga marami akong ginawa sa kabilang linggo.  Pagod na pagod ako pero masaya pa rin :)

Magandang araw mga kaibigan at kapamilya ko

This week was quite eventful.  We had exchanges with one of our new district leaders in the zone in their area to help train him and to help their area as well.  We also had two baptismal interviews this week on the same day in different areas, which was great as well (they passed!). Then we had to travel to Laoag on Sunday to get to the Missionary Leadership Council and now we are here! Phew! We were also able to squeeze in some very valuable hours of work in our own area as well.

An update on our investigators: The Umbrero Family (the one who is teaching us how to make suman) is doing well.  We are reading with them out of the Book of Mormon and this week we will be working on getting them to church.  They are super busy and they work everyday, so we have to help them understand how blessed they will be if they sacrifice for one day to keep the Sabbath day holy and come to church.  But they love hearing our message and learning from the Book of Mormon, so we are confident that they will continue to progress.

We were also able to extend another Baptismal Date this week.  His name is Romnick and he and two of his friends are doing great in progressing.  We weren't able to extend a Baptismal Date to his friends because they weren't at the appointment, but Romnick is just great, he is already reading the Book of Mormon by himself and we haven't even known him for a week! He loves the gospel and ponders the teachings that come from the Book of Mormon.  I'm so excited to help him continue on the right way towards salvation.

In other news, we move to our new house tomorrow! I'm so excited! It's such a great, clean, and cockroach-free home and I can't wait to get settled in! I will have pictures next week! 

That's pretty much it for this week.  I just want to let you all know that this church is true.  Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of the world.  Without Him, we would have no hope of returning to live with our Father in Heaven.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to represent my Savior in this great and marvelous work.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and through him the Gospel was restored in its fullness. I also know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it is the truest book on this earth.  I know that we have living prophets and apostles today and I'm so grateful to live in this last dispensation.  

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Have a great week! 

July 30, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat ng aking ka-maganak at kaibigan ko!

This week was very busy.  We are currently trying to move out of our current apartment because, quite frankly, it's not safe anymore.  That being said, we spent a lot of time this week working out the contract for our new home, which is now secure! We will be moving on August 10 and, let me tell you, our new home is gorgeous! I'll be sure to send pictures when we move in!

This last Saturday we were invited to attend the baptism of two children of record in our branch (meaning their parents are members and they are being baptized at the age of 8). Well, this baptism turned out to be a once in a lifetime experience. The baptism went well and the ordinance was performed as normal.  After they were baptized, time was given for the two kids to bear their testimonies.  The first of the two kids confidently went up to the front and stood there for about 2 minutes, trying to think of what to say.  Then, quite suddenly he bolted out the door while shouting "Umiisboak!" which is Ilokano for "I'm Peeing!" haha.  It was definitely a one of a kind baptismal service.

But the best thing that happened was we found yet another family that wants to be taught.  So, Elder Andon and I were walking to an appointment and suddenly we hear a nanay who is sitting out on her porch making suman (sticky rice), yell out, "Hey! Where are you going? This is my house! You found it!"  We were both surprised considering she spoke English and that she acted like she knew us.  We approached her and assumed she was talking to me because I'm the white English speaker.  We asked who she knew between the two of us and she pointed to Elder Andon.  He was very surprised because he was absolutely certain that he had never met her.  Anyway, long story short we meet the family and we make a deal that we would teach the gospel if they would teach us how to make suman.  It's a pretty sweet deal (pun intended) and we are returning to them tomorrow.

That last experience just goes to show that no effort in missionary work is wasted.  Even though my companion couldn't remember meeting this person, at one point they had opened their mouths and testified to her about the gospel, which at least made enough of an impression for her to call out to us as we were passing by.  I know that this work is the greatest work in the history of the world, and there is nothing I would rather be doing.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Have a great week 

We Almost Had a Baptism -July 23, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was quite... interesting.  So, we were supposed to have a baptism this week, who was the grandson of the first counselor of the branch presidency (his name is Steven). All of his lessons had been going fine, and he had been reading the Book of Mormon and has a testimony of the gospel. He passed the baptismal interview and everything was scheduled to go.  On the day of the baptism, however, my companion and I felt something was off.  We went to pick up Steven to make sure he was ready.  We get there and he's dressed in basketball shorts, a cutoff tee and watering plants.  We realize something is up and we say we will come back after we talk to his grandma, the Relief Society President.  We get there and they tell us everything was ready to go, they went to the church and found out their grandson wasn't there.  They go back home and find out their grandson is hiding at his other grandma's house (He's 14 by the way).  

After learning about what happened, we return to his house and we try and talk with him to just learn why he suddenly changed his mind.  We sit there patiently and encourage him to help us understand but he doesn't say anything for the 40 minutes we were there.  We then felt it was time to leave, so we let him know that we would always be just one text/call away if he needed help with anything and we left a prayer for him.

Hopefully his time will come shortly.

However, this does have a silver-lining. We found a new part-member family who really really wants to be baptized so they can eventually go to the temple and be sealed! They are awesome! They all have a baptismal date for the 12 of August and they are doing very well!  

This rollercoaster of a week has really helped me appreciate the strength that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Our Savior did not just suffer for our sins, He also suffered for all of our heartaches.  All of our pain, both physical and spiritual, He has felt.  He understands exactly how to comfort us, all we need to do is seek that comfort and He will be there to give it to us.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and o what comfort that sentence gives to me.  I love my Savior, and I know He loves me too.  

Until next week,

Mahal ko kayong lahat