San Lorenzo! -March 26, 2017

Magandang umaga, tanghali, hapon, o gabi mga kapitid, kaibigan, at mag-anak.

I absolutely love my new area!  Even though we are opening the area, I can see massive potential for progress in San Lorenzo!

First off, the ward is fantastic!  Our bishop is really organized and our ward mission leader is diligent in his calling!  This has been the first time where the members don't have to be forced to hold MCM or other council meetings! I love it!  In fact, President Andrada said the San Lorenzo Ward is the model ward of the mission! I'm so lucky to be serving here!

Next, my trainee is the BEST! His name is Elder Leduna. He is Filipino, from Negros Occidental (part of the Cebu mission). He has been a member since he was eight and he is super awesome at beatboxing. He likes electronic music, jokes, and basketball.  He love the gospel and has had experience working with missionaries in the past.  I absolutely love working with him! He is diligent, obedient, and humble. We have a great time working together and I can't wait to get this area going!

Anyway, yesterday in Priesthood class the one who was supposed to teach didn't show up. And, for some reason, every priesthood holder wanted me to teach the lesson (probably because I'm white, I don't know). I told them I didn't know what the lesson was and instantly I was handed a kindle fire with the lesson plan. Wow.  So, the lesson was just the First Presidency Message and it was about the blessings of obedience.  The lesson went pretty well actually. I talked about how all blessings are dependent upon obedience to the commandments, and we have a choice whether or not we want to be obedient in order to receive those blessings.  I especially emphasized the commandment to home teach and committed them all to perform their home teaching. Overall, it was pretty good.

After church, we had a body viewing.  That's right, first Sunday and we get to go see somebody who died.  It was actually pretty good. My companion shared a spiritual thought and we sang a couple of hymns as well.  Afterwards, we come to find out that the actual funeral will be held on Thursday and I was recommended by the Sunday School teacher to give the Spiritual thought. So, not even one week in the new area and I get to speak at a funeral for a person I didn't even know. Exciting :)

That's all for this week, I will try to send pictures more regularly from now on. The internet here in Ilocos Norte is WAY faster than Cagayan.  

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Transfer/Trainer part 2 -March 20, 1017

Hey everyone! Sorry for the super short email yesterday. I had two minutes to check my email for the travel schedules, send a quick email, and then I left to Laoag for the trainer's training. Later I will be headed to a meeting for the trainers at 1pm, and I'm very excited but also nervous.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to train a new missionary, and I am also grateful for the time I was given in Santa Ana.

I really fell in love with my last area, and I am really going to miss it.  However, I am not leaving it with any regrets.  I truly feel like I did the best I could have done with the circumstances with my companion, and the area is set up for the next missionaries.

Anyway, the past three cycles (transfers) have probably been the hardest so far on my mission as far as my companion goes.  However, with the help of the Lord and the guidance of my mission president and mission leaders, I was able to continue the work.  The biggest lesson I learned was patience, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to exercise and increase such an important, and Christlike, attribute.  I definitely feel like these past 4 months have made me into a much better person, and I am truly grateful for that.

I will be opening my next area with my trainee, but I have heard that my next area is great.  My next area will also be the first time I will be assigned to a ward rather than a branch.  I'm pretty excited to see what is in store for me. 

I would just like to close with a spiritual thought. In Matthew chapter 16:25, Christ is teaching the people about what we need to do in this life in order to achieve eternal life. He says:

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Oftentimes we tend to focus on ourselves. When things get difficult in our lives we tend to only think about ourselves. Often, we think about ways to constantly improve our own lives before helping others improve theirs.  While improving your own life is important, we must also remember the example of Christ.  Christ never, ever put Himself before others. Instead, He always gave the work of The Father and the needs of others the top priority.  He suffered, bled, and even gave His own life so that we didn't have to suffer the agony of sin in the next life.  He died so that we may live again.  He always gave time to help others, regardless of His own personal affairs. He made time to show others that He loved them through service.

Let us all strive to be a little more Christlike. Rather than focusing on 'saving' our own lives, let us lose our lives in the service of others and then we shall find eternal life in the world to come.  I know that Christ gave us the perfect example to follow, all we have to do is choose to follow it.

Mahal ko kayong lahat,

Ingat kayo palagi

Until next week!

Transfer/Trainer! -March 19, 2017

Hello everyone! I don't really have much time because I need to go travel today. Hopefully I will be able to email later, but I want you all to know that I have been transferred to San Lorenzo C and I will be training a new missionary! I will meet him later this week and I will give you the details next week!

I love you all!