Can't Think of Another Subject Line -January 28, 2018

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was a solid week even though we had some work time lost due to interviews and Zone Conference. We ended up having great lessons with some long time investigators which ended up helping them actually come to church this week. It was a great experience to see one of our investigators, who has never been to church, walk through the chapel doors on time! I was so happy to finally see them come and experience the special spirit that only comes through sacrament attendance. We are so excited to see her and her family progress in the gospel!

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In fact, the lesson we ended up teaching her (her name is Gema) that helped her come to church was quite unorthodox.. The lesson's topic was about gender inequality, which is definitely a discussion I didn't think I would have on my mission, but it turned into a wonderful opportunity for Gema and her husband Jonas to open up and ask questions that they have had.  The next day, we dropped by their house to check up on them and remind them about church and they asked us when we would be coming back, because they had a lot more questions to ask! I can't wait to see what other questions they have that we can help answer with the guidance of the Spirit.

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​Elder Francia and I are doing great. I honestly love working and teaching with him. We don't have any problems with each other, and I feel we are very close. Our teaching is going well and I feel like we are very united in the lessons. There have been more times than I can count where we seem to read each others thoughts in teaching and know exactly what to teach/say. I dare say that we are on fire with our teaching. 

I'm doing quite well, as always. There was some confusion last week on assigning the teacher in Priesthood this week and I thought I was to be the one to teach. Thankfully, it turned out the regular Priesthood teacher prepared something to teach, but as a result I spent some time studying the Sabbath Day this week. I read a talk in the October Coference edition of the Liahona by Elder Peter F. Meurs about how the sacrament can and should be used as an opportunity to review and reflect upon ourselves and determine the things what we need to change. He also gave suggestions on how to make the sacrament more meaningful and powerful to us. One of those suggestions was preparing in advance to partake of the sacrament. He suggested using time on Saturday to contemplate our spiritual progression and determining what needs to be changed that can be helped through the sacrament. I actually took the invitation to heart and took time on Saturday to contemplate how I could better come closer unto Christ. I discovered some things that I needed to improve on and kept those things in mind as I partook of the sacrament. As a result, I felt a calm assurance that God would help me overcome my weaknesses as I tried my best to improve. It was a great experience and I will be repeating that invitation from now on.

Anyway, that's it for this week!

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Another Week of Hard Work -January 22, 2018

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was a pretty great week in Sinait. Elder Francia and I really hit it hard with teaching this week. We both decided that we really needed to step up our game to raise the bar for the work here in Vigan Zone. I can now say that I have fallen asleep while saying my nightly prayers because I'm just so exhausted from the day. We were able to get 7 new progressing investigators this week, and we hope to continue to see them progress. Overall the week was great, just exhausting. I love teaching and working with Elder Francia. We get along so well and I'm so lucky to be his companion.

Elder Francia and I are getting along great. I feel like our teaching is the best I have ever experienced so far on my mission. I feel like we are both doing so well in following the Spirit and teaching according to the needs of those whom we teach rather than just teaching lessons to fulfill the baptismal requirement. I just absolutely love teaching investigators and the feeling that comes when you simply know that what you just taught was what they needed in their life. It's lessons like those that help me love being a missionary.

As always, I'm doing fine. Nothing new has really changed with me. I still love studying the scriptures and I love missionary work. Even though sometimes I feel like I'm just too tired, the thought that someone out there needs the gospel keeps me going. I know that the Lord loves and cares for His missionaries, and He gives them strength to continue His work even when it seems difficult.

In closing, take some time this week to think about someone who is struggling in any aspect of their life and invite them to learn more about the gospel.  I have seen how many blessings come from the gospel and the power it has to fix any problem in life.  Share the blessings that you are experiencing so that others may feel just how much Heavenly Father loves them.

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Sa susunod ulit!

First Week With Francia -January 15, 2018

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!
I'm happy to report that this week was a pretty good week. We were able to teach a part-member family compound (the dominant family name is Ibarra) and able to extend seven baptismal dates for February 17, and we are hoping to see them all progress. Sadly, they weren't able to come to church yesterday, but last week they did attend. We will be following up with them this week and see what caused them to not be able to come to church. Other than that, most of the week was spent helping Elder Francia become familiar with the area to prepare for any exchanges we will be having.

Speaking of Elder Francia, him and I are getting along great! At first I had to adjust a little to his teaching style, but now we're going strong. I really enjoy teaching with Elder Francia because his teaching style is so unique, but extremely effective in my opinion. I can clearly feel that he lets the Spirit be his guide and share what the Lord knows we need to share with those whom we are teaching. I've learned a lot already in this first week, and I can't wait to see what else I will be learning.

So.. we had an interesting teaching experience this week which I will mention.  We were teaching a new investigator, and her Mom and Grandma were sitting in on the lesson.  We were explaining the plan of salvation because one of her loved ones had recently passed away.  Eventually, we started discussing Jesus Christ and how He is central to God's plan for us.  We asked her Grandma who Jesus Christ was to her.  What followed was a story I will never forget.

She went on to explain how Jesus Christ appeared to her in a vision, and in this vision, they conversed about many great and marvelous things.  She claimed Christ had called her on an important mission here on earth to heal others.  Christ then proceeded to give this lady two high fives, which endowed her hands with the power to heal.  She then informed us that she makes her living in Manila healing others by touching them with her hands.

It took every ounce of my willpower to not burst out in laughter.  She used the most dramatic hand motions while explaining this experience, and she even stood on her chair towards the end.  Definitely unforgettable :)
I'm doing great, as usual. I've been continuing my study in the Old Testament and I finished 1 Kings this week. I have always loved the story of Elijah, and how he stands as such a sure witness of the fact that there is no other god but the true and living God. I specifically like what Elijah says as he is addressing the people before he challenges the priests of Baal, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him..." I feel this quote can have an impact on all of us who tend to struggle in keeping those commandments that seem a little hard to keep. We simply just need to make the decision to follow God because He knows more than us, He loves us and only wants to protect us. This can help us when commandments seem a little difficult to follow or we don't understand why we have to do certain things. If we just always remember that the Lord is God, the only God, then we don't have to worry about anything the world can do to or say about us.

Have a great week everyone!

Mahal ko kayong lahat!