Another Week, Another Email -October 22, 2017

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat!

This week was pretty great actually. We had many teaching opportunities this week and really saw progress in our investigators. We set a goal this week as a companionship that, before we could go home, we had to find at least five new investigators everyday. This goal really helped us in the work this week. It helped us remain alert for the promptings of the Spirit and become more active in our finding. It also helped us prepare for our other teaching appointments as we were already primed and ready with the Spirit. Although this goal wasn't extremely high or anything like that, it was definitely something that helped us refocus and improve as a companionship and was a great help in the progress of our area.

We have two baptisms coming up this Saturday. Remember that one family we found who made that sticky rice stuff? Yeah, well Sister and Brother Umbrero have passed their interviews and are preparing to make their first covenant through baptism! Also, this week we will be able to start teaching their ten year old daughter! We hadn't been able to teach her in the past lessons because she was at school but now is the semester break for all of the students, so we will hopefully be seeing her baptism coming up soon.

This upcoming week we will be having exchanges with the APs, which means we have to travel tomorrow to Laoag, a fantastic, beautiful, scenic, nauseating six hour bus ride :)  I am actually really excited though because one of my Elders in my MTC batch is the new AP, and I can't wait to work with him.

This week, I would just like to add some thoughts concerning member-missionary work.  We all know that, as members, we are supposed to share the gospel with others.  However, many times we are too scared or shy.  We hesitate because we think about what they might say.  We worry that our relationships with others will be destroyed if they reject the gospel.  Whatever the reason, these doubts definitely do not come from the Holy Ghost.  Those doubts come from the adversary, who does everything to slow the progress of this great and marvelous work.  So, how can we overcome these doubts and fears? The answer can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 6:36

"36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

As we remember the promises the Lord has made unto us, we can let go of our fears.  We do not have to be afraid of what "might" happen if we think about the blessings that we could share with others.  This isn't just another religion here on the earth established to simply teach good values and help others gain meaning in life. This is the truth.  This is the only way to salvation and exaltation.  Therefore, we should not hesitate to invite others to receive all of the blessings the Lord has in store for them.

One phrase that may help calm our doubts is this,

"We succeed when we invite."

Others have their agency, but we do too. Let's strive to at least give others the opportunity to receive the greatest joy they could possibly experience in this life.

Have a great week!

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Transfers Came And..... -October 16, 2017

I'm still in Camalaniugan :) Yep, it looks like I will be staying six months here in this area! I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to serve yet another transfer cycle in this beautiful area.  I know this is where the Lord wants me to be, and I know there is a reason I have stayed here so long in this area.

This week was pretty great actually. We were able to gain two more solid Baptismal Dates for the month of November and we were strongly commit two of our investigators to keep the Word of Wisdom and so far they have been doing good. We now have 2 almost 100% sure baptisms scheduled for the 28 of October. We had to move the Baptismal Date of our part-member investigator due to an illness causing him to miss church too many times, but his baptism is back on track for the first week of November.

Elder Ronquillo and I continue to get along great, and I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to work with him here in Camalaniugan for another cycle. Although I was expecting to be transferred, I know this is where the Lord needs me for at least one more cycle, and I know there is a reason why I am here. I will do my best to continue to help this area progress and to help my investigators come unto Christ.

This week I really focused on the purpose of "religion". A common concern with investigators here is that they always say, "We all worship one God." or "All religions are great, it just depends on where you want to go to church, all of us will be saved anyway," which is quite possibly the most frustrating thing in the world.  So, in my study I came across James 1:27 which is this,

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Which I came to interpret in this way: Pure, true religion is centered on the Father and His Son.  It is centered on charity, feeling love for those around us and helping others who stand in need.  It's purpose is to also keep us unspotted from the things of the world, not just sin, but those things that can distract us from God and focus on other, less eternal things.  It provides us a way to return to our Father and the only way to do all those things is through His Church and His Gospel.  No other church can back up any claim of their of "divinity" except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. No other church has done more good for the world and for the salvation of man. I know that this Church is true, and as we strive to be faithful to living "pure religion" we are also striving to become closer with God.

Until next week,

Mahal ko kayong lahat!

Life Is Good -October 9, 2017

Magandang araw mga kamag-anak at kaibigan!

Phew! This week was most likely the busiest week of my mission so far.  As mentioned before, we did not get back from the Mission Home in Laoag until Wednesday, where we had P-day.  Then, on Thursday we had exchanges with the Gattaran District Leader. I worked with his companion/trainee and Elder Ronquillo went and worked in their area.

The exchanges started out alright.  We had district meeting and the Sister Training Leaders gave an excellent training on how to more effectively get our investigators to church.  Afterwards, we ate lunch, went home and started planning out the day.  In the middle of our planning session our landlady pulls up on her motorcycle and says something to the point of, "So are you guys moving today or what?" and we reply that we most likely wouldn't be moving until the next day because that is when the owner of our new apartment said we could move in.  She then replied "Well how is that going to work because I'm going to sleep her and invite all my friends over later tonight."

...

...

Yeah... our plans were about to change.

The four of us Elders looked at each other and silently agreed that we would in fact be moving today.  We called the former District President and informed him that in one hour we would need his help in moving apartments.  Thankfully, he had already offered his help (and more specifically his truck) to the missionaries when we would be moving apartments.  We packed all of our things and were able to successfully move apartments across town in the blazing speed of six hours.  We are now getting settled into our new apartment and things are looking up.  Luckily, our new apartment actually has clear water, an awesome landlady, and (eventually) running water!  After the move we definitely felt a wave of stress leave from the four elders of Camalaniugan.

Saturday and Sunday we were also able to view General Conference. Like was mentioned in the past, general conference here is a week later due to the time difference of the Philippines being almost one day ahead of the States.  I must say I absolutely loved it.  Even though seeing temple square, the conference center, and listening to English for several hours makes me a little homesick, the blessings and learnings I receive from General Conference are worth every ounce of missing home.  I especially loved Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk concerning the Book of Mormon. Here is one of the quotes that I really found impressive,

"Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, 'I know the Book of Mormon is true,' I want to exclaim, 'That’s nice, but it is not enough!' We need to feel, deep in 'the inmost part' of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, 'I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people' to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon."

I know with my whole heart, within the deepest reaches of my very soul, that the Book of Mormon is the most powerful, most perfect book on earth.  I know that no other book can help us come closer unto God than the Book of Mormon.  I have studied the words of the prophets found in the Book of Mormon, I have learned of the doctrine of Christ, and have deepened my understanding of the Gospel through my time feasting upon the words found in this sacred book.  I know the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God.  I challenge all of you to feast upon it every day and I know if you will do so, you will be able to find comfort, peace, and answers in your life.

That's all for this week, until next time!

Mahal ko kayong lahat!