Skypes and Goodbyes

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

It was a great time skyping with my family on Christmas day. So I was not able to see my father because my mom told me that he was in our farm, working. She told me that my father has not been drinking alcohol as much as he had been doing before. Heavenly Father truly hears and answers prayers, in His own perfect time and way.

I know with all my heart that my decision to serve as a full-time missionary was not an accident. Seeing others receive the blessings of living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings I will ever receive in this life. And looking back, I am amazed how much I have also grown in faith, testimony, and in every aspect of my life because of the experiences I had in the mission. And I would not trade them with anything else.

About the work, it has been great! Tatay Oni came to church yesterday. He was the one we met through tracting. He was the investigator I immediately dropped just after our first teaching appointment. And until now, I amazed how we were miraculously led back to his house to teach him again. He is progressing. And the Indong Family accepted our invitation to be baptized. I hope and pray for the best for these people and to my amazing, diligent, and intelligent companion. They will be forever in my heart.

I am excited for my new area, new companion, and new people to love with all my heart this new year. Old things are done away, and all things have become new. I love being a missionary!

Well I am sorry. I know this lumpia that I cooked looks scary.

But my companion said it is masarap.

Zone Activity!

Tatay Oni!

Introspection

So Sister Jamaica wasn't able to attend sacrament meeting yesterday because she was sick. So we do not know now. We hope and pray that this wouldn't hinder her from entering the waters of baptism this coming 26th. I hope and pray that everything will work out this week. His will be done.

I have been through some real introspection this past week. I feel that I will be transferred this coming 30th and I do not know why but I feel that I have not been making any difference in this area. I see no visible results. Have I done all that was required of me? What could have I done more? Is there something I should have done better? What more can I do?

My companion shared a beautiful and inspiring sacrament talk yesterday. She shared Ether 12:27 as a formula for achieving our goals/resolutions this new year. I know that as I regularly check on myself and recognize my areas of vulnerability, I recognize a chance for divine influence. I hope and pray for wisdom and strength for things He requires me to do. "Help me give my all", is my prayer.

We conducted spilts at Penablanca last wednesday. Their area is really big and has plenty of beautiful and humble people, willing to learn of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I was with Sister Flores and it was a wonderful time to reflect on my relationship to the Lord, to my responsibility, and to the people I serve..

Nika, Beth, and Michael came to church yesterday. But the Indong Family was not able to come to church because they are on a christmas vacation. But I am grateful that this investigator family enjoyed the ward christmas party. They told us that the night after the party, they all slept late because for the whole night, they just talked with each other about how much they enjoyed the ward party. Ooooh, if only they know how much blessings they'll enjoy if they'll accept and live the gospel. Ooohh I hope I can see them again. And I hope and pray that I'll be ableto see them dressed in white (twice), even just in pictures.

I love this area. I love these people. I love my companion. I love the Lord. I love His work. And I love being a missionary!

My companion's idea of giving little tootsie rolls to everyone. :)

Some slooow moootion and some hastening

This week was a miracle. My companion and I thought we wouldn't be able to have 70 lessons this week because of Christmas devotionals. But God has always been good,  we were so surprised we still had 71 lessons and 105 contacts!

Yesterday in our ward council meeting, our bishop asked how were we able to teach so many lessons in a week, and in all honesty we said "We do not know".. My companion and I really don't know what's happening in this area. Blessings just fall into our hands and we acknowledge that it's Him who is leading this mission, area, and our companionship. And I am beyond grateful for having such a wonderful area with a wonderful companion. She is amazing!!

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Sister Garcia this week. We taught 14 lessons and contacted 16 times. Sister Garcia is bold and fearless (and so loving) just like her trainer Sister Manosig. There are a lot of miracles happening in their area. I am certain that their ward could see their hastening example that's why they get so many referrals from them. Their companionship is exemplary!

Yesterday has been great. Marianika, Joy, and Ivy came to church. But I think my favorite part is when Heavenly Father answered our prayers that Jamaica would come to church. Jamaica has been an investigator since March 2015. Her baptismal dates have been moved more or less 10 times because of her inconsistent sacrament attendance and the like. She would just come to church if her RC/LA cousin would come. And yesterday was the "last sunday" for her to come to church so she can be baptized before the year ends. Could I just tell you how much I had been so nervous yesterday because the opening hymn at the sacrament meeting had begun and she had not yet come. But when I opened my eyes after the opening prayer, I saw her enter the sacrament hall with her nonmember grandmother.. Aaaaah!!!! It felt like everything around me stopped moving while she was walking at the sacrament hall. Everything just went in sloooooooowwwww motion..

Sister Jamaica is amazing! Even though her cousin didn't come to church, she came! She is such an inspiration! And... the Indong Family is getting strong as well. I do not know when will they be baptized, but I have the strongest feelings that I can see them sealed in the temple someday.

Miracles are happening but I know that the more we rely on Him, we could do a lot more.

We love you and sustain you! Happy Birthday!

I love being a missionary!

Christmas devo with my batchmates!

Merry Christmas!!

I love Sister Earl

Almost a year ago, I thought 70 contacts per week is impossible. But guess what happened this week . . .  the God of Israel who leads this mission helped me and my companion teach 74 lessons! Yes, 74 lessons and 104 contacts!

Aah. What a privilege it is to be assigned in such a wonderful area with very loving and supportive ward members! Tuguegarao members are like the the members in Alinguigan who calls and volunteers themselves to work with us! Aaah. I love this area with all my heart!

Exchanges with Sister Earl this week was amazing. We taught 10 lessons and had 12 effective contacts in one day. I am just amazed how God truly answers our prayers if we will just ask, seek, and knock. Our first lesson that day was so memorable. Sister Earl and I taught the Articulo family about the restoration . . . and the Spirit was so strong that Sister Earl and I hugged each other really really tight while walking to our next appontment. Sister Earl is such an amazing missionary with a lot of potentials. She's really smart. In fact, she had received many compliments from our investigators about her tagalog communication skills. I promise. I love Sister Earl so much, and I could see how many miracles she can do in this mission ... 

Book of Mormon is amazing! I had never had so many investigators read, ponder, and pray the book of mormon as much as I do now. Questions really are healthy! I am amazed how the same chapters of book of mormon could answer our investigators and LAs' questions like: "How can I live longer to serve God?", "How can I help my family be back to church?", "How can I receive further enlightenment?" ...

and I am still enjoying feasting the book of mormon with the question: "How can I become a consecrated missionary?"

I am just grateful for the privilege to see His hands working in these people lives.

It is true. Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

I love being a missionary!

That is Sister Earl praying over there. And yes, I have been wearing contact lenses on some days for the past few months. :)

But on some days, I wear my eyeglasses too! Haha.

Gratitude

This week we had the opportunity to conduct companion exchanges with the Enrile B sisters and it has been sooo great! I was with Sister Golong all throughout the day, and that was the best exchanges I ever had in my whole mission life! It was a day filled with miracles! We had 11 effective contacts; we taught 11 powerful lessons (3 of which were lessons to amazing new investigators we just found that day).. Ah! Time is not sufficient for me to tell you how miraculous we met and taught Ping Gumiran. But I think it is sufficient for me to say that finding him gave me a deeper testimony how important it is to plan by the Spirit. Everything starts at "planning by the Spirt"

Before our exchanges, I had heard many good things about Sister Golong. They said, she seemed responsible, she's a good leader, and teaches very welll. I found out for myself that day that THEY ARE ALL RIGHT. She's a talented missionary who teaches boldly yet lovingly. She's amaazzing.

I think aside from the exchanges, my favorite is also was what we have discussed in MLC: The Doctrine of Gratitude. Could I just tell you how much I had been thinking about that doctrine and the ten lepers the day before our MLC (so I was so surprised that's what we talked about).

When Jesus told the 10 lepers to go and visit the priest, ALL of them did. All of them obeyed. But only one of them returned and expressed gratitude to the Savior. 

I just thought  about how a missionary can be obedient, but not expressing gratitude properly to Whom it is due. So I made a "new vision" for myself to be "a consecrated missionary who obtains power through obedience, fervent prayer, hardwork, and gratitude."

Saying prayers during thanksgiving day had been difficult for me because it was that day when we found out that our progressing investigator was taken by the DSWD because she was raped by her father. I couldn't sleep and think very well these past few days because of that.

But no matter how hard and painful things happened this week, I am grateful for the knowledge that the atonement can cover all.

I am grateful I am a missionary.

We woke up very early this morning. It was still dark and we were "hastening" to go to the oval to jog with other sister missionaries. Because of that, I brought the wrong pairs of proselyting shoes. It was so funnnny. I am wearing Nanay Barreo's sandals right now. She let me borrow hers.

The next two pictures was taken yesterday at church. Marilou Indong and her daughter Annamarie. Indong Family is one of my favorite investigators in Tuguegarao. I just hope and pray that they will be sealed in the temple, a year from now (or whenever the Lord sees fit it would be).

And I also know that someday, our family will be sealed in the temple as well. I do not know when. But I know it will. I love you!

Dear Mamang

I just read your email. Why are you sad? =) Be of good cheer,  I am in good hands. Actually, everything gets better here. I will not be transferred till Dec 30.. I will be spending Christmas with the all the beautiful and generous people of Tuguegarao..

This week has been great (as you can see with my photos)

So for the story:

1. I received a package again from my Nanay Crystal all the way from Utah. 90% of my package and pouches are from her. She gave me a mug (with our pictures printed on it) plus some chocolate mix... and sobrang masarap! :) I am just grateful Heavenly Father gave me wonderful Nanay Crystal. She trained me very well. She is well-known in the mission field as the "diligent missionary"..

At the same time, I am grateful I got you as my mamang. YOU ARE THE BEST AND NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE YOU.

2. Speaking of Nanay... during one of these days, my companion and I together with Sister Ragasa and Stokes went to Mallari's house to have merienda because we celebrated the 48th birthday of Nanay Cathy Mallari. She's my favorite nanay here because she feeds us everytime and in just one text she comes to work with us... =) My companion and sister stokes shared Alma 37:35 to her as a birthday message. It's Alma's counsel to his son Helaman to "learn wisdom in youth"... It was a good message. I pondered about it and I realized that we are all YOUTH. Because in eternal perspective, all of us are in the MIDDLE of the eternity. =) We are all in between of the premortal life and eternal life.. And it's never too late for each one of us to learn, because ALL OF US are still in the process of learning to become like Him. =)

3. The group pictures attached were just taken this morning. My companion and I spent our PDAY with the North Zone. We jogged for 30 minutes and mingled with the North Sisters. =) It was soooo fun.. (I haven't taken a bath though.. Malayo kasi apartment namin... It would take us 30-40 minutes ride for us to get there. So we will just take a bath mamayang gabi nalang)..

4. The sister missionary in the photo at the top wearing pink shirt is Sister Ragasa. I had the opportunity to be with her the 2nd time on exchanges. =) She is a good friend of mine. She is also a CPA, and I hope and I pray that we will be working in the same company after our mission life. (She going home on Dec 30) Pero sa ngayon we still have both our feet planted in the mission field. =)

5. I have also a picture of my companion holding our area book. She is sooooooo hardworking. We teach at least 50 lessons each week and find 20 new investigators each week. Our companionship is getting better and bettter and better each and everyday. She is the besssssssst! At first, both of were just shy with each other but now we talk with each other openly and more frequently. In fact these past few days she has been cracking jokes.

Do you remember President Anggoy? One of the counselors in Davao Mission Presidency before who was at the same time the Gen San Institute Director.. So President Angoy gave a talk last Sunday in our sacrament meeting. My companion really liked it so in our companionship study the next day, she shared what she liked in the talk. But then she couldn't remember what is President Anggoy's name.. So she said,, "President Unggoy".

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Okay tama na..

You mentioned about umbrella. So, I have not been using umbrella since my Nanay Crystal went home. =) I do not know why I like the sun now. We walk 12nn to 9pm in Tuguegarao and the heat is tolerable. Remember the Nivea Sunblock we bought before I was set apart? Hindi pa ubos. =) 

I have been reading the book of mormon (from the start) again.. I think this is the 8th time I read from the start while in the mission field. And with those 8 times, I never was able to finish reading..... I usually call the people who never finish reading the BOM as members of "1 Nephi Club". So I think it reasonable to say that I am their Club President. Heehehehe..

I just started 2 days ago, and I am now in 2 Nephi 4. In less than 15 days, I'll be able to finish it, we'll seee.

So 2015 is going to end in few weeks.. What are your goals for 2016? I hope that includes reading the Book of Mormon everyday, and going through the temple (with me)

I love you all.

And I love being a missionary!

Please be always happy!

16 news

I am just grateful the Lord assigned me in this wonderful area filled with wonderful people with a diligent companion. The work has been great this week (and it will get better and better as the week will pass by). Finding at least 16 new investigators each week (and of course following up on them) is one of my companion and I's favorite things to do! It's one of the secrets of a "never punted missionary". Because when you get punted at one, you have at least 15 back-ups. Even if we are punted 10 times, we still have at least 5 back-ups!

Aside from finding and teaching people, talking openly and more frequently is also now one of my favorite things to with my companion. Aaaaah... I love my companion sooo muuuccch. She is the best!! I am grateful for the opportunity to be with her for 2 cycles, she's a best friend.

I hope and I pray that in this last cycle of the year, I will be able to give Him ALLLL that I've got for all the people here in Tuguegarao.

Will you help me pray for that?! Please thank you!

I love being a missionary!