Week 5 Transfer 8

So this week was great when it comes to working. We were able to get our highest numbers that we have gotten so far in this area this week! We were able to find 21 new investigators! If there is one thing that I love to do it is talk to people on the street because they freak out when I am speaking Ilonggo to them. Anyways, I have two stories of being called Joe this week. Pretty fun and funny but I won't tell them. Sorry... 

We are still teaching Brother Jeffrey that called me Joe the other week. He's accepted a baptismal invitation for Christmas and has such a sincere desire for his family to be happy and be in an a good environment. He wants his whole family to be able to listen especially his wife and his son which is hard because his wife only comes home once every month from work and then their son is about 17 and not in the right Barcada (Group of buddies.. Can be a good or bad group). I have so much hope though for Brother Jeffrey. I guess he had a book of Mormon from years and years ago and he's been to Church a few times years ago but that wasn't the time for him back then. Hopefully and I'm praying that now is the time! We did splits last night and I went with this couple who are both RM's in their late 20's or early 30's. I learned sooooo much from them it was great!!!

We had a movie night on Saturday and showed the Joseph Smith Restoration. I just love how strong the spirit is when watching all the movies that the Church produces for us! I have some things I want to study about now in the History about Temples. Should be fun and great learning!! Many miracles this week for sure. Hope you all had a great week and are pressing onward! Love you all!

Halong!

P.S. Lapit na ang Paskwa!!! (Christmas is close!)

(Sorry no pictures this week)

Week 4 Transfer 8

The week of the ending of Masskara. So I totally wanted to see what the Masskara would be like but nope. Maybe next year right before I go home. There hasn't been as many people home though because of this event. I gotta buy a little mask next year hopefully. The only problem is they are all so big! haha.. Anyways...

So this week was a pretty slow week. We were able to do splits once and while on splits, this man called me "Joe" but somewhat whispering it. Right when that happened I started walking up to him. His face just grew so much in terror and shyness. It was honestly hilarious! Anyways I sat next to him and said, "Hey, what's your name?," he then answered me "Jeffrey," (regretting his decision to call me "Joe"). I then bluntly was just like, "You know brother people always call me "Joe" but its difficult to hear all the time. I have a real name ya know?" Then I introduced myself to him. He started opening up slowly to me and talking about his family and what not. I was able to give him a pamphlet but, I have not followed up yet. This was while exploring a new part of our area we haven't been too. It was a fun remember-able experience.

Jojo and Manuel were confirmed on Sunday! And Sister Delima and her Daughter came to Church. We walked to their house to pick them up and then walked to Church with them. =D

Other then that, nothing else really exciting happened. Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Oh how much I miss mexican food! Our members made TACOS! Oh goodness. They were so amazing because I haven't had any food like that type in like almost a year!!!

Halong! Palangga ko kamo nga tanan!

Week 3 Transfer 8

A long long week of nothing.. This week was insane!!! There was a huge storm! It rained so hard the whole week! Everything was flooding and what not. We barely were able to go outside the whole week... We got stuck a few times waiting for the rain to lessen... Luckily our Bishop saved us and picked us up and took us home leaving us with some Pizza Hut as well! Yum yum! 

This week Manuel and JoJo were baptized! It was cool because we had one of our Priest's baptize them. I wish I was able to Baptize when I was a priest so I could have had that experience before my mission. It was fun watching them. They are super awesome. Now I'm just waiting for the time their parents open up to the message. They support their kids though which is nice! This also was a Zone Baptism!!!

(Me, Raymond, Manuel, JoJo, Elder Babida)

Not really much to say though this week! Sorry you all!! Maybe I'll just bare my testimony in Ilonggo for ya! Have a great week and love you all!

Kag karon, Pulo ka bulan na ako diri sa akon pagalagad. Kon may ara mga experyensya nga indi gid maalimunaw ukon madula, ina nga experyensya ang una nga beses nga nakabunyag ko ang isa ka tawo kag amo ang ulihi nga experyensya nga ginbunyagan ko ang isa ka tawo nga ginahingalan si Grace Baba. Sang ginbunyagan ko sia, dayon sang nagbangon sia pagwa sang tubig, gincompirmahan sang Balaan nga Espiritu sa akon nga nahugasan na sia kag nga nagtikang sia kag naglakat padulong sa ginharian sang Dios. Ang una nga tawo ginbuyagan ko, sang naghambal sia  sang iya nga panaksihon sa amon, grabe gid ang presensya sang Balaan nga Espiritu sa cuarto. damo gid ang mga beses nga nakakita ko ang mga milagro song Dios paagi sa akon mission. Kobalo ko gd nga matuod Ang Simbahan ni Jesus Christo sang mga Santos sa ulihi nga mga Adlaw kag nga ginpanumbalik sia paagi kay Joseph Smith nga gintawagan ni Jesus Christ bilang isa ka Manug-bugnaa. Kabalo ko wala'y isa ka duha-duha nga ginlubaran ni Joseph Smith Ang Libro ni Mormon para sa sini nga mga Adlaw agud mabal-an naton ang kamatuoran parte sa kabug-usan sang Ebanghelyo ni Jesus Christo. Dama gd ka beses nga nakatapos ko Ang Libro ni Mormon kag tungod sang mga pagpangamuyo ko sa aton Amay nga Langitnon. Kabalo ko gd nga gintugyan sang Dios ini nga Libro nga amo ang dumaan nga kasaysayan kag maragtas parte sa personal nga pagalagad ni Jesus Christo sa dumaan nga America pagkatapos sang iya nga pagkabanhaw. Kabalo ko nga si Thomas S. Monson ang aton Manug-bugna subong nga gintawagan sang aton Amay nga Langitnon maghambal sang mga bugna sa aton agud may paggiya sa aton mga kabuhi. Paagi lang sa pangamuyo nakahibalo ko ina nga mga butang. Kay, paagi lang sa pangamuyo pwede naton mabal-an ang kamatuoran parte sa tanan nga mga butang. Natabo ini man sa akon tungod may personal nga relationship ako sa akon Amay nga Langitnon. Ginaagda ko kamo magsugod sang relationship ninyo sa aton Amay nga Langitnon. Salamat gid ang pinalangga ko nga kauturan. 

Halong sa inyo tanan sini nga simana!

Week 2 Transfer 8

I cannot believe how freakishly fast time is. I still remember when I was just brand new on the mission but I just hit my 10 month mark. Its crazy how fast time flies by when you are doing the Lords work! I'm doing great right now. I just always have sinuses but what can you do with that. That's my life! 

or this week I got to go to Santa Fe ward real quick again for another interview. I saw another one of my investigators that I found and started teaching. She's now going to Church! Its awesome to see your hard works turning into fruits that are being harvested!!!

We were supposed to have a baptism this week for Jojo and Manuel but they wanna be baptized together and Jojo has to wait a week. This Saturday on General Conference for us we are having a Zone Baptism. There will be tons being baptized most likely. It will be a great experience! I guess Manuel's mother is Warai from Tacloban and I'm gonna have her teach me some Warai if I get the time! It would be awesome!!!

We were able to start teaching this family again that we've been working on. They were having problems earlier but now everything is good again. We went to pick them up but Sister wasn't there so they wouldn't go... That was the hardest thing but we were blessed after while walking to Church because one of our members drove by and said "Elder's! Hop in!" Those small and tender mercies of the lord. I was sweating like crazy because its hot even at 8 in the morning, especially on Sundays when you have to wear long sleeves...

We contacted a In-Active Member one day this week. It was the most amazing experience I have had. You wanna know why? Alright hold on. First off his name is Paskwal Tenebro. This man is crazy!!! While we were asking around looking for him he was super near us. He was outside raking leaves and cleaning up around his house. He is somewhat deaf. Maybe you're thinking... Yes, yes, alright.... And? Well... This man is 103 years old and turns 104 on Oct 10. He is still walking around, lifting things, you name it. It was an awesome experience!

We met this new person this week who the next day said that he wanted us to teach his. He is this 22 year old guy named Gringo (Benny). I told him what that means in America. Anyways, he wants to be Baptized and his friends want to be taught now as well! He's already like a missionary. Two of his friends went to Church on Sunday. These kids are always playing Basketball at the Church every night. I am praying that they will be baptized because they are the most important people to baptize besides families. They are the future to missionary work!

Anyways. A lot happened this week but it was a great week. I'm so excited for General Conference!!! Have a great week all of you!! Take care!

3 of our investigators at our members house. They just got home back from class at college and passed out. haha.

Week 1 Transfer 8

Maayong adlaw sa tanan ninyo sa gwa palibot sa kalibutan! So this week was a slow week. Yes of Course. So I think I was able to say it last P-day, but my last companion became AP, then my other companion Elder Evans for a day and a half went to his actual area and now my companion is Elder Babida. He's pretty legit. This week we were just visiting lots of members trying to get referrals and focus around the houses of the members. Our goal right now is to find two new families a week to teach. We completed that goal this week. Hoorah! 

This week or well even last night we taught this Brother last night who has been taught by 8 sets of missionaries. He was talking about History and relating it to religion and everything and what not. I was led by the spirit and just gave him a huge lesson about history with revelation from our Heavenly Father to Man. I also of course involved the Restoration in it and just proved everything true to connect that the only true Church of this Earth today is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because, There is a living Prophet (Thomas S. Monson) receiving direct revelation from our Heavenly Father. There are living Apostles, and they have all the Keys of the Priesthood besides of course two certain ones that were talked about last General Conference. I'm so excited for General Conference coming up!!! Anyways, this man is so hard headed and prideful. The Spirit was so strong and was directing me through everything as I said it. I truly felt amazing but this man rejected it all and denied the Holy Ghost. We were able to give him one last invitation. That was to go to General Conference with his wife and watch President Monson speak. He accepted but lets see if he is a keeper of promises.

I was able to be in the interview with one of my favorite investigators yesterday that I was able to teach in Santa Fe Ward. It was weird but cool going back. Everyone was like Elder TURLEY!! Haha... Sister Honeylyn from my last area is gonna be baptized! Yay! I'm so happy I was directed and able to be a part of that.

She turned shy again. Hahaha. I'm so excited for Sister Honeylyn! Now her Uncle just needs to be Baptized!

Love you all! Choose the Right! Learn what it truly means to Endure to The End! Avoid those Spiritual Whirlwinds that may come blowing by and strengthen your roots through the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ! Especially through Missionary Work! =D

Week 5 Transfer 7

Grace was baptized!!! This week has just been amazing!

Sister Grace with her fellowship family where she happens to work and a babysitter/house keeper. One of my favorite families in the mission. They have my family picture up on there wall. Haha. The Pioquinto Family.

So for starters, we just had a big storm yesterday and wow!!! It was insane but not even that bad for a storm here. I have so much more appreciation for the strength and diligence of the people here! So this week hopefully Albert and Honeylyn were to be interviewed for Baptism but they weren't able to go to church. I will definitely miss them.

We went to this new area in Sta. Ward where an American has never ever gone before but we have a family we know there who's cousins all live around them. Its out in the Bukid by another area of ours called Abada. Its so amazing and peaceful over there! I loved being there! I hope that the Elders continue to start visiting over there. There is so much of a future over there. That's for sure! I wish that I could visit there more! I've had tons of struggles, challenges, successes, learnings, and what not in Sta. Fe Ward. I'll always remember the members.

So two of our investigators that are sisters. Sister Jovelyn and Jenylyn are opening up more and more to us! I have so much hope for them. They are honestly awesome! I can't wait for that day when I find out that they are Baptized! We were teaching them one day and Jenylyn is Iglesia Ni Christo. I asked if we could kneel and pray before we left (after having a super powerful meaningful and spiritual lesson with them)(its against the rules in Iglesia to kneel), at first Sister Jenylyn hesitated and then I said, "Sister, its not against the rules to kneel. Even Jesus kneeled when he prayed to our Father in Heaven." Right away she was like "Alright!." She kneeled with us!

I will definitely miss all the people I've made friendships with and relationships with here in Sta. Fe ward, especially my Filipina Mom, Sister De La Banda. Tons of things she has done to help the missionary work.

Oh by the way. You're maybe wondering why I talking the way I am talking. Yes, I just transferred. Today. My new companion is Elder May! My first American Companion! I'm still in the same Zone though which is Hilarious!!! I've been in 3 areas in the same Zone. Gotta love Bacolod Central Zone. I'm now in 2nd Ward. Its also hilarious because I met relief society sisters last Sunday at stake conference from 2nd ward and they said "Elder, you need to be assigned to us. We will pray that you will be assigned to us." Guess what! Bam! Wow Amazing!

I love this mission! I'm so ready now!!

Elder May and I.

Sister Cecil and Royce John. Big time awesome peoples here. They dropped me off to transfers earlier.

Week 4 Transfer 7

"Ahhhh" (Angels Singing)... Yay! Grace was interviewed for Baptism! She will be Baptized this Saturday!! A long tiring process of teaching her and figuring out her worries and questions and doubts to NOW! I'm so excited for her! I'll have pictures next week!

So this week. Brother Alimar.. He's totally like Brigham Young. He is studying everything out before he really is gonna make a decision in my point of view. I told him to look up Brigham Young's story on LDS.ORG. I'm hoping he reads it and it helps him come to be baptized faster and sooner! All he really needs to do now is go to church. That's the hardest thing on my mission I think... Getting people to go to church.. But, once they go to church its amazing!

Another awesome story.. So the Magan family; Its been a long time since we've been able to teach them.. There is always so much going on in their family. We were able to catch up to Brother and ride on his Jeep going home one night this week and he said, "Yah! Come over on Sunday!" What ended up happening is they had someone rent their Jeep for the day and Sister had to go so things ended up not working out... But! Guess what!?? Sister said Brother stopped drinking! Miracles truly do happen. Its amazing!! I love this work!

We were able to have Stake Conference yesterday and it was so funny. There were all these Relief Society Sisters from the 2nd Ward talking to me and they were super fun and were like "Elder! You need to be assigned to our ward!" I just thought it was so funny because all the members here are like that to all the missionaries. They'll always say "Elder! You need to be assigned to us!" They're awesome though!

Last night we went to this sister that we were trying to visit earlier in the afternoon but just lost track of time (Just didn't have time...) Her daughter has been wanting to be baptized forever... I mean a long time but she was never allowed. Well Sister's husband passed away about 3 months ago and now sister is truly wondering what happens after we die. She has so many questions but also it is going to be hard to teach her as well. She of course has tons of hurt inside her and is super depressed but from what I could tell she is asking "why do people have to die?" This will be a great experience though to be able to start teaching her though. I pray that she will be content to listen to us and then ask questions after our lessons. I learned that yesterday.. "Let us share our message first and then afterwards ask all that you want."

We had Family Home Evening at Sister DelaBanda's house on Thursday. It was so fun and a great experience for Albert, Honeylyn, and their friend Cherry and her son as well. They were a little bored here because we were waiting to start.

Huge Preying Mantis (Tagatag-a)! He tricks his enemies. He acts as if he's super slow but he is crazy fast!!! He is a sneaky one. He tried to attack me! haha.

Love you all! Have a great week!