First thing was something taught by Elder Niel L. Anderson. He told
a story about how we need to always be ready to testify about the
Savior. He said, "Have the Savior on your lips." If we always have him
on our lips we will always be ready to testify of him when the prompting
comes. Plus you will most likely receive more of those promptings (or
at least recognize them) when you are ready. This is something we can
apply our whole life and especially as a missionary. Elder Anderson
then went on talking about repentance and how it relates to the other
principles of the gospel. David A. Bednar focused a lot about the spirit
and our role in bringing it unto others. Some of the things he said
made me remember a few things from my mission so far. He talked about
how we as missionaries, having the constant companionship of the Holy
Ghost, bring it into people's homes to those that do not yet have that
constant companion. As soon as he said that I thought of our
investigator Neo Cuntapay. Many times he has told us the different
feeling we bring to his house and himself personally when we are able to
teach him. We have taught him about the Holy Ghost and he knows how it
works but I think he is still scared to commit to something different
then what he is doing now. I also thought of the Chakino family from
Bambang. They too loved it when we were there. I remember very well the
night Sister Chakino bore her testimony to us and also thanked us for
always coming to their house and the spirit we brought and left every
time we went. Elder Bednar also talked about how to use the spirit in
teaching and how you don't need to know it's revelation to say
something. Those were two standout things that I liked. We also learned
about teaching less actives, giving commitments and the best ways to
find new investigators. Overall a very good conference and learned a lot
I need to add/do differently in my teaching.
Like I mentioned last week, found out on Monday that I wasn't being
transferred so I'll be here for 7 more weeks! This cycle is 7 weeks to
push us back a week because of the change in the MTC. We've had some
crazy cycles recently. 4 weeks then 8 weeks then 6 weeks and now 7 weeks
but it should all get back to normal after this 7 week cycle. Tuesday
this week was the prepare day and farewell for Sister Villa and Elder
Romo. It was also a birthday for Nanay Layugan so they just combined it
all and had a little party at the church Tuesday evening. We played some
games and ate some pretty good food. By the way, my team dominated at
the game I was in. It was a math game and I brought my team the victory.
We swept the other team like 4-0. Ended with eating dinner, taking
pictures and saying goodbye. Oh also on Tuesday, AP's called us and told
us to have those transferring in Alicia zone to just commute on their
own instead of us lining up a van. We had already lined up the van so we
had to call him again and cancel. Everyone transferring in the zone was
angry we didn't have a van but they all still managed to get to Cauayan
on time to read the lists. Elder Labrador and I went and helped the
sisters in the morning with their bags so they didn't have to carry them
by themselves on the bus. Transfer meeting in Cauayan was pretty fun.
Got to see some of the other missionaries I haven't seen in a while. I
would have to say though there are a ton of missionaries that I don't
even know the name of. Anyway, after we read the lists we helped the
missionaries get in their vans and then we left. We got some great new
additions to the zone which was good because I was pretty close with a
lot of them that left. So I don't know if in your missions you would say
like you have a daughter and son in the mission and stuff like that. If
you are the district leader and you have a brand new sister in your
district, then she becomes your 'daughter'. Then of course if you train
then that is your son. So in the mission I have one son and two
daughters and both my daughters (Sis. Baldomaro and Sis. Argonosa) got
transferred to Alicia zone. They are so cool and really funny! And of
course hard working! Also my new kabahay is Elder Palas. I was with him
in Roxas for 4 cycles then we went to Tuguegarao North together and now
we are together again here in Echague. He's pretty funny as well. So I'm
pretty happy with the new zone even though I think I will only be here
for one cycle longer.
Elder Labrador and I taught zone meeting on Thursday. We introduced
the mission wide power read of the Book of Mormon then taught about
charity. The zone made a pretty good discussion out of it and also the
sister training leaders did a great job teaching their part of it. After
the meeting the AP's came by and dropped us off some papers about zone
conference this week. Elder Labrador and I are the hosts so I believe
that means we are conducting. Our zone conference is tomorrow so we are
really looking forward to it.
Friday morning we did a deep clean of the apartment. Mainly because
Saturday was our apartment check but also because the apartment needed
it. We cleaned out everything and even moved stuff out of rooms so we
could sweep and mop it. We cleaned for like 2 hours straight and got rid
of a ton of junk. We also reorganized where things are in the apartment
which opened up some room in the main room. The apartment was super
clean when we were done. Probably cleanest it's been since I've been
here at least. It was good though because we passed the inspection
Saturday morning. This was my first apartment check with the new housing
couple and they check way more than the last ones did. Elder and Sister
Shorter usually just came in, shared a message, talked a little,
checked a few things and were on their way. Elder and Sister Jones asked
way more questions about cleaning and then checked pretty well the
entire apartment. Good thing we cleaned so well!
Go back to Friday real quick, we had Aaron's birthday party. I
guess they all thought that I was gone so when we showed up they were
shocked I was still here. It was a happy shocked not a sad shocked so
that was good! We spent a hour with them celebrating his birthday then
went to dinner with Nanay and Tatay Rivera.
For the second week in a row we were able to teach Neo. We saw him
driving in his car Thursday evening while we were waiting for a tricy on
the side of the highway. He honked at us but didn't stop. We got a hold
of him over the phone but weren't able to set a time this week to meet
up with him. He said he was too busy and would be out of town. I don't
like letting people go this long with out being taught especially if
they show signs of progression. We'll pray we get to meet up with him
this week and share to him.
One of our less actives, Sister Heia, came to church for the third
time in a row this week. We had stake conference so it was in Alicia and
she was still able to go. She has made a few mistakes in her life but
has been doing well on returning to church. Sometimes less actives don't
get noticed when they come back to the church. Or at least the part of
the missionaries helping them come back isn't seen. I think last week is
when this happened... someone came up to us and asked if we were the
missionaries helping Sister Heia return to church. We were really happy
to be recognized for helping Sister Heia.
Another less active, John Garcia, hasn't been to church the last
two weeks either. We were able to visit him though on Sunday night along
with his sister and her husband who are also less active. We had a
great BRT with them where they talked about their conversion to the
church. They were some of the first 10 members of the church here in
Echague. It was cool to have them tell us about what it was like back
then. It was back around 1988. Just having about 10 of them at church in
a house. Pretty cool to see it grow into two wards since that time.
Sunday we had stake conference where we got a new stake presidency
put in. Elder Haney from the area presidency was there along with
another member of the Seventy. Can't remember his name though. Then
President and Sister Rahlf were there as well.The old stake presidency
and the new stake presidency all bore their testimonies then we listened
to Sister Rahlf then President Rahlf talk. Then the two members of the
Seventy. Great meeting. I was thinking we were super lucky to have them
here in Alicia stake speaking to us until Elder Haney mentioned Elder
Nelson was also in the Philippines but in Naga mission. Just kidding,
they still did a great job and we were very lucky to have the privilege
to listen to them.
Overall we had a pretty good week this week. Got the new zone all
settled in and we are looking forward to zone conference tomorrow!
Should be another great week this week! Take care and I love you all!
Elder Labrador and I with some of the Sisters at stake conference.
Elder Labrador, Sister Delinila, Sister Baldomaro and myself at transfer day.
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