"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19: 12-5-2023 Week 3 in the Manila MTC

Aloha mai nō kuʻu ʻohana, magandang umaga!

This past week was filled with straight-up language training. Just learning the language structure for like two days, already getting into doctrine about the gospel in Tagalog. Cuz when I talk about a different kind of mental stretch, it's unreal. But no worreh, we still hando over here. Just as hard as the lessons are, the more present the spirit is to comfort and help me while I learn. When I say this place is unreal filled with the spirit, I mean it. My journal is packed with spiritual insights, favorite scriptures, and miracles that happen every day.

One of my favorite quotes this week came from an Elder Wilcox, in a 2011 MTC conference, that was replayed this past Sunday for us. In his jam-packed spiritual talk (supah good talk, if you ever get time watchum) he talked about a kid whose parents wanted him to go to FSY, with Wilcox they found the money to send him, and a day later, the kid calls home, saying "Get me out of here". Wilcox explained God's grace, and how much it is misunderstood. When we get to that point, of meeting our savior, it won't be a matter of the Lord saying, "ah sorry badda, you just missed it by couple good tings" or "ah almost but not quite Hawaiian, better luck next eternity", which is what I and guarantee choken people thought! Rather, the Lord will look at and judge us through our deepest desires, begging us to stay with him. That is what the atonement of Christ is for.

"Heaven isn't heaven, to those who haven't chosen to be heavenly"

- Brad Wilcox

We're not earning heaven, we're learning heaven. We are to live with an effort of aligning our goals, and desires, with that which the Lord has for us. For those repenting, keep it up. Use His atonement and focus on His plan. For those in a struggle, mentally, physically, and spiritually, use His atonement, he's the only one who truly understands the pain. Your effort will be enough, his "Grace is sufficient".

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

How beautiful is that?

My companion is the man, we haven't left the MTC yet, can't wait for those experiences when we hit the field (rice field hehe). Food never disappoints here, and for the most part, the Elders and Sisters here each have personal conversions that blow me away each passing day. I thought my testimony was strong when I left, just in the MTC, people leave their needing families, the people they love, or even simply serving to set an example to a younger sibling. As a Missionary, like dad explained before, we learn to forget ourselves and serve. I can't wait to struggle and work in the mission field, not just cause I want to grow, but for the fact that I know that comfort and love that this gospel truly brings, and the value that it has to every living soul. Namimiss ko sa lahat na inyo pero, I know the Lord, and he take kea. I hope my family, and cousins and aunties and unkos is doing good, please let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you. My beautiful Grandma, I love you so much, uncle Riley was the meanest fisherman and akamai Hawaiian, but eh what a blessing this so called plan of Salvation is ah? Mean.

Alam ko po na totoo na ito simbaban. Alam ko po na palaging nakikinig ang Diyos sa ating panalangin at nagpapatotoo po ako mahal na mahal tayo ng Diyos.

Aloha aku nō e ku'u 'ohana

ELDER ISHIBASHI