Kumusta kayong lahat!!
This week was another great week as a missionary! Can't even explain how the Lord manifests to me daily that this IS His work. The Church is way new in this area, so there is so much work to do, one being simply getting people to come to church, haha especially the leaders but we gettum. Got sacrament attendance up consistently over 20 within the past month or two, so another huge blessing. Along with other churches realizing it and boosting their proselyting efforts as well, leading to some great opportunities for me and the Lord, to simply 1 Corinthians 1:19. But of course lovingly and with the spirit haha. Or learning more about "Filipino Science", like hanging a bottle of blue liquid on a fence, kaya hindi sila, mga aso, tatae doon, or Dogs wont poop there. No idea.
The experience I wanna share this week came from early in the week, in which we had Zone Conference, about 3 hours away in Muñoz, San Jose. Getting up at 4, we drove over and had a 3 Zone combined, Zone conference. I got to see my stud of a MTC companion, Elder Horlacher and yes Elder, I gave the beans! Bumbai the rest goin know what dat mean. The three words that stuck out to me, in which we discussed there were, Courage, Reverence, and Valor. Which all leads to simply, being CLASSY. Very much ingrained in my head, by the countenance and standards given by my amazing parents.
Studying these 3 attributes has exponentially influenced the way I view my work as a missionary, and my approach to teach. The next day, as people who have been consistently keeping up with my emails, I will continue to talk about Nanay Flor Mejico. The nanay who takes care of her 4 granddaughters. As she has a Baptismal Date, our goal as missionaries is simply to maintain her pathway there. As we initially were going to overview some promised blessings and the plan of salvation or fruits of baptism, as we arrived she explained to us, her struggles. A case of theft and the blame being on her, she feels hopeless, and cries to herself, as she tries to ask here in the Philippines. As she expressed her pain, a moment became visual in my mind, with my older sister Kaui. Kaui explained to me, that before Joseph Smith seen the Father and Jesus Christ, the adversary overcame him, even to a point of physical and spiritual pain and sorrow. She explained to me that the adversary tries especially hard, while we are trying to do the right thing. My sister Kaui, expressed to me that the hardships I faced at that time, were the adversaries same, always used, noticeable & obvious tactic, to stop and get in the way of the miracles that the Lord has in store for us, and his eternal plan for me. I will always be thankful for my loving sisters council to me, in the times when I felt the most pain and chaos. To Nanay Flor, we simply read a few chapters in the Book of Mormon, about Alma and Amulek, and I bared my testimony about the situation, and the simple yet powerful truth and comfort that this gospel brings and promises. I testified that I dont know her issue, I cant say that I understand exactly how she feels, but I know the answer. As missionaries and simply, members of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we dont know what people go through, but it doesnt matter how hard or depressing or deep it is, we know who does know, and by what means true comfort and happiness comes. I am confident in this gospel, not because I was told, but of the mercy of the Lord Ive felt, in the darkest moments of my life.
Alam ko na ang simbahan na ito ay totoo dahil, sa mga simpleng salita, ang simbahan kumakatawan kay JesuCristo, at sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya ko, hinanap ko ang kapayapaan at pag-aliw sa mga napakahirap na panahon sa buhay ko.
I miss you all more than you could know. Yet am comforted constantly, as the Lord shows me each moment of everyday, the truthfulness of this gospel. JAHS TRAHS, lalong-lalo (especially), when the road ahead is too dark to see. Sa pangalan po, ang manunubos natin, ang tagapagligtas ko, na si JesuCristo, Amen.
ELDER ISHIBASHI
1. ELDER HORLACHERS BEANS TO MICHAEL PARUHINOG
2. ELDER HORLACHER
sorry not too many pictures, a really kind of working really hard without time kinda week, shoooots
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