3/31/2024 Holy Week sa Pilipinas

 Magandang umaga po kayong lahat!

A great week this past week, it was Holy Week here in the Philippines so to be straight up, teengz get a litto NAHTS. Catholic tradition here has people parading the streets with grass hats and face coverings, whipping their backs, leaving ripped shirts and bleeding backs. Some even crucify themselves, being nailed to a cross. For a while this left me discusted but more so just mad with the thought in my mind, "Was his suffering not enough?" Anyway adda den dat haha my days are always filled with tender mercies of the Lord. Kahit mahirap, even if its hard, the language is languaging, and I found that running is a very useful tool in missionary work! Haha Im glad that Elder Kapunan agrees the same, which started with one day talking about covenants, and as we covenanted to give our all, in which I asked the question, "Lahat ba yan?", (Is that all?), as we found ourselves running, of course with dignity, 8 at night, trying to hit another appointment.

I have an awesome companion who has one attribute that will make any missionary, or anyone in general, great. Elder Kapunan is willing. He wants to learn and grow, he wants to be obedient, and ultimately he wants to serve the Lord. I feel so blessed to be his companion. The story I want to share came from a teaching we had this past week with a catholic husband and wife. Usually as we teach them, the wife listens, and reads the Book of Mormon, while the tatay sits in the back corner, smoking a cigarette. I could tell he would listen, but as any tatay or older male, will leave "that kind of stuff" to the wife. This past week, as we arrived to the house, only tatay was home, sitting in his corner, smoking his cigarette. He quickly said that his family wasnt home, in which we asked if we could share a quick 5 minute message before we left. As we sat down and shared, the spirit guided to teach about guilts, and the beauty of repentance. I didnt remember what I said in the lesson right after it finished, and I still dont remember now, but remembering being led by the spirit to ask a few inspired questions. One being, "Nakaramdam po ba kayo ng guilts?" As he shared a few superficial stories, but the spirit of discernement opened my eyes to see there was more. We read Moroni 8:26...

26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

Repentance is God's way of showing us that he loves us. A promised blessing that when we feel this lowliness, meekness, sorrow, that we ALL have and will continue to feel throughout life, gives the Lord the opportunity, as we choose it, to be filled with a perfect love, and a perfect hope through the Holy Ghost. Alam ko na ito ay totoo dahil naramdaman ko yan, maraaaming beses haha. Totoo talaga. My companion continued and bore his testimony as we ended our quick 30 minute message haha, and asked him to close us with a prayer. As he prayed, his voice slowly became more choppy as he spit out the word, amen, his eyes filled with tears. I know, that the suffering and atonement of our loving savior and redeemer Jesus Christ, IS ENOUGH to feel the peace we need as we use it. We have hope and faith for this tatay. We know we weren't the teachers in that lesson, or any lesson, but vessels that the spirit was able to dwell. We as members can say all we like, this Church is true, this gospel is true, but its so different, so beautiful to see a testimony being made. I could come up with a million ways, how this scripture could connect to each one of you, but it is our responsibility haha to start and grow our own testimony and continue to seek for opportunities to grow it. 

Alam ko po na ito ay totoo na may walang alinlangan. Sobrang masaya ako na ibahagi ang magandang ebanghelyo na ito sa lahat ng mga tao nandito sa Pilipinas. Mahal na mahal ko po ang trabajo na ito bilang isang misyonero at nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng inyong mga panalangin para sa akin, maramdaman ko sila. 

I love you all choken, and know that the Lord loves , EACH and EVERY one of his children as well. Jahs trahsss!

ELDER ISHIBASHI

1. Diguistic Beach

2. ZL Elder Wengreen

3. Elder Kapunan aka hammah

4. Cleaning a pig pen in pross with illokano tatay

5. First.  snake... kinda

3/24/2024 Kaloob ng mga Wikas

 Kumusta kayong lahat! 

Dont have choke time but, a great week as a missionary. Think so I struggle more and more every week, and I absolutely love it. Get up at 5 everyday and have a great personal study, to start everyday. I love the Lord, I love the work. 

This week was full of miracles for sure. One being the Gift of Tongues, theres no logical explanation for the almost instant improvement of language that came with becoming a trainer. Elder Kapunan is an awesome Elder, and can hardly understand or speak English. The change from being a trainee to a trainer was difficult, especially in a new language, but the Lord qualified me to do such; leading and teaching whole lessons in Tagalog, and understanding and answering peoples questions and insights, every day were miracles that Ive witnessed daily this past week.

The experience I want to talk about happened yeeeaaars ago, as a child one day talking to my beautiful grandma, Mona Emiko Ishibashi, in a car ride. I don't remember where we were going, or if shell remember this, but its one I remembered this past week. While driving, I asked grandma if I could ask her a question about the Church, and of course as a child could not comprehend, or wrap my head around the fact of the idea, that there is no end, and there is no beginning. Why? I asked my beautiful, wise, grandma, in which she answered, phrased differently, theres some things that we will never understand, and just have to trust, and wait until we are able to ask the Lord ourselves. Grandmas version of 1 Nephi 11:17, straight up.

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things

This simple answer, given by my loving grandma, will answer ANY question we have. Why do only I have this struggle? Why did Church history happen this way? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is life hard? And the millions of questions that we ask ourselves, every minute of the day. Even if life is difficult, confusing, complicated, and filled with variables, theres one truth that we can depend on and know is true, one foundation that we know, if we build on we cannot fall, our Father in Heaven loves his children so much. As we continue to think celestial, any problem, conflict, or sudden variable, is answered by the simple truth that God loves us, and one day if we dont understand, as we continue to endure to the end, ask for ourselves. 

Love and miss you grandma, thank you for making the choice everyday to raise your family up to the Lord, through such generations have been blessed, and THAT is just one of the million motivations I have to bring the people here, to the truth and light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ito ay totoo talaga. Wala akong alinlangan. Alam ko po na mahal na mahal tayo ng Diyos, isang simple na katotohanan, pero malakas sa ibig sabihin.

I know that God loves me, and know that he loves you. I know its the most irritating thing to hear, when we struggle if someone says God loves you. Trahs I understand, but Ive come to realize and I truly testify that there is a not a truer or more powerful reminder to get or give, than just that. JAHS TRAHS! 

ELDER ISHIBASHI

3-17-24 Maging Magpapakumbaba

 Kumusta po kayong lahat!! 

Awesome week this week, again packed with miracles, struggles, and successes. Just finished my training this week, and the Lord found it fit to go from trainee to trainer, in which I have my new companion, Elder Kapunan, from Mindanao. Awesome Elder. I am a testiment of the truthfulness of the Gift of Tongues, and of messages with the presence of the Spirit, filling my mouth with the messages that they need to hear, all Iʻm required to do is to keep it open. As my seminary teacher, brother Danny Harris, would always remind after any good thing happens, "Church is true!!", a simple truth I come to know and witness everyday here on my mission. 

I love being here on my mission, because of the opportunity I have to change every aspect of my future with these two years. Uncle Herbie said "You are building a foundation upon which you will continue to build upon for the rest of eternity", and I couldnt be more excited and motivated. The night before transfer anouncements, asking the Lord to spoil the news to me already, the answer I recieved was "Watch this", the next night hearing I would be a trainer, excitement quickly turned to self evaluation, which then turned to worries, not that im not, not self confident in this... or anything.. but simply worry haha. 

Alma 13:28

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; 

29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

I am inadequate. By myself? I can't do it. Ive come to realize that the idea that people think of the Lord not giving us anything that we can't bare is FALSE! In that case, why did we sin? If we could bare it all, do it all, there would be no giving into temptation. The Lord knows weʻre not perfect, and gives us these opportunities of struggle, not to see if we can do it by ourselves, but to prove to us, that with Him, with fasting and praying, with watching and calling on his name, we can get through our struggles. I know this is true, and with such I can train, because! The Lord sees fit that I can do so. Not a single doubt, not a single fear as long as I remain faithful and simply do what Lord asks me to do. Stressful but bareable, tempted, yet faithful. Alam ko na ito ay totoo. 

Pinapatotohanan ko sa inyong lahat na mayroon tayong lahat mga pagsubok at pasanin na hindi nating kaya gawin sa ating sarili. Anghirap ang buhay, pfffttt alam ko iyan, makakita ako yan araw araw dito, pero iyan ay kung bakit mayroon tayo ng pagdadasal, at isang tagapagligtas, na nahihintay sa atin na ipakita ang pananampalataya natin sa kanya. Ako ay isang testimento na maaari po tayong maging matagumpay, kung magpapatuloy tayo nang kabutihan at pananampalataya kay Cristo. Sa pangalan po ng tagapagligtas natin, na si JesuCristo, Amen.

Use google translate if gotta haha. 

Jahs keep going, keep pushing, trahs, and remember you CANT, do it alone and youre not asked to. Miss you all choke, but I know that this is where I have to be. Love you all, mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat.

ELDER ISHIBASHI

3/10/24 Gaano kadedicado ka ba?

 Kumusta kayong lahat! 

Ang letter na ito ay saglit lang, pero kaya mong basahin kung gusto, kung hindi na gusto, get off da list. Jokelang pero hindi talaga.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Spo7MTqANCd1HQJPA

Another way blessed week as a missionary of the Lord. This upcoming week is the ending of my training, so most likely my amazing companion, Elder Smith, will be leaving me. Siyempre, nervous, inadequate, far from perfect, but strive everyday to be exactly obedient, in which I know the Lord will continue making my weaknesses strengths (Ether 12:27). We have a great teaching pool so far, great investigators with sometimes even greater struggles and trials in their lives, my pride each day gets torn in half, as I listen and understand each, individuals struggles in their life. Nothing. Is of more value, or importance, than the blessings and hope that this gospel brings to those who so desperately need such. 

This week was a week of miracles. Most I feel are so sacred, and tender mercies of the Lord, that I feel will be best talking about when I get home and see each of you. To keep it short, one quick experience I would like to share is about an exchange this week I had with our Zone Leader, Elder Wengreen. Awesome Elder. Ive heard, people talk about this Baler Zone, of either making or breaking Elders. Sisters arent allowed in this Zone, its the farthest zone from the mission home about 4 hours, church leadership is very weak, because of the newness of the Church here, and the dependance on the Elders for everything. As me and Elder Wengreen went out to work, we had 20 minutes before we had to get to a meeting with our mission president, as I led my area that day, he asked if we had time for any more, in which I asked, "How dedicated are you?" Haha in which of course, as the very much consecrated missionary he is, replied, "very", as we both sprinted to one more house, a little under a mile away through bushes to hit just one more, quick message. We ran back, smiling to meet president on time, dripping in sweat. I love the feeling the Lord allows us to feel, when we give our all. As we give our all, it IS enough. At the end of the day, any disapointments or what I see might have been a failure, is quickly replaced with contentment as I ask myself the question, did I give my all today.

Ive come to love the hymn, Have I Done Any Good, especially the last line, going into the chorus,

"To God each good work will be known. Then wake up and do something more Than dream of your mansion above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, A blessing of duty and love."

I am a testimony of the joy beyond measure that comes from forgetting myself, and serving the Lord. The Lord sustains me everyday, with the strength, desire, comfort, growth, and knowledge that I need. The Lord sees us all, our joys, our sadnesses, our struggles, and our efforts, and as I continue through faith, the other miraculous events that happened this week, werent a surprise, but an opportunity for me to thank the Lord. I know these things are true, not just for me, but a promise for anyone who takes the challenge to simply do something more for the Lord. What can we do? The question simply comes down to, how dedicated are you?

Alam ko na lahat na ito ay totoo. Nagpapatotoo ako na ang mga bagay na ito ay mahirap minsan, pero sobrang sulit. Sobrang sobra. Alam ko ito na may walang alinlangan. 

I know all of this is true. I testify that these things ARE hard sometimes, but so supah worth it, supah. I know this without a doubt.

I love you all so much, you alreadeh know what to do, JAHS TRAHS

ELDER ISHIBASHI

Guess who came to church this week :) most beautiful green bike i ever seen (g who came to

3/3/2024 Walk by Faith. Not by Sight

Kumusta po kayong lahat! Another great week as a missionary. The Tagalog is slowly improving, as my companion is pushing me to lead the majority of our lessons. I love the work, I love getting up early, and I love simply learning more, everyday about this beautiful gospel. I feel inadequate everyday haha and the more I remember that, the more I can recognize how present the Lord is daily, providing me the strength and spirit I need. The experience I want to share came from earlier this week, as we visited an Tatay. This was his second lesson, but first I want to just talk about this hammah just a little bit. This guy has one eye, no teeth, feeds his pigs, dogs, chickens, and constantly moves his karabow, and giving the biggest gummy smile while he does so. Following the spirit last week, we found him, and got to teach a quick lesson and told him we'd come back as we invited him to ipagdadasal ang mensahe namin to pray (in behalf of) our message. That does not Engliah very well. That first lesson was rough as he first spoke I had no idea what he was saying, just when I thoughy my Tagalog was improving. I looked at my companion as he had the same look, this Tatay looked at us and then I began to understand, Tatay decided to just swap to Illokano. Unreal ah. Following our next lesson, as we extended the invitation for Tatay to come to church, he went down into the meanest Filipino squat and started drawing in the pebbles, as he drew the roads asking where our meetinghouse was. Excitedly kicking away my chair of cahs I had to hop down into a Filipino squat with this guy, as me, Elder Smith, and this brother Florencio Aballn, squatted on the ground, drawing in the rocks. The last week he didnt come to church, he explained he didnt have a ride. This week as we excitedly explained again where the chapel was, me and my companion remembered... that this week is actually district conference ( equivalent of stake conference, but not YET a stake ), in which church this sunday, was in the Suclain, Baler Chapel! From where we were, about 5 times the distance of his house to our normal meetinghouse. In the Philippines Ive really come to appreciate and realize how spoiled we are with cars and simply driving to places, whenever we want! We continued to explain to him that church this sunday will be in Baler, as we continued to draw in the pebbles, in our Filipino squat. Florencio looked up, smiled his gummy smile, and said "Pupunta ako" I will go. As we asked him how he would get there, as we remembered he doesnt have a trike or a motor, he pointed at a one gear, rusty, but painted over again, bubbly bike. As I looked I smiled, as we closed with a prayer and left. I prayed so hard for this Tatay, and asked the Lord to bless his faith. I cant explain how sad I was this past Sunday, as we rode in a trike to Baler, and I waited watching to see him on the way riding his bike to church, and nothing. I had so much faith that he would go, but of course, he had to have the faith himself. District conference was great, especially at the fact that as we walked in, the gummy smile of Tatay Florencio shone bright, as he sat in the chair next to one of our members, blinking his one happy eye away. I think so I almost smiled bigger than him, feeling my teeth might jahs fall out too! As we talked to him and he said he thought he was late! What faith. How much are we willing to give to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost? What distance are we willing to go, to find the truth? Luckily for us who recieve this letter, its already in front of our faces, but so often we forget how valuable it is. In Mosiah 18:9-10, it gives the question what are we WILLING to do, to have the spirit of the Lord more abundantly in pur lives? How can we simply ALWAYS feel loved? 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? As we do such, I testify that the Lord will fulfill this promise of feeling his spirit more abundantly in our lives. This is a promise, its literal, just try, and JAHS TRAHS. Ang Simbahan na ito ay totoo. Ang ebanghelyo na ito ay sobrang maganda and perpekto. Nakakakita ako ito araw araw. Pinapatotohanan ko sa inyo na ito ay yung talagang katotohanan pero muna, kailangan natin subukan ito, para malaman ito para sa ating sarili. Para sa akin? Hindi lang ito isang paniniwala, pero ang katotohanan. Alam ko ito. Sa pangalan po ni JesuCristo, Amen. I love and miss you guys choke, but sorry I love this work more. JAHS TRAHS, no sked um go get um. ELDER ISHIBASHI