5/26/24 Pinakahalagang Perlas

Kumusta po ang lahat! Another great week in the Philippines, here in San Nicholas. A working week, filled with more miracles, and tender mercies of the Lord. I love this work, theres not a better way to explain it. The experience I want to share happened a few days ago, as we finally had the chance to get to an inactive family. This family was endowed and sealed in the temple, but went through a very hard time, resulting in the very tragic loss of a loved one. Ward members reached out, but have been rejected since they have left the church, and began attending the Catholic Church. As Elder Pampelon and I shared with our leadership our plan to reach out, we got the response of "Good luck Elders". Love that response, Grandpa always said, "the possible I do immediately, the impossible just takes a little longer". Sounds like this, just needed to take a little longer, in which we smiled and accepted the challenge. Having a member working with us, even they didnt want to come with us to the visit, and stayed on the outside of the street. Finally, having a way to get to the front door, of course with every feeling of unsurity and incapability slapping me in the face, we gave the door a knock. In which the daughter, of this family answered the door. Introducing ourselves as the new missionaries to the area(been here a month), and not too sure the people (practically knew them already from the amount of times we were told the story), we asked if we could share a 5 minute message. She nervously looked into the house, to talk to her mother sitting on the other side of the room, and looked back trying to close the door saying they had somewhere to go. Of course, as missionaries we must be curteous to those we teach, but the spirit gave me the okay, to be a little bold. Asking where they were going, there was no response, as we slowly pushed our way (nicely) through the door, and explained. Sister (****) we know that you and your family are busy, but would you allow us to share just a 5 minute message with you? As we began, the mother got up saying she had to get something, leaving her three children, sitting nicely in front of us. We shared a message about the Plan of Salvation, and the worth of it, of the promise of an eternal family. The message ended with bare testimony of how much my companion and I know this is true, and because of this simple way and promise, we are here to share it. The house was small enough where I knew the mother had to have heard it wherever she went, and we left the house, after a short 15 minute message. I have no idea what will come of such, or if anything will, but I know the Lord needed us there to simply, bare our testimony. He loves us all so much, and wants us all to come back to him, constantly willing to give us the chance to, but ultimately, it is up to us whether we want to or not. A thought I had as I gave the District Workshop this week was about fish. Far from Hawaii, but fish has still stuck as a very forefront thing in my mind. The thought was simple, a fish raised in a tank, has no idea what the ocean looks like. The adversary is skilled, seasoned, and persuasive, into putting people into a tank, saying wordly happiness is enough. Thats all there is! Its okay, just have fun! As members of this church, we are given a glimpse, of what the ocean or the kingdom of heaven looks like. We have a glimpse of the eternal grandness and glory of the ocean, and the Lord has entrusted to us, the responsibility to show others and share it. Matthew 13 45 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. We know where the Lord wants us to be, we have been blessed to find this pearl. But now that we have it, we have to be willing to pay the price to obtain it. It is expensive, it requires giving up everything, selling everything, even down to our natural wants to obtain, but its true, and so worth it. JAHS TRAHS. This inactive family may be struggling, the adversary is trying so hard to keep them in the tank, but one day they will again find the pearl, and pay what is necessary. I know this is true. I cant doubt it, there are too many experiences daily that the Lord manifests its truth to me. I pray for each of you everyday, and know that the Lord answers my prayers. The promise of an eternal family is enough of a beautiful pearl, that will keep me selling. Alam ko na sa pamamagitan ng mga katotohanan na ito, makakakita po tayo ng kaharian ng Diyos nang malinaw upang ibahagi sa mga malabo, dahil sa maraming biyaya na ipinakaloob Niya sa akin, magpapatuloy ako nang masaya. Nagpapasalamat ako sa pagkakataon na ito bilang isang misyonero. ELDER ISHIBASHI

5-19-24 Grabe, mahal ko yng gawain na ito

Kumusta po kayong lahat, another very much blessed week as a missionary. By the miracles we as a companionship witness daily, there is an almost palpable feeling of how much the Lord loves this people, in which I am grateful that he allows me the opportunity to witness and feel such for myself. This week? Elder Pampelon and I worked. Got out to proselyte earlier than usual, and got home right at kurfew, because of how much work there is to do. Huge blessing initially, from first arriving here 3 weeks ago, opening an area, with no one to teach, to now, not having enough time to get back to all of our progressing people. What a beautiful problem to have. Crazy week, the motorcycle guy who crashed and almost got run over by the Semi truck behind him, as we were there perfect timing to help him off the road, or the lady yelling how much she hated us in PERFECT ENGLISH, which surprised me and complemented her English, or the walking miles in sewege flooded streets to our shins, with thunder and lightning, on our way home. The experience that I want to share happened on Thursday, as one of the days, it poured rain. When I say pour, small kine sore kine pour. While teaching a tatay, and testifying of the Book of Mormon, the sky felt the spirit so strongly, it decided to cry. Ball cry, but we didnt have enough time, to simply wait until it stopped, and had a few more appointments to reach. We testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and made our way back onto the street, without an umbrella, and smiling and laughing. Who does this? Is there pay? In worldly perspectives what are we getting from this? Nothing, but in the reality of eternity, we are gaining everything. While walking home, being in the farthest barangay or community in our area, we had the feeling to walk. People passing offered rides, but we had the simple feeling, to walk. As we got close to the house, we felt bummed that maybe simply someone needed to see us walking, but no one to teach, Elder Pampelon wanted to stop by the tindahan and buy fried chicken. As we did so, the seller asked where we were from. After introducing ourselves, he explained that hes 23, inactive, but his little brother just got to the mission field in Davao, mission. We talked to him, and shared a quick message as we made our way home. I dont know what will come of that, but I know thats the reason we had to walk. A ride would have made us miss the opportunity, and even though it was the farthest, and last place, the Lord allowed us to be where we needed to be, to talk to and testify to those who needed to hear it. That, is one of the many experiences I have the privilege to experience daily, in which I am grateful. I love this work, and I love the Lord, and for such I will walk, and run, and sweat, and bleed, and give my all, for all that he has done for me. One of my favorite scriptures is this... Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. None of this is easy. I still feel inadequate to do anything. I feel as if when I open my mouth, and teach, and share, the spirit is so strong that its simply not coming from me, but directly from the Lord. I cant explain the feeling, but when I get home everynight, I wish that was me! That my Tagalog really was that good! But its not, and it will get there, but the Lord makes weaknesses strengths in his work. Probably makes absolutely no sense, but easy or not, I will do it. The crazy week? Minah, and I will do it willingly, for the Lord. So no be selfish, stop putting a cap on happiness, and limiting what the Lord can do for you. Make your will his, and youll find more progress than you ever felt you could have made. It works, jahs trahs, I am a testimony of such. Alam ko na totoo ito. Ang simbahan, ang ebanghelyo, totoo po siya. Walang alinlangan, at nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon araw araw para sa pagkakataon na meron ako na makapagbahagi ito sa mga kapwa ko po dito sa Philippines. Mahal ko ang Panginoon, at dahil sa pagibig na ito, magpapatuloy ako. ELDER ISHIBASHI

5-12-24 Ang Gawain ng Panginoon

Kumusta kayong lahat!

A great week as a missionary, very hot, very busy. First, the Lord has been very kind to me. In times I feel I should be mad, or I should be sad, in while being, in terms of the world would be justified! The Lord simply doesnt allow it. This week has been a testimony of immediate strength, immediate comfort, and immediate blessings, that came from focusing on His work, in which I am so grateful to him. 

The experience I want to share, happened during a service project, to the Patriarch in our area. As a ward, we picked mongol! Or a bean looking thing that is cooked with fish and noodles and tomatoes, all kine, supah ono. As we gathered those that were ripe, those black and sometimes brown, we filled sacks and buckets to the brim with mongol beans. As progress became steady, for a short while, towards the end, the ward walked isle by isle, searching for those beans that have been passed over, or camoflauged with the plant, or on the very outskirts of the field, where not much people passed by. We diligently sought, until the Patriarch came out and said "Tapos na! Kain tayo!" Its done, lets eat! This is exactly, our work, not only as missionaries, but members of the Church of Jesus Christ. We are taught that the field is WHITE all ready to harvest, not yellow, but white and ready, and we will harvest until the "Great Jehovah shall say, the work is done". (The Wentworth Letter: Joseph Smith) 

I am very much an imperfect missionary, but I so much desire to be for the Lord. Everyday, consistently working towards such, diligently seeking to find those that are ready. I love this people, and very much love this work, because of my love for the Lord and what he continues to do for me daily. If I could write every miracle Ive witnessed this past week, I could write a book. The Lord has been so kind to me, in which I am grateful that he uses a very imperfect striving missionary, to do his perfect work.

One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 11:17..

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

We dont, and will never understand the why in this life, but every conflict, problem, trial and tribulation, difference, or similarity is answered within this one eternal truth. That our Father in Heaven loves us, and there are so many ways that he manifests his love to us, and who are we, to tell him how to do so? 

Jacob 4:8 mabasa ka

In such I will continue this work, to show his children how much he loves them, in ways they yet dont understand and comprehend. JAHS TRAHS keeping that one truth in your mind.

Alam ko na totoo ang sinasulat ko na may walang alinlangan. Nagpapasalamat ako na meron po tayo ng isang minamahal na Ama sa Langit, kung sino nakikinig sa lahat ng mga panalangin po natin. Ako ay isang mapatotoo na mahal niya tayong lahat, sobrang sobra, na hindi ko kayang maisalarawan.  Mahal ko siya, at magpapatuloy ako sa perpektong gawain niya, dito sa Pilipinas. Ito ay talaga ang gawain niya, at masaya ako na meron ako ng pagkakataon upang maglingkod sa kanya. 

ELDER ISHIBASHI

5-5-24 PAMILYA NA MAY WALANG HANGAN

Kumusta po kayong lahat! A great week as a missionary, one of the hardest for sure, but a space for the Lord to manifest so many blessings. The quick experience I want to share happened this past week, as I recieved the news of the passing of my dads twin sister, and beautiful aunty Star. So unexpected and heart tearing. Being away from family at this time, broke my heart as I thought my cousins, my uncle Kimo, and my family. I remembered the many times showing up randomely to the house, by uncle Kimo and aunty Star always opening the fridge offering me something to eat or drink, or simply asking how Im doing, when they had no idea of the bad day id had. Ive always felt so loved by them. So many memories, and as I prayed in tears to my Father in heaven, he blessed me with a memory of my aunty a few weeks before I left on my mission. My siblings, my parents, and my uncles and aunties, showed up in Kona, for the last session, before the rennovation of the Kona Hawaii temple. I thought about it then, and was reminded about it a few days ago, of her sitting down in the temple, in her temple clothes. She was alone, and made the 2 hour drive to the temple, in the evening, to one last time, attend the temple. This is what was important to aunty, this is what is important to each of us. This is the why. This is my aunty Star Alameda and the kind of person she chose to be. Immediately, I was given motivation to work, and was told by the Lord, this is the reason in which we as missionaries serve, to share this gospel, to those who are hurting and teach them a truth that we have the ability to be entitled to. To be families forever, not just in this life, or till death do we part, but truly for eternity. Sometimes there are things we need to give up, sometimes there are habits that we need to leave behind, but all fall short to the eternal happiness that comes this promised blessing about families. Ive never bore a more meaningful testimony in the lessons that day, and Ive never meant it more. The simple answer, is that its true. And the question is, what are we willing to do to obtain it? I love my family, and pray to tears every night to bless them and give them comfort, especially during this time. But as I focus on this work, his work, the Lord comforts me, and this is a blessings for all who seek such. Mosiah 24: 12-15 12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts. 13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. I know this is true, which is why Im here, and why Ill stay. This is what aunty Star knew, and continues to depend on till now. This is the why, and the Lord continues to show us the how. I love my family very much, and will continue to do this work, to be with them for eternity, allowing others the same opportunity. Had the opportunity to fast yesterday, in which I know the Lord continues to answer my prayers in behalf of my family. Two years away from my own, to teach others how to be with theirs for eternity. Sulit talaga. Mahal ko po kayo. ELDER ISHIBASHI