6/23/24 Ang Kamay ng Diyos

Kamusta po kayong lahat! PHOTOS : https://photos.app.goo.gl/tgpzqPS9HgsCmztz7 Another great week as a missionary! Answers to prayers, and so so many spiritual experiences. If theres one thing, so far, that I continue to learn each day, is how much our Father in Heaven knows and loves us individually. He knows our strengths, and our weaknesses, and knows exactly how far he can push us until we break, and allow him to rebuild us even stronger. This week was full of experiences like that, but what I love about the mission, is seeing that even the "bad" experiences, are the biggest opportunities given to me to grow. The experience that I want to share happened this past week as my goal, last week to utilize our priesthood, more as a companionship. The next day, the Lord provided many opportunities to do so. One in particular, was a sister who we are teaching, Luningning and her daughter Joanna. Going through a separation with her spouse, she explained the pain of her situation, and the unsurity of what to do. First, I love the Book of Mormon, and its ability to answer anything! In the last conference, Elder Massimo De Feo, stated... "The gospel is not a way to avoid challenges and problems but a solution to increase our faith and learn how to deal with them." The gospel does not remove our problem, but gives us the strength, peace, and eternal perspective, to overcome and endure them. Following our message, sharing a few scriptures, we offered and gave her a priesthood blessing, of strength, and peace. Following up with her the next day, she cried explaining the peace she felt, following the blessing, and not being able to explain from where it came. This sister bore a beautiful testimony about her knowing our messages are true, because she simply felt and recognized it, and because of which, asked for her and her daughter to be baptized. I am so thankful to the Lord for his presence in this work, and his answering the prayers of us missionaries, fulfilling the words of our blessing, according to this sisters faith. My faith continues to double every day, of this work, but especially the Book of Mormon, and the power it holds, allowing us as missionaries to boldy and truthfully promise, that it can answer any question, and provide any solution, to lifes infinate amount of adversities. I am so thankful for the opportunity to simply share it. In this gospel, nothing comes for free, but the blessings that we recieve, far surpass the price. JAHS TRAHS! Alam ko na totoo ang binabahagi ko na may walang pagdudua. Nakakakita ko ng mga bunga ng ebanghelyo na ito araw araw, sa lahat ng mga tinuturuan po namin. At matamis talaga, yng gawain nito. I love you all choke, and continue to pray for each of you. Aloha nō. ELDER ISHIBASHI

6-16-24 Tumawag, huwag Bumagsak

Another great week as a missionary, very busy, and even more blessed. The Lord continues to show us his hand in this work, and blesses me with skills that I know will bless me and my family for eternity. So much happened this week, but Ill stick to again, a single experience. This week a youth of our ward here in San Nicholas, got rushed to the hospital suddenly and was in a coma. He's 14, helped fellowship with us missionaries a few times, and pinakamabait siya talaga, the sweetest kid youd meet. His sister is currently serving in Dallas, Texas, as a missionary there. Our ward held a fast for him, and on one day, said a prayer together as a ward at the same time in his behalf; 30 minutes after the prayer, we recieved the news that he passed away. First. The faith of the Filipino people is unmatched. They immediately had an outpour of love for the family, through sharing of scriptures and testimonies. While my own very much critical thinking self, asked myself, self? Why even ask for things? Why not just give thanks? What is the worth of asking for things, if everything is simply Gods will? Should our prayers be simply thanking, and trusting, rather than asking and expecting? The Lord continues to be so patient with me, and within these past fews days, answered my question. First.. 2 Nephi 4:35 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen. There is not much more phrases, according to Elder Holland, repeated more througout the scriptures than ask and you shall recieve. The Lord will answer our prayers. Second... James 5:16 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The prayers of the righteous avail much. Again, the Lord hears and answers prayers, especially as we maintain righteous. And third... Mosiah 23:21-22 21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. 22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. Like Sister Fale said in the MTC, we might have the faith, to allow miracles to happen, but do we have the faith that they wont happen in the way we expect? The Lord tries our faith. Its easy to pray and ask when we need something, but will we continue to call and pray, "asking amiss", when we are blessed and dont need? The Lord did answer the prayer, with the knowledge of an eternal family, and it is simply up to us, whether we will excersize the faith to obtain such a blessing. This brothers cousin shared a quote in sacrament meeting, "we can't change the wind, but we can adjust our sails", what no more 'ōlelo no'eau or someten yet ladat?? But so true. I know the Lord hears and answers our prayers, every prayer, vocal and internal. It is up to us, to JAHS TRAHS, and keep praying, and continue to pour our heart unto the Lord, when we dont understand everything, jahs trahs. He knows what hes doing, and his potential for us, is beyond our own comprehension. Palaging nakikinig ang Diyos sa mga panalangin po natin at sinasagot niya sila sa kanyang panahon, at kanyang pamaraan. Ang na sa atin ay yng pagtitiwala, kaya magtiwala na lang tayo! Darating yng mga biyaya, yng mga sagot, at kagayan ng sinabi ni Elder Godoy, tumawag, huwag bumagsak. Im so thankful for the Lord and his patience with me, to change, to test my faith, and grow my testimony, and as Fathers day I want to thank my dad, Sky Ishibashi, who is the reason and perfect example I had, to serve my own mission, and one day be the perfect father he was to me, to my own children. I know such came from his prayers, and his faith, to our Father in Heaven, and like he did and does, I will do. I love you all choke, aloha. ELDER ISHIBASHI

6-9-24 No Where To Go

Kumusta po kayong lahat! Another great week as a missionary! Full of hand of the Lord moments, and manifestations of the Lords love for his children, and especially the love he continues to show to me. Sometimes its through tender mercies, and the other times its through the struggles, but the Lord opens my eyes each time to realize in what ways theyre allowing me to grow, rather than focusing on the struggle itself, in which I am grateful. The experience I want to share happened this past week, on a day, from the moment we walked out of the door, till we got back in the evening, it poured rain. The streets were filled up to mid shins with beautiful brown water, and there we were, Elder Pampelon and I, smiling in the rain. Within two hours, every planned appointment we had for the day was cancelled, in which we had so much time left, but no where to go. We stopped at an intersection, and we, along with our fellowshippers that day, stopped and said a prayer. Explaining to Heavenly Father our situation; we have gone through our schedule, we are continuing to do all we can do, guide us to be where you need us to be. After our prayer, as we continued to walk down the road, three of our youth playing in the rain, ran up and said they wanted to come along! With the youth, we walked through the neighborhood, visting all the youth, active and inactive, and at each five minute message, allowed one of them to bare their testimony, standing in the water and rain. We reached home later that even right before curfew, happy and soaked. Hearing the fruits of our endeavors, this past Sacrament meeting. Other than the guidance, and the importance of consistent and intentional prayer, its the importance of always being ready to bare our testimony, in any circumstance. Raining, thundering, standing in sewege flooded streets, or more importantly, in our casual lives, sitting next to a friend. John 3:33 perfectly defines a testimony... 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. Our testimony is our zeal, that God is true. If these youth, new members even are willing to share their testimony in rain, and mud, and sewege, how much more should we share it daily, in the sunshine and casuality, to share with others one simple truth, that God is true. I am thankful for this opportunity to be a missionary to share my testimony all day, everyday. Rain or shine, dry or flooded, that God is true, and for all he has done for me and continues to do for me, I will continue with a smile. I love you all and miss you all choke, I am so grateful. Alam ko po na ang Diyos ay totoo. Mahal niya tayo, sobra, hindi ko pong kaya maisalarawan gaano po siya. ELDER ISHIBASHI

6-2-24 Toyo at Sukha

 Kumusta kayong lahat!

Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tgpzqPS9HgsCmztz7

Short letter, not much time but another great week as a missionary, many opportunities to use the priesthood, and miracles witnessed because of firm faith. 

The experience I want to share happened this past week on Saturday. First, I want to introduce nanay and tatay Tuazon. Happiest old Filipino couple Ive ever met. With absolutely nothing. Tatay lost his job, and has been looking, as our last lesson was them joking around (but not) about what theyve been eating... Toyo and Sukha, which is shoyu (soy sauce), and Vinegar. Yes, thats it. They laughed and joked,  as I sat on the brim of tears, remimiscing on the blessings that Ive never given thanks for. But yes thats them, so in our fast, we included them as well. As we woke up in the morning,  we were informed of a meeting for seniors in the community to claim 3000 pesos! And for anyone who doesnt understand the amount, thats about the cost of food for almost a month! We quickly threw on clothes, and all the way there, realizing as we got there, that he was told and was already at the meeting. Happy and dripping in sweat, we walked home, and the Lord answered our fasting and praying.

The Lord will always do what he says, but it depends on us, to simply do what he asks. Starting my fast, this time it was different. I felt so unqualified to even ask the Lord for blessings or miracles, because of how present and gracious he has already been to me, especially these past few weeks. Ive never felt so worthless, doing what I KNOW is good, and giving my all to do so. That half an hour prayer, changed my perspective on everything, and will continue to motivate me, to continue giving my all to the Lord and his work.

Mosiah 4:5-12, explains it best, and realized the feeling, after my personal study. I know this is true, and will continue to JAHS TRAHS.

Mahal ko yng gawain na ito bilang isang tagapagslibi ng Panginoon. 

Oh and I ate rat.

ELDER ISHIBASHI