10-28-2024 THE FILIPINO MAN

Magandang araw sa inyong lahat! Another beautiful week here in the Philippines as a missionary! We had storms, watched accidents, been sick the whole week, preajeepin, and met a lot of new people, always, seeing the Lord's love, he has for his children. I am daily grateful, for the Lords cover for my own inadequecies, and weaknesses. The experience I want to share happened this past week as we found a college student last week, setting our return appointment last Friday night. Getting to the house, with a huge smile, the sister came out, opening the gate, letting us in and while leading us to her house, ran ahead into the house. At the same moment, a big Filipino man, looked out the window, asking, what we wanted. Waiting a moment, for the girl to come back to introduce us, she somehow never came back out. The man, getting impatient, yelled again, asking what we wanted. Walking up to the window, we began to introduce ourselves, and again, half way through, cut us off again, asking what we wanted. We shared that we share messages about Jesus Christ, and asked for 5 minutes to share a message with him. Looking at us for a few seconds, invited us in, "Basta tungkol kay Kristo". "As long as its about Christ". We were able to enter, and share a message, about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the power it has, to make us happy and feel joy. The man, was thankful, and allowed us to set a return appointment. What I loved about this experience, was the change that can be made, with the mention of the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am thankful, for the opportunity to share, about Jesus Christ. In the such, breaking barriers, bringing joy, happiness, and hope, through simple messages. Anger turns into humility, hate turns into love, and hopelessness turns to faith, as we simply remember that one name. My companions favorite scripture, 2 Nephi 22:2 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation. Its uncomfortable, its hot, its stressful. But there is always hope, jahs trahs, and smile:) Love you all choke ELDER ISHIBASHI

10-20-24 HIS HANDS HURT TOO

Huuuii aloha nō kākou! Foyos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dwWjyoL5fVt1fcWC9 Another great week in the Philippines, filled with spirit filled experience, and helping others feel our Fathers love for them, for at least a few minutes in their week, in which i am thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be a part, of such beautiful experiences. Not a lot of time, but I would like to share, one of those experiences. This experience happened as we taught the Santa Maria family this past week, with a few of our masipag na fellowshippers! My companion and I, with a few appointments falling through, talked with the members, to know where we should go. Sister Hershe, saying we should go to visit a YSA we found last week, we took that inspiration and continued. Teaching that lesson, we shared a story, in which my companion shared with me the previous day. Changing it a little to match the situation. We shared to this son and mother, about another mother, who struggled as she strived to raise this family by herself. Her hands hurt from working all day, and her feet hurt as she made her way to her bed that night, from everything, she continues to do daily. Laying in bed that night, she wondered why, she had to do these things alone as a single mother. She wondered, if she could do it, but knew that she loved her family so much, she simply needed to. That night this mother had a dream, in this dream, she stood face to face with our Savior, in which compassionately smiling, asked how she was doing. The mother explained that her hands hurt, from working all day, her feet hurt, daily as she made her way to her bed, but willing to keep going, because of her love for her kids. The savior, holding her hand, compassionately answered, I understand, my hands hurt when these holes in my hands were made, my feet hurt too, when they were nailed to the pedestal, and I too felt lonely, when I suffered the sins and sicknesses of the world, but I, like you, did such, because I love you. Will you let me heal you? (Jacob 2:8) I know, that our savior loves us so much. I know that he suffered, merely to be there and understand, when we feel lonely and suffer. We all must suffer a portion of that atonement, at some point in our lives, or there would be no point for it. Yet as the focus is always love, we will be given the strength to endure. I love being here, and loving the Philippines more everyday. Love the Lord, love the work, love my companion, love the people, love the place! And ate a snake. Aloha nō ELDER ISHIBASHI

10-14-24 Reach the Goal!

Aloha mai kakou! Foyos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dwWjyoL5fVt1fcWC9 Another great week here in the Philippines! Meeting new people, witnessing the hand of the Lord, and saying bye to dear friends. I want to shoot a thank you to Elder Aballe, for his desire, and fighting spirit to continue serving the Lord. Love you Elder! This new transfer got me training again, and opening an area that hasnt been open in about 10 years! Such a beautiful opportunity and I am stoked to see the Lords plan, for this beautiful place. My companion is Elder Bohman from Bountiful, Utah! Stud of an elder, in which comes the experience I want to share from this past week. The experience came as we made our goals to find, in this new area. Working throughout the day, we were in the perfect place, for so many times! Helping a man who got into a bloody accident off the road, finding and meeting new people, and feeling the spirit in unexpected situations. As we set a goal, to find 20 people this day, my companion and I set out to talk to, and teach, everyone we found. Leading to the end of the day, with 18 finds, a sudden appointment came up in which wed have to leave our area in about 30 minutes. Praying for guidance, to reach our goal, a bunch of kids on the road, laughed at these two foreigners, walking in the street, beginning to smile and ask questions. The experience led to us answering, asking where their parents were, and being led to them to teach a lesson to them all! We taught about Jesus Christ, and with the parents and children together, left Quezon that day with 27 finds. The Lord knows our wants, desires, and goals and as we seek and strive to achieve them, he amplifies our efforts. With the things that initially seem impossible, continuing prayerfully, the Lord continues to show his love, and presence in each of our individual lives, proving that the impossible is possible, ONLY THROUGH HIM! JAHS TRAHS Sorreh, late, no moa time. Aloha aku nō iā 'oukou! Elder Ishibashi

10-6-24 Tahanan ng diyos

Huuuiii aloha nō kākou āpau! Foyos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/TpYFYxAmWpQrUerm6 Another great week as a missionary, continue to learn & grow each and every day in ways the Lord feels I need. In such I am grateful. This was the last full week of this transfer, so well find out what will happen with transfers this week. This week was also filled and packed with faith testing and building experiences, and opportunities to strengthen my character as an individual, and especially as a servant of the Lord. The experience I want to share happened as we were given a refferal from the temple president this passed week, which allowed us to find him and share a message. The temple president took him months ago to the temple open house in Urdaneta, and explained his desire for us to find him. As we finally found this tatay, asking him about his experience, he explained, translating to, "it wasnt because of the beauty of the temple itself, but the feeling, that God really was there." The divine truthfulness of this gospel, manifested to one, through the unexplainable feelings, inspirations, and divinty, in God's Holy House. We explained his feelings, sharing about the Holy Ghost, and its own divine role, to testify of the father, and the son, to those who are seeking to know. "The feeling", was the Holy Ghost, testifying that God, the one who created us all, creator of the stars, planets, and universe, truly was there, in his Holy Temple. Promising that for him to feel that again, theres things that we need to do to visit the temple, but it starts with reading the Book of Mormon, praying to know, and coming to Church. Yesterday, we were happy to welcome him and sit by him in Church. I constantly find myself yearning to go to the temple, for that simple "feeling", yet I am grateful, that even though as a missionary my options are limited, the Lord allows me opportunities to feel and see it's power, out in His work. The temple is the sign of an eternal family, a bridge between this world and the next, a place in which we can feel at least a glimpse of the joy and peace in the Celestial Kingdom, feeling the manifestation of the the power of Godliness. D&C 84:20 : 20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. The temple is a sign we can see, of God's eternal love for us. For that? I will do anything and everything to work, serve, and grow. To forget myself and serve, and continue to feel the unexplainable joy while doing it. No worreh, jahs trahs! As why we do it! ELDER ISHIBASHI