3-30-25 DREAMS AND VISIONS

Huuuiii aloha mai nō! Another great week as a missionary! It was a really busy past week, as it was Transfer Week! Elder Allens up in Baler now, stud of an Elder, leaving me in Aduas, with a new companion! The best missionary, from the best batch, Elder Johnson! The MTC had us in a trio, with the other best missionary Elder Horlacher, and they had me trailing on the leash in the MTC, but I am stoked to be able to work with Elder Johnson again! The experience that I want to share, happened this past week in Aduas Norte, as Elder Johnson and I worked, meeting the people we were teaching. One of our friends, is Evangeline Pascual, who we met one Sunday morning, inviting people to Church, in which sista came out bolting, asking who's trying to take her kid! This previously Iglesia nanay, became one of our most progressing people now. Taking Elder Johnson to introduce to her, she expressed that she had a dream, that she didn't understand, and woke up in tears. It was about her parents, on the other side, and without sharing the whole dream, it became very sacred and sensitive to her. The beautiful part, was that the previous visit to her, it was the first full chapter we've ever invited her to read. We have always given her simple verses to read first, so she gets used to simply keeping Commitments, until we left 1 Nephi 8, and for those who are unfamiliar, is about dreams! And she did read it! We discussed her dream, then connected the story about a father, who like her, has an unexplainable love for her family. We used the story to introduce temples, and the promise to see her parents again. We introduced the ordinances that happen in the temple, that would allow her mother to progress on the other side. We invited her to pray, and ask, if thats what her mother, is searching for, and if taking her name to the temple, is what the Lord needs for her to do. Nanay and her daughter, accepted the invitation to do so, and we were happy to see them both on Sunday and invite them into the door. I testify that the Lord truly does prepare those we pray for, and as we study the words of life. I am forever grateful to be an instrument in the Lords hands, notwithstanding my inadequacies. I have come to appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ, as an antidote for any sickness, spiritual, emotional, or even physical! It changes lives, and I have the beautiful opportunity to witness it. I think often about faith, as the belief in things that we can't see, but in this work, I have seen lives changed, lifetime addictions end, weaknesses become strengths, and hate become love through the application of gospel principles in peoples lives. It works, ive seen it, jahs trahs! God exists, we can't see him, but through him, we can see everything. What have you seen? What blessings have you recieved? What miracles have you witnessed? Tink about um, no forget ahm. Showt. ELDER ISHIBASHI

3-24-25 Da Two Scrappas

Magandang araw senyong lahat! Another great week in the Philippines Cabanatuan Mission! Continuing to learn daily, and grow with the daily miracles that the Lord continues to provide. I am so thankful. I was given the opportunity to return to Quezon for an exchange, and work with, sing with, and smile with my friends ive met there. With again, so much happening, I will share one. The experience I want to share happened actually earlier today, teaching in Aduas Norte in a place called Afuang. Elder Allen and I, after doing push ups for Christ with a group of kids playing basketball, crushing leaves to teach people the importance of prayer, and finding through offering a place to play volleyball, we came across a group of kids. We began our teaching, about the two ways Jesus Christ has taught us to remember him, one of his life, baptism, and the way to remember his death, through the sacrament, using Jesus pictures. Mid lesson, two of the kids began to fight. As in, scrappin out! Hahaha, and it opened the perfect opportunity to smile, and teach a very important lesson. We pulled them apart, gave them a picture of Jesus, asking who he was, what he did, how he treated others. "His name is Papa Jesus, he died for us on the cross, he was sweet to everyone". The spirit brought a special peace to that lesson, as we invited them to follow his example, and if theyd be willing, to say sorry to one another. Of course the immediate response, "siya muna!" Or him first! Then focusing on the one, inviting him to be like Jesus Christ and forgive first. An angry incident, ended in a peaceful hug. How easy no? How unreal no? The love that Christ's example, can give to a hardened heart. We laugh sometimes, at these children scenarios, yet how often we catch ourselves in the same situation, angry, confused, expecting others to act first. Like a child. But as children, just as quick as they get frustrated, they can forgive, but somehow, that is what we struggle with even more, as we grow. If only we were like a child (Mosiah 3:19) "...becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." These two were taught by us as a companionship, but somehow, I felt that I learned the most. Jahs trahs, forgeev um, forget um, ang kapatawaran ay hindi para sa iba, pero para sa atin mismo! Forgiveness is not for others, but for ourselves. Let um go aureddeh! ELDER ISHIBASHI

L3-17-25 The Beauty of Being Punted

Welina mai me ke aloha! Another gahjus week here in the Philippines. Learned a lot, had experiences that have allowed to grow a lot, and come to realize even more, how much the Lord, truly loves his children. One of the many miracles this past week, is one that I will share! Other than getting robbed, and a few more crazy incidents, one with a little more spiritual gravity, is what I'll share this week. Last Thursday, a favorite day of missionaries of course, is when they get punted, ALL DAY! So that Was this day, and having a meeting in a short amount of time, we decided to try one more person. Not on our schedule, and not sure if very interested in the first place. Get to the gate, and a member living close invited us in, and let us in to her friends house, we got to sit down with a nanay and her husband and share! Nanay is a strong member of the Born Again Church, and tay was a preacher before in the Catholic Church. Asking questions, and having them share experiences with prayer and God, the spirit quickly filled the room. We were able to teach about a beautiful plan, made by a father who has nothing but love, for his children. We shared about his Son, who made it possible, to live with our Father in heaven. We testified of the blessings, that we've received and the promised blessings they will recieve, if they choose his plan! We were blessed to have a last moment, answer to prayer, visit, turn into two more of our friends on date for baptism. I am not a very good teacher, but the is the Master Teacher. I am not a very good mind reader, but the Lord reads know all individually. I am not a very perfect child of God, but the Lord helps me as I strive to do better. I am not very good, or good at all at anything, but I can confidently say, that I have become a better follower of Christ, have witnessed lives change through his gospel, even my own. And that's enough for me, in which I am thankful. Jahs trahss, ELDER ISHIBASHI

3-9-25 MAHAL KA NIYA

Huuuiii! Aloha mai kākou! This past week was another great week as a missionary! Somehow are always caught in a situation where we don't have enough time, and everything just goes way too quickly, yet with our best, the Lord amplifies in which I am grateful. With all these experiences written in my journal, Ill share one:) The experience I want to share happened as we worked in Aduas Centro this past week, for me, this was one of my miracles. Walking, one of the older men we were teaching, walked out on the road in front of us. Seeing us, his quick change of countenance, holding in his breath, we smiled, and as he tried, little whisps of smoke began leaking out of his mouth. We talked to tatay, mentally making the note that we'd be moving his baptismal date out of March. We asked about his day, his family, and said wed give him a visit later on that day, and continued on our day. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but for me, the miracle lied in an answer to a prayer earlier that day. Specifically asking the Lord, to allow me to see people, in the way he sees them. It would have been so easy, to be disappointed and sad, at a pushed back baptismal date, at a friend giving in to addictions, or even self doubting thoughts that come to everyone. But the moment, we saw tatay, I couldn't help but smile. I felt an increase of empathy, and could see his effort. I could see his struggle, and his hope to not disappoint us, with something he's been trying to get rid of. I couldn't help but feel an unexplainable sense of love and care, to want to help him with these struggles. I imagine, that it is in this way, the Lord views each and everyone of us. I was simply given the opportunity to experience it for myself. The Lord looks at us, with such love, with such compassion, and care. He sees our mistakes, but chooses to focus on our efforts, and I truly believe, that when in those situations he cant help but smile. 2 Nephi 19:12 "...For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." The Lord, always has compassion, and an immeasurable love towards the each of us. When we feel imperfect, or sometimes purposefully misguided to feel too far from God's reach, the Lords hands are always and forever stretched out still. I am grateful to be a missionary! Elder Ishibashi

3-2-25 Jahs Ask

Huuuiii e ku'u 'ohana! Foyos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/eHDB8BrMq5Bve6rVA Another great week in the Philippines! We had Zone Conference, Zone Council, and continued learning how to be better missionaries! I am continually grateful, for how much the Lord allows me to learn, and grow in different ways. Yet with everything, like always, ill just share one :) The experience I want to share happened with exchanges last week with the Talavera Elders! Back into my old area for a day, it was nice to see old people being taught, and elders I havent seen in a bit. My companion was Elder Burlan, stud of an Elder. As we began the exchanges, setting some goals, we shot it high with 20 finds in a day, and with no potentials they said to extend that day, we set a goal of one, and prayed in behalf of our goals. The day was going well, we reached those on the plans, slowly made up our finding to 20 and on the way to the last appointment, remembered our prayerful commitment, to extend a baptismal date. It was late, werent really sure if this family would still be awake, but on the way said a quick prayer, asking if God wants us to reach these goals, we need help! Reaching the home, and being invited in, we invited a few people outside of the house to join in the lesson. Elder Burlan began the lesson about scripture study, sharing 2 Nephi 32:3. Which led us to the spirit, and the impact that the spirit can have on a family. We testified of how it has blessed our own families, and not remembering much else of what we said, left with this family, and a friend outside on date for baptism. The Lord heard my prayer, and filled our mouths with what we needed to say. I am grateful, that in this work, I am everything but alone. I email a lot about jahs trahsting. But theres another that Id love to focus on. Its JAHS ASKING! If we dont know? We raise our hand and ask. Those we ask, will answer. According to Elder Holland, there is no phrase, emphasized more in scripture than, "ask and you shall recieve". He also went on saying, "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." We will recieve our answers, the things we ask for, when we ask! If you have a doubt, a question, jahs need some help, of course we jahs trahs, but no be sked ask! And I know our Father in Heaven is always listening, to answer. Love you choken, ELDER ISHIBASHI