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