A Spiritual Feast! - Week 54.Serving in Bulua

Halo amigos!!!

Whew! This week is really a great week... There's so much happening in the work... I love it! Hahaha! I'm so enjoying the work now... Being optimistic has helped me a lot and I'm so much having a lot of fun.

Well, the people that we are teaching are progressing, investigators aside... But we'll be having a baptism next month! Yay!!! It'll be my 2nd... The first baptism that I had in the Mission is really meaningful and he's still active as ever! Great news! He's really converted... I'm happy for him to receive the gospel in his life...

Anyways, the week is a spiritual feast. Monday, Zone Training Meeting. Friday, Zone Interviews. And Saturday and Sunday is General Conference Sessions. I loved the week! Not for the less work though. Haha. But for the things I've learned here in the Mission. I have grown so much and I could testify to that... And, I love the area! Serving here in Bulua is really amazing. The members and the leaders are great! I love it! And, reactivation efforts are so evident. Every week, there's a new face to see. Last Sunday, 3 young men  came to church together with the Young Men President who's working with us. It's a sight to see, the Bishop hugging them after a long time. What a great moment.

Hmm... For us, I'm learning a ton from scripture reading!! Yes! Everyday I made it a habit, whether personal study or not. Haha... It worked for me quite well and I can't sleep without reading a chapter! Sick! And, everyday, I'm excited to work. Everyday, I'm more excited to talk to those who doesn't have the Gospel because I know with all the surety of my heart that it is God's plan for us to guide us to have peace and happiness in our lives whatever our circumstances may be. I'm grateful I served a Mission. It has taught me a lot and is preparing me for my life after it. I'm grateful for our Loving Father in Heaven who always show His love to us everyday. Trials may come for our profit and learning, and it will be for a small moment. Our faith in Him and trust in Him will really have to play the role. He keeps His promises and it is true. I have tested it and I know it.

I'm happy serving the Lord. I've learned so much!!! I'm enjoying talking to people who I don't know. Haha. Yes! It feels so good to feel the Holy Ghost. It's unimaginable. It's surreal! And just like what it says in John 7:17, as we live the Gospel, we will know if it be of God or from just a person...

Well, that's the week. Thanks for all the support and prayers! I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Dimazana
Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission

Triple Celebration! - Week 53.Serving in Bulua

Hello everybody!!! Hmm... Things are going well here! I'm adjusting I guess... It took me a year! Hahaha!!

Anyways, triple celebration! In our District, I just turned 1 year in the Mission. Then last Sunday, one of the Sisters just had her birthday. Then, the Part Time Missionary in our District just received her Mission call and was called in the Legazpi Mission...

A lot is happening with our work... Despite less time, 'coz of the extreme heat, there's still progress...


The Less-Actives that we are focusing are progressing. Sacrament attendance is increasing slowly and 3 of the families that we are teaching are consistently attending church. It made us happy and the ward as well. We're now working closely with the ward with the 3-in-1 forms. Every week, we're coordinating the work with the Ward Mission Leader and the Bishop. The Bishop is really happy with the work and we'll be adding additional names for us to work on.

We've told President and Sister Siguiente about the great news that their son just committed to come to church this coming week and they were delighted of the the good news. We're focusing on their son and his family as well. The wife is progressing as well so we're looking forward for a lot of progression as they come to church as a family.

The Ranara, Wenceslao, and Nalugon family are progressing although we're focusing now on their husbands. And they are happy to meet us. They have been all interviewed (the wives) by the Bishop and was reported in the ward council meeting. Bishop shook hands with us last Sunday and asked us if the Ward Mission Leader is functioning. Haha! He told us to report to him if he's not. We're really feeling the support of the ward. Right now, we're doing what you've taught us, visit some members and asked their progression in rescuing the one. It's great! The Aguillon family is working with us since they are reactivating the Ranara family. Then we've committed them to prepare someone and refer to us. It was all great. In time, the ward would help us prepare souls to come and partake the ordinance of baptism. It'll take some time but we're happy with it.

Our investigator with a date, Brother Nilo has been taught by the missionaries before. Elder Castillo and I had a great lesson with him and was able to learn some of his concerns. We challenged him to pray to know the truthfulness of our message because he doesn't want to be baptized. He just wants to learn. So, we're committing him more on knowing the truth through the Holy Ghost. It's up to him to accept our invitation but we know he's starting to recognize it.

The work's still hard but Elder Castillo and I are having a great time! It feels wonderful  to feel this way. I've learned to be more honest in myself and it all worked out for me.

Well, I'm a year older in the Mission! Woot!!! There's so much going on... Hmm... It's fun and it's a great time for learning... 'Till next week! Love ya guys!

Love,
Elder Dimazana
Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission

P.S.
Some pics....

All is Well! - Week 52.Serving in Bulua

Hello everyone!

Doing fine now and enjoying the work! Yeah!

First of all, grateful for the conversation I had with our Mission President. It was really relieving to me!

As for our work, well, I guess I learned a lot. I'll try to always look on the positive side of things. Change is for the better.  I guess I'm pressuring myself too much. Though I don't notice it at times, but I'll really work on it to help me gain the ability President taught me. As we woke up this morning, Elder Castillo and I really had a great conversation with him. I guess I'm just a bit impatient at times. Haha! I'm getting excited this next transfer and I'll always be open to my companion. Like what you said, if it's hard in the mission, it's even harder after the mission. So, I really need to grab the opportunity to change a lot here. My mission had really molded me and made me better each day. And there are still a lot of things to do and learn.

We had our specialized training last Monday with the Zone Leaders and Elder Ruivivar and I did some team-teaching on working with the members, their importance and how could we help them become member-missionaries. I shared some story with them relating it to missionary work that the greatest source we could have in furthering the work are the members. We have learned a lot in that training, even I as well. It's really important that we get the trust of the members. In Preach My Gospel there's a question for us Missionaries to evaluate ourselves if we are becoming a "burden" or a "blessing" to the bishop and the ward. So, if we're panted or we don't know where to go, we'll visit a member, share with them and ask if there's any help they need from us, that we're ready to serve them. We're getting more dinner appointments and it's great because those are from the Less-Actives, so we're getting to know them and at the same time, build their confidence and rekindle their testimony to go back to church.

Elder Capoquian and Elder Castillo did so well in their training. Elder Castillo is now working on his listening skills while Elder Capoquian is working on with the language and BRT skills. I think I really have learned a lot in the training. It was a great opportunity to learn and grow. And I really need to adapt and love my companions. For the past weeks, I'm feeling better unless I relapse. So, I will make some goals and ask help from my companion to avoid any relapses again in the following weeks. Training a Missionary is fun. In my case, double the fun. Haha! At times, I do feel down. But, it's all up to me and my choice to be down or not. One thing impacted me the most in the blessing that President has given me to be honest to myself and to enjoy the work. I really need to work on it. It was a wonderful blessing. It comforted me and made my day.  I guess that's what I feel with the leaders in the church considering that I don't have much of those father-son discussions and conversations.

The District is doing well and we know we'll be making some improvements this coming transfer. We're getting united. And we'll see with the coming weeks. On District Meeting next Monday, we'll conduct a simple activity to know each other more in the District and what can we do to help each other. It'll be something to look forward to.

So that's our week! Thank you everyone! I love you all!

Elder Dimazana

Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission

Humility all the way! Week 51.Serving in Bulua

Hi guys!!! I'm staying and, have no twins anymore. One is getting transferred. But, to the other room! LOL! It was funny but cool. We're going to have 2 more in the District which makes 8 and it'll be loud and fun.

Still having some stress with work but President counseled me a lot. I love talking to him! He's really called of God to take care of us in our stay here in the Mission. Also, I'm really learning so much! I still have a lot of things to work on to and change. Haha. But it's for the better.

Work's good. I love the ward and the members! It reminded me back at the stake. But, time sure is fast. I'm reaching my 1 year next weeks, fast and testimony sunday. Cool!

So, hope to hear from you... Mail or e-mail me...

Have fun and have a great week! ^^

The District 3? Jokes! - Week 50.Serving in Bulua

This was a great week again. First of all the adjusted Missionary Email Policy made me so much happy because my bestfriend and I can exchanges e-mail now. We are so much delighted with that announcement.

Anyways, I'm just thrilled with the announcement yesterday during our zone training meeting. It really made my day. Haha. I always love trading Missionary Experiences with my bestfriend.

As for our work, the three of us are very much happy being assigned here in Bulua Ward. Getting the trust of the members and really reporting as soon as possible to them regarding the work proved to be fruitful. I am so loving it here! Conversion is really hard in the area but we still need to stay positive about it. One of the great things that happened was 4 of the Less-Actives we're currently teaching was already interviewed last Sunday. It's so great and Bishop is really happy with the work. He's more on following up on us with our teaching pool so what we're doing really paid off. We are so happy with the progress of our Less-Actives. The shift to the center of strength proved to be fruitful. We know that at first it'll be a bit hard considering the number of Less-Actives here in the ward. Attendance here range from 65-85 a week. But we know and we are sure that Bulua has a bright future ahead of them.

We had 3 new investigators with baptismal dates! Two of which are golden. Meeting them was quite accidental as well so we believed that the Lord prepared them for us. We'll be focusing on them in the coming weeks to be able to help them receive the Gospel. Their questions to us are really interesting. I am so happy doing the work. I really am learning from this 12 weeks program together with Elder Capoquian and Elder Castillo. It's really cool! Focusing on the needs of the people we are teaching have been improving. Though, three of our investigators are having a problem because they were really pressured with their baptismal dates with the past Missionaries. We've learned in Preach My Gospel DVD Segment 1 that it should be helping people to get to baptism not to drag them to baptism that's why they are opening more to us. It'll take time for sure but we're continually praying for revelations on how we could help them more.

Coordination with the ward is so great! The members who are setting schedule to work with us are increasing! It just warms our hearts. I guess they got excited to help us with the work. We're doing our best with the Progress Records and the 3-in-1 forms so the Ward Mission Leader is closely working with us. We are so blessed.

During the week, I've learned so much about leadership. That as a leader, I can't just drag the Missionaries in the District to obey without doing it willingly. It's one of the things I'm continually praying to the Lord on how to lead them. And it did! Work in the District had a little progress but I'm seeing that in the coming weeks, the District will be working more harder than we've ever had before. Of course, we need to set an example first. And I'm looking forward for the next weeks here in the District.

Elder Castillo and Elder Capoquian's training is going well. Elder Castillo loves to talk so much that's why he got acquainted to the language a bit faster. Elder Capoquian is doing well in listening. It's one of the skills he's so good at. I am really learning from both of them. It's just so great. Sometimes, during our study, I told them that I am learning much from them. Haha. But it is true.

With regards to my condition, I've learned to find ways on how to understand why God gave me trials. And what I've learned this week is to look things on an eternal perspective. To see why I had to experience certain trials. To see that all things will always be for my good. It is something that I can learn from and be strengthened by. I am really loving the Mission so far and so much thankful for the changes it has brought to me to prepare me for the future. I have love working with the people that we are teaching and with the members as well. I have love my companions and learn to learn from them and serve them.

It's such a blessed week. That's our week.

Sincerely,
Elder Dimazana
Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission

It's Legal to Hear from Others now! Yahoo! - Week 49.Serving in Bulua

Another awesome week. Good news is you guys can now e-mail me! But of course, it depends on the time I have to reply. But I would love to hear from you all!!!! 

This was the announcement:

February 27, 2012

To: General Authorities, Area Seventies, and Mission Presidents

From: Missionary Department (801-240-2222)

Subject: Adjusted Missionary Email Policy

Missionaries are to write to their families each week and are also authorized to communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders, and new converts. Mission presidents should allow sufficient time on preparation day for missionaries to write emails and letters. While in the mission field, missionaries should receive authorization from the mission president before entering into communication, including via email, with converts and others of the opposite gender within the mission boundaries (see Missionary Handbook, 36–37).

It's so cool for the new policy but of course, help us to focus on the Mission. Hehehe... We're doing great and all are cool. The three of us are having a great time and I'm loving the work! 

Love you guys! Thanks for the support!

Elder Dimazana

Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission

Awesome threesome! The Three Nephites! - Week 48.Serving in Bulua

Well, this was an awesome week. Haha! We really had a punted week but it was okay. Found a handful of less-active members. Still the work is progressing. I don't know what to say right now. There's so much happening in the area and I'm loving the area! Bulua is a really great area. And the members are so loving. They are so supportive. And we are finding ways and seeking for revelations on how to help the area progress. It's so cool!

The training of my companions are doing well. I think I'm learning more from the training and it's so great! So, yeah. That's all for this week. Sorry for the short mail. Not enough time. Haha!

Love you guys! Thanks for the support!

Elder Dimazana

Philippines Cagayan De Oro Mission