On to my 7th Trainee! - Week 76.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

On to my 7th Trainee! - Week 76.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Good day guys! Well, we run out of time yesterday because of so many errands. But everything was worth it so we got permission to e-mail today... So, there's so many great things going on here!

First of all, I'm grateful for the Lord's trust in me in training Missionaries. I was looking back towards the trainees that I've handled so far. 1 is currently in the office (Elder Ambrosio), 2 are now serving as leaders in the mission and have already trained (Elder Castillo, Al and Elder Capoquian), and 2 are now training (Elder Dulam and Elder Respicio). It's been a great experience to train these 7 wonderful missionaries! Now, with me training Elder Sumoray, it'll be another learning experience for me. I guess, this is the best contribution I can make in the mission. Haha!

As for our work, it was a great week for me and Elder Somoray. I can't wait to tell you what miracles have happened in just a span of few days.

First and foremost, well, members are coordinating well with us. Referrals keep on coming and they are eager to help hasten the work forward. We've found a couple of new investigators to teach, and they have immediate fellowshippers. We're harnessing the power of the members to do the Lord's work, and it's making our days productive.

Our finding efforts are still on it. We're balancing our I2L efforts so that Elder Somoray can learn the language fast and at the same time, having time to ask for referrals. This Saturday, we got an appointment set with the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Brgy. Captain here in Alubijid. we're excited! Haha.

Anyways, we had a Family Home Evening last Monday with the Laguit Family. Sister is Less-Active and it has been almost a year since she last experience doing that. We've shared a lesson with them using one of the scripture passages Elder Somoray and I like, it's in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. It's a verse that's well-suited for Sister and to really feel strong about coming back to church after 2 years of inactivity. We really felt God's love in that lesson and Sister was just in tears. I was looking at my companion and he was in tears too! It was a spiritual experience! Truly, the Holy Ghost have testified to us God's love for us. Sister Vanessa told us that before, she's not eager to hear from the lessons the past Missionaries are teaching her, let alone, even talking to them. But, she told us that she really felt our sincerity in helping her come back to church. It made us happy! Actually, I was not feeling well that day but I prayed and asked strength to the renewal of my body. It did! After that FHE. Normally, we don't proselyte in that area beyond 6pm since there's no more ride to get back home. So we walked all the way home, with smiles painted in our faces. We couldn't stop talking to each other how wonderful that lesson went. It's so great! :D

Also, yesterday, when we were on our way home after having Elder Somoray's glasses adjusted, we I2Led a Captain. He is Captain Roa. We had a lot of talk and as soon as we talked about families and testified to him how the Gospel can help him, he then became eager to listen to us, and even come to church! He'll be a prospective leader for sure. We already referred him to the Patag Elders since he lives there and not in our area. But it was great! It really pays off when you pray for unplanned opportunities. The Lord will surely guide you through the Spirit.

I've been learning tons of new insights from my studies as well as in my training. Elder Sumoray is very teachable. He takes delight in studying and really knowing the purpose why we're here. I guess that's why we love the Spirit working with us each day. Haha! We just feel we're giving it our all. Despite the exhaustion from work, we delight in it because it came from doing the Lord's work. ^^, I'm so glad to train a new missionary and help him how to love the people around him. I love this work so bad. It taught me how valuable the Gospel is to me and how others badly need it.

That's our great week! Thank you so much for everything guys, for the love and support. It's already "Ber" months, christmas is fast approaching! Hahaha!

Anyways, have a great week ahead! :)

Sincerely, Elder Dimazana

In Storms and Tears - Week 75.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Whew! Transfer week! Oh well. I'm a bit anxious on what will be happening this Thursday. Oh flip! My ZL is transferring. It's the fastest transfer for me I guess. Haha!

Anyways, this was a great week for me to ponder. Our counterpart missionaries, the Zone Leaders had their baptism last Saturday. Whew! Before that, we taught the kid a lesson while the ZLs are busy with transfer stuffs. So, we head to their home. And as we were on our way there, clouds are so dark and you could really  hear drum rolls. Haha! Still, we thought all would be well. As soon as we are about to start, a heavy out pour of rain occurred. It was scary since the winds are strong too. I could really tell there's a storm brewing somewhere. And, for the great part, we are near the sea! Lights went off, no electricity! It was 6pm. Me and my companion are still fine although we're worried on how to get back home. Haha! Who wouldn't? The house was leaking, some trees are falling down already, some fences are destroyed due to strong winds, and, lights are out. We still need to walk a fair distance to get to the highway. So we prayed. We prayed hard, me and my companion. After almost 45 minutes, the rain is subsiding. The lights are still out though, we still got prompted to teach the kid. Kinda hard but everything went well.

After that, I started to ponder that we really can't tell what could happen to us here and now. I shook my head after that and realized that I'm almost done with my mission! I still have a lot of things to do and improve. That night, I prayed that my remaining transfers will be great.

As for our work, we're still doing good I guess. Though, we had a lot of scheduled conflicts this past week so we weren't able to get a lot of work done. Still, we tried our best.

We had this one teaching with our less-active. She's still progressing! She really felt Heavenly Father's love as we taught her. We were with an auxiliary leader to fellowship her. Though, as we reached the climax of our lesson, our fellowshipper was so persistent for the LA to really come to church. Things are not going well. Haha! But the Spirit prompted us what to do. We respected her decision but me and my companion knows that she will go back. She said, "I know Elder, it's near. Just a few more time". After that, she started crying and thanked us for the sincerity and our persistence in teaching her. She knows that before, she has a bit hard-headed with the Missionaries, they didn't even had any chance of teaching her. It was 2 years, but now, she always tells us that she feels the Spirit big time. She's excited whenever we come. She's so honest to us. I know that the Spirit is really working on her. And me and my companion are praying for her.

From that experience, it was really heartwarming to see how the Lord works in people's lives. I've learned that we really can't force people to do something we want for them, but we can direct them to the path they could better choose. A path to go back to our Father in Heaven. It's just wonderful!

So, that's our week. TRANSFERS are up! Haha... Oh well... Have a great week guys! 'Till next week! :D

Sincerely, Elder Dimazana

Prayer and Confirmation - Week 74.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Hello guys! Whew. Well, things are going well. I can't believe that the transfer's almost done! It was a freakin fast transfer! Haha...

Anyways, this week's great. Though we still need to exert more efforts. We found a couple of investigators and less-actives to teach. Our teaching pool is going bigger and bigger as weeks pass by. It's really cool to see how the Lord leads us in finding those people. I always love finding Less-Active members. Most of them are either offended or shy to go back because of their transgressions or heavy problems. So, seeing them open to us and trust us as the Lord's agents helps us to see the greatness of this work.

We haven't followed-up some of our investigators this week due to a conflict in schedule. Though, Elder Respicio's doing well and he's making progress both in the work and in his health. Me too. Haha. We're really trying our best to take things down slowly and learn from each other. Each day, we always goal to see the small things that the Lord wants us to see. Sometimes, when we get punted (which happens most of the time), we'll still be positive and say to ourselves that the Lord has something in store for us. And He does! We've been led to some people that the Lord wants us to meet. We'll be following-up on them this coming week.

As for the less-actives, they are progressing, not all of them though. Also, we do feel that the work is catching up slowly. Even though Alubijid 2nd is just on its 3rd month, I guess I really love opening areas. It's been the same when I got in Bulua. We've tracked down fruitful parts of the area so after this transfer, we'll expect fruits. We'll be praying and fasting for it. We have faith that the Lord will bless us. I know it because I've experienced it throughout my mission.

We had this one lesson, with Sister Vanessa. I really love teaching that family. The mother is less-active and brother is out of the country working, while the kids just returned to church with their grandparents. Hopefully, sister will come to church with her kids this Sunday. She's so progressing! I guess the Lord works in His ways. She always tell us that her faith is building and that her prayers are getting answered. We'll be happy to see them as a family.

Oh well, time sure is fast! Me and my companion are doing great and we're having fun. I don't know what will happen this transfer but I'm grateful to have a great companion. We're having lot of fun times at work, in the apartment and even just walking. Hahaha! Man, I guess I'm getting even more quirkier by the minute.

While traveling this afternoon, I was pondering on the bus and praying. I guess I'm rekindling my mission life so far. It's great and I've learned a lot. I'm grateful for how Heavenly Father responds to my prayers. Getting confirmation from those prayers are very rewarding. I guess one would always write it down on his/her journal. It's just rewarding.

Attached are some photos in the District. My companion's just so funny. Anyways, have a great week ahead guys!

Firm in the Gospel - Week 73.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Como esta??? How are you all? This is another great week for me. Hehehe...

First, we had exchanges last Wednesday, and I'm with Elder Bravo. Elder Bravo was supposed to be my companion and we were supposed to be threesome, again. But it's fine though since I'm resting this cycle. He's still struggling with the language but I know he can learn it in time. We've studied about the Doctrine of Christ. We've applied it in our work and Elder Bravo did enjoy the time. We had this teaching with a less-active member. We taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ since she's one of the persons we're focusing in our area. Sister has a big problem on her faith, and with her family. But, through the commitments we gave her, she is making progress! She said that her faith is building. At the end of that lesson, she told us, "Elders, I think it's time for me to go back". Words can't describe what we felt after she said that. It's like I want to jump with joy because she is feeling the Spirit big time. We know that in a few weeks, she'll come to church as she keeps doing her commitments.

As for yesterday, it was a sumptuous Spiritual Feast with the Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Nielson. I really enjoyed it! There's so much things that I've learned during that. What caught my attention was Sister Nielson's talk about companionship relationship. Well, all that she said is true. I know it. In my mission, I've learned about it when I reached my 13-month mark. Before, I just want to get things done and it's hard when you and your companion are not on the same level. President Hernaez taught me about that and it took me some time to really understand it. And then, Sister Nielson said one of the most profound things that I really loved, and I quote, "You can never change your companion to become like you and be loved by you". It's true! A companionship works best when they respect each other and help each other out. Finding a middle ground works out and that's why I'm enjoying my time so far. It's great!

We've also tackled about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and I really love that article which I first read during my first month in the mission. I was really struggling that time and I learned great things from that article, about the enabling power of the atonement. I know I could not change my circumstances, but through the atonement, it could give me strength to overcome those. There are many times in my mission that I was held back by my limitations, but the Lord truly works in marvelous ways. I really love feeling the Spirit working in me and other's lives. Seeing the people that we teach feel the Savior's love makes me happy. Helping someone through sharing the Gospel is really a big thing for me.

Last Sunday, I was able to be in my previous area for a devotional... I was so happy to see the members in my previous area (CDO 2nd, Bulua and Patag). In Bulua and Patag, they were happy to see me 'coz there was no time for me to bid farewell to them. I could still remember the ward mission leader there when he saw me and shouted my last name in the street. Hahaha! I love the members in the areas that I've served. Also, my 2nd area, I've learned that Ryan (our investigator there was just baptized last Saturday!). And, the one who baptized him was a Recent Convert in which we first taught a few months ago! I am so happy for both of them. Hahaha!

I always love a missionary's quote in PMG District 2 wherein I realized this: "As missionaries, we are happy not because we have baptisms. We are happy because they are getting baptized." Read between the lines and ponder about it. And, you'll see what I saw. And it's true. I'm so very happy for their baptisms. Also, I saw the very first baptism that I experienced in the mission. He has a kid now! LOL! And they're getting sealed, hopefully be next year after I go home. They told me a joke telling me that the name of their child was my last name. Haha... Funny. But, I really love those couple. They're progressing. One is a recent convert and one is a less-active member. Both are active. And they're receiving the blessings of the Gospel. The family is now active even his brother-in-law. So, it's fulfilling. :)

P.S.

I also saw my former companions (Elder Panti and Elder Castillo)

I'm doing well here. It rains at times here but all is well. Adventure always. Hahaha! Oh well, have a great week guys! Love you all! :)

Sincerely,

Elder Dimazana

Adventure Time! - Week 72.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Hola! How are you all?? Well, there's so much going on this week. Haha... I guess it's one of the best weeks I enjoyed proselyting. A lot of things happened.

Anyways, we had a lot of spiritual experiences this week. My companion is doing great! We're so close and we're enjoying the work big time! I love the area! Haha! We tried something new, walk and survey our area. Since my companion is just 2 months in the area, and me, 2 weeks, we enjoyed finding! We've found a couple of people to teach and less-actives as well. It's good to know that after a week's work, 6 less-actives went to church last Sunday. And, we're praying for more. ^^

Also, so many members are working with us. We have our planners fully booked for the week. Haha! But, it's just uplifting to see the members do missionary work and work on their referrals for us. It feels great to see how the Lord is hastening the work. It's also great to know that Sean will be assigned here! Woot! Hopefully I or someone I know could train him. Hehe... We'll see about that.

One of the greatest things my companion and I experienced was a brother who approached us and told us to help him since he don't know what to do with his family. He thinks he's hopeless. It was night time and we're on our way home. All we could do was give him a pamphlet and share our testimony about the Gospel. We committed him to read it. A few days later, we saw the same man, happy and so, we approached him since he was calling us. He told us that "You're right, it's just trials". My companion smiled and I too. It was cool and we've set an appointment to teach him and his family.

We've been visiting members and sharing messages to them. And on Sunday, bishop will be working with us! Haha! Cool aye! So, we're on the hunt for more less-actives to teach. Hopefully, we could find part-members there. And we're still praying for more missionary opportunities.

Everything's so great. This morning, we had our p-day with the district. Everything went well since it's a stress reliever. Walking in the park sure takes of the week's stress.

Last night, while reading the Liahona, I've found an article about gratitude and it says to try praying with only gratitude. It was cool! I don't know how long I prayed but I'm grateful for the many blessings Heavenly Father gave me. The experiences I've gained here in the mission taught me so many things. I do encourage you guys to try it too!

So, that's our week. I really love the area. Haha! I guess I love the ricefields. So I'm grateful to be assigned here. 13 1/2 months in the city did made me miss the province. Haha...

Thanks for everything guys! Goodluck! Have a great week ahead! :)

Carpentry! - Week 71.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

Well, President really gave me a break last week. Haha. I was on a full week's rest but we still worked last Sunday. Everything went fine. I'm enjoying things here and I love the area! It's so province. Haha! Everywhere I look I see ricefields.

Anyways, I got late in sending e-mails today because we had our CSP this morning. So, I'm wrapping this up in a jiffy since it's almost time. Anyways, I've attached pictures which you could look on.

The area is doing well and I'm excited for this week for our work since we have a lot of finding to do. Hehe. But the members are eager to work. And, me and my companion get along so well. We had a lot of fun times. Haha! He's just funny.

Goodnight guys! Need to sign out. I'll e-mail more next week. Have a great week! :)

Sincerely,
Elder Dimazana

Comfort + Success = Hardwork! - Week 70.Serving in Alubijid 2nd

So, I got emergency transferred. Hahaha! I'm still training, my 6th trainee so far. LOL! President gave me a break to relieve me of stress just for 6 weeks and I'll be back in no time.

Well, this area is just opened for 6 weeks, so, OPEN AREA! Haha! And I'm training as well. But, my new companion is very funny and laughing so we're enjoying our time here :D

Anyways, week was good. I love the members! Good thing in my previous area I have proven how powerful they are in this work. So, this week, members will be working with us and help us out in the area. Hopefully, before I leave my companion, which probably would happen next cycle, we'll help the ward with all that we can. Haha!

I've attached some pictures of my new apartment. Adjustment is quite good since I'm still under my old district. Our District Leader was my trainee before and seeing him grow made me so happy! ^^, I can't wait for his growth now that he's a District Leader. I'll support him with all I got. It's so fun to train future mission leaders. Some of my trainees have trained already. Some are doing great progress. It really makes an impact for me. And I'm training myself as well in terms of character. Despite my limitations in work, we're doing great miracles in the mission.

Last Sunday, a less-active who haven't been to church for 9 months in my previous area went to church! The Missionaries there told me and I was happy for that brother since he's a leader in the church. I'll be having exchanges in my previous area some time this month but for now, new area to explore! I can't wait to learn and grow again.

Well, that's my week. I love you guys! Keep safe!

Sincerely,

Elder Dimazana