Piddig Week 44

 

This week has been great really, I got really sick because of how hot it is here and the rain. It's rained like crazy like down pour rain and floods but I love it because the mission life is full of challenges and trials that try to keep us from working and to get us from staying focused on the work. The mission life is so different and I love it.  I am living a consecrated life and giving myself to the Lord and the people here in the Philippines. The work of the lord is hastening and growing fast like this week on Saturday June 27th, we will be having a baptism si Nanay Bella Pablo Benito sa laoag stake center alas 8am magsisimula diyan, sobrang exctied po kami talaga. Elder Delara said that her interview was so great, she has a strong testimony and she started to cry and said this is the path that God wants for me to take and I am making the right decision to follow Jesus Christ and be baptized.  I am super excited for Saturday and this week, we will be having a baptism and two family home evenings which is always so much fun and it brings others together.  

 

 

I am praying every day for all of my investigators and everyone. Hopefully next month we will have two baptisms before I get transferred from here in Piddig. I really am going to miss this place and I have loved the people and the branch so much and made such great friends here. Even though this week was crazy with rain like a typhoon but not and the heat and me being sick I loved this week and had a lot of fun. 

It sounds like you guys are keeping busy and having a lot of fun and getting ready for a family trip where are you guys going again?  That is great to hear about BJ getting his mission call to Australia.  He will have a blast there. Stay safe and keep me updated with everything and how everything is going.  I miss you a ton. Ingat po kayo palagi at ay-ayaten ka at mahal kita. 

Elder Francis 

P.S. Did you send those quads for me and about money on my card how is that right now did you put more money on please reply back to this message. Are you sending any more boxes to me or anything so I can be aware of it. Agyaman ti Adu. 

Piddig Week 43

This week was great we had a lot of rain - like crazy like wow!  The rain came and came and flooded the roads and I was soaking wet, and the wind was blowing like crazy and I loved it, because that is missionary life with trials and challenges in our path to try to keep me from doing the Lord's work, But I will never let down, I will do the best I can and spread the gospel to the Filipino people.  Yes, it has been hot too because it's summer.   I am always sweating and I am tired always but the work of the Lord must press forward.  Everything is going great, but Elder Delara is getting transferred so me and Elder Farrales are the only ones in Piddig for 6 weeks.  That will be crazy and hard, but the members love us so much and they are really willing to help us.


Then this last Sunday we had a multi stake conference and 7 of our investigators came to church and that was really exciting for us and hopefully next week we shall have a baptism.  Nanay Benito will have her baptism next Saturday on the 27th if she will go to church this Sunday, but I have faith that she will go. I have a book of remembrance for people to sign that I bought so I can stay in touch with others.


For my birthday coming up I would like money and ties.   Then yes, send the quads for them, the two girls both sent out their mission papers and will be getting their calls soon.  So if you can send that I would love it, salamat po.


But one thing I got from the multi stake conference talks was from Pres. Brent Nielson.  He said "I will be the one", that really got my attention that I will be the one to share the gospel or help others and share the light of the gospel with them to change the lives of others.  Something else,  I love the people here.  One thing they say about me is my smile and my testimony about this gospel and how those two things are so strong.   I can see it touch the hearts of those I teach.  The spirit of the lord touches their hearts and the Book of Mormon and how that can change the lives of others too.


It was really fun seeing Bro. Williams and how much he has changed.  He told me grabi Elder Francis magaling ka na sa tagalog talaga. I felt so happy and the language is still hard but I try my best and the people I teach can see that I am trying my best in the language.  The spirit of the Lord is the one that touches their hearts even though my Tagalog isn't that good.

That's good to hear that you guys are doing great and got to have a enjoyable time at girls camp even though it rained.  Now you know how I feel hahaha. But it looks like Emily likes the hammock I sent her and you guys are doing great and getting ready for the party with the Christianson family. But stay safe and keep me updated on anything and I will too.  Please pray for my investigators that they will be baptized next week and one or two in July too. I miss you guys a ton and love you all.  Tell everybody I say hi. Ingat po kayo at ay-ayaten ka din. 

Elder pogi Francis 

P.S. Did you guys get my letter in the mail yet, and the quads - yes please send them and anything else too. Agyaman ti adu.

Piddig Week 42

This week has been the best.  I have seen a lot of miracles and have seen how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes the lives of others and how the power of this gospel is the light for others to find.  In this life there are a lot of temptations and trials.

We went finding with two of our fellowshippers and we found this sister named Jonabeth Cepeda.  We started to teach her, and we asked a simple question to her "What do you want in this life".  After we asked that question she started to cry, she said that her life is really hard, her husband is never home and found a new girl and she is really struggling.  We told her how Mahal tayo ng diyos at Lahat tayo mga anak ng diyos, at Si jesucristo siya ang ating Tagapagligtas po natin, at mayroon tayong plano ng diyos para sa atin.  She said to us brothers thank you, and come back any time. I truly can see the Lord's hands in this work and how much this gospel changes lives and how much faith and fasting for others helps.

Skyler told me about Riley and I will put that into my mind and I will pray for him and fast for him always.  The Lord will help him through it.

I truly loving being a missionary and being like Grandpa Christianson and just saying hi to everyone and just having a smile on my face always. This gospel that I share with others is the true gospel today that Joseph Smith restored for us.  We can all return back unto him.  This week was the best we have had 57 lessons and went crazy.  I see how the Book of Mormon changes the lives of others.  When I hold it in my hand, people ask hey what's that, and I share my testimony about it and how I know it to be true.

Elder Farrales is amazing he always shows care for those we teach and shares examples and focuses on their needs and concerns. The language is coming, everybody that we find says grabi po brother magaling ka sa Tagalog, sinabi ako Wen. We are focusing on a family, the Benito Family, and Nanay Ayang and trying to get them to church.  Next month we should hopefully at least have 3 baptisms.  I hope.  I will just pray for it and will keep working hard and doing the Lord's work and spreading his gospel to others.

A funny story this week:  I found a baby Goat (kambing), and I  wanted to take a picture with it so I went to pick it up, and when I did it started to scream and Elder Farrales hurried and took the picture and the mom goat started to run towards us and charged at me. We've been taking a lot of pictures because I have7 more weeks here in Piddig.  I will miss this area, everyone is super nice and they all like me and I will miss them all. But I am doing great and loving this work of the lord and the power of the Atonement and how we can all be forgiven of our sins and become clean and pure.

It sounds like you guys are doing great and having fun, stay safe always.  I will always be praying for you all. Keep me updated and tell me what's happening. Keep me updated with my money and what about those quads I told you to send.  If it is too expensive send something that relates to missionary life. 

Ingat po palagi, namiss kayo lahat. 

Alam ko na Ang Ebanghelyo ni jesucristo ay totoo po siya at alam ko po na mahal tayo ng diyos at tayo mga anak ng diyos. Alam ko na si jesucristo siya ang ating tagapagligtas po natin at ilaw para sa atin din. Alam ko po na salita ng diyos ang aklat ni mormon at isa pang tipan ni jesucristo. Alam ko po na nagbayad-sala ni jesucristo para sa mga kasalanan po natin, at alam ko na Si Joseph Smith siya ang kanyang tagapaghayag at isang propeta ng diyos at siya na ipinanumbalik ang simbahan ni jesucristo ng mga banal sa mga huling araw. 

Ay-Ayaten ka at Mahal kita 

Ofa Atu 

Elder Pogi at Gwapo Francis

Some photos stolen from Elder Liska's Facebook page :)