Week 5: Snow Much Sadga (Fun)

Kamusta pamilya kag mga abyan (family and friends),

Ini simana, may damo nga nieve kami (this week, we have a lot of snow). Pero, may damo nga sadga man (but, we had a lot of fun too)! 

[Abaw (Wow), I was matugnaw gid (so cold)]

Being a Cali girl it's been interesting for me to be in weather that is so cold that my feet feel frozen (Elza is Frozen haha), but honestly it's another part of God's creations that I really learned to appreciate. Even though I really don't see myself living in a place that snows in the future, I am such in awe at how beautiful snow is! Also my companions crack up and laugh so hard every time I slip because of the snow. In other news, I think I'm forgetting how to English. I never thought that forgetting how to speak English would be a good thing but it just shows how invested I am in learning Ilonggo! It's really funny actually because my companions are learning Tagalog and so it's just a mix of Tagalog/Ilonggo on a daily basis. Also in class, I frequently accidentally say words in Tagalog because my companions speak Tagalog and also because my mom usually e-mails or sends me letters in straight Tagalog.. so yeah it's been interesting! 

Sige, seguro ini simana ang favorito ko (this week was probably my favorite) so far!

[Me and the Tagalog district!]

Saturday - 

This day was ayos lang (just okay) at first. I was feeling a little discouraged about a lot of stuff but one of my classmates was very encouraging and told me that everything happens for a reason. I knew that that was exactly what I needed to hear because I was reminded that God doesn't give us anything we can't handle! The day ended well because I was just so happy to be healthy, haha!

[Mga Kaupod ko (my companions) and we're literally chillin']

Sunday - 

I absolutely LOVE Sundays. I feel like last week I was just like not trying my hardest (probably because I was weak/sick) and it just wasn't as fulfilling as the times where I work the hardest I can. However on this day, my class and I discussed how this week we really want to work hard, so we chose the Christlike Attribute of Diligence to concentrate on. Then, we had the president of the MTC (the person the runs the place where I am training for my mission) speak to us about missionary work. I really enjoyed what he spoke to us about because I learned how as I'm out on my mission, I may not always see the effects of what I do, but I will affect more people's lives than I think. It made me understand the importance of telling everyone I come into contact with about what I believe in and also how I should try to help everyone I can with anything that they need. After we had choir practice and I always love going to choir as you all have noticed in my previous e-mails haha. This day we practiced a church hymm called "Praise to the Man" and abaw (wow) even though we are not professional singers, we always seem to sound like really good!

[Studying in the warm building lol]

Monday - 

This day I learned the importance of how when I teach people, I need to understand who they are as a person (beliefs, what they love, what they dislike) and really care about them. So basically I need to be a friend to the people that I teach. It's not enough to just tell people about my church when I don't even know who they are and what they are passionate about! Later in the day the Elders from my class and I started an "English Fast" and so basically we spoke as much Ilonggo as we can for 24 hours. It was really hard at first because we aren't fluent yet, but it did push us to use what we know and search up words we don't know. 

Tuesday - 

On this day, I spoke only Ilonggo until 6pm! I found it most difficult during meals because the people learning Tagalog don't understand me, haha! Oh yeah and then ELDER HOLLAND WAS OUR DEVOTIONAL SPEAKER THIS EVENING. Elder Holland is an Apostle of my church and basically speaks to many people about who Jesus Christ is and what He did for us! It was such a spiritual-filled day. When he spoke to us it just made me realize how I cannot afford to waste a day on my mission. I need to make everyday count! Just like in high school when I played basketball, I couldn't afford to slack off a second I was out on the court. I also realized that before I teach anyone about anything, like having faith in Jesus Christ for example, I must have experienced it for MYSELF first. Another thing that he said that really stuck with me was that I should "start out my mission with the end in mind." I need to imagine how amazing I'll feel when I come home having served other people for 18 months!

[Manami (Beautiful)]

Wednesday - 

Something I was struggling with lately was waking up, I literally feel so tired every morning. Lowkey missing how when I was in Isolation, I had the opportunity to sleep for the whole day. Joke lang, pero indi joke lang (just kidding but not really), haha! I hope I never get into Isolation again. Anyways, my family and my college roommates know this about me that it's SO HARD to wake me up. I'm the type of person that wakes up and then says" few more minutes please." Haha, yeah it's been a struggle pero I've been doing better and getting up right away has been so much easier than staying in bed for a couple minutes so that I can try to get only a couple minutes more of sleep. 

[Me and one of my companions, Sis. Holman]

Thursday - 

This day they gave Pho for dinner! I know that's something really small to get excited about but I really missed Pho, haha. I think I lost a lot of weight being here because I'm not eating rice 3 times a day with Filipino food. Haha, I've noticed that almost every e-mail I talk about food. Oh and speaking of food, I learned that there are EIGHT TYPES OF RICE in the Ilonggo language. 

Different types of rice:

1. Kan-on: cooked rice
2. Bugas: raw (dry) rice
3. Bahaw: day old (cooked) rice
4. Talamnaw: growing rice in a wet field
5. Humay: growing rice in a dry field 
6. Dukot: burnt rice in the bottom of the pan (MY MOM'S FAVORITE! HAHA)
7. Kala- kalo: fried rice
8. Puto: rice cake

Overall, it's been a good week. I am trying to not forget English, but I think it'll be fine haha.

Hope you are all doing well and continue to do well in everything y'all do!

P.S. I have some never before seen deleted-scenes in my blog. Joke lang, pero I'm just promoting my blog and I have some videos on there (Check blog post from Feb 16, 2018) 😊

Damo nga Palangga (Much Love),

Sister Ventura

Send me an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@myldsmail.net 

Written letters and packages: 

Sister Elza Ventura 

Philippines Iloilo Mission 

Osmeña Street, 

Arevalo, Iloilo City, 

5000 Iloilo 

Philippines

*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.

Week 4: Isolation

Maayong Hapon sa kamo!

I hope all of you have had an amazing week so far!

I've actually had a really interesting experience this past week. So I'm not sure if you all remember, but in the email I sent last week, I mentioned how I think I was getting sick. Turns out I was about to get Influenza B, and I would need to be put in Isolation! I'll explain more later on what Isolation is. However, overall I had a good and restful week!

[I think this is pretty self-explanatory, haha.]

Friday - 

Pagkatapos sa paghanda adlaw ko (After my preparation day), I had class in the evening time. Kag previously, I had arranged to teach my investigators with one of my teachers! So it was basically like I had a companion and it was so awesome! Up until this time, I've been meeting with investigators and I've needed to teach alone. However, it was so cool to experience having a pseudo-companion because I had someone to bounce off of when I couldn't remember any Ilonggo words, haha!

[Before I went into Isolation. I'm so glad that they sell Vicks here!]

Saturday -

This day was the high-point of my sickness! I got out of bed and wasn't feeling good AT ALL, but I forced myself to get to class. That probably wasn't the best decision because I was literally dozing off in class - I was so exhausted and I didn't know why! By the end of class my teachers tell me that I should probably go back to the residence and try to get better. So when my companions and I got back to the residence, they took care of me like the way my mom does when I'm sick, and it was just so comforting! I slept the whole rest of the day and later on in the evening, my temperature went up to 102.7 degrees! It was so crazy, but I am so grateful to my companions and my roommates for taking such good care of me. However this day I got really homesick because usually when I'm sick my mom cooks me EXTRA SOUR Sinigang. (I really miss Filipino food! I'm so happy I'm going to the Philippines for my mission because I will be eating really good food!) Here at the MTC the food is good but I don't think it's the best food to be eating when you're sick!

Sunday -

I don't know how, but I got enough energy to get up to go to church and take Sacrament. It was funny though because afterwards my Branch President came up to me and told me to see a doctor and that I should get back to the residence so I can rest. So after Sacrament I went back to my room and slept/studied the rest of the day.

 [Isolation Protocol]

Monday -

I went to the doctor first thing in the morning and at first they didn't suspect that I had the Flu. However they ran a test on me just to make sure and I did have the Flu! :( So basically when you have a contagious sickness, they do the isolation protocol and move you into a room that you should stay in for the duration of your sickness. The only time I would make contact with people was when the doctor checked my vitals and when people would deliver me food. IT WAS SO LONELY. And even worse, my companions district was scheduled to leave on Wednesday! Since I needed to go to Isolation ASAP, I had to do a quick goodbye with my companions. It was really sad that our time together as companions got cut short, but I know that I'll see them after our missions are over!

Tuesday/ Wednesday -

Stayed in Isolation. I studied A LOT from the scriptures! Also this may be weird for you Mommy but I started reading from your mission journals, haha!

[I wasn't outside for cold Utah air for 3 days.]

Thursday -

Finally, I was no longer contagious or had a fever so I finally got out of Isolation! Bless up, haha. 🙏Everyone was really happy to see me back! It was funny because when I went into Isolation I left my old companions and the older district and now that I was out of Isolation I had new companions (my new companions are my roommates that have been with me since I arrived to the MTC and they are learning Tagalog. Also, we are traveling to the Philippines together when the time comes) and there is a newer district. Since this was the first day the new district met me, I decided to play a prank and pretend that I didn't know English and that I only knew Tagalog but was learning Ilonggo. It was pretty funny to see people struggle to speak to me although I can understand them perfectly. This day was also my first day back to class for a couple days and also my first day back to teaching for a while! I had an amazing lesson - I taught the entire Restoration by myself in Ilonggo (I didn't say the First Vision though). So I guess you can say that I came back with a bang! Haha and also I feel like the language is coming along really nicely! I study Ilonggo a lot but honestly what I feel helps me the most is prayer. I love the ability to be able to ask God for help with something that I want to accomplish. Also not only that, but when I see how God provides for me is the best feeling ever!

[Went to the Provo temple today!]

Overall, like I said it was an interesting week! I look forward to this week and not being sick anymore. It was really funny actually because my brother told me that my mom, sister, and he was sick. We have like family sickness telepathy. JOKE LANG, haha. Health is truly a blessing!

Palangga,
Sister Ventura😁

Send me an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@myldsmail.net 

Written letters and packages: 

Sister Elza Ventura 

Philippines Iloilo Mission 

Osmeña Street, 

Arevalo, Iloilo City, 

5000 Iloilo 

Philippines

*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.

Week 3: Maayo Balita (Good News) = Ang Ebanghelyo ni JesuCristo (The Gospel of Jesus Christ)

Maayong Hapon sa kamo (Good afternoon),

[Smile 😊]

This week, I really feel like I'm getting a good grasp of things around here! I'm like on a study grind and I'm really taking all the information in! I think it makes such a difference when you actually love what you're studying. When I was in my first year of college, I dreaded learning about some subjects, however learning about the gospel of JesuCristo intrigues me everyday. I love what I am doing and I love teaching people to understand what I believe in and to know that JesuCristo loves them!!

[This was taken right now haha]

Saturday - 

I had a one-on-one interview with one of my teachers and he asked me if I had any concerns. I told him that currently, my main concern is that I think I'm getting to accustomed to teaching alone and I don't think I know how to teach with another person! Haha it's so funny thinking about how much things have changed since two weeks ago. My teacher told me that one of my teachers will be able teach with me sometimes during lessons so that I have some experience teaching with someone. Also during the one-on-one, my teacher said that during the collective teachers meeting, they discussed how good my Ilonggo is! And I just know that there's no way I could've been able to do this on my own. I know that the Holy Ghost has inspired me to be motivated to learn each day. He also said that they said how my pronunciation is really good too. I'm just so shocked because back home I barley spoke Tagalog and people always told me that pronunciation was really American. But this just shows how ANYTHING is possible if you have faith in Jesus Christ. I know He can literally help you through anything, if you just believe in Him.

[On the way to breakfast.]

Sunday - 

This day was a really good day! Every first Sunday of the month, we fast in church for two meals and the money we would've spent on buying food is something we donate to the needy. To be honest I've never really fasted before because it's easy to just go home and eat food, but this time I actually didn't eat for the whole day until like 4pm. At first it was kind of hard because we normally eat breakfast at 7:15 am and I'm adjusted to the schedule, however I felt that it was such an amazing and spiritual experience for me. So many people went up to bear their testimony about their missions and everything. Also later in the day we had choir practice and I just love choir! Even though I can't sing, the choir director brings meaning to the lyrics we sing and it really creates us to sing the songs with more feeling! One of my favorite quotes out of the entire day was from a video we watched of a talk by Elder Jeffery R. Holland called "Missions are Forever." He said "If it wasn't even for Jesus Christ, why should it be easy for us?" I just interpreted that in terms of my mission and how it hasn't been an easy two weeks at all.. it takes a lot of hard work to speak to people about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But at the same time, the hard work is worth it to me because I really feel like it shows when I'm in class discussing in Ilonggo, or in a lesson teaching someone.

[I photobombed]

Monday - 

This day I taught 3 lessons total and it was very tiring, but very rewarding! I feel like I can really connect with people and meet their needs and just try to help them with what they need, whether it be spiritually, mentally, or physically.

[Beautiful sunset]

Tuesday - 

This day we had choir, and we performed the hymm "More Holiness Give Me" for a devotional. This devotional we had Elder and Sister De Hoyos speak to us. They were born and raised in Mexico and they are really active in our church. They have watched over the missionaries in Mexico as Mission Presidents and now Elder De Hoyos is in the Seventy. So anyways, English is not their 1st language and they spoke to us in English and I just felt their love and their care! It gave me a snapshot of the future and how when I go to Iloilo, I may not be fluent in Ilonggo but I know that the people will feel my love and care for them! 

[Mga kaupod (Companions)]

Wednesday - 

Had a really good lesson this day because the person I was teaching was very intrigued in what I was saying and was very thoughtful in the questions I asked him! Also, this day marked one week until my companions would leave me and go to the Philippines! I'm really going to miss them a-lot, but I'm very excited for them.

[Care package from fam. (Zoom in on the box haha!)]

Thursday -  

I started getting sick this day and I'm so upset because I really don't want to get sick! I have so much to do and I want to try my hardest, but I can't do that if I'm sick! 😟 

[Sister Veras 💖]

Overall, not much has been going on with me because I'm getting used to everything now and we have basically the same schedule everyday! But this upcoming week I'm getting new companions which should be cool. My companions are leaving this Wednesday, Sister Veras is going to Laoag and Sister Lindstrom is going to San Pablo. I can't believe how fast time has passed because right now, I am at the same moment that my companions were at when I first came! Time flies by. Anyways I hope you are all doing well. And if any of you have any questions for me, just shoot me an e-mail! 

Palangga (Love), 

Sister Ventura 😃

Send me an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@myldsmail.net 

Written letters and packages: 

Sister Elza Ventura 

Philippines Iloilo Mission 

Osmeña Street, 

Arevalo, Iloilo City, 

5000 Iloilo 

Philippines

*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.

Week 2: Things Are Getting Better (Beatles song Reference!)

Kamusta mga tawo (Hello People),

Last week was definitely just anxiety-filled with a new space and people and new everything. This week was WAY different. Overall I had a great time this week and I learned so much! I guess I just needed to understand that it takes time to adjust and I shouldn't expect results of comfort RIGHT AWAY. So to summarize this week, I just feel like it was so good because I was waking up each morning always willing to work as hard as I can - whether it was to study Ilonggo, or to read my scriptures, or whether it's exercise time and I'm playing volleyball/basketball. I just really want to do my best in everything because I don't want to regret anything once it's over. Also, I can't believe I've survived a week here at the MTC. Oddly enough, it feels like I've been here forever, yet it also feels like I just barley came.

Continuing on since the previous time I e-mailed:

Saturday -

This was the day that I realized things would get better. Last Wednesday to Friday was just not the best.. but honestly I don't think anyone ever has a perfect first day or couple of days. So after receiving great advice about how to improve the weird companion situation that I'm in, I decided to stop feeding into my negativity and start doing something about it. I made sure that I would be prepared to the best of my ability and I knew that God and Jesus Christ would help me with the rest and whatever I'm lacking. I had a lesson with my investigator named Brother J*. Honestly I was so nervous to go in and teach by myself because I'm supposed to have a companion teaching with me, however I prepared myself the best I can to help Brother J. Despite the language barrier, I felt like it was such a great lesson because he was receptive of what I discussed with him. And when I ended with a prayer, I just felt the right words come out of my mouth! It was crazy because it was words I didn't think I could remember. I know that God gives the Gift of Tongues to whoever wants to learn, and since I've desired to learn Ilonggo not for myself but to help others, I have felt the words that my investigator needs to hear be given to my mind through the Holy Ghost's help! 
Later in the day, all the people going to Philippines (we all hang out with each other a-lot and there are about 23 Elders and 5 Sisters total) had something called Family Home Evening and it's basically a time to share a spiritual experience and then play a game after. We played Mafia and Signs and it was just hilarious.

Sunday - 

Two highlights that happened today was church and choir. So by default, since I'm the only girl in my class, I'm what they call "Sister Training Leader" and that means I have to keep an eye on the Sisters, but since I'm the only Sister, I keep an eye on myself (which is pretty awesome! haha). A responsibility as being "STL" is to attend early morning meetings discussing the performance of our district (or class), and it was a good start to my day (although it was early). So then during church they do this thing where they randomly select 2 people to speak because they want to prepare us for the Philippines since in the Philippines, sometimes there are times when people aren't assigned to speak at church so they ask the missionaries to speak. I had a huge feeling that I would be selected and I was tsakto (right)! It was a great experience and a good way for people to learn about who I was, since I am new. I spoke about having Faith in Jesus Christ and I felt like it was the perfect topic because of what I had went through the past few days. People thanked me for what I said and it was just a really fulfilling experience. Later we joined choir and it was so great to be able to sing! I'm not like the best singer, pero I love singing (anyone who has been in a car with me knows how much I love to sing-along) and it was a good time to just focus on singing and what the lyrics mean.  

Monday - 

I have never been soooo thankful for assigned gym time. I've missed working out so much! While I was at UCLA it was up to me whether or not gusto ko mag (I want to) exercise. But here at the MTC, since it's like assigned and I sit in class for a long period of time, I really WANT to relieve some stress (although it isn't bad stress). So yeah I've been playing volleyball and basketball and I've been able to make more friends that way too!

Tuesday - 

This day didn't start off too well because I sort of felt alone. However, I confided to my roommates and they were so nice, supportive and let me know that it is normal to feel that way and I'm not alone. The day ended well because there was a devotional from Elder Nielson of the Seventy and his wife (basically meaning someone spoke to us and it was really inspiring!) and we performed our choir song, Joseph Smith's First Prayer. Also we had a discussion after the devotional and one of the Elders said that sometimes it's necessary that we have a "Trial of Faith" so that we learn how to continue having faith in Jesus Christ and how He can help us through literally everything!! At the end of the day, we sang Happy Birthday to one of my roommates and instead of cake we had cinnamon rolls - it was gooooooood. 

Wednesday - 

This day my desire to help the people of Philippines grew so much more! Like I literally just want to get on a plane and go over there so I can start helping them! My desire grew because one of our teachers shared a scripture from D&C 90:11 - "For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ." Also this day, I started missing my mom's cooking like a-lot. MOMMY, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, I MISS YOUR COOKING.. AND OH YEAH I MISS YOU TOO.

Thursday - 

Even though my companions and I are not in the same classroom, this day was just a really good day for us! Oh yeah I should say we sit in a classroom for like 3 hours straight, 2 times a day. Surprisingly it goes by quickly though. So anyways, when we weren't in class, my companions and I had a-lot of good laughs! Honestly before coming to the MTC I was worried about 1) not making friends and 2) I was also worried about not meeting people who understand my sarcasm. Haha, well anyways I feel like comfortable enough to be myself and it has just been fun. (:

So that was my week! I had a very fun and spiritual week. I can't believe that I'm only 5 more e-mails away from being in the Philippines! I know time will fly by and I'm trying my best to make every moment count. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Halong mga abyan (Goodbye friends)!

- Sister Ventura😁

Send me an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@myldsmail.net 

Written letters and packages: 

Sister Elza Ventura 

Philippines Iloilo Mission 

Osmeña Street, 

Arevalo, Iloilo City, 

5000 Iloilo 

Philippines

Mga Kodak! (Pictures): 

Kodak 1: Classe ko

Kodak 2: Look at the Elder next to me! Haha, working hard or hardly working? (He's holding a banana).

Kodak 3: Elevator pic, FTW.

Kodak 4: My district.

Kodak 5: Yay for packages, shout-out to my Mommy, Kuya, Daddy, Tita Arlene, and Stefa BLFFY for the packages I received my first week!

Kodak 6: Me pointing to where I'm going,

Kodak 7: My companions and I with a photo bomber, haha.

*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.