Maayong aga!
Just a couple highlights:
I rode on top of a
jeepney! It was actually not as scary as I thought it was going to be, and very
presco, gali! Since my area is very country
gid, I am allowed to ride
sa ibawbaw sang (on top of) mga jeepney! Those who serve in the city are sadly not allowed to.
Pero it was so much fun and my seat was a huge tire -
sadga gid!
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| [Eating peanut flavor ice candy!] |
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| [My first exchanges, it was so interesting because i was in the city and it is so different from my area! Here I understand everyone because it's Ilonggo gid, haha! Also it's very small compared to my area.] |
I had my first exchanges! Sister Reyes and I spent our first day away from each other - she stayed [in our area] and I went to [the city] for the day. Wow [the city] is like a less busy version of
Manila. It was different
gid because everything is so squished together compared to [my area] where everything was spaced out. I was kind of worried to go to an area and teach people that I don't know as well as my investigators,
pero I had a really good time and the people were still kind and still so receptive. I met so many people
dira (over there) that I hope I get to meet again later if I possibly get assigned there!
Maskin nakulba-an ko sa una (Even though I was worried at first), I realized my purpose was the same and I was there
agud pagbulig sa iban nga mga tao mangin mas lapit kay JesuCristo (in order to help other people become closer to Jesus Christ). š
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| [Just chillin' with the family I'm teaching, while eating yellow sandia!] |
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| [Oysters for sale!] |
Towards the end of the week, I had the most spiritual experience EVER! It was when Sister Reyes and I taught one of my investigators that I discussed in my past email (the Brother). So usually the Brother's wife doesn't usually stay for the entire lesson and walks around, but this time she sat down the entire time! When we first got there we just had a little small talk and caught up about how they were doing and then I'm not sure how, but the Brother's wife shared with us [a personal trial she endured]. I felt so grateful that she was comfortable enough to share that with us. They were both sad about it, so we shared
Moroni 8:8 with them -
"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them"
The Brother like I said before has had a couple vices, but he expressed his gratitude to us about the knowledge we gave him. He said that he felt a comforting feeling in his heart and he wants to work even harder towards baptism to be clean. His wife is very shy
pero kabalo ko nga nabatyagan niya ang paghidaet (I know that she felt peace) because she stayed the entire lesson.
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| [My district!] |
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| [Dinner at a member's balay!] |
Kabalo ako nga (I know that) missionary work isn't easy, but it is worth it. It's worth it to sacrifice a year and a half of my life so that I can share with people what I feel deep in my heart to be the truth. I know that the gospel of
Jesus Christ (of faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism by a person who has priesthood authority, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) puts us on the path to be with our families after this life happily forever.
Halong kamo perme,
Sister Venturaš
Send me an e-mail:
elza.ventura@myldsmail.net
Written letters and packages:
Philippines Iloilo Mission
Philippines
*Some names have been changed or omitted to protect the privacy of individuals.
