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Maayong hapon friends and fam!
Yes I hit my 7 months on the 24th and I honestly just felt like I hit my 6 months yesterday!
Anyways here are some highlights liwat of this past week -
[This is 2 weeks worth of laundry, it's as big as me!]
Tuesday -
This day was so much fun!It was actually very timely because it was the peak of my sickness and we had an Area Medical Zone Conference. They talked parte sa (about) physical health the whole time while I was physically dying (not really dying pero I just didn't feel well).It was also really cool because the conference was multiple zones so basically half of all the missionaries serving here [in the mission] were there!I also got to see my old zone and missionaries serving in my old ward and they gave me letters from members. One of my recent converts who was baptized sang April 28 wrote "Bisan wa'ay kaw dun di, nagapabilin mangud ya mga memories kag ya mga ginpatudlo mo kanakon,| which basically translates to even though I'm not there anymore, I left her memories and also everything I shared with her about the gospel. When I read her letter it made me so happy because I hope this is how I'm remembered not only in my first area but also in my next areas I serve in. I hope they remember my example, my testimony of Jesus Christ, and how I made them feel when I shared my testimony. Pero amo 'na, the rest of the day was really important trainings about health and after we had inspiration trainings from President Cruz and his assistants. After the conference I asked for a priesthood blessing to help me with my sickness. I'm really grateful that we have the priesthood on the earth today so that it can bless each of us according to our faith! After everything finished, we had exchanges with the STL's so I was the one who went to a different area and Sister Fuentes stayed in our area. I was able to be with Sister Green for a day! She's one of the only other Americans serving here so Iloilo. It was weird and kinda hard to speak full-on English!
[I spy someone trying to take a picture of me! haha]
Wednesday-
I was still with Sister Green and we didn't get to work that much because I rested to try to get better. Pero we were able to go out sa gabi (at night) and we had a Family Home Evening! It was so much fun, we taught an object lesson and the kids of the family really enjoyed it. It was spiritually uplifting to be with Sister Green, I learned a lot from her. She is just so kind and loving, I had such a good time working with her even though it was only for a couple lessons/hours. At night time we exchanged and I went back with Sister Fuentes to our area!
[While waiting for group pic]
Thursday/ Friday -
These two days were pretty much the same. We didn't teach too much but we were able to "Open-Your-Mouth" a lot! It's so rewarding when I talk to someone and they actually think I'm from the Philippines, like I commonly hear "Taga Manila ka bala?" or "are you from Manila?". I'm full Filipino pero the first few months that I was here, people would assume I'm Polynesian or something because I don't have the "slang" or accent that an ordinary Filipino has. So I guess that means that I don't have an American accent as much as I used to!
[😊]
[Sister Bruno! 😄]
Saturday -
This day there was a baptism! It wasn't our baptism but we went to support the Elders. Baptisms are always a spiritual experience. It's just unexplainable the feeling I get pero I know that I felt the Holy Ghost as a way of confirming to me that the work we're doing is true and real for the salvation of God's children. Just like it says sa 2 Ne. 31: 17-18, 21:17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
I know deep in my heart that this is the doctrine of Christ and He hasn't left us helpless in which we don't know what we should do. He has given us a clear example for us all and He's hoping that we choose to follow Him!
[Exchanges! 😄]
Sunday -
I was a speaker for sacrament meeting! I talked about charity a.k.a. the pure love of Christ. If we think about it, how can our Heavenly Father give His only begotten Son just for us? and also how can Jesus Christ sacrifice Himself just so that we can repent from our past mistakes? IT IS BECAUSE THEIR LOVE IS PERFECT. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love is so perfect that we can't comprehend how much They love us! I'm so grateful for their everlasting love. Also for sacrament meeting we had a musical number and 6 of us (full-time missionaries) sang "Thy Will Be Done" by Nik Day. You guys should listen to it, it's an amazing song! (Video below)
[Some letters from members from my first area.]
That's it for my week, I hope all of you are doing maayo gid!
Halong kamo pirme,
Sister Ventura
Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)
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Send 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.