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Maayong aga everyone!
[Welcome to an alley I walk down pretty much everyday]
Pero here is a weekly update as usual, I don't have too long pero just a quick update 😊
[Just saw some cute flowers and decided to take a pic 😊]
Monday (after emailing) -
Sister Quinton and I visited our investigator (whose baptismal date is coming soon) and her family that we wanted to start teaching. Pero to make it short, when we got there, they were busy and stuff and so we went to one of their neighbors who we started teaching. When we got there the brother that we teach wasn't there but his family was, so it was a good opportunity to meet them and get to know them. After a little while, the brother arrived and he was so tired from work but he was still so willing to listen as we shared a message about Jesus Christ. Kanami kay (It's cool because) the Lord always provides a way for us as missionaries to fulfill His work because Sister Quinton and I were SO SET on teaching our investigator's family, pero since that didn't work out, He still provided a way! I know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ always provide a way for us even if it's not the way we necessarily expected, pero Their way is a better way!
[Haha this random little girl wanted to take a pic]
[Left hand and right hand 😄]
Tuesday -
Today was tiring (well actually this week was tiring! haha). We went to like 5 different people and they were all napping! I'm convinced everyone takes a nap after lunch, it's crazy. This was actually a blessing in disguise because we went to one subdivision to try to look for a former investigator but we couldn't find her. We asked around at the tsanggie's (mini stores) and instead we met one sister who is so nice that she automatically told us to come into her home right away. It was so cool kay we had just met but she quickly opened up to us about her life and about her faith. Her boyfriend is apparently not religious - that was my first time actually meeting someone diri sa Pilipinas (here in the Philippines) that's not religious and doesn't go to any church. Pero overall they're awesome kag excited gid ako to get to know them more! Later in the day we visited a less active Nanay (elderly lady) who hasn't gone to church this year. So we shared her Mosiah 13:16-19 in the Book of Mormon. I'll just share one of the verses-19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
So yeah our lesson was awesome kag spoiler alert, she went to church on Sunday!
[One of the families in our ward! They're so sweet!]
[Christmas already!]
Wednesday -
We had zone interviews. It was nice to talk to President Cruz and I was also able to see Sister Cruz too! They decorated their house all Christmas-y like already because here in the Philippines when the "-ber" months start, it's the countdown to Christmas. I love Christmas and I'm excited to spend it here in the Philippines.
[Sister Cruz 💖]
[Cute babies eating mango and rice]
Thursday -
We woke up with a bunch of warnings for the Super Typhoon so President Cruz told us to buy food and supplies that could last for a while just in case the typhoon hits us. So we bought rice (alot of rice!), water, etc. This day we also visited the former Patriarch of Iloilo. We visited him because we found out from members in our area that he lives in our area and that he was hospitalized this past week and hasn't been able to go to church. When we went to visit him, Sister Quinton and I expected to like share and to spiritually uplift him through his medical problems pero instead it ended up being the other way around! He and his wife have such strong faith and they have had a lifetime of being faithful members of the church! They were converted many years ago and Patriarch was actually the first and last Branch President of my area and then he became the Patriarch and with his many years of serving that calling, he's given over 2,000+ Patriarchal Blessings! It was just so cool to get to know them and that's what I hope for all those that I am able to convert, that they remain faithful all their lives and become leaders in the church. I'm excited to get to know them more 😊
[Saw this cute picture in a jeepney! haha 😅]
[Wooo six months sa Pilipinas!]
Friday -
TODAY I HIT MY 6 MONTHS HERE IN THE FIELD. 6 months already in the Philippines? yeah I always say that but it's crazy how fast times goes! We had district meeting today and it made me think of a goal that I want to achieve at the end of my mission; I want to be able to look at everyone (everyone I walk by and stuff and those I teach) the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ look at them - as children of God.
[Zone Leaders came for District meeting 😊]
[Our Zone Leader looks like Ferb from Phineas and Ferb 😆]
Saturday -
Today was a crazy day, we experienced the aftermath of the typhoon and the wind and rain were so strong. I'll show a video (below) but you probably won't be able to tell through the camera!Sunday -
Sundays are very long pero it's definitely the best day of the week because we're able to go to church and see all the members and it's nice to be spiritually uplifted. So what actually happened was sa aga (in the morning), we went to pick up our investigator at her home and when we got there, she said she wasn't going to go to church with us. Sister Quinton and I got so sad and we didn't know what to do because we didn't want to force her because she said she's busy. So what Sister Quinton did was that she went back to talk to her while I waited off to the side and after a while she started showering and we made our way to church! She said that she's really busy and would only come for the first hour but she ended up staying all the way through.The adversary is so real, especially when those who are close to changing and becoming like Jesus Christ are progressing, but I know that we are stronger than the opposing forces!
[We played a game where the consequence
means you get powder on your face! haha]
That's it for my week, I hope you're all doing well 😊
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.