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Maayong udto (good noon) sa inyo tanan!
[Cute picture spot]
This past week was an awesome week of work. It was really productive and we got a lot of stuff done which feels really satisfying!
This weeks highlights once again 😄
Monday (after e-mailing) -
Sister Quinton and I went to a mall in our area to buy some socks (I keep losing my socks for some reason) and it literally felt like and American mall. It kind of felt like I wasn't in Philippines!😯
Sa gabi (In the evening) when we proselyted, we taught an investigator that we've been trying to get a hold of for a while. We finally saw her and she said she was busy but we promised her we would share for only 5 minutes. So she allowed us to and it ended up being more than 5 minutes because she shared a lot! As a missionary, I've really learned how to put myself out there to make investigators feel comfortable (especially being out here sa Philippines) because a lot of people just really seem to be shy! I'm grateful we were able to get through to her a bit and I know it'll take some time but I have faith! After proselyting, we went to the STL's place and they fed us uga (tuyo sa Tagalog) or dried fish sa English. We went over to exchange companions! This is the very 1st time Sister Quinton and I weren't together. First night away from my bata! haha.
[Exchanges!]
Tuesday -
Sister Flavier was my companion for the day and it was great. I learned so much from her and it helped me know how I can be a better missionary 😊 Also in the afternoon, a member came to work with us and I appreciate the members so much here [in my area] and their sacrifices. This member brought her daughter when she came to join us for lessons because no one was available to watch after her daughter. It's amazing because she really wanted to work with us that she was willing to bring her daughter along!
[Ice cream comes in these big tubs 😮]
Wednesday -
Just something that is surprising that happened this day is that we visited a member who had just came back from Mindanao. Before she left to Mindanao, her daughter wanted to go an a youth stake temple trip but when they tried looking for her records, they couldn't find it! So what the mother did was go back to where her daughter got baptized (sa Mindanao) to try and look for the paper records but no luck, it's lost! So she called church headquarters and they can't find it either. It was crazy but so basically her daughter who is 15 years old most likely needs to be baptized again even though she was baptized when she was 8 years old. Hopefully everything will get settle soon!
[Cooked some Sinigang. Love it when it's extra sour and spicy!]
Thursday -
We visited a new investigator who we actually OYM'd (open your mouth)/ street contacted the previous day. He was really interested in learning more! Before we headed out there, he texted us asking us if we were still coming over! It was so sweet because usually people we contact don't do that. We had a really good lesson with him and I look forward to teaching him more. Also we have one member who we've been visiting because she has a possible referral for us. We have been frequently going to her and following-up with how she's doing and what we can do to help her feel more comfortable sharing the gospel. So at night time we went to her house but not for the intent of following-up her referral but instead to teach her nieces (one of them has recently been baptized). We shared a quick lesson and when we were able to leave the member tells us that she has a referral for us! After months of preparing to have us come over over to her referral we finally scheduled that we would go over the next day to teach her friend about the gospel. It is so fun to have the opportunity to help members get involved in sharing the gospel because it brings joy, just like it says in D&C 18: 10, 15
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
[Heart leaves!]
[A member who will leave in November
to serve a mission in France]
Friday -
We had weekly planning and it's crazy the progression of things because during the first few couple of weeks, it was hard for Sister Quinton and I to find people to teach the gospel to, but this week it was hard to find enough time to teach everyone! It's actually a really important life skill to manage time and to focus your attention on where it is more needed and more important. Also this day, we visited the members referral and it was really good! She is so awesome and has had such a good perspective of members of the church all her life and I'm happy for her that she will be able to learn what we are all about 😊 At night time, we went to our investigators (the one's we OYM'd or street contacted one day and also we accepted us right away). They have been really progressing and it's amazing to see their faith building. It's just kind of hard because they work a lot and are really tired because they're a couple with one son. Sister owns a tsanggie and Brother drives a trike/fixes fridges/ cleans air conditioners. We came after Sister was done selling for the day and after a few minutes Brother came home and they looked dead tired, but they still wanted us to share! We chose not to because they really did look tried, and it's more important that they rest.
[The struggle when you don't have picture phones
and you're trying to describe a place!]
Saturday -
We went to Iloilo Convention Center to support the stake's Family Week Celebration! The youth of the stake put on a dance performance (by ward) and the theme was popular culture of early 2000's until 2018 and it was so much fun! Check out all these videos we took!
Sunday -
Sister Quinton and I were so sad during church at Sacrament service because none of our investigators came to church (at least that's what I thought). I was praying that someone would come, even if it's late. There were so many people that told us that they would go to church, but no one came (at first). However when the service was over, we turned around and saw 2 of our investigators! One of them being the referral that we had taught on Friday. She has three kids and it's amazing to see how she brought all three of them to church because usually when we ask people to come to church, they say how their kids are makulit (a handful) pero her faith to go to church was such a testimony builder to me and she seemed to really enjoy it!
[The Stake President and his wife of the stake I served in!
They just recently moved to my ward!]
Monday (today) -
We played basketball and a Filipino game called Patentero. So much fun, I haven't played basketball in a while.
[McDonald's YAY]
Keep on smiling everyone, life is good 😊 Hope you're all doing well!
Halong kamo pirme,
Sister Ventura
Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)
--
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.