Week 66: Small and simple things are great things come to pass (Alma 37:6)

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Maayong aga everyone!

This past week was kind of a struggle, we actually got punted a lot and a lot of things didn't go our way pero padayon gihapon (keep on going)! I just want to share one highlight that happened this past week. So remember the Tagalog family we have been teaching? It's pretty awesome the way we met them actually. Sister Gonzales and I were walking home from not finding a family we wanted to visit and we met the father of the family and his 2nd daughter. They were just right outside their house watching fireworks because it's fiesta and as we're walking by he says "nagabi-an kamo." Which basically means it's late! And it's funny because it's not too late actually, our area is more of a province so people wake up and go to sleep earlier. After a while of talking we asked him where his home is and if we can meet his wife. So we met his family and they have 3 beautiful girls. And ever since then we've been going back to them and sharing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's hard to catch them all as a family because the father drives a tricycle until very late at night but one night he came when we were halfway through the lesson and we thought it would be a good chance to introduce family prayer to them. We asked him to pray and he was soooo shy about it and joked around about it a lot. So he prayed and shyed out but the 2nd time, he actually prayed and it was so sweet and simple. After the prayer he tells us "that was my first time ever praying out loud." Sister Gonzales and I were so shocked and so happy that we invited this family to do something they have never done before to help them feel more of Christ's love. Just like it says in 3 Nephi 18:19-21:

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.

I believe in the promise on verse 21, I know that as we pray as a family to our Father in Heaven through Jesus Christ's name, our families will be blessed because I've seen it here on my mission. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Pictures and (spider) video:

[First haircut in the mission!]

[We found this dead spider and

it looked like it shedded and then later on...]

[We found the spider's new body!

I didn't know spiders shed!]

[Size reference haha]

Halong kamo pirme, 

Sister Ventura

Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)

--

Send an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@missionary.org

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 65: Wala 'ta kabalo kon gaano kablessed kita (We don't know how blessed we are)!

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Maayong hapon friends and fam!

[Sis. Gonzales and I have been jogging almost every morning]

This past week has been pretty good! We've had many miracles and many tender mercies this past week.  Some miracles is that this past week we met a family as we were walking on our way home and they were speaking Tagalog to us which is normal because whenever people see Sister Gonzales people almost always speak Tagalog right away because they assume she only understands Tagalog which is funny because she can better understand Hiligaynon. So anyways we tell the family that it's okay that they can speak Visaya, but it turns out they only actually speak Tagalog! They aren't from here, they're from Luzon and are Tagalog gid. This has been interesting and it stretches me more in trying to speak Tagalog because I actually do want to speak Tagalog more. But good thing I understand! They are such a miracle because they went to church this past Sunday and our church members really welcomed them.

Also last Monday Sister Gonzales and I ukay-ukay'd and we were able to talk to some of the workers and we met this one worker that just shares with us how he missed going to to church and how he wants to go to church. We asked him if we can come back later in the week to share a message about Jesus Christ and how He can help him go to church and he seemed so excited. So later this week when we came to visit, he had the pamphlet we had given him out and he was so excited to listen to us. Our lesson with him was so spiritual and it was so awesome because he truly has a desire to follow the Savior's teachings.

However it was a bit of a challenge this week because he so badly wants to go to church but he works at the ukay ukay store like all the time. And so he said he would ask the owner if he could leave the store for at least one hour on Sunday to go to church with us. When he asked, the owner said he could if he makes sure he's back in time to open the store but that would mean he would only go to church for 1 hour and not the normal 2 hours of church.

So fast forward to Sunday we picked him up and his countenance was just glowing! We walked to church and he absolutely loved it. In the middle of Sacrament meeting he turns to me and says "Sister up until what time is church? because I want to stay the whole time." And i asked "are you sure it's okay with your boss if you stay longer?" He didn't answer but he was such a good example of someone who gave his whole heart faithfully to Jesus Christ. He didn't care if he would get in trouble with his boss, all he knew was that he went to church and he didn't want to leave. It's so amazing because he hasn't gone to church in many years because of some struggles he's had in the past. But I know that he will be truly blessed for his loyalty to the Savior over any else. He is such a miracle because we had also just given him the Book of Mormon only on Thursday and within 2 days he's read so much already and explained to us every single detail and has even applied it to his life. It's so amazing to me to see someone who has truly been faithfully prepared by Heavenly Father.

Another miracle this past week was that we started teaching a couple and we went back when only the sister was home because her partner works during the day. From the few times we have taught her, she is so respectful and so quiet. She really listens to us but she hasn't had much to say compared to other people we've been teaching lately. However this past week we taught her to pray to first call Heavenly Father, give thanks, ask for blessing, and close in the name of Jesus Christ. She was shy to at first but we convinced her to and it was so heartwarming.

As she prayed, there was one time where got really quiet and then she just starts crying and letting everything out. Sister Gonzales and I feel so blessed that this sister recognizes us as representatives of Jesus Christ. Because she recognized us, I know she felt comfortable enough to open up to us and to express to us how she is feeling.  I know that for some it may be easy to open up and some it isn't but as long as we're doing our part of really listening to others, we can know how to help them.

Some days it's hard but as we lose ourselves and try to reach others, all our burdens will be lighter. That's what Jesus Christ did and I'm grateful for Him and His Resurrection that we're celebrating this time of year! Happy Easter! Never forget that no matter how hard it gets, there's someone willing to help and that Someone is just waiting for us to humble ourselves and speak to Him. He wants to know and I know He will give us rest from our challenges.

Take care always, Palangga ko kamo!

More photos and a video:

Kool aid ice candy...namit kag!

Zone Conference! We played Simon says to show how we can be exactly obedient

Mission shirts!

McD's for Zone Conference because nothing else was open on Good Friday!

Halong kamo pirme, 

Sister Ventura

Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)

--

Send an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@missionary.org

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 64: Last General Conference on my mission! D:

*URL Links to scriptures and related material are enabled.

Maayong hapon friends and fam,

[Exchanges! My companion for the day was Sis. Bernardo,

she's so amazing!]

This past week was pretty awesome! I'm exhausted as always but padayon gihapon (keep on going)! Some highlights of this past week was we had double exchanges in one week, which is pretty crazy. Even though Sister Gonzales is my companion, we haven't been together too much but it's okay it's part of our assignment. This past Wednesday we had exchanges and I was companions with Sister Bernardo and I just love her. She's so bold and loving when she teaches, I learned so much from her. And it's crazy because lately we've been punted in our areas (we haven't had anyone to teach) but for some reason (for a divine reason) Sister Bernardo and I planned for the day and every single plan followed through except one and we were so happy. We had such a good time together and it re-motivated us to continue pressing forward to find those souls who are ready to know just how much Jesus Christ wants them to know Him and grow closer to Him.

Then on Friday we had exchanges again with another one of the sisters in our companionship and I was companions with Sister Fullmer. I also had another amazing day with her and she has like an edgy feel to her so it was cool seeing her style of teaching and how she really brings the Spirit into our lessons. We weren't able to teach too much that day but the one single lesson we had that day with 2 new friends we made was so amazing. I know that if we continue to desire to do good, Heavenly Father will give us our desires, if the time is right. I'm so grateful that despite the challenges we had to teach that day, we were blessed to have taught 2 sisters that were so sincere and so kind to us. And I know because I too sincerely desired that which was good, God didn't see any reason to not give me what we desired. Just like what Jesus Christ says in 3 Nephi 18:19-20 

19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; 

20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

During Friday I actually lost my voice and up until now it's still not back to normal, but it's more audible than it was compared to Saturday and Sunday. It was so difficult I couldn't speak so I whispered to those we teach while we were teaching and it's actually funny because I whispered to other people, 99.9% of the time people whispered back to me even though their voice was normal. Just a random analysis I observed!

So yeah last but not least, this past weekend was General Conference! One week later than it is in the U.S. but still the same message. I loved conference so much and the Spirit testified to me so strongly about how true the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints really is. I know like the church Jesus Christ established long ago, today, we have a living Prophet, Prophet Russell M. Nelson and 12 Apostles who all hold Priesthood authority - the authority of God. I also know with all my heart that because we have a living Prophet and 12 Apostles that have authority from God, we can receive revelation for our day. I know that Heavenly Father doesn't want us to be confused, so He provides clear direction of what we need to do so that we can return back to Him to His kingdom. I love being a missionary! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Pictures from the week:

[Sister Gonzales made these for our Sisters in our zone!
 💖Beautiful, she is so talented]

[Yayayay happy bday to me! So many snacks to share!]

[Wow love it! Thank you guid Calditaran family 💖]

[Healthy living?]

[Washing machine 😜]

[Ukay-ukay!]

Halong kamo pirme, 

Sister Ventura

Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)

--

Send an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@missionary.org

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 63: 9+10 = 21

*URL Links to scriptures and related material are enabled.

Maayong hapon sa inyo tanan!

This week was pretty crazy, it involved a lot of traveling, not too much work, and also I turned 21!  This past week we had MLC (Missionary Leadership Council) so Sister Gonzales and I traveled to [the city] on my birthday. Even though I wasn't able to work or teach on my birthday, I had a good time because I spent it on mission and with my beloved missionaries. It was probably my best birthday yet! Because when I woke up Sister Gonzales, Sister Obina, and Sister Johnson really surprised me! As I walked downstairs, our apartment was decorated with balloons, there were notes from some friends and members on my desk and the Sisters had bought me cheesecake which had 21 candles (that were hard to blow) on top! It was so heart-warming to me as they sang Happy Birthday to me! It was so thoughtful and I was just so grateful to them and how they went out of their way to do this for me!

[Sis. Johnson made me a birthday balloon hat!]

[Birthday cake and birthday breakfast!]

[Woo! First time we've both had tortillas on our mission!]

[So sweet! Thank you to my friends and members 😊]

[Ate out for my birthday!]

On Wednesday we had such an inspiring MLC. I'm so blessed to have the assignment in which I take care of, support, and love my sisters in my zone. I love all the sisters in my zone, they all are really striving their best to be obedient and they are all so diligent! So in terms of our work, we weren't able to work too much this past week and it was really difficult for Sister Gonzales and I but the times that we did work it was just amazing! Also this past Sunday we fasted and every month when we fast it always brings miracles. I always feel the Spirit so strongly whenever I fast. I know if we sincerely fast, we can receive answers and blessings to things we ask for!

[MLC! Oops, I blinked]

[On the way to MLC with the other SLCs!]

Lately it's been hard because we don't have too many steady people that we've been teaching. People aren't really keeping commitments and it's been a struggle pero with the short time that we've had to work this past week we did some finding and it felt so good to find some people that can really progress and come closer to Jesus Christ. I know this work isn't easy and it isn't meant to be, because it wasn't easy for Him, but it is an eternal blessing!

[All 3 of us had birthdays in the same week!]

[The Zone Leaders put 21 toothpicks that have Anna and Elsa on 21 pieces of fruit.

Such a random but thoughtful present!

It was so funny!]

[Object lesson for district council!]

And I am grateful for the experiences in my life that has led me up to this point in my life where I'm able to serve a mission on my birthday! And I'd just like to finish off with this verse:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;

Christ leads us to salvation! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Halong kamo pirme, 

Sister Ventura

Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)

--

Send an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@missionary.org

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 62

Sorry...

...no email today but here are some pics from our zone activity!

[Scripture charades!]

[An interesting pea thing from Iloilo!]

[Sis. Gonzales cooked!]

Halong kamo pirme, 

Sister Ventura

Philippines Iloilo Mission (Jan 2018 - July 2019)

--

Send an e-mail: 

elza.ventura@missionary.org

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.