22nd Birthday!

First of all, sorry for not having updates weekly. We have been busy looking for Scattered Israel. I will just make this quick because my birthday this year had been special to me.

The day of my birthday was on Saturday. We still had ordinary schedule like studying, proselyting time, teaching people repentance. I feel like it's not really my birthday... until lunch time, when the Zone Leaders called and disturbed our beautiful lunch, which I cooked, and asked me to go to the office. I knew something's fishy was going to happened. Me and my companion found out that someone left a cake for my birthday (of course, it came from my family). The Zone Leaders and the office Couple Missionaries sang a happy birthday song to me, which I find sweet.

<there should be picture here but apparently the Zone Leaders didn't e-mail my picture>

Then at night of my birthday. Sister Abril and Sister Tauiliili surprised me with a birthday cake!!! They got stressed because of this hahaha. Props to them and I didn't really expected it.

BLANKIE!

Then Monday came, our Preparation day. We played basketball in the morning and then had lunch with our District at Kuya J's. It was nice and happy to celebrate my birthday with Elder Clark and Elder Cirunay (our Assistants to the President), and our office princesses Sister Abril and Sister Tauiliili, and also with my handsome and artistahin companion Elder Reynoso (Jolo Revilla look-a-like. He's the one on my left)

The Office District

the aftermath

Then we e-mailed our families and friends back home. They surprised me with a video that I like to share but it is so long and will take time to upload. Maybe when we I get back or when we meet here in Lilo-an, Cebu then I can show it to you haha. They are so sweet! It almost made me cry that's why I stopped it immediately and downloaded it to watch it back home (of course, I don't want to cry inside the computer shop with plenty of people around)

I felt really special. I felt like I'm the most important person in the world! I really appreciate it and looking forward to see my family and friends soon! I love them so much and missing them so bad.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!
May God be with you all 'till we meet again.

Ciao!
-Elderblanco

Happy New Year!

Elder Reynoso, Me, Elder Mosquera, Elder Carillo

Happy New Year to everyone! -From the F4 (Fogi 4)

How's your New Year? Hopefully no one got hospitalized because of the stray bullets or fireworks. Happy to hear your messages, send it here: jan.blanco@myldsmail.net

A lot of things happened in 2016 where I learned, struggled, grew, developed faith, made mistakes, fell, and stood up again. I'm happy for where I am right now. I can see what Heavenly Father wants me to become and it is my commitment to do what He wants me to do. I am so blessed to know this. Specially this New Year we all be having New Year's Resolution--which we all know that it will not be followed. HAHA. 

We all welcomed 2017 with a hope that this New Year, we will be committed to do our goals this year and especially what God wants us to do and be. Hoping that 2017 with be nice to us haha

We spent our New Year's Eve (basically it's afternoon because we had curfew) with Consolacion Zone (because Lilo-an Zone dissolved huhu) with Elder and Sister Weatherston. They invited the Consolacion Zone to spend the New Year's Eve in their home. We were lucky to have them in our lives. They provided the venue, the movie, and the SNACKS haha. We watched Errand of Angels, it is all about missionary life. How a new missionary struggled to be the best missionary ever. It's funny yet very inspiring and motivating. It was fun and a privilege to spent this day with these beautiful and fine Elders and Sisters.

Maybe, you all know that being a Missionary is easy and fun. Well, I got to tell you that it is not like that. Missionary work is never easy but it is rewarding. Missionary work is not always fun, we experience struggles and rejections all the time but everything is very joyful-- that's what the Gospel of Jesus Christ promised. Fun and Joy is different :D

Next year, I will be spending my Christmas and New Year back home! :D (Makati City)

That's all for this day.
See you on Monday!
Ciao

-Elder Blanco

PS: Our happy faces

Consolacion Zone

With Elder and Sister Weatherston

they were fascinated with BUKO haha