Hello transfer day! Bye bye office

So it's transfer day, there will be departing missionaries and there will be new arriving missionaries. I've got the chance to spent few days with the departing missionaries. As I have asked them how're they feeling right now, they said that it was weird and it's just like a dream. They have served well and they have done their best that's why they are going proud and with honor. I'm so excited to hear what will be going to happen after their mission life.

departing missionaries took rest for awhile

Pose pose rin syempre! haha

It was fun to be with them but there are effects to that. The office was like it was run over by a storm. Every transfer day it will be always like this. Haha. I feel bad for the one who's cleaning the office

their luggage all in the office 

Sorry for my desk haha

 Yesterday was transfer calls, so we know that some of the missionaries will stay in their areas or they will be transferred to another and/or they will TRAIN. So as an Office Elder, I got the chance to see and served the trainers and trainees in the mission. It's good that that was my last day as an office elder.

The trainers were so excited to see who are they going to train. Some of the trainers are new trainers some are used to being a trainer haha.

After the missionaries have arrived Sister Maughan and us, who're assigned in the office, gave an orientation about the mission, culture, health, do's and don'ts, etc. While we are orienting them, the Assistants were giving a short workshop to the Trainers. So that they will be a good trainers to their trainees. For me, 12 weeks training is the most delicate and vital part in the mission because this is where you will set your foundations and your perspective in the mission. So good luck trainers!!

Sister Maughan orienting the trainees

Elder Calumpang and mine's turn

eating with the trainers

President Maughan with the Assistants, prayed and studied each new missionaries in order for him to give the best and right trainer for them. It is not just they pick someone and tell them to be companions. They do it in the Lord's way. If they think they will be compatible, President will pray for it and the Lord will confirm it through the Holy Ghost. They will feel swell in their hearts if they made right decisions. It is really amazing how the God really want us to decide. I've seen my mother always doing this whenever she is in a scenario where she doesn't know what to do. I am really blessed that I've know how to get counsel to the God.

So this is how they ended up. First, the trainers were called and then they told where they were assigned. Then their new companions were called :D

Sister Arce(left) with her new companion

Sister Cook (right) with her new companion

Elder Emfield (right) with his new companion

Elder Altejar (right) with his new companion

Elder Lockhart (right) with his new companion

Elder Velasco (right) with his new companion

It's not complete. I just picked random pictures of them because the post will be so long if I put them all here haha sorry.

At the end of the day, it didn't change the fact that we were leaving the office. It's sad, I didn't really think that I was going to miss the office. But I just realized that maybe the departing missionaries feel the same as I did. They were released as a missionary and they were released to the things, missionary stuff, they get used to for about two years (for Elders) or eighteen months (for Sisters). It's so happy to serve God.

It says in the 15th and 16th verse of Section 18 in the Doctrine and Covenants the promise blessing you will receive if you serve God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ...

 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!

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

I know the feeling and I have witnessed people really changed and become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so happy to part of the Lord's vineyard. Even though I may have few baptisms in my time as a missionary, it is not important. What important is, I have brought myself unto the Father and I will and do what the Lord has expected me to do! Gospel of Jesus Christ really can make you happy :D

So that's how the day ended. Thank you for the crew who helped us this transfer day. What a exhausting day we got! But it was all worth it! :)

Special thanks to Elder Hall and Elder Dela Rosa for helping us in the Office!

Selfie FULL FORCE (Assistants, Office Elders, Zone Leaders, and Elder Hall)

That's it!

Email me all on Monday!

Ciao

Everything worked out

Nothing really happened this week we just went out more in the field. We were advice by President Maughan to go out more in the field if we are already done with the office works. Especially because we are already tri-some. 

Of course, there are a lot of struggles this week but eventually got resolved. I know that the Lord will not abandoned us, He will be with us specially during times that we are down.

I really love the 88th verse in Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants, and I read it every time I'm feeling down.

 "...for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

Anyways, let's focus on the bright side...

Jessica sells Pan de Bisaya to
to help her mother financially

We met this girl while we were having haircut. She approached us and asked if we want to buy her pan/bread. We recognized that she knew that we are missionaries because she called us "Elder! Elder!". We talked to her and asked her background. Her name is Jessica, and she's 13 years-old. She walks and sells all day whenever she doesn't have classes to help her mom financially. What a buotan girl! We were impressed because at a young age she has the sense of responsibility to help her mother. But it doesn't end there. Jessica is also a talented girl. She has a pretty singing voice.

She listens to the missionaries who are teaching near their house. She is really interested to our message and looking forward to have the chance to attend church in Lilo-an Chapel. I really am happy to met her. She inspires me to help the young generations to be like her example. I salute you Jessica!

We had a chance to have a family home evening with Sison Family. I was the one assigned in the Lesson. I was inspired to teach about how the gospel helps us to stay away from temptations. I used a simple object lesson-- a bottle cap, two glasses, and water. We should follow all of the Gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ in order for us to keep ourselves away from temptations. Despite of really trying hard, Satan will always step up his game to tempt us and make our life miserable. It will only take effect if we let him take control of our lives.

Elder Hall conducting the meeting

Doing physics; they were amazed

I am grateful with my companions who helped me to be motivated and be back on track! They made this week really fun despite of struggles and problems we got. I still owe it to the Lord for giving me wonderful companions

Additionals:

Cute face of Klarize, my frienemy. Haha. Model of Lilo-an 2nd Ward

PART 2

Okay, this is the second half of the post CEBU TEMPLE...

Before we went out to the Cebu Temple, we said our goodbyes to Sister Nelson (the senior couple missionary assigned in the Cebu Mission Office). We always drop-by the office whenever we are getting supplies in the Distribution Center. She is so buotan! She always greets us a warm welcome. She's so fun to be with. When we told her that we are about to be replaced in the office, Sister Nelson got sad and said she's going to miss us. To jump to the end, we got her Facebook account and we're going to contact her after the mission because she promised that we will have a room in their house whenever we want to visit IDAHO. We are going to miss you too Sister Nelson, especially your Tender Mercies (candies/chocolates they gave if you visit the Cebu Mission Office) HAHA!

We just had a call that we had an emergency and need to go to Lapu-Lapu to get Elder Hall. We don't know really the reason but we got the chance to be his companion

Look at the view

To cut the story short we got so tired and the traffic was so bad so we end up being home at 8pm. The next day, we continued our regular day in the office and eventually went out to work. By the time we got to our second appointment, Elder Hall saw a cute puppy. Despite of the warnings Sister Temperatura (a member in Lilo-an who was showing us the house of a less-active member) that the puppy will bite him, Elder Hall continued to play the puppy, hence he got bitten by the said puppy. So the Mission President's wife told us to send Elder Hall to the nearest public hospital because they give free Anti-rabies. That's the reason why we are here in this picture.

waiting in line

I'm not generalizing the hospitals but in this public hospital that I will not name, we spent the whole day waiting. We waited that long for just an anti-rabies shot. The nurse explained that the doctor who were assigned in there is missing-in-action. We felt bad for the people who waited so long, who sacrificed their day not to work/go to school even if they needed to, and ended up to go back next day for the check-up.

Anyways, that day really tested my patience. I realized that was an opportunity for me to control my temper. We got the chance also to spent the time to get to know each other. I happened to have the chance to take fish-eye pictures of their nawongs (faces). They didn't even notice that that were funny pictures.

GINO Neutron

NapHALLeon Dynamite

That's it. That's how the week ended. Now we welcome the newest member in the Office District. Elder Hall. We had a lot of fun together, both in the office and in the field. This is my first time to have 2 companions. Tri-some, awesome

Going to have another post in few minutes and will share what happened this week

Ciao!

Cebu Temple

It's the end of our 4th week this Transfer Cycle and many things have happened in this week. As an Office Elder, we really don't know what will happen next so that makes this calling so exciting! 

DISCLAIMER: This blog is too long to read

In this blog, I will be talking about these things: Lilo-an Stake Conference, our loyal "kuyog", handsome and buotan guard, worked with the Assistant, Cebu Temple trip(!!), met Guevarra from The District 2 (Preach My Gospel DVD), say thanks and bye bye to Sister Nelson (Cebu Mission Senior Couple), and so many more!

Let's first go to Lilo-an Stake Conference... We had a wonderful Stake Conference. President Lim, after 9 years of serving as Stake President, stepped down last Sunday. He shared his testimony on how he did not expect the growth of the Church here in Lilo-an. He shared the humble beginnings of the ward until it became the Stake Center. The previous stake councilors shared their testimonies and give thanks and appreciation to President Lim for being an inspiration and helping the Stake to be where it is right now. President Juntilla, the newly called Stake President of Lilo-an did shared a nindot talk, he is a funny person and likes to joke. He humbly accepts the calling and promised to do his best to be the leader of this stake. The Stake Conference was presided by Area Presidency First Councilor Evan A. Schmutz and he concluded the talk about ZION. He later explained the requirements God made for us to experience a perfect world and a perfect city. It is by keeping the covenants we made with God and staying worthy to perform His saving ordinances in order to be inside the gates of Zion.

At lunch time, of course, who would've thought that Elder Blanco can cook? I cooked Tinolang Manok, and they loved it. I tried to act professional and say "Wala akong dinagdag na Salt and Knorr dyan", when honestly it is my first time to cook it! BEGINNER'S LUCK it is!! Hahaha

We worked after that, and we were with our always-ready-every-Sunday-kuyog Brother Lim, grandson of the Late Stake President. He is so funny and loves to work with the missionaries. He is also preparing for a mission. He wants to acquire the knowledge that is needed in the mission that is why he always works with the missionaries. At just the age of 16, he had endured a lot of problems. As young as he is, he maturely overcame and learned from those problems. I will not be telling those things here, instead I will show his gwapong nawong!

Having selfies in the office

After finishing our proselyting we drop by the mission office in the evening, there is a guard who always smiles and greets us. He never tires from running from his sitting place just to open the gate for us. His name is Brother Ruben! He is the security guard at the Lilo-an Chapel. He guards the vicinity from 6pm to 6am. What a man! His job is very tiring and very hard. I salute Brother Ruben, he is working hard to provide food for his family. At the same time, he is so buotan. I know his family is so lucky to have him.

Brother Ruben with the Kiddos

Then, while Elder Grimpluma and Elder Calumpang were getting their licenses at LTO Danao, I had the chance to work with Elder Baladad. We went and taught their GOLDEN investigator, Brother Jay. He attentively listened to us and asked questions regarding what we were talking about. I had the chance to share the FIRST VISION to him and testify of Joseph Smith, Jr. as the prophet of the restoration. We felt the Spirit and we continued with the lesson. He really seeks to know if what we are saying is true because he keeps the commitments given to him. 

Posing muna syempre

Kahit maputek haha

We were happy to finish the lessons and we extended another commitment to Brother Jay to bring him closer to Christ. Then after that, we went back to the office only to find out that only one of them (Elder Calumpang and Elder Grimpluma) passed the license examination HAHAHA. Who do you think failed the exam?

Elder Calumpang as a MOWDEL

"Oh, how lovely was the morning" last Wednesday. We were able to have our Temple Session with our zone, Lilo-an Zone. This was the climax of my week. I was very excited and very humbled to enter the temple. Just by looking at the temple, you can feel the peace and serenity, this was a very spiritual experience. It was my 2nd time to go here but it was my first time to go inside the Temple. 

Elder San Andres, Angeles, Dela Rosa
Photobombers

Before I entered the temple, I wrote some questions that needed to be answered from Heavenly Father. As I joyfully and prayerfully sit in the Celestial room, I read the Bible and strong impressions came into my mind and heart, Heavenly Father really answers. I was reminded of my covenants and how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ worked just to make us eternally happy. I will never forget this wonderful experience. 

Eric Guevarra's wife

At this moment, we saw Eric Guevarra in the Temple. You might not know him but to the Missionaries he's quite famous. He is one of the Investigators the missionaries taught in Preach My Gospel: The District 2, we had the chance to talk to her wife. She shared their struggles before and what really happened why they got separated before. The Gospel really helps the family to draw closer to god and strengthen the relationships of members in the family.

Too bad there were missionaries who
cannot attend with us (not complete)

Time is not enough to finish this blog! I will be sharing the rest of it next week! :D

But all in all, it was a very fast week. I hadn't even noticed that it is already the 5th week of the transfer cycle. It was fun and very exhausting. But the important thing I got this week is I learned from my mistakes and I have grown and improved myself.

Side note:

They have branded rice here in Cebu! Check this out!!

Wow! I never thought you can buy
friendship with such a cheap price!

Ciao,
-Elder Blanco

First Blog

FIRST BLOG EVER! I'M SO HAPPY LOL

Before I start my blog, I want to share why I am happy creating this blog :)

Out of so many opportunities to write a blog, this is the only time I'm very eager to do one. It all started when I was bored in the Office and look for pictures related in our mission. I saw a picture with a link going to Sister Mcnett's blog (senior couple missionary who is assigned also in the office). As I am scanning it, I saw funny pictures and read some interesting lines that made me want to do the same. I am now a BIG fan of Elder and Sister Mcnett's blog. I will try to follow them as soon as I know how to hehe.

The Mcnetts with Sister Osumo (photobombers:Elder Laga'aia and Sister McMaster)

with President and Sister Maughan

Had a chance to have a WHACKY picture with our Mission President and his wife. Another bucketlist checked.


Today is our Preparation day, Saturday. Usually, the preparation day of missionaries is on Monday. We are special missionaries that's why we have special preparation day haha

Earlier, we had the chance to help our fellow missionaries to transfer house in Lapu-lapu. We are so lucky to have the Assistants (Assistants to the President) to help us in transferring their things. They are so buotan and true servants. Props to them, they did most of the help :P

Joyriding to Lapu-lapu

Elder Baladad disassembling the bunkbeds

Helping "kunwari"

We had our lunch at the Barbecue Place in Lapu-lapu merkado! Destroyed my diet again. I will have to start my diet again tomorrow. I'm gaining weight so fast huhu. Too bad I haven't taken picture of the mouth-watering pork lean and chicken liver... yuuuuuum!

We will be having Lilo-an Stake Conference tomorrow. I'm so excited to see Elder Schmutz and he is presiding the Conference. It's good to hear from him because he was the Mission President of Cebu Mission and Lilo-an Stake is under his Mission.

That's all for the week, will try to update you guys again next Saturday. Hopefully we are not busy that time.

Ciao,
Elder Blanco