Fifth Cycle: Miracles Come Through Faith

Welcome family and friends to another one of my blog updates. I’ve learned lots of things here in the mission field, and I continue to understand the importance of living the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

For now, let me break it down to you, all the events that happened this cycle (which comprises the last week of May and first week of July), and how faith precedes miracles and other eternal blessings:

1. Sister Carbonel and I have been given another cycle together, and it surely is fantastic! She’s very in tune with the Spirit, and she has helped me a lot in discerning the needs of the people and families that we’re teaching.

2. We had another round of interviews with President and Sister Hiatt (our mission president and his wife), last May 30, 2017. I asked President Hiatt for a priesthood blessing in order to have strength to overcome my feelings of inadequacy; and, so that I can have inspiration to fully accomplish this great and marvelous work.

3. We had our district meetings every Tuesday for the cycle, where we talked about following up on commitments that we’re extending to those that we’re teaching. It’s important to know the progress of the people (specifically, investigators of the Church) because it can help us gauge whether or not they’re truly living the principles contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is also a better way of knowing if they truly have the desire to follow God and His plan for us.

4. We also had a zone conference last June 22, 2017, in Cauayan. We discussed about talking to everyone. All of us are brothers and sisters, and each one should have an equal opportunity to learn more about the Savior, and the plan that Heavenly Father has for us. One way of sharing the truth of the gospel, is by declaring the Restoration. President and Sister Hiatt want us to state as quickly as possible, The First Vision. This is our unique message, and we should not be afraid to share this. I testify that when we share the message of the Restoration, it will ring true to the people, because we’ve known this before. It’s our duty as missionaries to share this message to the world.

5. We had splits as well, with our Sister Training Leaders, Sister Laurenson and Sister Atutubo, last June 23, 2017. My companion for that day was Sister Atutubo. She came from Fairview Stake. We had fun proselyting together! She’s really awesome in contacting a lot of people. She would really talk to everyone that she met, and she helped me gain confidence as well, in quickly referencing the Restoration, in contacting individuals.

6. One of the best experiences that I’ve had this cycle is witnessing the baptism of Brother Calvin Lloyd Baylon, an 18-year old young man, last July 1, 2017 (which also happens to be Sister Carbonel’s birthday). The Baylon Family was actually a referral from one of the members of the Cabatuan Branch. We first taught the family together, but due to conflicting schedules, the only one available to teach every time we went to their home is their son, Brother Calvin. He’s really a fast learner, and he actually wants to serve a mission as well. He’s also very active at church, and he has also gained a lot of friends because of our fellowshippers, Brother Jonhel Bautista and Sister Jessa Razo (who happens to be his classmate in grade school). It was really amazing to see his growth and desire to know the truth and to live the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He’s been really prepared by the Lord at this time. Now that he has been baptized, we’re still continuing to teach his family, so that all of them can receive the saving ordinances, and be together forever.

Truly, a lot has happened once again this cycle! I thought, at first, that my efforts were wasted and that I’ve done nothing good to help the area progress. But because I asked the Lord to increase my faith, and by so doing exercising my faith, I’ve witnessed countless miracles and right now, I feel that I’m truly blessed. Faith, when made into action, can truly conquer all fears and create numerous blessings.

Last Monday, I also received a text from the mission that I’ll be transferring to another area. It was really sad to say goodbye to Cabatuan. The six months I’ve stayed here in this area will forever be in my heart. Now, it’s time to start a new chapter in the mission.

Stay tune for my next blog update to see my next assignment (my new area and my new companion/s).

Love you all!

Sister Bordeos
“I just can’t live without doing my best!”

PICTURES:

District Meeting – Sister Carbonel’s Birthday (Standing L-R: Elder Miranda, Elder Warren, Elder Rogers [district leader]; Sitting L-R: Sister Bas, Sister Gadd, Sister Carbonel [birthday girl], Me)

Zone Conference in Cauayan

Baptism of Brother Calvin Lloyd Baylon

Last Sunday in Cabatuan Branch

Fourth Cycle: One by One

Hello my dear family and friends!

Here’s another update on my missionary life. I’ve had a number of great experiences this cycle, so I would like to share them with you. 🙂

1. We’ve had a zone training meeting. This was our last ZTM since it was announced that there would only be district meetings and zone conferences from now on. At the meeting, we met our new mission leaders: Elder Kearl, our zone leader; and Sister Laurenson, our sister training leader.

2. We had the opportunity to work with President and Sister Hiatt. It was great working with them! Sister Balagtas (she was still here that time) and I introduced them to our investigators and less active members. While working with us, they helped us know what the people we’re teaching really needed.

3. We had a zone conference held in Cauayan, last April 26, 2017. We discussed President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk, titled “Beware of Pride”. We learned that in order to truly become effective missionaries, we should strive to be humble in all things; to be teachable, and to be willing to submit your all according to the Father’s will. We also talked about how the Book of Mormon can be a powerful source of conversion and testimony. As missionaries, we agree with Moroni (Moroni 10:3-5), and exhort all of you to read the Book of Mormon daily, give time to ponder its teachings, and ASK God, our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if the Book of Mormon is true. If you really want to know the truth and if you prayed sincerely about it, the Lord will manifest the truthfulness of this book, through the power of the Holy Ghost. READ IT! I testify that it will definitely be worth of your time.

4. A few weeks in (the cycle), Sister Balagtas soon received her visa for Australia; and then, Sister Carbonel became my companion. She shared with me about her previous areas in the mission. She was assigned in Tuguegarao, Roxas, and Ilagan. This area of ours, Cabatuan (under Cauayan), would be her 4th area.

5. We also had the chance to talk with our families last Mother’s Day. My family and I had a video call, and it was great seeing them! Families are very important to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This is the central message of the restored Gospel. Our Father in Heaven has a plan for each of us, and I know that if we obey His commandments, we can return to live with Him, together with our families.

6. We had another splits with our STL’s Sister Regala and Sister Laurenson, last May 17, 2017. My companion for that day was Sister Laurenson. She’s from New Zealand, but she told me that her ancestry is Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, and American. She’s such a sweet and kind person. I can truly see that she embodies charity. She loves all the people that she meets!

See! I told you I had a lot of great experiences, and I tell you that this is not all. Sometimes, I just can’t contain every experience I had in the mission in just one blog update. I can’t even describe all the wonderful things that has happened to me here. All I can say is that I love missionary work, and that just sums it up!

You may be wondering why the title of this blog is “One by One”. Well, because that’s what I learned this cycle. Just like what Elder David A. Bednar has taught, we need to take the gospel to all nations, kindreds, and tongues; but we must do it: one by one. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with all the duties and responsibilities that a missionary has, but if we take things one at a time, and focus our teaching, one by one, then all people will have a strong testimony about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. In all things, “one by one” is the key. Just like what it says in 2 Nephi 28:3 (in the Book of Mormon), “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.” I testify that this is true. Heavenly Father will bless us and give us the things that we need little by little, and step by step. If we are up to the task, then He’ll give unto us the success that we would want to attain.

Sister Bordeos
“I just can’t live without doing my best!”

PICTURES:
District Meeting (Standing L-R: Sister Bas, Sister Gadd, Sister Carbonel, ME; Sitting L-R: Elder Kearl, Elder Ambaliza, Elder Rogers, Elder Miranda)

Pictures 3 and 4: Splits with Sister Regala and Sister Laurenson

Picture 5: Zone Conference in Cauayan

Picture 6: At Cabatuan Branch Chapel (with Sister Carbonel)