Week 4: Received My Patriarchal Blessing

Latest news from Elder Bateiti and the Manila MTC:

     This blog post is going to be written from the conversation that the Gutierrez family had with Elder Bateiti.  I was sitting at the computer when a call came through Google Hangouts from Elder Bateiti.  I quickly answered and I think that we were both a little surprised.  All of our communication previously was through Facebook Messenger so it was great to see him in person and hear what he sounds like.  Next week when he video chats, I will record it so the post can be in his English pronunciation.

     A big group of Elders left the MTC last week for their missions so his group are now the seniors.  He is serving in a trio of Elders now with Elder Watson and Elder Holland.  Elder Holland is from Modesto, California.  In the chat picture, Elder Holland is closest to Elder Bateiti on the left and Elder Watson next to him.

     There was a devotional this week with a seventy.  The MTC choir performed "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" and brought the spirit to the meeting.  The seventy talked about thrusting in your sickle with all your might.  The scripture that he really liked this week was D&C 31:13 "Be faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you.  These words are not of man nor of men, but of me, even Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, by the will of the Father. Amen."  Elder Bateiti will use these words on his mission to move forward.

     One thing that he is really looking forward to is going out into the streets of Manila this week with the missionaries from the Manila mission.  They will begin splits with them.  He is a little nervous because his Tagalog language is not developed.  On of his favorite things to do is go to the temple every p-day.  He says he feels the spirit so strong.  This week he was also able to receive his patriarchal blessing.  It was such a spiritual experience for him.  Our family loved video chatting with our island missionary son today.  He will be an awesome missionary in the Philippines in bringing people to Christ.

With Love,
Heidi Gutierrez

Manila Phillilpines MTC Batch - Elder Bateiti is on the fourth row from the top on the left.

Video Chatting on P-day with the Gutierrez Family





     Next

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 96: Visit to the Island of Cadantuanes & Loving the Ocean Breeze

Image
      Here are some of my adventures on the Island of Cadantuanes which was a 4 hour ride on a ship.  The purpose of our visit there was to try to check on some apartments on this island that had been left by the missionaries during lockdown.  They had 6 apartments left behind and the good thing is that some of the missionaries from the mainland still had baptisms here while teaching virtually.        We were grateful to see all the members as we arrived there.  We had a one night devotional with them as well as President Abraham and Sister Abraham.  We were so grateful to have the opportunity to listen from the recent converts on how they got to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on this earth and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration.  We were so grateful to listen to their testimonies as well as the leaders and YSA that have a desire to serve a mission.  One t...
Read more

Week 117: Mission Life in Croatia

Image
      I am freezing here even though I have cold weather clothing.  It just gets colder and colder.  I will probably be here until November 30th.  I was able to talk with Elder Gutierrez and he looks great.  We were so happy to catch up and he was able to talk with my companion which is the man who performed by baptism while Elder Gutierrez was in Kiribati.  His name is Elder Lebinoka.  He was one of the YSA in Abaokoro during the time Elder Gutierrez worked in Abaokoro.        The good thing is I keep using these shoes here in Croatia.  They are the black ones that you bought.  It is my only shoes that I have been using in traveling.  Thank you again for the shoes. Elder Bateiti and Elder Lebinoka - YSA that baptized Elder Bateiti in Abaokoro, Kiribati now both missionaries serving in Croatia awaiting a flight to Kiribati.
Read more

Week 54: Fed By the Spirit

Image
 Kumusta,       This week we have been traveling to one of our fellow missionaries.  We had exchanges in virtual call and it was so cool to see the other areas in my district still progressing.  They had 2 baptisms last week and this week as well.  We are still praying that Sister Zairah will be able to answer our calls this week so we could be able to still review her lessons.  For this new September we will baptize her.  The work here is really slow.         It was really cool seeing the devotional last week with my fellow missionaries, especially Elder and Sister Wakolo from the Area Presidency.  I learn I have a lot to learn from them.  One thing that I learn is that we will become master teachers if we focus our study in the Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon, memorize scriptures from the Book of Mormon and from the Bible that relate to our lessons we have been teaching from the gospel of Jesu...
Read more