Week 70: Polangui Branch Is On Fire

 Hello!  Kamusta po kayong mga kapatid sa pananampalataya,

     The work here in Polangui is on fire and we had a good time in finding potential members and friends missionaries that served here before the lock down.  The good thing is that we found some of them and it so inspiring to hear from them how they are really striving in this period of quarantine.  My companion and I try to relate our teachings to their concerns.  We are focusing on our key indicators so that we would have names behind the numbers.  

     I have a highlight from this week. Last Saturday, when we were trying to knock on a door but we hear "isang tatay" which means "I don't care for what you are saying" so we continue slowly on to find the others.  The successful thing is that we found a couple who are married non-members and we shared only about the importance of the family in God's plan as the central unit in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They were so stoked seemed like they needed to know more about it.  The husband told the wife that they need to get married in the church and that we have to teach Sister Jenjen so that we can baptize her and that they will become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

     We also had some cool experiences this week because tatay Randy attended church this week and Sister Maria din po with Sister Leora.  Tatay Randy is doing great on the word of wisdom but right now we have been encouraging them to get papers for their marriage.  We were trying to find any other referrals and we found Sister Aileen.  She was nice and we are able to give her a Book of Mormon and she said she will read it.  She works in a "Chuks to Go fried chicken shop".  She has children who are teenagers and we are looking forward to meeting them this week.  We have contacted her and look forward to meet her.  

     Also we found Jocelyn Roselada and we could see in her face that she wanted to hear more and understand more about the gospel.  I could tell.  Besides that we were trying to visit one more sister who was a referral from social media who is very sick.  She said that she really needs Jesus Christ and said that she will get better if she listens more about Him.  The sad thing is that we aren't seeing her because she's not in a good situation with her sickness so we are still praying for her to be healed.

     While I am writing, I am feeling God's love for us and the people we are working with in this area.  I just wanted to share some of my experiences in my previous area.  I remember back in lock down and I thought my whole mission we would be in quarantine until I finished.  One Christlike attribute has really taught me a good lesson and I really love it.  Sister Gutierrez shared this in her email about her scripture study from Come Follow Me.  In Moroni 7:45-47, we learn about charity.  It says, "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth no, an is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in inquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things myst fail.  But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, if shall be well with him".  One thing that Sister Gutierrez shared with me from her study this week is that charity never faileth because it is the pure love of Christ.  We must INFUSE CHARITY into each situation.  This really inspired me and that is why I wanted to put it in my blog to be a reminder and that it will help me and the others who will read it.  

      I am grateful for the mercy and love of God and that all the trials he has given me because I get to know Christ more.  I know that I will have more trials to come because we are subjected to them but Jesus Christ said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me".  I know there's no other things that will help us find peace in this world only Jesus Christ.  His teachings, doctrines and gospel, and commandments are the way.  If we strive to live them and share all all His love and our testimony of Him by spreading our faith, we will be guided and be a useful instrument for His children who need help.  Be the light and light the path of others this Christmas.  

     To close my letter, I would like to end with one quote from Elder D. Todd Christopherson that really gives my hope.  It comes from his talk last General Conference.  "Be faithful but not faithless"  I love you all and I would like to say to you all Merry Christmas and enjoy your Christmas wherever you are.

Elder Bateiti

These two youth are converted members.  One's name is Raf and he was converted by a missionary in my batch.  He's willing to serve his mission and always helps us work and fellowship with his simple testimony.
My companion and I

Sister Leora is the one we have been teaching.  She is progressing and she is joining us with the youth in working and fellowshipping because she had a cool experience with the Book of Mormon.

Working Until the Sun Sets

Elder Bateiti - Polangui Area

Sister Maria Attended Church

Sunday Service


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