Philippines Legazpi Mission: Elder Feraer

TABACO | DAY 30 |

JANUARY 31, 2014:
Today was the very first Leadership Training in the history of Legazpi Mission. Elder Nielsen is a District Leader so I've got to experience it also even if I'm not a leader. I learned many things in this training/workshop particularly in making lesson plans, constructive feedback, planning & teaching a lesson, and selecting the right fellowship for the investigators. In my personal study, I finished 4th Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I learned about the blessings that come to people who are united in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

with my fellow Filipino friends, E. Andrada (Left) and E. Yu (Right)

After the workshop, we went to Pacific Mall and I bought a cool ring for me. It is black and silver. I'll label it as a lucky ring. 😁 I want to buy something more but it's not possible. My companion always goes with his American missionary friends and they always go in a different way so I had no chance to see other stuff. It's alright because I'm with my fellow Filipino friends also and we had fun even though we just always follow them around.

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TABACO | DAY 28 to 29 |

JANUARY 29, 2014:
We watched the "District 1" Disc 3. It is a requirement in my 12 Week Guide. It's all about planning. I learned the importance of it and how to plan properly. In our proselyting time, we visited all the potential investigators that we listed in the previous days. All of them are not in their house. We also visited Sis. Irene's family but her mother is the only person in their house. We visited Sis. Evette's referral and her parents are not in their house also. 😩 Well, most of the time this is the scenario, it's not always a success. One of the important things that I learned so far as a missionary is not to be discouraged or give up easily.

In the evening we visited and taught the Delos Santos Family. They have a lot of questions and it's good. It shows that they are really interested. We end our proselyting day by teaching Tomalaon Family. They are our new investigators. We had a productive day again. It's good for the Lord's work.

We just set this picture up for fun. We really watched it together. 😁

JANUARY 30, 2014:
I finished 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon. I am amazed at the three-day ministry of Jesus Christ among the Nephites. I am imagining that I am also in their presence. The Book of 3rd Nephi really testifies Jesus Christ, His prophets, and the doctrines of salvation. The Nephites who saw Christ can be an example to us also in this modern-day era. We can also learn from them that we must prepare now to see Jesus Christ again someday. 

I treat my companion a buko-frio and he is happy about it. We did weekly planning and I'm the one who leads it for the first time. I guided Sisters Coleman and Siola'a in my referral for them. That's the one that E. Yu and I met the last time we worked near the apartment. The sisters are really thankful for the referral.

TABACO | DAY 27 |

JANUARY 28, 2014:
We had companionship exchanges with our Zone Leaders. My companion for a day was Elder Yu. It was my first time to do morning work near our apartment. We met some people to refer to Sister missionaries. One of them is "Nanay" Julie, she is selling a bed mattress in the streets and she is carrying that everywhere she went despite her old age. 😥 She is resting when we talked to her. She told us that she believes and faithful to Jesus Christ even if she has many problems in life including her son. Before we leave, we offered her a prayer that will bless her in her everyday life.

In the afternoon we proselyted in our area and we met a lot of people and taught some of them. Bro. Felipe and Bro. Maison are two of them. We have added potential investigators to our list. We finish our proselyting by teaching the Alejandro Family.

This was really a productive day for us and I learned a lot from Elder Yu. He is a great missionary even though he is a "Barley Boy". Haha. 😅 I can see why he is chosen to be a Zone Leader even though he is only 6-7 months in the mission. He's a great leader.

with Elder Yu (ZL)

TABACO | DAY 26 |

JANUARY 27, 2014:
We went to a gym and we workout. It's really good, I hope it will build me a six-pack abs, big chest and biceps soon. Haha! I can't envision myself in a Johnny Bravo type of body. 😆 We did some usual stuff during P-Day like washing our clothes, e-mail time, print pictures and relax. My parents, my cousin, my friends Janelle and Dianne e-mailed me today. 😊

This is supposed to be a funny picture but E. Yu is seriously working out. 😅

We visit the Delos Santos Family and we got a referral from them. I'm happy for them (D.S. Family) because they are really progressing well. 😊 We also found a potential apartment in our area again. Hopefully, it will be the one.

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TABACO | DAY 25 |

JANUARY 26, 2014:
Elder and Sister Nelson (Couple missionaries) picked us up in our apartment and we went all together to the meeting house. Free ride! ✊ E. Nielsen and I went to pick up the Delos Santos family so they have someone accompany them going to church. Bro. Benigno and Sis. Evette (daughter) came with us. 😊 When we arrived at the meeting house we also saw Bro. Kaloy. He attends church again and I'm so happy about it! 😃 We had a wonderful time during the sacrament meeting and classes. I fellowship Bro. Benigno, Bro. Kaloy and Sis. Evette during the sacrament service so that they won't feel alone. The members also fellowship them really well.

with Elder and Sister Nelson.

Around 70 people attended the sacrament meeting today.

with the Nelsons and Group Leader Bro. Bonaobra.

The Nelsons got a present for us. They gave us a lot of food. 😮

In the afternoon we visited the Lagailles Family and they are really receptive. They listened to the message of the gospel that we shared with them. Sis. Clarita (mom) and Sis. Erica are good listeners because they understand it really well. Bro. Lagailles was also around but he was doing something at that time. In our evaluation in the evening before we finish the day, E. Nielsen asked me about something and he laughed when I answered him that I just appreciate the art. Haha. 😂

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TABACO | DAY 24 |

JANUARY 25, 2014:
We had companionship exchanges for one hour because E. Nielsen had a baptismal interview in the Z.L.'s area. My companion was E. Todd. As soon as we set foot in the street we talked to all the people that we met and because of that, we had 18 potential investigators in my area! 😲 E. Todd is really good at starting a conversation with other people.

with Elder Todd (ZL)

My cabinet featuring my first 8 ties in the mission field.

TABACO | DAY 23 |

JANUARY 24, 2014:
We started the day by a companionship prayer. We had a plan that we'll proselyte at 10 a.m. but my companion will do a baptismal interview in Tiwi before noon. That's one of the responsibilities of being a District Leader. To maximize and use the time efficiently we had temporary companionship exchanges while E. Nielsen is doing the interview. I went with E. Bacalso and worked in their area. We met the Ledesma Family and they are potential investigators for them. Their area in Tiwi is really nice. 

In my personal study, I read chapters 8 to 15 of 3rd Nephi. In our companionship study, we finished lesson 2. We also did practice teaching after that. It is not a productive day in our area again today. I'm starting to feel bad about it. I really wanted to go outside and find people to teach and help them receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm hoping that we'll be able to bounce back tomorrow.

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TABACO | DAY 22 |

JANUARY 23, 2014:
In our district meeting, the topic was How to Begin Teaching and it refreshed what I learned in MTC. In practice teaching, E. Nielsen and I are investigators and the missionaries who taught us are S. Longson and S. Sasagi and they're really good. I also learned from them.

(Front) Sisters Sasagi, Coleman, Siola'a and Villeza (Back) Sister Longson, Elders Yu, Me, Bacalso, Lethaby and Sister Simonson

with E. Yu and the Tiwi Elders (Bacalso and Lethaby)

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TABACO | DAY 20 |

JANUARY 21, 2014:
We helped Bro. Bonaobra building a roof for an extension in our meeting house. Our investigator, Bro. Benigno helped a lot too. He planned and constructed it. He is a great carpenter and I'm really happy that he is helping to build it. 😊 We also ate lunch at the meeting house. Sis. Bonaobra cooked "laing" for us and it's good.

We studied the Plan of Salvation in our companionship study. We visited Sis. Irene and she just received her mission call and she is going to serve in Laoag Mission. We are happy for her.😊 Our last appointment is with Alejandro Family. I'm so happy because Elton John accepted our invitation to him to be baptized.😊

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TABACO | DAY 19 |

JANUARY 20, 2014:
My first month as a missionary and everything feels great. It is also P-Day today. I also started working out today because I'm gaining weight again. I had a fun conversation with my family during our e-mail time. I also update them on what's going on in my first month as a missionary. I also printed out some pictures for my other album. I decided that I'll put the only memorable ones in there. We ate dinner at a Japanese Restaurant and it is "eat all you can". I like most of the food there but not "sashimi". I didn't like it. 😖 Before I slept I read Helaman chapters 3 to 5.

with Sensei Nielsen

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TABACO | DAY 18 |

JANUARY 19, 2014:

I was told yesterday that I'll be one of the speakers today in sacrament meeting. I am really nervous because it is my first talk as a missionary and the cold weather causes more tension for me. Argh! 😖 As I'm trying to relax and loosen up, special visitors arrived. President and Sister Guanzon was there! Surprise! Haha. 😭 Thanks to our Heavenly Father, He helped me delivered my message about missionary work nicely. The concluding speaker was Pres. Guanzon and he acknowledged my talk and I'm happy about it (internally 😏). The attentiveness of the members while I spoke helped me too to ease the nervousness that I felt before. This is definitely one of the memorable sacrament meeting for me. Bro. Benigno was present again in church today together with his daughter Evette who attends for the first time. 😀

(Left to Right: Pres. Guanzon, Me, E.Nielsen, E.Yu, E.Todd and Sis. Guanzon)

My housemates also encouraged me before I spoke in front.

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TABACO | DAY 15 to 17 |

JANUARY 16, 2014:
In our District Meeting, the topic was "Teach People, Not Lessons". It is kind of the same topic in our Zone Training. We ate lunch at Graceland. I think that fast food only exists here in the Bicol Region. As for my experience, the food is not worth it for its price (expensive compare to other fast-foods). In the afternoon we joined the Zone Leaders in looking for a possible apartment near our area. We needed it because our travel is so time-consuming and it takes away some of our needed time in our area to work with. In the evening I met Bro. Dave's (one of the priesthood in my ward) mission-mate at the LCC Mall when we bought some food. She said that Bro. Dave messaged her that I'm assigned in Bicol and if I'll be assigned in her area, Bro. Dave asked her to please take care of me. Wow. I'm touched by Bro. Dave's gesture. What a coincidence also that I met Bro. Dave's friend. Unfortunately, I'm not assigned to their area but maybe someday I will. Bro. Dave is one of the older priesthood in my ward that I look up to.

My companion (E. Nielsen) and I after the District Meeting.

JANUARY 17, 2014:
During our exercise, Elder Nielsen and I invented a game called "cracker ball". It's like basketball but with a twist. It also has some obstacles in our rule. 😂 In our very first game, we had a deal that the loser will treat the winner Buko Frio (coconut milkshake) and I won.☝ We had an immediate rematch and I won again.✌ So I had a free buko frio and siopao at lunch. 😁 In my personal study, I'm nearing the end of Alma. In the afternoon we went to a computer shop for me to finish the required activity in my 12 Week Guide and it is called Family History Lesson. I learned that it can be used for the retention and activation of members in the church. It is also great for investigators. On our way to our area, we met Bro. Andres. He said that he met some missionaries before. We asked him if we can visit him and his family and he gave us his address. We taught the Delos Santos Family about where we came from in the Plan of Salvation. They participate really well and they have all different ideas about where we came from. At the end of the lesson, they are enlightened and glad that we are with Heavenly Father before we came here on Earth. 

TABACO | DAY 13 to 14 |

JANUARY 14, 2014:
We had a good companionship study today. We recognize that we had a small teaching pool right now that's why we studied "How Do I Find People to Teach". I learned that we should have faith in finding, we should talk to all the people we meet and the companionship of the Holy Ghost will really help us too. One of my weaknesses right now is being not able to talk to the people that I just met. It's really hard for me to overcome this shyness. When I read D&C 60:2-3 I realized that I should overcome this weakness because Heavenly Father through our living prophet gave me the authority to preach and share the gospel to all the people in wherever area I'll be assigned to. The gospel of Jesus Christ is really an important matter to bless all the people and to guide them in this world.

In the afternoon we went back to the Manamtam Family but we received unfortunate news. They said that we can't teach them anymore because their son is against it. We are really sad about it and this is the first time that I felt this kind of sadness in the mission field. 😔 I can see in their eyes that they want to continue to hear the gospel but it will create bad conflict for their son and we understand that. Maybe it is not their time right now and I hope that it will someday. Before we leave we offered them a prayer and they gladly said yes. Elder Nielsen leads the prayer for them, especially for Bro. Manamtam because he has an illness. They are really glad that we prayed for them and we can see that they have teary eyes. They said that we can still visit them as their friends. We will.

B.N.H.S.

JANUARY 15, 2014:
Elder Nielsen had an idea that we should try. We'll help other people by teaching English as a second language. He saw it in the Finding Ideas. He asked for my opinion and I told him that's a unique way of helping others. Here in the Philippines if you are fluent in speaking English it will really help your career in most of the high-end salary jobs. English is a global language and it will be an advantage to anyone. I think it is a good idea even if I'm not that fluent in speaking English. Elder Nielsen will take the lead and I have full confidence in him because he is an American. 😂 We decided to go to a national high school in Bantayan. When we met the principal of the school we offered our help for a free special English class for those students who are interested to learn it fluently. The principal was really happy to hear it and she is amazed by our free service offering. Even if she wants it, it will not be that easy because we should ask for permission first and send a letter to the supervisor of the school. She thanks us for our offer.

On our way back to Tabaco City we rode on a tricycle and eventually, there's a college student who boarded inside the tricycle. We felt awkward because there's only a small space inside the tricycle and we can't go to the top as we usually do because it is raining. Along the way, I took the courage to speak to her. I introduced myself as a missionary and I told her we are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to every people that we meet because we know that it will bless and help them in their lives. I gave her a pass-along card (introduction of our message) and asked if we can visit her and her family. She said yes! 😃 She gave me their address and number so that we can know when we will visit them. Her name is Sis. Erica. When we arrived in Tabaco City, Elder Nielsen was shocked that I finally took the courage to talk to other people who we didn't know and he is so happy for me. Haha. He looked like a proud father. 😅

In the evening we went to Bro. Caloy and we re-taught him the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is happy to be taught again by the missionaries and we will continue to re-teach him the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope it will help him to come to church again. When we came back to the apartment, Elder Gunnel cooked carbonara for our dinner. It's delicious. He's in the apartment because of exchanges with E.Yu.

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TABACO | DAY 12 |

JANUARY 13, 2014:
P-day! We went to Busay Falls in Malilipot, Albay together with our Zone Leaders/housemates. It is really far but it was worth it. The ambiance of this place is really great for relaxing our mind and body. We are also not allowed to swim during our time as a missionary so we didn't swim even though it is tempting.

(From left to right: Me, E.Todd, E.Yu, and E.Nielsen)

We rest up a little bit and went back to Tabaco City for our e-mail time. I love reading my parent's e-mails, it feels like they are just near to me. They also received the letters that I sent to them. I also sent pictures but not all (only my MTC pictures) because of a slow internet connection. My housemates and I had a great bonding time today and we also share some stories (before our mission life) before we sleep. 

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